The Pro Challenge Series was a series of non-ranking snooker tournaments held during the 2009–10 snooker season. The events were open to all players on the main tour and were intended to give tour players more playing opportunities.[1] Seven events were planned but only four took place before the series was cancelled, due to low player participation.[2] The series was not repeated and was replaced by the Players Tour Championship, which started the following season.

Pro Challenge Series
Details
Duration28 July 2009 – 18 February 2010 (2009-07-28 – 2010-02-18)
Tournaments4

Prize fund

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Except for event 2, events had a prize fund of £15,000 with the winner receiving £5,000.[3] Event 2, which was played using the six-red format, had a prize fund of £10,000 with the winner receiving £3,000. In event 2 the £500 break prize went to the player with the fastest maximum break.[4]

Schedule

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The schedule for the Events 1 to 5 is listed below. Event 4 was cancelled and event 5 was the final tournament played. Event 2 was played using the six-red format. Events 6 and 7 were cancelled.[2]

Date Country Tournament Venue City Field Winner Runner-up Score Ref.
28 Jul 30 Jul   ENG Event 1 Northern Snooker Centre Leeds 40   Stephen Maguire (SCO)   Alan McManus (SCO) 5–2 [5]
31 Aug 1 Sep   WAL Event 2 Pontins Prestatyn 47   Ken Doherty (IRL)   Martin Gould (ENG) 6–2 [6]
9 Nov 11 Nov   ENG Event 3 Willie Thorne Snooker Centre Leicester 52   Robert Milkins (ENG)   Joe Jogia (ENG) 5–3 [7]
Event 4 Cancelled [8]
16 Feb 18 Feb   ENG Event 5 George Scott Snooker Club Liverpool 39   Barry Hawkins (ENG)   Michael Holt (ENG) 5–1 [9]

Event 1

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Prize fund

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  • Winner: £5,000
  • Runner-up: £2,500
  • Semi-final: £1,500
  • Quarter-final: £500
  • Last 16: £250
  • High break: £500

The first event took place at the Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds, from 28 to 30 July 2009. Stephen Maguire beat Alan McManus 5–2 in the final.[3][10] Dave Harold made the highest break of 128.[5] Results are given below.

 
Last 32
Best of 7 frames
Last 16
Best of 7 frames
Quarter-finals
Best of 7 frames
Semi-finals
Best of 9 frames
Final
Best of 9 frames
 
                  
 
 
 
 
  Tony Drago (MLT) 1
 
 
 
  Robert Milkins (ENG) 4
 
  Robert Milkins 2
 
 
 
  Matthew Selt 4
 
  Barry Pinches (ENG) 2
 
 
 
  Matthew Selt (ENG) 4
 
  Matthew Selt 1
 
 
 
  Alan McManus 4
 
  Judd Trump (ENG) 3
 
 
 
  Mark Joyce (ENG) 4
 
  Mark Joyce 0
 
 
 
  Alan McManus 4
 
  Alan McManus (SCO) 4
 
 
 
  Matthew Couch (ENG) 2
 
  Alan McManus 5
 
 
 
  Ken Doherty 2
 
  Chris Norbury (ENG) 2
 
 
 
  Andrew Norman (ENG) 4
 
  Andrew Norman 4
 
 
 
  Sam Baird 3
 
  Sam Baird (ENG) 4
 
 
 
  Jamie Cope (ENG) 3
 
  Andrew Norman 0
 
 
 
  Ken Doherty 4
 
  Joe Swail (NIR) 4
 
 
 
  Gerard Greene (NIR) 1
 
  Joe Swail 0
 
 
 
  Ken Doherty 4
 
  Jimmy Michie (ENG) 1
 
 
 
  Ken Doherty (IRL) 4
 
  Alan McManus 2
 
 
 
  Stephen Maguire 5
 
  Simon Bedford (ENG) 2
 
 
 
  Michael Holt (ENG) 4
 
  Michael Holt 1
 
 
 
  Ben Woollaston 4
 
  Ben Woollaston (ENG) w/o
 
 
 
  Stephen Lee (ENG) w/d
 
  Ben Woollaston 4
 
 
 
  Ricky Walden 1
 
  Jimmy Robertson (ENG) 4
 
 
 
  Andrew Higginson (ENG) 2
 
  Jimmy Robertson 3
 
 
 
