Graeme Dott is a wee Glaswegian but has a big heart and once again demonstrated his considerable fighting qualities by winning the World Series event in Berlin last night.
Three months ago, Dott was sat at home barely able to move.
Diagnosed with depression, the last thing he wanted to do was play snooker.
He was moments away from withdrawing from the 888.com World Championship in April before his manager, Pat Mooney, asked him to give it another week.
Graeme went to the Crucible in the end and, though he lost 10-7 to Joe Perry, put up a good account of himself.
Even so, it was a season to forget. He lost 15 and drew one of his last 16 matches, fell from second to 13th in the world rankings and is languishing in 39th place in the provisional standings.
But what does any of that matter compared to his health?
Dott is still on medication for his condition but no longer seeing a psychologist. He seemed in a positive frame of mind in Berlin and played well against a below par Shaun Murphy to record a 6-1 win and secure the title.
Good for him. I dislike how Dott has attracted so much uncalled for criticism for the manner in which he won the 2006 world title.
That final was not the greatest spectacle but he was up against Peter Ebdon, an arch grinder, and the stakes could not have been higher.
And it had 2.8m BBC2 viewers gripped at just before 1am.
You may have read that 14m watched this year’s final but this is misleading to say the least. This figure has been arrived at by adding together the cumulative audience for all four sessions of the final but as this is reasonably likely to include people who watched more than one session, it involves double, triple and even quadruple counting.
The actual number of people watching BBC2 when Ronnie O’Sullivan potted the final balls was 4.2m.
I don’t clarify this to play down the interest in this year’s final – it was a runaway with little in the way of drama in any case – but to point out that Dott’s triumph was not much less of a draw than that of O’Sullivan.
All that history will record is that this diminutive Scot was world champion. There are currently only 22 names engraved on that famous silver trophy so he has every justification in being proud to be one of them.
Dott has been through a dark period but ended the weekend full of smiles.
Anyone not cheered by such a sight must have a heart of stone.
The end of the final is here.
14.7.08
13.7.08
BERLIN TAKES MY BREATH AWAY
The World Series event in Berlin has attracted huge audiences of as many as 1,500 at a time, proving that reports of the snooker boom in Germany were not over-hyped.
The annual Paul Hunter Classic pro-am in Furth attracts many top players but the Berlin tournament is the first professional event staged in Germany since the 1998 German Masters.
This leads to one pertinent question: why has it taken ten years to get an event on in Germany?
In fact, it’s so pertinent I’ll ask it again: why has it taken ten years to get an event on in Germany?
Were it not for the World Series, it could easily have been another ten years, despite the huge growth in interest in recent times. Germany does not seem to feature in World Snooker’s plans at all.
Ten years ago, 5,000 people played snooker regularly in Germany. Today, that figure has quadrupled to 20,000.
Television audiences on German Eurosport have risen for each World Championship since 2003.
In one week of this year’s Crucible event the top ten rated programmes were all snooker.
What impressed me about the packed house yesterday was how fair the spectators were.
Of course many if not most of them were hoping the local wildcards would spring an upset but they warmly applauded John Higgins, Graeme Dott, Stephen Maguire and Shaun Murphy.
Put simply, they just wanted to see top class snooker close-up. The World Series has given them this chance.
Lasse Munstermann was the only local player who came close to causing a shock but failed to take his chance to beat Higgins and lost 4-3.
This raises an interesting quandary for the World Series organisers. Some felt the local aspect of this new innovation was one of its plus points but in fact most first round contests so far have been a series of mismatches.
It’s true that Gary Britton beat Ken Doherty in Jersey and Munstermann gave Higgins a scare but, unsurprisingly, most of the wildcards have been overawed and outclassed.
It is hard to see how the Moscow and Warsaw wildcards will not suffer similar fates.
However, this is not a criticism. The large crowds in Berlin were in part for the local players and I’m sure German snooker fans are grateful that the World Series has come to town.
Snooker tournaments should go to places where the game is popular.
There are few places in which it is as popular as Germany.
The annual Paul Hunter Classic pro-am in Furth attracts many top players but the Berlin tournament is the first professional event staged in Germany since the 1998 German Masters.
This leads to one pertinent question: why has it taken ten years to get an event on in Germany?
In fact, it’s so pertinent I’ll ask it again: why has it taken ten years to get an event on in Germany?
Were it not for the World Series, it could easily have been another ten years, despite the huge growth in interest in recent times. Germany does not seem to feature in World Snooker’s plans at all.
Ten years ago, 5,000 people played snooker regularly in Germany. Today, that figure has quadrupled to 20,000.
Television audiences on German Eurosport have risen for each World Championship since 2003.
In one week of this year’s Crucible event the top ten rated programmes were all snooker.
What impressed me about the packed house yesterday was how fair the spectators were.
Of course many if not most of them were hoping the local wildcards would spring an upset but they warmly applauded John Higgins, Graeme Dott, Stephen Maguire and Shaun Murphy.
Put simply, they just wanted to see top class snooker close-up. The World Series has given them this chance.
Lasse Munstermann was the only local player who came close to causing a shock but failed to take his chance to beat Higgins and lost 4-3.
This raises an interesting quandary for the World Series organisers. Some felt the local aspect of this new innovation was one of its plus points but in fact most first round contests so far have been a series of mismatches.
It’s true that Gary Britton beat Ken Doherty in Jersey and Munstermann gave Higgins a scare but, unsurprisingly, most of the wildcards have been overawed and outclassed.
It is hard to see how the Moscow and Warsaw wildcards will not suffer similar fates.
However, this is not a criticism. The large crowds in Berlin were in part for the local players and I’m sure German snooker fans are grateful that the World Series has come to town.
Snooker tournaments should go to places where the game is popular.
There are few places in which it is as popular as Germany.
11.7.08
TEN GREATEST MOMENTS IN SNOOKER HISTORY: 6
1994 - HENDRY BEATS WHITE...AGAIN
Sport thrives on rivalries and rivalries thrive on contrasting personalities.
With Stephen Hendry and Jimmy White, these contrasts were plain for all to see. Hendry, the imperious master cueman – quiet, dedicated, professional and deadly under pressure – against White, the everyman – gregarious, naturally gifted, a jack-the-lad people’s champion.
It was a compelling pairing that lifted the World Championship in the early 90s to new heights.
White had endured Crucible disappointment long before Hendry came on the scene. In 1982, only Alex Higgins’s audacious 69 clearance denied him a place in the world final. Two years later he himself made a great comeback in the final but just fell short of beating Steve Davis.
Hendry beat White 18-12 in the 1990 world final and 18-5 in 1993. The previous year, the Scot came from 14-8 down to beat him 18-14, a final White looked certain to win early on the second day.
However, 1994 was his big chance. An excellent match came down to a pulsating last session.
White trailed 16-14 but won a black ball frame to level at 16-16 and Hendry failed to pot a ball in the frame White won for 17-17.
For only the second time, the Crucible finale was going to a decider.
After the early exchanges, the balls were at White’s mercy. Leading 37-24, on a break of 29 and just a few balls away from victory, he missed the black off its spot.
It was surely pressure that caused the mistake. Hendry, the best pressure player who ever lived, was a White fan as a boy but, rightly, pushed sympathy aside and clinically cleared up to win 18-17.
“He’s starting to annoy me,” joked White, always gracious regardless of the result, but the pain of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory would soon hit home and his career entered a decline.
He stemmed it here and there, most notably in 2004 when he won the Players Championship.
The Whirlwind also gave his vast army of supporters something to cheer at the Crucible in 1998 when, as a qualifier, he beat Hendry 10-4 in the first round.
And yet this and all the titles he won could not possibly make up for the fact that the one he really wanted slipped him by.
Next year, he will have to win four matches to qualify. Everyone hopes he will but it seems like a long shot.
White was certainly good enough to be world champion and, in terms of pure ability, better than many of those who did win the game’s greatest prize but, on that night in Sheffield in 1994, he fell painfully short.
It was a great occasion but, for millions, a great disappointment.
Sport thrives on rivalries and rivalries thrive on contrasting personalities.
With Stephen Hendry and Jimmy White, these contrasts were plain for all to see. Hendry, the imperious master cueman – quiet, dedicated, professional and deadly under pressure – against White, the everyman – gregarious, naturally gifted, a jack-the-lad people’s champion.
It was a compelling pairing that lifted the World Championship in the early 90s to new heights.
White had endured Crucible disappointment long before Hendry came on the scene. In 1982, only Alex Higgins’s audacious 69 clearance denied him a place in the world final. Two years later he himself made a great comeback in the final but just fell short of beating Steve Davis.
Hendry beat White 18-12 in the 1990 world final and 18-5 in 1993. The previous year, the Scot came from 14-8 down to beat him 18-14, a final White looked certain to win early on the second day.
However, 1994 was his big chance. An excellent match came down to a pulsating last session.
White trailed 16-14 but won a black ball frame to level at 16-16 and Hendry failed to pot a ball in the frame White won for 17-17.
For only the second time, the Crucible finale was going to a decider.
After the early exchanges, the balls were at White’s mercy. Leading 37-24, on a break of 29 and just a few balls away from victory, he missed the black off its spot.
It was surely pressure that caused the mistake. Hendry, the best pressure player who ever lived, was a White fan as a boy but, rightly, pushed sympathy aside and clinically cleared up to win 18-17.
“He’s starting to annoy me,” joked White, always gracious regardless of the result, but the pain of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory would soon hit home and his career entered a decline.
He stemmed it here and there, most notably in 2004 when he won the Players Championship.
The Whirlwind also gave his vast army of supporters something to cheer at the Crucible in 1998 when, as a qualifier, he beat Hendry 10-4 in the first round.
And yet this and all the titles he won could not possibly make up for the fact that the one he really wanted slipped him by.
Next year, he will have to win four matches to qualify. Everyone hopes he will but it seems like a long shot.
White was certainly good enough to be world champion and, in terms of pure ability, better than many of those who did win the game’s greatest prize but, on that night in Sheffield in 1994, he fell painfully short.
It was a great occasion but, for millions, a great disappointment.
10.7.08
DAVIS RED HOT AT POKER
I’m delighted to read that Steve Davis has made it down to the last 1,308 in the main event of the World Series of Poker out in Las Vegas.
This may not sound all that impressive but it’s worth noting that this competition had a starting field of 6,844.
The winner will eventually pocket around £4.6m. This is only £1m less than Davis has earned during his 30-year professional snooker career.
The green baize legend is now taking his chances alongside such luminaries as Jeff ‘Jaffacake’ Kimber, who is described on the WSOP website as the World Heads-Up champion.
I have no idea what this means but it sounds like a title worth having.
Davis, like any great sportsman, loves winning but with him I always feel he enjoys the method more.
He has spent many an hour in snooker pressrooms quietly playing internet poker and has exactly the calculating intelligence required to succeed.
Steve’s a person of great patience, too. He used to play another man at chess and their matches were conducted entirely through the post.
Days would go by before either knew what the next move would be.
Not for Davis impulsiveness, although there are moments in poker, as in any game, where it is time to go for the kill. I have no doubt Steve knows exactly when this time is.
Good luck to him.
This may not sound all that impressive but it’s worth noting that this competition had a starting field of 6,844.
The winner will eventually pocket around £4.6m. This is only £1m less than Davis has earned during his 30-year professional snooker career.
The green baize legend is now taking his chances alongside such luminaries as Jeff ‘Jaffacake’ Kimber, who is described on the WSOP website as the World Heads-Up champion.
I have no idea what this means but it sounds like a title worth having.
Davis, like any great sportsman, loves winning but with him I always feel he enjoys the method more.
He has spent many an hour in snooker pressrooms quietly playing internet poker and has exactly the calculating intelligence required to succeed.
Steve’s a person of great patience, too. He used to play another man at chess and their matches were conducted entirely through the post.
Days would go by before either knew what the next move would be.
Not for Davis impulsiveness, although there are moments in poker, as in any game, where it is time to go for the kill. I have no doubt Steve knows exactly when this time is.
Good luck to him.
8.7.08
ON MANAGERS
Mark Williams has confirmed to the journalist Gary Baker that his split from the 110sport management camp was not amicable.
I have no wish to comment or speculate on this specific case but it raises the question of the relationship between players and managers.
To the best of my knowledge there is no licensing of managers in snooker. You or I could, in theory, sign up a player and represent them without any qualifications whatsoever.
(Indeed, during one very drunken night at the Irish Masters a few years ago myself and a colleague did this very thing. I can only hope a few scrawled promises on the back of a napkin are not legally binding).
Without naming names, there have been some very dodgy characters calling themselves ‘managers’ over the years. Players usually get wise to them but only after being massively ripped off.
What should a manager do for his player?
Their main role should be to take away all the pressure of being a professional sportsman. Therefore, they should do all the admin: booking hotels and practice times, arranging travel, looking after finances, obtaining sponsors, promoting the player and raising their profile.
The player will be expected to give a cut of their prize money and off table earnings to their manager in return for these services.
It hasn’t always worked. Howard Kruger’s Framework and Geoff Faint’s Wheels in Motion each collapsed with various amounts of money being owed.
Other managers have come and gone – usually gone with a fair slice of the player’s money in their back pocket.
Barry Hearn’s Matchroom stable of the 1980s was hugely successful and included most of the game’s top players. They even made a record with Chas n Dave, ‘Snooker Loopy.’
110sport, or Cuemasters and then TSN as it was later known, was the leading stable of the 1990s.
They had (and still have) Stephen Hendry while various other top stars have come and gone over the years.
Ian Doyle ran the company with great enthusiasm until his retirement a couple of years ago, after which his son, Lee, took over.
Stephen Maguire, Ronnie O’Sullivan and now Williams have all left. This in itself does not mean anything amiss has happened but suggests that some players would rather manage their own affairs and thus hang on to all of their money, apart from that which the taxman takes.
Only time will tell whether this is a smart move or not.
I have no wish to comment or speculate on this specific case but it raises the question of the relationship between players and managers.
To the best of my knowledge there is no licensing of managers in snooker. You or I could, in theory, sign up a player and represent them without any qualifications whatsoever.
(Indeed, during one very drunken night at the Irish Masters a few years ago myself and a colleague did this very thing. I can only hope a few scrawled promises on the back of a napkin are not legally binding).
Without naming names, there have been some very dodgy characters calling themselves ‘managers’ over the years. Players usually get wise to them but only after being massively ripped off.
What should a manager do for his player?
Their main role should be to take away all the pressure of being a professional sportsman. Therefore, they should do all the admin: booking hotels and practice times, arranging travel, looking after finances, obtaining sponsors, promoting the player and raising their profile.
The player will be expected to give a cut of their prize money and off table earnings to their manager in return for these services.
It hasn’t always worked. Howard Kruger’s Framework and Geoff Faint’s Wheels in Motion each collapsed with various amounts of money being owed.
Other managers have come and gone – usually gone with a fair slice of the player’s money in their back pocket.
Barry Hearn’s Matchroom stable of the 1980s was hugely successful and included most of the game’s top players. They even made a record with Chas n Dave, ‘Snooker Loopy.’
110sport, or Cuemasters and then TSN as it was later known, was the leading stable of the 1990s.
They had (and still have) Stephen Hendry while various other top stars have come and gone over the years.
Ian Doyle ran the company with great enthusiasm until his retirement a couple of years ago, after which his son, Lee, took over.
Stephen Maguire, Ronnie O’Sullivan and now Williams have all left. This in itself does not mean anything amiss has happened but suggests that some players would rather manage their own affairs and thus hang on to all of their money, apart from that which the taxman takes.
Only time will tell whether this is a smart move or not.
7.7.08
WORLD SERIES BERLIN DRAW
Here is the draw for the second World Series event in Berlin this coming weekend:
First round:
Graeme Dott (Scotland) v Chris McBreen (New Zealand)
John Higgins (Scotland) v Lasse Münstermann (Germany)
Stephen Maguire (Scotland) v Hans Blanckaert (Belgium)
Shaun Murphy (England) v Patrick Einsle (Germany)
Semi-finals:
Dott/McBreen v Higgins/Munstermann
Maguire/Blanckaert v Murphy/Einsle
If you're wondering why McBreen and Blanckaert are in the field, although they are from New Zealand and Belgium respectively they each live in Germany.
First round:
Graeme Dott (Scotland) v Chris McBreen (New Zealand)
John Higgins (Scotland) v Lasse Münstermann (Germany)
Stephen Maguire (Scotland) v Hans Blanckaert (Belgium)
Shaun Murphy (England) v Patrick Einsle (Germany)
Semi-finals:
Dott/McBreen v Higgins/Munstermann
Maguire/Blanckaert v Murphy/Einsle
If you're wondering why McBreen and Blanckaert are in the field, although they are from New Zealand and Belgium respectively they each live in Germany.
3.7.08
O'SULLIVAN QUITS 110SPORT
Ronnie O'Sullivan has today issued the following press statement (in italics):
Ronnie O'Sullivan has announced that he has ended his relationship with 110sport management.
Ronnie said, "Having completed my most successful season to date, I am looking forward to next season and managing my own affairs both in the UK and overseas markets including China.
"I would like to thank 110sport for the support they have given me over the years and look forward to working with them and other organisations in various capacities in the future".
Ronnie has announced that his accountants and business managers, Mr Django Fung and Mr Paul Golder of Grove Leisure, will continue to be responsible for his business affairs, and Mr Zihao Jin will represent his commercial interests in China.
O'Sullivan is the latest big name to leave the management group following Stephen Maguire and, more recently, Mark Williams.
Stephen Hendry, Ken Doherty and Marco Fu are among the well known faces who remain as part of the camp.
Ronnie O'Sullivan has announced that he has ended his relationship with 110sport management.
Ronnie said, "Having completed my most successful season to date, I am looking forward to next season and managing my own affairs both in the UK and overseas markets including China.
"I would like to thank 110sport for the support they have given me over the years and look forward to working with them and other organisations in various capacities in the future".
Ronnie has announced that his accountants and business managers, Mr Django Fung and Mr Paul Golder of Grove Leisure, will continue to be responsible for his business affairs, and Mr Zihao Jin will represent his commercial interests in China.
O'Sullivan is the latest big name to leave the management group following Stephen Maguire and, more recently, Mark Williams.
Stephen Hendry, Ken Doherty and Marco Fu are among the well known faces who remain as part of the camp.
2.7.08
SIX APPEAL
Next week, snooker returns to Thailand but only in the form of a shortened version of the game.
Six-red snooker is becoming popular in Asia. As the name suggests, it used six reds instead of 15 with 75 the highest break available.
The idea is to speed the game up and make it more attractive to those who prefer pool.
What do we all think of this?
