Where does the rest of a lower-ranking snooker professional's money come from?

Question

The commentator said that Andrew Higginson had won 69 grand prize money in 11 years as a professional. That's not much if you average it out. What else does a professional do at that sort of level? Exhibitions? Lessons? Anything else?

Answer 1

I think they get money from exhibition, but it's not huge amounts...

Answer 2

As an American, I'm much more familiar with pool, but many parallels can be drawn from pool to snooker.  It's true that professional players don't really make that much unless they regularly win or finish near the top of the heap.  They do give exhibitions and lessons, as you mentioned.  Beware, however that good players don't necessarily make good teachers.  Often their "lessons" end up becoming exhibitions.  Many professional players do product endorsements for various billiard supplies (cues, chalk, cloth, tables, gloves, training aids, etc.).  Some write books and articles for billiard publications.  It's very common for lower-ranking players to have second jobs completely unrelated to pool or snooker.  M.D.-BCA Instructor/Referee.

Answer 3

many of the lower ranked snooker players have full time jobs such as taxi driving or working in the club doing coaching or organising competitions, looking after tables and equipment etc. this type of employment allows them time to compete in competitions in their efforts to make the top of the game as most employers would not be so understanding about the amount of time off professional players would need to compete in qualifying competitions.

Answer 4

Probably hussel folks for games.  Gambling with that type of sport is #1 for making cash.

Answer 5

plenty exhibetions about 3000 pouds each

Answer 6

If they are not good enough to constantly win big then they have other methods of income.

A lot of players will be sponsored to play either by a brand of some sort or by the club that they regularly play for. Some clubs will pay everything for a player on the agreement that they practise in their club so that they get other people attracted to playing there. Others will do exhibition nights at various places around the country to earn money. They can gamble and hustle. Some even have full-time jobs outside of the circuit.

It's quite rair to find a professional teaching but doe's happen occasionally. The only other thing that I can think that they can make their money from is endorsements to have their names put on products to get people to but them. e.g. Years ago Jimmy White had his name on every cheap snooker item going that was sold in high street retailers. He would have made a lot of money from that!

Hope this helps, Sam.