Concerns over the structure of the World Snooker Tour have come into sharper focus after WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson acknowledged that the current system is creating problems for a significant number of professional players.
The debate centres on the increasing use of tiered draws, with some tournaments giving higher-ranked players direct access to the main stages while lower-ranked competitors are required to come through qualifying. Ferguson has admitted that the structure is being examined, particularly because of the amount of downtime some players can experience during the season.
Traditionally, many ranking events featured flat 128-player draws, meaning professionals entered tournaments at the same stage. However, more events have moved towards tiered formats, with commercial considerations playing an important role in ensuring that leading players appear at the main venues and television stages.
That change has not been universally welcomed among players.
Recent comments from competitors have highlighted concerns that the current structure could create a noticeable divide between the leading players and those outside the top 16. British Open winner Jak Jones has been among those to question the impact of the system, arguing that the smaller-field events can make it particularly difficult for players lower down the rankings to remain regularly involved.
Ferguson has acknowledged that concern.
One of the major issues identified by the WPBSA chairman is the possibility of extended periods without competitive action for some members. Players who are eliminated in qualifying can sometimes face a lengthy wait before their next opportunity, while the smaller Players Series events involve only a limited number of competitors.
“The players series for me, that is a concern,” Ferguson said, according to the report. He explained that there could be periods when only 32, 16 or 12 players are competing, leaving many other professionals without tournament matches.
For players attempting to establish themselves on the professional circuit, regular competition is particularly important. Losing several qualifying matches in succession can also have a significant impact on confidence and ranking opportunities, while those who progress deep into tournaments continue accumulating valuable prize money and ranking positions.
Ferguson believes the issue needs to be examined carefully.
The WPBSA chairman said the organisation is “looking long and hard” at the structure of the tour and what changes may be necessary to ensure that players can remain active throughout the season. His stated aim is for members to have more opportunities to compete, whether those events are organised by the WPBSA, World Snooker or other organisations.
The ranking system itself has also attracted criticism from leading Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump and Mark Selby have previously questioned the current prize-money-based ranking system and suggested that a points-based approach could provide a different way of rewarding consistency.
The concerns therefore extend beyond tournament formats. Players are also examining how the ranking structure interacts with the increasingly selective nature of the calendar.
For the WPBSA, however, the challenge is to balance the interests of players with the commercial demands of professional snooker. Bringing the biggest names into the main stages can help promoters and broadcasters, while flat draws provide more opportunities for the wider membership.
Ferguson’s comments indicate that the governing body recognises there is an issue that requires attention rather than simply dismissing the complaints.
The WPBSA’s official player information also states that the organisation takes the welfare of main-tour players seriously, with player-related matters handled within its support structure.
As the 2026/27 season develops, the debate over the World Snooker Tour structure is therefore likely to continue. Players will want regular opportunities to compete, while tournament organisers must consider the commercial value of having the sport’s biggest names on the main stages
For now, Ferguson’s admission that the structure is under review provides an indication that the concerns raised by players are being considered at the highest level of the sport.
The question now is whether future changes can provide a more consistent calendar for the wider professional field while maintaining the commercial appeal that has driven the move towards tiered events.
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