I suppose I'm a traditionalist in these things. I much prefer Test cricket to 20/20, for instance.
However, there's nothing wrong with trying something new. Let's not forget that snooker itself was derived from various cue sports.
The six-red version may introduce new fans to the sport, who will then move on to the proper full length game.
Among the top players involved at the Sangsom Invitational in Bangkok next week are Mark Selby, Peter Ebdon, Ken Doherty, Joe Swail, James Wattana and Jimmy White. The winner will pocket £7,500.
Six-red snooker is becoming popular in Asia. As the name suggests, it used six reds instead of 15 with 75 the highest break available.
The idea is to speed the game up and make it more attractive to those who prefer pool.
What do we all think of this?
I suppose I'm a traditionalist in these things. I much prefer Test cricket to 20/20, for instance.
However, there's nothing wrong with trying something new. Let's not forget that snooker itself was derived from various cue sports.
The six-red version may introduce new fans to the sport, who will then move on to the proper full length game.
Among the top players involved at the Sangsom Invitational in Bangkok next week are Mark Selby, Peter Ebdon, Ken Doherty, Joe Swail, James Wattana and Jimmy White. The winner will pocket £7,500.
1.7.08
WORLD SNOOKER NO LONGER SILENT OVER 'BRIBE' CLAIM
Well, well, well...
World Snooker have put a statement on their website to clarify that Matt Selt has NOT been found guilty of attempting to bribe a player in an event in the 2006/07 Pontin's International Open Series.
They say the statement has been issued to 'avoid any speculation' over the matter.
This is probably a reference to my post of last week.
However, at no point did I name Matt Selt in connection with this. Neither did I provide any clues about who it could be, except to stress it was "not a household name" - done to prevent speculation about top players.
Here's how the story unfolded: Snooker Scene received an anonymous tip-off detailing an alleged bribe in the PIOS. We were informed that the player involved had been found guilty and fined £2,000.
As is customary journalistic practice, I rang World Snooker and asked them whether it was true or not.
Had they said that he had in fact not been found guilty, I would not have suggested he was.
Instead, they chose to say nothing at all.
Even they now seem to have realised that this is simply not good enough for a sporting governing body, hence today's statement.
The only reason there was any speculation was because World Snooker chose to ignore a perfectly legitimate press inquiry about a very serious allegation.
As I asked in my original post: "If the claims are completely untrue, why not just say so?"
World Snooker have put a statement on their website to clarify that Matt Selt has NOT been found guilty of attempting to bribe a player in an event in the 2006/07 Pontin's International Open Series.
They say the statement has been issued to 'avoid any speculation' over the matter.
This is probably a reference to my post of last week.
However, at no point did I name Matt Selt in connection with this. Neither did I provide any clues about who it could be, except to stress it was "not a household name" - done to prevent speculation about top players.
Here's how the story unfolded: Snooker Scene received an anonymous tip-off detailing an alleged bribe in the PIOS. We were informed that the player involved had been found guilty and fined £2,000.
As is customary journalistic practice, I rang World Snooker and asked them whether it was true or not.
Had they said that he had in fact not been found guilty, I would not have suggested he was.
Instead, they chose to say nothing at all.
Even they now seem to have realised that this is simply not good enough for a sporting governing body, hence today's statement.
The only reason there was any speculation was because World Snooker chose to ignore a perfectly legitimate press inquiry about a very serious allegation.
As I asked in my original post: "If the claims are completely untrue, why not just say so?"
WHEN SNOOKER WENT ALL WIMBLEDON
While enjoying an emotional rollercoaster courtesy of Andy Murray last night, I found my mind drifting back to snooker’s only flirtation with a Wimbledon-style event.
The year was 1991. In America, a president named Bush was at war with Iraq. In Britain, a dour new prime minister was struggling to establish himself after taking over from a far more charismatic predecessor.
How times have changed.
In January of that year, Barry Hearn launched his ambitious World Masters at the NEC in Birmingham. Like Wimbledon, it included men’s and women’s singles and doubles, mixed doubles and a juniors event.
I attended the first day although was not yet writing about snooker. This was chiefly because I was still at school.
The tournament began in controversial circumstances when Hearn invited Alex Higgins to compete even though the WPBSA had banned him for a season.
World champion Stephen Hendry, aghast at Higgins’s inclusion, threatened to pull out. This story was the back page lead in the Daily Mail – simply unthinkable today.
Hearn, perhaps not unhappy with the publicity, backed down and Hendry took his place in Birmingham.
Much thought had gone into innovation, with players wearing colourful waistcoats and players invited from all corners of the globe.
The first match was something of a mismatch pitting as it did Steve Davis – still one of the very best players in the world – against Fred Davis, who at the time was 76 years of age.
Davis won 6-0. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you which one.
The tournament had begun with an Olympic-esque opening ceremony featuring pretty women parading round the arena with the names of the countries represented, which included such snooker outposts as Brazil (Rui Chapeu, who played wearing a white cap) and Panama (Juan Castenda, who had never played the game before but still managed to make a 50 break).
This was the first event to be broadcast with any real ambition outside of the standard TV coverage up to that point. Sky had cameras on two tables and a roving camera to get to anything exciting on the outside tables.
Unfortunately, they were late to James Wattana’s 147, did not record a ball and so simply didn’t mention it.
Wattana was somewhat disappointed there had been no jackpot prize. “I was thinking of a big money,” said the Thai.
The main distinguishing feature of the World Masters was its tennis-style tie break. Matches were first to six but players had to win by two clear frames. If they reached 6-6 then one red and the colours were placed on the table and the winner of this mini-frame declared the winner.
A nice idea but it didn’t work. The one dramatic point in any match is a deciding frame – a full frame.
Jimmy White beat Tony Drago 10-5 to win the men’s title and pocketed a cheque for £200,000.
To put this into context, Graeme Dott would receive the same amount for winning the World Championship 15 years later.
Hendry and Mike Hallett won the men’s doubles, Karen Corr the women’s singles, Allison Fisher and Stacey Hillyard the women’s doubles and Davis and Fisher the mixed doubles.
All the hype before the junior event had been centred on Ronnie O’Sullivan, but he was beaten by the eventual winner, John Higgins, who beat Mark Williams in the final.
Quinten Hann, at 13, became the youngest player to compile a televised century.
It was a great event but very costly, too, and was never staged again.
This was a shame. There need to be different types of tournament to keep interest up.
For instance doubles, though not my personal cup of tea because of its stop-start nature, is very popular with audiences.
Who would play with who today? I’d suggest Higgins and Maguire, Hendry and Williams, Murphy and Selby while right-handed Ronnie could partner left-handed Ronnie.
In all seriousness, in the digital TV age there is no reason – apart from finances – why a World Masters-style tournament could not be attempted again.
It could be frame, set and match to snooker.
The year was 1991. In America, a president named Bush was at war with Iraq. In Britain, a dour new prime minister was struggling to establish himself after taking over from a far more charismatic predecessor.
How times have changed.
In January of that year, Barry Hearn launched his ambitious World Masters at the NEC in Birmingham. Like Wimbledon, it included men’s and women’s singles and doubles, mixed doubles and a juniors event.
I attended the first day although was not yet writing about snooker. This was chiefly because I was still at school.
The tournament began in controversial circumstances when Hearn invited Alex Higgins to compete even though the WPBSA had banned him for a season.
World champion Stephen Hendry, aghast at Higgins’s inclusion, threatened to pull out. This story was the back page lead in the Daily Mail – simply unthinkable today.
Hearn, perhaps not unhappy with the publicity, backed down and Hendry took his place in Birmingham.
Much thought had gone into innovation, with players wearing colourful waistcoats and players invited from all corners of the globe.
The first match was something of a mismatch pitting as it did Steve Davis – still one of the very best players in the world – against Fred Davis, who at the time was 76 years of age.
Davis won 6-0. I’m sure I don’t need to tell you which one.
The tournament had begun with an Olympic-esque opening ceremony featuring pretty women parading round the arena with the names of the countries represented, which included such snooker outposts as Brazil (Rui Chapeu, who played wearing a white cap) and Panama (Juan Castenda, who had never played the game before but still managed to make a 50 break).
This was the first event to be broadcast with any real ambition outside of the standard TV coverage up to that point. Sky had cameras on two tables and a roving camera to get to anything exciting on the outside tables.
Unfortunately, they were late to James Wattana’s 147, did not record a ball and so simply didn’t mention it.
Wattana was somewhat disappointed there had been no jackpot prize. “I was thinking of a big money,” said the Thai.
The main distinguishing feature of the World Masters was its tennis-style tie break. Matches were first to six but players had to win by two clear frames. If they reached 6-6 then one red and the colours were placed on the table and the winner of this mini-frame declared the winner.
A nice idea but it didn’t work. The one dramatic point in any match is a deciding frame – a full frame.
Jimmy White beat Tony Drago 10-5 to win the men’s title and pocketed a cheque for £200,000.
To put this into context, Graeme Dott would receive the same amount for winning the World Championship 15 years later.
Hendry and Mike Hallett won the men’s doubles, Karen Corr the women’s singles, Allison Fisher and Stacey Hillyard the women’s doubles and Davis and Fisher the mixed doubles.
All the hype before the junior event had been centred on Ronnie O’Sullivan, but he was beaten by the eventual winner, John Higgins, who beat Mark Williams in the final.
Quinten Hann, at 13, became the youngest player to compile a televised century.
It was a great event but very costly, too, and was never staged again.
This was a shame. There need to be different types of tournament to keep interest up.
For instance doubles, though not my personal cup of tea because of its stop-start nature, is very popular with audiences.
Who would play with who today? I’d suggest Higgins and Maguire, Hendry and Williams, Murphy and Selby while right-handed Ronnie could partner left-handed Ronnie.
In all seriousness, in the digital TV age there is no reason – apart from finances – why a World Masters-style tournament could not be attempted again.
It could be frame, set and match to snooker.
30.6.08
GETTING IN TOUCH
This blog now has an email address if you want to get in touch.
We'd appreciate any information you may have about any aspect of the snooker world and will, of course, treat it in the strictest confidence.
The address is snookersceneblog@aol.com
We'd appreciate any information you may have about any aspect of the snooker world and will, of course, treat it in the strictest confidence.
The address is snookersceneblog@aol.com
HURRICANE WARNING
I was interested to read Alex Higgins dispensing advice to Paul Gascoigne in yesterday’s News of the World.
My first thought was that the Hurricane is the last person Gazza should be taking advice from but, then again, Higgins knows better than most the consequences of self-destructive behaviour.
At 59, it’s worth celebrating the fact that Alex is still alive. Ten years ago he was ravaged by throat cancer but, despite his frail disposition, he managed to beat the disease.
Make no mistake, he was a great player but he was also a total maverick. Some of the things he did were unbelievable. Some were contemptible.
But he remains a great icon, not just of snooker but of sporting rebellion.
Jimmy White and Ronnie O’Sullivan are the natural inheritors of his maverick mantle but neither has quite self-destructed to the same degree.
White has also always been a model professional on the table. O’Sullivan, of course, has not but has kept his demons at bay long enough to win three world titles.
Higgins was certainly treated more harshly than O’Sullivan by snooker authorities, although this is not to say too harshly.
He did, after all, twice assault tournament officials and threaten to have another player, Dennis Taylor, shot.
Alex thanked me in his autobiography after I helped out with some stats. A short while later when I asked to interview him at the Irish Championship, I received a reply that would not be suitable for a family blog, or indeed this one.
That’s Higgins. A man of contrasts, conflicts and contradictions.
A rebel, it seems, to the end.
My first thought was that the Hurricane is the last person Gazza should be taking advice from but, then again, Higgins knows better than most the consequences of self-destructive behaviour.
At 59, it’s worth celebrating the fact that Alex is still alive. Ten years ago he was ravaged by throat cancer but, despite his frail disposition, he managed to beat the disease.
Make no mistake, he was a great player but he was also a total maverick. Some of the things he did were unbelievable. Some were contemptible.
But he remains a great icon, not just of snooker but of sporting rebellion.
Jimmy White and Ronnie O’Sullivan are the natural inheritors of his maverick mantle but neither has quite self-destructed to the same degree.
White has also always been a model professional on the table. O’Sullivan, of course, has not but has kept his demons at bay long enough to win three world titles.
Higgins was certainly treated more harshly than O’Sullivan by snooker authorities, although this is not to say too harshly.
He did, after all, twice assault tournament officials and threaten to have another player, Dennis Taylor, shot.
Alex thanked me in his autobiography after I helped out with some stats. A short while later when I asked to interview him at the Irish Championship, I received a reply that would not be suitable for a family blog, or indeed this one.
That’s Higgins. A man of contrasts, conflicts and contradictions.
A rebel, it seems, to the end.
27.6.08
BJORN AGAIN
Well done to Bjorn Haneveer for winning the first event of the Pontin's International Open Series in Prestatyn today.
This gives him a good springboard to return to the pro circuit.
Bjorn is Belgium's best ever player and was ranked as high as 53rd in the rankings during the 2004/05 season.
For the last couple of years, he's been concentrating on a new business and on commentating for Eurosport in Belgium.
I always thought he was good enough to be in the top 32. He still may be and it would be good to see him back on the main tour.
This gives him a good springboard to return to the pro circuit.
Bjorn is Belgium's best ever player and was ranked as high as 53rd in the rankings during the 2004/05 season.
For the last couple of years, he's been concentrating on a new business and on commentating for Eurosport in Belgium.
I always thought he was good enough to be in the top 32. He still may be and it would be good to see him back on the main tour.
CUETUBE
Here's Jimmy White winning his first ranking title, the 1986 Mercantile Classic.
I particularly like how quickly ITV get off the air after the last ball goes down.
I particularly like how quickly ITV get off the air after the last ball goes down.
26.6.08
WORLD SNOOKER SILENT OVER 'BRIBE' CLAIM
World Snooker are refusing to confirm or deny claims that a member of the main tour has been fined £2,000 after being found guilty of offering an opponent £1,000 to lose the match they were playing.
This is a very serious allegation. The player would have been in breach of rule 2.8 of section 2.c of the WPBSA handbook, which states “a member shall not directly or indirectly solicit, attempt to solicit or accept any payment or any form of remuneration of benefit in exchange for influencing the outcome of any game of snooker or billiards.”
I should stress that the player said to be involved is not a household name. I shall not name him until further investigations have been completed.
Peter Francisco was banned for five years for losing 10-2 to Jimmy White in the first round of the 1995 World Championship. This was the scoreline on which huge amounts of money had been placed pre-match.
Quinten Hann was banned for eight years and fined £10,000 for agreeing – on tape – to receive £50,000 for losing a match, although the scam was called off because it had been initiated not, as Hann apparently believed, by a betting cartel but by a national newspaper.
In this latest case, it is claimed the player was found guilty by the WPBSA disciplinary committee but will be allowed to continue playing on the circuit.
I have asked World Snooker to clarify this - or deny it if it isn't true - but they are making no comment.
What other sport conducts its disciplinary affairs in such shadowy secrecy?
In tennis, when claims of match-fixing were made an independent report was commissioned, published earlier this week.
Gerry Sutcliffe, the Minister for Sport in the British government, stated he hoped those found guilty of this offence would be jailed for up to two years under new legislation.
Surely if there has been malpractice, a governing body should not only punish those involved but do so in public to prove they are weeding out those players who break the rules?
And if the claims are completely untrue, why not just say so?
This is a very serious allegation. The player would have been in breach of rule 2.8 of section 2.c of the WPBSA handbook, which states “a member shall not directly or indirectly solicit, attempt to solicit or accept any payment or any form of remuneration of benefit in exchange for influencing the outcome of any game of snooker or billiards.”
I should stress that the player said to be involved is not a household name. I shall not name him until further investigations have been completed.
Peter Francisco was banned for five years for losing 10-2 to Jimmy White in the first round of the 1995 World Championship. This was the scoreline on which huge amounts of money had been placed pre-match.
Quinten Hann was banned for eight years and fined £10,000 for agreeing – on tape – to receive £50,000 for losing a match, although the scam was called off because it had been initiated not, as Hann apparently believed, by a betting cartel but by a national newspaper.
In this latest case, it is claimed the player was found guilty by the WPBSA disciplinary committee but will be allowed to continue playing on the circuit.
I have asked World Snooker to clarify this - or deny it if it isn't true - but they are making no comment.
What other sport conducts its disciplinary affairs in such shadowy secrecy?
In tennis, when claims of match-fixing were made an independent report was commissioned, published earlier this week.
Gerry Sutcliffe, the Minister for Sport in the British government, stated he hoped those found guilty of this offence would be jailed for up to two years under new legislation.
Surely if there has been malpractice, a governing body should not only punish those involved but do so in public to prove they are weeding out those players who break the rules?
And if the claims are completely untrue, why not just say so?
25.6.08
TEN GREATEST MOMENTS IN SNOOKER HISTORY: 7
2005 - DING BEATS HENDRY TO WIN CHINA OPEN
China is now seen by most as one of the key areas for expansion but this is less because of some grand commercial strategy and more almost entirely down to one player in one week in 2005.
Ding Junhui may never have been at the China Open in Beijing. He was ranked 76th going into the tournament and thus had to chance his arm at the qualifying scramble in Prestatyn.
The decision was made to withdraw the 17 year-old and enter him into the final stages as a wildcard.
This was controversial with some but at least ensured the prodigiously talented teenager would be seen by his home fans.
The China Open had not been held for three years before heading to Beijing for the first time. It started badly. Tim Howland, the chief executive of World Snooker, was summarily dismissed on the eve of the tournament and Ronnie O’Sullivan pulled out at the last minute.
But Ding was soon off and running, beating Mark Davis 5-2 in the wildcard round before an extraordinary 5-0 demolition of Peter Ebdon, his mentor and one of the first people to spot his potential.
With Chinese journalists not always being the most tactful, the out-played Ebdon was asked in the press conference: “How come you won the World Championship?”
To his credit, he replied: “I was just lucky.”
Ding was a little lucky, too, to see off Stuart Bingham 5-4 in the last 16, helped by a fluked brown in the decider, but he played very well indeed to see off Marco Fu 5-2 and Ken Doherty 6-0 to reach the final.
To put it into context, this would have been like Tim Henman reaching the Wimbledon final. The level of expectancy and sense that a new star had been born was palpable.
A peak viewing audience of 110million watched Ding beat Stephen Hendry 9-5 in the final. This is six times as many people who saw the conclusion of the Taylor-Davis world final in 1985.
Because he was not eligible for prize money or ranking points as a wildcard, Ding did not receive a penny and actually went down the rankings.
But longer term, his victory cemented China’s place in the future of snooker. This vast country had found a player capable of beating the very best and there are now two fully funded ranking events there, with more sure to follow.
