The WPBSA has revealed the results of its disciplinary hearings for the 2008/09 season.
These had previously been kept secret but will now be announced as in other sports after a meeting between WPBSA representatives and members of the Snooker Writers Association.
The results were as follows:
Frame concessions (2nd incident)
Dave Harold - fine £150
Mark Williams - fine £150
Ronnie O'Sullivan - fine £150
Lee Spick - £150 suspended for 12 months; £1,000 costs
Stephen Maguire - fine £150
Robert Milkins - fine £150
David Roe - fine £150
Jin Long - fine £150
Frame concessions (3rd incident)
Jin Long - no finding of breach
Other matters:
Declan Hughes - conduct at Prestatyn - fine of £500; £250 suspended for 12 months against future good conduct; £1,000 costs
Jimmy Michie - You Tube video - fine of £1,000; £1,000 costs
Two players that qualified for the 2008/2009 Tour had outstanding disciplinary matters dating back to 2005. These matters were revisited and the outcome of each hearing was as follows:
Declan Hughes - unacceptable behaviour - no penalty ordered on this occasion - reminder given as to future conduct
Kuldesh Johal - non attendance - no penalty ordered on this occasion - reminder given as to future conduct
The frame concessions are usually for when a player gives up when there is more than enough left on to win. I’m not sure why Lee Spick’s fine was suspended or how he could run up £1,000 in costs.
Jimmy Michie appeared in a Youtube video in which he was seen snorting a white powder. His punishment comes under the catch-all ‘bringing the game into disrepute’ category.
What’s apparent is that snooker does not have a big problem when it comes to the behaviour of the players, which makes the decision in recent years to keep all disciplinary findings covered up all the more absurd.
It is however good news that matters will be conducted in a more open fashion from now on.
8.5.09
WORLD SERIES RESULTS
These are the results so far:
Group 1: Ryan Day beat Gary Britton 4-0; Day beat Michal Zielinski 4-1; Lasse Munstermann beat Zielinski 4-1; Britton beat Munstermann 4-2; Day beat Munstermann 4-1; Britton beat Zielinksi 4-3
Qualifiers: Ryan Day and Gary Britton
Group 1: Ryan Day beat Gary Britton 4-0; Day beat Michal Zielinski 4-1; Lasse Munstermann beat Zielinski 4-1; Britton beat Munstermann 4-2; Day beat Munstermann 4-1; Britton beat Zielinksi 4-3
Qualifiers: Ryan Day and Gary Britton
DIVING INTO POOL
If pool is your thing, you can watch an event live online this weekend.
For more details, click here.
For more details, click here.
PUT DOWN IN WORDS
The World Series grand finals opened last night with a well attended press conference in which representatives of the Portugese tourist board spoke along with John Higgins, Shaun Murphy and Steve Davis.
Players are practising on a table at the hotel that was originally donated by King Edward VII in 1903.
After an informal reception, it was off into town to relax before the start of the tournament.
This included a visit to a karaoke bar and special mentions must go to Higgins (Handbags and Gladrags) and Mark Selby (Your Song) for getting into the spirit of things.
I'm looking forward to seeing Jimmy White take on Luca Brecel - a legend of snooker's past against a star of the future.
Crowds are not expected to be great. There is no real history of snooker in Portugal but the idea is to try it out and hopefully build up interest.
Players are practising on a table at the hotel that was originally donated by King Edward VII in 1903.
After an informal reception, it was off into town to relax before the start of the tournament.
This included a visit to a karaoke bar and special mentions must go to Higgins (Handbags and Gladrags) and Mark Selby (Your Song) for getting into the spirit of things.
I'm looking forward to seeing Jimmy White take on Luca Brecel - a legend of snooker's past against a star of the future.
Crowds are not expected to be great. There is no real history of snooker in Portugal but the idea is to try it out and hopefully build up interest.
7.5.09
POSTCARD FROM PORTUGAL
Well we're here and it's hot.
No, really. I fear John Higgins may be mistaken for a lobster when he gets off the golf course.
I saw Luca Brecel studiously practising earlier. The boy seems to already have a very solid technique and a certain steely presence that suggests good things for the future.
I will be providing updates on the matches and from backstage over the next few days when time permits.
Look out for a few interviews I've recorded for Eurosport as well.
No, really. I fear John Higgins may be mistaken for a lobster when he gets off the golf course.
I saw Luca Brecel studiously practising earlier. The boy seems to already have a very solid technique and a certain steely presence that suggests good things for the future.
I will be providing updates on the matches and from backstage over the next few days when time permits.
Look out for a few interviews I've recorded for Eurosport as well.
HIGGINS HEADS WORLD SERIES FIELD
Snooker returns to our TV screens this weekend for the grand finals of the World Series, which are being played in the picturesque climes of the Algarve in Portugal.
It’s a great field, including world champion John Higgins, his Crucible final victim Shaun Murphy as well as Stephen Maguire, Ding Junhui, Mark Selby, Steve Davis, Ryan Day, Graeme Dott, Ken Doherty and Jimmy White.
