The winners' group of the Championship League is brimming with quality. Stephen Maguire, John Higgins, Judd Trump, Marco Fu, Neil Robertson, Mark Allen and Jamie Cope will fight it out over the next two days for a place in the Premier League.
Of these, Higgins is the only one assured of an invite to the League, although Robertson must be a leading favourite for a call up as well.
Cope became the last player through to the winners' group by beating Peter Ebdon and Ding Junhui at Crondon Park last night.
The Shotgun from Stoke could certainly cause a few problems in the League itself were he to qualify, just as last year's winner Trump did.
And he has the advantage of having had two days on the tables while the rest of the field - Trump aside - haven't played competitively for up to two months.
For them, the next two days represents a chance to at the very least tune up their games for next week's China Open.
There's plenty of cash available too. Robertson has already earned £13,000 from the event and it's now £300 per frame and £10,000 to the eventual winner.
24.3.10
22.3.10
IN LEAGUE FOR PREMIER PLACE
It’ll be a big week for one of 13 players taking part in the Championship League, with one of the seven from Group 7 going forward to join the other six in the winner’s group on Wednesday and Thursday.
The Baronial Hall of Crondon Park Golf Club in Essex has become an unlikely favourite for the top players, who get quality match practice, not inconsiderable prize money and the chance to get in the Premier League next season.
Already through to the winners’ group are Stephen Maguire, John Higgins, Judd Trump, Marco Fu, Neil Robertson and Mark Allen.
Of these, only Higgins can be sure of a Premier League place regardless of what happens this week, although Robertson must be a leading contender as well.
Group 7 features Ding Junhui – surely a cert for the PL too after his UK Championship win – plus Steve Davis, Michael Holt and the returning Jamie Cope, Peter Ebdon, Mark Williams and Joe Swail from group 6.
The action is all live online over the next four days and more information can be found at the official website.
The Baronial Hall of Crondon Park Golf Club in Essex has become an unlikely favourite for the top players, who get quality match practice, not inconsiderable prize money and the chance to get in the Premier League next season.
Already through to the winners’ group are Stephen Maguire, John Higgins, Judd Trump, Marco Fu, Neil Robertson and Mark Allen.
Of these, only Higgins can be sure of a Premier League place regardless of what happens this week, although Robertson must be a leading contender as well.
Group 7 features Ding Junhui – surely a cert for the PL too after his UK Championship win – plus Steve Davis, Michael Holt and the returning Jamie Cope, Peter Ebdon, Mark Williams and Joe Swail from group 6.
The action is all live online over the next four days and more information can be found at the official website.
21.3.10
IS THE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TOO LONG?
The simple answer to that question would be ‘no’ but that doesn’t fill up half a page on the internet.
John Higgins recently told STV in Scotland that he thinks there is an argument for reducing the world final to a single day.
Ronnie O’Sullivan said this year that ‘if we can’t play for an hour and find out who is the best then there’s something wrong.’
When 110sport announced their breakaway tour ten years ago I remember Stephen Hendry saying he thought the World Championship should last 12 days and no longer.
These three great champions have more than earned their right to hold an opinion on this and are worth listening to but I suspect snooker fans may not agree with them.
Let’s take Higgins’s comments. If the world final were reduced then it logically follows that all the other matches would have to be as well, leading to a shorter World Championship.
Times change. Maybe people today prefer a ‘quick fix’ than to sit for hours following sport but the fact remains that snooker, and the World Championship in particular, pulls in viewers because it provides absorbing drama, and this by its very nature is slow burning.
Admittedly, it can sometimes be so slow burning that it almost gets extinguished altogether but the 17 day marathon provides exactly what it should: the ultimate test of a snooker player.
But is 17 days really that much more of a test than, say, 14 days? After all, the World Championship is longer than the Olympics and every major annual sporting event outside of the Tour de France.
Well, if the BBC wants to show 17 days of continuous snooker then I’m certainly not going to talk them out of it.
In truth, some of the matches are too long. The first round would be better as best of 17 frames because this would reduce pull-offs and late finishes. The semi-finals seem to go on forever.
But this format has basically worked for the last three decades and I wouldn’t advocate changing it.
The longer matches provide more subplots and greater drama. This is why six reds, shot clocks et al will never replace the traditional game, even if they do have their place on the fringes of the sport.
Of course, the old sweats from the 1940s and 50s would look down their noses at the notion that today’s World Championship is long at all. In 1948, Fred Davis won the title by beating Walter Donaldson 84-61.
These days you can afford to have a bad session. Back then you could afford to have a bad week.
Society changes and with it so does television. Snooker needs to change as well but its major event is fine as it is. It’s a showpiece occasion that puts snooker front and central for a fortnight every spring.
Snooker’s problem is not the World Championship, it’s the low profile most of the other tournaments have.
This is why I would go along with format alterations for other ranking events. I find it absurd that in finals players play for eight frames, everyone goes away for three hours with nothing to do and then they come back to finish off.
This doesn’t happen in any other sport I can think of.
The Premier League play best of 13 frames right through in one session. This would be better for the likes of the Grand Prix and Welsh Open. You could start at 5 or 6pm and there’s half a chance the audience could get home before turning into pumpkins.
Traditionalists will howl in protest and disbelief that anyone could conceive of changing anything.
Well, when it comes to the World Championship I would agree with them. When it comes to everything else I’d say there is a very strong case to look again, including getting rid of intervals.
All this doesn’t mean reducing every tournament to a lottery but snooker has to reach out to casual sports fans as well as its own diehard constituency. Balancing the needs of both isn’t easy but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t try.
In any case, television will ultimately decide. What they want is what snooker will have to accept because, without TV, the professional game will be back to where it was in the 1950s.
Still, in that scenario we could always go back to three week world finals...
John Higgins recently told STV in Scotland that he thinks there is an argument for reducing the world final to a single day.
Ronnie O’Sullivan said this year that ‘if we can’t play for an hour and find out who is the best then there’s something wrong.’
When 110sport announced their breakaway tour ten years ago I remember Stephen Hendry saying he thought the World Championship should last 12 days and no longer.
These three great champions have more than earned their right to hold an opinion on this and are worth listening to but I suspect snooker fans may not agree with them.
Let’s take Higgins’s comments. If the world final were reduced then it logically follows that all the other matches would have to be as well, leading to a shorter World Championship.
Times change. Maybe people today prefer a ‘quick fix’ than to sit for hours following sport but the fact remains that snooker, and the World Championship in particular, pulls in viewers because it provides absorbing drama, and this by its very nature is slow burning.
Admittedly, it can sometimes be so slow burning that it almost gets extinguished altogether but the 17 day marathon provides exactly what it should: the ultimate test of a snooker player.
But is 17 days really that much more of a test than, say, 14 days? After all, the World Championship is longer than the Olympics and every major annual sporting event outside of the Tour de France.
Well, if the BBC wants to show 17 days of continuous snooker then I’m certainly not going to talk them out of it.
In truth, some of the matches are too long. The first round would be better as best of 17 frames because this would reduce pull-offs and late finishes. The semi-finals seem to go on forever.
But this format has basically worked for the last three decades and I wouldn’t advocate changing it.
The longer matches provide more subplots and greater drama. This is why six reds, shot clocks et al will never replace the traditional game, even if they do have their place on the fringes of the sport.
Of course, the old sweats from the 1940s and 50s would look down their noses at the notion that today’s World Championship is long at all. In 1948, Fred Davis won the title by beating Walter Donaldson 84-61.
These days you can afford to have a bad session. Back then you could afford to have a bad week.
Society changes and with it so does television. Snooker needs to change as well but its major event is fine as it is. It’s a showpiece occasion that puts snooker front and central for a fortnight every spring.
Snooker’s problem is not the World Championship, it’s the low profile most of the other tournaments have.
This is why I would go along with format alterations for other ranking events. I find it absurd that in finals players play for eight frames, everyone goes away for three hours with nothing to do and then they come back to finish off.
This doesn’t happen in any other sport I can think of.
The Premier League play best of 13 frames right through in one session. This would be better for the likes of the Grand Prix and Welsh Open. You could start at 5 or 6pm and there’s half a chance the audience could get home before turning into pumpkins.
Traditionalists will howl in protest and disbelief that anyone could conceive of changing anything.
Well, when it comes to the World Championship I would agree with them. When it comes to everything else I’d say there is a very strong case to look again, including getting rid of intervals.
All this doesn’t mean reducing every tournament to a lottery but snooker has to reach out to casual sports fans as well as its own diehard constituency. Balancing the needs of both isn’t easy but that doesn’t mean it shouldn’t try.
In any case, television will ultimately decide. What they want is what snooker will have to accept because, without TV, the professional game will be back to where it was in the 1950s.
Still, in that scenario we could always go back to three week world finals...
18.3.10
HENDRY V WHITE
Snooker is a sport that has been blessed with many fascinating rivalries.There was Ray Reardon and John Spencer in the 1970s, Steve Davis and Alex Higgins in the 1980s and, right now, John Higgins and Ronnie O’Sullivan.
But, for me, the most enduring of them all was Stephen Hendry and Jimmy White, who kept snooker fans gripped by a series of world finals in the 1990s.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of Hendry’s capture of the 1990 world title, making him the youngest ever winner of the game’s biggest event, a record he still holds despite the influx of young talent in the last two decades.
He won it with an 18-12 defeat of White, although their first Crucible meeting had come two years earlier in 1988. White had already lost in the 1984 final to Davis but was widely expected to win the Big One at some stage. Hendry was just 19 but had already won two ranking titles and was regarded as highly dangerous.
Their second round encounter was a revelation, so much so that the BBC devoted the whole of its end of year snooker review programme – these were the days when it had one – to this match and this match alone.
Just as all today’s leading players modelled their games on Hendry’s playing style, so Hendry had adopted White’s ultra-attacking approach.
White won the match 13-12. In 25 frames there were 26 breaks over 40.
I dare say if it were shown today the match would not appear to be anything special but back then it was like a burst of excitement and it deserves to be remembered as an all time classic.
The 1990 final was another quickfire affair with an average frame time of just 12 minutes.
The 1992 Crucible final between Hendry and White is one everyone old enough to have seen it remembers, more particularly if they were supporting the Whirlwind.
When White went 12-6 up, Clive Everton, not a man given to overstatement, said on BBC commentary, ‘surely he’s going to win it now.’ Most people watching probably thought the same. Hendry, though, had other ideas.
At 14-8, the Scot won the last two frames of the third session, the last of which with the aid of a superb brown that, had he missed it, would have almost certainly made it 15-9.
White was still favourite at 14-10 but immediately lost a black ball frame and the wheels started to come off. Had he won the title before he may have had enough resilience to repel the Hendry comeback but it wasn’t to be. Hendry made three centuries, including two in the final two frames, to complete a winning streak of ten frames and win 18-14.
Hendry was never better than when under pressure, the precise time when most players start to falter.
Their 1993 final was a landslide to Hendry. He won it 18-5 with a session to spare having played some of the best snooker of his career during the tournament.
In 1994 it was Hendry v White again. The final session attracted a peak viewing audience of 13.4m to BBC2 and, in terms of quality, tension and excitement, remains one of the best matches ever played.
White trailed 17-16 but made a 75 break to force the decider. What followed will live long in the memory of his fans. Perfectly placed in the balls and not far from capturing the title he snatched at a black. Hendry, predictably, cleared up to win 18-17.
It was a crushing blow from which White never really recovered. And yet he didn’t sulk, he didn’t blame anyone but himself and, interviewed by David Vine just minutes after the end, he smiled, shrugged and said, ‘he’s beginning to annoy me.’
It was this sort of gesture that helped endear White to millions. Those who run him down now because his game is not of the same standard as it was then should remember the popular appeal he helped give snooker.
And it was part of another reason why the Hendry-White rivalry is worth celebrating. Their matches were always played in a sporting context. Indeed, in that 1994 final, very near the end, the referee awarded a free ball to Hendry but Hendry got down and said he didn’t think it was one, despite it being a clear advantage to him.
When Hendry appeared on This Is Your Life, White gave him a £1 note (it was a long time ago) on which he had written, ‘from Jimmy White to the next Jimmy White.’ Hendry returned it with the message, ‘there’s only one Jimmy White.’
They met again at the Crucible in 1995, this time in the semi-finals where Hendry made a 147 and won 16-12.
White was to take one very small measure of revenge in the first round in 1998. He’d had to qualify and drew Hendry, beating him 10-4.
By chance, I was stood next to him in the pressroom when he called home the night he went 8-1 up. ‘I bet he still comes back and wins,’ he said, deadpan, to whoever was on the other end.
Of course, White beat Hendry a number of times, including in finals. He nearly whitewashed him in the 1991 Classic final, leading 9-0 before winning 10-4. He also beat Hendry 18-9 in the 1990 World Matchplay final.
But their rivalry came to be defined by the Crucible and by Hendry’s relentlessness in the face of White’s failings.
The best rivalries are between opposites. Hendry was quiet, driven and utterly obsessed with winning; White was gregarious, Jack-the-lad and would admit now that his preparation for big events was not always what it should have been.
He wasn’t unlucky not to be world champion. He had his chance – more than one chance – but couldn’t quite seal the deal even though, in terms of pure talent, he was a better player than some of those who have won it.
His popularity has never wavered, but I’m sure he’d swap some of that for at least one world title. Similarly, Hendry – sometimes booed by sections of the crowd – would have loved some of White’s appeal.
But who they were as people and how they played created an enthralling rivalry, one that snooker fans still remember fondly even though they are unlikely to ever again play each other on a big occasion.
17.3.10
LETS GET THE BOYS (BACK) ON THE BAIZE
This always used to be the height of the season but there has been such a long lay-off for the top players that they must feel as if the campaign is already over.
John Higgins won the totesport.com Welsh Open on January 31. By the time he starts out in the winners’ group of the Championship League next week it will have been seven and a half weeks since he last hit a ball.
It will be interesting to see if this has halted the momentum he had in the early part of the season. Higgins has appeared in the last six ranking event semi-finals. If he gets that far at the China Open and Betfred.com World Championship he will equal the record held jointly by Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry.
But I doubt he’s done much practising in recent weeks – what’s the point? – and may find it hard to pick up where he left off.
We are now entering the final furlong of what has been a disappointingly disjointed season. The Championship League returns on Monday, the China Open starts the following week and then the drama of the Crucible gets underway on April 17.
For some players – Ricky Walden among them – the season is already over. There’s nothing worse for a player than knowing the World Championship is on the TV when you’re not in it.
Even going abroad on holiday doesn’t make much difference these days because the championship is shown around the world.
The Championship League will be a help for the players involved next week in terms of fine tuning their games for a very important month ahead.
Group seven features the returning Peter Ebdon, Jamie Cope, Mark Williams and Joe Swail along with Ding Junhui, Steve Davis and Michael Holt.
The winners’ group features the group seven winner plus Higgins, Stephen Maguire, Judd Trump, Marco Fu, Neil Robertson and Mark Allen.
John Higgins won the totesport.com Welsh Open on January 31. By the time he starts out in the winners’ group of the Championship League next week it will have been seven and a half weeks since he last hit a ball.
It will be interesting to see if this has halted the momentum he had in the early part of the season. Higgins has appeared in the last six ranking event semi-finals. If he gets that far at the China Open and Betfred.com World Championship he will equal the record held jointly by Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry.
But I doubt he’s done much practising in recent weeks – what’s the point? – and may find it hard to pick up where he left off.
We are now entering the final furlong of what has been a disappointingly disjointed season. The Championship League returns on Monday, the China Open starts the following week and then the drama of the Crucible gets underway on April 17.
For some players – Ricky Walden among them – the season is already over. There’s nothing worse for a player than knowing the World Championship is on the TV when you’re not in it.
Even going abroad on holiday doesn’t make much difference these days because the championship is shown around the world.
The Championship League will be a help for the players involved next week in terms of fine tuning their games for a very important month ahead.
Group seven features the returning Peter Ebdon, Jamie Cope, Mark Williams and Joe Swail along with Ding Junhui, Steve Davis and Michael Holt.
The winners’ group features the group seven winner plus Higgins, Stephen Maguire, Judd Trump, Marco Fu, Neil Robertson and Mark Allen.
15.3.10
DO YOU REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME?
Consider the following players: Steve Davis, Jimmy White, Stephen Hendry, Ken Doherty, Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins and Shaun Murphy.
All great names, all first round losers on their respective Crucible debuts.
The Sheffield theatre is like no other snooker venue. It has turned many a leg to jelly and quickened the heartbeat of even the most laid back players.
This is partly because it is the World Championship and therefore matters so much but there’s no doubt that the unique atmosphere the cramped arena creates adds to the pressure.
Nobody in a million years would choose the Crucible as a World Championship venue today. There’s barely room for the two tables and the audience can reach out and almost touch the players.
But this is precisely what makes it so special.
When Higgins made his debut in 1995 he said he hated the place. It felt strange and uncomfortable playing there. Three world titles later and it’s fair to say he’s changed his mind.
Of course, some players do get over the nerves to get through the first round at the first time of asking.
John Parrott did in 1984. Peter Ebdon shocked Davis in 1992. Mark Williams was successful in 1997.
And, most famously of all, Terry Griffiths went all the way to the title in 1979.