For a sport so long dominated by British players, Ding’s victory served as a wake-up call that there is a whole world out there, full of talented cueists looking for their slice of the snooker cake.
Just three years on, there were three Chinese players at the Crucible, with one reaching the quarter-finals.
It surely cannot be long before there is a Chinese world champion.
China is now seen by most as one of the key areas for expansion but this is less because of some grand commercial strategy and more almost entirely down to one player in one week in 2005.
Ding Junhui may never have been at the China Open in Beijing. He was ranked 76th going into the tournament and thus had to chance his arm at the qualifying scramble in Prestatyn.
The decision was made to withdraw the 17 year-old and enter him into the final stages as a wildcard.
This was controversial with some but at least ensured the prodigiously talented teenager would be seen by his home fans.
The China Open had not been held for three years before heading to Beijing for the first time. It started badly. Tim Howland, the chief executive of World Snooker, was summarily dismissed on the eve of the tournament and Ronnie O’Sullivan pulled out at the last minute.
But Ding was soon off and running, beating Mark Davis 5-2 in the wildcard round before an extraordinary 5-0 demolition of Peter Ebdon, his mentor and one of the first people to spot his potential.
With Chinese journalists not always being the most tactful, the out-played Ebdon was asked in the press conference: “How come you won the World Championship?”
To his credit, he replied: “I was just lucky.”
Ding was a little lucky, too, to see off Stuart Bingham 5-4 in the last 16, helped by a fluked brown in the decider, but he played very well indeed to see off Marco Fu 5-2 and Ken Doherty 6-0 to reach the final.
To put it into context, this would have been like Tim Henman reaching the Wimbledon final. The level of expectancy and sense that a new star had been born was palpable.
A peak viewing audience of 110million watched Ding beat Stephen Hendry 9-5 in the final. This is six times as many people who saw the conclusion of the Taylor-Davis world final in 1985.
Because he was not eligible for prize money or ranking points as a wildcard, Ding did not receive a penny and actually went down the rankings.
But longer term, his victory cemented China’s place in the future of snooker. This vast country had found a player capable of beating the very best and there are now two fully funded ranking events there, with more sure to follow.
For a sport so long dominated by British players, Ding’s victory served as a wake-up call that there is a whole world out there, full of talented cueists looking for their slice of the snooker cake.
Just three years on, there were three Chinese players at the Crucible, with one reaching the quarter-finals.
It surely cannot be long before there is a Chinese world champion.
23.6.08
ON TO BERLIN...
The final of the first World Series event in Jersey proved to be the best match of the tournament.
From 3-3, John Higgins turned it on as breaks of 72, 104 and 69 saw him over the line 6-3 against Mark Selby.
The match was played in a good spirit and the crowd - the biggest of the weekend - seemed to enjoy every minute.
The mood backstage was that this first event went well, even though there will inevitably be issues to address before moving on to Berlin in July.
There is great enthusiasm for this project among those involved in it and also from the players.
Pat Mooney, the chief executive of FSTC Scotland, the promoters, has 14 cities interested in hosting events next year, so it looks like the World Series is only going to get bigger and better.
From 3-3, John Higgins turned it on as breaks of 72, 104 and 69 saw him over the line 6-3 against Mark Selby.
The match was played in a good spirit and the crowd - the biggest of the weekend - seemed to enjoy every minute.
The mood backstage was that this first event went well, even though there will inevitably be issues to address before moving on to Berlin in July.
There is great enthusiasm for this project among those involved in it and also from the players.
Pat Mooney, the chief executive of FSTC Scotland, the promoters, has 14 cities interested in hosting events next year, so it looks like the World Series is only going to get bigger and better.
21.6.08
POSTCARD FROM JERSEY
There's a great atmosphere here in Jersey tonight for John Higgins's match in the World Series against local man Aaron Canavan.
Aaron seems to have brought everyone he knows along and will doubtless do all he can to emulate Gary Britton and spring an upset.
Britton beat Ken Doherty 4-1 this morning. Ken played badly, although his tip was slightly damaged.
It's been fun here. Last night we were entertained at no fewer than three receptions and the players mingled with invited guests, stressing that this is not just about what happens on the table.
Crowds have built up during the course of the day and the mood is very positive.
As Shaun Murphy put it: "We've been saying for years that we want more tournaments. Now we've got them and we're not here to mess around."
Aaron seems to have brought everyone he knows along and will doubtless do all he can to emulate Gary Britton and spring an upset.
Britton beat Ken Doherty 4-1 this morning. Ken played badly, although his tip was slightly damaged.
It's been fun here. Last night we were entertained at no fewer than three receptions and the players mingled with invited guests, stressing that this is not just about what happens on the table.
Crowds have built up during the course of the day and the mood is very positive.
As Shaun Murphy put it: "We've been saying for years that we want more tournaments. Now we've got them and we're not here to mess around."
20.6.08
SOME THINGS WORTH KNOWING...
A few bits of news...
Firstly, snooker has made it into Time magazine, which underlines its international appeal as this publication is read right around the world.
The article focuses on snooker in China. Everything written is true but what's also true is that World Snooker have chosen to completely ignore the other great growth area for snooker - continental Europe and in particular eastern Europe. This is, in part, being remedied by the independently promoted World Series.
Even so, it's nice to read a positive article about snooker for once, especially in a magazine as widely respected as Time.
Next, the qualifiers for this season's Maplin UK Championship will be played at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.
As anyone who has gone along to watch the final qualifying round of the 888.com World Championship will surely agree, this is a first rate venue.
If you stand at the back you can pretty much watch all four tables and, assuming the players ranked 17-32 will be in action as they were last season, the likes of Steve Davis, Ken Doherty and Mark Williams will all be playing.
Jimmy White has to start in the first round. Meantime, he has a new DVD out. I've reviewed it for the July issue of Snooker Scene and it is, I have to say, hilarious.
It follows Jimmy around the circuit during the 2006/07 season and features cameos from Alex Higgins, Steve Davis, John Higgins, Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan to name but a few.
As from next month, you can order it for just £10 from the Snooker Scene mail order service.
A word of warning, though: not for nothing is it rated 18. This is not suitable for your granny or small children as the swearing is constant and about as strong as you can get.
Also available through our mail order will be Chris Downer's excellent Gazetteers - a sumptuous statistical tome which includes full records on ranking tournaments, maximums, prize money and, well, pretty much everything.
This is a labour of love for Chris and I commend him for his considerable effort. Having a copy nearby will enhance your viewing pleasure when snooker's on TV.
In the future, one name that may feature is that of Adam Duffy, who has just started his year as the new recipient of World Snooker's Paul Hunter Scholarship. The first, Daniel Wells, is about to take his first steps on the pro circuit.
Good luck to them both. You can read Adam's diary here and read more about him on his website here.
Adam is hoping he gets to play Ronnie O'Sullivan at the World Snooker Academy. He will probably spend most of the time picking the balls out but will still learn a great deal.
Thanks to the good people at Cuefactor I learn that Ronnie last season made a century every eight frames.
This is staggering, really. Ronnie made 50 centuries last season but only played in eight tournaments. If he keeps practising I reckon he'll be a bit of a player.
He's still just under 200 tons behind Stephen Hendry, who has had to change his practise base as Spencers Snooker Club in Stirling - where he has played his whole career - has shut down.
Hendry is converting part of the stables at his home into a snooker room and will mainly practice there.
The PDC darts circuit will be worth more than £5m next season - more than the World Snooker tour.
This is chiefly due to the influence of Barry Hearn, the PDC chairman, who has - as throughout his career - taken something already popular, marketed it properly and made it even more popular.
The World Championship prize fund has grown seven-fold since 1999. In snooker, the prize funds have either fallen or stayed just about the same in this period.
Is Hearn any longer interested in snooker? I don't know. More to the point, though, is snooker interested in Hearn? It's not a sport that's exactly thrown its arms open to entrepreneurs, more's the pity.
Anything else?
Well, don't forget the World Series starts in Jersey tomorrow. One of the players involved, Ken Doherty, talks about it on the website of his management company, 110sport.
And with that, I have a plane to catch...
Firstly, snooker has made it into Time magazine, which underlines its international appeal as this publication is read right around the world.
The article focuses on snooker in China. Everything written is true but what's also true is that World Snooker have chosen to completely ignore the other great growth area for snooker - continental Europe and in particular eastern Europe. This is, in part, being remedied by the independently promoted World Series.
Even so, it's nice to read a positive article about snooker for once, especially in a magazine as widely respected as Time.
Next, the qualifiers for this season's Maplin UK Championship will be played at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield.
As anyone who has gone along to watch the final qualifying round of the 888.com World Championship will surely agree, this is a first rate venue.
If you stand at the back you can pretty much watch all four tables and, assuming the players ranked 17-32 will be in action as they were last season, the likes of Steve Davis, Ken Doherty and Mark Williams will all be playing.
Jimmy White has to start in the first round. Meantime, he has a new DVD out. I've reviewed it for the July issue of Snooker Scene and it is, I have to say, hilarious.
It follows Jimmy around the circuit during the 2006/07 season and features cameos from Alex Higgins, Steve Davis, John Higgins, Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan to name but a few.
As from next month, you can order it for just £10 from the Snooker Scene mail order service.
A word of warning, though: not for nothing is it rated 18. This is not suitable for your granny or small children as the swearing is constant and about as strong as you can get.
Also available through our mail order will be Chris Downer's excellent Gazetteers - a sumptuous statistical tome which includes full records on ranking tournaments, maximums, prize money and, well, pretty much everything.
This is a labour of love for Chris and I commend him for his considerable effort. Having a copy nearby will enhance your viewing pleasure when snooker's on TV.
In the future, one name that may feature is that of Adam Duffy, who has just started his year as the new recipient of World Snooker's Paul Hunter Scholarship. The first, Daniel Wells, is about to take his first steps on the pro circuit.
Good luck to them both. You can read Adam's diary here and read more about him on his website here.
Adam is hoping he gets to play Ronnie O'Sullivan at the World Snooker Academy. He will probably spend most of the time picking the balls out but will still learn a great deal.
Thanks to the good people at Cuefactor I learn that Ronnie last season made a century every eight frames.
This is staggering, really. Ronnie made 50 centuries last season but only played in eight tournaments. If he keeps practising I reckon he'll be a bit of a player.
He's still just under 200 tons behind Stephen Hendry, who has had to change his practise base as Spencers Snooker Club in Stirling - where he has played his whole career - has shut down.
Hendry is converting part of the stables at his home into a snooker room and will mainly practice there.
The PDC darts circuit will be worth more than £5m next season - more than the World Snooker tour.
This is chiefly due to the influence of Barry Hearn, the PDC chairman, who has - as throughout his career - taken something already popular, marketed it properly and made it even more popular.
The World Championship prize fund has grown seven-fold since 1999. In snooker, the prize funds have either fallen or stayed just about the same in this period.
Is Hearn any longer interested in snooker? I don't know. More to the point, though, is snooker interested in Hearn? It's not a sport that's exactly thrown its arms open to entrepreneurs, more's the pity.
Anything else?
Well, don't forget the World Series starts in Jersey tomorrow. One of the players involved, Ken Doherty, talks about it on the website of his management company, 110sport.
And with that, I have a plane to catch...
19.6.08
DRAGO TAKES THE PIOS
Tony Drago, relegated from the professional circuit after 23 years, is to continue on the Pontin's International Open Series.
The top eight in the end of season PIOS rankings will be promoted to the 2009/2010 main tour, although the field looks to be very competitive so Drago will have his work cut out.
It's good to see him carrying on. He has always had great enthusiasm for snooker and, even though his form has declined in recent years, he's still capable of odd moments of brilliance.
This dashing Maltese player had at times in the past made Ronnie O'Sullivan look like Eddie Charlton. Drago once won a frame in only three minutes - a record.
The fact that he's on the PIOS obviously means he won't be receiving a WPBSA wildcard. The discretionary place went to Liu Chuang, although Drago was hopeful he could be in the frame if any more became free.
He has had a few run-ins with authority in the past due to his emotional, at times combustible personality but the same can be said of O'Sullivan and World Snooker appear to be acting as his personal PR firm.
Regardless of how he fares, Drago is carving out a lucrative career in 9-ball pool but snooker is his first love and many will wish him well as he battles with newcomers and old stagers on the game's secondary tour.
(Incidentally, Drago's opening round opponent in the first PIOS event next week is Robbie Williams, who is presumably loving angles instead.)
The top eight in the end of season PIOS rankings will be promoted to the 2009/2010 main tour, although the field looks to be very competitive so Drago will have his work cut out.
It's good to see him carrying on. He has always had great enthusiasm for snooker and, even though his form has declined in recent years, he's still capable of odd moments of brilliance.
This dashing Maltese player had at times in the past made Ronnie O'Sullivan look like Eddie Charlton. Drago once won a frame in only three minutes - a record.
The fact that he's on the PIOS obviously means he won't be receiving a WPBSA wildcard. The discretionary place went to Liu Chuang, although Drago was hopeful he could be in the frame if any more became free.
He has had a few run-ins with authority in the past due to his emotional, at times combustible personality but the same can be said of O'Sullivan and World Snooker appear to be acting as his personal PR firm.
Regardless of how he fares, Drago is carving out a lucrative career in 9-ball pool but snooker is his first love and many will wish him well as he battles with newcomers and old stagers on the game's secondary tour.
(Incidentally, Drago's opening round opponent in the first PIOS event next week is Robbie Williams, who is presumably loving angles instead.)
JERSEY BOYS PLAY STARRING ROLE
Two Jersey snooker players are set for a taste of the big time when the World Series gets underway this weekend.
Gary Britton and Aaron Canavan have been called up for the brand new tour, which kicks off at Fort Regent, St. Helier on Saturday (June 21).
Britton, who works in the treasury department of the RBS bank, will provide the first round opposition for Irishman Ken Doherty, the 1997 world champion.
Britton, 34, spent two seasons on the Challenge Tour, the game’s secondary circuit, from 2000-2002 and has won the Channel Islands Snooker Championship on three occasions.
But he admits nothing in his career to date has come close to taking on one of snooker’s all time greats on home turf.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” Britton said. “It’s the biggest thing I’ve ever played in and one of the biggest sporting events we’ve ever had in Jersey.
“It’ll be great to play Ken, who has such a good record in the game. I’ve played a few professionals in exhibitions and pro-ams and have fared pretty well, so I’m hoping for the best.”
Canavan, 32, who runs a classic car hire firm, faces twice world champion John Higgins on Saturday night in a match that will be broadcast live on Eurosport.
“It’s just fantastic to be playing John,” he said. “It’s the biggest thing that can happen for an amateur player to draw someone like him. It’s an opportunity you’d never expect to get.
“That’s why this World Series is such a good idea for promoting the sport. It provides chances for players like me to play greats like John.
“It’s also huge for Jersey. Snooker has a high profile and will help to promote the island. It’s a beautiful place, is safe and has a low crime rate. Hopefully, people will enjoy the snooker but also take time out to look at Jersey itself.”
Martyn Desperques, the reigning Guernsey snooker champion, will tackle world no.3 Shaun Murphy in the first round on Saturday.
Rafal Jewtuch, the Polish champion, has also been invited and faces Mark Selby, the reigning Masters and Welsh Open champion.
Other top stars, including Steve Davis, Ding Junhui, Stephen Maguire and Graeme Dott, will take part in the later tournaments.
After the Jersey leg, the World Series will call at Berlin, Moscow and Warsaw before the Grand Finals in Dusseldorf in November.
The overall winner of the Grand Finals will pocket a cheque for €70,000 (£56,000).
Gary Britton and Aaron Canavan have been called up for the brand new tour, which kicks off at Fort Regent, St. Helier on Saturday (June 21).
Britton, who works in the treasury department of the RBS bank, will provide the first round opposition for Irishman Ken Doherty, the 1997 world champion.
Britton, 34, spent two seasons on the Challenge Tour, the game’s secondary circuit, from 2000-2002 and has won the Channel Islands Snooker Championship on three occasions.
But he admits nothing in his career to date has come close to taking on one of snooker’s all time greats on home turf.
“I’m really looking forward to it,” Britton said. “It’s the biggest thing I’ve ever played in and one of the biggest sporting events we’ve ever had in Jersey.
“It’ll be great to play Ken, who has such a good record in the game. I’ve played a few professionals in exhibitions and pro-ams and have fared pretty well, so I’m hoping for the best.”
Canavan, 32, who runs a classic car hire firm, faces twice world champion John Higgins on Saturday night in a match that will be broadcast live on Eurosport.
“It’s just fantastic to be playing John,” he said. “It’s the biggest thing that can happen for an amateur player to draw someone like him. It’s an opportunity you’d never expect to get.
“That’s why this World Series is such a good idea for promoting the sport. It provides chances for players like me to play greats like John.
“It’s also huge for Jersey. Snooker has a high profile and will help to promote the island. It’s a beautiful place, is safe and has a low crime rate. Hopefully, people will enjoy the snooker but also take time out to look at Jersey itself.”
Martyn Desperques, the reigning Guernsey snooker champion, will tackle world no.3 Shaun Murphy in the first round on Saturday.
Rafal Jewtuch, the Polish champion, has also been invited and faces Mark Selby, the reigning Masters and Welsh Open champion.
Other top stars, including Steve Davis, Ding Junhui, Stephen Maguire and Graeme Dott, will take part in the later tournaments.
After the Jersey leg, the World Series will call at Berlin, Moscow and Warsaw before the Grand Finals in Dusseldorf in November.
The overall winner of the Grand Finals will pocket a cheque for €70,000 (£56,000).
18.6.08
TEN GREATEST MOMENTS IN SNOOKER HISTORY: 8
1969 - POT BLACK FIRST BROADCAST
The early days of televised snooker carried with them one major drawback: it was broadcast in black and white.
Thus, commentator Ted Lowe was once to utter the immortal words: “For those watching in black and white, the yellow is next to the pink.”
Pre-colour, snooker was hard to watch and tended to be used merely to fill time between other sports.
The likes of Joe and Fred Davis would be asked to play for 20 minutes between horse races and would have to contrive the frame lasting this long and no longer.
It was hardly a great showcase for the sport.
However, this all changed at the end of the 1960s when BBC2 arrived and with it the advent of colour television.
The first BBC2 controller would gain fame as one of the most respected figures in the history of broadcasting through his ground-breaking natural history programmes.
In 1969, David Attenborough’s main concern lay closer to home, namely how to fill his new channel in ways that would best advertise the fledgling colour service.
Snooker, with its different colours and small playing surface, may now seem like an obvious choice but at the time it was a brave one.
Few had heard of the likes of John Spencer, Ray Reardon and Eddie Charlton. Would the viewing public really want to watch them?