Also in action is Luca Brecel, the talented 14 year-old winner of the recent EBSA European under 19 title.
Here’s what Higgins told the press this week about the World Series:
“We’re doing something totally different, trying to take tournaments to countries that are crying out for snooker.
“I’ve been to Copenhagen, Israel, Prague, so many places where I didn't think snooker would have existed.
“These countries are buzzing for it. Portugal has not got any great history with snooker, but the Algarve Tourist Board came to our organisation and said, 'We would love to host the final'.
“It was meant to be held in Moscow but obviously things happened with the economy.
“We were going to play in the Kremlin which would have been an unbelievable experience, but we did go over to Moscow and experienced a crowd of 1,000 people there to watch me and Ding Junhui play.
“It would mean everything if one of these countries could produce a champion in the future. We’ve got a young Belgian boy Luca Brecel, we've put him in the series.
“He’s just won the European Under-19s so we gave him a wildcard into it, so it's all going to be about giving the cream of the talent wildcards into it.
“It would be as satisfying seeing one of them win something as it would me winning it. I was over in Israel playing a young chap, Shachar Ruberg, who's 14.
“For him to get the chance to play me, he had a whole apartment renovated, in match conditions, for me to go over there and play him for a few days."
“We’re not about creating a different world champion like in boxing. We spoke to World Snooker about that.
“World Snooker is like a big ship that can’t turn around as quickly as a smaller organisation.
“They’ll maybe take a wee while to turn the ship around whereas we're like in a dinghy bouncing from one wave to the other.
“But the countries are really loving it and if at the end of the day it makes snooker more popular in these countries, everybody wins.”
In my opinion, any attempt to increase interest in snooker outside the UK – particularly on mainland Europe where it is booming – should be applauded.
Here are the Eurosport transmission times:
(all times UK)
Friday, May 8: 6.45-10.15pm
Saturday, May 9: 8.45pm-12am
Sunday, May 10: 8.30pm-12am
There's more information here.
It’s a great field, including world champion John Higgins, his Crucible final victim Shaun Murphy as well as Stephen Maguire, Ding Junhui, Mark Selby, Steve Davis, Ryan Day, Graeme Dott, Ken Doherty and Jimmy White.
Also in action is Luca Brecel, the talented 14 year-old winner of the recent EBSA European under 19 title.
Here’s what Higgins told the press this week about the World Series:
“We’re doing something totally different, trying to take tournaments to countries that are crying out for snooker.
“I’ve been to Copenhagen, Israel, Prague, so many places where I didn't think snooker would have existed.
“These countries are buzzing for it. Portugal has not got any great history with snooker, but the Algarve Tourist Board came to our organisation and said, 'We would love to host the final'.
“It was meant to be held in Moscow but obviously things happened with the economy.
“We were going to play in the Kremlin which would have been an unbelievable experience, but we did go over to Moscow and experienced a crowd of 1,000 people there to watch me and Ding Junhui play.
“It would mean everything if one of these countries could produce a champion in the future. We’ve got a young Belgian boy Luca Brecel, we've put him in the series.
“He’s just won the European Under-19s so we gave him a wildcard into it, so it's all going to be about giving the cream of the talent wildcards into it.
“It would be as satisfying seeing one of them win something as it would me winning it. I was over in Israel playing a young chap, Shachar Ruberg, who's 14.
“For him to get the chance to play me, he had a whole apartment renovated, in match conditions, for me to go over there and play him for a few days."
“We’re not about creating a different world champion like in boxing. We spoke to World Snooker about that.
“World Snooker is like a big ship that can’t turn around as quickly as a smaller organisation.
“They’ll maybe take a wee while to turn the ship around whereas we're like in a dinghy bouncing from one wave to the other.
“But the countries are really loving it and if at the end of the day it makes snooker more popular in these countries, everybody wins.”
In my opinion, any attempt to increase interest in snooker outside the UK – particularly on mainland Europe where it is booming – should be applauded.
Here are the Eurosport transmission times:
(all times UK)
Friday, May 8: 6.45-10.15pm
Saturday, May 9: 8.45pm-12am
Sunday, May 10: 8.30pm-12am
There's more information here.
5.5.09
THREE MILLION SEE CRUCIBLE FINALE
And the last last word on the final: the last session attracted an average viewing audience of 3m, which is impressive considering the match was all but over.
This was the number of people watching on BBC2 so does not include online, digital interactive or Eurosport viewers.
Last year's final, which was also over quickly, drew an average of 3.4m for its final session so it isn't unreasonable to assume the figure would have grown had either match been closer.
This is one of the quandries for BBC schedulers. They expect their best audience post 10pm so start the finals at 8pm hoping it will finish after around two hours.
But, of course, close finals can go on so long that they finish after midnight and millions turn off.
The press coverage this morning was healthy, which is a consequence of the early finish.