But newcomers are invariably like fish out of water, struggling to find the game that got them to the Crucible in the first place.
So what fate awaits this year’s two debutants, Tom Ford and Zhang Anda?
Ford is set to face a player in Mark Allen who himself made a fine debut appearance in 2007 when he beat Ken Doherty.
And Allen will be looking to exploit any signs of nerves or discomfort from his opponent, seizing on a slow start as he did last year against Martin Gould.
Zhang’s advantage is that he is not steeped in the folklore of the Crucible. Refreshingly, he’s one of the few people who neither knows nor cares about THAT black ball final.
But he will know about Hendry and what he has achieved in Sheffield over the last quarter of a century.
And as it’s the biggest match so far of the 18 year-old’s short career it’s fair to assume there will be a few nerves fluttering around.
Hendry’s disadvantage is that he will almost certainly never have seen Zhang play. I’ve only seen him play once and that was in coolly beating Ricky Walden to qualify.
I was impressed with him there but it’s impossible to say if he can repeat that performance next month when it really matters.
If Zhang does lose he should take heart from Hendry’s own debut in 1986 at the age of 17.
He was beaten 10-8 by Willie Thorne who, through a mixture of sporting goodwill and sheer relief, applauded him out of the arena.
Like everyone else Thorne knew that, even though the young Scot’s first appearance had ended in defeat, he would be back...
All great names, all first round losers on their respective Crucible debuts.
The Sheffield theatre is like no other snooker venue. It has turned many a leg to jelly and quickened the heartbeat of even the most laid back players.
This is partly because it is the World Championship and therefore matters so much but there’s no doubt that the unique atmosphere the cramped arena creates adds to the pressure.
Nobody in a million years would choose the Crucible as a World Championship venue today. There’s barely room for the two tables and the audience can reach out and almost touch the players.
But this is precisely what makes it so special.
When Higgins made his debut in 1995 he said he hated the place. It felt strange and uncomfortable playing there. Three world titles later and it’s fair to say he’s changed his mind.
Of course, some players do get over the nerves to get through the first round at the first time of asking.
John Parrott did in 1984. Peter Ebdon shocked Davis in 1992. Mark Williams was successful in 1997.
And, most famously of all, Terry Griffiths went all the way to the title in 1979.
But newcomers are invariably like fish out of water, struggling to find the game that got them to the Crucible in the first place.
So what fate awaits this year’s two debutants, Tom Ford and Zhang Anda?
Ford is set to face a player in Mark Allen who himself made a fine debut appearance in 2007 when he beat Ken Doherty.
And Allen will be looking to exploit any signs of nerves or discomfort from his opponent, seizing on a slow start as he did last year against Martin Gould.
Zhang’s advantage is that he is not steeped in the folklore of the Crucible. Refreshingly, he’s one of the few people who neither knows nor cares about THAT black ball final.
But he will know about Hendry and what he has achieved in Sheffield over the last quarter of a century.
And as it’s the biggest match so far of the 18 year-old’s short career it’s fair to assume there will be a few nerves fluttering around.
Hendry’s disadvantage is that he will almost certainly never have seen Zhang play. I’ve only seen him play once and that was in coolly beating Ricky Walden to qualify.
I was impressed with him there but it’s impossible to say if he can repeat that performance next month when it really matters.
If Zhang does lose he should take heart from Hendry’s own debut in 1986 at the age of 17.
He was beaten 10-8 by Willie Thorne who, through a mixture of sporting goodwill and sheer relief, applauded him out of the arena.
Like everyone else Thorne knew that, even though the young Scot’s first appearance had ended in defeat, he would be back...
11.3.10
SO THIS DRAW, THEN
Ronnie O’Sullivan’s first round tie with Liang Wenbo looks tough on paper but the match will be played on the green baize and I don’t think it’s the worst draw O’Sullivan could have got.
He’s never lost to Liang, has beaten him at the Crucible before and beat him in a final this season.
That’s not to say it’s an easy draw but at least Ronnie knows how he plays and is more than capable of taking him on again. He’d have been relieved to avoid the likes of Graeme Dott, who has a very good record against him in recent times.
Two matches stand out for me: Stephen Hendry v Zhang Anda and Mark Selby v Ken Doherty.
Like O’Sullivan v Liang, they both take place in what will from now on be known as ‘the quarter of death’.
Hendry will know hardly anything about his 18 year-old opponent and the unknown quantity could cause him problems. Zhang is the only player in the tournament who won’t fully comprehend how special the Crucible is.
However, few debutants ever do well and Hendry has played some good stuff in Sheffield for the last two years.
Neither Selby or Doherty would have wanted to draw each other. Doherty won their last meeting at this season’s Grand Prix and is back playing to a high standard.
Selby knows that if is to be world champion this year he will have to do it the hard way: Doherty then possibly Hendry and O’Sullivan just to get into the semi-finals.
John Higgins, the defending champion, is not a certainty to beat Barry Hawkins, one of those players well capable of causing an upset even though he’s yet to win a match at the Crucible.
Even so, Higgins fans will already be plotting his course through to the quarter-finals, where Neil Robertson looks his likely opponent.
All in all it’s an interesting draw that will take a bit more careful study before I for one make any clear predictions about who is going to win the thing.
He’s never lost to Liang, has beaten him at the Crucible before and beat him in a final this season.
That’s not to say it’s an easy draw but at least Ronnie knows how he plays and is more than capable of taking him on again. He’d have been relieved to avoid the likes of Graeme Dott, who has a very good record against him in recent times.
Two matches stand out for me: Stephen Hendry v Zhang Anda and Mark Selby v Ken Doherty.
Like O’Sullivan v Liang, they both take place in what will from now on be known as ‘the quarter of death’.
Hendry will know hardly anything about his 18 year-old opponent and the unknown quantity could cause him problems. Zhang is the only player in the tournament who won’t fully comprehend how special the Crucible is.
However, few debutants ever do well and Hendry has played some good stuff in Sheffield for the last two years.
Neither Selby or Doherty would have wanted to draw each other. Doherty won their last meeting at this season’s Grand Prix and is back playing to a high standard.
Selby knows that if is to be world champion this year he will have to do it the hard way: Doherty then possibly Hendry and O’Sullivan just to get into the semi-finals.
John Higgins, the defending champion, is not a certainty to beat Barry Hawkins, one of those players well capable of causing an upset even though he’s yet to win a match at the Crucible.
Even so, Higgins fans will already be plotting his course through to the quarter-finals, where Neil Robertson looks his likely opponent.
All in all it’s an interesting draw that will take a bit more careful study before I for one make any clear predictions about who is going to win the thing.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST ROUND DRAW: LIVE
Here is the draw for the first round of the Betfred.com World Championship
John Higgins v Barry Hawkins
Mark King v Steve Davis
Neil Robertson v Fergal O'Brien
Marco Fu v Martin Gould
Ali Carter v Jamie Cope
Joe Perry v Michael Holt
Ding Junhui v Stuart Pettman
Shaun Murphy v Gerard Greene
Stephen Maguire v Stephen Lee
Peter Ebdon v Graeme Dott
Mark Allen v Tom Ford
Ryan Day v Mark Davis
Mark Selby v Ken Doherty
Stephen Hendry v Zhang Anda
Mark Williams v Marcus Campbell
Ronnie O'Sullivan v Liang Wenbo
John Higgins v Barry Hawkins
Mark King v Steve Davis
Neil Robertson v Fergal O'Brien
Marco Fu v Martin Gould
Ali Carter v Jamie Cope
Joe Perry v Michael Holt
Ding Junhui v Stuart Pettman
Shaun Murphy v Gerard Greene
Stephen Maguire v Stephen Lee
Peter Ebdon v Graeme Dott
Mark Allen v Tom Ford
Ryan Day v Mark Davis
Mark Selby v Ken Doherty
Stephen Hendry v Zhang Anda
Mark Williams v Marcus Campbell
Ronnie O'Sullivan v Liang Wenbo
10.3.10
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW: FOLLOW IT HERE
OK, so here is the *plan...
I will be at the draw for the first round of the Betfred.com World Championship tomorrow.
I intend to update it on this blog as it is drawn, so start pressing refresh from 10.30am UK time.
Otherwise, you can watch it in any UK betting shop but it won't be on the TV, radio or internet.
*Surely nothing can go wrong.
I will be at the draw for the first round of the Betfred.com World Championship tomorrow.
I intend to update it on this blog as it is drawn, so start pressing refresh from 10.30am UK time.
Otherwise, you can watch it in any UK betting shop but it won't be on the TV, radio or internet.
*Surely nothing can go wrong.
9.3.10
ALAN CHAMBERLAIN RESIGNS
Alan Chamberlain, the circuit's longest serving referee, has resigned with immediate effect.
Chamberlain, 67, has officiated on the professional circuit since 1983 but decided to hang up his white gloves on Monday a day before the end of the world qualifiers.
I understand he was exhausted by the long hours the refs were required to work for little financial reward.
Alan refereed the 1997 World Championship final, was a long time official at the Masters and took charge of many other big occasions.
Like many referees, there were moments of controversy too but he was regarded as a very safe pair of hands and his sudden resignation has shocked his fellow officials.
He will continue to referee at the Championship League.
Chamberlain, 67, has officiated on the professional circuit since 1983 but decided to hang up his white gloves on Monday a day before the end of the world qualifiers.
I understand he was exhausted by the long hours the refs were required to work for little financial reward.
Alan refereed the 1997 World Championship final, was a long time official at the Masters and took charge of many other big occasions.
Like many referees, there were moments of controversy too but he was regarded as a very safe pair of hands and his sudden resignation has shocked his fellow officials.
He will continue to referee at the Championship League.
ZHANG'S GOLDEN FINISH
Zhang Anda, nicknamed the ‘Mighty Mouse’, produced a sensational finish to beat Ricky Walden 10-8 and qualify for the final stages of the Betfred.com World Championship in Sheffield tonight.
The diminutive Zhang, just 18, ended the contest with successive breaks of 134 and 103 to cause a huge upset.
Last week, he was driven past the Crucible Theatre and had no idea what the building was. He’ll find out when the 17-day snooker marathon gets underway on April 17.
“I didn’t feel nervous at all. I was just concentrating so hard on the match,” said Zhang, who practises at the Grove in Romford, also the base for Ronnie O’Sullivan.
“I have practised with Ronnie and even watching him play can help you,” he said.
Zhang was heading for main tour relegation having started the qualifiers 79th in the provisional rankings. He may still fall off the circuit but has provided proof of his potential with victories over Craig Steadman, John Parrott, Andrew Higginson and now Walden, whose hopes of joining the elite top 16 were dashed by the defeat.
But Walden, who broke down on a break of 32 in the 18th frame, sportingly led the applause after Zhang’s grandstand finish.
The Chinese finds himself in the hat for Thursday’s draw alongside some of snooker’s all time greats, including Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, O’Sullivan and defending champion John Higgins as well as compatriots Ding Junhui and Liang Wenbo.
The diminutive Zhang, just 18, ended the contest with successive breaks of 134 and 103 to cause a huge upset.
Last week, he was driven past the Crucible Theatre and had no idea what the building was. He’ll find out when the 17-day snooker marathon gets underway on April 17.
“I didn’t feel nervous at all. I was just concentrating so hard on the match,” said Zhang, who practises at the Grove in Romford, also the base for Ronnie O’Sullivan.
“I have practised with Ronnie and even watching him play can help you,” he said.
Zhang was heading for main tour relegation having started the qualifiers 79th in the provisional rankings. He may still fall off the circuit but has provided proof of his potential with victories over Craig Steadman, John Parrott, Andrew Higginson and now Walden, whose hopes of joining the elite top 16 were dashed by the defeat.
But Walden, who broke down on a break of 32 in the 18th frame, sportingly led the applause after Zhang’s grandstand finish.
The Chinese finds himself in the hat for Thursday’s draw alongside some of snooker’s all time greats, including Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, O’Sullivan and defending champion John Higgins as well as compatriots Ding Junhui and Liang Wenbo.
SHODDY TABLE CAUSES HOLD-UP
Graeme Dott and Jimmy Michie have had to switch tables as the one they began their match on is currently unplayable.
Balls were rolling off and table fitters have so far spent over half an hour trying to rectify the problem, without success.
Michie was leading 3-1 at the interval but will now resume on the table used by Stuart Pettman and Stuart Bingham, who have finished their session.
The players were given the option of continuing the match in the World Snooker Academy but gave the idea short shrift.
The original table hasn’t been used since the previous round last week.
A WPBSA spokesman said: “After complaints from players the table was deemed unplayable and the decision was taken to continue on the first available table. A decision will then be taken to see whether the match can resume on the original table for the second session.”
If the table is still not up to scratch the players will have to hang around waiting for a table to become available later on tonight.
This is the last thing they needed for what many players regard as the most important match of the whole season.
UPDATE: Dott, who leads 6-3 after the first session, has said the table is "as bad as one can be."
The match will not resume until 6pm at the earliest and might possibly go on a third table.
Balls were rolling off and table fitters have so far spent over half an hour trying to rectify the problem, without success.
Michie was leading 3-1 at the interval but will now resume on the table used by Stuart Pettman and Stuart Bingham, who have finished their session.
The players were given the option of continuing the match in the World Snooker Academy but gave the idea short shrift.
The original table hasn’t been used since the previous round last week.
A WPBSA spokesman said: “After complaints from players the table was deemed unplayable and the decision was taken to continue on the first available table. A decision will then be taken to see whether the match can resume on the original table for the second session.”
If the table is still not up to scratch the players will have to hang around waiting for a table to become available later on tonight.
This is the last thing they needed for what many players regard as the most important match of the whole season.
UPDATE: Dott, who leads 6-3 after the first session, has said the table is "as bad as one can be."
The match will not resume until 6pm at the earliest and might possibly go on a third table.
8.3.10
IRISH EYES SMILING AGAIN
What a difference a year makes for Ken Doherty.
12 months ago he was close to tears after he lost to Gerard Greene in the final qualifying round of the Betfred.com World Championship and was even contemplating retirement.
It says a lot about his character that instead of feeling sorry for himself he dusted himself down, put in the hard work and is now very likely to be back in the top 32 next season.
His 10-1 defeat of Joe Swail tonight underlined how he has turned things around.
"I’m just delighted to qualify. I’ve had to drag myself back up and it’s great to be at the Crucible again,” Doherty said.
“I was almost in tears last year when I failed to qualify. I didn’t know where my game was going and whether or not it was the end for me but everything has turned around this season."
Credit must also go to Tom Ford, who has qualified for the Crucible for the first time after a top drawer display against Judd Trump, who he beat 10-3.
Ford said he had been motivated to cut down his drinking and apply himself more after watching his fellow Leicester man Mark Selby's rise to the top.
"I see Mark on the TV all the time and it winds me up," he said. "That's nothing against Mark, who texted me to say good luck today, but it makes me realise I should be doing the same thing as well.
"Mark's very, very dedicated and doesn't drink that much. I took the wrong path when I was 18 and started going out too much while he concentrated on playing.
"You have to knuckle down but it's not easy to practise with a hangover. You can party in the summer when there are no tournaments."
David Morris won't be making his Crucible debut this year after losing 10-6 to Michael Holt, who won a big 15th frame on the black.
Barry Hawkins and Martin Gould are also heading back to the game's best known venue after respective wins over Ian McCulloch and Nigel Bond.
12 months ago he was close to tears after he lost to Gerard Greene in the final qualifying round of the Betfred.com World Championship and was even contemplating retirement.
It says a lot about his character that instead of feeling sorry for himself he dusted himself down, put in the hard work and is now very likely to be back in the top 32 next season.
His 10-1 defeat of Joe Swail tonight underlined how he has turned things around.
"I’m just delighted to qualify. I’ve had to drag myself back up and it’s great to be at the Crucible again,” Doherty said.
“I was almost in tears last year when I failed to qualify. I didn’t know where my game was going and whether or not it was the end for me but everything has turned around this season."
Credit must also go to Tom Ford, who has qualified for the Crucible for the first time after a top drawer display against Judd Trump, who he beat 10-3.
Ford said he had been motivated to cut down his drinking and apply himself more after watching his fellow Leicester man Mark Selby's rise to the top.
"I see Mark on the TV all the time and it winds me up," he said. "That's nothing against Mark, who texted me to say good luck today, but it makes me realise I should be doing the same thing as well.
"Mark's very, very dedicated and doesn't drink that much. I took the wrong path when I was 18 and started going out too much while he concentrated on playing.
"You have to knuckle down but it's not easy to practise with a hangover. You can party in the summer when there are no tournaments."
David Morris won't be making his Crucible debut this year after losing 10-6 to Michael Holt, who won a big 15th frame on the black.
Barry Hawkins and Martin Gould are also heading back to the game's best known venue after respective wins over Ian McCulloch and Nigel Bond.
7.3.10
DAVIS RETURNS TO THE CRUCIBLE
Steve Davis will make his 30th appearance at the Crucible Theatre next month after producing a highly determined performance to beat Adrian Gunnell 10-4 in the final qualifying round of the Betfred.com World Championship in Sheffield tonight.
The 52 year-old, who won the last of his six world titles in 1989, cued very nicely and retained a positive frame of mind to enhance his chances of remaining in the top 32 for another season.
