26 May 2018
The first thing that is obvious with the draw is the number of walk overs, or byes. This is bound to lead to more criticism and calls for each round to be drawn after the previous one has finished.
Also, with the news that two current pros have been suspended (David John was relegated and didn’t enter Q School so doesn’t affect this), thoughts must be about top-ups for the main tour event.
The top 2 in this years Order of Merit, as well as qualifying for the Challenge Tour, will get invited to main tour events where 128 are needed. Like Jackson Page last season, there should be plenty invites. Then the logistics of playing Main Tour and Challenge Tour events will need consideration.
27 May 2018
As we complete Round 1 today, and start Round 2 with the first 8 matches, more reflections will be taking place and realisation that maybe that wasn’t such a good idea after all.
I don’t blame anyone, who can afford it, for having a go, but to me it’s a bit of an insult to the professionals to suggest that just about anyone who can hold a cue can have a shot at joining them.
I’ve said it before but I am happy to keep saying it – Q School, in this format, is not right for snooker.
There have been lots of calls for a secondary tour, and the Challenge Tour can be just that. So why not use Q School as a means of qualifying for that rather than for the main tour?
The Challenge Tour can provide the top amateurs with a good test of their ability as measured against their peers. A season long tour is the way to prove who is the best.
Maybe give the top one or two from the Challenge Tour a main tour ticket, but then at the end of the season, the best however many can play against relegated pros for more main tour places.
It’s just way too big of a jump for amateurs who don’t even play in the top amateur events to be trying for professional status.
That’s my view anyway!
28 May 2018
Round 2 is under way and out of the 40 scheduled for today we have another 6 walkovers, only 1 due to previous qualification.
Jamie Cope should move on without too much trouble, but the Thor Chuan Leong v Alex Borg match obviously sees another bowing out of one of the newly relegated pros.
Jackson Page needs a win here if he is to make sure of a Challenge Tour place, but he will be looking to go all the way this time.
There are quite a few tough matches today, and beyond, and looking at the Order of Merit there are a few names already out of contention for Challenge Tour places that personally I would have thought were certainties.
Although initial thoughts were that 64 places on the Challenge Tour made it look easy to qualify, that’s certainly not the case. Also, it’s looking like the Challenge Tour is going to be a pretty good standard and will be very tough to get to the top of the end of season rankings.
29 May 2018
Only a couple of days left now and it’s looking serious! We can also now start looking at who might qualify from the four sections.
The first section, to me, is wide open. Two newly relegated pros will not have it all their own way as there are some very good amateurs in this section. Predict at your peril!
Although Jamie Curtis-Barrett is the only newly relegated pro in section 2, there are a few that will be serious contenders to stopping his immediate return. Brandon Sargeant, David Lilley, Michael Judge and of course Jackson Page. It’s not limited to those either.
Adam Duffy looks like the standout candidate in the third section after David Grace’s exit leaves him as the only newly relegated pro. But once again, it’s a bit too early as there are a lot of challengers still in it.
Today is the last bit of Round 2, section 4, and the last hope for the women is with Ng On Yee.
Half of Round 3 will also be played today.
30 May 2018
Another ‘pro’ casualty as we reach the halfway point of Round 3
Section One
Shaping up to be really interesting and an all ‘pro’ final is a possibility.
Section Two
With no ‘pro’ contenders left after Jamie Curtis-Barrett was beaten by Kishan Hirani, could this be the opportunity for Jackson Page? Tough test next for him though against David Lilley.
Section Three
The next 8 matches in this section start today off. Adam Duffy is still looking favourite but I think James Cahill could be his biggest threat. There are two matches today for those in this section.
Section Four
Last hope for the women is Ng On Yee who plays Dechawat Poomjaeng today.
Mitchell Mann and Chen Zhe are the ‘pro’ hopes in this section and again, all this section have 2 matches today.
It’s all getting very tense as the Order of Merit is losing more amateurs who would have put their shirts on qualifying for the Challenge Tour.
31 May 2018
The final day of Q School 2018. Who will get the last 4 cards on offer?
Section One
There is still the possibility of an all ‘pro’ final but I’m going to stick my neck out and go for a new name for the pro ranks, Farakh Ajaib.
Section Two
Definitely no returning ‘pro’ in this section but it may be a return to the pro ranks for either Michael Judge or Simon Bedford. Or could it be youth in the form of Kishan Hirani who takes the ticket?
Section Three
This section is made up of ex-pros although none were on the tour last season. James Cahill could be the one with the biggest desire.
Section Four
There are a couple of ‘pros’ looking to bounce straight back, but I’m hoping for Ashley Carty to make his debut on the tour.
Challenge Tour Qualification
Today’s results won’t have much of an effect on the 64 names who qualify as of right for the Challenge Tour, which starts here on Saturday. More likely it will be the ones that don’t enter that will have the biggest effect. I’m guessing that the qualifying criteria will be similar to previous years, so the ones on 20 points will be looking at frames won in Event 1 to see if they top the list.
The Challenge Tour is going to be interesting to follow throughout the season, in particular with regards to who enters and who doesn’t.1 June 2018
Well that’s Q School done for another year. Hopefully the format or purpose will have changed significantly for next year!
The winners of the cards were Ashley Carty, Kishan Hirani, Andy Lee and Thor Chuan Leong.
It’s pleasing to see a couple of main tour debutantes in Carty and Hirani. They were the only two out of the 12 cards dished out at Q School this year. A statistic that some would use as the main justification for looking at a change.
It was also said by a few that their main purpose for entering Q School was to get on the Challenge Tour which starts tomorrow at the same venue. The details about the Challenge Tour are still very sketchy so lets just keep an eye out for now and see how it progresses.
