The WST Classic gets underway tomorrow in Leicester and, as well as a ranking event title and a top prize of £80,000 up for grabs, there are crucial subplots for many of the 128 players in the field.
Gary Wilson is among those chasing spots in Hull and the Crucible
The tournament at the Morningside Arena runs from March 16 to 22 and fans can watch every ball of the main table by signing up to Matchroom.Live for £4.99 for the week or £1.99 for a day pass – to subscribe click here (this applies to all territories outside China, Thailand and Hong Kong which have alternative coverage).
It’s the final qualifying event for the Duelbits Tour Championship, which runs from March 27 to April 2. Only the top eight players on the one-year ranking list will go to Hull for the third and last event in the 2023 Duelbits Series.
The top five are safe: Mark Allen, Shaun Murphy, Ali Carter, Kyren Wilson and Ryan Day. But the other three spots, currently occupied by Robert Milkins, Ding Junhui and Mark Selby, are still in doubt.
In eighth place is Selby with £135,500, a lead of £4,500 over ninth-placed Luca Brecel. But with an £80,000 top prize available in Leicester, there are 15 players currently outside the top eight, still in with a chance:
Luca Brecel: Needs at least last 32
Jack Lisowski: Needs at least quarter-finals
Gary Wilson: Needs at least semi-finals
Judd Trump: Needs at least the final
Tom Ford: Needs at least the final
Joe O’Connor: Needs at least the final
Zhou Yuelong, Chris Wakelin, Mark Williams, Barry Hawkins, Xiao Guodong, Neil Robertson, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Noppon Saengkham and Anthony McGill all need the title.
WST Classic Prize Money
Winner: £80,000
Runner-up: £35,000
Semi-finals: £17,500
Quarter-finals: £11,000
Last 16: £7,500
Last 32: £4,500
Last 64: £3,000
In the Race to the Crucible there are just two counting events to go before the line-up of 16 seeds for Sheffield is confirmed: the WST Classic and the Duelbits Tour Championship. Day will be guaranteed an extra £20,000 in Hull so that puts him on target for a Crucible place. Similarly, if Ding can secure a place in Hull then that will boost him several places from his current position of 23rd. Barry Hawkins has not missed the Crucible since 2005 but he needs a deep run in Leicester this time.
For most players, this will be the last event before the Cazoo World Championship qualifiers, so for those battling for tour survival, every result is vital.
Tickets for our tournaments are on sale now – for details click here.
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