And Davis admitted he is thinking of history as he prepares to play at the Crucible in a fifth decade.
He believes by defying the years he may set a record that even his great friend and rival Stephen Hendry will find hard to beat.
“There was a time in the 1980s when I thought I was unbeatable, a bit like Phil Taylor probably feels now in darts,” Davis said.
“I thought, nobody will ever come along and beat my standard. And then I quickly had that thought rammed down my throat by a young man from Scotland and plenty of others after that.
“From then on, you look at your career differently. It’s not been a case of clinging on but it has been tough against good opposition.
“So to still be doing it – wow. I’m chuffed that I can still compete at any level because in a way you’re not supposed to. To be at the Crucible in your 50s is hard to do.
“I was trying to think of my objective after I stayed in the top 16 at the age of 50. My long term ambition now is that Stephen Hendry doesn’t beat my record of playing at the Crucible. To beat me, he’ll have to play there at 53.
“He’s won more tournaments than anyone else and is the best player who ever lived but I’ve still got one record that he’ll find it hard to beat and I’ve just put another year on it.”
The 52 year-old, who won the last of his six world titles in 1989, cued very nicely and retained a positive frame of mind to enhance his chances of remaining in the top 32 for another season.
And Davis admitted he is thinking of history as he prepares to play at the Crucible in a fifth decade.
He believes by defying the years he may set a record that even his great friend and rival Stephen Hendry will find hard to beat.
“There was a time in the 1980s when I thought I was unbeatable, a bit like Phil Taylor probably feels now in darts,” Davis said.
“I thought, nobody will ever come along and beat my standard. And then I quickly had that thought rammed down my throat by a young man from Scotland and plenty of others after that.
“From then on, you look at your career differently. It’s not been a case of clinging on but it has been tough against good opposition.
“So to still be doing it – wow. I’m chuffed that I can still compete at any level because in a way you’re not supposed to. To be at the Crucible in your 50s is hard to do.
“I was trying to think of my objective after I stayed in the top 16 at the age of 50. My long term ambition now is that Stephen Hendry doesn’t beat my record of playing at the Crucible. To beat me, he’ll have to play there at 53.
“He’s won more tournaments than anyone else and is the best player who ever lived but I’ve still got one record that he’ll find it hard to beat and I’ve just put another year on it.”
SO FAR SO GOOD FOR DAVIS
If Steve Davis beats Adrian Gunnell today he will make his 30th appearance at the Crucible and will appear there in a fifth different decade.
The good news for Davis fans is that the six-times world champion is 6-3 up although his 6-1 lead was trimmed by Gunnell making two successive centuries.
The first of those could have been a 147 but he missed the penultimate red with the rest on 104.
Davis looks very determined. He may have generally taken his foot off the gas but this is the one match of the year he really wants to win.
The 52 year-old has certainly brought in plenty of support. There's a huge crowd in watching, most of whom are watching him.
He needs four more frames from 4pm.
The good news for Davis fans is that the six-times world champion is 6-3 up although his 6-1 lead was trimmed by Gunnell making two successive centuries.
The first of those could have been a 147 but he missed the penultimate red with the rest on 104.
Davis looks very determined. He may have generally taken his foot off the gas but this is the one match of the year he really wants to win.
The 52 year-old has certainly brought in plenty of support. There's a huge crowd in watching, most of whom are watching him.
He needs four more frames from 4pm.
6.3.10
THE THREE DAY TWITCH
There are five players appearing in the final qualifying round of the Betfred.com World Championship who have never played at the Crucible.
They are Adrian Gunnell, Tom Ford, David Morris, Anda Zhang and Mark Joyce.
Two others, Jimmy Michie and Rod Lawler, have not played there since 1996 and either would set a new record for the longest amount of time between first and second appearances were they to qualify.
Three former champions – Steve Davis, Ken Doherty and Graeme Dott – will be action as will twice runner-up Matthew Stevens.
The next three days is where it gets really serious. The difference between winning and losing is the difference between taking part in the greatest snooker show on earth or having to watch it on TV at home.
It will also be vital to the various machinations of the provisional ranking list.
I’ll be blogging from the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, posting updates throughout the three days.
I will also be posting updates on Twitter.
It promises to be a nerve-wracking three days.
They are Adrian Gunnell, Tom Ford, David Morris, Anda Zhang and Mark Joyce.
Two others, Jimmy Michie and Rod Lawler, have not played there since 1996 and either would set a new record for the longest amount of time between first and second appearances were they to qualify.
Three former champions – Steve Davis, Ken Doherty and Graeme Dott – will be action as will twice runner-up Matthew Stevens.
The next three days is where it gets really serious. The difference between winning and losing is the difference between taking part in the greatest snooker show on earth or having to watch it on TV at home.
It will also be vital to the various machinations of the provisional ranking list.
I’ll be blogging from the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, posting updates throughout the three days.
I will also be posting updates on Twitter.
It promises to be a nerve-wracking three days.
4.3.10
WHITE'S WAKE UP CALL
Jimmy White's reward for beating Mark Boyle 10-8 in the Betfred.com World Championship qualifiers last night to salvage his professional status is another 10am start today.
This is both unfair and unnecessary. His match finished at around midnight. I'd imagine with all the adrenalin coursing through him White did not get straight off to sleep.
There are six tables at the EISS so his match with Ken Doherty could easily have been played this afternoon to conclude tomorrow afternoon.
Jimmy is not, I think he would agree, a morning person. That said, he's always been the sort to just get on with it and as this is the World Championship I'm sure he'll do exactly that.
Now White's main tour place has been safeguarded the pressure transfers in part to Doherty, who will need to win to stand a chance of returning to the top 32 next season.
White's victory relegated John Parrott - who beat him in the 1991 world final - from the professional circuit after 27 years.
All good things must come to an end but I'm sure he would rather it had ended at the Crucible than down the road in the qualifying dogfight.
Pulling on the waistcoat week after week, month after month, year after year becomes more than a habit. It's a way of life. That's why people who say, 'well, he's had a good innings' should understand how difficult it is for players of longstanding to just stop playing.
Parrott is very unlikely to carry on as an amateur but is involved in the forthcoming snookerlegends exhibition tour and will, of course, be on the BBC sofa for the 17 day drama that is now - get this! - just six weeks away.
This is both unfair and unnecessary. His match finished at around midnight. I'd imagine with all the adrenalin coursing through him White did not get straight off to sleep.
There are six tables at the EISS so his match with Ken Doherty could easily have been played this afternoon to conclude tomorrow afternoon.
Jimmy is not, I think he would agree, a morning person. That said, he's always been the sort to just get on with it and as this is the World Championship I'm sure he'll do exactly that.
Now White's main tour place has been safeguarded the pressure transfers in part to Doherty, who will need to win to stand a chance of returning to the top 32 next season.
White's victory relegated John Parrott - who beat him in the 1991 world final - from the professional circuit after 27 years.
All good things must come to an end but I'm sure he would rather it had ended at the Crucible than down the road in the qualifying dogfight.
Pulling on the waistcoat week after week, month after month, year after year becomes more than a habit. It's a way of life. That's why people who say, 'well, he's had a good innings' should understand how difficult it is for players of longstanding to just stop playing.
Parrott is very unlikely to carry on as an amateur but is involved in the forthcoming snookerlegends exhibition tour and will, of course, be on the BBC sofa for the 17 day drama that is now - get this! - just six weeks away.
3.3.10
IS THIS AN EX-PARROTT?
John Parrott's 10-6 defeat to Anda Zhang in the Betfred.com World Championship qualifiers this afternoon seems likely to herald the end of his professional career.
Parrott won the title at the Crucible in 1991 - a few months before his Chinese opponent was born.
But he will now struggle to remain in the top 64 and thus keep his place on the pro circuit after 27 years.
By my reckoning, if Jimmy White wins his match tonight then Parrott will be pushed down to 65th on the list.
This would be a considerable irony as it was White who the Liverpudlian beat 18-11 to win the title 19 years ago.
JP has long since become better known for his media work, in particular as a pundit alongside Steve Davis on the BBC's snooker coverage.
He hasn't been a title contender in over a decade but I'd imagine he'll still be sad if this is to be the end.
Parrott won the title at the Crucible in 1991 - a few months before his Chinese opponent was born.
But he will now struggle to remain in the top 64 and thus keep his place on the pro circuit after 27 years.
By my reckoning, if Jimmy White wins his match tonight then Parrott will be pushed down to 65th on the list.
This would be a considerable irony as it was White who the Liverpudlian beat 18-11 to win the title 19 years ago.
JP has long since become better known for his media work, in particular as a pundit alongside Steve Davis on the BBC's snooker coverage.
He hasn't been a title contender in over a decade but I'd imagine he'll still be sad if this is to be the end.
SNOOKER ON THE BBC: AN UNCLEAR FUTURE
Professional snooker owes its rise to the TV big time to the BBC above anything else.
It was the BBC who showed black and white matches, usually featuring Joe Davis, as fillers between racing and other sports on Saturday afternoons in the 1950s.
It was the BBC that brought the viewing public Pot Black in colour, which made household names of the players of the 1970s.
And it was the BBC who took the decision to televise the 1978 World Championship at the Crucible from first ball to last, which led to the explosion of interest in the 1980s and the creation of the professional circuit as we know it today.
But what is the future for the sport on a BBC that now finds itself in a crowded broadcasting marketplace having to defend its use of the licence fee?
This week, it's director general, Mark Thompson, pledged to cut services to plough more money into programme making but also to cap the BBC's spend on sports rights to 9% of the licence fee.
Today's Daily Mirror newspaper claims Thompson "wants snooker and darts off BBC2."
They do not quote him directly but the BBC's Strategy Review document proposes to 'reduce the volume of sport on BBC2.' As snooker is currently broadcast for many hours on this channel there must be fears that it is one of the sports that will be shifted elsewhere - or even scrapped altogether.
This would seriously threaten snooker's future as a top level TV sport.
Of its sports rights strategy, the BBC document states: "[we will] Continue to provide a home for major sporting events, free-to-air, as well as a broad range of other sport. The strategy for sports rights will, however, prioritise the list of the most important events for free-to-air coverage followed by sports with particular public service potential (such as Olympic sports and the Commonwealth Games) and others that deliver significant value to licence fee payers, recognising that the BBC needs to set a clear limit on how much it can invest."
Snooker is, of course, not an Olympic or Commonwealth sport.
The current BBC contract runs out at the end of next season. Barry Hearn, the WPBSA chairman, has been to see the corporation but no new contract has yet been announced.
It would be a surprise to everyone if it wasn't agreed but snooker has few options if the worst did happen.
Sky has shown little interest in snooker in recent years. ITV hasn't screened a tournament for the best part of a decade.
I would expect the BBC to sign another contract but for a reduced fee and possibly for three rather than four tournaments.
Make no mistake, though: if they decide their love affair with the green baize game can no longer be justified in the current economic climate, or that it simply doesn't fit in with their view of what the BBC should be, snooker is going to find itself in very serious trouble.
It was the BBC who showed black and white matches, usually featuring Joe Davis, as fillers between racing and other sports on Saturday afternoons in the 1950s.
It was the BBC that brought the viewing public Pot Black in colour, which made household names of the players of the 1970s.
And it was the BBC who took the decision to televise the 1978 World Championship at the Crucible from first ball to last, which led to the explosion of interest in the 1980s and the creation of the professional circuit as we know it today.
But what is the future for the sport on a BBC that now finds itself in a crowded broadcasting marketplace having to defend its use of the licence fee?
This week, it's director general, Mark Thompson, pledged to cut services to plough more money into programme making but also to cap the BBC's spend on sports rights to 9% of the licence fee.
Today's Daily Mirror newspaper claims Thompson "wants snooker and darts off BBC2."
They do not quote him directly but the BBC's Strategy Review document proposes to 'reduce the volume of sport on BBC2.' As snooker is currently broadcast for many hours on this channel there must be fears that it is one of the sports that will be shifted elsewhere - or even scrapped altogether.
This would seriously threaten snooker's future as a top level TV sport.
Of its sports rights strategy, the BBC document states: "[we will] Continue to provide a home for major sporting events, free-to-air, as well as a broad range of other sport. The strategy for sports rights will, however, prioritise the list of the most important events for free-to-air coverage followed by sports with particular public service potential (such as Olympic sports and the Commonwealth Games) and others that deliver significant value to licence fee payers, recognising that the BBC needs to set a clear limit on how much it can invest."
Snooker is, of course, not an Olympic or Commonwealth sport.
The current BBC contract runs out at the end of next season. Barry Hearn, the WPBSA chairman, has been to see the corporation but no new contract has yet been announced.
It would be a surprise to everyone if it wasn't agreed but snooker has few options if the worst did happen.
Sky has shown little interest in snooker in recent years. ITV hasn't screened a tournament for the best part of a decade.
I would expect the BBC to sign another contract but for a reduced fee and possibly for three rather than four tournaments.
Make no mistake, though: if they decide their love affair with the green baize game can no longer be justified in the current economic climate, or that it simply doesn't fit in with their view of what the BBC should be, snooker is going to find itself in very serious trouble.
2.3.10
PRO CHALLENGE SERIES AXED
The WPBSA has axed the Pro Challenge Series after only four of the seven scheduled events were staged.
They say this is because of “low entry levels for the first four events.”
Event four in January was cancelled and events six and seven will now not take place.
The Pro Challenge Series was conceived as a way of providing additional playing opportunities, particularly for lower ranked players.
This is to be applauded (and it was by me when it was announced) but I also pointed out that not linking it to the existing ranking structure would discourage participation.
And so it proved. The most recent event attracted only 39 entries from the 96-man main tour and four of them failed to turn up.
Also, a number of lower ranked players have jobs and can’t always take time off to play, however none of the Pro Challenge tournaments were held over weekends where it would have been easier for them.
Mixing six reds into the equation never made any sense either.
According to WPBSA chairman Barry Hearn, next season there is likely to be ten Pro Tour tournaments staged over weekends.
It will have its own order of merit and the top 16 or 32 players at the end of the tenth event will take part in a televised Players Championship, as happens in PDC darts.
This should be a more attractive proposal to players, and not just those in the lower reaches of the rankings.
They say this is because of “low entry levels for the first four events.”
Event four in January was cancelled and events six and seven will now not take place.
The Pro Challenge Series was conceived as a way of providing additional playing opportunities, particularly for lower ranked players.
This is to be applauded (and it was by me when it was announced) but I also pointed out that not linking it to the existing ranking structure would discourage participation.
And so it proved. The most recent event attracted only 39 entries from the 96-man main tour and four of them failed to turn up.
Also, a number of lower ranked players have jobs and can’t always take time off to play, however none of the Pro Challenge tournaments were held over weekends where it would have been easier for them.
Mixing six reds into the equation never made any sense either.
According to WPBSA chairman Barry Hearn, next season there is likely to be ten Pro Tour tournaments staged over weekends.
It will have its own order of merit and the top 16 or 32 players at the end of the tenth event will take part in a televised Players Championship, as happens in PDC darts.
This should be a more attractive proposal to players, and not just those in the lower reaches of the rankings.
1.3.10
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW DATE
The draw for the last 32 of the Betfred.com World Championship will be made at 11am on Thursday, March 11.
It will be broadcast in all Betfred betting shops. Hopefully, it will also be online.
It will be broadcast in all Betfred betting shops. Hopefully, it will also be online.
JIMMY WHITE'S BIG WEEK
All through the 1990s the perennial question asked every year before the World Championship was ‘can Jimmy White win it?’
For the last couple it has been ‘can he qualify?’
This year it’s ‘can he stay on the tour?’
That’s the stark scenario facing the popular Londoner, who reached six Crucible finals between 1984 and 1994.
White goes into the Betfred.com qualifiers this week placed a precarious 60th in the provisional rankings.
He may well have to win his first match to remain in the top 64. If he slips out he will be relegated from the professional circuit after 30 years.
The WPBSA do have at least one wildcard at their discretion. I would find it incredible if this didn’t go to White so that he could continue his career but he could not rely on it indefinitely.
And with the qualifying structure likely to change he might not be able to.
If White gets through a round he ought to be safe. If he loses, his fate with rest in the hands of the players below him on the list.
Either way, it’s a parlous state of affairs for a former world no.2 who, despite the vagaries of form, has never lost his love for the game.
Jimmy’s had some disappointing setbacks this season, losing 5-4 on a re-spotted black from 4-0 up to Ian McCulloch in the Welsh Open qualifiers and then 5-4 to Xiao Guodong in the China Open.
But it was his withdrawal from the UK Championship qualifiers to go on I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here which has proved most costly.
Nobody goes on forever but White’s vast army of supporters will hope their man can go on a little longer.
Regardless of his current fortunes, he’ll still attract plenty of support both at the qualifiers and from those glued to live scoring.
For the last couple it has been ‘can he qualify?’
This year it’s ‘can he stay on the tour?’
That’s the stark scenario facing the popular Londoner, who reached six Crucible finals between 1984 and 1994.
White goes into the Betfred.com qualifiers this week placed a precarious 60th in the provisional rankings.
He may well have to win his first match to remain in the top 64. If he slips out he will be relegated from the professional circuit after 30 years.
