The 2021 WST Pro Series was a professional ranking snooker tournament, taking place from 18 January to 21 March 2021 at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes, England. The event featured 128 players, and was played over three stages of round-robin groups of eight players, with the Final Group winner as the tournament champion.
Seven-time World Champion, Stephen Hendry, was due to make his return to the professional snooker tour, having initially retired in 2012. However, he withdrew before the tournament began.
Gary Wilson made his third career maximum break in the second frame of his Group G match with Liam Highfield.
Mark Williams won the only edition of the event, winning the 23rd ranking title of his career on his 46th birthday, becoming the third oldest ranking event winner behind Welsh compatriots Doug Mountjoy who was 46 in 1989 and Ray Reardon who was 50 in 1982.
Tournament format There were 128 players taking part in the event. In the tournament's first stage players were divided into 16 groups of each eight players, with the top two players of each group advancing to the second group stage. The tournament draw was conducted on 8 January 2021.
The second group stage consisted of four groups, also of each eight players, with the top two players of each group advancing to the final group.
The winner of the final group were crowned as tournament champion.
All matches were played as best of three frames, and players were ranked, using the following criteria: Matches won (Points scored) Frame difference Head-to-head match(es) Highest break
Prize fund The breakdown of prize money for the tournament is shown below.
First group stage Winner: £4,000 Runner-up: £3,000 3rd Place: £2,500 4th Place: £2,000 5th Place: £1,500 6th Place: £1,000 7th Place: £500 8th Place: £0
Second group stage Winner: £10,000 Runner-up: £7,500 3rd place: £5,000 4th place: £4,000 5th place: £3,000 6th place: £2,000 7th place: £1,500 8th place: £1,000
Final group stage Winner: £20,000 Runner-up: £10,000 3rd place: £7,500 4th place: £5,000 5th place: £4,000 6th place: £3,000 7th place: £2,000 8th place: £1,000
Tournament total: £420,500
First group stage The first group stage consisted of 16 groups, each containing eight players, with the top two of each group advancing to the second group stage.
Order of play Date Group 18 January Group M 19 January Group B 20 January Group G 21 January Group C 22 January Group K 23 January Group A 24 January Group L 25 January Group N Date Group 9 March Group J 10 March Group H 11 March Group F 12 March Group D 13 March Group P 14 March Group E 15 March Group I 16 March Group O
Group A Group A was played on 23 January 2021. Shaun Murphy and Louis Heathcote qualified for the Second Group stage.
Matches
Shaun Murphy 2–0 Brian Ochoiski Michael Holt 2–0 Fraser Patrick Alan McManus 2–0 Ken Doherty Louis Heathcote 2–1 Xu Si Shaun Murphy 2–1 Fraser Patrick Michael Holt 1–2 Ken Doherty Alan McManus 2–0 Xu Si Louis Heathcote 2–1 Brian Ochoiski Shaun Murphy 2–1 Ken Doherty Michael Holt 0–2 Xu Si Alan McManus 0–2 Louis Heathcote Fraser Patrick 0–2 Brian Ochoiski Shaun Murphy 2–1 Xu Si Michael Holt 2–1 Louis Heathcote Alan McManus 2–0 Brian Ochoiski Ken Doherty 2–0 Fraser Patrick Shaun Murphy 2–1 Louis Heathcote Michael Holt 1–2 Alan McManus Xu Si 2–1 Fraser Patrick Ken Doherty 1–2 Brian Ochoiski Shaun Murphy 2–1 Alan McManus Michael Holt 2–1 Brian Ochoiski Louis Heathcote 2–1 Fraser Patrick Xu Si 2–0 Ken Doherty Shaun Murphy 2–0 Michael Holt Alan McManus 2–1 Fraser Patrick Louis Heathcote 2–0 Ken Doherty Xu Si 2–0 Brian Ochoiski
Table Player 1 7 7 0 14 5 +9 21 2 7 5 2 12 7 +5 15 3 7 5 2 11 6 +5 15 4 7 4 3 10 7 +3 12 5 7 3 4 8 10 −2 9 6 7 2 5 6 11 −5 6 7 7 2 5 6 11 −5 6 8 7 0 7 4 14 −10 0
Group B Group B was played on 19 January 2021. Kyren Wilson and Sunny Akani qualified for stage two.
