Gamers on the World Snooker Tour shall be assured of incomes a minimum of £20,000 in the course of the subsequent two seasons.

The initiative that was launched final yr to assist struggling opponents on the principle tour has been prolonged for an additional two years.

In idea, it is going to take among the stress and monetary pressure away from the lower-ranked cueists in the course of the 2023/24 and 2024/25 campaigns.

Beneath the scheme, all gamers on the World Snooker Tour shall be eligible to obtain funds of £10,000 in July and once more in January.

These funds, nonetheless, are offset in opposition to future prize cash, that means the gamers should pay the cash again via financial rewards earned at tournaments.

The variety of skilled tournaments on the calendar has dwindled within the final half-dozen or so years.

There was a combination of causes for this, together with the affect of COVID-19 limiting journey and forcing the cancellation for a protracted interval of profitable competitions in China.

Three occasions in China are scheduled to happen in the course of the upcoming snooker season, marking the World Snooker Tour’s first go to there since 2019.

Nevertheless, there was criticism of how WST has led the game in current instances, with questionable administration selections apparently closing the doorways on potential development areas – notably throughout Europe.

The prominence of occasions just like the World Grand Prix, Gamers Championship, and Tour Championship – the place qualification is proscribed via the one-year rankings – has additionally made it tougher for lower-ranked gamers to compete regularly.

Throughout the current 2022/23 snooker season, 84 professionals managed to earn greater than £20,000.

Whereas there are profitable sums out there for the highest stars, with Mark Allen and Luca Brecel each receiving greater than half 1,000,000 kilos from ranking-event winnings, it’s a distinct story within the midfield and under.

Solely 40 gamers earned greater than £50,000 on the one-year rating listing, contrasting with the 2018/19 time period when 62 of the circuit’s individuals surpassed that determine.

The reintroduction of occasions in China is a fine addition for a sport nonetheless reeling from the scandal involving ten Chinese language gamers who’ve all been banned for match-fixing or betting.

However there stays issues forward, together with ongoing battles to safe sponsorship and to fill the apparent gaps on the calendar.

Gamers close to the underside shall be happy and relieved to get their assure of £20,000, however what they really need is a rise in taking part in alternatives.

It’s as much as the World Snooker Tour to ship that.

Featured picture credit score: WST