EPSB Launches the Winchester Women’s Open Series

The English Partnership for Snooker and Billiards (EPSB), in partnership with The Winchester Snooker Club, has today announced the launch of a new series of monthly competitions aimed at all female players.

Inspired by the success of the EPSB Open Series, which has provided regular competition for professional and amateur players, the Winchester Women’s Open Series will adopt a similar format of one-day events to be held from August 2023.

Events will be open to all women players (i.e. all nationalities) with current World Snooker Tour professionals to give an 18 point start. A ranking list will be run across the eight tournaments, with the top eight players at the end of the season to qualify for a Grand Finals event which will carry a guaranteed minimum prize fund of £1,000.

All events will be played at The Winchester Snooker Club, which is backing the series and the opportunity to provide more competitive opportunities for women and girls within our sport. The series is also supported by former world champion Shaun Murphy.

Mukesh Parmar, owner of The Winchester said: “We are excited to be able to work together with the EPSB on this project, having previously staged events on the World Women’s Snooker (WWS) Tour and most recently the English Women’s Open last September.

“With the continued expansion of the WWS Tour internationally, it remains important for women and girls in this country to have opportunities to compete together regularly at national level. Through the creation of the Winchester Women’s Open Series, we believe that this represents a positive step forward for women’s snooker in England and we are delighted to support the initiative.”

Shaun Murphy, 2005 world champion said: “I am pleased to be able to contribute to the launch of the Winchester Women’s Open Series by the EPSB and my friend Mukesh Parmar at the Winchester Snooker Club.

“This is a brilliant new incentive for women and girls to get involved with our sport, whether first time players or regular competitors, and I wish everyone taking part the best of luck as they look to qualify for the Grand Finals!”

Provisional Dates

All events will be played across one day as follows:

• Sunday 20 August 2023
• Sunday 17 September 2023
• Sunday 22 October 2023
• Sunday 12 November 2023
• Sunday 3 December 2023
• Sunday 7 January 2024
• Sunday 25 February 2024
• Sunday 24 March 2024 – date change
• Playoff (TBC)

Please check WPBSA SnookerScores in case of date/venue changes.

Format

The format of events will be subject to the total number of entries received, aimed at providing value for money, whilst remaining manageable for a one-day event.

Events with more than 16 players will therefore be played under a straight knockout format, with a Challenge Cup for players losing in the early rounds.

Events with 15 players or fewer, will be played under a round robin group stage format.

Prize Money

The entry fee for each tournament shall be £20, with prize money to paid from entry fees.

A 15% portion of entry fees from each event will be set aside and added to the prize fund for the Grand Finals event.

Dress Code

EPSB Level 1 Dress Code will apply, i.e. ‘Normal’ clothes are permitted to be worn. This includes clothes such as t-shirts, jeans and trainers.

However, the following items will NOT be permitted to be worn: shorts, flipflops, sponsored non-snooker sports top – for example, a football shirt. Please make sure the clothes you wear are not scruffy or dirty.

A minimum EPSB Level 3 Dress Code will apply for the Grand Finals i.e. waistcoat.

How to Enter

Each event is now open to enter via WPBSA SnookerScores, with entries to close the Friday before each event. For example, the entry deadline for the first event will be Friday 18 August.

Players of any nationality are welcome to enter these events and do not have to be a member of the EPSB.