Matches
Kyren Wilson 2–1 Fan Zhengyi Li Hang 2–1 Dean Young Yuan Sijun 2–1 Kacper Filipiak Sunny Akani 2–1 Pang Junxu Kyren Wilson 2–0 Dean Young Li Hang 1–2 Kacper Filipiak Yuan Sijun 1–2 Pang Junxu Sunny Akani 2–0 Fan Zhengyi Kyren Wilson 2–0 Kacper Filipiak Li Hang 1–2 Pang Junxu Yuan Sijun 0–2 Sunny Akani Dean Young 0–2 Fan Zhengyi Kyren Wilson 2–0 Pang Junxu Li Hang 0–2 Sunny Akani Yuan Sijun 2–0 Fan Zhengyi Kacper Filipiak 2–1 Dean Young Kyren Wilson 2–0 Sunny Akani Li Hang 2–0 Yuan Sijun Pang Junxu 2–0 Dean Young Kacper Filipiak 1–2 Fan Zhengyi Kyren Wilson 1–2 Yuan Sijun Li Hang 2–1 Fan Zhengyi Sunny Akani 2–0 Dean Young Pang Junxu 2–0 Kacper Filipiak Kyren Wilson 1–2 Li Hang Yuan Sijun 2–0 Dean Young Sunny Akani 0–2 Kacper Filipiak Pang Junxu 2–0 Fan Zhengyi
Table Player 1 7 5 2 12 5 +7 15 2 7 5 2 10 5 +5 15 3 7 5 2 11 6 +5 15 4 7 4 3 10 9 +1 12 5 7 4 3 9 8 +1 12 6 7 3 4 8 10 −2 9 7 7 2 5 6 11 −5 6 8 7 0 7 2 14 −12 0
Aaron Hill was initially due to take part in Group B, but he withdrew and was replaced by Dean Young.
Group C Group C was played on 21 January 2021. Stuart Bingham and Sam Craigie qualified for the Second Group stage.
Matches
Stuart Bingham 2–0 Jamie Curtis-Barrett Scott Donaldson 2–1 Billy Castle Sam Craigie 2–0 Ashley Carty Chris Wakelin 1–2 Jamie Clarke Stuart Bingham 2–0 Billy Castle Scott Donaldson 0–2 Ashley Carty Sam Craigie 2–0 Jamie Clarke Chris Wakelin 2–1 Jamie Curtis-Barrett Stuart Bingham 2–0 Ashley Carty Scott Donaldson 1–2 Jamie Clarke Sam Craigie 2–1 Chris Wakelin Billy Castle 2–1 Jamie Curtis-Barrett Stuart Bingham 2–0 Jamie Clarke Scott Donaldson 0–2 Chris Wakelin Sam Craigie 2–0 Jamie Curtis-Barrett Ashley Carty 0–2 Billy Castle Stuart Bingham 2–0 Chris Wakelin Scott Donaldson 2–0 Sam Craigie Jamie Clarke 2–0 Billy Castle Ashley Carty 2–1 Jamie Curtis-Barrett Stuart Bingham 2–0 Sam Craigie Scott Donaldson 2–0 Jamie Curtis-Barrett Chris Wakelin 2–1 Billy Castle Jamie Clarke 1–2 Ashley Carty Stuart Bingham 2–0 Scott Donaldson Sam Craigie 2–0 Billy Castle Chris Wakelin 2–1 Ashley Carty Jamie Clarke 2–0 Jamie Curtis-Barrett
Table Player 1 7 7 0 14 0 +14 21 2 7 5 2 10 5 +5 15 3 7 4 3 9 8 +1 12 4 7 4 3 10 9 +1 12 5 7 3 4 7 9 −2 9 6 7 3 4 7 10 −3 9 7 7 2 5 6 11 −5 6 8 7 0 7 3 14 −11 0
Group D Group D was played on 12 March 2021. Barry Hawkins and Ricky Walden qualified for the Second Group stage.
