The sun here in the UK may have finally shown up but there’s still plenty going on in Snookerland...
Mike Russell has won the World Professional Billiards Championship for a ninth time. Russell, 39, first won the title in 1989 and his 1,821-1,342 defeat of Geet Sethi further confirms him as the finest player of his generation.
In most sports, nine world titles would mean fame and riches but Russell will be back shortly in Qatar where he coaches the national team.
Mohammed Elhamy of Egypt is the new African champion. He won the title on Sunday in Libya.
Snooker and the world has come a long way since 1986 when Ronald Reagan ordered bombing raids on Tripoli.
Anne Marie Reilly is to referee at the Northern Ireland Trophy qualifiers next month. She becomes the third woman, after Michaela Tabb and Patricia Murphy, to join the roster of officials.
Tabb took charge of the Saga Insurance Masters final last season and must surely be a hot favourite to referee the world final if not next year then in 2010.
Still on refereeing, we may be seeing less of Alan Chamberlain on our screens this season as he has now reached the official retirement age of 65. He will still be involved but probably in a reduced role.
Alan has been on the circuit for the best part of 25 years and refereed the 1997 Crucible final as well as several Wembley Masters finals.
A presentation was made to him at the Crucible earlier this year when he was handed a painting made up of former world champions.
This last week he has been running the World Billiards Championship in his usual efficient way.
There will be a big pro-am in Belgium from September 19-21 for which the winner will receive 5,000 euros.
Plenty of top players will be taking part, including former world champions Ken Doherty, Mark Williams and Shaun Murphy, reigning Masters champion Mark Selby and world no.2 Stephen Maguire.
Joe Swail has launched his own website and very nice it looks too.
The Paul Hunter English Open is underway in Leeds and runs until August 3, the same day the second PIOS event of the season begins in Prestatyn.
June Davis, the widow of the great Joe, died last week on her 98th birthday.
She had a fine career in her own right as a singer, notably in Jack Hylton’s dance band.
A snooker playing dog that appeared on the ITV programme ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ has been run over by its owner.
Never let it be said we don’t cover all the hot topics here.
1 comment:
That had made me very upset that the dog had died. RIP.
Post a Comment