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2020–21 snooker season

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The 2020–21 snooker season was a professional snooker season with tournaments played from 13 September 2020 to 9 May 2021. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was played almost entirely without a live audience with only the 2021 World Snooker Championship being played in front of a crowd. All snooker tournaments in the season were played in the United Kingdom, due to travel and quarantine restrictions preventing the tour and players from utilising usual venues.

2020–21 snooker season
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all snooker events in the 2020–21 calendar were held in the United Kingdom
Details
Duration13 September 2020 – 9 May 2021 (2020-09-13 – 2021-05-09)
Tournaments19 (15 ranking events)
Triple Crown winners
UK Championship Neil Robertson (AUS)
Masters Yan Bingtao (CHN)
World Championship Mark Selby (ENG)

Judd Trump won five ranking events during the season, whilst Mark Selby won the 2021 World Snooker Championship, to win his fourth world championship. Trump retained the world number one spot throughout the season, also reaching the final of the 2020 UK Championship, losing to Neil Robertson. Teenager Yan Bingtao won the other Triple Crown event, the 2021 Masters. This was the first season in a decade that Ronnie O'Sullivan failed to win a triple crown event; O'Sullivan was defeated in all 5 ranking finals he reached this season, marking the first season since 2016–17 that he had not captured a ranking title.

Overview

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With the exception of two events played at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales (the Welsh Open and the Tour Championship) and the World Championship at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield; all snooker tournaments were played at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes.[1][2] The venue was used to cooperate with restrictions caused by the COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom.[citation needed]

Towards the end of October, World Snooker Tour had announced that the UK Championship would have the first round played at the same arena, but all televised stages would then be played at the York Barbican: on 4 November, days after the UK Government announced a lockdown for all of England, this was then revised to include the entire tournament.[3]

Despite space being allocated for back-to-back events in China during March, WST later confirmed on 3 December 2020 that all China-based tournaments were cancelled, due to continuing travel restrictions, making it the first season in more than a decade where no tournaments would be staged in Asia. In its place, a new WST Pro Series was added, taking place between January and March 2021.[4]

On 4 January 2021, the week prior to the event, WST announced that the Masters would be moved to the Marshall Arena, as a result of logistical challenges associated with Alexandra Palace having no on-site facilities and lengthy travel requirements from a hotel, preventing a secure 'bubble' from being formed to host the event.[5]

On 26 January 2021, World Snooker Tour announced that the Welsh Open would become the first event that season to be played outside the Marshall Arena, at the Celtic Manor Resort in Newport. This was made possible due to a Covid-bubble being able to be created with similar on-site accommodation facilities, meaning players were able to stay within the bubble while playing in the event.[6] Later in the season, World Snooker confirmed that the 2021 Tour Championship event would be played at Celtic Manor as the final event of the season prior to the World Championship at the Crucible Theatre.[7]

On 13 March 2021, World Snooker announced that the World Snooker Championship would welcome a limited number of fans, as part of an Events Research Programme run by the government. The programme intends to test a variety of settings to generate evidence on how fans may be safely welcomed into sporting events in future, with the Crucible Theatre providing evidence of a "theatre setting".[8]

On 20 April 2021, towards the start of the World Championship, it was announced that Barry Hearn would step down as Chairman of the World Snooker Tour and as President of Matchroom Sport. Steve Dawson will replace Hearn as the Chairman of the World Snooker Tour after the conclusion of the season, although Hearn will remain in an advisory position on tour.[9]

Players

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The World Snooker Tour in the 2020–21 season consists of a field of 128 professional players.[10] The top 64 players from the prize money rankings after the 2020 World Championship, and the 35 players earning a two-year card the previous year automatically qualify for the season. Next, four places are allocated to the top four on the One Year Ranking List who have not already qualified for the Main Tour. Another two players came from the Challenge Tour, two players came from the CBSA China Tour, and a further 12 places were available through the Q School, four from each of the three events. Two-year tour cards were also awarded to any player outside the top 64, who qualified for the main stage of the 2020 World Snooker Championship at the Crucible.[11] The rest of the places on to the tour came from amateur events.[10]

New professional players

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All players listed below received a tour card for two seasons.[10]

Calendar

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The following tables outline the dates and results for all the events of the World Snooker Tour and the World Seniors Tour.[1]

