Class of 2025 Attend WPBSA Player Support Programme
The 2025 WPBSA Player Support Programme in association with Taom Billiards was held at the Lilleshall National Sports Centre last week.
Organised by WPBSA Players, the event saw a range of players in attendance, including those turning professional for the first time, alongside others rejoining the World Snooker Tour (WST) having earned a fresh two-year tour card from the start of the 2025/26 season.
Held across two days, those in attendance listened to talks from various speakers, supported by Mark Davis, Ben Woollaston and Neil Tomkins from WPBSA Players and hosted by broadcaster Abigail Davies, who were in attendance throughout.
First held in 2023, the Player Support Programme aims to educate new and returning players to the World Snooker Tour (WST) on a range of issues of personal and professional development.
Building Your Brand was a new session on this year’s programme, delivered by Good Vibes Only talent agency. This included a talk by Bryony Page MBE, Britain’s most successful ever gymnast and the current Olympic, World and European trampoline champion. Bryony shared her experiences of using her sporting success to develop effective and rewarding commercial and charitable partnerships.
The step-up from amateur to professional snooker is a major one and Chris Barnes (WST, Head Table Fitter) was also on hand to explain the lengths which him and his team go to in creating the best possible playing conditions. This proved to be one of the most popular sessions amongst the players and offered valuable insight to what goes into putting on a major snooker event.
Other topics covered included anti-corruption, anti-doping, conduct regulations, mental health and wellbeing, lifestyle, financial management, media training, social media, lifestyle and career and more. A full list of topics and speakers can be seen below:
- Anti-Corruption, Anti-Doping and Conduct Regulations: Steve Richardson (WPBSA)
- Playing Conditions: Chris Barnes and Chris Brown (WST Table Fitting)
- Lifestyle & Career: Ronnie Wells (L.A.P.S)
- Mental Health & Wellbeing: Alex Mills and Dan Ogden (Sporting Chance)
- Financial Management: Alex Bolton and Sean Sall (Azets)
- Social Media: Fraser Franks (B5 Consultancy)
- Building Your Brand: Katie Traxton and Jack Nicholls plus special guest Bryony Page (Olympic, World and European Trampolining Champion and Britain’s most successful ever gymnast. (Good Vibes Only – Talent Agency)
- Exploring Commercial Opportunities: Tony Sheridan (Behrens)
- WST Commercial
- Media & Communication: Ivan Hirschowitz (WST Media)
- Interview Techniques: Abigail Davies
Neil Tomkins, WPBSA Players Chief Operating Officer, said: “Player education is an essential element of professional sport. It empowers sportspeople, transforming their passion into a profession by instilling discipline, strategic thinking, and resilience. It’s not just about mastering the game, but about understanding its intricacies, both on and off the table, encouraging personal development and ensuring the long-term success of the individuals and the sport.”
Mark Davis, Vice-Chairman of WPBSA Players, said: ” “I had a great couple of days at Lilleshall with the new tour card holders as part of the WPBSA Players Support Programme. Events like this are so important for helping new and returning players get to grips with what it means to be a professional snooker player. Everyone I chatted to seemed to take something useful from it – me included – and we’re already looking ahead to next year’s event.”