 Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all snooker events in the 2020–21 calendar were held in the United Kingdom | |
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Duration | 13 September 2020 – 9 May 2021 (2020-09-13 – 2021-05-09) |
| Tournaments | 19 (15 ranking events) |
| Triple Crown winners | |
| UK Championship |  Neil Robertson (AUS) |
| Masters |  Yan Bingtao (CHN) |
| World Championship |  Mark Selby (ENG) |
| ← 2019–20 2021–22 → | |
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.
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
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. The venue was used to cooperate with restrictions caused by the COVID-19 lockdown in the United Kingdom.
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.
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.
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.
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. 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.
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".
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.
Players
The World Snooker Tour in the 2020–21 season consists of a field of 128 professional players. 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. The rest of the places on to the tour came from amateur events.
New professional players
All players listed below received a tour card for two seasons.
EBSA European Championship winner:
One Year Ranking List
|
|
Calendar
The following tables outline the dates and results for all the events of the World Snooker Tour and the World Seniors Tour.
World Snooker Tour
| Ranking event |
| † Non-ranking event |
World Seniors Tour
| 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)
|
World ranking points
Main articles: 2020–21 snooker world rankings and Snooker world ranking points 2020/2021The 2020–21 snooker season featured the following points distribution for World Snooker Tour ranking events:
| RoundTournament | 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 |
— | 1,000 |
— | 2,000 |
— | 4,000 |
— | 5,000 |
— | 6,000 |
— | 8,000 |
— | 9,000 |
— | 11,000 |
— | 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 |
— | — | — | 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 |
— | — | — | 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 |
— | 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 |
500 |
1,000 |
1,500 |
2,000 |
2,500 |
4,000 5,000 |
4,500 5,500 |
5,000 6,000 |
6,000 7,000 |
7,000 8,000 |
8,000 9,000 |
11,500 12,500 14,000 15,000 |
12,500 13,500 15,000 16,000 |
13,500 14,500 16,000 17,000 |
14,500 15,500 17,000 18,000 |
15,500 16,500 18,000 19,000 |
18,000 19,000 20,500 21,500 |
20,500 21,500 23,000 24,000 |
30,500 31,500 33,000 34,000 |
| Tour Championship | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 20,000 |
— | — | — | 40,000 | — | 60,000 | 150,000 |
| World Championship | 0 | — | 5,000 |
— | 10,000 |
— | 15,000 | 20,000 |
— | — | — | 30,000 | — | 50,000 | — | — | — | 100,000 | — | 200,000 | 500,000 |
Notes
- First stage fourth-placed
- First stage third-placed
- First stage runner-up
- Second stage fourth-placed
- Second stage third-placed
- Second stage runner-up
- Third stage fourth-placed
- Third stage third-placed
- Third stage runner-up
- ^ 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
- First stage eighth-placed
- First stage seventh-placed
- First stage sixth-placed
- First stage fifth-placed
- First stage fourth-placed
- First stage third-placed
- First stage second-placed, Second stage eighth-placed
- First stage first-placed, Second stage eighth-placed
- First stage second-placed, Second stage seventh-placed
- First stage first-placed, Second stage seventh-placed
- First stage second-placed, Second stage sixth-placed
- First stage first-placed, Second stage sixth-placed
- First stage second-placed, Second stage fifth-placed
- First stage first-placed, Second stage fifth-placed
- First stage second-placed, Second stage fourth-placed
- First stage first-placed, Second stage fourth-placed
- First stage second-placed, Second stage third-placed
- First stage first-placed, Second stage third-placed
- First stage second-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage eighth-placed
- First stage first-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage eighth-placed
- First stage second-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage eighth-placed
- First stage first-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage eighth-placed
- First stage second-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage seventh-placed
- First stage first-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage seventh-placed
- First stage second-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage seventh-placed
- First stage first-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage seventh-placed
- First stage second-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage sixth-placed
- First stage first-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage sixth-placed
- First stage second-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage sixth-placed
- First stage first-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage sixth-placed
- First stage second-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage fifth-placed
- First stage first-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage fifth-placed
- First stage second-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage fifth-placed
- First stage first-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage fifth-placed
- First stage second-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage fourth-placed
- First stage first-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage fourth-placed
- First stage second-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage fourth-placed
- First stage first-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage fourth-placed
- First stage second-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage third-placed
- First stage first-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage third-placed
- First stage second-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage third-placed
- First stage first-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage third-placed
- First stage second-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage second-placed
- First stage first-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage second-placed
- First stage second-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage second-placed
- First stage first-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage second-placed
- First stage second-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage first-placed
- First stage first-placed, Second stage second-placed, Third stage first-placed
- First stage second-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage first-placed
- First stage first-placed, Second stage first-placed, Third stage first-placed
- ^ Players who lose their first match receive no ranking points.
References
- ^ "2021 WST Calendar Announced". World Snooker. 7 October 2020. Archived from the original on 7 October 2020.