The WPBSA do have at least one wildcard at their discretion. I would find it incredible if this didn’t go to White so that he could continue his career but he could not rely on it indefinitely.
And with the qualifying structure likely to change he might not be able to.
If White gets through a round he ought to be safe. If he loses, his fate with rest in the hands of the players below him on the list.
Either way, it’s a parlous state of affairs for a former world no.2 who, despite the vagaries of form, has never lost his love for the game.
Jimmy’s had some disappointing setbacks this season, losing 5-4 on a re-spotted black from 4-0 up to Ian McCulloch in the Welsh Open qualifiers and then 5-4 to Xiao Guodong in the China Open.
But it was his withdrawal from the UK Championship qualifiers to go on I’m a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here which has proved most costly.
Nobody goes on forever but White’s vast army of supporters will hope their man can go on a little longer.
Regardless of his current fortunes, he’ll still attract plenty of support both at the qualifiers and from those glued to live scoring.
27.2.10
NO LONGER BLUE PETER
110sport.tv produce a monthly online magazine called On-Q, which this month includes a particularly personal interview with Peter Ebdon, who has moved to Hungary following the break-up of his marriage.
You can read it here.
You can read it here.
26.2.10
HOPE FOR SCOTLAND
There is some light at the end of the tunnel for those Scottish players hoping to join the main tour next season.
You may recall the WPBSA withdrew the concessionary place following endless turmoil north of the border which has resulted in two different factions calling themselves the governing body.
But now the Snooker Players Association, a new body designed as a union for players - which had been the original function of the WPBSA - will decide on a process by which to award the place to a Scottish player.
Pat Mooney of the SPA and a WPBSA board member said: "I will be meeting with John Higgins and Alan McManus to discuss the formation of an overseer group and will be hoping to involve all those stakeholders in the game to ensure a clear understanding of the required process.
"The SPA has one single objective and that is to produce a worthy candidate to join the privileged ranks of the main tour. There will be no account taken for politics or current challenges with Scottish Snooker and the place will be awarded on merit.
"We anticipate the support of all potential candidates, the EBSA, Scottish Snooker Ltd, Sport Scotland and of course the WPBSA."
Scotland is a country that has produced four world champions and a host of other quality players.
Let's hope for the sake of Scottish amateurs and the future of the sport in Scotland that this new initiative is successful.
You may recall the WPBSA withdrew the concessionary place following endless turmoil north of the border which has resulted in two different factions calling themselves the governing body.
But now the Snooker Players Association, a new body designed as a union for players - which had been the original function of the WPBSA - will decide on a process by which to award the place to a Scottish player.
Pat Mooney of the SPA and a WPBSA board member said: "I will be meeting with John Higgins and Alan McManus to discuss the formation of an overseer group and will be hoping to involve all those stakeholders in the game to ensure a clear understanding of the required process.
"The SPA has one single objective and that is to produce a worthy candidate to join the privileged ranks of the main tour. There will be no account taken for politics or current challenges with Scottish Snooker and the place will be awarded on merit.
"We anticipate the support of all potential candidates, the EBSA, Scottish Snooker Ltd, Sport Scotland and of course the WPBSA."
Scotland is a country that has produced four world champions and a host of other quality players.
Let's hope for the sake of Scottish amateurs and the future of the sport in Scotland that this new initiative is successful.
25.2.10
IT'S ALL THERE IN COLOUR
Here's what Steve Davis told the Kerryman newspaper this week about his infamous black ball defeat to Dennis Taylor in the 1985 World Championship final:
"It's only now you can look back on it and realise you were a part of sporting history. I would rank it above the six world titles I won."
Such sentiment seemed unlikely in the immediate aftermath of the final when he struggled to speak at all when faced with David Vine and his microphone.
John Virgo tells a story about putting his head round Steve's dressing room door to commiserate and finding him in floods of tears.
Time is a great healer and Davis can be content enough with his career to accept that this was one that got away, but that it's fondly remembered not just among snooker people but further afield.
There were 18.5m viewers still watching at midnight after all.
There will be much spoken about the 1985 final at this year's World Championship as it's the 25th anniversary.
In truth, though, it has come to be something of a millstone around the sport's neck because it gives feature writers the chance to trot out the tired old line that 'snooker never gets 18m any more.' As if any other sport does outside of really, really big occasions like an England match in the World Cup.
I'm surprised Steve ranks that final above his six Crucible victories, although he may mean it in terms of moments rather than triumphs.
I certainly hope it's not what he's remembered for because he was a great player - the best ever until Stephen Hendry came along - and should be celebrated for his achievements, which were many and glorious.
You can read the Kerryman's report of his exhibition with Taylor here.
"It's only now you can look back on it and realise you were a part of sporting history. I would rank it above the six world titles I won."
Such sentiment seemed unlikely in the immediate aftermath of the final when he struggled to speak at all when faced with David Vine and his microphone.
John Virgo tells a story about putting his head round Steve's dressing room door to commiserate and finding him in floods of tears.
Time is a great healer and Davis can be content enough with his career to accept that this was one that got away, but that it's fondly remembered not just among snooker people but further afield.
There were 18.5m viewers still watching at midnight after all.
There will be much spoken about the 1985 final at this year's World Championship as it's the 25th anniversary.
In truth, though, it has come to be something of a millstone around the sport's neck because it gives feature writers the chance to trot out the tired old line that 'snooker never gets 18m any more.' As if any other sport does outside of really, really big occasions like an England match in the World Cup.
I'm surprised Steve ranks that final above his six Crucible victories, although he may mean it in terms of moments rather than triumphs.
I certainly hope it's not what he's remembered for because he was a great player - the best ever until Stephen Hendry came along - and should be celebrated for his achievements, which were many and glorious.
You can read the Kerryman's report of his exhibition with Taylor here.
24.2.10
SPEAKING OF DAVID TAYLOR...
How about this for controversy?
What's interesting is that the referee replaces the cue ball in the 'D' even though it has not left the bed of the table - the crux of the discussion last year when Graeme Dott used his fist to stop the white going in a pocket and Mark Selby was then penalised for picking it up.
What's interesting is that the referee replaces the cue ball in the 'D' even though it has not left the bed of the table - the crux of the discussion last year when Graeme Dott used his fist to stop the white going in a pocket and Mark Selby was then penalised for picking it up.
22.2.10
THE RACE FOR THE CRUCIBLE
This Friday sees the start of the qualifiers for the Betfred.com World Championship.
Yes, it really has come round that quickly.
There are in effect two World Championships: the one everyone watches on TV or at the Crucible and the dogfight to get there. The latter can often be more interesting and more exciting.
To not be at the Crucible as part of the 32-man field for the televised phase is to end the season in disappointment. I’ve known players literally leave the country so as to avoid the 17-day marathon, although with increased global TV coverage this gets harder every year.
The Crucible, which has just been refurbished, holds an iconic place in the hearts of snooker players everywhere. To experience its unique atmosphere is a goal in itself. To win the title there is a lifetime’s ambition come true.
The first day of qualifying, staged at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, sees a few ghosts of Crucibles past return for the pre-main tour round.
These are professionals who remain WPBSA members, among them David Taylor, the ‘Silver Fox’ who was one of snooker’s best known faces in the 1980s.
Taylor, now 66, last played in the World Championship 13 years ago. He last played at the Crucible 23 years ago. He was a semi-finalist there 30 years ago.
Why enter this year? Well snooker is, as with all players, in his blood. He won’t qualify but his participation will please nostalgics.
Taylor faces Bournemouth’s Paul Wykes in the first round.
Les Dodd competed at the Crucible three times, the last of which was in 1994. A former slimmer of the year, Dodd is not quite as svelte as he once was but is back for another go and plays Philip Minchin on Friday.
Barry West was so set on becoming a professional snooker player that he didn’t bother to go and pick up his O Level results.
He played twice at the Crucible, in 1987 and 1988, losing first to Ray Reardon (the six times champion’s last ever victory in Sheffield) and then to Doug Mountjoy. West meets Christopher Flight this week.
Four non-main tour players will face off against James Wattana, Jordan Brown, Michael White and Brendan O’Donoghue until we get down to the last 96 proper.
The final qualifying round takes place from March 7-9.
If you’ve never been to watch, I heartily recommend it. I’m not saying there’s tension in the air but there’s more twitching than you’d find in Bill Oddie’s holiday snaps.
There are six tables and you can watch at least three at once from the back of the badminton hall.
And there are many star names in action, including former champions John Parrott, Ken Doherty, Steve Davis and Graeme Dott as well as six times runner-up Jimmy White, twice finalist Matthew Stevens and younger faces pushing for top 16 inclusion, notably Judd Trump, Liang Wenbo and Ricky Walden.
This isn’t the World Championship you will see at the Crucible and by the time April 17 comes along the qualifiers will be all but forgotten.
But if you like your snooker tense, dramatic and – for some – heartbreaking then the qualifying atmosphere is one to be sampled.
Details of how to buy tickets can be found here.
Yes, it really has come round that quickly.
There are in effect two World Championships: the one everyone watches on TV or at the Crucible and the dogfight to get there. The latter can often be more interesting and more exciting.
To not be at the Crucible as part of the 32-man field for the televised phase is to end the season in disappointment. I’ve known players literally leave the country so as to avoid the 17-day marathon, although with increased global TV coverage this gets harder every year.
The Crucible, which has just been refurbished, holds an iconic place in the hearts of snooker players everywhere. To experience its unique atmosphere is a goal in itself. To win the title there is a lifetime’s ambition come true.
The first day of qualifying, staged at the English Institute of Sport in Sheffield, sees a few ghosts of Crucibles past return for the pre-main tour round.
These are professionals who remain WPBSA members, among them David Taylor, the ‘Silver Fox’ who was one of snooker’s best known faces in the 1980s.
Taylor, now 66, last played in the World Championship 13 years ago. He last played at the Crucible 23 years ago. He was a semi-finalist there 30 years ago.
Why enter this year? Well snooker is, as with all players, in his blood. He won’t qualify but his participation will please nostalgics.
Taylor faces Bournemouth’s Paul Wykes in the first round.
Les Dodd competed at the Crucible three times, the last of which was in 1994. A former slimmer of the year, Dodd is not quite as svelte as he once was but is back for another go and plays Philip Minchin on Friday.
Barry West was so set on becoming a professional snooker player that he didn’t bother to go and pick up his O Level results.
He played twice at the Crucible, in 1987 and 1988, losing first to Ray Reardon (the six times champion’s last ever victory in Sheffield) and then to Doug Mountjoy. West meets Christopher Flight this week.
Four non-main tour players will face off against James Wattana, Jordan Brown, Michael White and Brendan O’Donoghue until we get down to the last 96 proper.
The final qualifying round takes place from March 7-9.
If you’ve never been to watch, I heartily recommend it. I’m not saying there’s tension in the air but there’s more twitching than you’d find in Bill Oddie’s holiday snaps.
There are six tables and you can watch at least three at once from the back of the badminton hall.
And there are many star names in action, including former champions John Parrott, Ken Doherty, Steve Davis and Graeme Dott as well as six times runner-up Jimmy White, twice finalist Matthew Stevens and younger faces pushing for top 16 inclusion, notably Judd Trump, Liang Wenbo and Ricky Walden.
This isn’t the World Championship you will see at the Crucible and by the time April 17 comes along the qualifiers will be all but forgotten.
But if you like your snooker tense, dramatic and – for some – heartbreaking then the qualifying atmosphere is one to be sampled.
Details of how to buy tickets can be found here.
WALK THIS WAY
Dennis Taylor and Willie Thorne took part in the BBC's Let's Dance For Sport Relief on Saturday where they strutted their stuff to Aerosmith and Run DMC's Walk This Way with darts stars Tony O'Shea and Bobby George.
Those of a sensitive disposition should not click here.
Those of a sensitive disposition should not click here.
17.2.10
TALES FROM THE CIRCUIT#1
I thought, as we are in a quiet week, I would regale (or bore) you with a story from snooker’s past in the first of what is almost certain to be an irregular regular feature.
The year was 1998. Rex Williams was WPBSA chairman, Clive Everton was banned from press rooms (the latter information is related to the former) and at the UK Championship had to follow a trail of plastic chickens stuck to the floor by sponsors Liverpool Victoria that led from the venue entrance to the arena, never deviating in case he inadvertently ended up in the media centre.
We all thought it ridiculous but now it seems like a golden age.
Amid the political chaos, the Williams regime managed to get an extra ranking event on in Ireland.
There were, however, to be a few snags with the Irish Open.
The first was that it was not on television, the first ranking event for six and half years to be played without cameras.
The second was that it was played in a somewhat rough and ready area of Dublin, which led to the head of security spending much of his time chasing young miscreants around the arena.
The venue was a basketball arena. It would be fair to describe space backstage as limited.
At the time, I was working as WPBSA press officer, not a job to be coveted then or now.
I arrived in what I believed to be the tournament office, a small, poky room barely big enough to house the two tournament directors, one of whom informed me that, yes, it was their office but it was also to be the press room.
My colleague Phil Yates described it as “the TARDIS in reverse: it turns out to be even smaller inside than it looks.”
The thing was, the Irish media turned out in force to cover the event. Snooker has always been popular there and the press were full square behind tournaments.
The Irish journalists were extraordinary characters to a man, and woman. One would later be drunk for 27 hours straight at the Irish Masters, but that’s a story for another day.
To give you an idea of where snooker was at this time: the UK Championship finished at the end of November, some players went straight to Malta for an invitation event, won by Stephen Hendry, and then to Germany for another one, which John Parrott captured.
The next day John was sat at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin ready for the next tournament. That’s how it was in those days.
To add to the media circus, Ronnie O’Sullivan was back in action having mysteriously pulled out of the UK Championship a few weeks earlier.
It meant the Sun’s then snooker correspondent came over, plus various other British journos.
They were hoping Ronnie would lift the lid on his troubles and give them a big story. They were to be disappointed. He gave very little away (sensibly), lost in the first round and disappeared (with my pen as I recall, but I don’t hold it against him).
The Sun’s man was aghast. He’d been given loads of space for his story and had very few quotes to go on.
As luck would have it, Quinten Hann played the same night, wildly smashed the pack in one frame, lost 5-0, and then told the Sun reporter that he had booked his flight home before the match.
Job done.
The snooker, although few people saw it, was very exciting, helped by a bearpit atmosphere for some matches.
One such was for Peter Ebdon’s first round contest with Jimmy White. Obviously, 99% were cheering – vociferously – for Jimmy. Not only this, they were jeering – vociferously – against Ebdon, who kept his composure admirably until the final ball of his 5-4 victory, where he promptly turned to the crowd and shouted ‘come on then!’
He left by a side entrance.
In the next round he played Tony Drago, another crowd favourite. The noise for this one was extraordinary. Drago, often a bag of nerves, was playing extremely well at the time and won 5-4.
The crowd got so excited that a WPBSA official was called in to calm them down. His timid cry of ‘quiet please’ was heard, I would say, only by myself and Phil, who were standing next to him at the time.
Drago then played Hendry in the quarter-finals. Hendry led 4-2 but Tony enjoyed, to understate things a tad, some fortunate running in fighting back and in the end again displayed steely composure to win 5-4.
Remember, Hendry had lost 9-0 to Marcus Campbell in the first round of the previous ranking event and was thus not in the best of spirits generally, as I was to find out at the post match press conference.
It was clear from his general demeanour that Stephen was not especially looking forward to talking to the finest flowers of snooker journalism.
It was also clear that almost all of them were a little nervous of asking him anything.
An awkward silence developed that lasted for about 20 seconds but felt more like three weeks.
As I was in an official capacity, I thought I should break it and so ventured the following observation to the game’s greatest ever player: “Well, Stephen, you must be disappointed.”
The game’s greatest ever player fixed me with a look pitched somewhere between contempt and pity.
“Shrewd,” he said.
I can’t say it exactly cooled the atmosphere.
Someone else asked a question. Nothing from Hendry. Not a single word. Then someone else tried and...still nothing. A couple more questions followed but Stephen had had enough and we let him go.
As I pondered suicide, one of the Irish journalists examined his notepad and said, in a voice far too cheery for the occasion, “Well, it’s not going to be a quotes piece, is it?”
And so it went on. Absurdly, the venue had pre-booked a children’s charity bash for the Friday of the tournament and so all the tables had to be taken out and we had a ‘rest day.’
The next day they were all put back in. A few stray balloons were still stuck to the ceiling.
The final pitted Mark Williams against Alan McManus, the latter having been able to continue after I caught his cue just in time as it was sent crashing to the ground in the cramped tournament/press office.
Mark won. This was really the start of his ascent to the top because for the next four or five years he was in a string of major finals and of course won two world titles.
The Irish Open, however, did not return to the calendar.
The year was 1998. Rex Williams was WPBSA chairman, Clive Everton was banned from press rooms (the latter information is related to the former) and at the UK Championship had to follow a trail of plastic chickens stuck to the floor by sponsors Liverpool Victoria that led from the venue entrance to the arena, never deviating in case he inadvertently ended up in the media centre.
We all thought it ridiculous but now it seems like a golden age.
Amid the political chaos, the Williams regime managed to get an extra ranking event on in Ireland.
There were, however, to be a few snags with the Irish Open.