  Ricky Walden 4
 
  Daniel Wells (WAL) 0
 
 
 
  Ricky Walden (ENG) 4
 
  Ben Woollaston 2
 
 
 
  Stephen Maguire 5
 
  Jordan Brown (NIR) 0
 
 
 
  Craig Steadman (ENG) 4
 
  Craig Steadman 1
 
 
 
  Stephen Maguire 4
 
  Rod Lawler (ENG) 3
 
 
 
  Stephen Maguire (SCO) 4
 
  Stephen Maguire 4
 
 
 
  Dave Harold 3
 
  Tom Ford (ENG) 3
 
 
 
  Peter Lines (ENG) 4
 
  Peter Lines 1
 
 
 
  Dave Harold 4
 
  Dave Harold (ENG) 4
 
 
  Stuart Bingham (ENG) 2
 

Preliminary round

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Century breaks

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[3]

Event 2

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Prize fund

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  • Winner: £3,000
  • Runner-up: £1,500
  • Semi-finals: £800
  • Quarter-Finals: £400
  • Last 16: £225
  • Fastest maximum break (x75): £500

The second event took place at Pontins, Prestatyn, on 31 August and 1 September 2009, using the six-red format. Ken Doherty beat Martin Gould 6–2 in the final.[4][11] Stuart Pettman took the prize for the fastest maximum break.[6] Results are given below.

 
Last 32
Best of 9 frames
Last 16
Best of 9 frames
Quarter-finals
Best of 9 frames
Semi-finals
Best of 11 frames
Final
Best of 11 frames
 
                  
 
 
 
 
  Marcus Campbell (SCO) 5
 
 
 
  Barry Pinches (ENG) 1
 
  Marcus Campbell 5
 
 
 
  Jamie Cope 2
 
  Jamie Cope (ENG) 5
 
 
 
  Mark Boyle (SCO) 3
 
  Marcus Campbell 0
 
 
 
  Ken Doherty 5
 
  Ian Preece (WAL) w/d
 
 
 
  Ben Woollaston (ENG) w/o
 
  Ben Woollaston 3
 
 
 
  Ken Doherty 5
 
  Ken Doherty (IRL) 5
 
 
 
  Sam Baird (ENG) 1
 
  Ken Doherty 6
 
 
 
  Atthasit Mahitthi 1
 
  Jimmy Michie (ENG) 5
 
 
 
  Stuart Pettman (ENG) 3
 
  Jimmy Michie 5
 
 
 
  Jordan Brown 2
 
  David Gray (ENG) w/d
 
 
 
  Jordan Brown (NIR) w/o
 
  Jimmy Michie 1
 
 
 
  Atthasit Mahitthi 5
 
  Atthasit Mahitthi (THA) 5
 
 
 
  Joe Swail (NIR) 2
 
  Atthasit Mahitthi 5
 
 
 
  Rod Lawler 2
 
  Mark King (ENG) 2
 
 
 
  Rod Lawler (ENG) 5
 
  Ken Doherty 6
 
 
 
  Martin Gould 2
 
  Simon Bedford (ENG) 2
 
 
 
  Matthew Selt (ENG) 5
 
  Matthew Selt 0
 
 
 
  Martin Gould 5
 
  Martin Gould (ENG) 5
 
 
 
  Stephen Lee (ENG) 0
 
  Martin Gould 5
 
 
 
  Fergal O'Brien 1
 
  Joe Jogia (ENG) 4
 
 
 
  Fergal O'Brien (IRL) 5
 
  Fergal O'Brien 5
 
 
 
  Robert Milkins 1
 
  Andrew Higginson (ENG) 3
 
 
 
  Robert Milkins (ENG) 5
 
  Martin Gould 6
 
 
 
  Anthony Hamilton 5
 
  Daniel Wells (WAL) 4
 
 
 
  Anthony Hamilton (ENG) 5
 
  Anthony Hamilton 5
 
 
 
  Andrew Norman 2
 
  Ricky Walden (ENG) 4
 
 
 
  Andrew Norman (ENG) 5
 
  Anthony Hamilton 5
 
 
 
  Ryan Day 1
 
  James Wattana (THA) 2
 
 
 
  Ryan Day (WAL) 5
 
  Ryan Day 5
 
 
 
