Snooker’s world governing body the WPBSA has announced an initial list of amateur players to compete in the qualifying rounds of the Betfred World Championship next month.

The WPBSA has compiled the list in consultation with the IBSF and the many regional and national governing bodies around the world which it works with. These players have won or reached the final of major amateur events and will all now receive an official invitation to join all professional players outside the top 16 seeds, to battle for 16 coveted spots in the final stages at the famous Crucible Theatre.

The qualifiers run from April 6 to 13 at Ponds Forge in Sheffield with all players needing to win three matches to earn a spot at the Crucible.

Ladies World Champion Ng On Yee has already been announced as one of the players to compete at Ponds Forge. The others at this stage are:

Pankaj Advani (India) – IBSF World Champion
Zhao Xintong (China) – IBSF World runner-up
Boonyarit Keattikun (Thailand) – IBSF World Under-21 Champion
Jamie Rhys Clarke (Wales) – IBSF World Under-21 runner-up
Ka Wai Cheung (Hong Kong) – IBSF World under-18 champion
Jak Jones (Wales) – European Champion
Josh Boileau (Ireland) – European Under-21 Champion
Brandon Sargeant (England) – European Under-21 runner-up
Tyler Rees (Wales) – European Under-18 Champion

Any further players, including the winner and runner-up from the Asian Under-21 Championship, will be announced in due course.

The draw for the qualifiers will be made after the China Open, which finishes on April 3rd.