The first was that it was not on television, the first ranking event for six and half years to be played without cameras.
The second was that it was played in a somewhat rough and ready area of Dublin, which led to the head of security spending much of his time chasing young miscreants around the arena.
The venue was a basketball arena. It would be fair to describe space backstage as limited.
At the time, I was working as WPBSA press officer, not a job to be coveted then or now.
I arrived in what I believed to be the tournament office, a small, poky room barely big enough to house the two tournament directors, one of whom informed me that, yes, it was their office but it was also to be the press room.
My colleague Phil Yates described it as “the TARDIS in reverse: it turns out to be even smaller inside than it looks.”
The thing was, the Irish media turned out in force to cover the event. Snooker has always been popular there and the press were full square behind tournaments.
The Irish journalists were extraordinary characters to a man, and woman. One would later be drunk for 27 hours straight at the Irish Masters, but that’s a story for another day.
To give you an idea of where snooker was at this time: the UK Championship finished at the end of November, some players went straight to Malta for an invitation event, won by Stephen Hendry, and then to Germany for another one, which John Parrott captured.
The next day John was sat at the Citywest Hotel in Dublin ready for the next tournament. That’s how it was in those days.
To add to the media circus, Ronnie O’Sullivan was back in action having mysteriously pulled out of the UK Championship a few weeks earlier.
It meant the Sun’s then snooker correspondent came over, plus various other British journos.
They were hoping Ronnie would lift the lid on his troubles and give them a big story. They were to be disappointed. He gave very little away (sensibly), lost in the first round and disappeared (with my pen as I recall, but I don’t hold it against him).
The Sun’s man was aghast. He’d been given loads of space for his story and had very few quotes to go on.
As luck would have it, Quinten Hann played the same night, wildly smashed the pack in one frame, lost 5-0, and then told the Sun reporter that he had booked his flight home before the match.
Job done.
The snooker, although few people saw it, was very exciting, helped by a bearpit atmosphere for some matches.
One such was for Peter Ebdon’s first round contest with Jimmy White. Obviously, 99% were cheering – vociferously – for Jimmy. Not only this, they were jeering – vociferously – against Ebdon, who kept his composure admirably until the final ball of his 5-4 victory, where he promptly turned to the crowd and shouted ‘come on then!’
He left by a side entrance.
In the next round he played Tony Drago, another crowd favourite. The noise for this one was extraordinary. Drago, often a bag of nerves, was playing extremely well at the time and won 5-4.
The crowd got so excited that a WPBSA official was called in to calm them down. His timid cry of ‘quiet please’ was heard, I would say, only by myself and Phil, who were standing next to him at the time.
Drago then played Hendry in the quarter-finals. Hendry led 4-2 but Tony enjoyed, to understate things a tad, some fortunate running in fighting back and in the end again displayed steely composure to win 5-4.
Remember, Hendry had lost 9-0 to Marcus Campbell in the first round of the previous ranking event and was thus not in the best of spirits generally, as I was to find out at the post match press conference.
It was clear from his general demeanour that Stephen was not especially looking forward to talking to the finest flowers of snooker journalism.
It was also clear that almost all of them were a little nervous of asking him anything.
An awkward silence developed that lasted for about 20 seconds but felt more like three weeks.
As I was in an official capacity, I thought I should break it and so ventured the following observation to the game’s greatest ever player: “Well, Stephen, you must be disappointed.”
The game’s greatest ever player fixed me with a look pitched somewhere between contempt and pity.
“Shrewd,” he said.
I can’t say it exactly cooled the atmosphere.
Someone else asked a question. Nothing from Hendry. Not a single word. Then someone else tried and...still nothing. A couple more questions followed but Stephen had had enough and we let him go.
As I pondered suicide, one of the Irish journalists examined his notepad and said, in a voice far too cheery for the occasion, “Well, it’s not going to be a quotes piece, is it?”
And so it went on. Absurdly, the venue had pre-booked a children’s charity bash for the Friday of the tournament and so all the tables had to be taken out and we had a ‘rest day.’
The next day they were all put back in. A few stray balloons were still stuck to the ceiling.
The final pitted Mark Williams against Alan McManus, the latter having been able to continue after I caught his cue just in time as it was sent crashing to the ground in the cramped tournament/press office.
Mark won. This was really the start of his ascent to the top because for the next four or five years he was in a string of major finals and of course won two world titles.
The Irish Open, however, did not return to the calendar.
15.2.10
LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON
It's very hard to follow in the footsteps of a famous parent.
Yes, it can bring advantages but the offspring will forever be compared to the father or mother and their own achievements will rarely be taken in isolation.
This week at Prestatyn, the sons of both Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry - the two most successful players of the modern era - are taking part in the Pontin's junior festival.
Greg Davis has entered the 15-20 age group event while Blaine Hendry competes in the 14 and unders.
It was inevitable given their upbringing that these two boys would become interested in snooker.
It would, of course, ask a lot for them - or anyone else for that matter - to emulate the careers of their fathers.
But their fledgling careers will doubtless provide moments of excitement for Steve and Stephen, who both had fathers committed to helping them on their way.
Bill Davis was for many years a permanent fixture at tournaments with his large cigar and amiable manner.
Gordon Hendry similarly shared the twists and turns of his own son's amazing career.
They were there before TV and fame and money, driving their sons to tournaments and equipping them with the tools to become top players.
The focus on young Davis and Hendry will be greater because of their lineage and this could lead to unfavourable comparisons through no fault of their own.
But they are at an age where they should just enjoy playing snooker - and leave the worrying to their dads.
Follow their progress at Global Snooker.
Yes, it can bring advantages but the offspring will forever be compared to the father or mother and their own achievements will rarely be taken in isolation.
This week at Prestatyn, the sons of both Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry - the two most successful players of the modern era - are taking part in the Pontin's junior festival.
Greg Davis has entered the 15-20 age group event while Blaine Hendry competes in the 14 and unders.
It was inevitable given their upbringing that these two boys would become interested in snooker.
It would, of course, ask a lot for them - or anyone else for that matter - to emulate the careers of their fathers.
But their fledgling careers will doubtless provide moments of excitement for Steve and Stephen, who both had fathers committed to helping them on their way.
Bill Davis was for many years a permanent fixture at tournaments with his large cigar and amiable manner.
Gordon Hendry similarly shared the twists and turns of his own son's amazing career.
They were there before TV and fame and money, driving their sons to tournaments and equipping them with the tools to become top players.
The focus on young Davis and Hendry will be greater because of their lineage and this could lead to unfavourable comparisons through no fault of their own.
But they are at an age where they should just enjoy playing snooker - and leave the worrying to their dads.
Follow their progress at Global Snooker.
12.2.10
STEPHEN LEE REACTS TO ARREST
Stephen Lee has spoken about his arrest yesterday as part of a police probe into match fixing.
Talking to his local paper, the Wiltshire Gazette and Herald, Lee said: "I got home really late last night. I will say that I was treated really badly yesterday, so I'm still in a bit of shock.''
Paul Mount of On Q Promotions, Lee's management group, said in a statement: "Stephen co-operated fully with the police inquiry and was released without charge. He does not expect any charge to be made and denies any involvement with cheating or betting irregularities.
"Stephen is now concentrating on practising hard to achieve qualification for the World Championship and to fulfil all of his exhibition commitments."
Lee is due to play in the Pro Challenge Series event at Liverpool next Tuesday and in the final qualifying round of the World Championship next month.
Talking to his local paper, the Wiltshire Gazette and Herald, Lee said: "I got home really late last night. I will say that I was treated really badly yesterday, so I'm still in a bit of shock.''
Paul Mount of On Q Promotions, Lee's management group, said in a statement: "Stephen co-operated fully with the police inquiry and was released without charge. He does not expect any charge to be made and denies any involvement with cheating or betting irregularities.
"Stephen is now concentrating on practising hard to achieve qualification for the World Championship and to fulfil all of his exhibition commitments."
Lee is due to play in the Pro Challenge Series event at Liverpool next Tuesday and in the final qualifying round of the World Championship next month.
STEPHEN LEE: WPBSA STATEMENT
The WPBSA has released the following statement in the wake of Stephen Lee's arrest by police as part of a match fixing investigation:
"We are aware of the recent news articles concerning match fixing and are awaiting further reports.
"In instances where the Gambling Commission commences an investigation into a match, the WPBSA works together with the Commission to assist in its enquiries and the WPBSA will hold its own investigation open pending the conclusion. However, neither the Commission nor the WPBSA will release information surrounding a betting matter while an investigation is ongoing."
"We are aware of the recent news articles concerning match fixing and are awaiting further reports.
"In instances where the Gambling Commission commences an investigation into a match, the WPBSA works together with the Commission to assist in its enquiries and the WPBSA will hold its own investigation open pending the conclusion. However, neither the Commission nor the WPBSA will release information surrounding a betting matter while an investigation is ongoing."
STEPHEN LEE ARRESTED IN MATCH FIXING PROBE
Reports in Friday's newspapers state that Stephen Lee has been arrested as part of an investigation into match fixing.
The Daily Mail quotes a police spokesman as saying: "A 35-year-old man from Wiltshire has this morning been arrested on suspicion of cheating. This follows a joint operation where WestMidlands Police have assisted the Gambling Commission, following their concerns about suspicious betting patterns."
Lee, the world no.25, has won four ranking titles and was a semi-finalist at the 2003 World Championship.
Regardless of what comes out of this case, these are hardly headlines snooker needs.
The Daily Mail quotes a police spokesman as saying: "A 35-year-old man from Wiltshire has this morning been arrested on suspicion of cheating. This follows a joint operation where WestMidlands Police have assisted the Gambling Commission, following their concerns about suspicious betting patterns."
Lee, the world no.25, has won four ranking titles and was a semi-finalist at the 2003 World Championship.
Regardless of what comes out of this case, these are hardly headlines snooker needs.
11.2.10
HENDRY TO ATTEND ROYAL CRUCIBLE OPENING
Stephen Hendry, who won a record seven world titles at the Crucible, will be among the special guests for the official re-opening of the theatre next week.
The Crucible has undergone a £15.3m redevelopment with a new stage, improved front of house facilities and remodelled bar area.
Prince Edward will officially re-open the iconic Sheffield venue, with Hendry invited as recognition of snooker's unique association with the theatre.
"The re-opening of the Crucible is a major boost for the city and the region. We are absolutely delighted to have the Earl of Wessex with us to celebrate the official re-opening. The theatre will once again be of huge benefit to the public with an excellent set of new facilities and new programme of dynamic and exciting work," said Dan Bates, chief executive of Sheffield Theatres.
Last season, a new deal was signed to keep the World Championship at the Crucible for the next five years.
The Crucible has undergone a £15.3m redevelopment with a new stage, improved front of house facilities and remodelled bar area.
Prince Edward will officially re-open the iconic Sheffield venue, with Hendry invited as recognition of snooker's unique association with the theatre.
"The re-opening of the Crucible is a major boost for the city and the region. We are absolutely delighted to have the Earl of Wessex with us to celebrate the official re-opening. The theatre will once again be of huge benefit to the public with an excellent set of new facilities and new programme of dynamic and exciting work," said Dan Bates, chief executive of Sheffield Theatres.
Last season, a new deal was signed to keep the World Championship at the Crucible for the next five years.
10.2.10
EIGHT WILDCARDS FOR CHINA OPEN
The Sanyuan Foods China Open will feature eight invited wildcards alongside the top 16 and 16 qualifiers heading to Beijing next month.
Six Chinese players, a Thai and an Indian will take on the eight lowest ranked qualifiers in the wildcard round.
The Chinese players are Tian Pengfei, Yu Delu, Tang Jun, Lu Chenwei, Li Yan and Shi Shuamgyang.
Supoj Saenla will represent Thailand and Manan Chandra plays for India.
The tournament gets underway on March 29 with Peter Ebdon defending his title.
The format can be viewed on worldsnooker.com here.
Six Chinese players, a Thai and an Indian will take on the eight lowest ranked qualifiers in the wildcard round.
The Chinese players are Tian Pengfei, Yu Delu, Tang Jun, Lu Chenwei, Li Yan and Shi Shuamgyang.
Supoj Saenla will represent Thailand and Manan Chandra plays for India.
The tournament gets underway on March 29 with Peter Ebdon defending his title.
The format can be viewed on worldsnooker.com here.
ROBERTSON ON THE UP
‘There are no characters on the game any more’ is the tedious refrain often heard regarding snooker today.
Well, Neil Robertson is far more of a character – and a lot more attractive to watch – than half of the ‘personalities’ associated with snooker’s so-called golden age of the 1980s.
Last night, the Australian won group 5 of the Championship League and thus joins Stephen Maguire, John Higgins, Judd Trump and Marco Fu in the winners’ group next month, the eventual winner of which will be in the Premier League next season.
Neil, laid back and without ego, is well liked on the circuit but, as is usual in Aussie sportsmen, possesses a fierce competitive streak once he’s out on the arena.
He turned up for his first match yesterday just four minutes before it was due to start. He had done similar in the Premier League itself last year and once went to the World Championship without his shoes and had to buy a pair 15 minutes before play began.
This doesn’t point to the best preparation but, on the other hand, it shows how relaxed he is. Some players shrink from the pressure, Robertson seems to thrive on it.
His run to the World Championship semi-finals last season gave a global dimension to what remains a UK-dominated event.
And he will go to the Crucible this season as one of the favourites to lift the title.
Snooker struggles as a participation sport in Australia because of the country’s favourable climate, which sees most youngsters take up sports that are played outside.
Robertson got into snooker because his father ran a club in Melbourne. He was talented from a young age. At 14, he became the youngest player ever to make a century break in an Australian ranking event.
He turned professional at just 16 and headed for the UK but found it tough financially and emotionally and was eventually relegated.
In 2003, he beat Liu Song to win the IBSF world amateur title and returned to the circuit.
Robertson set up home in Cambridge but found the British weather to be so cold that he struggled to get out of bed in the early days.
Progress was rapid. He won the Masters qualifying tournament to earn a Wembley bow in 2004 and shortly afterwards reached his first quarter-final, at the European Open in Malta.
He became the fifth Australian to play at the Crucible in 2005 and won his first ranking title in 2006 at the Grand Prix. He has since won three more and is yet to lose in a ranking tournament final.
This season, he did little wrong to lose 9-8 to John Higgins in the UK Championship or 6-4 to Ronnie O’Sullivan at the Wembley Masters.
He lies third in the provisional rankings and has made more centuries this season than anyone else.
He also has a refreshingly postive outlook in a sport where almost everyone seems to have an axe to grind about something.
So Robertson, 28 tomorrow, seems to be at the peak of his powers and that can only be good for a sport that needs strong personalities, particularly from a country such as Australia where snooker has slipped into abeyance since the 1970s and 80s when Eddie Charlton was a big name.
His is a story that proves how hard work and talent can pay off.
Well, Neil Robertson is far more of a character – and a lot more attractive to watch – than half of the ‘personalities’ associated with snooker’s so-called golden age of the 1980s.
Last night, the Australian won group 5 of the Championship League and thus joins Stephen Maguire, John Higgins, Judd Trump and Marco Fu in the winners’ group next month, the eventual winner of which will be in the Premier League next season.
Neil, laid back and without ego, is well liked on the circuit but, as is usual in Aussie sportsmen, possesses a fierce competitive streak once he’s out on the arena.
He turned up for his first match yesterday just four minutes before it was due to start. He had done similar in the Premier League itself last year and once went to the World Championship without his shoes and had to buy a pair 15 minutes before play began.
This doesn’t point to the best preparation but, on the other hand, it shows how relaxed he is. Some players shrink from the pressure, Robertson seems to thrive on it.
His run to the World Championship semi-finals last season gave a global dimension to what remains a UK-dominated event.
And he will go to the Crucible this season as one of the favourites to lift the title.
Snooker struggles as a participation sport in Australia because of the country’s favourable climate, which sees most youngsters take up sports that are played outside.
Robertson got into snooker because his father ran a club in Melbourne. He was talented from a young age. At 14, he became the youngest player ever to make a century break in an Australian ranking event.
He turned professional at just 16 and headed for the UK but found it tough financially and emotionally and was eventually relegated.
In 2003, he beat Liu Song to win the IBSF world amateur title and returned to the circuit.
Robertson set up home in Cambridge but found the British weather to be so cold that he struggled to get out of bed in the early days.
Progress was rapid. He won the Masters qualifying tournament to earn a Wembley bow in 2004 and shortly afterwards reached his first quarter-final, at the European Open in Malta.
He became the fifth Australian to play at the Crucible in 2005 and won his first ranking title in 2006 at the Grand Prix. He has since won three more and is yet to lose in a ranking tournament final.
This season, he did little wrong to lose 9-8 to John Higgins in the UK Championship or 6-4 to Ronnie O’Sullivan at the Wembley Masters.
He lies third in the provisional rankings and has made more centuries this season than anyone else.
He also has a refreshingly postive outlook in a sport where almost everyone seems to have an axe to grind about something.
So Robertson, 28 tomorrow, seems to be at the peak of his powers and that can only be good for a sport that needs strong personalities, particularly from a country such as Australia where snooker has slipped into abeyance since the 1970s and 80s when Eddie Charlton was a big name.
His is a story that proves how hard work and talent can pay off.
