20.12.08

NO MALTA CUP THIS SEASON

The Malta Cup will not be on this season, even as an invitation event.

The WPBSA wrote to the players earlier this month to inform them it would not be on as a ranking tournament but could still be staged at the end of January on an invite only basis, as it was last season.

However, it is not happening, even though a venue, hotel and television coverage had been secured.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Boo! Shame on them. Maybe World Series of Snooker could do something instead?

Anonymous said...

Unbelievable - the amount of work and planning done locally that goes into the staging of the event in Malta and it's not going to happen. This event is significant in Malta as it's a way for Malta to promote itself through staging a significant sporting event. There's always good crowds for this event and with TV coverage guaranteed - what is the problem? Is it that the governing body may have to partially fund the event, and actually give the players another earning opportunity!

Anonymous said...

Too bad... :-(

Any idea why, Dave? A sponsor pulling out...?

cheers, Eric

Anonymous said...

What stopped it then? lack of prize money?

stuartfanning said...

I don't think the Malta Cup has ever had a proper commercial sponsor. Without it being a ranking event I suspect the players aren't that sorry to see it go.

What is really needed is a ranking tournament in Continental Europe.

Anonymous said...

It is impossible to comment on this without knowing the reasons it is not happening- I can only assume it is the absence of a sponsor.

Anonymous said...

After the succdess of the Mosconi Cup (9-Ball Pool) in Malta recently, this event has been cancelled? The WSA is getting more ridiculous everyday.

Dave H said...

It hasn't been cancelled - it was never on the calendar.

The WPBSA told the players they hoped to get it on as a ranking event then as an invitation event.

The reason can only be financial. The WPBSA lost a lot of money on Bahrain and may have to step in to fund the Masters and World Championship, neither of which have sponsors at present.

Anonymous said...

although i cant say your comment is wrong dave id still say its "ok" to say it was cancelled as it was pencilled in and players have had to be notified of its exclusion.....so it wasnt as if it was never on the calendar, even though it was provisional.....

Anonymous said...

If its not economically viable then it shouldn't go ahead.

Anonymous said...

i agree geoffrey

the thing that annoys me is that it was provisionally on the calendar and it took so long for it to be "cancelled" for definite, even as an invitational only.

what id like WS to do is to release dates and in this circumstance leave that section in the calendar "BOOKED". It can then announce separately that its looking at Malta as its preferred option to fill that slot. If that falls through then another tournament may go there. ie - if another ranker or tournament is put on by WS then that is where they choose to put it.

that way fans know where any add in comps are going as do the pros. also, it would help world series and PL is the WS calendar did this every year, just in case....

imo of course, but that way theres a concrete plan but no firm announcement and most would be happy id imagine. 55

Unknown said...

this was the only high calibre sport event which locals especially snooker enthusiasts, would have been waiting for. what a shame. Can t understand, since turnout used to be really good, player attendance was an excellent one too...