This was the number of people watching on BBC2 so does not include online, digital interactive or Eurosport viewers.
Last year's final, which was also over quickly, drew an average of 3.4m for its final session so it isn't unreasonable to assume the figure would have grown had either match been closer.
This is one of the quandries for BBC schedulers. They expect their best audience post 10pm so start the finals at 8pm hoping it will finish after around two hours.
But, of course, close finals can go on so long that they finish after midnight and millions turn off.
The press coverage this morning was healthy, which is a consequence of the early finish.
THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF THE CRUCIBLE 2009
And so the Betfred.com World Championship recedes into memory but not before a little look back at the best and worst moments...
BEST MATCH
John Higgins v Mark Selby was a bona fide Crucible classic. It featured snooker of the highest quality. Selby made five centuries and still lost.
WORST MATCH
I don’t think many people will be ordering DVDs of the Mark King v Rory McLeod slog-a-thon.
BEST SHOT
The two that really stood out for me were a shot of Ricky Walden’s where he had to come off three cushions to roll up to a red and did so expertly and the screw back by Mark Allen on a long red in the semis.
WORST SHOT
Bearing in mind all the brouhaha that ensued as a result, it must be Graeme Dott’s in-off stopped with his fist.
PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT
This is an easy one. John Higgins.
STAR OF THE TOURNAMENT
Mark Allen proved he is a big occasion player and also that his passionate style of snooker is a great favourite with fans.
FALLEN STAR OF THE TOURNAMENT
Peter Ebdon’s first round defeat to Nigel Bond was a big surprise given his form in winning the China Open.
BREAK OF THE TOURNAMENT
Stephen Hendry’s second Crucible 147 – 14 years after his first – was marvellous to witness. Get that statue up now!
HEROES
Betfred were enthusiastic sponsors who did much to build excitement backstage without disrespecting the championship – it’s good to have them on board.
The table fitters took stick over the pockets but they were the same size as before. The reason balls were sliding in was because the cushion cloths were changed more regularly. This made conditions better overall.
Jack Lisowski was remarkably self assured for a young lad thrust into the spotlight as recipient of the Paul Hunter Scholarship. Good luck to him for the next year.
Strictly speaking a heroine, but Michaela Tabb handled the final with great authority despite all the attention surrounding her.
The WPBSA ran the event efficiently without any kind of problems as far as I can tell.
VILLAINS
Simon Hattenstone and the many other sneering newspaper columnists who seem to make it an annual mission to do the sport down. Stick to football if you don’t like it.
DAMP SQUIB
The much-hyped Super 6 event didn’t exactly get the juices flowing, did it?
BEST MATCH
John Higgins v Mark Selby was a bona fide Crucible classic. It featured snooker of the highest quality. Selby made five centuries and still lost.
WORST MATCH
I don’t think many people will be ordering DVDs of the Mark King v Rory McLeod slog-a-thon.
BEST SHOT
The two that really stood out for me were a shot of Ricky Walden’s where he had to come off three cushions to roll up to a red and did so expertly and the screw back by Mark Allen on a long red in the semis.
WORST SHOT
Bearing in mind all the brouhaha that ensued as a result, it must be Graeme Dott’s in-off stopped with his fist.
PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT
This is an easy one. John Higgins.
STAR OF THE TOURNAMENT
Mark Allen proved he is a big occasion player and also that his passionate style of snooker is a great favourite with fans.
FALLEN STAR OF THE TOURNAMENT
Peter Ebdon’s first round defeat to Nigel Bond was a big surprise given his form in winning the China Open.
BREAK OF THE TOURNAMENT
Stephen Hendry’s second Crucible 147 – 14 years after his first – was marvellous to witness. Get that statue up now!
HEROES
Betfred were enthusiastic sponsors who did much to build excitement backstage without disrespecting the championship – it’s good to have them on board.
The table fitters took stick over the pockets but they were the same size as before. The reason balls were sliding in was because the cushion cloths were changed more regularly. This made conditions better overall.
Jack Lisowski was remarkably self assured for a young lad thrust into the spotlight as recipient of the Paul Hunter Scholarship. Good luck to him for the next year.
Strictly speaking a heroine, but Michaela Tabb handled the final with great authority despite all the attention surrounding her.
The WPBSA ran the event efficiently without any kind of problems as far as I can tell.
VILLAINS
Simon Hattenstone and the many other sneering newspaper columnists who seem to make it an annual mission to do the sport down. Stick to football if you don’t like it.
DAMP SQUIB
The much-hyped Super 6 event didn’t exactly get the juices flowing, did it?
SNOOKER'S MOMENT IN THE SUN
And so the Betfred.com World Championship is over and snooker can look back with pride over a very entertaining 17 days.
We have a top drawer world champion in John Higgins, someone who commands universal respect from his fellow players.
It is interesting that the last two world crowns of the decade were won by players who came to the fore in the 1990s. It seems unlikely that Higgins and Ronnie O’Sullivan will still be competing for titles in ten years time but they have shown their class to keep the new generation at bay.
