There
is no more snooker this year so it’s time to take stock, preferably with as
much food and alcohol as possible.
It’s
traditional to review the season rather than the calendar year but the whole
concept of seasons has become somewhat irrelevant in this era when snooker
rolls on and on. No sooner does the World Championship end as the new ‘season’
is about to start.
So
as we have this chance to pause, we can reflect on 2013, a year in which there
were many events, many winners, many terrific matches, controversy, drama and
much more besides.
To
simplify, there were hits and misses. Here are mine:
HITS
RONNIE
O’SULLIVAN
O’Sullivan
predicted his return at the Crucible would be a ‘car crash.’ In fact, he
motored to a sensational victory, proving once again that he produces his best
when the odds are apparently against him.
This
was one of snooker’s most notable achievements, but just as notable was the
fact nobody had stepped up and taken him on. This has changed now that O’Sullivan
is playing more snooker…but the Crucible is a different prospect and he goes
there clearly capable of making it six world titles.
DING
JUNHUI
In
winning three successive ranking titles, Ding proved that it is possible to
dominate: you just have to be exceptional. Steve Davis was. Stephen Hendry was.
Ding at his best is sublime and his patience and discipline got him through the
various dodgy times in matches he may have lost a couple of years back.
It’s
still five months until the world final. If Ding is in it then the viewing
audience in China will be colossal. And if he’s in it playing the snooker he’s
already produced this season then he will take some stopping.
CHAMPION
OF CHAMPIONS
This
was a welcome new event for several reasons. First, it was for the elite. There
was one table, not ten, and the game’s best were rewarded for their
achievements.
ITV4
also provided excellent coverage, the crowds were good and it gave snooker in
the UK a shot in the arm. One thing though: Matchroom should announce now what
the criteria is for places next season. Anthony McGill came up with a good
idea: invite the last 16 major tournament winners and thus avoid any arguments.
NEIL
ROBERTSON
Robertson’s
century tally for the season now stands at 60, just one off Judd Trump’s
seasonal record set during 2012/13. The Australian completed the triple crown
at the UK Championship and ends 2013 as world no.1.
More
than that, he is an eloquent speaker and his positive attitude is refreshing in
a sport where so many enjoy a moan.
BARRY
HEARN
Hearn
is Britain’s leading sports promoter. I know because he told me. But behind his
boastful demeanour, Hearn is a shrewd operator with a genuine sense of what the
public wants and the business savvy to make it happen.
Many
top players disagreed with the flat draw system but in the early stages of this
format they have been the main winners: literally – at the recent World Open
qualifiers every member of the top 16 made it through.
TWITTER
Fans
can now interact with players and others in the snooker world in a way
impossible and unimaginable years ago thanks to Twitter.
Not
every tweet is helpful or edifying but they each represent the truth of the
moment for players and are a world away from shiny and false PR. Players are
human beings, not robots. For good and bad, Twitter has provided a window on
the range of human emotions which come with life as a sportsman.
SNOOKER
LEGENDS
This
has been another successful year for a successful exhibition series which
showcases some of the players who did so much to put the game on the map in the
first place.
The
Legends nights have the right mix of fun and competition and the televised
event in Bedworth last May was a good way to wind down after the World
Championship.
MISSES
THE
WORLD OPEN
There’s
nothing wrong with this as a tournament but the complete lack of atmosphere due
to low crowds was a disappointment. Participation levels in China are
remarkable but ticket prices remain a problem. Quite simply, many ordinary
Chinese snooker fans are priced out of attending live matches.
It
was a particular shame in Haikou because it marked ITV’s return to broadcasting
snooker. They are not understood to be particularly keen to show the World Open
again.
JUDD
TRUMP
2013
was a disappointing year for Trump’s fans as he did not win a professional title
this calendar year, having won at least one each year since 2008. He had a good
run in the World Championship but lost to Ronnie O’Sullivan in the semi-finals.
This season, results have been hard to come by.
I
think one of his problems is that the fear factor he had a couple of years ago
when he was the exciting new kid on the baize has gone. There is also the
pressure of raised expectations: before he was winning titles, 2013 would have been
judged a successful year, now he’s there to be shot at. But there’s another
year on the way and Trump remains both young and talented. All great players
have endured slumps and found their way out.
POWER
SNOOKER
Nothing
whatsoever was heard about this in 2013 beyond a vague announcement of an event
last March which never happened.
The
truth is, there was never anything wrong with snooker as a game, just how it
was being run. Now that has been addressed the traditional game is flourishing
and gimmicks will recede into history.
STEPHEN
LEE
Lee’s
appeal against his 12-year ban for match and frame fixing will be heard on
January 30. If he is unsuccessful his snooker career is over.
Snooker
is no more susceptible to cheating as any other sport but neither is it immune.
It has embraced the betting industry but needs to remain constantly alive to
ensuring players are not led astray by those looking to make a fast buck, which
appears to be what happened to Lee.
WOMEN’S
SNOOKER
World
Snooker launched a ‘Ladies Day’ at the Crucible where warm words were spoken
about helping the women’s game but when Reanne Evans qualified for the Wuxi
Classic she had to play a wildcard and, had she won, would have played Neil
Robertson in a session not televised in Europe.
The
good news for the World Ladies Billiards and Snooker Association is that Mandy
Fisher, who has probably done more than anyone to champion the women’s game,
has returned to the helm, which should hopefully help their circuit to grow
again.
LIVEWORLDSNOOKER.TV
This
service has taken a few backward steps this year. They dispensed with
commentary to cut costs and also reduced the number of cameras used.
Always
the problem on the Internet is how to make money out of something when people can get it for free.
Those who have watched on dodgy streams rather than subscribing certainly
haven’t helped but by and large people do pay if they feel a service is worth
it.
THE
BRITS
The
professional circuit is still comprised of 75% British players, largely because
the entire qualifying set-up has been based in Britain for decades. But all six
major ranking events this season have been won by non-British players, with
only two British finalists.
This
does not represent the end of snooker in the UK but does point to the game
becoming more global, which is the key to its ultimate survival as a big money
sport.
And with all that, and plenty of snooker to look forward to in 2014, I wish a very merry Christmas and happy New Year to all readers of this blog.