World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn has announced the launch of a brand new challenge tour from the end of the 2017/18 season on offer to all amateurs seeking a breakthrough in the professional game.

In conjuncture with the WPBSA, the new venture will run across a series of 10 events available to all players also entering Q School, with the top two players on a ranking list earning tour cards on the professional circuit.

Following the influx of upcoming Chinese talent including the likes of Yan Bingtao and Zhou Yuelong – both of whom made their debuts at this year’s World Championship – Hearn admits that more support is required to grow the game at grassroots level in the UK.

“Because of the restrictions of government spend etc. we are not doing enough in the amateur game to encourage the development of grassroots snooker,” he said at his annual Crucible press conference.

“We look at the comparison to what they’re doing in China and the momentum they have, which isn’t a problem because sport is all about winning and, if they’re good enough, I’m in favour.

“But I want to give everyone as level a playing field as I can and it’s a step on the journey to show that we care.”

Hearn also announced an increase in prize money to £12 million for the 2017/18 campaign while, for the first time in snooker history, all tournament entry fees will be abolished.

The World Snooker boss believes that will save players around £5,000 as a result, which will be more beneficial to them, while the money on offer during the season will be more evenly spread across the earlier rounds of all events.

“Once you own that tour card, that ownership gives you the right to play in World Snooker events,” Hearn added. “When we were a small business, entry fees was a substantial part of our income.

 “This is no longer the case, so we’re going to write off £500,000 of entry fees that we receive through the year and all the players will be saving £4,000 or £5,000 a year, which is going to very helpful to the lower-ranked players as they start their journey to become a professional snooker player.”