Satellite tournament

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A satellite tournament is either a minor tournament or event on a competitive sporting tour or one of a group of such tournaments that form a series played in the same country or region. The term is most commonly used in reference to minor professional or competitive junior tennis.

[edit] Tennis

In professional tennis, satellite tournaments were four-week tournaments on the ITF Circuit. They were typically organised by a country's national tennis association and overseen by the International Tennis Federation. They were played by players who were ranked outside the top few hundred by the Association of Tennis Professionals, with openings for unranked players in the qualifying draw. Total prize money ranged from $25000 to $50000 for the tournament. Players successful at this level of pro tennis would move on to play ATP Challenger Series or even top-flight ATP Tour events. The ITF Circuit discontinued satellite tournaments following the 2006 season as the circuit moved exclusively to one-week Futures tournaments.

[edit] Poker

A satellite tournament in poker is a qualifying event. Winners of these satellites usually win the buy-in fee to a larger, more prestigious tournament like the World Series of Poker Main Event.