  Tom Ford 0
 
  Tom Ford (ENG) 5
 
 
  Judd Trump (ENG) 4
 

Preliminary round

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Maximum breaks

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Note: a maximum break in six-red snooker is 75 points.[4][11]

Event 3

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Prize fund

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  • Winner: £5,000
  • Runner-up: £2,500
  • Semi-final: £1,500
  • Quarter-final: £500
  • Last 16: £250
  • High break: £500

The third event took place at the Willie Thorne Snooker Centre in Leicester, from 9 to 11 November 2009. Robert Milkins beat Joe Jogia 5–3 in the final. Ricky Walden made the highest break of 140.[7][12] Results are given below.

 
Last 32
Best of 7 frames
Last 16
Best of 7 frames
Quarter-finals
Best of 7 frames
Semi-finals
Best of 9 frames
Final
Best of 9 frames
 
                  
 
 
 
 
  Joe Perry (ENG) 3
 
 
 
  Jamie Cope (ENG) 4
 
  Jamie Cope 1
 
 
 
  Ricky Walden 4
 
  Jimmy Robertson (ENG) 0
 
 
 
  Ricky Walden (ENG) 4
 
  Ricky Walden 4
 
 
 
  Liu Song 2
 
  Tom Ford (ENG) 2
 
 
 
  Craig Steadman (ENG) 4
 
  Craig Steadman 3
 
 
 
  Liu Song 4
 
  Liu Song (CHN) 4
 
 
 
  Gerard Greene (NIR) 1
 
  Ricky Walden 0
 
 
 
  Joe Jogia 5
 
  Michael White (WAL) 2
 
 
 
  Joe Jogia (ENG) 4
 
  Joe Jogia 4
 
 
 
  Rod Lawler 3
 
  Rod Lawler (ENG) 4
 
 
 
  Nigel Bond (ENG) 2
 
  Joe Jogia 4
 
 
 
  Peter Lines 2
 
  Tony Drago (MLT) 2
 
 
 
  Peter Lines (ENG) 4
 
  Peter Lines 4
 
 
 
  Barry Pinches 3
 
  Adrian Gunnell (ENG) w/d
 
 
 
  Barry Pinches (ENG) w/o
 
  Joe Jogia 3
 
 
 
  Robert Milkins 5
 
  Marcus Campbell (SCO) 3
 
 
 
  Fergal O'Brien (IRL) 4
 
  Fergal O'Brien 1
 
 
 
  Mark Davis 4
 
  Ben Woollaston (ENG) 0
 
 
 
  Mark Davis (ENG) 4
 
  Mark Davis 0
 
 
 
  Judd Trump 4
 
  Sam Baird (ENG) 4
 
 
 
  Mark Joyce (ENG) 3
 
  Sam Baird 3
 
 
 
  Judd Trump 4
 
  Judd Trump (ENG) 4
 
 
 
  Mark King (ENG) 1
 
  Judd Trump 4
 
 
 
  Robert Milkins 5
 
  Matthew Selt (ENG) 4
 
 
 
  Andy Hicks (ENG) 2
 
  Matthew Selt 4
 
 
 
  Stuart Bingham 3
 
  Stuart Bingham (ENG) 4
 
 
 
  Ken Doherty (IRL) 0
 
  Matthew Selt 3
 
 
 
  Robert Milkins 4
 
  Daniel Wells (WAL) 1
 
 
 
  Robert Milkins (ENG) 4
 
  Robert Milkins 4
 
 
 
  Dave Harold 3
 
  Martin Gould (ENG) 1
 
 
  Dave Harold (ENG) 4
 

Preliminary round

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Century breaks

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[7][12]

Event 5

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Prize fund

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  • Winner: £5,000
  • Runner-up: £2,500
  • Semi-final: £1,500
  • Quarter-final: £500
  • Last 16: £250
  • High break: £500

Event 5 took place at the George Scott Snooker Club in Liverpool, from 16 to 18 February 2010. Barry Hawkins beat Michael Holt 5–1 in the final. Judd Trump made the highest break of 138.[9][13] Results are given below.