Lowe had been trying for many years to widen the game’s appeal on television and he put together a format and pulled together a field.
Philip Lewis, who would produce this new show, decided to call it ‘Pot Black.’
The first programme was broadcast the week Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon. Pot Black proved to be one giant leap for snooker, the new age of colour television ushering in a cast of characters whose skill on the table and likeable personalities off it turned the game into popular entertainment.
Almost immediately the show went to second place in the BBC2 ratings and, through time, and certainly helped by the emergence of one Alexander Gordon Higgins, the BBC were persuaded that full coverage of the World Championship would bring in such a sustained audience that it would be well worth their time and effort.
The rest, of course, is history.
In the end, Pot Black became a victim of its own success. It ended in 1986 because people no longer wanted one-frame snooker over half an hour when they had week long tournaments to follow.
It was revived in the 1990s and has been again in recent years but only really as a bit of fun. It shows players in relaxed mode, although whether viewers necessarily want to see them like this is a point of discussion.
Its contribution to the development of the professional game is unquestioned, however.
Pot Black lit the blue touch paper for snooker’s love affair with television which continues to this day.
The early days of televised snooker carried with them one major drawback: it was broadcast in black and white.
Thus, commentator Ted Lowe was once to utter the immortal words: “For those watching in black and white, the yellow is next to the pink.”
Pre-colour, snooker was hard to watch and tended to be used merely to fill time between other sports.
The likes of Joe and Fred Davis would be asked to play for 20 minutes between horse races and would have to contrive the frame lasting this long and no longer.
It was hardly a great showcase for the sport.
However, this all changed at the end of the 1960s when BBC2 arrived and with it the advent of colour television.
The first BBC2 controller would gain fame as one of the most respected figures in the history of broadcasting through his ground-breaking natural history programmes.
In 1969, David Attenborough’s main concern lay closer to home, namely how to fill his new channel in ways that would best advertise the fledgling colour service.
Snooker, with its different colours and small playing surface, may now seem like an obvious choice but at the time it was a brave one.
Few had heard of the likes of John Spencer, Ray Reardon and Eddie Charlton. Would the viewing public really want to watch them?
Lowe had been trying for many years to widen the game’s appeal on television and he put together a format and pulled together a field.
Philip Lewis, who would produce this new show, decided to call it ‘Pot Black.’
The first programme was broadcast the week Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon. Pot Black proved to be one giant leap for snooker, the new age of colour television ushering in a cast of characters whose skill on the table and likeable personalities off it turned the game into popular entertainment.
Almost immediately the show went to second place in the BBC2 ratings and, through time, and certainly helped by the emergence of one Alexander Gordon Higgins, the BBC were persuaded that full coverage of the World Championship would bring in such a sustained audience that it would be well worth their time and effort.
The rest, of course, is history.
In the end, Pot Black became a victim of its own success. It ended in 1986 because people no longer wanted one-frame snooker over half an hour when they had week long tournaments to follow.
It was revived in the 1990s and has been again in recent years but only really as a bit of fun. It shows players in relaxed mode, although whether viewers necessarily want to see them like this is a point of discussion.
Its contribution to the development of the professional game is unquestioned, however.
Pot Black lit the blue touch paper for snooker’s love affair with television which continues to this day.
17.6.08
HIGGINS LOOKS AHEAD TO WORLD SERIES
John Higgins believes the new World Series of Snooker will be an important step forward for the sport.
The twice world champion is among eight top players taking part in the series of four events, which will be organised by his management group, FSTC Scotland, and broadcast on Eurosport.
The World Series kicks off at Fort Regent in St. Helier, Jersey this Saturday (July 21) and will call at Berlin, Moscow and Warsaw before the Grand Finals in Dusseldorf in November.
The popularity of snooker has grown considerably in Europe since the professional circuit’s major events became available to watch on Eurosport.
And Higgins, 32, believes the opportunity to see the top players up close will further increase interest in the green baize game.
“I’ve been fortunate to have enjoyed a successful career as a professional. I wanted to give something back to the sport and that’s how the World Series came about,” Higgins said.
“I met Pat Mooney, now my manager, three years ago and, over a few rounds of golf, he asked me about the snooker circuit and what I thought was needed to improve the sport’s fortunes. He came to a few tournaments and started talking about Eastern Europe and whether I thought snooker would be popular there.
“At the same time, the game’s popularity was rising in Europe because of the coverage on Eurosport.
“We decided it was time these new fans had the opportunity to watch live snooker close up, not just on the TV.”
Higgins will be joined in Jersey by fellow former world champions Ken Doherty and Shaun Murphy plus last season’s Masters and Welsh Open winner Mark Selby.
In addition, two Jersey cueman, Gary Britton and Aaron Canavan, Guernsey’s Martyn Desperques and Rafal Jewtuch of Poland will take part.
“We want to nurture home talent in each venue,” Higgins said. “If they are part of the World Series, they will gain some experience of playing the top players on television and it will hopefully help them to improve.
“It’s crucial for the future to help develop new talent and give them a chance to play on the big stage.
“It’s also very important to us to involve the fans. They are what it’s all about. We had a successful event in Poland last year. All the fans seemed really happy to see us players and it was refreshing and enjoyable for all of us.
“It was nice to meet the public after the matches because they were so enthusiastic and that’s the atmosphere we want at all the World Series events.”
The overall winner of the Grand Finals in November will pocket a cheque for €70,000 (£56,000).
The twice world champion is among eight top players taking part in the series of four events, which will be organised by his management group, FSTC Scotland, and broadcast on Eurosport.
The World Series kicks off at Fort Regent in St. Helier, Jersey this Saturday (July 21) and will call at Berlin, Moscow and Warsaw before the Grand Finals in Dusseldorf in November.
The popularity of snooker has grown considerably in Europe since the professional circuit’s major events became available to watch on Eurosport.
And Higgins, 32, believes the opportunity to see the top players up close will further increase interest in the green baize game.
“I’ve been fortunate to have enjoyed a successful career as a professional. I wanted to give something back to the sport and that’s how the World Series came about,” Higgins said.
“I met Pat Mooney, now my manager, three years ago and, over a few rounds of golf, he asked me about the snooker circuit and what I thought was needed to improve the sport’s fortunes. He came to a few tournaments and started talking about Eastern Europe and whether I thought snooker would be popular there.
“At the same time, the game’s popularity was rising in Europe because of the coverage on Eurosport.
“We decided it was time these new fans had the opportunity to watch live snooker close up, not just on the TV.”
Higgins will be joined in Jersey by fellow former world champions Ken Doherty and Shaun Murphy plus last season’s Masters and Welsh Open winner Mark Selby.
In addition, two Jersey cueman, Gary Britton and Aaron Canavan, Guernsey’s Martyn Desperques and Rafal Jewtuch of Poland will take part.
“We want to nurture home talent in each venue,” Higgins said. “If they are part of the World Series, they will gain some experience of playing the top players on television and it will hopefully help them to improve.
“It’s crucial for the future to help develop new talent and give them a chance to play on the big stage.
“It’s also very important to us to involve the fans. They are what it’s all about. We had a successful event in Poland last year. All the fans seemed really happy to see us players and it was refreshing and enjoyable for all of us.
“It was nice to meet the public after the matches because they were so enthusiastic and that’s the atmosphere we want at all the World Series events.”
The overall winner of the Grand Finals in November will pocket a cheque for €70,000 (£56,000).
16.6.08
WORLD SERIES FORMAT
Here is the format of play for the first World Series event at Fort Regent, Jersey this coming weekend:
Saturday, June 21
First round (best of seven frames)
11.15am: Mark Selby (England) v Rafal Jewtuch (Poland)
1.30pm: Ken Doherty (Ireland) v Gary Britton (Jersey)
5pm: Shaun Murphy (England) v Martyn Desperques (Guernsey)
7.30pm: John Higgins (Scotland) v Aaron Canavan (Jersey)
Sunday, June 22
Semi-finals (best of nine frames)
11.15am: Selby/Jewtuch v Doherty/Britton
2pm: Murphy/Desperques v Higgins/Canavan
Final (best of 11 frames)
6.30pm
TICKETS
Fort Regent, Jersey
Tel: 01534 449827 for tickets
Further info FSTC Sports Management - 01786 458108 email: info@fstcollege.com
EUROSPORT TRANSMISSION TIMES
(Times given as BST)
Saturday, June 21: 7.15pm-10pm
Sunday, June 22: 7.45pm-10pm
Saturday, June 21
First round (best of seven frames)
11.15am: Mark Selby (England) v Rafal Jewtuch (Poland)
1.30pm: Ken Doherty (Ireland) v Gary Britton (Jersey)
5pm: Shaun Murphy (England) v Martyn Desperques (Guernsey)
7.30pm: John Higgins (Scotland) v Aaron Canavan (Jersey)
Sunday, June 22
Semi-finals (best of nine frames)
11.15am: Selby/Jewtuch v Doherty/Britton
2pm: Murphy/Desperques v Higgins/Canavan
Final (best of 11 frames)
6.30pm
TICKETS
Fort Regent, Jersey
Tel: 01534 449827 for tickets
Further info FSTC Sports Management - 01786 458108 email: info@fstcollege.com
EUROSPORT TRANSMISSION TIMES
(Times given as BST)
Saturday, June 21: 7.15pm-10pm
Sunday, June 22: 7.45pm-10pm
15.6.08
FATHER'S DAY FOR HIGGINS
Twice world champion John Higgins has become a father for the third time.
His wife, Denise, gave birth to daughter Claudia last week. The couple already have two boys, six year-old Pierce and Oliver, three.
Higgins will attempt to shrug off the sleepless nights when he takes part in the first World Series event in Jersey next weekend.
"I'd better do well because my wife is spending a small fortune on pink outfits for the baby," he said.
"But we are thrilled to have our first little girl and while I've had a few sleeps on the couch she has been brilliant. The whole family could not be happier."
His wife, Denise, gave birth to daughter Claudia last week. The couple already have two boys, six year-old Pierce and Oliver, three.
Higgins will attempt to shrug off the sleepless nights when he takes part in the first World Series event in Jersey next weekend.
"I'd better do well because my wife is spending a small fortune on pink outfits for the baby," he said.
"But we are thrilled to have our first little girl and while I've had a few sleeps on the couch she has been brilliant. The whole family could not be happier."
13.6.08
BLOGGING ON
This blog is now two years old and I'd like to thank everyone who has read it, left comments and generally shown any interest during this time.
What would be of help to me is to find out what snooker fans would like from a blog like this.
The idea from the start was to post a mix of news and opinion. I have tried to bring you stories you wouldn't read anywhere else and also analyse various happenings in the snooker world.
But I would welcome any input and opinions as to the future.
What would be of help to me is to find out what snooker fans would like from a blog like this.
The idea from the start was to post a mix of news and opinion. I have tried to bring you stories you wouldn't read anywhere else and also analyse various happenings in the snooker world.
But I would welcome any input and opinions as to the future.
12.6.08
TEN GREATEST MOMENTS IN SNOOKER HISTORY: 9
1988 - DOUG MOUNTJOY WINS SECOND UK TITLE TEN YEARS AFTER FIRST
Snooker, like any sport, is dependant on a constant supply of new blood to refresh and renew its ranks, but for romantics and nostalgics – and there are a high proportion of these who follow the green baize sport – you can’t beat an old timer, apparently past his best, returning from the sidelines to reclaim former glories.
Doug Mountjoy, one of the myriad cast of characters who helped make snooker such a popular television attraction, was one of the leading players of the late 1970s/early 1980s but, by 1988, appeared to be in terminal decline.
He did not look like the player who won the Wembley Masters at his first attempt in 1977 and the UK Championship in 1978.
Down at 24th in the rankings and out of the top 16 after a run of 11 consecutive seasons, it was widely assumed that it would not be long before he was also relegated from the top 32.
Mountjoy was, after all, 46 years of age in a game largely dominated by the younger brigade – Steve Davis (31), Stephen Hendry (19), Jimmy White (26) and John Parrott (24).
There had, though, been signs of an upturn. He defeated Hendry 5-1 at the Grand Prix in Reading where the Scot had been defending champion and had had his confidence restored by having teamed up with Frank Callan, a Blackpool fishmonger and renowned snooker coach.
Mountjoy had sought Callan out after a humiliating, dispiriting 13-1 defeat to Neal Foulds at the previous season’s World Championship.
Callan completely rebuilt his technique and the results started to come at Preston Guild Hall.
First, Mountjoy battled past his fellow Welshman Wayne Jones 9-7 before a confidence-boosting 9-4 victory over Foulds.
In the last 16, he beat Joe Johnson 9-5, wobbled in the quarter-finals before edging John Virgo 9-8 having led 8-3 and then defeated Terry Griffiths 9-4 in the semis.
Even so, few gave him much hope against Hendry, the natural heir to Davis’s decade of domination.
Mountjoy believed, however, and led 8-6 after the first day before winning six of the third session’s seven frames to extend his advantage to 14-7.
This was not some bygone era where players won through tactical play alone; Mountjoy compiled three centuries in four frames at one point.
He led 15-7, suffered anxiety a-plenty when Hendry won the next five, but eventually prevailed 16-12.
His triumph against the odds caught the public imagination with 13.2m tuning in to watch on the BBC.
“Without that guy, I’m nothing,” he said in paying emotional tribute to Callan.
This was a remarkable, heart-warming victory for a player refusing to embrace the apparent dying of the light.
Perhaps even more remarkably, Mountjoy went on to win the next world ranking event, the Mercantile Classic and would rise to fifth in the world.
His professional career ended in 1997. He had gone down the rankings after having a lung removed because of cancer.
But he could look back on 1988 as both a personal high point and as one of the most popular victories in snooker history.
Snooker, like any sport, is dependant on a constant supply of new blood to refresh and renew its ranks, but for romantics and nostalgics – and there are a high proportion of these who follow the green baize sport – you can’t beat an old timer, apparently past his best, returning from the sidelines to reclaim former glories.
Doug Mountjoy, one of the myriad cast of characters who helped make snooker such a popular television attraction, was one of the leading players of the late 1970s/early 1980s but, by 1988, appeared to be in terminal decline.
He did not look like the player who won the Wembley Masters at his first attempt in 1977 and the UK Championship in 1978.
Down at 24th in the rankings and out of the top 16 after a run of 11 consecutive seasons, it was widely assumed that it would not be long before he was also relegated from the top 32.
Mountjoy was, after all, 46 years of age in a game largely dominated by the younger brigade – Steve Davis (31), Stephen Hendry (19), Jimmy White (26) and John Parrott (24).
There had, though, been signs of an upturn. He defeated Hendry 5-1 at the Grand Prix in Reading where the Scot had been defending champion and had had his confidence restored by having teamed up with Frank Callan, a Blackpool fishmonger and renowned snooker coach.
Mountjoy had sought Callan out after a humiliating, dispiriting 13-1 defeat to Neal Foulds at the previous season’s World Championship.
Callan completely rebuilt his technique and the results started to come at Preston Guild Hall.
First, Mountjoy battled past his fellow Welshman Wayne Jones 9-7 before a confidence-boosting 9-4 victory over Foulds.
In the last 16, he beat Joe Johnson 9-5, wobbled in the quarter-finals before edging John Virgo 9-8 having led 8-3 and then defeated Terry Griffiths 9-4 in the semis.
Even so, few gave him much hope against Hendry, the natural heir to Davis’s decade of domination.
Mountjoy believed, however, and led 8-6 after the first day before winning six of the third session’s seven frames to extend his advantage to 14-7.
This was not some bygone era where players won through tactical play alone; Mountjoy compiled three centuries in four frames at one point.
He led 15-7, suffered anxiety a-plenty when Hendry won the next five, but eventually prevailed 16-12.
His triumph against the odds caught the public imagination with 13.2m tuning in to watch on the BBC.
“Without that guy, I’m nothing,” he said in paying emotional tribute to Callan.
This was a remarkable, heart-warming victory for a player refusing to embrace the apparent dying of the light.
Perhaps even more remarkably, Mountjoy went on to win the next world ranking event, the Mercantile Classic and would rise to fifth in the world.
His professional career ended in 1997. He had gone down the rankings after having a lung removed because of cancer.
But he could look back on 1988 as both a personal high point and as one of the most popular victories in snooker history.
11.6.08
TEN GREATEST MOMENTS IN SNOOKER HISTORY: 10
1979 - TERRY GRIFFITHS WINS WORLD TITLE AT FIRST ATTEMPT
Professional snooker in the 1970s was, essentially, a closed shop. Players wanting to join the pro ranks had to be approved by the very people they would be playing against.
It was akin to swimming through glue.
Unlike today, players did not walk out of school and straight onto the circuit. Terry Griffiths, an outstanding amateur from Llanelli, South Wales, worked as a postman, bus conductor and insurance salesman before taking the plunge at 30 – an age today where players are considered to be close to veteran status.
Everyone told him he should turn professional but he was unsure. He had a young family and saw it as a big risk.
But as he himself said in his autobiography, Griff: “What made my mind up was that I was now 30 years old and I didn’t want to get to 40 and be thinking, ‘would I have done as well as a professional?’”
Such was his record, Griffiths was accepted but made an inauspicious start by losing 9-8 to Rex Williams in the UK Championship, his first match, having led him 8-2.
The entirety of the 1970s had been dominated by three men. Ray Reardon won six world titles, John Spencer added two to his first, won in 1969, and Alex Higgins made a remarkable breakthrough by winning the 1972 championship.
All three, as well as the likes of Eddie Charlton and Cliff Thorburn, were expected to excel at the Crucible in 1979.
Griffiths had to qualify and did so with a 9-2 victory over Bernard Bennett and 9-6 defeat of Jim Meadowcroft.
In the first round, he beat Perrie Mans, the runner-up the previous year, 13-8 but it was his electric 13-12 defeat of Higgins in the quarter-finals that truly announced his arrival in the big time.
Higgins led 6-2 but Griffiths fought back and eventually won the decider with a break of 107.
His semi-final against Charlton ground on...and on...and on...until Griffiths came through 19-17.
Memorably, the BBC’s David Vine came into the arena and thrust a microphone under his nose to ask how he felt. Before Griffiths had time to think, he said simply: “I’m in the final now, you know.”
It perfectly captured his charming naivety and utter disbelief at suddenly being through to the final.
The fairytale was completed three days later when Griffiths defeated Dennis Taylor 24-16 and his life changed forever.
Now, the man who had held off turning pro out of concern he would not earn enough to support his family was being offered lucrative endorsement deals, exhibitions and TV appearances by the bucketload.
His victory transformed snooker, too.
It opened the door for a new era in which younger players would come to the fore, no longer over-awed by the old guard.
