# 2017–18 snooker season

The 2017–18 snooker season was a series of professional snooker tournaments played between 4 May 2017 and 7 May 2018. The season began with the pro–am Vienna Snooker Open in May 2017 and ended with the 2018 World Snooker Championship in April the following year. Ronnie O'Sullivan earned a joint-record five ranking titles in the season. He joined Stephen Hendry (1990/1991), Ding Junhui (2013/2014), and Mark Selby (2016/2017) in winning five ranking titles in the same season.
The China Championship became a ranking event and was brought forward to a mid-August date, ahead of the Paul Hunter Classic. The Shanghai Masters was initially withdrawn from the season calendar, but was later rescheduled for November 2017. The biennial World Cup team event was played in July 2017. Another event not held every year returning in 2017 was the 2017 IWGA World Games. The Snooker Shoot Out was brought forward to the start of February, ahead of both the World Grand Prix and Welsh Open.
A new World Seniors Tour was formed by Snooker Legends for players over 40 years of age, comprising four events, including the World Seniors Championship which has returned to Scunthorpe in 2018.
The second edition of the Home Nations Series was being held in this season with the English Open, Northern Ireland Open, Scottish Open and Welsh Open tournaments. For a single winner of all four tournaments would earn a bonus of £1 million.
Ronnie O'Sullivan won five ranking events during the season, with Mark Williams winning three times and Ryan Day, John Higgins and Mark Selby each winning twice. Shaun Murphy reached four ranking event finals during the season but lost them all.

## Players

The top 64 players from the prize money rankings after the 2017 World Championship, and the 31 players earning a two-year card the previous year automatically qualified for the season (Rouzi Maimaiti has resigned his membership). Next, eight places were allocated to the top 8 on the One Year Ranking List who have not already qualified for the Main Tour. Another two players came from the EBSA Qualifying Tour Play-Offs, and a further places were available through the 2017 Q School, four from each of the two events and the four best-ranked players in the Order of Merit. The rest of the places on to the tour came from amateur events and national governing body (NGB) nominations. Hamza Akbar received a tour card as a special dispensation in place of America's nomination.
The list of all professional players in the 2017/2018 season consist of 131 players, including the standard field of the 128 players and three invitational tour cards (James Wattana has second year of a two-year invitational tour card while Jimmy White and Ken Doherty were awarded the new two-year permission). Beginning from this season, players with invitational tour cards are eligible to compete in any ranking event. These players are seeded after main tour professionals, but above amateur top ups taken from the Q School ranking list.

### New professional players

All players listed below received a tour card for two seasons.

## Calendar

The following tables outline the dates and results of all events of the World Snooker Tour, World Women's Snooker, the World Seniors Tour, and other events.