And there is a new breed of player coming through: Mark Allen, Jamie Cope, Judd Trump et al. They are fierce potters and talented break builders but they could do with Higgins’s superior tactical game, something they will undoubtedly learn in the years to come.
It’s been a great championship and it’s something of an irony that it started to get really interesting when O’Sullivan went out.
If you believe some of the newspaper pundits, the whole sport rests on O’Sullivan’s shoulders. I’m sure Ronnie will be relieved to know that it doesn’t.
What we saw in the second week was a slew of players emerging from his shadow to stake their places in the limelight.
Snooker suffers from an overly nostalgic tendency to look back at the 1980s and think that nothing will ever be the same again, or that it was all so rosy it could never be topped.
This is counter-productive and unfair on the current players.
Alex Higgins once entered the Crucible arena wearing a hat. He doffed it to rapturous applause. Imagine if Shaun Murphy had done the same this year: it would have been presented as proof that he is somehow arrogant or above his station.
Similarly, Bill Werbeniuk was a big guy who guzzled lager to prodigious amounts. He was feted for it. Today, Stephen Lee is roundly abused for occupying the same sort of frame.
Eddie Charlton was a grinder who got involved in many seemingly endless wars of attrition but is fondly remembered. Peter Ebdon is nowhere near as slow but criticised nonetheless.
And can anyone explain to me how Cliff Thorburn – to use an example – was more of a 'character' than Neil Robertson?
The past is another country. In the present, we have a bunch of players as fascinating as have ever occupied the upper echelons of the rankings.
The challenge now will be to build on the momentum created by the World Championship.
This won’t be easy as there will be only six ranking tournaments next season. This means huge gaps between televised events.
It’s a shame that snooker’s period in the spotlight tends to be limited to 17 days per year.
But what a 17 days it has been: drama, excitement and high quality snooker by the bucketload.
I’m already looking forward to next year’s Crucible extravaganza.
We have a top drawer world champion in John Higgins, someone who commands universal respect from his fellow players.
It is interesting that the last two world crowns of the decade were won by players who came to the fore in the 1990s. It seems unlikely that Higgins and Ronnie O’Sullivan will still be competing for titles in ten years time but they have shown their class to keep the new generation at bay.
And there is a new breed of player coming through: Mark Allen, Jamie Cope, Judd Trump et al. They are fierce potters and talented break builders but they could do with Higgins’s superior tactical game, something they will undoubtedly learn in the years to come.
It’s been a great championship and it’s something of an irony that it started to get really interesting when O’Sullivan went out.
If you believe some of the newspaper pundits, the whole sport rests on O’Sullivan’s shoulders. I’m sure Ronnie will be relieved to know that it doesn’t.
What we saw in the second week was a slew of players emerging from his shadow to stake their places in the limelight.
Snooker suffers from an overly nostalgic tendency to look back at the 1980s and think that nothing will ever be the same again, or that it was all so rosy it could never be topped.
This is counter-productive and unfair on the current players.
Alex Higgins once entered the Crucible arena wearing a hat. He doffed it to rapturous applause. Imagine if Shaun Murphy had done the same this year: it would have been presented as proof that he is somehow arrogant or above his station.
Similarly, Bill Werbeniuk was a big guy who guzzled lager to prodigious amounts. He was feted for it. Today, Stephen Lee is roundly abused for occupying the same sort of frame.
Eddie Charlton was a grinder who got involved in many seemingly endless wars of attrition but is fondly remembered. Peter Ebdon is nowhere near as slow but criticised nonetheless.
And can anyone explain to me how Cliff Thorburn – to use an example – was more of a 'character' than Neil Robertson?
The past is another country. In the present, we have a bunch of players as fascinating as have ever occupied the upper echelons of the rankings.
The challenge now will be to build on the momentum created by the World Championship.
This won’t be easy as there will be only six ranking tournaments next season. This means huge gaps between televised events.
It’s a shame that snooker’s period in the spotlight tends to be limited to 17 days per year.
But what a 17 days it has been: drama, excitement and high quality snooker by the bucketload.
I’m already looking forward to next year’s Crucible extravaganza.
4.5.09
JOHN HIGGINS: WORLD CHAMPION
Before marriage, before fatherhood, before the stresses of everyday adult life became a reality, John Higgins was world champion.
He won the title for the first time on May 4, 1998, 11 years ago to this night.
It took him nine years to win it for a second time but only two more to win it for a third.
He could have lost in the second round when he trailed Jamie Cope 12-10, but brought his exceptional poise under pressure to the fore to fight through in a decider.
He could have lost in the quarter-finals but again survived a deciding frame finish to see off Mark Selby.
He played superbly in pulling away early against Mark Allen and demonstrated his superior all round game in exposing Murphy’s weaknesses in the final.