- "Milton Keynes To Host Season Opening Events". World Snooker. 28 August 2020. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020.
- "UK Championship:Entire event to be played in Milton Keynes". BBC Sport. 5 November 2020.
- "New WST Pro Series Added to Snooker Calendar". World Snooker. 3 December 2020. Archived from the original on 3 December 2020.
- "Masters to be staged at Milton Keynes". World Snooker. 4 January 2021. Archived from the original on 4 January 2021.
- "Celtic Manor Resort to host snooker's BetVictor Welsh Open". World Snooker. 26 January 2021. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021.
- "Celtic Manor to host Cazoo Tour Championship". World Snooker. 22 February 2021. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021.
- "Crucible to Welcome Fans". World Snooker. 13 March 2021. Archived from the original on 13 March 2021.
- "Barry Hearn OBE Steps Aside". World Snooker. 20 April 2021. Archived from the original on 20 April 2021.
- ^ "Snooker Continues To Lead Sport's Return With Tour Structure Plans". World Snooker. 8 June 2020. Archived from the original on 8 June 2020.
- ^ "Clarke And Brown Book Crucible Spots". World Snooker. 28 July 2020. Archived from the original on 29 July 2020.
- "Pagett Wins European Amateur Championship". wpbsa. 20 March 2020.
- "Andrew Pagett Tour Card Deferral". World Snooker. 28 September 2020. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020.
- "Champion hill records-unique-european-double/". World Snooker Federation. 15 March 2020.
- ^ "Hugill-wins-wsf-open-to-secure-main-tour-return/". World Snooker Federation. 17 January 2020.
- "2020//2021 Season Points". snooker.org. 12 June 2020.
- "Doherty Awarded Invitational Tour Card". World Snooker Tour. 24 August 2020. Archived from the original on 13 September 2020.
- "King of the Crucible Hendry returns". World Snooker Tour. 1 September 2020. Archived from the original on 1 September 2020.
- "Selby Edges Gould In Thriller". World Snooker Tour. 27 September 2020. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020.
- "Trump Beats Robertson In Fantastic Final". World Snooker Tour. 18 October 2020. Archived from the original on 19 October 2020.
- "Wilson Claims Championship League Crown". World Snooker Tour. 30 October 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2020.
- "Allen Crowned Champion Of Champions". World Snooker Tour. 8 November 2020. Archived from the original on 9 November 2020.
- "Trump Completes Northern Ireland Treble". World Snooker Tour. 22 November 2020. Archived from the original on 23 November 2020.
- "Robertson Edges Trump In Thrilling UK Final". World Snooker Tour. 7 December 2020. Archived from the original on 7 December 2020.
- "Selby Storms to Scottish Open Title". World Snooker Tour. 13 December 2020. Archived from the original on 13 December 2020.
- "Trump Beats Lisowski To Win 20th Ranking Title". World Snooker Tour. 20 December 2020. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021.
- "Yan Secures Thrilling Masters Victory". World Snooker Tour. 18 January 2021. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021.
- "Trump Defends German Masters Title". World Snooker Tour. 31 January 2021. Archived from the original on 1 February 2021.
- "Shoot Out Triumph Makes Ryan's Day". World Snooker Tour. 7 February 2021. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021.
- "Brown Downs Rocket to Land Maiden Title". World Snooker Tour. 21 February 2021. Archived from the original on 22 February 2021.
- "Wonderful Higgins Thrashes O'Sullivan". World Snooker Tour. 28 February 2021. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021.
- "Trump Defends Gibraltar Open Title". World Snooker Tour. 7 March 2021. Archived from the original on 7 March 2021.
- "Perfect Williams Ends Title Drought". World Snooker Tour. 21 March 2021. Archived from the original on 21 March 2021.
- "Relentless Robertson Storms To Tour Title". World Snooker Tour. 28 March 2021. Archived from the original on 28 March 2021.
- "Wilson: In A League Of His Own". World Snooker Tour. 2 April 2021. Archived from the original on 3 April 2021.
- "Selby Lands Fourth Crucible Crown". World Snooker Tour. 3 May 2021. Archived from the original on 3 May 2021.
- "Lilley Is World Seniors Champion". World Snooker Tour. 9 May 2021. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021.
External links
- Calendar 2020/2021 Archived 8 December 2019 at the Wayback Machine at World Snooker
- Calendar 2020/2021 at snooker.org
- WSS Tour news at seniorsnooker.com
| 2020–21 snooker season | |
|---|---|
| « 2019–20 2021–22 » | |
| Ranking events | |
| Non-ranking events | |
| Amateur events | |
| World Seniors Tour | |
| Snooker seasons | |
|---|---|
| 20th century | |
| 21st century | |
| Active professional snooker tournaments | |
|---|---|
| Ranking events |
|
| Non-ranking events | |
| Seniors events |
|
| Tours and series | |
| Related lists | |
