2021–22 snooker season

The 2021–22 snooker season was a series of snooker tournaments played from July 2021 to May 2022, including the professional World Snooker Tour but also featuring events for female, senior, and Q School players. The season saw a record five players claim their first professional ranking titles: David Gilbert, Zhao Xintong, Hossein Vafaei, Fan Zhengyi, and Robert Milkins.[1] Nutcharut Wongharuthai won her first World Women's Snooker Championship, becoming the only player besides Reanne Evans and Ng On-yee to win the women's world title in 19 years.[2] Ronnie O'Sullivan won the World Snooker Championship, equalling Stephen Hendry's modern era record of seven world titles and becoming the oldest world champion in snooker history at the age of 46 years and 148 days.[3] Lee Walker won his first World Seniors Championship.[4]

2021–22 snooker season
Details
Duration18 July 2021 – 11 May 2022
Tournaments32 (16 ranking events)
Triple Crown winners
UK Championship Zhao Xintong (CHN)
Masters Neil Robertson (AUS)
World Championship Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG)

Neil Robertson, who won four tournaments during the season, was named Player of the Year at the World Snooker Tour Awards. O'Sullivan was named the Snooker Journalists' Player of the Year, while Zhao was the Fans' Player of the Year. O'Sullivan won Performance of the Year for capturing his seventh world title, while Robertson won Magic Moment of the Year for making a maximum break at the Crucible. Evans and Allison Fisher were entered into the Snooker Hall of Fame for outstanding contributions to the growth of snooker.[5]

Players

The World Snooker Tour in the 2021–22 season consists of a field of 122 professional players.[6] The top 64 players from the prize money rankings after the 2021 World Championship, and 27 of the players who earned a two-year tour card the previous year automatically qualified for the season. Next, eight places were allocated to the top eight on the One Year Ranking List who had not already qualified for the Main Tour. Another four players came from the CBSA China Tour, and a further 14 places were eligible through the 2021 Q School, four from each of the three events and an additional two from the Order of Merit). Two players from the World Women's Snooker Tour were given tour cards. Andrew Pagett, who won the 2020 EBSA European Championship, had his tour card deferred to this season and was subsequently given a tour card. The last two tour cards were invitational tour cards, given to Marco Fu and Jimmy White.

New professional players

All players listed below received a tour card for two seasons.[6]

Top-up players

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic restricting the number of amateur qualification tournaments that could be run and thus the total size of the Main Tour for this season, World Snooker Tour announced that the following six players are guaranteed an invite to all eligible snooker events this season, alongside amateurs appointed by local governing bodies for the Home Nations Series. This was due to their ranking on the Q School Order of Merit:

Calendar

The following tables outline the dates and results for all the events of the World Snooker Tour, World Women's Snooker, the World Seniors Tour and the Q Tour.[9][10][11]