8.2.10
IBSF LAUNCHES SIX REDS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
The International Billiards and Snooker Federation – the world governing body for amateur snooker – is to stage a World Championship for the six reds game in April.
Six reds snooker is particularly popular in Asia. The World Grand Prix, first held in 2008, returns to Bangkok, Thailand in July and is expected to attract a field full of big name players.
Ken Doherty was among the organising committee for the inaugural Six Reds World Championship in Killarney last December.
The IBSF tournament is imposing some rule changes.
The miss rule is abandoned completely. After any foul, players will be given three options:
1) Play themselves from where the balls come to rest
2) Get their opponent to play from where the balls come to rest
3) Play from the D
This is not hugely revolutionary as players already have the option to play themselves or put their opponent back in from a foul.
Putting the white in the D does not guarantee any sort of advantage as it obviously depends on where the ball on is positioned on the table.
The option to put the cue ball anywhere – as in 9 ball pool – would have seen frames speeded up but possibly too much. There are, after all, only six reds on the table to start with.
The other major change is that all fouls will be worth six points, apart from on the black which will still be worth seven.
I’m not sure why this rule has been introduced but it may be that as the miss rule has been scrapped, fewer fouls are expected so they should count for more.
My attitude to six reds snooker has not shifted: I don’t want it to replace the established 15 red version of the game but I have no problem with any events that give players more competitive opportunities and increase interest in the sport as a whole.
Barry Hearn, the new WPBSA chairman, has said six reds do not feature in his plans for new events but this does not mean he will discourage anyone else putting them on, although the IBSF is an entirely different organisation.
Six reds snooker is particularly popular in Asia. The World Grand Prix, first held in 2008, returns to Bangkok, Thailand in July and is expected to attract a field full of big name players.
Ken Doherty was among the organising committee for the inaugural Six Reds World Championship in Killarney last December.
The IBSF tournament is imposing some rule changes.
The miss rule is abandoned completely. After any foul, players will be given three options:
1) Play themselves from where the balls come to rest
2) Get their opponent to play from where the balls come to rest
3) Play from the D
This is not hugely revolutionary as players already have the option to play themselves or put their opponent back in from a foul.
Putting the white in the D does not guarantee any sort of advantage as it obviously depends on where the ball on is positioned on the table.
The option to put the cue ball anywhere – as in 9 ball pool – would have seen frames speeded up but possibly too much. There are, after all, only six reds on the table to start with.
The other major change is that all fouls will be worth six points, apart from on the black which will still be worth seven.
I’m not sure why this rule has been introduced but it may be that as the miss rule has been scrapped, fewer fouls are expected so they should count for more.
My attitude to six reds snooker has not shifted: I don’t want it to replace the established 15 red version of the game but I have no problem with any events that give players more competitive opportunities and increase interest in the sport as a whole.
Barry Hearn, the new WPBSA chairman, has said six reds do not feature in his plans for new events but this does not mean he will discourage anyone else putting them on, although the IBSF is an entirely different organisation.
7.2.10
TAKING STOCK
The Championship League returns tomorrow with just three places remaining in the final winners’ group that will produce a qualifier for next season’s Premier League.
Already through are Stephen Maguire, John Higgins, Judd Trump and Marco Fu.
Neil Robertson, Mark Williams and Peter Ebdon return for group 5 but Mark Allen is unable to play because he has been doing an exhibition in China.
That means an early call up for Ricky Walden alongside Jamie Cope, Dave Harold and Barry Hawkins.
Allen will return for group 6 on Wednesday with Joe Swail and Stuart Bingham.
The Championship League began in 2008 where it was shown on three betting websites. Such has been its popularity that it is this year being streamed on 12.
Uniquely there are no spectators, chiefly because there is no room for them. This means great shots and big breaks go unapplauded but the standard of snooker this year has been very high.
The venue is Crondon Park Golf Club in Stock, Essex where Bingham is a member (indeed I’ve spotted his name on the roll of honour for one of their competitions).
As there are still seven weeks (!) until the China Open, this is an ideal chance for the top 16 players to keep sharp and for those involved in World Championship qualifying to tune up their games for the most nervy part of the season by far.
More details at the official website here.
Already through are Stephen Maguire, John Higgins, Judd Trump and Marco Fu.
Neil Robertson, Mark Williams and Peter Ebdon return for group 5 but Mark Allen is unable to play because he has been doing an exhibition in China.
That means an early call up for Ricky Walden alongside Jamie Cope, Dave Harold and Barry Hawkins.
Allen will return for group 6 on Wednesday with Joe Swail and Stuart Bingham.
The Championship League began in 2008 where it was shown on three betting websites. Such has been its popularity that it is this year being streamed on 12.
Uniquely there are no spectators, chiefly because there is no room for them. This means great shots and big breaks go unapplauded but the standard of snooker this year has been very high.
The venue is Crondon Park Golf Club in Stock, Essex where Bingham is a member (indeed I’ve spotted his name on the roll of honour for one of their competitions).
As there are still seven weeks (!) until the China Open, this is an ideal chance for the top 16 players to keep sharp and for those involved in World Championship qualifying to tune up their games for the most nervy part of the season by far.
More details at the official website here.
5.2.10
DING V HENDRY
Five years ago this April, Ding Junhui beat Stephen Hendry 9-5 to win the China Open in Beijing.
If Dennis Taylor v Steve Davis in 1985 was the high watermark of the UK snooker boom, so this match will be remembered as significant in the story of the sport in China.
Had Ding not won, who knows whether snooker would have enjoyed the success it has in the world’s most populated country?
Barry Hearn, now the WPBSA chairman, led forays to China in the early 1980s and the first ranking event was staged there in 1990 but it was nine years until the second.
After the 2002 China Open, none more were held there until 2005. That tournament was a one-year deal but Ding’s success has seen two ranking events, fully funded by the Chinese, added to the calendar.
This weekend, Ding plays Hendry again in a best-of-25 frames ‘East v West’ exhibition match to be screened live on Chinese television and online around the world.
Hendry has said in the lead up that he expects Ding to become world champion. I agree with him, although, of course, this doesn’t mean anything. There are plenty of talented players who have never won the Big One, despite predictions to the contrary.
Ding has already won two UK Championship titles but does he have the temperament to last 17 days at the Crucible?
To win the World Championship, a player needs vast reserves of mental stamina to cope with the unique pressures Sheffield produces.
For Ding, this is multiplied by the fact that there are many, many millions following his every shot back home.
But it’s noticeable that his fortunes have improved this season just as Liang Wenbo has broken through as a likely top 16 player.
Liang’s progress has maybe spurred Ding on and perhaps removed some of the pressures a lone flag bearer would feel.
He seems single minded in the same way Hendry was and his shyness masks an inner steel.
It seems possible that he can in future emulate some of Hendry’s achievements, although it’s unlikely he will overtake them.
Then again, it’s unlikely anyone else will either.
If Dennis Taylor v Steve Davis in 1985 was the high watermark of the UK snooker boom, so this match will be remembered as significant in the story of the sport in China.
Had Ding not won, who knows whether snooker would have enjoyed the success it has in the world’s most populated country?
Barry Hearn, now the WPBSA chairman, led forays to China in the early 1980s and the first ranking event was staged there in 1990 but it was nine years until the second.
After the 2002 China Open, none more were held there until 2005. That tournament was a one-year deal but Ding’s success has seen two ranking events, fully funded by the Chinese, added to the calendar.
This weekend, Ding plays Hendry again in a best-of-25 frames ‘East v West’ exhibition match to be screened live on Chinese television and online around the world.
Hendry has said in the lead up that he expects Ding to become world champion. I agree with him, although, of course, this doesn’t mean anything. There are plenty of talented players who have never won the Big One, despite predictions to the contrary.
Ding has already won two UK Championship titles but does he have the temperament to last 17 days at the Crucible?
To win the World Championship, a player needs vast reserves of mental stamina to cope with the unique pressures Sheffield produces.
For Ding, this is multiplied by the fact that there are many, many millions following his every shot back home.
But it’s noticeable that his fortunes have improved this season just as Liang Wenbo has broken through as a likely top 16 player.
Liang’s progress has maybe spurred Ding on and perhaps removed some of the pressures a lone flag bearer would feel.
He seems single minded in the same way Hendry was and his shyness masks an inner steel.
It seems possible that he can in future emulate some of Hendry’s achievements, although it’s unlikely he will overtake them.
Then again, it’s unlikely anyone else will either.
4.2.10
WORLD SERIES: WHICH WAY NOW?
The World Series event in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia scheduled for March 6-7 has been cancelled.
Organisers say this is because Eurosport have been unable to obtain the necessary licenses to broadcast from the Middle Eastern kingdom.
The same scenario has occurred for golf tournaments in Saudi so I am not disputing this explanation.
However, the fact remains that World Series has failed to deliver on its early promise.
It was launched in 2008 by John Higgins and his manager Pat Mooney. The idea was to capitalise on the growing popularity of snooker in Europe by promoting a series of two day invitation tournaments in various countries.
A deal was signed with Eurosport, the main reason for snooker’s growth on the continent, and four events were staged.
These were generally regarded as a success. The tournaments were laid back affairs which gave the snooker public a chance to get closer to the big name players.
In 2009, a grand finals was held in Portugal. Two further events have been staged since but there is currently no schedule indicating any more tournaments.
One of the stated aims of the World Series was to develop local talent in each country it visited.
This is laudable but it resulted in a series of mismatches between top players and local amateurs, who were always going to be outclassed.
Reducing frames to six or ten red contests could not prevent the one-sided nature of most of the matches.
Top level sport has to be competitive to maintain the interest of television audiences. One slap after another was never going to do this.
World Series organisers did not enjoy any support from the WPBSA. Indeed, certain figures from the governing body gave the impression they couldn’t wait for it to fail.
Ultimately this attitude backfired because Mooney helped to orchestrate the coup to remove most of them.
However, his own enterprise faces an uncertain future. I think he would admit that he underestimated the sheer difficulty - not to mention money – involved in getting a venture like this off the ground and then keeping it going.
Newly installed WPBSA chairman Barry Hearn has pledged to work with World Series bosses and use any future tournaments as a ‘battering ram’ to get snooker into countries where it is popular.
I hope he ditches the local element and instead takes eight top names to each country to ensure a competitive event.
Perhaps the leading amateur could play Higgins in a big exhibition the night before each event begins? This would work as a way of launching each tournament and incorporating a local element without detracting from the event itself.
A model could be the Masters series in tennis – though this would take years and years to emulate – and effectively develop an invitation circuit for the top players alongside the ranking circuit.
This may look like two fingers up to the lower ranked players but everyone has the same chance to become a top player. You do it by winning matches/tournaments.
The World Series can only obtain credibility by developing a proper structure – with an order of merit – so that it means something to the wider public, rather than existing as a series of dislocated events.
I wish Higgins and Mooney all the best with this and am sure Hearn will do his best to revitalise the project. Regardless of its problems, World Series is still a good idea.
But without actual tournaments, this is all it will remain.
Organisers say this is because Eurosport have been unable to obtain the necessary licenses to broadcast from the Middle Eastern kingdom.
The same scenario has occurred for golf tournaments in Saudi so I am not disputing this explanation.
However, the fact remains that World Series has failed to deliver on its early promise.
It was launched in 2008 by John Higgins and his manager Pat Mooney. The idea was to capitalise on the growing popularity of snooker in Europe by promoting a series of two day invitation tournaments in various countries.
A deal was signed with Eurosport, the main reason for snooker’s growth on the continent, and four events were staged.
These were generally regarded as a success. The tournaments were laid back affairs which gave the snooker public a chance to get closer to the big name players.
In 2009, a grand finals was held in Portugal. Two further events have been staged since but there is currently no schedule indicating any more tournaments.
One of the stated aims of the World Series was to develop local talent in each country it visited.
This is laudable but it resulted in a series of mismatches between top players and local amateurs, who were always going to be outclassed.
Reducing frames to six or ten red contests could not prevent the one-sided nature of most of the matches.
Top level sport has to be competitive to maintain the interest of television audiences. One slap after another was never going to do this.
World Series organisers did not enjoy any support from the WPBSA. Indeed, certain figures from the governing body gave the impression they couldn’t wait for it to fail.
Ultimately this attitude backfired because Mooney helped to orchestrate the coup to remove most of them.
However, his own enterprise faces an uncertain future. I think he would admit that he underestimated the sheer difficulty - not to mention money – involved in getting a venture like this off the ground and then keeping it going.
Newly installed WPBSA chairman Barry Hearn has pledged to work with World Series bosses and use any future tournaments as a ‘battering ram’ to get snooker into countries where it is popular.
I hope he ditches the local element and instead takes eight top names to each country to ensure a competitive event.
Perhaps the leading amateur could play Higgins in a big exhibition the night before each event begins? This would work as a way of launching each tournament and incorporating a local element without detracting from the event itself.
A model could be the Masters series in tennis – though this would take years and years to emulate – and effectively develop an invitation circuit for the top players alongside the ranking circuit.
This may look like two fingers up to the lower ranked players but everyone has the same chance to become a top player. You do it by winning matches/tournaments.
The World Series can only obtain credibility by developing a proper structure – with an order of merit – so that it means something to the wider public, rather than existing as a series of dislocated events.
I wish Higgins and Mooney all the best with this and am sure Hearn will do his best to revitalise the project. Regardless of its problems, World Series is still a good idea.
But without actual tournaments, this is all it will remain.
2.2.10
DENNIS AND WILLIE HIT THE DANCEFLOOR
Former professionals and BBC snooker commentators Dennis Taylor and Willie Thorne are among the celebrities taking part in Let's Dance in aid of the Sport Relief charity.
Taylor and Thorne, two former contestants on Strictly Come Dancing, will be joined by ex-England footballers Peter Shilton and Rodney Marsh, actors Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph and comedians Katy Brand and Jenny Eclair.
The programme begins on February 20 on BBC1 and is presented by Steve Jones and Claudia Winkleman.
The series was won last year by comedian Robert Webb - who plays a snooker commentator in sketches for the BBC's Mitchell and Webb - who performed a routine to Flashdance.
Taylor and Thorne, two former contestants on Strictly Come Dancing, will be joined by ex-England footballers Peter Shilton and Rodney Marsh, actors Linda Robson and Lesley Joseph and comedians Katy Brand and Jenny Eclair.
The programme begins on February 20 on BBC1 and is presented by Steve Jones and Claudia Winkleman.
The series was won last year by comedian Robert Webb - who plays a snooker commentator in sketches for the BBC's Mitchell and Webb - who performed a routine to Flashdance.
1.2.10
JOHN HIGGINS: SIMPLY THE BEST
In capturing the totesport.com Welsh Open title for a second time last night John Higgins once again demonstrated that he is the best player in the world right now.
The way he raced into a 5-0 lead was an emphatic exhibition of top quality snooker. Ali Carter fought back a little but the comeback never really looked on.
It was Higgins’s second title and fourth final from the last six ranking events. He appeared in the semi-finals of the other two.
He also has the upper hand currently over the game’s other leading force, Ronnie O’Sullivan, having beaten him four times in five meetings this season.
These two 34 year-olds are a distance ahead of the rest in the provisional rankings.
Higgins in particular seems to be playing just as well as he was a decade ago when he, O’Sullivan, Mark Williams and Stephen Hendry were all producing high quality snooker as the sport’s bona fide top four.
Indeed, these four have between them won 15 of the last 20 World Championships and held the no.1 spot in the rankings for the last two decades.
Higgins’s first Welsh Open success ten years ago came before marriage and fatherhood. These happy events undoubtedly caused him to lose some of his focus but, as he said himself, “When I’m on my deathbed I won’t be thinking, ‘I wish I’d spent more time on a snooker table.’”
O’Sullivan will now have to do better than Higgins at the China Open otherwise the Scot will have the no.1 spot sewn up before the Crucible.
His continuing success proves just how good he is. And as world champion, snooker is fortunate to have him.
John is not only a great player but a good guy too: friendly, unaffected by his status and willing to do his bit for the sport as a whole.
Can he win a fourth world title? On this form, absolutely.
And he and O’Sullivan are in opposite halves of the draw for this year’s Crucible event.
Yes, snooker needs new faces but that would be a final to relish.
The way he raced into a 5-0 lead was an emphatic exhibition of top quality snooker. Ali Carter fought back a little but the comeback never really looked on.
It was Higgins’s second title and fourth final from the last six ranking events. He appeared in the semi-finals of the other two.
He also has the upper hand currently over the game’s other leading force, Ronnie O’Sullivan, having beaten him four times in five meetings this season.
These two 34 year-olds are a distance ahead of the rest in the provisional rankings.
Higgins in particular seems to be playing just as well as he was a decade ago when he, O’Sullivan, Mark Williams and Stephen Hendry were all producing high quality snooker as the sport’s bona fide top four.
Indeed, these four have between them won 15 of the last 20 World Championships and held the no.1 spot in the rankings for the last two decades.
Higgins’s first Welsh Open success ten years ago came before marriage and fatherhood. These happy events undoubtedly caused him to lose some of his focus but, as he said himself, “When I’m on my deathbed I won’t be thinking, ‘I wish I’d spent more time on a snooker table.’”
