Snooker players to earn minimum £20,000 prize money in major cash boost for new season

All 130 professional snooker players on the World Snooker Tour will be guaranteed minimum earnings of £20,000 for the 2022/23 season in a major £2.6m cash boost. An initial payment of £10,000 will be doled out this month with another £10,000 paid to the tour member in January.

Ad If a player collects more than £20,000 over the season, the payment will be deducted from their overall prize money meaning the system is in place to benefit those who are struggling at the lower reaches of the game. Snooker'A huge inspiration' – Robertson on how Fury helped wife Mille win mental health battle8 HOURS AGO Several of the top figures in the game, including world champions Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins and Judd Trump, have been calling for the prize money at the top or the numbers on tour to be reduced to boost cash-strapped colleagues.

The initiative will be trialled for the forthcoming campaign. “We are delighted to join forces with the WPBSA (World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association) and its players organisation to fund this new programme," said WST chairman Steve Dawson.

«We recognise that these are tough times for many people given the cost of living crisis and that a £20,000 guarantee provides an important level of reassurance for many players who need to plan and prepare for life on tour. “The top stars on our tour earn vast sums, in fact three years ago we saw Judd Trump become the first player to earn £1 million in prize money in a single season.

But we recognise that further down the rankings, there are no guarantees. »We have brought in this new system to support the many talented players who may need a level of security to fund their snooker careers." “Before Matchroom took control of the sport in 2010,