Becoming a professional snooker player requires a player to qualify for a place on the World Snooker Tour through one of several recognised routes.
The main pathway is Q School, but players can also earn tour cards through the Q Tour, international amateur events, and other qualifying routes established by the WPBSA.
The World Snooker Tour
The World Snooker Tour is the professional circuit operated by the sport’s governing bodies.
There are usually 128 professional tour cards available, although the exact number and allocation of places can vary between seasons.
Players who hold a tour card are eligible to compete in professional tournaments and remain on the circuit for the duration of their card.
Tour cards are generally awarded for two seasons, although the length and conditions can vary depending on the route through which a player qualifies.
Q School
Q School is the main route for players seeking to join or return to the professional tour.
The annual Q School series consists of separate events in England and Thailand (Asia-Oceania Q School), with tour cards awarded to players who reach the designated stages.
Q School is open to eligible players regardless of their previous professional experience, meaning both amateurs and former professionals can compete.
See our full guide to how Q School works in snooker for more information.
Q Tour
The Q Tour is a series of amateur tournaments that provides players with another pathway onto the professional tour.
Players earn points based on their results throughout the season, with the leading performers earning tour cards at the end of the campaign.
The Q Tour also provides a competitive circuit for players who are attempting to progress towards professional status.
Usually, the top-ranked player gains automatic promotion to the World Snooker Tour, with additional spots often made available through an end-of-season play-off tournament.
World Snooker Federation Championships
The World Snooker Federation Championships provide another route onto the professional tour.
The winners of both the WSF Championship and the WSF Junior Championship earn a two-year tour card, giving it significant importance for amateur players attempting to progress into professional snooker.
The WSF Championships is open to amateur players from around the world and forms part of the WPBSA’s wider pathway towards professional status.
Other amateur and international routes
Tour cards can also be awarded through selected amateur and international competitions.
These routes can include:
- Regional or continental competitions, such as the EBSA European Championship
- National governing body events, such as the CBSA China Tour
- Other tournaments recognised by the WPBSA
The exact allocation of tour cards can vary from season to season.
Invitations and other tour cards
The WPBSA can also award tour cards through specific invitations or other qualifying arrangements.
These may be used to recognise exceptional career achievements or provide access to players who qualify through established international pathways.
Examples of legendary players who have benefited from invitational tour cards are Stephen Hendry, Jimmy White, and Ken Doherty.
The number and nature of these places can change depending on the rules and tour structure for each season.
How long does a professional tour card last?
Most players who qualify for the World Snooker Tour initially receive a two-year tour card.
This allows them to compete on the professional circuit for two seasons without needing to qualify again.
At the end of a tour card period, players generally need to be ranked inside the world’s top 64 to retain their professional status automatically.
Players who meet this requirement are typically given a further one-year tour card.
Players outside the top 64 must usually qualify for a new tour card through one of the available routes.
There are exceptions to this, as the precise allocation of tour cards can vary depending on the season and the route through which a player originally qualified.
Can a former professional return to the tour?
Yes.
Players who lose their professional status can attempt to return to the World Snooker Tour through routes such as Q School, Q Tour, or other qualifying events.
Former professionals therefore compete alongside aspiring newcomers for opportunities to regain a tour card.
Common misunderstandings
Q School is the only way to become a professional
Q School is one of the primary routes, but players can also qualify through several amateur, international, and other recognised pathways.
Only young players can become professional
There is no general age requirement that prevents experienced amateur or former professional players from attempting to qualify.
Winning an amateur tournament automatically makes a player professional
Only tournaments and routes that carry a recognised tour-card place provide direct qualification for the World Snooker Tour.
Once a player becomes professional, they remain on the tour permanently
Tour cards normally cover a defined period. Players must retain their status or qualify for a new card to remain professional.