World Snooker Tour
Start Finish Country Tournament name Venue City Winner Runner-up Score Ref.
18 Jul 13 Aug  ENG Championship League Morningside Arena Leicester  David Gilbert (ENG)  Mark Allen (NIR) 3–1 [12]
16 Aug 22 Aug  ENG British Open Morningside Arena Leicester  Mark Williams (WAL)  Gary Wilson (ENG) 6–4 [13]
9 Oct 17 Oct  NIR Northern Ireland Open Waterfront Hall Belfast  Mark Allen (NIR)  John Higgins (SCO) 9–8 [14]
1 Nov 7 Nov  ENG English Open Marshall Arena Milton Keynes  Neil Robertson (AUS)  John Higgins (SCO) 9–8 [15]
15 Nov 21 Nov  ENG Champion of Champions Bolton Whites Hotel Bolton  Judd Trump (ENG)  John Higgins (SCO) 10–4 [16]
23 Nov 5 Dec  ENG UK Championship York Barbican York  Zhao Xintong (CHN)  Luca Brecel (BEL) 10–5 [17]
6 Dec 12 Dec  WAL Scottish Open Venue Cymru Llandudno  Luca Brecel (BEL)  John Higgins (SCO) 9–5 [18]
13 Dec 19 Dec  ENG World Grand Prix Coventry Building Society Arena Coventry  Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG)  Neil Robertson (AUS) 10–8 [19]
9 Jan 16 Jan  ENG Masters Alexandra Palace London  Neil Robertson (AUS)  Barry Hawkins (ENG) 10–4 [20]
20 Jan 23 Jan  ENG Shoot Out Morningside Arena Leicester  Hossein Vafaei (IRN)  Mark Williams (WAL) 1–0 [21]
26 Jan 30 Jan  GER German Masters Tempodrom Berlin  Zhao Xintong (CHN)  Yan Bingtao (CHN) 9–0 [22]
20 Dec 4 Feb  ENG Championship League Invitational Morningside Arena Leicester  John Higgins (SCO)  Stuart Bingham (ENG) 3–2 [23]
7 Feb 13 Feb  ENG Players Championship Aldersley Leisure Village Wolverhampton  Neil Robertson (AUS)  Barry Hawkins (ENG) 10–5 [24]
21 Feb 27 Feb  ENG European Masters Marshall Arena Milton Keynes  Fan Zhengyi (CHN)  Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) 10–9 [25]
28 Feb 6 Mar  WAL Welsh Open ICC Wales, Celtic Manor Resort Newport  Joe Perry (ENG)  Judd Trump (ENG) 9–5 [26]
7 Mar 13 Mar  TUR Turkish Masters Nirvana Cosmopolitan Hotel Antalya  Judd Trump (ENG)  Matthew Selt (ENG) 10–4 [27]
24 Mar 26 Mar  GIB Gibraltar Open Europa Point Sports Complex Gibraltar  Robert Milkins (ENG)  Kyren Wilson (ENG) 4–2 [28]
28 Mar 3 Apr  WAL Tour Championship Venue Cymru Llandudno  Neil Robertson (AUS)  John Higgins (SCO) 10–9 [29]
16 Apr 2 May  ENG World Championship Crucible Theatre Sheffield  Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG)  Judd Trump (ENG) 18–13 [30]
Ranking event
Non-ranking event

World Women's Snooker
Start Finish Country Tournament name Venue City Winner Runner-up Score Ref.
4 Sep 5 Sep  ENG UK Women's Championship Northern Snooker Centre Leeds  Reanne Evans (ENG)  Rebecca Kenna (ENG) 4–0 [31][32]
27 Nov 28 Nov  ENG Eden Women's Masters Frames Sports Bar London  Ng On-yee (HKG)  Reanne Evans (ENG) 4–3 [33][34]
15 Jan 16 Jan  ENG Women's British Open The Winchester Leicester  Nutcharut Wongharuthai (THA)  Reanne Evans (ENG) 4–3 [35][36]
11 Feb 14 Feb  ENG World Women's Championship Ding Junhui Snooker Academy Sheffield  Nutcharut Wongharuthai (THA)  Wendy Jans (BEL) 6–5 [37][38]
2 Apr 3 Apr  ENG Winchester Women's Open The Winchester Leicester  Ng On-yee (HKG)  Nutcharut Wongharuthai (THA) 4–0 [39]

Q Tour
Main article: 2021–22 Q Tour
Start Finish Country Tournament name Venue City Winner Runner-up Score Ref.
19 Nov 21 Nov  ENG Q Tour 1 Castle Snooker Club Brighton  David Lilley (ENG)  Si Jiahui (CHN) 5–1 [40]
10 Dec 12 Dec  WAL Q Tour 2 Terry Griffiths Matchroom Llanelli  Si Jiahui (CHN)  Michael White (WAL) 5–4 [41]
28 Jan 30 Jan  ENG Q Tour 3 The Winchester Leicester  Sean O'Sullivan (ENG)  Julien Leclercq (BEL) 5–2 [42]
18 Mar 20 Mar  ENG Q Tour 4 Northern Snooker Centre Leeds  Robbie McGuigan (NIR)  Michael Collumb (SCO) 5–3 [43]
10 May 11 May  ENG Q Tour Playoff Q House Snooker Academy Darlington  Julien Leclercq (BEL)  Alex Clenshaw (ENG) 5–2 [44]