O’Sullivan will now have to do better than Higgins at the China Open otherwise the Scot will have the no.1 spot sewn up before the Crucible.
His continuing success proves just how good he is. And as world champion, snooker is fortunate to have him.
John is not only a great player but a good guy too: friendly, unaffected by his status and willing to do his bit for the sport as a whole.
Can he win a fourth world title? On this form, absolutely.
And he and O’Sullivan are in opposite halves of the draw for this year’s Crucible event.
Yes, snooker needs new faces but that would be a final to relish.
31.1.10
HIGGINS V CARTER
It's ten years since John Higgins won the Welsh Open for the first time and today he is poised to win it for the second, just as his namesake Alex did at the World Championship in 1982.
The Scottish Higgins has re-emerged as the game's leading force having occupied that same position a decade ago.
This says more about him than it does the chasing pack. As a big occasion match player he is Mr. Dependable. This is his fourth ranking final from the last six events and he has the class to win his 21st ranking title tonight.
But Ali Carter will not be a pushover. Newport is obviously a venue he likes and if he scores heavily today he has every chance of winning.
Carter doesn't lack self belief and has the game to win frames in one visit and leave Higgins cold.
Oddly, the pair haven't met in a TV tournament for six years. Today, they will hopefully serve up a final to remember.
The Scottish Higgins has re-emerged as the game's leading force having occupied that same position a decade ago.
This says more about him than it does the chasing pack. As a big occasion match player he is Mr. Dependable. This is his fourth ranking final from the last six events and he has the class to win his 21st ranking title tonight.
But Ali Carter will not be a pushover. Newport is obviously a venue he likes and if he scores heavily today he has every chance of winning.
Carter doesn't lack self belief and has the game to win frames in one visit and leave Higgins cold.
Oddly, the pair haven't met in a TV tournament for six years. Today, they will hopefully serve up a final to remember.
30.1.10
YOU MISSED AGAIN
Stephen Maguire today criticised the miss rule after he was called for ten successive misses - four off the record - when snookered on all the colours in his totesport.com Welsh Open semi-final against Ali Carter.
"It's a stupid rule and could have cost me the match," said Maguire, who trailed 5-2 at the time but ultimately won the frame despite giving away 40 points in fouls.
He did not criticise the match referee, Pete Williamson, who correctly applied the rule. Maguire could easily have hit the black off the top cushion but would have left a red on to a corner pocket had he done so.
Instead, he nine times attempted the green and had a go at the yellow as well. His attempts weren't helped by the fact that the side cushion was sliding.
The miss rule as it now stands was never intended to illicit 30 or 40 points from a single snooker.
However, before it was changed players were guilty of not making good enough attempts to get out of snookers.
The way out of all this would be the bold move of simply allowing players to put the cue ball where they liked after a foul. It would also considerably speed up play.
I don't believe this should ever happen in a ranking event because it would negate much of the skill - and drama - associated with top level match snooker.
But you could bring it into a new event as a novelty. I'm sure the new regime running snooker have already considered it.
"It's a stupid rule and could have cost me the match," said Maguire, who trailed 5-2 at the time but ultimately won the frame despite giving away 40 points in fouls.
He did not criticise the match referee, Pete Williamson, who correctly applied the rule. Maguire could easily have hit the black off the top cushion but would have left a red on to a corner pocket had he done so.
Instead, he nine times attempted the green and had a go at the yellow as well. His attempts weren't helped by the fact that the side cushion was sliding.
The miss rule as it now stands was never intended to illicit 30 or 40 points from a single snooker.
However, before it was changed players were guilty of not making good enough attempts to get out of snookers.
The way out of all this would be the bold move of simply allowing players to put the cue ball where they liked after a foul. It would also considerably speed up play.
I don't believe this should ever happen in a ranking event because it would negate much of the skill - and drama - associated with top level match snooker.
But you could bring it into a new event as a novelty. I'm sure the new regime running snooker have already considered it.
THE LAST FOUR
So the totesport.com Welsh Open semi-finals will feature four of the world's top five ranked players - this for the supposed poor relation of the world ranking tournament circuit.
Ronnie O'Sullivan was sensational in putting away Mark Allen 5-2 yesterday. He must have been: even he was happy with how he played.
But John Higgins represents a different challenge altogether. I don't need to remind anyone of their finger-nail shredding UK Championship semi-final just last month.
If today's clash produces anything close to that sort of excitement it should be a great spectacle.
First up are defending champion Ali Carter and Stephen Maguire, who was very impressive last night in beating Mark Williams 5-1.
Maguire did a proper job on him. Conscious of how well Williams was playing, he was properly focused throughout, mixed attack and defence with deadly efficiency and outplayed the in form Welshman.
It was a reminder of how well the world no.2 can play when he's in the right frame of mind.
Carter hasn't had to play his very best stuff yet but he's still going. The Welsh Open trophy - a piece of slate - is aesthetically unpleasing but he obviously likes the way it looks on his mantelpiece.
Carter may need to up his game against Maguire but if the O'Sullivan v Higgins match proves to be another epic the winner of the first semi-final could benefit, just as Ding Junhui did in Telford.
Ronnie O'Sullivan was sensational in putting away Mark Allen 5-2 yesterday. He must have been: even he was happy with how he played.
But John Higgins represents a different challenge altogether. I don't need to remind anyone of their finger-nail shredding UK Championship semi-final just last month.
If today's clash produces anything close to that sort of excitement it should be a great spectacle.
First up are defending champion Ali Carter and Stephen Maguire, who was very impressive last night in beating Mark Williams 5-1.
Maguire did a proper job on him. Conscious of how well Williams was playing, he was properly focused throughout, mixed attack and defence with deadly efficiency and outplayed the in form Welshman.
It was a reminder of how well the world no.2 can play when he's in the right frame of mind.
Carter hasn't had to play his very best stuff yet but he's still going. The Welsh Open trophy - a piece of slate - is aesthetically unpleasing but he obviously likes the way it looks on his mantelpiece.
Carter may need to up his game against Maguire but if the O'Sullivan v Higgins match proves to be another epic the winner of the first semi-final could benefit, just as Ding Junhui did in Telford.
29.1.10
NO QUARTER GIVEN
Mark Allen should today put Ronnie O’Sullivan under more pressure than either Stuart Bingham or Jamie Cope did and – as we know from the Masters final – even great players feel pressure.
Allen has the advantage of having beaten O’Sullivan at last year’s World Championship and knows that if he can beat him at the Crucible, he can beat him anywhere.
Much will depend on O’Sullivan cutting out the odd unforced error. These were not pounced on by Bingham or Cope but Allen is more likely to punish an errant Rocket.
If John Higgins beats Mark Selby he will advance to his sixth successive ranking event semi-final. The record is eight, held by, yeah, you guessed it, Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry.
Higgins once again demonstrated how good his all round game is last night by repelling the challenge of Graeme Dott.
He hasn’t won the Welsh Open in ten years but is playing every bit as good now as he was a decade ago.
The same can be said of Mark Williams, who was brilliant last night in whitewashing Andrew Higginson. In doing so, Williams reminded everyone of why he was the game’s top player for a period in the 2000s.
Stephen Maguire has been getting results this season but seems to be blowing hot and cold, which he can ill afford to do against an in form Williams.
It’s the first time since 1997 that two Welshmen have reached the quarter-finals. Ryan Day will also be shouldering home hopes against defending champion Ali Carter.
Allen has the advantage of having beaten O’Sullivan at last year’s World Championship and knows that if he can beat him at the Crucible, he can beat him anywhere.
Much will depend on O’Sullivan cutting out the odd unforced error. These were not pounced on by Bingham or Cope but Allen is more likely to punish an errant Rocket.
If John Higgins beats Mark Selby he will advance to his sixth successive ranking event semi-final. The record is eight, held by, yeah, you guessed it, Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry.
Higgins once again demonstrated how good his all round game is last night by repelling the challenge of Graeme Dott.
He hasn’t won the Welsh Open in ten years but is playing every bit as good now as he was a decade ago.
The same can be said of Mark Williams, who was brilliant last night in whitewashing Andrew Higginson. In doing so, Williams reminded everyone of why he was the game’s top player for a period in the 2000s.
Stephen Maguire has been getting results this season but seems to be blowing hot and cold, which he can ill afford to do against an in form Williams.
It’s the first time since 1997 that two Welshmen have reached the quarter-finals. Ryan Day will also be shouldering home hopes against defending champion Ali Carter.
28.1.10
RANKINGS REPORT
It’s unlikely but not impossible that Ronnie O’Sullivan can overhaul John Higgins at the top of the provisional rankings by the end of the season.
Ronnie could do with Graeme Dott beating Higgins tonight but, whatever happens in Newport, he could go into the Betfred.com World Championship within striking distance of the Wishaw Wizard.
O’Sullivan’s 5-0 demolition of a very poor Jamie Cope today means he is now 7,105 points behind Higgins.
The winner of the Totesport.com Welsh Open picks up 5,000 points, the China Open 7,000 and the World Championship 10,000.
O’Sullivan can therefore still collect 19,500 more points this season – if he wins the last three titles.
This is unlikely to happen but he should at least ensure he finishes second in the end of season list.
Third placed Neil Robertson’s defeat to Ali Carter last night means Carter will overtake him if he reaches the final.
More interesting, though, is the battle for the top 16. As ever, this will come down to the Crucible but there are a few players with things to think about right now.
Chief among them are Joe Perry and Peter Ebdon, whose places are under threat without strong finishes to the campaign.
Perry looks low on confidence and is stationed a precarious 21st. Ebdon occupies 18th spot with Dott in with a chance of pushing him down a further space.
Liang Wenbo (14th) and Ricky Walden (16th) have fallen back after failing to qualify last week.
You can follow the latest moves in the ranking list on Global Snooker here.
Ronnie could do with Graeme Dott beating Higgins tonight but, whatever happens in Newport, he could go into the Betfred.com World Championship within striking distance of the Wishaw Wizard.
O’Sullivan’s 5-0 demolition of a very poor Jamie Cope today means he is now 7,105 points behind Higgins.
The winner of the Totesport.com Welsh Open picks up 5,000 points, the China Open 7,000 and the World Championship 10,000.
O’Sullivan can therefore still collect 19,500 more points this season – if he wins the last three titles.
This is unlikely to happen but he should at least ensure he finishes second in the end of season list.
Third placed Neil Robertson’s defeat to Ali Carter last night means Carter will overtake him if he reaches the final.
More interesting, though, is the battle for the top 16. As ever, this will come down to the Crucible but there are a few players with things to think about right now.
Chief among them are Joe Perry and Peter Ebdon, whose places are under threat without strong finishes to the campaign.
Perry looks low on confidence and is stationed a precarious 21st. Ebdon occupies 18th spot with Dott in with a chance of pushing him down a further space.
Liang Wenbo (14th) and Ricky Walden (16th) have fallen back after failing to qualify last week.
You can follow the latest moves in the ranking list on Global Snooker here.
DAY FOUR: CAN JAMIE COPE?
Jamie Cope. There’s a conundrum.
Terrific potter, heavy scorer, but he hasn’t kicked on since reaching two ranking finals in the 2006/07 season.
Given that early promise a top 16 place beckoned but he is yet to get there, although had John Higgins not beaten him 13-12 from 12-10 down at the World Championship last year he would have got in.
Does Cope go for too many low percentage pots? Possibly, but he struggles more often than not against less attacking players so at least he’ll know today’s last 16 match in Newport with Ronnie O’Sullivan will be an open affair.
It’s not unfair to say O’Sullivan doesn’t regard the Welsh Open as a major priority. He wasn’t pressured against Stuart Bingham and could conceivably coast to the title but there will surely come a time when someone will play against him and he will have to decide whether to dig deep or surrender.
He buried Cope 9-2 last time they played at the 2007 UK Championship. It may be closer today but that doesn’t necessarily mean there will be a shock.
Matthew Stevens made what could, in the context of his future career, be a crucial 75 clearance to pink to see off Shaun Murphy in the deciding frame of their first round match.
He faces Mark Allen this afternoon full of confidence. One ranking title is too poor a return for a player of Matthew’s class. At 32, there is still time to make amends.
John Higgins holds a 9-5 career advantage over Graeme Dott but has lost their last four meetings.
He said Dott is better than half of the current top 16 and is well placed to comment as he practises with his fellow Glaswegian.
Higgins looked very good yesterday but obviously expects a tough battle and he may well get one.
Can Andrew Higginson continue another Newport fairytale? Mark Williams will be hoping not and the form the Welshman is showing right now suggests a third Welsh Open success is entirely possible this weekend.
Terrific potter, heavy scorer, but he hasn’t kicked on since reaching two ranking finals in the 2006/07 season.
Given that early promise a top 16 place beckoned but he is yet to get there, although had John Higgins not beaten him 13-12 from 12-10 down at the World Championship last year he would have got in.
Does Cope go for too many low percentage pots? Possibly, but he struggles more often than not against less attacking players so at least he’ll know today’s last 16 match in Newport with Ronnie O’Sullivan will be an open affair.
It’s not unfair to say O’Sullivan doesn’t regard the Welsh Open as a major priority. He wasn’t pressured against Stuart Bingham and could conceivably coast to the title but there will surely come a time when someone will play against him and he will have to decide whether to dig deep or surrender.
He buried Cope 9-2 last time they played at the 2007 UK Championship. It may be closer today but that doesn’t necessarily mean there will be a shock.
Matthew Stevens made what could, in the context of his future career, be a crucial 75 clearance to pink to see off Shaun Murphy in the deciding frame of their first round match.
He faces Mark Allen this afternoon full of confidence. One ranking title is too poor a return for a player of Matthew’s class. At 32, there is still time to make amends.
John Higgins holds a 9-5 career advantage over Graeme Dott but has lost their last four meetings.
He said Dott is better than half of the current top 16 and is well placed to comment as he practises with his fellow Glaswegian.
Higgins looked very good yesterday but obviously expects a tough battle and he may well get one.
Can Andrew Higginson continue another Newport fairytale? Mark Williams will be hoping not and the form the Welshman is showing right now suggests a third Welsh Open success is entirely possible this weekend.
27.1.10
HENDRY'S DAY?
What a fine performance from Stephen Hendry last night. Heavy scoring, strong concentration and bags of determination: it couldn’t have been more of a contrast from his disappointing 5-3 reverse to martin Gould at the same stage last year.
I’m sure Stephen won’t be getting carried away by this but I’m equally sure he will be very satisfied. His challenge now is to keep it going.
Tonight, he faces Ryan Day in the second round. Day scraped through 5-4 against Tony Drago last night in a nerve jangling encounter that had to be watched, in the Doctor Who tradition, from behind a sofa.
Drago is snooker’s version of a high wire walker: you watch him full of dread thinking he’ll fall off at any moment but also know there’s half a chance he will actually make it to the other side.
I was disappointed for Tony because he did so well to come through four qualifying rounds and reach Newport and also there are few players who love the game as much as him.
At least he has given himself every chance of remaining on the tour for another season.
The other second round match tonight pits defending champion Ali Carter against Neil Robertson.
They met at the same stage of last year’s World Championship where Robertson made a succession of steely clearances to win 13-8.
In the first round this afternoon, newly crowned Masters champion Mark Selby will be setting out on his bid to emulate his feat of two years ago and immediately win the Welsh Open.
Judd Trump could cause him a few difficulties but Selby is in the ascendancy and will be favourite to progress.
Ding Junhui wasn’t sharp at Wembley but he’s had a fortnight to get ready for Newport. Jamie Cope is a dangerous player but has not really kicked on since reaching two ranking finals in the 2006/07 season.
John Higgins won the Welsh Open title ten years ago. It’s never been his favourite tournament but he’ll be expected to come past Michael Judge.
Mark Williams’s record breaking run of 48 consecutive opening round victories in ranking events was ended by Fergal O’Brien at the 2003 UK Championship.
O’Brien has won only one match all season – to qualify last week – and Williams was flying at Wembley so a home victory appears likely.
The quality of the play has not been matched by crowd turnout. Also, table two is such a tight set up that it reminds me of the old Steptoe and Son episode where they install a snooker table without any room to play, so have to cue through the windows.
Harold, you’ll recall, is already out.
I’m sure Stephen won’t be getting carried away by this but I’m equally sure he will be very satisfied. His challenge now is to keep it going.
Tonight, he faces Ryan Day in the second round. Day scraped through 5-4 against Tony Drago last night in a nerve jangling encounter that had to be watched, in the Doctor Who tradition, from behind a sofa.
Drago is snooker’s version of a high wire walker: you watch him full of dread thinking he’ll fall off at any moment but also know there’s half a chance he will actually make it to the other side.
I was disappointed for Tony because he did so well to come through four qualifying rounds and reach Newport and also there are few players who love the game as much as him.
At least he has given himself every chance of remaining on the tour for another season.
The other second round match tonight pits defending champion Ali Carter against Neil Robertson.
They met at the same stage of last year’s World Championship where Robertson made a succession of steely clearances to win 13-8.
In the first round this afternoon, newly crowned Masters champion Mark Selby will be setting out on his bid to emulate his feat of two years ago and immediately win the Welsh Open.
Judd Trump could cause him a few difficulties but Selby is in the ascendancy and will be favourite to progress.