World Snooker Tour

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Start Finish Tournament Venue Winner Score Runner-up Ref.
21 Sep 27 Sep European Masters Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, England   Mark Selby (ENG) 9‍–‍8   Martin Gould (ENG) [19]
12 Oct 18 Oct English Open Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, England   Judd Trump (ENG) 9‍–‍8   Neil Robertson (AUS) [20]
13 Sep 30 Oct Championship League Ballroom, Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, England   Kyren Wilson (ENG) 3‍–‍1   Judd Trump (ENG) [21]
2 Nov 8 Nov Champion of Champions† Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, England   Mark Allen (NIR) 10‍–‍6   Neil Robertson (AUS) [22]
16 Nov 22 Nov Northern Ireland Open Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, England   Judd Trump (ENG) 9‍–‍7   Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) [23]
23 Nov 6 Dec UK Championship Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, England   Neil Robertson (AUS) 10‍–‍9   Judd Trump (ENG) [24]
7 Dec 13 Dec Scottish Open Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, England   Mark Selby (ENG) 9‍–‍3   Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) [25]
14 Dec 20 Dec World Grand Prix Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, England   Judd Trump (ENG) 10‍–‍7   Jack Lisowski (ENG) [26]
10 Jan 17 Jan Masters† Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, England   Yan Bingtao (CHN) 10‍–‍8   John Higgins (SCO) [27]
27 Jan 31 Jan German Masters Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, England   Judd Trump (ENG) 9‍–‍2   Jack Lisowski (ENG) [28]
4 Feb 7 Feb Shoot Out Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, England   Ryan Day (WAL) 1‍–‍0   Mark Selby (ENG) [29]
15 Feb 21 Feb Welsh Open Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales   Jordan Brown (NIR) 9‍–‍8   Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) [30]
22 Feb 28 Feb Players Championship Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, England   John Higgins (SCO) 10‍–‍3   Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) [31]
1 Mar 7 Mar Gibraltar Open Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, England   Judd Trump (ENG) 4‍–‍0   Jack Lisowski (ENG) [32]
18 Jan 21 Mar WST Pro Series Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, England   Mark Williams (WAL) R‍–‍R   Ali Carter (ENG) [33]
22 Mar 28 Mar Tour Championship Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Wales   Neil Robertson (AUS) 10‍–‍4   Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) [34]
4 Jan 2 Apr Championship League† Ballroom, Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, England   Kyren Wilson (ENG) 3‍–‍2   Mark Williams (WAL) [35]
17 Apr 3 May World Championship Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England   Mark Selby (ENG) 18‍–‍15   Shaun Murphy (ENG) [36]
Ranking event
† Non-ranking event

World Seniors Tour

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Start Finish Tournament Venue Winner Score Runner-up Ref.
6 May 9 May World Seniors Championship Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England   David Lilley (ENG) 5‍–‍3   Jimmy White (ENG) [37]

World ranking points

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Main articles: 2020–21 snooker world rankings and Snooker world ranking points 2020/2021

The 2020–21 snooker season featured the following points distribution for World Snooker Tour ranking events:

Round
Tournament
 R144 R128 R112 R96 R80 R64 R48 R32 R28 R24 R20 R16 R12 QF R7 R6 R5 SF R3 F W
European Masters — 0 — — — 3,000 — 4,000 — — — 6,000 — 11,000 — — — 17,500 — 35,000 80,000
English Open — 0 — — — 3,000 — 4,000 — — — 7,500 — 10,000 — — — 20,000 — 30,000 70,000
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
Northern Ireland 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
[note 10] 		— — — 7,500 — 12,500 — — — 20,000 — 40,000 100,000
German Masters — 0 — — — 3,000 — 4,000 — — — 5,000 — 10,000 — — — 20,000 — 35,000 80,000
Shoot Out — 250
[note 10] 		— — — 500 — 1,000 — — — 2,000 — 4,000 — — — 8,000 — 20,000 50,000
Welsh Open — 0 — — — 3,000 — 4,000 — — — 7,500 — 10,000 — — — 20,000 — 30,000 70,000
Players Championship — — — — — — — — — — — 10,000
[note 10] 		— 15,000 — — — 30,000 — 50,000 125,000
Gibraltar Open — 0 — — — 2,000 — 3,000 — — — 4,000 — 5,000 — — — 6,000 — 20,000 50,000
WST Pro Series — 0
[note 11] 		500
[note 12] 		1,000
[note 13] 		1,500
[note 14] 		2,000
[note 15] 		2,500
[note 16] 		4,000[note 17]
5,000[note 18] 		4,500[note 19]
5,500[note 20] 		5,000[note 21]
6,000[note 22] 		6,000[note 23]
7,000[note 24] 		7,000[note 25]
8,000[note 26] 		8,000[note 27]
9,000[note 28] 		11,500[note 29]
12,500[note 30]
14,000[note 31]
15,000[note 32] 		12,500[note 33]
13,500[note 34]
15,000[note 35]
16,000[note 36] 		13,500[note 37]
14,500[note 38]
16,000[note 39]
17,000[note 40] 		14,500[note 41]
15,500[note 42]
17,000[note 43]
18,000[note 44] 		15,500[note 45]
16,500[note 46]
18,000[note 47]
19,000[note 48] 		18,000[note 49]
19,000[note 50]
20,500[note 51]
21,500[note 52] 		20,500[note 53]
21,500[note 54]
23,000[note 55]
24,000[note 56] 		30,500[note 57]
31,500[note 58]
33,000[note 59]
34,000[note 60]
Tour Championship — — — — — — — — — — — — — 20,000
[note 10] 		— — — 40,000 — 60,000 150,000
World Championship 0 — 5,000
[note 61] 		— 10,000
[note 61] 		— 15,000 20,000
[note 61] 		— — — 30,000 — 50,000 — — — 100,000 — 200,000 500,000