Chief among them, of course, was Steve Davis, whose rise to the top was surely the main reason Griffiths failed to win a second world title.
The pair played seven times at the Crucible; Davis won all seven.
Professional snooker in the 1970s was, essentially, a closed shop. Players wanting to join the pro ranks had to be approved by the very people they would be playing against.
It was akin to swimming through glue.
Unlike today, players did not walk out of school and straight onto the circuit. Terry Griffiths, an outstanding amateur from Llanelli, South Wales, worked as a postman, bus conductor and insurance salesman before taking the plunge at 30 – an age today where players are considered to be close to veteran status.
Everyone told him he should turn professional but he was unsure. He had a young family and saw it as a big risk.
But as he himself said in his autobiography, Griff: “What made my mind up was that I was now 30 years old and I didn’t want to get to 40 and be thinking, ‘would I have done as well as a professional?’”
Such was his record, Griffiths was accepted but made an inauspicious start by losing 9-8 to Rex Williams in the UK Championship, his first match, having led him 8-2.
The entirety of the 1970s had been dominated by three men. Ray Reardon won six world titles, John Spencer added two to his first, won in 1969, and Alex Higgins made a remarkable breakthrough by winning the 1972 championship.
All three, as well as the likes of Eddie Charlton and Cliff Thorburn, were expected to excel at the Crucible in 1979.
Griffiths had to qualify and did so with a 9-2 victory over Bernard Bennett and 9-6 defeat of Jim Meadowcroft.
In the first round, he beat Perrie Mans, the runner-up the previous year, 13-8 but it was his electric 13-12 defeat of Higgins in the quarter-finals that truly announced his arrival in the big time.
Higgins led 6-2 but Griffiths fought back and eventually won the decider with a break of 107.
His semi-final against Charlton ground on...and on...and on...until Griffiths came through 19-17.
Memorably, the BBC’s David Vine came into the arena and thrust a microphone under his nose to ask how he felt. Before Griffiths had time to think, he said simply: “I’m in the final now, you know.”
It perfectly captured his charming naivety and utter disbelief at suddenly being through to the final.
The fairytale was completed three days later when Griffiths defeated Dennis Taylor 24-16 and his life changed forever.
Now, the man who had held off turning pro out of concern he would not earn enough to support his family was being offered lucrative endorsement deals, exhibitions and TV appearances by the bucketload.
His victory transformed snooker, too.
It opened the door for a new era in which younger players would come to the fore, no longer over-awed by the old guard.
Chief among them, of course, was Steve Davis, whose rise to the top was surely the main reason Griffiths failed to win a second world title.
The pair played seven times at the Crucible; Davis won all seven.
THE TEN GREATEST MOMENTS IN SNOOKER HISTORY
As there won't be much going on - World Series excluded - in the next couple of months I shall be presenting a countdown here of what I consider to be the ten greatest moments in snooker history.
Such lists are often memorable for what's not included, so let me be clear: not everyone will agree with my choices.
A number of what a lot of people will think obvious moments have failed to make the cut. Why? Because it's a personal list and I've limited it to just ten.
Let me explain what I consider to be a 'great' moment.
It has to be memorable, dramatic but also play an important part in the great snooker story.
I could have had a list of ten 147s or ten world finals but this would have ignored the many other stories and memories from down the years.
Feel free to leave your own comments and suggestions as the countdown goes along.
The ending may well prove controversial!
Such lists are often memorable for what's not included, so let me be clear: not everyone will agree with my choices.
A number of what a lot of people will think obvious moments have failed to make the cut. Why? Because it's a personal list and I've limited it to just ten.
Let me explain what I consider to be a 'great' moment.
It has to be memorable, dramatic but also play an important part in the great snooker story.
I could have had a list of ten 147s or ten world finals but this would have ignored the many other stories and memories from down the years.
Feel free to leave your own comments and suggestions as the countdown goes along.
The ending may well prove controversial!
10.6.08
DUSSELDORF TO HOST WORLD SERIES FINALS
Dusseldorf will host the Grand Finals of the new World Series of Snooker from November 28-30.
The field will feature the eight leading players taking part in the first four events, the best four local wildcards from these tournaments and four invited players.
The overall winner will receive a cheque for €70,000 (£56,000) - more than the winners' cheque in four of last season's seven world ranking events.
The new series will be broadcast on Eurosport and includes five former world champions - Shaun Murphy, John Higgins, Graeme Dott, Ken Doherty and Steve Davis - plus world no.2 Stephen Maguire, reigning Masters and Welsh Open champion Mark Selby and Chinese ace Ding Junhui.
WORLD SERIES OF SNOOKER DATES
June 21-22: St. Helier, Jersey
July 12-13: Berlin, Germany
September 27-28: Moscow, Russia
October 25-26: Warsaw, Poland
November 28-30: Grand finals in Dusseldorf, Germany
To keep up with all the news and action on the snooker tour, check out this new sports blog. They have score updates plus the latest snooker betting as well as all your other favourite sports.
Visit their site for the best Ryder Cup odds on the web.
The field will feature the eight leading players taking part in the first four events, the best four local wildcards from these tournaments and four invited players.
The overall winner will receive a cheque for €70,000 (£56,000) - more than the winners' cheque in four of last season's seven world ranking events.
The new series will be broadcast on Eurosport and includes five former world champions - Shaun Murphy, John Higgins, Graeme Dott, Ken Doherty and Steve Davis - plus world no.2 Stephen Maguire, reigning Masters and Welsh Open champion Mark Selby and Chinese ace Ding Junhui.
WORLD SERIES OF SNOOKER DATES
June 21-22: St. Helier, Jersey
July 12-13: Berlin, Germany
September 27-28: Moscow, Russia
October 25-26: Warsaw, Poland
November 28-30: Grand finals in Dusseldorf, Germany
To keep up with all the news and action on the snooker tour, check out this new sports blog. They have score updates plus the latest snooker betting as well as all your other favourite sports.
Visit their site for the best Ryder Cup odds on the web.
9.6.08
RONNIE...THE DEBATE CONTINUES
The rights and wrongs of the punishment given to Ronnie O’Sullivan for his behaviour in China will be debated – indeed is being debated in the comments section of the post below this one – but that is only one issue arising from this matter.
It transpires that the fine was actually £2,750, not £3,750 as reported by 110sport. The costs of the hearing were paid for using the prize money he forfeited.
This will not be well received by the various lower ranked players who have been forced to pay costs for attending hearings on far lesser offences.
Not that we know exactly how many have done this as World Snooker’s disciplinary procedure is so shadowy it belongs in an episode of the X-Files.
We know that the disciplinary committee chairman is Jim McMahon, a long serving World Snooker board member.
There are two other people on the committee but it isn’t known who they are.
O’Sullivan didn’t actually attend the hearing but wrote to the committee promising, I suppose, never to do it again.
Times have changed. When O’Sullivan was stripped of the Irish Masters title in 1998 he turned up to face the music. A press release was then drafted and issued that same day in which the committee members were named and the punishment announced.
Belatedly, World Snooker has put a statement on their website today revealing the punishment.
Make no mistake: this was only done because the story had already appeared in the press and, indeed, on this blog.
The hearing was held on Thursday. They say they held off releasing the news because O’Sullivan had to be informed first.
Yet his management company issued a statement on Saturday, so the player obviously had been informed.
I believe that if 110sport had not sent their statement out then we would never have heard anything about it.
One interesting thing to come out of the statement, though, is that the committee considered a heavier fine but decided against it as O’Sullivan had promised to ‘work closely’ with them in the future.
Can’t see that decision back-firing at all.
It transpires that the fine was actually £2,750, not £3,750 as reported by 110sport. The costs of the hearing were paid for using the prize money he forfeited.
This will not be well received by the various lower ranked players who have been forced to pay costs for attending hearings on far lesser offences.
Not that we know exactly how many have done this as World Snooker’s disciplinary procedure is so shadowy it belongs in an episode of the X-Files.
We know that the disciplinary committee chairman is Jim McMahon, a long serving World Snooker board member.
There are two other people on the committee but it isn’t known who they are.
O’Sullivan didn’t actually attend the hearing but wrote to the committee promising, I suppose, never to do it again.
Times have changed. When O’Sullivan was stripped of the Irish Masters title in 1998 he turned up to face the music. A press release was then drafted and issued that same day in which the committee members were named and the punishment announced.
Belatedly, World Snooker has put a statement on their website today revealing the punishment.
Make no mistake: this was only done because the story had already appeared in the press and, indeed, on this blog.
The hearing was held on Thursday. They say they held off releasing the news because O’Sullivan had to be informed first.
Yet his management company issued a statement on Saturday, so the player obviously had been informed.
I believe that if 110sport had not sent their statement out then we would never have heard anything about it.
One interesting thing to come out of the statement, though, is that the committee considered a heavier fine but decided against it as O’Sullivan had promised to ‘work closely’ with them in the future.
Can’t see that decision back-firing at all.
8.6.08
O'SULLIVAN FINED FOR CHINA OUTBURST
Ronnie O'Sullivan has been fined £3,750 for his behaviour at a press conference at the China Open last March.
O'Sullivan, the 888.com world champion, was filmed making lewd remarks and the video was posted on the internet.
He has been docked the 700 ranking points he earned from the event and also fined the £2,750 prize money he received as a first round loser. A further £1,000 was added to the fine to cover legal costs.
However, we only know he was punished at all because his management company, 110sport, issued a statement.
There has been no such statement from World Snooker, who will now face allegations that they have attempted to cover the whole thing up.
The 110sport statement said: "Ronnie regrets what has happened and he has accepted his punishment.
"He realises he made a mistake in China, but he never intended to offend anyone. He wants to forget what happened and move forward.
"He has apologised to World Snooker, the promoter of the China Open, his fans and also to his sponsors.
"He is keen to get on with his career and continue demonstrating why he is regarded as the best player in the world."
I think many will share my view that though this incident was regrettable, it was something of a storm in a Chinese teacup.
Ronnie has since apologised and his contracts in China have not been affected.
The punishment is, in my view, about right.
But what I find incredible is that the governing body of snooker do not routinely announce the results of their disciplinary hearings as is standard practice in just about every other major sport.
What have they got to hide?
O'Sullivan, the 888.com world champion, was filmed making lewd remarks and the video was posted on the internet.
He has been docked the 700 ranking points he earned from the event and also fined the £2,750 prize money he received as a first round loser. A further £1,000 was added to the fine to cover legal costs.
However, we only know he was punished at all because his management company, 110sport, issued a statement.
There has been no such statement from World Snooker, who will now face allegations that they have attempted to cover the whole thing up.
The 110sport statement said: "Ronnie regrets what has happened and he has accepted his punishment.
"He realises he made a mistake in China, but he never intended to offend anyone. He wants to forget what happened and move forward.
"He has apologised to World Snooker, the promoter of the China Open, his fans and also to his sponsors.
"He is keen to get on with his career and continue demonstrating why he is regarded as the best player in the world."
I think many will share my view that though this incident was regrettable, it was something of a storm in a Chinese teacup.
Ronnie has since apologised and his contracts in China have not been affected.
The punishment is, in my view, about right.
But what I find incredible is that the governing body of snooker do not routinely announce the results of their disciplinary hearings as is standard practice in just about every other major sport.
What have they got to hide?
6.6.08
LIU CHUANG AWARDED MAIN TOUR WILDCARD
Liu Chuang, who became only the fourth 17 year-old ever to play at the Crucible last season, celebrated his 18th birthday today with the news that he has been awarded a wildcard to remain on the main tour during 2008/09.
This is the right decision. By holding Ronnie O'Sullivan to 4-4 in their first round match, Liu proved he has great potential and it would have been a shame if he had disappeared from the circuit after only one year.
Jin Long and Li Hang will also be on the main tour next season after winning the Asian Championship and Asian Under 21 Championship respectively.
Stefan Mazrocis won the European play-off yesterday and has now been nominated by the European Billiards and Snooker Association for a main tour place.
The remaining place will go to the winner of the European Championship, which began today in Poland.
Full coverage of this event is available - of course - at the excellent Global Cue Sports Centre.
This is the right decision. By holding Ronnie O'Sullivan to 4-4 in their first round match, Liu proved he has great potential and it would have been a shame if he had disappeared from the circuit after only one year.
Jin Long and Li Hang will also be on the main tour next season after winning the Asian Championship and Asian Under 21 Championship respectively.
Stefan Mazrocis won the European play-off yesterday and has now been nominated by the European Billiards and Snooker Association for a main tour place.
The remaining place will go to the winner of the European Championship, which began today in Poland.
Full coverage of this event is available - of course - at the excellent Global Cue Sports Centre.
DING IN THE SWING IN NANJING
Ding Junhui will face Mark Selby in Sunday's Jiangsu Classic final.
Ding beat Ryan Day 4-0 while Selby defeated Joe Perry 4-1 in Nanjing today.
This is good news for this new tournament as the final will be played in Wuxi City - Ding's home town.
However, what a daft decision it was to play one semi-final on one table and one on the other, which isn't televised.
They were only best of seven frame affairs and could easily have been played one after the other on the TV table.
It means TV audiences will not see a ball of Selby's victory.
Also, Ding's match lasted just 50 minutes and Eurosport have an hour and 45 minute long programme to fill.
And it gave the paying public only an hour and 20 minutes of entertainment.
There is no logic at all to this.
Ding beat Ryan Day 4-0 while Selby defeated Joe Perry 4-1 in Nanjing today.
This is good news for this new tournament as the final will be played in Wuxi City - Ding's home town.
However, what a daft decision it was to play one semi-final on one table and one on the other, which isn't televised.
They were only best of seven frame affairs and could easily have been played one after the other on the TV table.
It means TV audiences will not see a ball of Selby's victory.
Also, Ding's match lasted just 50 minutes and Eurosport have an hour and 45 minute long programme to fill.
And it gave the paying public only an hour and 20 minutes of entertainment.
There is no logic at all to this.
5.6.08
WPBSA DROPS CLAIM AGAINST SNOOKER SCENE EDITOR
The following statement has been agreed by the WPBSA and Clive Everton, editor of Snooker Scene:
"The WPBSA has withdrawn its claim against Clive Everton for payment of costs awarded by the S.D.R.P. on 1 November 2006.
"Although the board believes it has conducted its case correctly and that it would ultimately prevail in court, it is acknowledged that as with all litigation there is sufficient doubt about the outcome as to render further expenditure of the membership's funds inappropriate.
"Mr Everton also believes his case was conducted correctly and that he would ultimately have prevailed in court but is happy that it can now be concluded without further expenditure on either side."
"The WPBSA has withdrawn its claim against Clive Everton for payment of costs awarded by the S.D.R.P. on 1 November 2006.
"Although the board believes it has conducted its case correctly and that it would ultimately prevail in court, it is acknowledged that as with all litigation there is sufficient doubt about the outcome as to render further expenditure of the membership's funds inappropriate.
"Mr Everton also believes his case was conducted correctly and that he would ultimately have prevailed in court but is happy that it can now be concluded without further expenditure on either side."
1.6.08
A BRIEF HISTORY OF PRO SNOOKER IN CHINA
The snooker circuit is becoming well acquainted with China as more and more tournaments are developed in the world’s largest country.
The latest, the Jiangsu Classic, begins on Wednesday. It features eight members of the world’s top 12 plus four local wildcards.
The trailblazer for snooker in China was Barry Hearn, the Matchroom supremo, who took his stable of players out there in the 1980s.
After a few forays to Hong Kong, they first played in the People’s Republic in 1986, where Steve Davis defeated Terry Griffiths in the final of the China Masters.
Also part of the field was the then WPBSA chairman Rex Williams, who turned up for a promotional tour of the Great Wall of China in an expensive cashmere coat. When Hearn told him that the dress code was ‘casual’ the always immaculately attired Rex replied: ‘Dear boy, this is casual.’
Several more invitation events were staged in China before Stephen Hendry won the first world ranking event on Chinese soil, the 1990 Asian Open in Guangzhou.
Hendry beat Dennis Taylor 9-3 in the final, although Taylor had been exhausted after finishing his semi-final at close to midnight only for the final to start shortly after 9am.
Nine years passed before China hosted another ranking event, the 1999 China International.
This was notable for having all four semi-finalists coming from Scotland. Billy Snaddon beat Stephen Hendry but came up short against John Higgins, who defeated Alan McManus in their semi.
The boom hadn’t quite started at this point but I recall going through passport control with Higgins where an austere official asked him to stop and wait at the desk.
I worried there may have been something wrong with John’s passport and was envisaging the diplomatic repercussions only for the guard to return with a piece of paper for the champion to sign.
He’d watched the snooker on the TV the previous night and wanted Higgins’s autograph.
Shanghai also hosted the China Open at the end of 1999, won by Ronnie O’Sullivan, before this event switched to the magnificent Mission Hills golf resort in Shenzhen a year later.
I remember the interest was such that Hendry had to be locked in the pressroom – not necessarily his preferred place of refuge – for his own safety as a sea of fans tried to get his autograph.
O’Sullivan spent the whole week mired in depression but still beat Mark Williams to win the title.
We went back to Shanghai in 2002 where a 14 year-old Ding Junhui was a wildcard.
It was here that Mark Selby, in full snooker dress, attempted to hire a taxi at one in the morning because he was playing at two (in the afternoon).
Selby was so jetlagged he had not realised it was night, even though it was pitch black outside.
Nevertheless, he still beat Stephen Hendry the next day and also knocked O’Sullivan out on his way to the semi-finals.
Graeme Dott, it would be fair to say, did not enjoy the trip. His flight from Glasgow to London was delayed, which then held up his flight from London to Bangkok and on to Shanghai.
It took him 38 wretched hours to reach China and, understandably exhausted, he went to bed where he slept through his alarm.
Realising he was late, he threw on his snooker gear – although famously not any underwear – and hailed a taxi to the venue.
Unfortunately, the taxi driver went the wrong way and Graeme got out and ran the last half a mile.
He arrived 15 minutes late for his match with Darren Morgan, was docked two frames and lost 5-3.
Asked how he felt afterwards, he simply replied: ‘Suicidal.’
Anthony Hamilton wasn’t too happy either after throwing away a golden chance to win his first ranking title when he lost 9-8 to Williams from 8-5 up.
Because the game had gone into financial disarray, the China Open disappeared from the calendar for three years but returned in 2005 at the Haidian Stadium, Beijing.
Ding was taken out of the qualifiers and put into the main draw as a wildcard. This was the week of his 18th birthday but played with great maturity to land a succession a good scalps – Peter Ebdon, Marco Fu and Ken Doherty – to reach the final.
A couple of things stand out from that week. One was Davis banging his head on a thick steel door and becoming so dizzy as a result that he had to withdraw from his match with Ricky Walden.
