Challenge Tour (Snooker)

The Challenge Tour; formerly also UK tour was a series of snooker tournaments. A season was in the first edition of five; in all subsequent seasons of four tournaments since the 2003/ 04 season, all in the Pontin's Snooker Centre in Prestatyn (Wales ) and were previously held at various locations in the UK.

History and Significance

Since the snooker tour 1991 tour was an open, ie No sporting requirements for participation were linked to qualification to the major tournaments, it came with time to a large number of participants, which meant too much organizational effort. For this reason it was decided to introduce a two-tier tour.

On the Snooker Main Tour, with a participant pool of about 100 players since playing the most successful players, for which you could qualify among other things, the UK or Challenge Tour. Initially also threatened by relegation Player of the Main Tour could take to defend their place, but this regulation was abolished after 1999 /2000.

For cost reasons, the Challenge Tour was replaced after the 2004/05 season by the Pontin's International Open Series.

Results

Maximum Breaks

Over the eight seasons there were two maximum breaks on the tour; both in the season 1998 /1999. Stuart Bingham managed one against Barry Hawkins and Nick Dyson one against Adrian Gunnell.