2011 Premier League Snooker - 20-second shot-clock rules

Concept
The 2011 PartyPoker.com Premier League Snooker will be a series of mini-tournaments with a winner each night.

Players
The League will feature ten players rather than seven, with four players present on each of the ten nights.

The players are:
1 Defending Champion - Ronnie O’Sullivan
2 Championship League Champion - Matthew Stevens
3 World Champion UK/Welsh Champion - John Higgins
4 Masters Champion - Ding Junhui
5 World Open Champion - Neil Robertson
6 China Open Champion - Judd Trump
7 Shanghai Masters Champion - Ali Carter
8 German Masters[tab] - Mark Williams
9 PTC Champion - Shaun Murphy
10 World Seniors Champion - Jimmy White

Format
There will be two semi-finals, and a final each evening. Each match would be of 4 frames, if a player wins 3 frames then the fourth frame is not played. If the match is 2–2 then the final frame will be played using the Shoot-out rules.

League Table and Play-Offs
The League table will be compiled by one point for each frame won (including the Shoot-out frame) and the play-offs would feature 1st v 4th place and 2nd v 3rd place under the same format that currently exists. If a player is tied on points then the least number of frames conceded will determine their position.

Additional Rules
The Shot Clock has been reduced to 20 seconds. There are two 20 second ‘extensions’ available to each player in each frame and the matches will be played using the current miss rule but after 3 failed attempts the opposing player gets ‘ball in hand’ anywhere on the table.

20-SECOND SHOT CLOCK RULES
[*]TIMING
a) The shot clock will be initiated by the timing official at a juncture dependent on circumstances. The rules of snooker dictate the point where the incoming player becomes the striker and that is when the shot clock commences unless the referee decides otherwise. It will stop at the exact moment the player strikes the cue ball.

b) A player has 20 seconds to commence each shot; beginning the instant the timing official starts the shot clock. Any shot not commenced within the allotted 20 seconds will result in a time foul.

c) A player will be allowed a maximum of two 20 second ‘extensions’ per frame. Once a player has called ‘extension’ the shot clock will run for a further 20 seconds. It is the players’ responsibility to indicate clearly, and in sufficient time, to the referee that he intends to take an extension.

[*]THE MISS RULE
a) When a miss has been called the shot clock will be started immediately. If the player elects not to accept the miss and play from the position the balls came to rest, the shot clock will not be reset.

b) Following a foul or a miss, if the non-offender decides to ask his opponent to play from the finishing position of the cue-ball the shot-clock will be reset as soon as his intentions have been declared.

c) If, following a foul or a miss the non-offender asks his opponent to play from the original position of the balls, the shot clock will begin when the referee is satisfied that all balls have been replaced in their correct position. The referee will inform the timing official to start the clock.

d) Should a player play two consecutive strokes deemed ‘foul and miss’ from the same position and then proceed with a third attempt from that position a third ‘foul and miss’ will result in the non- offender placing the cue ball at any position on the table they choose and playing the next stroke from this position. The referee must verbally warn the striker of the possible consequences of the third attempt. When giving this mandatory warning to a player the shot clock will start once that warning has been issued.

Following a third consecutive foul and miss as outlined above in d)
i)[tab]The cue ball is played from the strikers’ choice of position anywhere on the table and the striker does not have the option of asking his opponent to ‘play again’. The shot clock starts when the incoming player receives the cue-ball from the referee.

ii)[tab]If a player is not in a position to receive the cue ball from the referee, the referee will place the cue ball on the table and the incoming players shot time will start. The player may then pick the cue ball up and place it where he so wishes but the stroke must commence within the allocated time.

iii)[tab]The striker will not be awarded a ‘freeball’ regardless of their choice of position of the cue ball.

[*]TIME FOULS
a) A minimum penalty of 5 points or value of the ball ‘on’ if greater is awarded for all time fouls.
b) All time fouls will be classed and called as a ‘foul and miss’.
c) No player will be allowed to commit an intentional time foul. Under such circumstances the referee will deem any such action unfair conduct.

[*]OTHER RULES
a) If a player asks the referee to clean a ball the shot clock will not be stopped and ball cleaning will take place during the player’s thinking time.
b) Should there be a disturbance from an external party, a player will not be expected to continue and the referee will either stop or re-set the shot clock when appropriate. At any point, the referee is allowed to dictate to the timing official.
c) Should a player question a decision, the clock will continue unless the referee decides otherwise.