Ding Junhui wasn’t sharp at Wembley but he’s had a fortnight to get ready for Newport. Jamie Cope is a dangerous player but has not really kicked on since reaching two ranking finals in the 2006/07 season.
John Higgins won the Welsh Open title ten years ago. It’s never been his favourite tournament but he’ll be expected to come past Michael Judge.
Mark Williams’s record breaking run of 48 consecutive opening round victories in ranking events was ended by Fergal O’Brien at the 2003 UK Championship.
O’Brien has won only one match all season – to qualify last week – and Williams was flying at Wembley so a home victory appears likely.
The quality of the play has not been matched by crowd turnout. Also, table two is such a tight set up that it reminds me of the old Steptoe and Son episode where they install a snooker table without any room to play, so have to cue through the windows.
Harold, you’ll recall, is already out.
26.1.10
DAY TWO IN NEWPORT
The first day of the Totesport.com Welsh Open was a rather flat affair due to a low crowd turnout and some uninspiring snooker.
Andrew Higginson played very well to lead Marco Fu 4-0 and both Neil Robertson and Ali Carter showed glimpses of their best form but, overall, it wasn’t great stuff.
This happens at every tournament, indeed in every sport.
Today, Ronnie O’Sullivan returns to action after losing his epic Masters final to Mark Selby at Wembley nine days ago.
It seems if you so much as mention Ronnie you upset someone, so I’ll just say I hope he produces a performance he is satisfied with.
Dave Harold has beaten Stephen Hendry four times but his last win came just over a decade ago.
It was Harold who Hendry beat shortly after fracturing a bone in his elbow (or breaking his arm as the headlines screamed at the time) at the 1994 World Championship.
Hendry has declined as a force but is still a big draw. Next month, he will face Ding Junhui in a best of 25 frames televised match in Beijing – no short formats for them, they prefer proper matches – to be screened on 110sport.tv.
But the legendary Scot doesn’t want to be merely applauded as one of the game’s elder statesmen. He wants to win and, after a disappointing defeat to Martin Gould at Newport last year, will be highly focused against the Stoke potter.
Shaun Murphy has dealt Matthew Stevens two massive blows, both at the Crucible.
In 2005, he beat him 18-16 in the final. Three years ago he came from 12-7 down to edge the Welshman 13-12 in the quarter-finals and relegate him from the top 16.
Stevens scrapped over the line against Barry Pinches but there needn’t be much read into this. First rounds are often about falling over the line.
However, Stevens has a poor record in his home event. He hasn’t reached the last 16 of the Welsh Open since 2006 and will need to produce something to see off Murphy, who finished runner-up in Newport that same year.
Andrew Higginson played very well to lead Marco Fu 4-0 and both Neil Robertson and Ali Carter showed glimpses of their best form but, overall, it wasn’t great stuff.
This happens at every tournament, indeed in every sport.
Today, Ronnie O’Sullivan returns to action after losing his epic Masters final to Mark Selby at Wembley nine days ago.
It seems if you so much as mention Ronnie you upset someone, so I’ll just say I hope he produces a performance he is satisfied with.
Dave Harold has beaten Stephen Hendry four times but his last win came just over a decade ago.
It was Harold who Hendry beat shortly after fracturing a bone in his elbow (or breaking his arm as the headlines screamed at the time) at the 1994 World Championship.
Hendry has declined as a force but is still a big draw. Next month, he will face Ding Junhui in a best of 25 frames televised match in Beijing – no short formats for them, they prefer proper matches – to be screened on 110sport.tv.
But the legendary Scot doesn’t want to be merely applauded as one of the game’s elder statesmen. He wants to win and, after a disappointing defeat to Martin Gould at Newport last year, will be highly focused against the Stoke potter.
Shaun Murphy has dealt Matthew Stevens two massive blows, both at the Crucible.
In 2005, he beat him 18-16 in the final. Three years ago he came from 12-7 down to edge the Welshman 13-12 in the quarter-finals and relegate him from the top 16.
Stevens scrapped over the line against Barry Pinches but there needn’t be much read into this. First rounds are often about falling over the line.
However, Stevens has a poor record in his home event. He hasn’t reached the last 16 of the Welsh Open since 2006 and will need to produce something to see off Murphy, who finished runner-up in Newport that same year.
25.1.10
GOING FOR A SONG
It was victory over Liu Song that set Neil Robertson on the road to the big time.
They met in the final of the 2003 IBSF World Under 21 Championship in New Zealand. Robertson won 11-5 and was given a wild card for the main tour.
The Australian had played on the professional circuit prior to this but found life on tour hard, not least because of the financial strain associated with flying to the other side of the world to try his hand at a highly competitive sport.
However, there was never any doubting his talent and, settled in Cambridge, he has turned into one of the best players in the world.
The Melbourne man has already won four ranking titles - including the 2007 Welsh Open - and starts out against Liu in Newport today in arguably the right side of the draw, avoiding Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins, Shaun Murphy, Mark Selby and Ding Junhui until the final.
Liu has done nothing of note since his appearance in the quarter-finals of the 2007 Grand Prix.
Last season, he won only two matches and his form has collapsed to such an extent that he currently lies 89th in the provisional rankings.
So his three victories in Prestatyn to qualify for Newport have been a real boost and the Chinese needs a strong finish to the season to remain on the circuit.
This afternoon's other match is held over from the final qualifying round so that Matthew Stevens plays in front of his home crowd.
He faces the experienced and often dangerous Barry Pinches, who ended his title defence of the UK Championship with a 9-4 opening round defeat in 2004.
Peter Ebdon, whose form is currently a little patchy, could be in trouble against twice Welsh semi-finalist Barry Hawkins.
Tonight, defending Welsh Open champion Ali Carter takes on Mark Davis, the recently crowned six reds world champion.
And Andrew Higginson, beaten 9-8 by Robertson in the 2007 Welsh Open final after a memorable, heart warming week, faces Marco Fu, who he beat in the first round three years ago to launch his remarkable run.
They met in the final of the 2003 IBSF World Under 21 Championship in New Zealand. Robertson won 11-5 and was given a wild card for the main tour.
The Australian had played on the professional circuit prior to this but found life on tour hard, not least because of the financial strain associated with flying to the other side of the world to try his hand at a highly competitive sport.
However, there was never any doubting his talent and, settled in Cambridge, he has turned into one of the best players in the world.
The Melbourne man has already won four ranking titles - including the 2007 Welsh Open - and starts out against Liu in Newport today in arguably the right side of the draw, avoiding Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins, Shaun Murphy, Mark Selby and Ding Junhui until the final.
Liu has done nothing of note since his appearance in the quarter-finals of the 2007 Grand Prix.
Last season, he won only two matches and his form has collapsed to such an extent that he currently lies 89th in the provisional rankings.
So his three victories in Prestatyn to qualify for Newport have been a real boost and the Chinese needs a strong finish to the season to remain on the circuit.
This afternoon's other match is held over from the final qualifying round so that Matthew Stevens plays in front of his home crowd.
He faces the experienced and often dangerous Barry Pinches, who ended his title defence of the UK Championship with a 9-4 opening round defeat in 2004.
Peter Ebdon, whose form is currently a little patchy, could be in trouble against twice Welsh semi-finalist Barry Hawkins.
Tonight, defending Welsh Open champion Ali Carter takes on Mark Davis, the recently crowned six reds world champion.
And Andrew Higginson, beaten 9-8 by Robertson in the 2007 Welsh Open final after a memorable, heart warming week, faces Marco Fu, who he beat in the first round three years ago to launch his remarkable run.
23.1.10
ALL ROADS LEAD TO NEWPORT
The Welsh Open – through no real fault of its own – has become the poor relation of the world ranking circuit, so much so that it’s now worth less in points and money than all the other tournaments.
This is a shame because when it was held at the Cardiff International Arena it was one of the best events on the pro tour.
It had moved from Newport in 1999 in what proved to be a successful attempt to upgrade its image but returned there in 2005 – via the Welsh Institute of Sport – to cut costs.
The irony is that some of the snooker we’ve seen there over the last few seasons has been excellent. The O’Sullivan v Hendry final of 2005 was superb, we had Andrew Higginson’s great run in 2007 and Selby v O’Sullivan in 2008.
Last year, Ali Carter produced a terrific final session display to beat Joe Swail 9-5 in a match played before a packed Newport crowd.
Wales is a snooker country. It has produced many a fine player, from Ray Reardon to Doug Mountjoy, Terry Griffiths to Darren Morgan, Mark Williams to Matthew Stevens and several others too, including current Welsh no.1 Ryan Day.
The announcement that totesport.com will sponsor the tournament – the first it has had in seven years – is a boost to an event that currently loses money and is in danger of being axed.
The draw this year seems lopsided to say the least. Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins, Shaun Murphy, Mark Selby and Ding Junhui are all in the bottom half.
Neil Robertson, Ali Carter and Stephen Maguire are among those in the top half which, on paper, looks easier.
Of course, snooker isn’t played on paper and predicting a likely winner come January 31 remains as fraught as ever.
It’s good to see Tony Drago qualifying right from the first round, a tremendous effort by the veteran Maltese cueman.
Judd Trump was among those who came through from Prestatyn and he tackles Selby, who will be hoping history can repeat itself and he can win the Welsh title fresh from capturing the Masters, as he did two years ago.
For all the innovations and talk of different events, snooker’s bedrock remains the ranking tournament circuit.
With only six events this season, any player regarding the Welsh Open as unimportant should think again.
The tournament will be shown on BBC Wales, the BBC website and Eurosport.
This is a shame because when it was held at the Cardiff International Arena it was one of the best events on the pro tour.
It had moved from Newport in 1999 in what proved to be a successful attempt to upgrade its image but returned there in 2005 – via the Welsh Institute of Sport – to cut costs.
The irony is that some of the snooker we’ve seen there over the last few seasons has been excellent. The O’Sullivan v Hendry final of 2005 was superb, we had Andrew Higginson’s great run in 2007 and Selby v O’Sullivan in 2008.
Last year, Ali Carter produced a terrific final session display to beat Joe Swail 9-5 in a match played before a packed Newport crowd.
Wales is a snooker country. It has produced many a fine player, from Ray Reardon to Doug Mountjoy, Terry Griffiths to Darren Morgan, Mark Williams to Matthew Stevens and several others too, including current Welsh no.1 Ryan Day.
The announcement that totesport.com will sponsor the tournament – the first it has had in seven years – is a boost to an event that currently loses money and is in danger of being axed.
The draw this year seems lopsided to say the least. Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins, Shaun Murphy, Mark Selby and Ding Junhui are all in the bottom half.
Neil Robertson, Ali Carter and Stephen Maguire are among those in the top half which, on paper, looks easier.
Of course, snooker isn’t played on paper and predicting a likely winner come January 31 remains as fraught as ever.
It’s good to see Tony Drago qualifying right from the first round, a tremendous effort by the veteran Maltese cueman.
Judd Trump was among those who came through from Prestatyn and he tackles Selby, who will be hoping history can repeat itself and he can win the Welsh title fresh from capturing the Masters, as he did two years ago.
For all the innovations and talk of different events, snooker’s bedrock remains the ranking tournament circuit.
With only six events this season, any player regarding the Welsh Open as unimportant should think again.
The tournament will be shown on BBC Wales, the BBC website and Eurosport.
22.1.10
STICK AND STONES
Rivalry is the stuff of sport, certainly in the newspapers where slanging matches, particularly in the football world, fill many a column inch.
Neil Robertson commented last year that he thought snooker players were too friendly with each other. Of course, some are more friendly than others.
It’s 20 years now since Alex Higgins threatened – within earshot of the then WPBSA chairman John Spencer – to have Dennis Taylor shot if he ever went back to Northern Ireland.
They were team mates in the World Cup at the time.
More recently, we’ve had Stephen Maguire and Shaun Murphy opting not to become Facebook friends and Graeme Dott and Ian McCulloch not exactly planning to team up for the World Doubles.
Much has been made this week of the rivalry between Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Selby in the wake of their Pokerstars.com Masters final.
I think O’Sullivan was mainly down on himself, not Selby, but he did appear to get wound up towards the end.
In the penultimate frame, O’Sullivan fluked a snooker. The camera did not pan to Selby but he presumably smiled, as if to say, ‘that was lucky.’ O’Sullivan’s response was, ‘How can you moan?’ as if Selby was the luckiest player who ever lived.
In the heat of battle – and it was some battle – such things do, from time to time, get said, although Selby wasn’t overly impressed.
Answering questions on the Eurosport website today, he said: “I suppose it is true that there were times in the match when we both had the run of the balls, but I didn’t think it was the right time for him to be making such a statement.”
However, Selby isn’t the sort to lose his rag and seeing O’Sullivan begin to crack probably gave him confidence rather than put him under pressure.
Not everyone thought O’Sullivan conducted himself well at the post match interview but this was mere seconds after a very disappointing defeat and I believe he should be cut some slack.
It wasn’t a bit of fun, it was a major final. Steve Davis could memorably barely utter a word after losing to Dennis Taylor in the 1985 world final. It’s hard to say the right things when you are completely devastated.
O’Sullivan left the arena before Selby received his trophy. This was wrong. He should have stayed for a few more minutes.
“I’d like to think I would have shown a little bit more respect at the end. We are paid to play in these events, that's our job, and if Ronnie had won I would have stayed to applaud him,” Selby told Eurosport.
In the press conference that followed O’Sullivan suggested Selby would struggle to win the world title because of his inconsistency, which he compared to his own game.
“I think I'll take what he said as compliment,” was Selby’s verdict on this.
“For me Ronnie is among the top two or three greatest players to have played the game, I have massive respect for him as a player, and if he is putting me in a similar position to him, then, as I said, I'll take it as a big compliment. When it comes to my game, I don't mind having the same problems as him.”
I’m not sure it was meant as a compliment but Selby is right not to dwell on it.
Such is the stuff of sport. I remember Stephen Hendry losing to Mark Johnston-Allen (who beat him three times out of three) and then saying he shouldn’t even have been in the same room as him.
He later apologised to Mark, who found the whole thing hilarious.
The fact is, things get said in the heat of the moment, usually after a disappointing defeat.
If we want our sportsmen and women to be human, we should accept that they will, at times, be brutally honest and just say what is on their mind.
Surely this is better than bland PR epithets, even if their comments do sometimes leave a sour taste in the mouth.
Neil Robertson commented last year that he thought snooker players were too friendly with each other. Of course, some are more friendly than others.
It’s 20 years now since Alex Higgins threatened – within earshot of the then WPBSA chairman John Spencer – to have Dennis Taylor shot if he ever went back to Northern Ireland.
They were team mates in the World Cup at the time.
More recently, we’ve had Stephen Maguire and Shaun Murphy opting not to become Facebook friends and Graeme Dott and Ian McCulloch not exactly planning to team up for the World Doubles.
Much has been made this week of the rivalry between Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Selby in the wake of their Pokerstars.com Masters final.
I think O’Sullivan was mainly down on himself, not Selby, but he did appear to get wound up towards the end.
In the penultimate frame, O’Sullivan fluked a snooker. The camera did not pan to Selby but he presumably smiled, as if to say, ‘that was lucky.’ O’Sullivan’s response was, ‘How can you moan?’ as if Selby was the luckiest player who ever lived.
In the heat of battle – and it was some battle – such things do, from time to time, get said, although Selby wasn’t overly impressed.
Answering questions on the Eurosport website today, he said: “I suppose it is true that there were times in the match when we both had the run of the balls, but I didn’t think it was the right time for him to be making such a statement.”
However, Selby isn’t the sort to lose his rag and seeing O’Sullivan begin to crack probably gave him confidence rather than put him under pressure.
Not everyone thought O’Sullivan conducted himself well at the post match interview but this was mere seconds after a very disappointing defeat and I believe he should be cut some slack.
It wasn’t a bit of fun, it was a major final. Steve Davis could memorably barely utter a word after losing to Dennis Taylor in the 1985 world final. It’s hard to say the right things when you are completely devastated.
O’Sullivan left the arena before Selby received his trophy. This was wrong. He should have stayed for a few more minutes.
“I’d like to think I would have shown a little bit more respect at the end. We are paid to play in these events, that's our job, and if Ronnie had won I would have stayed to applaud him,” Selby told Eurosport.
In the press conference that followed O’Sullivan suggested Selby would struggle to win the world title because of his inconsistency, which he compared to his own game.
“I think I'll take what he said as compliment,” was Selby’s verdict on this.
“For me Ronnie is among the top two or three greatest players to have played the game, I have massive respect for him as a player, and if he is putting me in a similar position to him, then, as I said, I'll take it as a big compliment. When it comes to my game, I don't mind having the same problems as him.”
I’m not sure it was meant as a compliment but Selby is right not to dwell on it.
Such is the stuff of sport. I remember Stephen Hendry losing to Mark Johnston-Allen (who beat him three times out of three) and then saying he shouldn’t even have been in the same room as him.
He later apologised to Mark, who found the whole thing hilarious.
The fact is, things get said in the heat of the moment, usually after a disappointing defeat.
If we want our sportsmen and women to be human, we should accept that they will, at times, be brutally honest and just say what is on their mind.
Surely this is better than bland PR epithets, even if their comments do sometimes leave a sour taste in the mouth.
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