Other events
Start Finish Country Tournament name Venue City Winner Runner-up Score Ref.
25 Sep 29 Sep  CHN Haining Open Haining Sports Center Haining  He Guoqiang (CHN)  Huang Jiahao (CHN) 5–0 [45]

World ranking points
Main articles: Snooker world rankings 2021/2022 and Snooker world ranking points 2021/2022

The 2021–22 snooker season will feature the following points distribution for World Snooker Tour ranking events:

Round
Tournament
 R144 R128 R112 R96 R80 R64 R48 R32 R24 R16 QF R6 SF F W
Championship League — 0
[note 1]		 — 1,000
[note 2]		 — 2,000
[note 3]		 — 4,000
[note 4]		 5,000
[note 5]		 6,000
[note 6]		 8,000
[note 7]		 9,000
[note 8]		 11,000
[note 9]		 23,000 33,000
British Open — 0 — — — 3,000 — 5,000 — 7,000 12,000 — 20,000 45,000 100,000
Northern Ireland Open — 0 — — — 3,000 — 4,000 — 7,500 10,000 — 20,000 30,000 70,000
English Open — 0 — — — 3,000 — 4,000 — 7,500 10,000 — 20,000 30,000 70,000
UK Championship — 0 — — — 6,500 — 12,000 — 17,000 24,500 — 40,000 80,000 200,000
Scottish Open — 0 — — — 3,000 — 4,000 — 7,500 10,000 — 20,000 30,000 70,000
World Grand Prix — — — — — — — 5,000 — 7,500 12,000 — 20,000 40,000 100,000
Shoot Out — 0 — — — 500 — 1,000 — 2,000 4,000 — 8,000 20,000 50,000
German Masters — 0 — — — 3,000
[note 10]		 — 4,000 — 5,000 10,000 — 20,000 35,000 80,000
Players Championship — — — — — — — — — 10,000 15,000 — 30,000 50,000 125,000
European Masters — 0 — — — 3,000 — 4,000 — 6,000 11,000 — 17,500 35,000 80,000
Welsh Open — 0 — — — 3,000 — 4,000 — 7,500 10,000 — 20,000 30,000 70,000
Turkish Masters — 0 — — — 3,500 — 5,500 — 7,500 12,500 — 20,000 45,000 100,000
Gibraltar Open — 0 — — — 2,000 — 3,000 — 4,000 5,000 — 6,000 20,000 50,000
Tour Championship — — — — — — — — — — 20,000 — 40,000 60,000 150,000
World Championship 0 — 5,000
[note 11]		 — 10,000
[note 11]		 — 15,000 20,000
[note 11]		 — 30,000 50,000 — 100,000 200,000 500,000

Notes
  1. First stage fourth-placed
  2. First stage third-placed
  3. First stage runner-up
  4. Second stage fourth-placed
  5. Second stage third-placed
  6. Second stage runner-up
  7. Third stage fourth-placed
  8. Third stage third-placed
  9. Third stage runner-up
  10. Loss in second qualifying round
  11. Players who lose their first match receive no ranking points.