Higgins joins Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan in capturing at least three Crucible crowns. In the modern era, only Ray Reardon and John Spencer have also accomplished this feat.
On any roll of honour bearing the names of snooker’s all time greats, he would have earned a place before today.
But, were there any doubt, John Higgins tonight joined the pantheon of green baize legends.
He won the title for the first time on May 4, 1998, 11 years ago to this night.
It took him nine years to win it for a second time but only two more to win it for a third.
He could have lost in the second round when he trailed Jamie Cope 12-10, but brought his exceptional poise under pressure to the fore to fight through in a decider.
He could have lost in the quarter-finals but again survived a deciding frame finish to see off Mark Selby.
He played superbly in pulling away early against Mark Allen and demonstrated his superior all round game in exposing Murphy’s weaknesses in the final.
Higgins joins Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan in capturing at least three Crucible crowns. In the modern era, only Ray Reardon and John Spencer have also accomplished this feat.
On any roll of honour bearing the names of snooker’s all time greats, he would have earned a place before today.
But, were there any doubt, John Higgins tonight joined the pantheon of green baize legends.
3.5.09
HIGGINS GETS CLOSER
John Higgins didn't just outplay Shaun Murphy at the Crucible tonight, he also out-thought him.
His superior safety play came to the fore and forced the mistakes from Murphy.
So Higgins leads 11-5.
But the final isn't over yet. After all, he led Mark Selby 12-4 in the final two years ago and saw this reduced to 14-13.
His 14-4 lead over Mark Allen in this year's semi-finals was also clawed back, although he of course came through in the end,
I expect Higgins to win but feel it may go a little closer before he gets his hands on the trophy for a third time.
His superior safety play came to the fore and forced the mistakes from Murphy.
So Higgins leads 11-5.
But the final isn't over yet. After all, he led Mark Selby 12-4 in the final two years ago and saw this reduced to 14-13.
His 14-4 lead over Mark Allen in this year's semi-finals was also clawed back, although he of course came through in the end,
I expect Higgins to win but feel it may go a little closer before he gets his hands on the trophy for a third time.
SIX APPEAL?
It was hard to discern much about the potential of the ‘Super Sixes’ version of snooker by watching the Crucible final between veteran Tony Knowles and young Ross Muir but still possible to make a few general points.
The first would be that six reds snooker is invariably a faster form of the game but not necessarily that much faster. For instance, Stephen Maguire and Mark King spent something like 25 minutes on the green in their second round match last week. There’s no reason why this couldn’t happen in the six reds version.
Six reds snooker levels the playing field a little, but why is this a good thing? Top level sport is the survival of the fittest.
Six reds snooker may encourage attacking play but this negates much of the skill of the game, namely the tactical duels.
Of course, many people find these dull and it’s certainly true that snooker can’t stand still.
But I would argue that its chief problem is not a stuffy game or lack of ‘characters’ but more a lack of tournaments and the way the sport's media profile has declined, at least in the UK, so that TV viewers find it harder to relate to the players in the way they once did.
As I wrote last month, six reds may be the way to go for seniors tournaments as the old boys obviously aren’t as good as they were but plenty of people would still like to see them play.
Maybe it would also be a good way of getting kids into the sport.
But snooker, and in particular the World Championship, is popular largely because of the slow burning drama it provides.
Perhaps not everyone has the attention span for this but that doesn’t automatically mean that if you take away nine reds they will suddenly flock to the sport.
That said, there’s nothing wrong with trying something different. But why not be bolder?
If you really want to speed up snooker, you will have to change the rules.
You will have to introduce a shot clock or, as Steve Davis suggested on the BBC, introduce the rule used in 9-ball pool where players have ball in hand after every foul.
I think six reds snooker is fine if it remains in the background as a novelty variant of the established game.
But of all the things wrong with snooker, the game itself is not one of them.
The first would be that six reds snooker is invariably a faster form of the game but not necessarily that much faster. For instance, Stephen Maguire and Mark King spent something like 25 minutes on the green in their second round match last week. There’s no reason why this couldn’t happen in the six reds version.
Six reds snooker levels the playing field a little, but why is this a good thing? Top level sport is the survival of the fittest.
Six reds snooker may encourage attacking play but this negates much of the skill of the game, namely the tactical duels.
Of course, many people find these dull and it’s certainly true that snooker can’t stand still.
But I would argue that its chief problem is not a stuffy game or lack of ‘characters’ but more a lack of tournaments and the way the sport's media profile has declined, at least in the UK, so that TV viewers find it harder to relate to the players in the way they once did.
As I wrote last month, six reds may be the way to go for seniors tournaments as the old boys obviously aren’t as good as they were but plenty of people would still like to see them play.
Maybe it would also be a good way of getting kids into the sport.
But snooker, and in particular the World Championship, is popular largely because of the slow burning drama it provides.
Perhaps not everyone has the attention span for this but that doesn’t automatically mean that if you take away nine reds they will suddenly flock to the sport.
That said, there’s nothing wrong with trying something different. But why not be bolder?
