Tour Survival 2015/16 – Player by Player

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As the nights draw in and the clocks go back, it is also that time of the year when I take a close look at the battle for tour places from the start of the 2016/17 season. As regular readers will be well aware, to fully understand how each of the current tour players are currently placed, it is necessary to analyse a number of different ranking lists and orders of merit.

With two of the biggest money events to come in the International Championship and UK Championship tournaments, today I take my first player-by-player look at the current state of play and flag up some of the surprise names with work to do if they are to remain on tour for another season…

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Tour Survival 2016: The Early Running

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Two ranking tournaments into the 2015/16 campaign, already it is possible to identify some of the players who are sure of being on the main tour next season and perhaps more importantly, those whose places are at real risk.

With every pound, dollar or euro to be earned during the remainder of this season likely to be crucial, today I take my customary look at the likely qualification criteria and look at some of those to follow over the coming months…

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2015/16 – Stories to Follow

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While the wait goes on for information as to the various seeding cut-offs and other ranking information for the 2015/16 season, the action is now very much underway with the qualifiers for the Australian Goldfields Open this week in Crawley.

As was the case last year, it is interesting then to take a look at the current world ranking list and try to pick out a few potential stories that may well develop during the next months.

After all, already a year ago it was possible to see that Ding Junhui would have an excellent chance of claiming the world number one ranking (which he did in December), while players such as Stephen Maguire and Nigel Bond would have work to do in order to stay inside the top 16 and top 64 respectively…

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The Q School Qualifiers 2014

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Following two weeks of snooker at the South West Snooker Academy in Gloucester, we now know the names of another eight professionals, following the completion of the 2014 Q School.

Click below for a round-up of the eight qualifiers, or here to view the updated roll call, setting out the latest list of confirmed professionals for the 2014/15 season…

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Gdynia Open 2014: Tour Survival Blog

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The eighth event of the 2013/14 European Tour is now underway in Gdynia and as explained earlier in the week, the implications of the event in terms of tour survival is significant, with the finalisation of the European Order of Merit after this event.

Click below for my rolling blog which will be updated throughout the day, flagging up the results to keep an eye on and those currently in position to retain a tour card through this list. I will also keep an eye on the race for PC finals spots, wherever that event will ultimately end up taking place…

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The Polish PTC Preview – Squeaky Bum Time

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Ok so it’s not technically called a PTC any more, but it will very much be squeaky bum time at this weekend’s Gdynia Open event in Poland, with far more on the line for some than might appear at first sight.

Click below for my thoughts on the battles that will be decided this week and for some of the key matches to keep an eye on from the eighth and final event of the 2013/14 European Tour…

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Indian Open 2013: Tournament Preview

Don’t panic, two players who will certainly not be withdrawing from the inaugural Indian Open are Pankaj Advani and Aditya Mehta, but today it has become clear that at least seven of the 64 qualifiers will not be making the trip to India for the venue stages of the event.

Click below for a round-up of what we know so far, as well as a few other pointers ahead of the tournament…

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Wildcards Set For India Open

As is often the case with fledgling tournaments in new territories, October’s India Open will see six local wildcard players involved, drawn at random to play six players from the lowest 32 seeded players, who have not already played a wildcard this season.

Courtesy of snookerorg, the professional players involved have been confirmed, with Scotland’s Anthony McGill being the highest ranked, as well as the likes of Rod Lawler, Liam Highfield and amateur qualifier Jeff Cundy being selected…

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