The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) has announced that the newly expanded WPBSA Q Tour Global Playoff will be held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, from 13-15 March 2024.
To be played at the Hotel Hills alongside the European Championships organised by the European Billiards and Snooker Association (EBSA), the relaunched Playoff will see three players earn a two-year World Snooker Tour card from the start of the 2024/25 season.
The Field
The event will be contested by 24 players who will need to win three matches to secure a professional tour card.
This will include a minimum of 16 players from the Q Tour UK/Europe Series, with Liam Davies, Michael Holt, Umut Dikme and Antoni Kowalski already guaranteed to qualify as event winners so far this season – unless one of them were to claim the automatic tour card for finishing in top spot.
They will be joined by up to eight players from regional Q Tour events held around the world. To date, Q Tours in the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Middle East Regions have already been announced, with outstanding performers based upon regional ranking lists set to qualify for the Global Playoff.
The Format
The three-day event will comprise three sections of eight players, to play quarter-finals, semi-finals and ultimately final qualification matches. These will be played under and expanded long format of best of 9, 11 and ultimately 19 frame matches respectively, to provide the ultimate test for aspiring professionals.
The Playoff will also carry a prize fund of almost £20,000 for the first time, with each of the 24 players guaranteed to earn prize money from the event.
“The very best conditions”
Jason Ferguson, WPBSA Chairman said: “We are delighted to announce that this prestigious new Playoff will be held alongside the EBSA European Championships in Sarajevo next spring.
“The announcement of Q Tour Global last July has received a fantastic response from amateur players around the world and already this season we have seen record entry numbers as players aim to earn their place on the professional tour.
“Open to players of all nationalities, gender and ability, the WPBSA Q Tour is a truly inclusive and open tour, with more players able to compete internationally than ever before with the introduction of Q Tour Series’ in the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Middle East regions this season.
“I would like to thank our friends at the EBSA who I know will strive to deliver the very best conditions for the players in what are hugely important matches and I look forward to seeing who will emerge victorious from what promises to be a wonderful event.”
Maxime Cassis, EBSA President said: “On behalf of the EBSA I am delighted to be able to cooperate with the WPBSA to host this major event which will see three amateur players turn professional for the start of the 2024/25 season.
“Combined with the two players to be claimed by the winners of our European Championship and European Under-21 Championship tournament, this means that there will now be five players who will join the World Snooker Tour following this historic event in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”
Learn more about the WPBSA Q Tour Global.