Matches
Barry Hawkins 2–0 Paul Davison Ricky Walden 2–1 Farakh Ajaib Jimmy Robertson 2–0 Duane Jones Alexander Ursenbacher 2–1 Gerard Greene Barry Hawkins 2–0 Farakh Ajaib Ricky Walden 2–1 Duane Jones Jimmy Robertson 0–2 Gerard Greene Alexander Ursenbacher 2–0 Paul Davison Barry Hawkins 2–0 Duane Jones Ricky Walden 2–0 Gerard Greene Jimmy Robertson 2–0 Alexander Ursenbacher Farakh Ajaib 2–1 Paul Davison Barry Hawkins 2–1 Gerard Greene Ricky Walden 2–1 Alexander Ursenbacher Jimmy Robertson 1–2 Paul Davison Duane Jones 1–2 Farakh Ajaib Barry Hawkins 2–1 Alexander Ursenbacher Ricky Walden 2–1 Jimmy Robertson Gerard Greene 2–1 Farakh Ajaib Duane Jones 2–0 Paul Davison Barry Hawkins 0–2 Jimmy Robertson Ricky Walden 2–0 Paul Davison Alexander Ursenbacher 2–0 Farakh Ajaib Gerard Greene 2–1 Duane Jones Barry Hawkins 2–1 Ricky Walden Jimmy Robertson 2–0 Farakh Ajaib Alexander Ursenbacher 0–2 Duane Jones Gerard Greene 1–2 Paul Davison
Table Player 1 7 6 1 12 5 +7 18 2 7 6 1 13 6 +7 18 3 7 4 3 10 6 +4 12 4 7 3 4 8 9 −1 9 5 7 3 4 9 10 −1 9 6 7 2 5 7 10 −3 6 7 7 2 5 6 12 −6 6 8 7 2 5 5 12 −7 6
Group E Group E was played on 14 March 2021. Mark Selby and Stuart Carrington qualified for the Second Group stage.
Matches
Mark Selby 2–0 Daniel Womersley Matthew Selt 1–2 Lukas Kleckers Joe O'Connor 0–2 Soheil Vahedi Stuart Carrington 2–0 Eden Sharav Mark Selby 2–1 Lukas Kleckers Matthew Selt 1–2 Soheil Vahedi Joe O'Connor 0–2 Eden Sharav Stuart Carrington 2–0 Daniel Womersley Mark Selby 0–2 Soheil Vahedi Matthew Selt 2–0 Eden Sharav Joe O'Connor 0–2 Stuart Carrington Lukas Kleckers 2–0 Daniel Womersley Mark Selby 2–0 Eden Sharav Matthew Selt 2–1 Stuart Carrington Joe O'Connor 2–0 Daniel Womersley Soheil Vahedi 2–1 Lukas Kleckers Mark Selby 2–0 Stuart Carrington Matthew Selt 2–0 Joe O'Connor Eden Sharav 2–0 Lukas Kleckers Soheil Vahedi 1–2 Daniel Womersley Mark Selby 2–0 Joe O'Connor Matthew Selt 2–0 Daniel Womersley Stuart Carrington 2–1 Lukas Kleckers Eden Sharav 1–2 Soheil Vahedi Mark Selby 2–1 Matthew Selt Joe O'Connor 2–0 Lukas Kleckers Stuart Carrington 2–0 Soheil Vahedi Eden Sharav 1–2 Daniel Womersley
Table Player 1 7 6 1 12 4 +8 18 2 7 5 2 11 5 +6 15 3 7 5 2 11 7 +4 15 4 7 4 3 11 7 +4 12 5 7 2 5 6 10 −4 6 6 7 2 5 7 11 −4 6 7 7 2 5 4 10 −6 6 8 7 2 5 4 12 −8 6
Group F Group F was played on 11 March 2021. Ben Woollaston and Fergal O'Brien qualified for the Second Group stage.