### World Snooker Tour

| Start | Finish | Tournament | Venue | Winner | Score | Runner-up |
| 23 Jun | 25 Jun | Riga Masters | Arena Riga in Riga, Latvia | Ryan Day (WAL) | 5‍–‍2 | Stephen Maguire (SCO) |
| 3 Jul | 9 Jul | World Cup† | Wuxi City Sports Park Stadium in Wuxi, China | China A | 4‍–‍3 | England |
| 20 Jul | 23 Jul | Hong Kong Masters† | Queen Elizabeth Stadium in Hong Kong, China | Neil Robertson (AUS) | 6‍–‍3 | Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) |
| 28 Jul | 29 Jul | CVB Challenge† | Nanshan Culture & Sports Centre in Shenzhen, China | Great Britain | 26‍–‍9 | China |
| 16 Aug | 22 Aug | China Championship | Guangzhou Sport University in Guangzhou, China | Luca Brecel (BEL) | 10‍–‍5 | Shaun Murphy (ENG) |
| 22 Aug | 27 Aug | Paul Hunter Classic | Stadthalle in Fürth, Germany | Michael White (WAL) | 4‍–‍2 | Shaun Murphy (ENG) |
| 4 Sep | 9 Sep | Six-red World Championship† | Bangkok Convention Center in Bangkok, Thailand | Mark Williams (WAL) | 8‍–‍2 | Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (THA) |
| 12 Sep | 16 Sep | Indian Open | Novotel Visakhapatnam Varun Beach in Vishakhapatnam, India | John Higgins (SCO) | 5‍–‍1 | Anthony McGill (SCO) |
| 18 Sep | 24 Sep | World Open | Yushan Number One Middle School in Yushan, China | Ding Junhui (CHN) | 10‍–‍3 | Kyren Wilson (ENG) |
| 2 Oct | 8 Oct | European Masters | De Soeverein in Lommel, Belgium | Judd Trump (ENG) | 9‍–‍7 | Stuart Bingham (ENG) |
| 16 Oct | 22 Oct | English Open | Barnsley Metrodome in Barnsley, England | Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) | 9‍–‍2 | Kyren Wilson (ENG) |
| 29 Oct | 5 Nov | International Championship | Baihu Media Broadcasting Centre in Daqing, China | Mark Selby (ENG) | 10‍–‍7 | Mark Allen (NIR) |
| 6 Nov | 12 Nov | Champion of Champions† | Ricoh Arena in Coventry, England | Shaun Murphy (ENG) | 10‍–‍8 | Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) |
| 13 Nov | 18 Nov | Shanghai Masters | Shanghai Grand Stage in Shanghai, China | Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) | 10‍–‍3 | Judd Trump (ENG) |
| 20 Nov | 26 Nov | Northern Ireland Open | Waterfront Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland | Mark Williams (WAL) | 9‍–‍8 | Yan Bingtao (CHN) |
| 28 Nov | 10 Dec | UK Championship | Barbican Centre in York, England | Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) | 10‍–‍5 | Shaun Murphy (ENG) |
| 11 Dec | 17 Dec | Scottish Open | Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland | Neil Robertson (AUS) | 9‍–‍8 | Cao Yupeng (CHN) |
| 14 Jan | 21 Jan | Masters† | Alexandra Palace in London, England | Mark Allen (NIR) | 10‍–‍7 | Kyren Wilson (ENG) |
| 31 Jan | 4 Feb | German Masters | Tempodrom in Berlin, Germany | Mark Williams (WAL) | 9‍–‍1 | Graeme Dott (SCO) |
| 8 Feb | 11 Feb | Shoot Out | Watford Colosseum in Watford, England | Michael Georgiou (CYP) | 1‍–‍0 | Graeme Dott (SCO) |
| 19 Feb | 25 Feb | World Grand Prix | Preston Guild Hall in Preston, England | Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) | 10‍–‍3 | Ding Junhui (CHN) |
| 26 Feb | 4 Mar | Welsh Open | Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales | John Higgins (SCO) | 9‍–‍7 | Barry Hawkins (ENG) |
| 7 Mar | 11 Mar | Gibraltar Open | Tercentenary Sports Hall, Victoria Stadium in Gibraltar, Gibraltar | Ryan Day (WAL) | 4‍–‍0 | Cao Yupeng (CHN) |
| 14 Mar | 18 Mar | Romanian Masters† | Bucharest Metropolitan Circus in Bucharest, Romania | Ryan Day (WAL) | 10‍–‍8 | Stuart Bingham (ENG) |
| 19 Mar | 25 Mar | Players Championship | Venue Cymru in Llandudno, Wales | Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) | 10‍–‍4 | Shaun Murphy (ENG) |
| 2 Jan | 29 Mar | Championship League† | Ricoh Arena in Coventry, England | John Higgins (SCO) | 3‍–‍2 | Zhou Yuelong (CHN) |
| 2 Apr | 8 Apr | China Open | Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium in Beijing, China | Mark Selby (ENG) | 11‍–‍3 | Barry Hawkins (ENG) |
| 21 Apr | 7 May | World Championship | Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England | Mark Williams (WAL) | 18‍–‍16 | John Higgins (SCO) |
* Ranking event
* † Non-ranking event

### World Ladies Billiards and Snooker

| Start | Finish | Tournament | Venue | Winner | Score | Runner-up |
| 24 Aug | 27 Aug | Paul Hunter Women's Classic | Ballroom in Nuremberg, Germany | Reanne Evans (ENG) | 4‍–‍1 | Ng On-Yee (HKG) |
| 30 Oct | 1 Nov | UK Women's Championship | Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds, England | Ng On-Yee (HKG) | 4‍–‍1 | Reanne Evans (ENG) |
| 28 Oct | 29 Oct | Eden Women's Masters | South West Snooker Centre in Quedgeley, England | Ng On-Yee (HKG) | 4‍–‍3 | Reanne Evans (ENG) |
| 17 Feb | 18 Feb | Women's British Open | Stourbridge Institute in Stourbridge, England | Reanne Evans (ENG) | 4‍–‍0 | Nutcharut Wongharuthai (THA) |
| 14 Mar | 17 Mar | World Women's Championship | Dolmen Hall in St Paul's Bay, Malta | Ng On-Yee (HKG) | 5‍–‍0 | Maria Catalano (ENG) |
| 14 Apr | 14 Apr | World Women's 10-Red Championship | Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds, England | Reanne Evans (ENG) | 4‍–‍1 | Ng On-Yee (HKG) |
| 15 Apr | 15 Apr | World Women's 6-Red Championship | Northern Snooker Centre in Leeds, England | Reanne Evans (ENG) | 4‍–‍3 | Ng On-Yee (HKG) |

### World Seniors Tour

| Start | Finish | Tournament | Venue | Winner | Score | Runner-up |
| 24 Oct | 26 Oct | UK Seniors Championship | Harlequin Theatre in Redhill, England | Jimmy White (ENG) | 4‍–‍2 | Ken Doherty (IRL) |
| 6 Jan | 7 Jan | Seniors Irish Masters | Goffs in Kill, Ireland | Steve Davis (ENG) | 4‍–‍0 | Johnathan Bagley (ENG) |
| 21 Mar | 24 Mar | World Seniors Championship | Baths Hall in Scunthorpe, England | Aaron Canavan (JER) | 4‍–‍3 | Patrick Wallace (NIR) |
| 12 Apr | 12 Apr | Seniors Masters | Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, England | Cliff Thorburn (CAN) | 2‍–‍1 | Johnathan Bagley (ENG) |

