Of the 128 professional players, 16 qualify automatically for The Crucible. So, in theory there are 16 places to be offered to amateur players.
2016 IBSF Championship winner Soheil Vahedi was invited but could not obtain a visa in time to compete, however WPBSA looks forward to welcoming him to the 2017/18 World Snooker Tour.
The following 8 players qualify as the Home Nations NGB entries – Jackson Page (WAL); Tyler Rees (WAL); Ross Vallance (SCO); Chris Totten (SCO); Jordan Brown (NIR); Patrick Wallace (NIR); Jamie Bodle (ENG) and Wayne Townsend (ENG)
Xu Si (CHN), the winner of the 2016 IBSF Under 21 Championship
The EBSA European Championship winner earns a place but as Chris Totten has already qualified as an NGB entry, the place was awarded to the runner up, Andres Petrov (Est)
The EBSA European Under 21 Championship winner Alexander Ursenbacher (SUI)
Gerard Greene (NIR) and Zack Richardson (ENG) were the top two places on the EBSA Order of Merit
Peter Lines earns a place as the 2017 World Seniors Championship winner
The 2016 WLBS World Women’s Championship winner, Reanne Evans (ENG)
The EBSA European Under 18 Championship winner Jackson Page has already received an invitation as a Home Nations NGB qualifier. The runner up, Amir Nardeia (ISR), was offered a place but he was unable to take it up.
So that’s 15 places taken up.
However, there are three professionals who are missing from the draw. Jamie Burnett, who I understand was in a car accident some time ago and has not been fit to play since. Leo Fernandez who is currently serving a ban and Rouzi Maimaiti on whom I have no information as to why he isn’t playing.
This means there are now 19 places to be offered.
So for the final four places – Ng On Yee gets an invite as current WLBS World Women’s Champion, James Wattana gets a place and finally as the top two in the 2016 Q School Order of Merit, Adam Stefanow and Andy Hicks get the nod.
That’s how I see it and I’ve taken most of it from the World Snooker site.