If you really want to speed up snooker, you will have to change the rules.
You will have to introduce a shot clock or, as Steve Davis suggested on the BBC, introduce the rule used in 9-ball pool where players have ball in hand after every foul.
I think six reds snooker is fine if it remains in the background as a novelty variant of the established game.
But of all the things wrong with snooker, the game itself is not one of them.
THE FINAL: HIGGINS V MURPHY
John Higgins has trod a precarious path to his fourth world final but has the class to finish the job and land a third Crucible title on Monday night.
The Scot looked down and out when he trailed rising star Jamie Cope 12-10 in the second round but raised his game when it mattered to come through a 13-12 winner. His quarter-final against Mark Selby was, in terms of quality and drama, the match of the tournament and he prevailed by winning the decider in one visit.
And Higgins played sensationally well to lead Mark Allen 13-3 after two sessions of their semi-final, even if he let things slip before scrambling over the line 17-13. “I went out leading 13-3 with no nerves on me but you need nerves to play well here,” he said afterwards.
Nerves are guaranteed for the final and Higgins has responded when put under pressure so many times that he must be backed to keep the butterflies at bay sufficiently to produce his best during the best of 35 frames showpiece finale.
Now 33, he has long been regarded as one of the greatest all round players snooker has ever seen. He mixes deadly safety with accurate long potting and heavy scoring. At times this makes him unplayable.
It could all have been different had his father, John senior, not taken him to a snooker club at the age of nine. Higgins took to the game immediately and by 15 was one of the leading juniors in the country. His first breakthrough was winning the under 16 title at the 1991 World Masters in Birmingham, beating Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Williams en route.
The three all turned professional the following year and it was Higgins who first got his hands on the famous World Championship trophy. The manner of his 1998 triumph suggested he could bestride the sport in the all conquering way Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry previously had but, with O’Sullivan and Williams having emerged as regular title winners, the era had become so competitive that no one player dominated.
In 2001, Higgins became a father for the first time (he now has three children) and found family life more enjoyable than relentless practice. Therefore, it took him until 2007 to win a second Crucible crown but is looking sharp enough to capture another over the course of the next two days. He would be the oldest winner since Dennis Taylor, at 36, sank that black to beat Steve Davis in 1985.
Standing in his way is Shaun Murphy, seven years his junior and a player who possesses a formidable technique and, just as crucially, a rock solid temperament, even if he let slip a seven frame lead over Neil Robertson in their semi-final. Murphy has the self belief to beat anyone from any position. On his way to landing the 2005 world title he beat Higgins 13-8 in the second round and seemed immune to the unique pressure the intimate Crucible arena generates.
Publicity surrounding the break-up of his marriage does not seem to have affected him and even the boos of some spectators have not prevented him from sticking to his task. Not everyone warms to his persona but surely no true snooker fan can deny his talent.
He led Robertson 14-7 before the pressure told as the Aussie started to find form. Caught at 14-14, many players would have capitulated but Murphy immediately stroked in a century then breaks of 81 and 94 to clinch victory. This was an awesome response when put under the cosh.
Murphy has had a strange season. He lost his opening match in the first four ranking events before winning the fifth, the UK Championship. A couple of quarter-finals since suggested his consistency had returned and he has improved dramatically since falling over the line 10-8 against Andrew Higginson in the first round, hammering Marco Fu 13-3 and fighting past maximum man Hendry 13-11.
Both Higgins and Murphy are capable of keeping cool in the heat of the Crucible cauldron. They have played five times before with Higgins holding a 4-1 advantage. Significantly, though, Murphy’s sole win was that success at the Crucible four years ago.
There will only be one man left standing on bank holiday Monday and my feeling is for Higgins. He has had such an eventful championship that he almost seems destined to win it, probably in very dramatic circumstances.
If he does, as if there was any lingering doubt, he will enter the pantheon of the greats. Only Davis, Hendry and O’Sullivan have won three or more Crucible titles.
Perhaps he should have done so earlier in his career but that is only a reflection of how good a player he was and, indeed, still is.
The Scot looked down and out when he trailed rising star Jamie Cope 12-10 in the second round but raised his game when it mattered to come through a 13-12 winner. His quarter-final against Mark Selby was, in terms of quality and drama, the match of the tournament and he prevailed by winning the decider in one visit.
And Higgins played sensationally well to lead Mark Allen 13-3 after two sessions of their semi-final, even if he let things slip before scrambling over the line 17-13. “I went out leading 13-3 with no nerves on me but you need nerves to play well here,” he said afterwards.
Nerves are guaranteed for the final and Higgins has responded when put under pressure so many times that he must be backed to keep the butterflies at bay sufficiently to produce his best during the best of 35 frames showpiece finale.
Now 33, he has long been regarded as one of the greatest all round players snooker has ever seen. He mixes deadly safety with accurate long potting and heavy scoring. At times this makes him unplayable.
