2012 Premier League Snooker - Format and shot-clock rules

Concept
The 2012 PartyPoker.com Premier League Snooker will feature two seperate leagues of five players each.

Players
All ten players for the Premier League will be announced shortly.

Format
The five players in each group will play each other once over six frames with all frames to be played. There are two points available for a win and one point each for a 3-3 draw.

League Table and Play-Offs
Each player plays four matches and at the conclusion of the League section, the top two in each group will move forward into the play-offs. If two players are tied on points then the higher position will be assumed by the player winning the most number of frames over the League section. Should that be the same, then the higher position will go to the winner of the match played between the two players. If that was a 3-3 draw then the player who reached three frames first will take the higher spot.

There the winner in Group A will play the runner-up in Group B and vice versa.

Group A
Shanghai Masters Champion: Mark Selby (World Ranked #1)
Brazilian Masters Champion: Shaun Murphy (#6)
Masters Champion: Neil Robertson (#7)
Championship League Winner: Ding Junhui (#11)
Australian Goldfields Open Champion: Stuart Bingham (#16)

Group B
UK Champion: Judd Trump (#2)
Wild Card: John Higgins (#5)
PTC Grand Final Champion: Stephen Lee (#8)
World Open Champion: Mark Allen (#12)
China Open Champion: Peter Ebdon (#20)

Additional Rules
Players must take their shot within 25 seconds. After 20 seconds there will be a five second countdown. Should a Player fail to take his shot within the allocated time, a foul will be called and he will forfeit 5 points. Players will be allowed 2 x 25 second ‘extensions’ in each frame.

25-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 25 seconds to commence each shot; beginning the instant the timing official starts the shot clock. Any shot not commenced within the allotted 25 seconds will result in a time foul.

c) A player will be allowed a maximum of two 25 second ‘extensions’ per frame. Once a player has called ‘extension’ the shot clock will run for a further 25 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.

*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.

OTHER RULES
*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.

*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.

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

*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
*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
*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 stroke is played.

*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.