Hmmm...
Liang Wenbo's match in the final qualifying round of the Shanghai Masters, which was due to be played in Prestatyn on Thursday, will now be held at the venue in China.
Liang has been unable to get his work permit.
I have sympathy for the Chinese players - Mei Xiwen and Li Hang also failed to get visas. It seems ridiculous really that Chinese professionals have to travel to the UK to try and qualify for a tournament in China.
It's all very well saying, 'tough, that's the system' but how many British players would fancy flying to China to try and qualify for the UK Championship?
However, the other side of this is that whoever comes through to eventually face Liang could reasonably claim they should receive a walkover. They may even have a legal case (although it's unlikely to come to that).
If a British player had, say, broken down on the way to Prestatyn would they have been able to go to Shanghai and play the match? Unlikely.
Of course, having Liang playing in Shanghai can be defended on commercial grounds. Having him there is good for box office and TV.
But as this is the case, why was his match scheduled for Prestatyn in the first place?
So on the one hand this decision is common sense, on the other it's an unlevelling of the playing field.
As I said earlier, hmmm...
12 comments:
Yes could imagine the other Chinese players who didn't get their visa being a bit miffed though maybe in a way pleased for their fellow compatriot, who is a big box office draw I should think.
At least they will probably be allowed to compete as wildcards most probably, though of course this does their cause no good as regards ranking points.
It's a strange situation, think you have summed it up perfectly there really.
Strikes me as though it is the common sense thing to do, but not necessarily the fair one.
hmmmmmm… indeed.
I must say I don't find this fair vis-avis the other chinese players. Especially as Liang will not be struggling to stay on the main tour while for the beginners, with only 6 rankers, not being able to play the qualifs might prove dooming.
So, looks like Alan McManus or David Gilbert will be the "lucky" one... Do they get financially compensated for the trip to Shanghai as they'll face much higher travel expenses now compared to playing in Prestatyn?
eric what a selfish atatute if you dont mind me saying...
its wrong that mcmanus or gilbert flyes to china but its ok for the chinese to fly to britain to qualify to play in the shanghai masters...
why should the chinese or other overseas players have to bow to the brits all the time.
this is off topic but its to do with the poll
there are 10 players who started out in the first qualifieng round stil in contention for shanghai.
12:33 i think its your attitude that is wrong
the rules are the qualifiers are played in UK.
Mcmanus etc dont make that rule but they abide by them, so it is only correct that they should feel put out now that they have to travel much much further and out of the norm to play this tie!
More to the point - how the hell is it fair that the British Government refuse to grant a work permit to a professional snooker player who based himself in Sheffield to further his career and has appeared on national tv many times and reached the Crucible twice?
I'm sure if he was a footballer there would be no problem whatsoever. Football clubs look after their players. World Snooker should be responsible for ensuring all their main tour professionals have the necessary paperwork to enable them to concentrate on their career.
It makes my blood boil to think that Liang isn't allowed here yet there are thousands and thousands of illegals who break the law and they are allowed to stay.
I hope Liang wins the Shanghai tournament.
I know for sure that this is one of the key topics on the Agenda of the Players Association, Qualifiers can be and will be held in local regions for open competitions, It is the only way to develop the sport internationally It seems to work elsewhere
i agree 1-04, but until such times as a change is made then the rules are as they stand and the person posting "having a pop" at mcmanus etc are way off the mark
7.19PM
WHAT ?
so im wrong in saying that playing the shanghai masters or china open in wales is wrong ??
what part of wales is not in china are you having difficulty in understanding ??
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