It could all have been different had his father, John senior, not taken him to a snooker club at the age of nine. Higgins took to the game immediately and by 15 was one of the leading juniors in the country. His first breakthrough was winning the under 16 title at the 1991 World Masters in Birmingham, beating Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Williams en route.
The three all turned professional the following year and it was Higgins who first got his hands on the famous World Championship trophy. The manner of his 1998 triumph suggested he could bestride the sport in the all conquering way Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry previously had but, with O’Sullivan and Williams having emerged as regular title winners, the era had become so competitive that no one player dominated.
In 2001, Higgins became a father for the first time (he now has three children) and found family life more enjoyable than relentless practice. Therefore, it took him until 2007 to win a second Crucible crown but is looking sharp enough to capture another over the course of the next two days. He would be the oldest winner since Dennis Taylor, at 36, sank that black to beat Steve Davis in 1985.
Standing in his way is Shaun Murphy, seven years his junior and a player who possesses a formidable technique and, just as crucially, a rock solid temperament, even if he let slip a seven frame lead over Neil Robertson in their semi-final. Murphy has the self belief to beat anyone from any position. On his way to landing the 2005 world title he beat Higgins 13-8 in the second round and seemed immune to the unique pressure the intimate Crucible arena generates.
Publicity surrounding the break-up of his marriage does not seem to have affected him and even the boos of some spectators have not prevented him from sticking to his task. Not everyone warms to his persona but surely no true snooker fan can deny his talent.
He led Robertson 14-7 before the pressure told as the Aussie started to find form. Caught at 14-14, many players would have capitulated but Murphy immediately stroked in a century then breaks of 81 and 94 to clinch victory. This was an awesome response when put under the cosh.
Murphy has had a strange season. He lost his opening match in the first four ranking events before winning the fifth, the UK Championship. A couple of quarter-finals since suggested his consistency had returned and he has improved dramatically since falling over the line 10-8 against Andrew Higginson in the first round, hammering Marco Fu 13-3 and fighting past maximum man Hendry 13-11.
Both Higgins and Murphy are capable of keeping cool in the heat of the Crucible cauldron. They have played five times before with Higgins holding a 4-1 advantage. Significantly, though, Murphy’s sole win was that success at the Crucible four years ago.
There will only be one man left standing on bank holiday Monday and my feeling is for Higgins. He has had such an eventful championship that he almost seems destined to win it, probably in very dramatic circumstances.
If he does, as if there was any lingering doubt, he will enter the pantheon of the greats. Only Davis, Hendry and O’Sullivan have won three or more Crucible titles.
Perhaps he should have done so earlier in his career but that is only a reflection of how good a player he was and, indeed, still is.
2.5.09
FULL MARKS
Mark Allen will not be the winner of this year's Betfred.com World Championship but he has been the tournament's star.
His fast, bustling style has been a breath of fresh air and the Crucible crowd has warmed to him.
My word, he gave John Higgins a scare this afternoon.
He decided to have a go from the off and looked like he might pull back to just 15-13 in arrears before missing a red early in frame 28, from which Higgins made a classy 116 break.
It could have been 16-14 but Allen missed the blue from the last red.
Nevertheless, he has proved he is a big occasion player and I'm sure will feature in plenty of big occasions in years to come.
His fast, bustling style has been a breath of fresh air and the Crucible crowd has warmed to him.
My word, he gave John Higgins a scare this afternoon.
He decided to have a go from the off and looked like he might pull back to just 15-13 in arrears before missing a red early in frame 28, from which Higgins made a classy 116 break.
It could have been 16-14 but Allen missed the blue from the last red.
Nevertheless, he has proved he is a big occasion player and I'm sure will feature in plenty of big occasions in years to come.
ROBERTSON IN A JAM
Well done to Neil Robertson for digging in after a nightmare start to the third session of his semi-final against Shaun Murphy today.
Robertson won the last three frames to trail 14-10 when at one point it looked as if he might suffer defeat with a session to spare.
He should have won the 19th frame. Murphy went in-off the green but Robertson grossly misjudged position from brown to blue and ended up missing a long blue, from which Murphy potted three great balls for a 12-7 lead.
Robertson's normally rock solid confidence appeared to be destroyed by this and at 14-7 he was all at sea.
Perhaps by this point he felt he couldn't win the match and so started throwing his cue at the balls.
He ended up making a century in the last frame and although Murphy is still a heavy favourite, the Aussie has thrown himself a lifeline.
He will, however, need to make a good start when they return tonight to stand any chance of winning the match.
Robertson won the last three frames to trail 14-10 when at one point it looked as if he might suffer defeat with a session to spare.
He should have won the 19th frame. Murphy went in-off the green but Robertson grossly misjudged position from brown to blue and ended up missing a long blue, from which Murphy potted three great balls for a 12-7 lead.
Robertson's normally rock solid confidence appeared to be destroyed by this and at 14-7 he was all at sea.
Perhaps by this point he felt he couldn't win the match and so started throwing his cue at the balls.