I had every sympathy with Steve because I managed to bang my head on the same door and it was not an enjoyable experience to say the least.
The other was Paul Hunter who, unbeknown to all but his closest friends, had just been diagnosed with cancer but still flew the 8,000 miles to play.
After one match, it was noted that Paul had not come in for his press conference. Some 20 minutes went by before we went to look for him.
He was still in the arena signing autographs, which he did for around 300 people.
Ding beat Hendry 9-5 in the final. He received no money or ranking points as a wildcard but, for the sport as a whole, his victory was an extraordinary stroke of luck.
Everything that has happened in China since is down to this one match. It helped ignite a snooker boom that is continuing to this day.
Williams won the 2006 China Open and Dott took the crown in 2007. This year’s final, in which Stephen Maguire beat Shaun Murphy 10-9, was, for me, the best match of the season.
Last August, a second Chinese ranking tournament was added to the schedule, the Shanghai Masters, won by Dominic Dale.
A third could well be on the cards and the Jiangsu Classic, which will be played in two cities, Nanjing and Wuxi City, serves as evidence of the huge interest that remains in China.
This is reflected by the number of Chinese journalists now following the circuit and the emergence of players to challenge Ding’s prominence as top dog in his home country.
Liu Song was a quarter-finalist in last season’s Grand Prix, Liu Chuang qualified for the Crucible at 17 while Liang Wenbo made many friends as he reached the World Championship quarter-finals.
Fast forward ten, certainly 20 years, and it seems likely that the World Championship will be staged in China.
Whether this actually happens or not, China is one snooker success story worth noting.
The latest, the Jiangsu Classic, begins on Wednesday. It features eight members of the world’s top 12 plus four local wildcards.
The trailblazer for snooker in China was Barry Hearn, the Matchroom supremo, who took his stable of players out there in the 1980s.
After a few forays to Hong Kong, they first played in the People’s Republic in 1986, where Steve Davis defeated Terry Griffiths in the final of the China Masters.
Also part of the field was the then WPBSA chairman Rex Williams, who turned up for a promotional tour of the Great Wall of China in an expensive cashmere coat. When Hearn told him that the dress code was ‘casual’ the always immaculately attired Rex replied: ‘Dear boy, this is casual.’
Several more invitation events were staged in China before Stephen Hendry won the first world ranking event on Chinese soil, the 1990 Asian Open in Guangzhou.
Hendry beat Dennis Taylor 9-3 in the final, although Taylor had been exhausted after finishing his semi-final at close to midnight only for the final to start shortly after 9am.
Nine years passed before China hosted another ranking event, the 1999 China International.
This was notable for having all four semi-finalists coming from Scotland. Billy Snaddon beat Stephen Hendry but came up short against John Higgins, who defeated Alan McManus in their semi.
The boom hadn’t quite started at this point but I recall going through passport control with Higgins where an austere official asked him to stop and wait at the desk.
I worried there may have been something wrong with John’s passport and was envisaging the diplomatic repercussions only for the guard to return with a piece of paper for the champion to sign.
He’d watched the snooker on the TV the previous night and wanted Higgins’s autograph.
Shanghai also hosted the China Open at the end of 1999, won by Ronnie O’Sullivan, before this event switched to the magnificent Mission Hills golf resort in Shenzhen a year later.
I remember the interest was such that Hendry had to be locked in the pressroom – not necessarily his preferred place of refuge – for his own safety as a sea of fans tried to get his autograph.
O’Sullivan spent the whole week mired in depression but still beat Mark Williams to win the title.
We went back to Shanghai in 2002 where a 14 year-old Ding Junhui was a wildcard.
It was here that Mark Selby, in full snooker dress, attempted to hire a taxi at one in the morning because he was playing at two (in the afternoon).
Selby was so jetlagged he had not realised it was night, even though it was pitch black outside.
Nevertheless, he still beat Stephen Hendry the next day and also knocked O’Sullivan out on his way to the semi-finals.
Graeme Dott, it would be fair to say, did not enjoy the trip. His flight from Glasgow to London was delayed, which then held up his flight from London to Bangkok and on to Shanghai.
It took him 38 wretched hours to reach China and, understandably exhausted, he went to bed where he slept through his alarm.
Realising he was late, he threw on his snooker gear – although famously not any underwear – and hailed a taxi to the venue.
Unfortunately, the taxi driver went the wrong way and Graeme got out and ran the last half a mile.
He arrived 15 minutes late for his match with Darren Morgan, was docked two frames and lost 5-3.
Asked how he felt afterwards, he simply replied: ‘Suicidal.’
Anthony Hamilton wasn’t too happy either after throwing away a golden chance to win his first ranking title when he lost 9-8 to Williams from 8-5 up.
Because the game had gone into financial disarray, the China Open disappeared from the calendar for three years but returned in 2005 at the Haidian Stadium, Beijing.
Ding was taken out of the qualifiers and put into the main draw as a wildcard. This was the week of his 18th birthday but played with great maturity to land a succession a good scalps – Peter Ebdon, Marco Fu and Ken Doherty – to reach the final.
A couple of things stand out from that week. One was Davis banging his head on a thick steel door and becoming so dizzy as a result that he had to withdraw from his match with Ricky Walden.
I had every sympathy with Steve because I managed to bang my head on the same door and it was not an enjoyable experience to say the least.
The other was Paul Hunter who, unbeknown to all but his closest friends, had just been diagnosed with cancer but still flew the 8,000 miles to play.
After one match, it was noted that Paul had not come in for his press conference. Some 20 minutes went by before we went to look for him.
He was still in the arena signing autographs, which he did for around 300 people.
Ding beat Hendry 9-5 in the final. He received no money or ranking points as a wildcard but, for the sport as a whole, his victory was an extraordinary stroke of luck.
Everything that has happened in China since is down to this one match. It helped ignite a snooker boom that is continuing to this day.
Williams won the 2006 China Open and Dott took the crown in 2007. This year’s final, in which Stephen Maguire beat Shaun Murphy 10-9, was, for me, the best match of the season.
Last August, a second Chinese ranking tournament was added to the schedule, the Shanghai Masters, won by Dominic Dale.
A third could well be on the cards and the Jiangsu Classic, which will be played in two cities, Nanjing and Wuxi City, serves as evidence of the huge interest that remains in China.
This is reflected by the number of Chinese journalists now following the circuit and the emergence of players to challenge Ding’s prominence as top dog in his home country.
Liu Song was a quarter-finalist in last season’s Grand Prix, Liu Chuang qualified for the Crucible at 17 while Liang Wenbo made many friends as he reached the World Championship quarter-finals.
Fast forward ten, certainly 20 years, and it seems likely that the World Championship will be staged in China.
Whether this actually happens or not, China is one snooker success story worth noting.
27.5.08
JIANGSU CLASSIC TO BE SCREENED ON EUROSPORT
Eurosport will show the Jiangsu Classic, World Snooker's new invitation event in China, from June 4-8.
The first broadcast is on Wednesday, June 4 at 8.30am.
This tournament features eight of the world's top 12 ranked players plus four local wildcards.
It will be played first in Nanjing, using a round robin format, with the final in Wuxi City, hometown of Ding Junhui.
Good news, this, for snooker fans suffering withdrawal symptoms after the 888.com World Championship!
Note: there's not coverage every day as they aren't playing every day.
The first broadcast is on Wednesday, June 4 at 8.30am.
This tournament features eight of the world's top 12 ranked players plus four local wildcards.
It will be played first in Nanjing, using a round robin format, with the final in Wuxi City, hometown of Ding Junhui.
Good news, this, for snooker fans suffering withdrawal symptoms after the 888.com World Championship!
Note: there's not coverage every day as they aren't playing every day.
23.5.08
SELBY GETS PREMIER LEAGUE WILDCARD
Mark Selby, the Saga Insurance Masters and Welsh Open champion, has been given the last place in next season's seven-man Premier League.
Full story here
Full story here
WHO SHOULD GET THE MAIN TOUR WILDCARD?
World Snooker has one wildcard to be awarded at its discretion to a player who has not qualified for the professional tour in any of the myriad of ways possible.
There may – for various reasons – be more wildcards available but assuming for now there is just one, who should get it?
For me, the outstanding choice is Liu Chuang, who gave Ronnie O’Sullivan something of a first session scare before losing 10-5 to the eventual winner at the 888.com World Championship.
Liu was only the fourth 17 year-old – after Stephen Hendry, O’Sullivan and Judd Trump – to compete at the Crucible and the first pro to qualify in their debut season for 13 years.
He was unable to play in the qualifiers for the season-opening Shanghai Masters because of a mix up over visas so had only six tournaments to count towards his final ranking.
Liu found it hard at first to adjust to life on the circuit. This is hardly surprising: he’s a teenager from China, abroad for the first time in a completely different culture.
Yet he demonstrated by qualifying for the Crucible – and against O’Sullivan – that he has potential and surely deserves another, immediate chance.
If not Liu, then who?
Drew Henry, a pro for 17 years before relegation after the World Championship, has chosen to retain his professional status rather than resign like all the other players who missed out. Last I heard he was considering applying for the wildcard.
I’m unsure, to be brutally honest, on what grounds it could be given to him. This is not to detract from his career – which has been better than most – but he would not have a better claim than Liu in my opinion.
Tony Drago has applied and could be in with a chance on the basis of being a recognisable name who is, unquestionably, attractive to watch.
Also, with a professional event established in Malta, it may be seen to be smart politically to keep him on the tour.
The same does not apply for James Wattana, who appears to have lost interest in the game. Thailand’s greatest ever player does not wish to continue and has returned home to pursue other interests.
Michael White could be a good outside bet. There was widespread sympathy for this 16 year-old when he was denied the chance to play in the Shanghai Masters qualifiers because he was, for a few days, still 15.
Shaun Murphy had been given an exemption in almost identical circumstances in 1998. Almost unbelievably, World Snooker denied this had happened until Snooker Scene produced irrefutable evidence that it did.
White, then, was under pressure from the off, not just because he had one less tournament to play in but also because of the furore surrounding his exclusion and the sense of injustice it must have engendered.
He didn’t make any great impact on the other events but he’s still very young and, most observers would conclude, has time to improve.
Perhaps a season on the PIOS would do him good but plenty of 16/17 year-olds have played on the main tour so why not White?
Other names will doubtless be presented before a decision is made. Hopefully, it will be made for the right reasons.
There may – for various reasons – be more wildcards available but assuming for now there is just one, who should get it?
For me, the outstanding choice is Liu Chuang, who gave Ronnie O’Sullivan something of a first session scare before losing 10-5 to the eventual winner at the 888.com World Championship.
Liu was only the fourth 17 year-old – after Stephen Hendry, O’Sullivan and Judd Trump – to compete at the Crucible and the first pro to qualify in their debut season for 13 years.
He was unable to play in the qualifiers for the season-opening Shanghai Masters because of a mix up over visas so had only six tournaments to count towards his final ranking.
Liu found it hard at first to adjust to life on the circuit. This is hardly surprising: he’s a teenager from China, abroad for the first time in a completely different culture.
Yet he demonstrated by qualifying for the Crucible – and against O’Sullivan – that he has potential and surely deserves another, immediate chance.
If not Liu, then who?
Drew Henry, a pro for 17 years before relegation after the World Championship, has chosen to retain his professional status rather than resign like all the other players who missed out. Last I heard he was considering applying for the wildcard.
I’m unsure, to be brutally honest, on what grounds it could be given to him. This is not to detract from his career – which has been better than most – but he would not have a better claim than Liu in my opinion.
Tony Drago has applied and could be in with a chance on the basis of being a recognisable name who is, unquestionably, attractive to watch.
Also, with a professional event established in Malta, it may be seen to be smart politically to keep him on the tour.
The same does not apply for James Wattana, who appears to have lost interest in the game. Thailand’s greatest ever player does not wish to continue and has returned home to pursue other interests.
Michael White could be a good outside bet. There was widespread sympathy for this 16 year-old when he was denied the chance to play in the Shanghai Masters qualifiers because he was, for a few days, still 15.
Shaun Murphy had been given an exemption in almost identical circumstances in 1998. Almost unbelievably, World Snooker denied this had happened until Snooker Scene produced irrefutable evidence that it did.
White, then, was under pressure from the off, not just because he had one less tournament to play in but also because of the furore surrounding his exclusion and the sense of injustice it must have engendered.
He didn’t make any great impact on the other events but he’s still very young and, most observers would conclude, has time to improve.
Perhaps a season on the PIOS would do him good but plenty of 16/17 year-olds have played on the main tour so why not White?
Other names will doubtless be presented before a decision is made. Hopefully, it will be made for the right reasons.
21.5.08
GRAND PRIX TO GO AHEAD
This blog is more influential than I'd imagined.
Further to my post about the Grand Prix, World Snooker have now decided to name the tournaments the BBC are showing. This includes the Grand Prix - so it looks like it will be taking place after all.
It has been suggested to me that they only posted their skeletal calendar because I had already posted one, which was based on information given to me by a very well known player.
Nice to know they're reading, anyway.
Further to my post about the Grand Prix, World Snooker have now decided to name the tournaments the BBC are showing. This includes the Grand Prix - so it looks like it will be taking place after all.
It has been suggested to me that they only posted their skeletal calendar because I had already posted one, which was based on information given to me by a very well known player.
Nice to know they're reading, anyway.
19.5.08
BEST OF THE BEST
As the professional season has now finished, here are my award winners for the campaign just gone.
Note to the winners: there are no actual awards.
PLAYER OF THE SEASON
Despite good campaigns for Mark Selby, Stephen Maguire and Shaun Murphy, the winner is Ronnie O’Sullivan by virtue of winning the world and UK titles, regaining no.1 spot and making three maximum breaks. O’Sullivan also appeared in two further finals and won the Premier League.
BREAK OF THE SEASON
We saw a number of 147s, including one by Ronnie O’Sullivan in the deciding frame of his UK Championship semi-final with Mark Selby, but I can honestly say the best break I saw all season was one of just 48 by Fergal O’Brien in his Northern Ireland Trophy quarter-final against O’Sullivan.
O’Brien was 4-2 up but had reds on cushions and balls awkwardly placed as he came to the table. He crafted the break out of virtually nothing and it was a display of sheer artistry by one of the circuit’s unsung talents.
PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON
Ronnie O’Sullivan’s supreme display in making five centuries in the five frames he won in beating Ali Carter 5-2 in the Northern Ireland Trophy. Included in it was a 147. It was awesome stuff.
MATCH OF THE SEASON
The China Open final was of superb quality and went down to a very exciting conclusion as Stephen Maguire edged Shaun Murphy 10-9 all in front of a capacity crowd who remained in their seats until gone midnight. O’Sullivan v Selby in the UK Championship semi-finals comes a close second.
ACHIEVEMENT OF THE SEASON
Just ahead of Ali Carter’s run to the Crucible final comes Mark Selby, who became the first player in 19 years to win the Wembley Masters at his first attempt. He beat three great players – Stephen Hendry, Stephen Maguire and Ken Doherty – in deciding frame finishes and compiled four centuries in beating Stephen Lee in the final.
It heralded his arrival in snooker’s winners’ circle and he followed it up with his capture of the Welsh Open a few weeks later.
BREAKTHROUGH OF THE SEASON
The Chinese contingent, in the shadow of Ding Junhui, came into their own with Liu Song reaching the Grand Prix quarter-finals and Liu Chuang making the Crucible at just 17.
However, Liang Wenbo really came into his own by fighting through to the World Championship quarter-finals, doing so with great humour, audacious shot selections and a little controversy. Let’s hope we see plenty more of him in the future.
INNOVATION OF THE SEASON
The Championship League is a far more significant development than most people seem to realise. It has shown how tournament promoters can bypass not only the governing body but also television broadcasters and basically just do it themselves.
Ali Carter and Joe Perry’s successful ends to the campaign are down in large part to the fact they got match fit in this new venture. I know of a (very) well known player who rang up to try and get in it only to be told he couldn’t as he was already in the Premier League and it wouldn’t be fair on the others.
QUOTE OF THE SEASON
John Higgins complaining about conditions at the Crucible: “The tournament director will put a blazer on, go in front of the BBC and probably quote section 3a or whatever from some handbook.”
Within minutes of Higgins saying this, Mike Ganley duly appeared on the BBC in his blazer. Sadly, he didn’t have a handbook with him.
LOW POINT OF THE SEASON
The round robins at the Grand Prix, and to a lesser extent at the Malta Cup, left the sport facing accusations of corruption amid talk of police investigations.
The very suggestion of this – whatever the truth – damages snooker’s reputation. Regardless of what World Snooker say, most players loathe the format. It won’t be employed at the Grand Prix next season – you read it here first.
HIGH POINT OF THE SEASON
Two high points, just over 24 hours apart, at the Crucible when first Ronnie O’Sullivan and then Ali Carter each constructed a 147 break, which brought the crowd to their feet in appreciation of the dazzling skill on show.
For all the talk and controversy and complaints and arguments, these scenes illustrated what all of us already know: that snooker is a great game and, at the very highest level, can produce moments of sporting excellence that will forever be frozen in time.
Note to the winners: there are no actual awards.
PLAYER OF THE SEASON
Despite good campaigns for Mark Selby, Stephen Maguire and Shaun Murphy, the winner is Ronnie O’Sullivan by virtue of winning the world and UK titles, regaining no.1 spot and making three maximum breaks. O’Sullivan also appeared in two further finals and won the Premier League.
BREAK OF THE SEASON
We saw a number of 147s, including one by Ronnie O’Sullivan in the deciding frame of his UK Championship semi-final with Mark Selby, but I can honestly say the best break I saw all season was one of just 48 by Fergal O’Brien in his Northern Ireland Trophy quarter-final against O’Sullivan.
O’Brien was 4-2 up but had reds on cushions and balls awkwardly placed as he came to the table. He crafted the break out of virtually nothing and it was a display of sheer artistry by one of the circuit’s unsung talents.
PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON
Ronnie O’Sullivan’s supreme display in making five centuries in the five frames he won in beating Ali Carter 5-2 in the Northern Ireland Trophy. Included in it was a 147. It was awesome stuff.
MATCH OF THE SEASON
The China Open final was of superb quality and went down to a very exciting conclusion as Stephen Maguire edged Shaun Murphy 10-9 all in front of a capacity crowd who remained in their seats until gone midnight. O’Sullivan v Selby in the UK Championship semi-finals comes a close second.
ACHIEVEMENT OF THE SEASON
Just ahead of Ali Carter’s run to the Crucible final comes Mark Selby, who became the first player in 19 years to win the Wembley Masters at his first attempt. He beat three great players – Stephen Hendry, Stephen Maguire and Ken Doherty – in deciding frame finishes and compiled four centuries in beating Stephen Lee in the final.