References
  1. "A Changing Game?". World Snooker. 19 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  2. "Wongharuthai Wins First World Title". World Snooker. 15 February 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  3. "Ronnie O'Sullivan exclusive: World snooker champion on how he beat self-doubt to lift seventh title". Eurosport UK. 10 May 2022. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
  4. "Snooker results: Lee Walker beats Jimmy White in World Seniors Championship final". www.sportinglife.com. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  5. "Robertson Named Player Of The Year". World Snooker. 6 May 2022. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  6. "Tour Players 2021/22". World Snooker. 18 June 2021.
  7. "2020/2021 Season Points". snooker.org. 17 April 2021.
  8. "Jimmy White Awarded New Invitational Tour Card". wst.tv. 11 April 2021.
  9. "Calendar 2021/2022 (Provisional)" (PDF). wst.tv. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  10. "Calendar 2021/2022". snooker.org. Retrieved 3 June 2021.
  11. "Calendar 2021/2022". WWS. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
  12. Gilbert Secures First Ranking Title. World Snooker Tour. 13 August 2021.
  13. Williams Lands 24th Ranking Crown. World Snooker Tour. 22 August 2021.
  14. "Allen Lands Belfast Glory". World Snooker Tour. 17 October 2021. Archived from the original on 18 October 2021.
  15. "Robertson Downs Higgins in Classic Clash". World Snooker Tour. 7 November 2021. Archived from the original on 8 November 2021.
  16. "Trump Crowned Champion of Champions". World Snooker Tour. 21 November 2021. Archived from the original on 21 November 2021.
  17. "Sensation Zhao is UK Champion". World Snooker Tour. 5 December 2021. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021.
  18. "Brilliant Brecel Claims Second Ranking Crown". World Snooker Tour. 12 December 2021. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021.
  19. "Ronnie O'Sullivan Produces Stirring Evening Fightback To Beat Neil Robertson To Win Final". Eurosport. 19 December 2021. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021.
  20. "Thunder Strikes For Second Masters Title". World Snooker Tour. 16 January 2022. Archived from the original on 16 January 2022.
  21. "Vafaei Makes History As First Iranian Champion". World Snooker Tour. 23 January 2022. Archived from the original on 23 January 2022.
  22. "Zhao Destroys Yan In Berlin Final". World Snooker Tour. 30 January 2022. Archived from the original on 30 January 2022.
  23. "Higgins In A League Of His Own". World Snooker Tour. 4 February 2022. Archived from the original on 4 February 2022.
  24. "Robertson Lands Maiden Players Crown". World Snooker Tour. 13 February 2022. Archived from the original on 13 February 2022.
  25. "China's Fan Stuns O'Sullivan In Dramatic Final". World Snooker Tour. 27 February 2022. Archived from the original on 27 February 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  26. "Perry Claims Welsh Open Glory". World Snooker Tour. 6 March 2022. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  27. "Magnificent Trump Reigns In Turkey". World Snooker Tour. 13 March 2022. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  28. "Robertson Recovery Stuns Higgins". World Snooker Tour. 3 April 2022. Archived from the original on 3 April 2022.
  29. "Milkman Rules The Rock With First Ranking Crown". World Snooker Tour. 26 March 2022. Archived from the original on 26 March 2022.
  30. "O'Sullivan Beats Trump For Magnificent Seventh". World Snooker Tour. 2 May 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  31. "Perfect Ten For Evans At UK Championship". WWS. 6 September 2021.
  32. "Perfect Ten For Evans". World Snooker Tour. 6 September 2021. Archived from the original on 6 September 2021.
  33. "Ng Comeback Claims Masters Title". WWS. 29 November 2021.
  34. "Ng Comeback Seals Masters Title". World Snooker Tour. 29 November 2021. Archived from the original on 1 January 2022.
  35. "Magic Mink Is British Open Champion". WWS. 17 January 2022.
  36. "Wongharuthai Beats Evans In British Final". World Snooker Tour. 17 January 2022. Archived from the original on 17 January 2022.
  37. "Wongharuthai is World Women's Snooker Champion". WWS. 15 February 2022.
  38. "Wongharuthai Wins First World Title". World Snooker Tour. 15 February 2021. Archived from the original on 15 February 2022.
  39. "Ng Claims The Winchester Crown". WWS. 3 April 2022.
  40. "Lilley Crowned King of the Castle at Q Tour". WPBSA. 21 November 2021.
  41. "Success for Si at WPBSA Q Tour". World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 12 December 2021. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021.
  42. "O'Sullivan Storms to Q Tour Success". World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 30 January 2022. Archived from the original on 30 January 2022.
  43. "Comeback King McGuigan Takes Q Tour Title". World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association. 20 March 2022. Archived from the original on 20 March 2022.
  44. "Leclercq wins playoff to earn WST place". WPBSA. 11 May 2022.
  45. He On A High In Haining. WPBSA. 30 September 2021.
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