He ended up making a century in the last frame and although Murphy is still a heavy favourite, the Aussie has thrown himself a lifeline.
He will, however, need to make a good start when they return tonight to stand any chance of winning the match.
WORLD SERIES COMPETITION
The Eurosport website is running a competition to win a VIP trip to the World Series event in Killarney featuring Ken Doherty, Jimmy White, John Higgins and Shaun Murphy.
You can enter here.
You can enter here.
1.5.09
HIGGINS ON THE BRINK
John Higgins seemed a little edgy at the Crucible tonight, possibly because he was keen to kill off his semi-final with Mark Allen in three sessions.
He failed to do so but let's keep a sense of perspective. If you'd have offered John a 15-9 lead after three sessions before the match began he'd have taken it.
I expect him to complete victory pretty quickly on Saturday.
I also expect Shaun Murphy to ultimately prevail against Neil Robertson, although he had a chance to take control at 9-5 and lost two frames to leave the semi-final poised at 9-7 and very much up for grabs.
Neil's mother, Alison, has been watching on an internet stream at horrible times of the day and night.
In Australia, they only get TV highlights several weeks after the event.
Neil will be hoping to provide those highlights programmes with more Aussie success but he will have to tighten up to reach the final.
He failed to do so but let's keep a sense of perspective. If you'd have offered John a 15-9 lead after three sessions before the match began he'd have taken it.
I expect him to complete victory pretty quickly on Saturday.
I also expect Shaun Murphy to ultimately prevail against Neil Robertson, although he had a chance to take control at 9-5 and lost two frames to leave the semi-final poised at 9-7 and very much up for grabs.
Neil's mother, Alison, has been watching on an internet stream at horrible times of the day and night.
In Australia, they only get TV highlights several weeks after the event.
Neil will be hoping to provide those highlights programmes with more Aussie success but he will have to tighten up to reach the final.
HIGGINS COMING GOOD
I regard John Higgins as a class act.
The way he played to win his first world title in 1998 is as good as anyone has ever played. I thought then that he would dominate the game in the same way Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry did.
It didn't quite work out that way but there's no doubt that, as an all round player, he can claim to be as good as anyone who has ever picked up a cue.
John has perhaps struggled when it comes to applying himself. He's a family man and has enjoyed fatherhood. There was a telling quote from him in a recent interview: "When I'm on my deathbed I don't think I'll look back and wish I'd spent more time on a snooker table."
Even so, a third world title is honing into view and it will take some performance to deny him.
You could argue he should have won three, four or maybe even five world titles by now. This isn't a criticism of him, more an acknowledgment of how good a player he is.
He leads Mark Allen 6-2 overnight and I would expect him to come through.
Shaun Murphy and Neil Robertson are tough opponents but Higgins seems to be getting better with every frame.
This makes him hard to beat as the Crucible marathon enters its final strait.
The way he played to win his first world title in 1998 is as good as anyone has ever played. I thought then that he would dominate the game in the same way Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry did.
It didn't quite work out that way but there's no doubt that, as an all round player, he can claim to be as good as anyone who has ever picked up a cue.
John has perhaps struggled when it comes to applying himself. He's a family man and has enjoyed fatherhood. There was a telling quote from him in a recent interview: "When I'm on my deathbed I don't think I'll look back and wish I'd spent more time on a snooker table."
Even so, a third world title is honing into view and it will take some performance to deny him.
You could argue he should have won three, four or maybe even five world titles by now. This isn't a criticism of him, more an acknowledgment of how good a player he is.
He leads Mark Allen 6-2 overnight and I would expect him to come through.
Shaun Murphy and Neil Robertson are tough opponents but Higgins seems to be getting better with every frame.
This makes him hard to beat as the Crucible marathon enters its final strait.
THE FORGOTTEN CHAMPION: UPDATED
Further to my Horace Lindrum story a couple of days ago, Clive Everton and Phil Yates have more information in The Guardian and The Times respectively.
MURPHY'S LAW
Shaun Murphy hardly endeared himself to the neutrals by refusing to allow Neil Robertson leave to get his extension from his dressing room during frame five tonight.
It was hard to hear in commentary, but I'm told by someone who was in the arena that when the referee, Eirian Williams, asked Murphy if he minded if Robertson went to retrieve the equipment, the 2005 world champion replied with a fair amount of sarcasm: "Why don't we go out for a cup of tea as well?" [note: this is second hand, I didn't hear him say it myself]
That said, it was Neil's own fault for not bringing it back into the arena after the interval.
It was hard to hear in commentary, but I'm told by someone who was in the arena that when the referee, Eirian Williams, asked Murphy if he minded if Robertson went to retrieve the equipment, the 2005 world champion replied with a fair amount of sarcasm: "Why don't we go out for a cup of tea as well?" [note: this is second hand, I didn't hear him say it myself]
That said, it was Neil's own fault for not bringing it back into the arena after the interval.
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