It heralded his arrival in snooker’s winners’ circle and he followed it up with his capture of the Welsh Open a few weeks later.
BREAKTHROUGH OF THE SEASON
The Chinese contingent, in the shadow of Ding Junhui, came into their own with Liu Song reaching the Grand Prix quarter-finals and Liu Chuang making the Crucible at just 17.
However, Liang Wenbo really came into his own by fighting through to the World Championship quarter-finals, doing so with great humour, audacious shot selections and a little controversy. Let’s hope we see plenty more of him in the future.
INNOVATION OF THE SEASON
The Championship League is a far more significant development than most people seem to realise. It has shown how tournament promoters can bypass not only the governing body but also television broadcasters and basically just do it themselves.
Ali Carter and Joe Perry’s successful ends to the campaign are down in large part to the fact they got match fit in this new venture. I know of a (very) well known player who rang up to try and get in it only to be told he couldn’t as he was already in the Premier League and it wouldn’t be fair on the others.
QUOTE OF THE SEASON
John Higgins complaining about conditions at the Crucible: “The tournament director will put a blazer on, go in front of the BBC and probably quote section 3a or whatever from some handbook.”
Within minutes of Higgins saying this, Mike Ganley duly appeared on the BBC in his blazer. Sadly, he didn’t have a handbook with him.
LOW POINT OF THE SEASON
The round robins at the Grand Prix, and to a lesser extent at the Malta Cup, left the sport facing accusations of corruption amid talk of police investigations.
The very suggestion of this – whatever the truth – damages snooker’s reputation. Regardless of what World Snooker say, most players loathe the format. It won’t be employed at the Grand Prix next season – you read it here first.
HIGH POINT OF THE SEASON
Two high points, just over 24 hours apart, at the Crucible when first Ronnie O’Sullivan and then Ali Carter each constructed a 147 break, which brought the crowd to their feet in appreciation of the dazzling skill on show.
For all the talk and controversy and complaints and arguments, these scenes illustrated what all of us already know: that snooker is a great game and, at the very highest level, can produce moments of sporting excellence that will forever be frozen in time.
16.5.08
PERRY GOES LARGE
Joe Perry wore a broad smile as he left Crondon Park golf club in Essex last night as the winner of the inaugural Championship League.
What an end to the season it’s been for Perry. He picked up £52,000 for reaching the semi-finals of the 888.com World Championship and now has another £29,100 and a place in the lucrative Premier League next season.
Perry has also risen to 12th in the world rankings, the highest position of his 17-year professional career.
And he was the first to admit that the new Championship League has provided the springboard to this new run of form.
This has been a welcome snooker success story. There were 25 players in the event and not one expressed even mild criticism of it. And why would they? It’s brought the perfect mix of high quality match practice and financial reward to players forced to spend long periods twiddling their thumbs, if not their cues, due to the fragmented nature of the pro circuit.
Look at Ali Carter. He played in all seven qualifying groups of the League and ended up in the world final.
Like Perry, Carter has thus rediscovered his enthusiasm for playing snooker. A day after losing in Group 7 he got on a plane and flew to China as a late call up for an invitation tournament following the withdrawal of Ronnie O’Sullivan.
I suspect that 12 months ago he wouldn’t have fancied it but, right now, it seems he can’t get enough of snooker.
The Championship League was unique as it was targeted at the betting community and shown live on the web on betting sites.
All three sites – betfair.com, bet365.com and williamhill.com – have said that they regard the new tournament as a welcome development.
It was superbly run by Matchroom, a professional but refreshingly laidback company who tweaked what needed to be tweaked in the format and ensured it all ran smoothly.
Perform provided excellent coverage on the web. They did not have the resources of the major television broadcasters but their enthusiasm and commitment to the event enhanced it considerably.
Behind the scenes, the players all enjoyed some banter and there was a pleasant, relaxed feel about proceedings, although this naturally changed in the match arena.
The staff at Crondon Park also went out of their way to make everyone feel welcome.
The event will return in 2009.
I suspect those players who turned it down this year will be clambering to get in it next time around.
What an end to the season it’s been for Perry. He picked up £52,000 for reaching the semi-finals of the 888.com World Championship and now has another £29,100 and a place in the lucrative Premier League next season.
Perry has also risen to 12th in the world rankings, the highest position of his 17-year professional career.
And he was the first to admit that the new Championship League has provided the springboard to this new run of form.
This has been a welcome snooker success story. There were 25 players in the event and not one expressed even mild criticism of it. And why would they? It’s brought the perfect mix of high quality match practice and financial reward to players forced to spend long periods twiddling their thumbs, if not their cues, due to the fragmented nature of the pro circuit.
Look at Ali Carter. He played in all seven qualifying groups of the League and ended up in the world final.
Like Perry, Carter has thus rediscovered his enthusiasm for playing snooker. A day after losing in Group 7 he got on a plane and flew to China as a late call up for an invitation tournament following the withdrawal of Ronnie O’Sullivan.
I suspect that 12 months ago he wouldn’t have fancied it but, right now, it seems he can’t get enough of snooker.
The Championship League was unique as it was targeted at the betting community and shown live on the web on betting sites.
All three sites – betfair.com, bet365.com and williamhill.com – have said that they regard the new tournament as a welcome development.
It was superbly run by Matchroom, a professional but refreshingly laidback company who tweaked what needed to be tweaked in the format and ensured it all ran smoothly.
Perform provided excellent coverage on the web. They did not have the resources of the major television broadcasters but their enthusiasm and commitment to the event enhanced it considerably.
Behind the scenes, the players all enjoyed some banter and there was a pleasant, relaxed feel about proceedings, although this naturally changed in the match arena.
The staff at Crondon Park also went out of their way to make everyone feel welcome.
The event will return in 2009.
I suspect those players who turned it down this year will be clambering to get in it next time around.
15.5.08
GRAND PRIX TO BE SCRAPPED?
Mystery surrounds the fate of the Royal London Watches Grand Prix following the publication of a provisional calendar today on worldsnooker.com.
The calendar merely lists dates for 'BBC events' but does not specify what they are.
Why not? It can only be because there is some change to their exact composition.
There's no way the 888.com World Championship, Saga Insurance Masters or Maplin UK Championship will be changed so that leaves the Grand Prix, first staged in 1984, as the tournament under threat.
The BBC will still be showing a tournament that week.
The question is, what will it be?
There are three possibilities:
1) It's the Grand Prix
2) It's the Grand Prix with a different name (as when it was the LG Cup)
or
3) It's a completely different event
After the controversy of the round robin format, has the tournament now been ditched altogether?
And what will replace it?
Watch this space!
Also, the Shanghai Masters has been moved forward two days to now start on a Monday and end on a Sunday.
This will hardly be good news for John Higgins, whose World Series event in Moscow is scheduled for September 27-28, a day before the Shanghai tournament begins.
The calendar merely lists dates for 'BBC events' but does not specify what they are.
Why not? It can only be because there is some change to their exact composition.
There's no way the 888.com World Championship, Saga Insurance Masters or Maplin UK Championship will be changed so that leaves the Grand Prix, first staged in 1984, as the tournament under threat.
The BBC will still be showing a tournament that week.
The question is, what will it be?
There are three possibilities:
1) It's the Grand Prix
2) It's the Grand Prix with a different name (as when it was the LG Cup)
or
3) It's a completely different event
After the controversy of the round robin format, has the tournament now been ditched altogether?
And what will replace it?
Watch this space!
Also, the Shanghai Masters has been moved forward two days to now start on a Monday and end on a Sunday.
This will hardly be good news for John Higgins, whose World Series event in Moscow is scheduled for September 27-28, a day before the Shanghai tournament begins.
14.5.08
SNOOKERED OUT
There can be such a thing as too much snooker, as Ali Carter will testify.
A week on from losing in the 888.com World Championship final, he was back in action at Crondon Park Golf Club here in sunny Essex in the latest group of the Championship League.
Ali had played in all six previous groups but finished bottom of group 7. He was clearly exhausted and had nothing left to give.
Therefore, he won’t be playing any further part in the competition, which seems a shame given his great run through it.
Indeed, it was the Championship League that got Carter match fit for the Crucible.
He won £22,600 from the event and, of course, £203,500 at the World Championship.
It means his earnings this season represent around a third of what he’s won in his 12 year pro career.
Now seventh in the world rankings, the only way is up for the Captain.
A week on from losing in the 888.com World Championship final, he was back in action at Crondon Park Golf Club here in sunny Essex in the latest group of the Championship League.
Ali had played in all six previous groups but finished bottom of group 7. He was clearly exhausted and had nothing left to give.
Therefore, he won’t be playing any further part in the competition, which seems a shame given his great run through it.
Indeed, it was the Championship League that got Carter match fit for the Crucible.
He won £22,600 from the event and, of course, £203,500 at the World Championship.
It means his earnings this season represent around a third of what he’s won in his 12 year pro career.
Now seventh in the world rankings, the only way is up for the Captain.
10.5.08
WHERE IT'S AT
Just in case you thought snooker was going into hibernation for the summer, here are the dates for all the upcoming professional events.
Important note: this calendar is provisional and liable to change. Do not arrange tickets/travel/time off work without first checking with individual promoters.
The Malta Cup and China Open, as well as all the qualifiying dates, are still to be added and there will hopefully be further tournaments to be slotted in.
2008
May 12-15: Championship League at Crondon Park, Essex (Live on Betfair.com, Bet365.com and Williamhill.com)
Group 7 (Mon, Tue); Champions Group (Wed, Thu)
May 14-18: Huangshan Cup at Heifei, China
Invitation event featuring Ronnie O’Sullivan, Stephen Hendry, Mark Williams, Ding Junhui, Liang Wenbo and others
June 6-8: Jiangsu Classic at Jiangsu, China
World Snooker promoted invitation event featuring 12 top players, including Ding Junhui
June 21-22: World Series at St. Hellier, Jersey (Live on Eurosport)
Featuring John Higgins, Shaun Murphy, Mark Selby and Ken Doherty plus four local players
July 8-13: Sangsom 6-red International at Montien Riverside Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
New event played with only six reds featuring several big names, including Peter Ebdon, Ken Doherty, Mark Williams, Jimmy White and Ding Junhui
July 12-13: World Series at Berlin, Germany (Live on Eurosport)
Featuring John Higgins, Stephen Maguire, Graeme Dott and Shaun Murphy plus four local players
August 24-31: Northern Ireland Trophy at Waterfront Hall, Belfast (Live on TG4 and Eurosport)
First ranking event of the season
September 11: Premier League at Grimsby Auditorium (Live on Sky Sports)
September 18: Premier League at the Anvil, Basingstoke (Live on Sky Sports)
September 25: Premier League at the Assembly Rooms, Derby (Live on Sky Sports)
September 27-28: World Series at Moscow, Russia (Live on Eurosport)
Featuring Graeme Dott, Steve Davis, Ding Junhui and Stephen Maguire plus four local players
October 1-7: Roewe Shanghai Masters (Live on Eurosport)
Second ranking event of the season
October 9: Premier League at Malvern Theatre, Great Malvern (Live on Sky Sports)
October 11-19: Royal London Watches Grand Prix at venue TBC (Live on BBC and Eurosport)
Third ranking event of the season
October 23: Premier League at Plymouth Pavilions (Live on Sky Sports)
October 25-26: World Series at Warsaw, Poland (Live on Eurosport)
Featuring Ding Junhui, Steve Davis, Stephen Maguire and Graeme Dott plus four local players
October 30: Premier League at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield (Live on Sky Sports)
November 6: Premier League at Newport Centre, Wales (Live on Sky Sports)
November 13: Premier League at Olympos, Haywards Heath (Live on Sky Sports)
November 20: Premier League at the Sands Centre, Carlisle (Live on Sky Sports)
November 27: Premier League at the Glades Arena, Kidderminster (Live on Sky Sports)
December 6-7: Premier League play-offs and final at Potters, Norfolk (Live on Sky Sports)
December 13-21: Maplin UK Championship at venue TBC (Live on BBC and Eurosport)
Fourth ranking event of the season
2009
January 11-18: Saga Insurance Masters at Wembley Arena (Live on BBC and Eurosport)
The game’s leading invitation event
February 9-15: Welsh Open at Newport Centre (Live on BBC Wales and Eurosport)
Fifth ranking event of the season
April 18-May 4: 888.com World Championship at Crucible Theatre, Sheffield (Live on BBC and Eurosport)
Seventh ranking event of the season
Important note: this calendar is provisional and liable to change. Do not arrange tickets/travel/time off work without first checking with individual promoters.
The Malta Cup and China Open, as well as all the qualifiying dates, are still to be added and there will hopefully be further tournaments to be slotted in.
2008
May 12-15: Championship League at Crondon Park, Essex (Live on Betfair.com, Bet365.com and Williamhill.com)
Group 7 (Mon, Tue); Champions Group (Wed, Thu)
May 14-18: Huangshan Cup at Heifei, China
Invitation event featuring Ronnie O’Sullivan, Stephen Hendry, Mark Williams, Ding Junhui, Liang Wenbo and others
June 6-8: Jiangsu Classic at Jiangsu, China
World Snooker promoted invitation event featuring 12 top players, including Ding Junhui
June 21-22: World Series at St. Hellier, Jersey (Live on Eurosport)
Featuring John Higgins, Shaun Murphy, Mark Selby and Ken Doherty plus four local players
July 8-13: Sangsom 6-red International at Montien Riverside Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
New event played with only six reds featuring several big names, including Peter Ebdon, Ken Doherty, Mark Williams, Jimmy White and Ding Junhui
July 12-13: World Series at Berlin, Germany (Live on Eurosport)
Featuring John Higgins, Stephen Maguire, Graeme Dott and Shaun Murphy plus four local players
August 24-31: Northern Ireland Trophy at Waterfront Hall, Belfast (Live on TG4 and Eurosport)
First ranking event of the season
September 11: Premier League at Grimsby Auditorium (Live on Sky Sports)
September 18: Premier League at the Anvil, Basingstoke (Live on Sky Sports)
September 25: Premier League at the Assembly Rooms, Derby (Live on Sky Sports)
September 27-28: World Series at Moscow, Russia (Live on Eurosport)
Featuring Graeme Dott, Steve Davis, Ding Junhui and Stephen Maguire plus four local players
October 1-7: Roewe Shanghai Masters (Live on Eurosport)
Second ranking event of the season
October 9: Premier League at Malvern Theatre, Great Malvern (Live on Sky Sports)
October 11-19: Royal London Watches Grand Prix at venue TBC (Live on BBC and Eurosport)
Third ranking event of the season
October 23: Premier League at Plymouth Pavilions (Live on Sky Sports)
October 25-26: World Series at Warsaw, Poland (Live on Eurosport)
Featuring Ding Junhui, Steve Davis, Stephen Maguire and Graeme Dott plus four local players
October 30: Premier League at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield (Live on Sky Sports)
November 6: Premier League at Newport Centre, Wales (Live on Sky Sports)
November 13: Premier League at Olympos, Haywards Heath (Live on Sky Sports)
November 20: Premier League at the Sands Centre, Carlisle (Live on Sky Sports)
November 27: Premier League at the Glades Arena, Kidderminster (Live on Sky Sports)
December 6-7: Premier League play-offs and final at Potters, Norfolk (Live on Sky Sports)
December 13-21: Maplin UK Championship at venue TBC (Live on BBC and Eurosport)
Fourth ranking event of the season
2009
January 11-18: Saga Insurance Masters at Wembley Arena (Live on BBC and Eurosport)
The game’s leading invitation event
February 9-15: Welsh Open at Newport Centre (Live on BBC Wales and Eurosport)
Fifth ranking event of the season
April 18-May 4: 888.com World Championship at Crucible Theatre, Sheffield (Live on BBC and Eurosport)
Seventh ranking event of the season
7.5.08
FINAL WORD ON THE CRUCIBLE
As the 888.com World Championship recedes into memory, here are my highlights...
SHOT OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Ronnie O'Sullivan's 13th black in his 147. Forcing an angle to free one of the two remaining reds from the pink he played the perfect cannon.
SHOCK OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Although the scale of Ali Carter's defeat of Shaun Murphy surprised me, I'd go for Joe Perry's quarter-final victory over Stephen Maguire, who had been playing superbly up to this point.
CHARACTER OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Liang Wenbo was a refreshing presence for various reasons, not just his all-out attacking approach.
BREAK OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Hard to choose between the two 147s but Ali Carter just takes it because it was his first and, given his tendency to feel the pressure in the past, he held himself together brilliantly.
QUOTE OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
'I played like a man with no arms' - a decidedly un-PC Dave Harold after losing to Shaun Murphy.
PERFORMANCE OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Stephen Maguire's 8-0 demolition of Neil Robertson in the first session of their second round match had to be seen to be believed, even outstripping Ronnie O'Sullivan's thrashing of Stephen Hendry.
MATCH OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Liang Wenbo v Joe Swail had it all: youth v experience, close frames, unexpected misses, controversy, premature celebrations, a deciding frame finish and recriminations afterwards. Classic stuff.
PLAYER OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Who else but the winner? Ronnie O'Sullivan, ever enigmatic, ever his own man, joined the pantheon of players to have won three world titles and provided great entertainment along the way.
Roll on 2009!
SHOT OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Ronnie O'Sullivan's 13th black in his 147. Forcing an angle to free one of the two remaining reds from the pink he played the perfect cannon.
SHOCK OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Although the scale of Ali Carter's defeat of Shaun Murphy surprised me, I'd go for Joe Perry's quarter-final victory over Stephen Maguire, who had been playing superbly up to this point.
CHARACTER OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Liang Wenbo was a refreshing presence for various reasons, not just his all-out attacking approach.
BREAK OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Hard to choose between the two 147s but Ali Carter just takes it because it was his first and, given his tendency to feel the pressure in the past, he held himself together brilliantly.
QUOTE OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
'I played like a man with no arms' - a decidedly un-PC Dave Harold after losing to Shaun Murphy.
PERFORMANCE OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Stephen Maguire's 8-0 demolition of Neil Robertson in the first session of their second round match had to be seen to be believed, even outstripping Ronnie O'Sullivan's thrashing of Stephen Hendry.
MATCH OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Liang Wenbo v Joe Swail had it all: youth v experience, close frames, unexpected misses, controversy, premature celebrations, a deciding frame finish and recriminations afterwards. Classic stuff.
PLAYER OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Who else but the winner? Ronnie O'Sullivan, ever enigmatic, ever his own man, joined the pantheon of players to have won three world titles and provided great entertainment along the way.
Roll on 2009!