### Other events

| Start | Finish | Tournament | Venue | Winner | Score | Runner-up |
| 4 May | 7 May | Vienna Open | 15 Reds Köö Wien Snooker Club in Vienna, Austria | David Grace (ENG) | 5‍–‍2 | Nigel Bond (ENG) |
| 24 May | 27 May | Belgium Open | Snooker Club Arena in Ghent, Belgium | Bjorn Haneveer (BEL) | 6‍–‍5 | Ben Mertens (BEL) |
| 7 Jun | 11 Jun | Pink Ribbon | South West Snooker Academy in Gloucester, England | Robert Milkins (ENG) | 4‍–‍2 | Rob James (ENG) |
| 26 Jul | 30 Jul | World Games | Wrocław Congress Center in Wrocław, Poland | Kyren Wilson (GBR) | 3‍–‍1 | Ali Carter (GBR) |
| 19 Sep | 21 Sep | Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games – Six-red | Billiard Sports Arena in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan | Yan Bingtao (CHN) | 5‍–‍1 | Soheil Vahedi (IRI) |
| 22 Sep | 24 Sep | Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games – Team | Billiard Sports Arena in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan | Iran | 3‍–‍0 | Qatar |
| 24 Sep | 26 Sep | Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games – Singles | Billiard Sports Arena in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan | Zhao Xintong (CHN) | 4‍–‍2 | Hossein Vafaei (IRI) |
| 23 Oct | 27 Oct | Haining Open | Haining Sports Center in Haining, China | Mark Selby (ENG) | 5‍–‍1 | Tom Ford (ENG) |

## Points distribution

2017/2018 points distribution for World Snooker Tour ranking events:
| RoundTournament | R144 | R128 | R80 | R64 | R48 | R32 | R16 | QF | SF | F | W |
| Riga Masters | — | £0 | — | £1,000 | — | £2,000 | £4,000 | £6,000 | £15,000 | £25,000 | £50,000 |
| China Championship | — | £0 | — | £4,000 | — | £7,000 | £12,000 | £18,000 | £32,000 | £75,000 | £150,000 |
| Paul Hunter Classic | — | £0 | — | £600 | — | £1,000 | £1,725 | £3,000 | £4,500 | £10,000 | £20,000 |
| Indian Open | — | £0 | — | £2,000 | — | £4,000 | £6,000 | £10,000 | £15,000 | £25,000 | £50,000 |
| World Open | — | £0 | — | £4,000 | — | £7,000 | £12,000 | £18,000 | £32,000 | £75,000 | £150,000 |
| European Masters | — | £0 | — | £2,000 | — | £4,000 | £6,000 | £11,000 | £17,500 | £35,000 | £75,000 |
| English Open | — | £0 | — | £2,500 | — | £3,500 | £6,000 | £10,000 | £20,000 | £30,000 | £70,000 |
| International Championship | — | £0 | — | £4,000 | — | £8,500 | £13,500 | £21,500 | £32,000 | £75,000 | £150,000 |
| Shanghai Masters | — | £0 | — | £4,000 | — | £7,000 | £12,000 | £18,000 | £32,000 | £75,000 | £150,000 |
| Northern Ireland Open | — | £0 | — | £2,500 | — | £3,500 | £6,000 | £10,000 | £20,000 | £30,000 | £70,000 |
| UK Championship | — | £0 | — | £5,000 | — | £10,000 | £15,000 | £22,500 | £35,000 | £75,000 | £170,000 |
| Scottish Open | — | £0 | — | £2,500 | — | £3,500 | £6,000 | £10,000 | £20,000 | £30,000 | £70,000 |
| German Masters | — | £0 | — | £2,000 | — | £4,000 | £5,000 | £10,000 | £20,000 | £35,000 | £80,000 |
| Shoot Out | — | £0 | — | £500 | — | £1,000 | £2,000 | £4,000 | £8,000 | £16,000 | £32,000 |
| World Grand Prix | — | — | — | — | — | £5,000 | £7,500 | £12,500 | £20,000 | £40,000 | £100,000 |
| Welsh Open | — | £0 | — | £2,500 | — | £3,500 | £6,000 | £10,000 | £20,000 | £30,000 | £70,000 |
| Gibraltar Open | — | £0 | — | £1,000 | — | £2,000 | £3,000 | £4,000 | £6,000 | £12,000 | £25,000 |
| Players Championship | — | — | — | — | — | — | £10,000 | £15,000 | £30,000 | £50,000 | £125,000 |
| China Open | — | £0 | — | £5,000 | — | £11,000 | £18,000 | £27,000 | £45,000 | £90,000 | £225,000 |
| World Championship | £0 | — | £9,000 | — | £13,500 | £18,000 | £27,500 | £42,500 | £85,000 | £180,000 | £425,000 |