Matches
Robbie McGuigan 0–2 Fergal O'Brien Ben Woollaston 2–0 Riley Parsons Noppon Saengkham 2–0 Jordan Brown David Grace 0–2 Igor Figueiredo Robbie McGuigan 0–2 Riley Parsons Ben Woollaston 2–0 Jordan Brown Noppon Saengkham 2–0 Igor Figueiredo David Grace 2–1 Fergal O'Brien Robbie McGuigan 0–2 Jordan Brown Ben Woollaston 1–2 Igor Figueiredo Noppon Saengkham 2–1 David Grace Riley Parsons 2–1 Fergal O'Brien Robbie McGuigan 0–2 Igor Figueiredo Ben Woollaston 2–0 David Grace Noppon Saengkham 1–2 Fergal O'Brien Jordan Brown 2–0 Riley Parsons Robbie McGuigan 2–0 David Grace Ben Woollaston 2–0 Noppon Saengkham Igor Figueiredo 1–2 Riley Parsons Jordan Brown 1–2 Fergal O'Brien Robbie McGuigan 1–2 Noppon Saengkham Ben Woollaston 1–2 Fergal O'Brien David Grace 2–1 Riley Parsons Igor Figueiredo 2–1 Jordan Brown Robbie McGuigan 1–2 Ben Woollaston Noppon Saengkham 1–2 Riley Parsons David Grace 0–2 Jordan Brown Igor Figueiredo 0–2 Fergal O'Brien
Table Player 1 7 5 2 12 5 +7 15 2 7 5 2 12 7 +5 15 3 7 4 3 10 8 +2 12 4 7 4 3 9 8 +1 12 5 7 4 3 9 9 0 12 6 7 3 4 8 8 0 9 7 7 2 5 5 12 −7 6 8 7 1 6 4 12 −8 3
Mark Allen was initially due to take part in Group F, but he withdrew and was replaced by Robbie McGuigan.
Group G Group G was played on 20 January 2021. Lu Ning and Martin O'Donnell qualified for the Second Group stage.
Matches
Gary Wilson 0–2 John Astley Lu Ning 2–1 Rory McLeod Martin O'Donnell 2–1 Zhao Jianbo Liam Highfield 0–2 Jamie O'Neill Gary Wilson 1–2 Rory McLeod Lu Ning 0–2 Zhao Jianbo Martin O'Donnell 2–0 Jamie O'Neill Liam Highfield 2–0 John Astley Gary Wilson 2–1 Zhao Jianbo Lu Ning 2–1 Jamie O'Neill Martin O'Donnell 2–0 Liam Highfield Rory McLeod 1–2 John Astley Gary Wilson 2–1 Jamie O'Neill Lu Ning 2–0 Liam Highfield Martin O'Donnell 2–0 John Astley Zhao Jianbo 2–1 Rory McLeod Gary Wilson 1–2 Liam Highfield Lu Ning 2–0 Martin O'Donnell Jamie O'Neill 2–1 Rory McLeod Zhao Jianbo 0–2 John Astley Gary Wilson 2–1 Martin O'Donnell Lu Ning 2–0 John Astley Liam Highfield 2–0 Rory McLeod Jamie O'Neill 2–0 Zhao Jianbo Gary Wilson 2–1 Lu Ning Martin O'Donnell 2–0 Rory McLeod Liam Highfield 2–1 Zhao Jianbo Jamie O'Neill 2–0 John Astley
Table Player 1 7 5 2 11 5 +6 15 2 7 5 2 11 6 +5 15 3 7 4 3 10 7 +3 12 4 7 4 3 8 8 0 12 5 7 4 3 10 10 0 12 6 7 3 4 6 9 −3 9 7 7 2 5 7 11 −4 6 8 7 1 6 6 13 −7 3
Stephen Hendry was initially due to take part in Group G, but he withdrew and was replaced by John Astley.
Group H Group H was played on 10 March 2021. Ali Carter and Mark Davis qualified for the second Group stage.
Matches
Hamim Hussain 0–2 Kuldesh Johal Ali Carter 2–0 Dylan Emery Mark Davis 2–0 Simon Lichtenberg Tian Pengfei 1–2 Chang Bingyu Hamim Hussain 1–2 Dylan Emery Ali Carter 2–0 Simon Lichtenberg Mark Davis 2–0 Chang Bingyu Tian Pengfei 2–1 Kuldesh Johal Hamim Hussain 0–2 Simon Lichtenberg Ali Carter 2–0 Chang Bingyu Mark Davis 0–2 Tian Pengfei Dylan Emery 2–1 Kuldesh Johal Hamim Hussain 1–2 Chang Bingyu Ali Carter 2–0 Tian Pengfei Mark Davis 0–2 Kuldesh Johal Simon Lichtenberg 2–1 Dylan Emery Hamim Hussain 0–2 Tian Pengfei