6.5.08
THE WORLD TURNS FOR O'SULLIVAN
Ronnie O'Sullivan has always been a person of extreme highs and lows and last night savoured one of the all time highs of his extraordinary life.
OK, so it was a poor final. There was little drama and for long periods the snooker was of low quality.
Had O'Sullivan gone 17-6 up the players would have been brought off just so that there could be some snooker in the evening.
But despite all this, it was still a great night. O'Sullivan is a sportsman, indeed a person, who defies convention.
He's done things to make himself unpopular but he's also created a large store of wonderful memories for those who follow snooker.
All the Crucible spectators who saw his 147 up close can tell everyone they know that they were there.
I was pleased to see that Ronnie was genuinely happy with winning again because he won't have enjoyed the match.
He won't retire, regardless of what he says. Yes, snooker and the pursuit of perfection continues to torture him but it's in his blood and he needs it as much as the game needs him.
There will doubtless be more lows but also many more highs in this most remarkable career.
OK, so it was a poor final. There was little drama and for long periods the snooker was of low quality.
Had O'Sullivan gone 17-6 up the players would have been brought off just so that there could be some snooker in the evening.
But despite all this, it was still a great night. O'Sullivan is a sportsman, indeed a person, who defies convention.
He's done things to make himself unpopular but he's also created a large store of wonderful memories for those who follow snooker.
All the Crucible spectators who saw his 147 up close can tell everyone they know that they were there.
I was pleased to see that Ronnie was genuinely happy with winning again because he won't have enjoyed the match.
He won't retire, regardless of what he says. Yes, snooker and the pursuit of perfection continues to torture him but it's in his blood and he needs it as much as the game needs him.
There will doubtless be more lows but also many more highs in this most remarkable career.
5.5.08
RONNIE'S HAT-TRICK
Sport is a world of extremes. Defeat is the biggest calamity in the history of civilisation, victory the greatest achievement since the invention of the wheel.
There has been an extraordinary over reaction to Ronnie O’Sullivan’s progress towards a third world title, which he appears certain to land at the Crucible later today.
Let me say this from the start: Ronnie has played great snooker. Really good. In finishing off against Mark Williams and the second session against Stephen Hendry it was up there with the all time Crucible performances.
However, to compare him to Tiger Woods and Roger Federer is wrong. He has their talent but has not demonstrated their application or dedication to be a consistent winner.
The world title will be his third ranking event victory in three years. This is not the record of a dominant force.
Would Woods or Federer have played the kamikaze stuff O’Sullivan did at the China Open?
Rather, O’Sullivan is more a George Best or Paul Gascoigne: a genius whose flaws make him even more fascinating, even more attractive.
He can’t be placed above Stephen Hendry until he’s won more world titles. Yes, his maximum was superb but so was Ali Carter’s.
I’ve commentated on most of Ronnie’s matches this season and, in the main, he’s played like he did yesterday.
In other words, well enough to beat most players but, aside from a few occasions, not to the very high standards he sets himself.
This is his essential problem: he is striving for perfection and when he fails to find this it eats him up.
I don’t think he’ll derive much pleasure from winning the world title in this manner, which is a shame because he has given so many other people so much enjoyment.
Ronnie is the deserving champion this year but he hasn’t played any better than he did to win his other two worlds titles or any better than many of the other great champions have in previous years.
I hope he can enjoy his moment of victory but, alas, this can’t be guaranteed. It’s not the winning he likes so much as the fulfilment of snooker perfection.
Anything less won’t do, even if it is good enough to see off the best the game has to offer.
There has been an extraordinary over reaction to Ronnie O’Sullivan’s progress towards a third world title, which he appears certain to land at the Crucible later today.
Let me say this from the start: Ronnie has played great snooker. Really good. In finishing off against Mark Williams and the second session against Stephen Hendry it was up there with the all time Crucible performances.
However, to compare him to Tiger Woods and Roger Federer is wrong. He has their talent but has not demonstrated their application or dedication to be a consistent winner.
The world title will be his third ranking event victory in three years. This is not the record of a dominant force.
Would Woods or Federer have played the kamikaze stuff O’Sullivan did at the China Open?
Rather, O’Sullivan is more a George Best or Paul Gascoigne: a genius whose flaws make him even more fascinating, even more attractive.
He can’t be placed above Stephen Hendry until he’s won more world titles. Yes, his maximum was superb but so was Ali Carter’s.
I’ve commentated on most of Ronnie’s matches this season and, in the main, he’s played like he did yesterday.
In other words, well enough to beat most players but, aside from a few occasions, not to the very high standards he sets himself.
This is his essential problem: he is striving for perfection and when he fails to find this it eats him up.
I don’t think he’ll derive much pleasure from winning the world title in this manner, which is a shame because he has given so many other people so much enjoyment.
Ronnie is the deserving champion this year but he hasn’t played any better than he did to win his other two worlds titles or any better than many of the other great champions have in previous years.
I hope he can enjoy his moment of victory but, alas, this can’t be guaranteed. It’s not the winning he likes so much as the fulfilment of snooker perfection.
Anything less won’t do, even if it is good enough to see off the best the game has to offer.
4.5.08
REMEMBER 1986
I’ve had the pleasure of commentating with Joe Johnson throughout much of this World Championship and he is better qualified than most to assess Ali Carter’s chances of causing an upset in the final.
Joe famously beat Steve Davis 18-12 to win the title in 1986. The official programme of this year’s tournament ranks it as the second biggest shock in Crucible history, behind only Davis’s humbling 10-1 defeat to Tony Knowles in the first round in 1982.
Most people seem to think Ronnie O’Sullivan will not only beat Carter but beat him soundly. World Snooker has been ringing ex-players in case O’Sullivan wins with a session to spare and an exhibition is needed on Monday night.
888sport.com has O’Sullivan as 1/8 favourite with Carter 5/1.
I agree that O’Sullivan is likely to win given his form during the championship but Joe has made a few good points to me that are worth sharing.
Firstly, O’Sullivan was highly motivated in the semi-finals because he was playing Stephen Hendry. There would have been no disgrace in losing to this great champion but the respect Ronnie has for him brought out his best snooker.
He’s beaten Carter all eight times they have played and, being such a heavy favourite, has a huge weight of expectation on his shoulders.
Carter, in a sense, has nothing to lose, just as Joe didn’t in 1986. He could enjoy the occasion while the pressure was on Davis.
However, Ali must not settle for just being in the final. He has to – and I'm sure he does – believe he can win.
O’Sullivan needs to go into the final with the same mindset he had against Hendry but this will be difficult because he knows everyone expects him to win.
Of course, Davis had the baggage of what happened against Dennis Taylor the previous year. O’Sullivan’s only real baggage is his notoriously fragile emotional state, but he appears to have been on a largely even keel throughout the tournament.
In short, I think both Joe and I expect O’Sullivan to win but not by as big a margin as many are predicting, and not with a session to spare.
As ever, though, we will only find out when the punditry stops and the action begins at 3pm.
Joe famously beat Steve Davis 18-12 to win the title in 1986. The official programme of this year’s tournament ranks it as the second biggest shock in Crucible history, behind only Davis’s humbling 10-1 defeat to Tony Knowles in the first round in 1982.
Most people seem to think Ronnie O’Sullivan will not only beat Carter but beat him soundly. World Snooker has been ringing ex-players in case O’Sullivan wins with a session to spare and an exhibition is needed on Monday night.
888sport.com has O’Sullivan as 1/8 favourite with Carter 5/1.
I agree that O’Sullivan is likely to win given his form during the championship but Joe has made a few good points to me that are worth sharing.
Firstly, O’Sullivan was highly motivated in the semi-finals because he was playing Stephen Hendry. There would have been no disgrace in losing to this great champion but the respect Ronnie has for him brought out his best snooker.
He’s beaten Carter all eight times they have played and, being such a heavy favourite, has a huge weight of expectation on his shoulders.
Carter, in a sense, has nothing to lose, just as Joe didn’t in 1986. He could enjoy the occasion while the pressure was on Davis.
However, Ali must not settle for just being in the final. He has to – and I'm sure he does – believe he can win.
O’Sullivan needs to go into the final with the same mindset he had against Hendry but this will be difficult because he knows everyone expects him to win.
Of course, Davis had the baggage of what happened against Dennis Taylor the previous year. O’Sullivan’s only real baggage is his notoriously fragile emotional state, but he appears to have been on a largely even keel throughout the tournament.
In short, I think both Joe and I expect O’Sullivan to win but not by as big a margin as many are predicting, and not with a session to spare.
As ever, though, we will only find out when the punditry stops and the action begins at 3pm.
3.5.08
CRUCIBLE 2008: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
As we approach the final of the World Championship, let's look back and the high and low points of the greatest snooker show on earth.
THUMBS UP FOR...
- Liang Wenbo
Yes, his shot selection was at times suicidal but he was a refreshing presence in the tournament. He became a cult hero after walking into the arena unannounced for his second session against Ken Doherty and proved his fighting qualities by prevailing against Joe Swail in the most exciting of all the matches thus far.
- Brendan Moore
This was Brendan's first time refereeing at the Crucible and I was very impressed with him. Definitely capable of taking charge of the final in future years.
- Close finishes
You can't beat the Crucible for drama when a match goes close and, in the first round in particular, we had a number that did: Hendry v Allen, Ebdon v Cope, Davis v Bingham to name but three. Davis's comeback was a joy to watch, even if he did fall short in the end.
- Ronnie O'Sullivan
On and off the table, O'Sullivan has been exemplary. The standard he produced in taking all eight frames from Stephen Hendry in the second session of their semi-final was up there with the all time great performances at the Crucible. His 147 was an exhibition of sheer natural talent.
- Ali Carter's 147
Carter has been guilty of slipping up at important moments throughout his career but was cool personified in completing a maximum break just a day after O'Sullivan made his. Some break it was, too, not least the final black, which would have been a pressure ball to win a frame, let alone for a 147.
- The sponsors
I thought whoever took over from Embassy would struggle to establish themselves as the recognised sponsor but 888.com have been so enthusiastic that they've managed it. I'd even argue that they've helped to reinvigorate the event over the last three years without it losing its essential heavyweight status.
THUMBS DOWN FOR...
- Conditions
Once again, the middle part of the tournament was overshadowed by complaints about playing conditions. It seems logical now to re-cloth the tables on the first Wednesday as well as the middle Sunday and second Wednesday. This would surely lessen any complaints at next year's championship.
- The Joe Swail-Liang Wenbo controversy
Swail didn't do himself any favours, although, in his defence, he was speaking minutes after suffering a very disappointing last gasp defeat. The fact is, the referee - in this case Alan Chamberlain - asked both players if they were happy the balls had been replaced properly. Swail said he was and, if he had not been, should have said so in the arena.
- MC Rob Walker's 'Let's get the boys on the baize' intro
I wouldn't fault Walker for his enthusiasm but I can't be the only person who finds this catchphrase annoying. Last night, we had two of snooker's greatest champions playing. O'Sullivan and Hendry are not 'boys' they're all time greats. Plus, the crowd does not need to be whipped into a frenzy when they basically have to be quiet for the best part of three hours.
- The strike 'threat'
Possibly the biggest non-story of the championship was the idea that top players will put down their cues because of a row over logo spaces. They won't. Simple as that.
- Football
Interested though many of us were in the Champions League semi-finals this week, there is a section of the media who seem to believe sports coverage should begin and end with football. After his epic win over Stephen Maguire, Joe Perry was asked by a journalist how it felt that nobody had been watching because they were all tuned in to Chelsea v Liverpool. Apart from this being obviously wrong - not least because the snooker was still going on a good hour and a half after the football had finished - Joe had every reason to feel aggreived having just pulled off the win of his career.
THUMBS UP FOR...
- Liang Wenbo
Yes, his shot selection was at times suicidal but he was a refreshing presence in the tournament. He became a cult hero after walking into the arena unannounced for his second session against Ken Doherty and proved his fighting qualities by prevailing against Joe Swail in the most exciting of all the matches thus far.
- Brendan Moore
This was Brendan's first time refereeing at the Crucible and I was very impressed with him. Definitely capable of taking charge of the final in future years.
- Close finishes
You can't beat the Crucible for drama when a match goes close and, in the first round in particular, we had a number that did: Hendry v Allen, Ebdon v Cope, Davis v Bingham to name but three. Davis's comeback was a joy to watch, even if he did fall short in the end.
- Ronnie O'Sullivan
On and off the table, O'Sullivan has been exemplary. The standard he produced in taking all eight frames from Stephen Hendry in the second session of their semi-final was up there with the all time great performances at the Crucible. His 147 was an exhibition of sheer natural talent.
- Ali Carter's 147
Carter has been guilty of slipping up at important moments throughout his career but was cool personified in completing a maximum break just a day after O'Sullivan made his. Some break it was, too, not least the final black, which would have been a pressure ball to win a frame, let alone for a 147.
- The sponsors
I thought whoever took over from Embassy would struggle to establish themselves as the recognised sponsor but 888.com have been so enthusiastic that they've managed it. I'd even argue that they've helped to reinvigorate the event over the last three years without it losing its essential heavyweight status.
THUMBS DOWN FOR...
- Conditions
Once again, the middle part of the tournament was overshadowed by complaints about playing conditions. It seems logical now to re-cloth the tables on the first Wednesday as well as the middle Sunday and second Wednesday. This would surely lessen any complaints at next year's championship.
- The Joe Swail-Liang Wenbo controversy
Swail didn't do himself any favours, although, in his defence, he was speaking minutes after suffering a very disappointing last gasp defeat. The fact is, the referee - in this case Alan Chamberlain - asked both players if they were happy the balls had been replaced properly. Swail said he was and, if he had not been, should have said so in the arena.
- MC Rob Walker's 'Let's get the boys on the baize' intro
I wouldn't fault Walker for his enthusiasm but I can't be the only person who finds this catchphrase annoying. Last night, we had two of snooker's greatest champions playing. O'Sullivan and Hendry are not 'boys' they're all time greats. Plus, the crowd does not need to be whipped into a frenzy when they basically have to be quiet for the best part of three hours.
- The strike 'threat'
Possibly the biggest non-story of the championship was the idea that top players will put down their cues because of a row over logo spaces. They won't. Simple as that.
- Football
Interested though many of us were in the Champions League semi-finals this week, there is a section of the media who seem to believe sports coverage should begin and end with football. After his epic win over Stephen Maguire, Joe Perry was asked by a journalist how it felt that nobody had been watching because they were all tuned in to Chelsea v Liverpool. Apart from this being obviously wrong - not least because the snooker was still going on a good hour and a half after the football had finished - Joe had every reason to feel aggreived having just pulled off the win of his career.
2.5.08
UNSTOPPABLE O'SULLIVAN
A total of 109 players entered this year’s World Championship. Of these, 32 made the Crucible, including great champions of the past and likely winners of the future.
However, it seems inconceivable now that Ronnie O’Sullivan won’t be the last man standing on Monday.
He has clinically taken Stephen Hendry apart in this morning’s session of their semi-final and I can’t see Ali Carter or Joe Perry stopping him in the final.
It was the first time Hendry has suffered a session whitewash in 23 Crucible appearances encompassing 80 matches. It was the seventh session whitewash in a Crucible semi-final and the third by O'Sullivan at Sheffield.
O'Sullivan has now constructed 47 centuries this season. If he makes seven more in the rest of this match and the final he will surpass Hendry's record of 53, set in the 1993/94 campaign.
This would be remarkable because it would have been accomplished in far fewer tournaments - 9 compared with Hendry's 15.
O'Sullivan is also now tied with John Higgins on 85 centuries, with Hendry still top at Sheffield on 116.
Some would argue the Rocket’s had an easy draw but I’d say this is unfair: it was only ‘easy’ because he is so good.
His main fortune has been to avoid players who play the kind of game he dislikes: slow, scrappy and drawn out.
All of his opponents thus far – Liu Chuang, Mark Williams, Liang Wenbo and Stephen Hendry – are open, attacking players who go for their shots. There is no better player in the modern game at this kind of snooker than O’Sullivan, so their approach would have suited him fine.
A Hendry comeback looks unlikely now and Carter or Perry will have to produce the snooker of their life to prevent Ronnie completing a hat-trick of world titles.
However, it seems inconceivable now that Ronnie O’Sullivan won’t be the last man standing on Monday.
He has clinically taken Stephen Hendry apart in this morning’s session of their semi-final and I can’t see Ali Carter or Joe Perry stopping him in the final.
It was the first time Hendry has suffered a session whitewash in 23 Crucible appearances encompassing 80 matches. It was the seventh session whitewash in a Crucible semi-final and the third by O'Sullivan at Sheffield.
O'Sullivan has now constructed 47 centuries this season. If he makes seven more in the rest of this match and the final he will surpass Hendry's record of 53, set in the 1993/94 campaign.
This would be remarkable because it would have been accomplished in far fewer tournaments - 9 compared with Hendry's 15.
O'Sullivan is also now tied with John Higgins on 85 centuries, with Hendry still top at Sheffield on 116.
Some would argue the Rocket’s had an easy draw but I’d say this is unfair: it was only ‘easy’ because he is so good.
His main fortune has been to avoid players who play the kind of game he dislikes: slow, scrappy and drawn out.
All of his opponents thus far – Liu Chuang, Mark Williams, Liang Wenbo and Stephen Hendry – are open, attacking players who go for their shots. There is no better player in the modern game at this kind of snooker than O’Sullivan, so their approach would have suited him fine.
A Hendry comeback looks unlikely now and Carter or Perry will have to produce the snooker of their life to prevent Ronnie completing a hat-trick of world titles.
1.5.08
DOWN TO THE SEMIS
Now we’re down to the semi-finals of the 888.com World Championship, let’s look back at my tips for the last four.
I went for:
Ding Junhui v Mark Williams
Shaun Murphy v Neil Robertson
Oh dear.
Still, I’d be amazed if anyone tipped Ali Carter v Joe Perry.
Carter reminds me a little of Joe Johnson, who found inspiration in 1986 to play some remarkable snooker and go all the way to the title.
Everyone seems to be saying that the winner of the O’Sullivan-Hendry semi will land the title.
Carter, though, is growing in confidence and could yet pull off what would be a huge upset.
I went for:
Ding Junhui v Mark Williams
Shaun Murphy v Neil Robertson
Oh dear.
Still, I’d be amazed if anyone tipped Ali Carter v Joe Perry.
Carter reminds me a little of Joe Johnson, who found inspiration in 1986 to play some remarkable snooker and go all the way to the title.
Everyone seems to be saying that the winner of the O’Sullivan-Hendry semi will land the title.
Carter, though, is growing in confidence and could yet pull off what would be a huge upset.
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