Snooker Star Elliot Slessor Says Professional Tour Player Numbers Should Be Cut

Ahead of his campaign at the 2026 Northern Ireland Open in Belfast, world number 23 Slessor posted online saying he feels there should only be 96 players on the top-flight snooker circuit.

Slessor’s remarks came in response to a recent podcast featuring former professional Ian McCulloch who talked about the £20,000 per season that professional tour card holders are now guaranteed to receive.

A joint venture between the WST and the sport’s governing body the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA), since the 2022/23 season, all professional players have been assured of at least £20,000 per term. This is paid towards/back through the prize money players earn that respective season, but is a safety net for lower ranked cueists who may not make that amount across a campaign.

Speaking on the Odds-On Podcast, though, former World Snooker Championship semi-finalist McCulloch - who reached a career-high world ranking of 16th - is not in agreement with the scheme.

“The one thing I don't agree with, is I don't agree with paying players just for being on tour because we never got any guarantee, unless you were in a certain ranking structure, I think you had to get the top 64 to be guaranteed money” said McCulloch, who last played on the top tier in 2012.

“But if you're on tour now, if you don't win a game you will be given £20,000. You don't get £20,000 on your ranking, but financially you are £20,000 better off.

“Now there could be somebody who's won enough matches to earn £20,000 - he gets £20,000 on his ranking, but financially he's no better off than you, and I don't agree with that.

“There are players who are openly admitting that they're only carrying on playing because they get the £20,000 bunk up every year.

“Now, if that's all you're aiming to earn, 20 grand a year, you know, are you aiming high enough and should you really be a professional sportsman? You should be able to pay that in tax in minimum shouldn't you?

“Cut the tour and guarantee proper money” says Slessor

Two-time ranking event finalist McCulloch’s thoughts about the £20k guarantee drew a mixed response online, but they also shone a light on the current structure of the Tour as a whole. Every term since 2013/14, the circuit has catered for around 128 professional tour card holders.

The make-up of this season’s professional calendar - with several blocks of qualifying - has been a hot topic amongst players. At the recent British Open in Cheltenham, Jak Jones, who went on to win the event, slammed the current use of tiered draws.

Getting involved with the online discussion when it came to McCulloch’s podcast comments, Slessor suggested trimming the top tier player roster by around a quarter.

On X, Slessor said: “Cut the tour and guarantee proper money 96 is more than enough players imo.”

The 32-year-old also added that by having fewer numbers, he feels it would boost snooker’s amateur scene: “Easier for practice too limited times with limited slots so why not get rid of those not earning and believe it or not it will actually make a better amateur game which is clearly lacking also.”

Slessor will play Jamie Jones in the last 32 at the Northern Ireland Open after Slessor’s opening opponent He Guoqiang withdrew due to medical reasons.

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