[*]TIMING OFFICIAL
The referee is best placed to decide, regardless of circumstance, when the shot clock should be initiated. For each shot, the timing official will start the clock as per the rules of snooker dictating the incoming player has become the striker or when instructed by the referee. This covers the case where a referee may need time to make a decision and the striker should not be penalised for this.
The timing official must be in a position to see when the shot is played.
Should there be an electronic shot-clock malfunction or error the referee's decision will be final.

ETIQUETTE
Due to the need for speed players will not be deemed to be breaching etiquette should they remain closer to the table than normal in readiness for their next shot though they must remain perfectly still and not in the opponent's eye-line.

SHOULD ANY EVENTUALITY NOT BE COVERED BY THESE RULES THE REFEREE'S DECISION WILL STAND AND, WHERE APPLICABLE, IT WILL SET A PRECEDENT.

SHOOT-OUT FRAME RULES (TO ONLY BE USED IF THE SCORE IS 2-2)
[*]Each frame will be played over a maximum of 10 minutes from the initial opening stroke.

[*]The shot clock will be initiated by the timing official at a juncture dependent on circumstances. The rules of snooker dictate the point where the incoming player becomes the striker and that is when the shot clock commences unless the referee decides otherwise. It will stop at the exact moment the player strikes the cue ball.

[*]Maximum stroke durations

• For a stroke commencing during the first five minutes of a frame, the cue ball must be struck within 20 seconds.
• For a stroke commencing after the initial five minute spell, the cue ball must be struck within 15 seconds.
Failure to commence a stroke within the allotted time will result in a time foul being called and a minimum five point penalty, or the value of the ‘ball on’ if higher, being awarded. The incoming player receives the cue ball from the referee and plays from ‘in hand’.

FOULS
[*]Following all fouls the cue ball is played from ‘in hand’. ‘In hand’ shall mean the cue ball can be placed and subsequently played from anywhere on the table and the player does not have the option of asking his opponent to ‘play again’. The shot clock starts when the incoming player receives the cue-ball from the referee.

[*]At least one ball must strike a cushion or enter a pocket in every stroke. Failure to do so will result in a foul with a minimum five point penalty awarded and the incoming player will receive the cue ball from the referee and play from ‘in hand’.

[*]If a player is not in a position to receive the cue ball from the referee following a foul, the referee will place the cue ball on the table and the incoming players shot time will start. The player may then pick the cue ball up and place it where he so wishes but the stroke must commence within the allocated time.

[*]The ‘foul and miss’ rule does not apply.

OTHER RULES
[*]Players ‘Lag’ to decide who breaks off (winner decides). A Lag involves both players simultaneously striking a cue ball from the baulk line to hit the cushion at the ‘black end’ and rebound back down the table. The player whose ball finishes nearest to the baulk cushion (in the opinion of the referee) wins the Lag. In a Lag the cue ball may only strike the ‘Baulk’ or ‘Black spot end’ cushions, contact with any other cushion will result in a forfeit of the lag.

[*]If a player asks the referee to clean a ball the shot clock will not be stopped and ball cleaning will take place during the player’s thinking time.
1[*]Should there be a disturbance from an external party, a player will not be expected to continue and the referee will either stop or re-set the shot clock when appropriate. At any point, the referee is allowed to dictate to the timing official.

1[*]Should a player question a decision, the clock will continue unless the referee decides otherwise.

1[*]Should the scores be tied at the end of the 10 minute frame, a sudden death blue ball shoot out will commence. The blue ball will be placed on its spot and the cue-ball must be struck from on or within the confines of the D. The player who won the Lag in the frame will have the choice of who plays first in an equal number of alternate attempts and the first player to make an unequalled pot will win the frame.

1[*]In the case of a ‘stalemate’ the players are responsible for resolving the situation within the allocated timescale. A re-rack is NOT permitted.

1[*]Provided a stroke commences within the allotted ‘stroke’ and ‘frame’ time the completed stroke will be permitted to stand along with any score or penalty points resulting from it.

ETIQUETTE
1[*]Due to the need for speed, players will not be deemed to be breaching etiquette should they remain closer to the table than normal in readiness for their next shot though they must remain perfectly still and not in the opponent's eye-line.

TIMING OFFICIAL
1[*]The referee is best placed to decide, regardless of circumstance, when the shot clock should be initiated. For each shot, the timing official will start the clock as per the rules of snooker dictating the incoming player has become the striker or when instructed by the referee. This covers the case where a referee may need time to make a decision and the striker should not be penalised for this.

1[*]The timing official must be in a position to see when the stroke is played.

1[*]Should there be an electronic shot-clock malfunction or error the referee's decision will be final.

The referee is the ultimate arbiter and his decision is final. Should any eventuality not be covered by these rules the referee's decision will stand and, where applicable, it will set a precedent.