Notes

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  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. ^ a b c d First round losers in the Shoot Out, World Grand Prix, Players Championship and Tour Championship will receive their prize money in full however this money will not count towards the prize money rankings
  11. ^ First stage eighth-placed
  12. ^ First stage seventh-placed
  13. ^ First stage sixth-placed
  14. ^ First stage fifth-placed
  15. ^ First stage fourth-placed
  16. ^ First stage third-placed
  17. ^ First stage second-placed, Second stage eighth-placed
  18. ^ First stage first-placed, Second stage eighth-placed
  19. ^ First stage second-placed, Second stage seventh-placed
  20. ^ First stage first-placed, Second stage seventh-placed
  21. ^ First stage second-placed, Second stage sixth-placed
  22. ^ First stage first-placed, Second stage sixth-placed
  23. ^ First stage second-placed, Second stage fifth-placed
  24. ^ First stage first-placed, Second stage fifth-placed
  25. ^ First stage second-placed, Second stage fourth-placed
  26. ^ First stage first-placed, Second stage fourth-placed
  27. ^ First stage second-placed, Second stage third-placed
  28. ^ First stage first-placed, Second stage third-placed
  29. ^ First stage second-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage eighth-placed
  30. ^ First stage first-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage eighth-placed
  31. ^ First stage second-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage eighth-placed
  32. ^ First stage first-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage eighth-placed
  33. ^ First stage second-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage seventh-placed
  34. ^ First stage first-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage seventh-placed
  35. ^ First stage second-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage seventh-placed
  36. ^ First stage first-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage seventh-placed
  37. ^ First stage second-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage sixth-placed
  38. ^ First stage first-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage sixth-placed
  39. ^ First stage second-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage sixth-placed
  40. ^ First stage first-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage sixth-placed
  41. ^ First stage second-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage fifth-placed
  42. ^ First stage first-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage fifth-placed
  43. ^ First stage second-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage fifth-placed
  44. ^ First stage first-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage fifth-placed
  45. ^ First stage second-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage fourth-placed
  46. ^ First stage first-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage fourth-placed
  47. ^ First stage second-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage fourth-placed
  48. ^ First stage first-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage fourth-placed
  49. ^ First stage second-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage third-placed
  50. ^ First stage first-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage third-placed
  51. ^ First stage second-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage third-placed
  52. ^ First stage first-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage third-placed
  53. ^ First stage second-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage second-placed
  54. ^ First stage first-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage second-placed
  55. ^ First stage second-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage second-placed
  56. ^ First stage first-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage second-placed
  57. ^ First stage second-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage first-placed
  58. ^ First stage first-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage first-placed
  59. ^ First stage second-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage first-placed
  60. ^ First stage first-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage first-placed
  61. ^ a b c Players who lose their first match receive no ranking points.