 
Last 32
Best of 7 frames
Last 16
Best of 7 frames
Quarter-finals
Best of 7 frames
Semi-finals
Best of 9 frames
Final
Best of 9 frames
 
                  
 
 
 
 
  Peter Lines (ENG) 4
 
 
 
  Gerard Greene (NIR) 0
 
  Peter Lines 4
 
 
 
  Liang Wenbo 3
 
  Jimmy Robertson (ENG) 3
 
 
 
  Liang Wenbo (CHN) 4
 
  Peter Lines 1
 
 
 
  Michael Holt 4
 
  Rod Lawler (ENG) 2
 
 
 
  Michael Holt (ENG) 4
 
  Michael Holt 4
 
 
 
  Dave Harold 0
 
  Robert Milkins (ENG) 1
 
 
 
  Dave Harold (ENG) 4
 
  Michael Holt 5
 
 
 
  Daniel Wells 4
 
  Mark King (ENG) w/d
 
 
 
  Ben Woollaston (ENG) w/o
 
  Ben Woollaston 3
 
 
 
  Daniel Wells 4
 
  Ricky Walden (ENG) 1
 
 
 
  Daniel Wells (WAL) 4
 
  Daniel Wells 4
 
 
 
  Craig Steadman 0
 
  Craig Steadman (ENG) 4
 
 
 
  Judd Trump (ENG) 3
 
  Craig Steadman 4
 
 
 
  Simon Bedford 3
 
  Simon Bedford (ENG) 4
 
 
 
  Andrew Norman (ENG) 3
 
  Michael Holt 1
 
 
 
  Barry Hawkins 5
 
  Tom Ford (ENG) 4
 
 
 
  Mark Davis (ENG) 0
 
  Tom Ford 1
 
 
 
  Tony Drago 4
 
  Martin Gould (ENG) w/d
 
 
 
  Tony Drago (MLT) w/o
 
  Tony Drago 2
 
 
 
  Adrian Gunnell 4
 
  Nigel Bond (ENG) 3
 
 
 
  Andy Hicks (ENG) 4
 
  Andy Hicks 0
 
 
 
  Adrian Gunnell 4
 
  Joe Swail (NIR) 2
 
 
 
  Adrian Gunnell (ENG) 4
 
  Adrian Gunnell 4
 
 
 
  Barry Hawkins 5
 
  Andrew Higginson (ENG) 4
 
 
 
  Graeme Dott (SCO) 3
 
  Andrew Higginson 0
 
 
 
  Stuart Bingham 4
 
  Stuart Bingham (ENG) 4
 
 
 
  Mark Joyce (ENG) 1
 
  Stuart Bingham 1
 
 
 
  Barry Hawkins 4
 
  Barry Hawkins (ENG) 4
 
 
 
  Chris Norbury (ENG) 1
 
  Barry Hawkins 4
 
 
 
  Fergal O'Brien 0
 
  Fergal O'Brien (IRL) w/o
 
 
  Anthony Hamilton (ENG) w/d
 

Preliminary round

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Century breaks

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[9][13]

References

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  1. ^ Hendon, David (30 June 2009). "Pro Challenge Series launched". Snooker Scene Blog. Retrieved 14 December 2021.
  2. ^ a b Hendon, David (2 March 2010). "Pro Challenge Series axed". Snooker Scene Blog. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
  3. ^ a b c "Results". Global Snooker. Archived from the original on 5 February 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
  4. ^ a b c "Schedule of Play & Results". Global Snooker. Archived from the original on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
  5. ^ a b "Maguire wins first World Snooker Pro challenge event". Global Snooker. Archived from the original on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
  6. ^ a b "Ken hits them for Six". Global Snooker. Archived from the original on 23 January 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
  7. ^ a b c "Results and Prize Fund". Global Snooker. Archived from the original on 26 February 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2010.
  8. ^ "Pro Challenge Series schedule". Chris Turner Snooker Archive. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  9. ^ a b c "Schedule and Results". Global Snooker. Archived from the original on 19 February 2010. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
  10. ^ "WSA Pro Challenge One". Top Snooker. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  11. ^ a b "WSA Pro Challenge Series Two, Super Sixes". Top Snooker. Archived from the original on 21 January 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  12. ^ a b "WSA Pro Challenge Series Three". Top Snooker. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2012.
  13. ^ a b "WSA Pro Challenge Series Five". Top Snooker. Archived from the original on 1 March 2012. Retrieved 12 February 2012.