References

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  1. ^ a b "2021 WST Calendar Announced". World Snooker. 7 October 2020. Archived from the original on 7 October 2020.
  2. ^ "Milton Keynes To Host Season Opening Events". World Snooker. 28 August 2020. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020.
  3. ^ "UK Championship:Entire event to be played in Milton Keynes". BBC Sport. 5 November 2020.
  4. ^ "New WST Pro Series Added to Snooker Calendar". World Snooker. 3 December 2020. Archived from the original on 3 December 2020.
  5. ^ "Masters to be staged at Milton Keynes". World Snooker. 4 January 2021. Archived from the original on 4 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Celtic Manor Resort to host snooker's BetVictor Welsh Open". World Snooker. 26 January 2021. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021.
  7. ^ "Celtic Manor to host Cazoo Tour Championship". World Snooker. 22 February 2021. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021.
  8. ^ "Crucible to Welcome Fans". World Snooker. 13 March 2021. Archived from the original on 13 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Barry Hearn OBE Steps Aside". World Snooker. 20 April 2021. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021.
  10. ^ a b c "Snooker Continues To Lead Sport's Return With Tour Structure Plans". World Snooker. 8 June 2020. Archived from the original on 8 June 2020.
  11. ^ a b "Clarke And Brown Book Crucible Spots". World Snooker. 28 July 2020. Archived from the original on 29 July 2020.
  12. ^ "Pagett Wins European Amateur Championship". wpbsa. 20 March 2020.
  13. ^ "Andrew Pagett Tour Card Deferral". World Snooker. 28 September 2020. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020.
  14. ^ "Champion hill records-unique-european-double/". World Snooker Federation. 15 March 2020.
  15. ^ a b "Hugill-wins-wsf-open-to-secure-main-tour-return/". World Snooker Federation. 17 January 2020.
  16. ^ "2020//2021 Season Points". snooker.org. 12 June 2020.
  17. ^ "Doherty Awarded Invitational Tour Card". World Snooker Tour. 24 August 2020. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020.
  18. ^ "King of the Crucible Hendry returns". World Snooker Tour. 1 September 2020. Archived from the original on 1 September 2020.
  19. ^ "Selby Edges Gould In Thriller". World Snooker Tour. 27 September 2020. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020.
  20. ^ "Trump Beats Robertson In Fantastic Final". World Snooker Tour. 18 October 2020. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020.
  21. ^ "Wilson Claims Championship League Crown". World Snooker Tour. 30 October 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020.
  22. ^ "Allen Crowned Champion Of Champions". World Snooker Tour. 8 November 2020. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020.
  23. ^ "Trump Completes Northern Ireland Treble". World Snooker Tour. 22 November 2020. Archived from the original on 23 November 2020.
  24. ^ "Robertson Edges Trump In Thrilling UK Final". World Snooker Tour. 7 December 2020. Archived from the original on 7 December 2020.
  25. ^ "Selby Storms to Scottish Open Title". World Snooker Tour. 13 December 2020. Archived from the original on 13 December 2020.
  26. ^ "Trump Beats Lisowski To Win 20th Ranking Title". World Snooker Tour. 20 December 2020. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021.
  27. ^ "Yan Secures Thrilling Masters Victory". World Snooker Tour. 18 January 2021. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021.
  28. ^ "Trump Defends German Masters Title". World Snooker Tour. 31 January 2021. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021.
  29. ^ "Shoot Out Triumph Makes Ryan's Day". World Snooker Tour. 7 February 2021. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021.
  30. ^ "Brown Downs Rocket to Land Maiden Title". World Snooker Tour. 21 February 2021. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021.
  31. ^ "Wonderful Higgins Thrashes O'Sullivan". World Snooker Tour. 28 February 2021. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021.
  32. ^ "Trump Defends Gibraltar Open Title". World Snooker Tour. 7 March 2021. Archived from the original on 7 March 2021.
  33. ^ "Perfect Williams Ends Title Drought". World Snooker Tour. 21 March 2021. Archived from the original on 21 March 2021.
  34. ^ "Relentless Robertson Storms To Tour Title". World Snooker Tour. 28 March 2021. Archived from the original on 28 March 2021.
  35. ^ "Wilson: In A League Of His Own". World Snooker Tour. 2 April 2021. Archived from the original on 3 April 2021.
  36. ^ "Selby Lands Fourth Crucible Crown". World Snooker Tour. 3 May 2021. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021.
  37. ^ "Lilley Is World Seniors Champion". World Snooker Tour. 9 May 2021. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021.
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