17.7.11

SNOOKER'S GOLD RUSH

Bendigo's history is steeped in gold mining and World Snooker will be hoping to strike green baize gold, if such a thing existed, with the new Australian Open.

It can only be good news that a new ranking event is being staged down under and let's hope it's a successful first event (it will be on for three years).

Only two of the world's top 16 have failed to make the trip. Ronnie O'Sullivan, as we know, made it to Bangkok and then turned around again.

"We're a long way past the situation where the game revolves round one player. There are several exceptional players that snooker fans and viewers all over the world want to see," is Barry Hearn's view on that.

Graeme Dott was suffering from neck trouble at the Wuxi Classic, where he lost 5-0 to Mark Selby. Those speculating that Dotty withdrew for financial reasons obviously don't know that players in the Wuxi Classic had their business class flights to Australia paid in full.

Thankfully everyone else has made it and the stage is set fair for what is still the game's biggest draw: ranking event snooker, something that palpably matters.

It's not only the locals hoping that Neil Robertson has a good run. For the sake of the event, the 2010 world champion needs to do well and I suspect he will step up to the plate.

He has every right to be proud that his Crucible triumph last year was the catalyst for the Australian Open happening at all.

There are some interesting first round matches, not least the first TV game on Eurosport tomorrow, Stephen Hendry v Martin Gould.

Hendry said last week that he thinks he can return to the top eight. Actually, he comes into the event outside the top 16 in the latest rankings and desperately needing to find a consistent vein of form.

It's not like his game has completely gone, it just goes walkabout too much. Gould has beaten him before and doesn't seem to fear anyone. This is a tough starter for the former Winfield Australian Masters champion.

Judd Trump is also in action on the opening day, against Mark Davis. Judd was the star of the last part of last season but that's all in the past now and he knows he will be under more scrutiny than ever.

Wherever tournaments are staged, one of the usual suspects invariably wins, but as at last season's German Masters the identity of the eventual champion scarcely matters when set against what a week like this can do for snooker.

It's a venture into a new territory and hopefully all involved can play their part in making it a significant one.

31 comments:

wild said...

"We're a long way past the situation where the game revolves round one player. There are several exceptional players that snooker fans and viewers all over the world want to see," is Barry Hearn's view on that."
------------------------------------

thats my view also the sport has over took Ronnie he isnt needed anymore to the extream he was a few years back.

Ronnie today is in a position Alex Higgins was 25 years ago if he plays Great if he don't we moved on with Jimmy white,Hendry etc etc.

NewsBrain said...

Ranking events are fine and neccessary but the reason snooker got into such a mess was thinking that all it needed to do....was churn out more ranking events.

I have really enjoyed the World Cup - full of innovation. But to really capture the imagination in Oz, I think they should have put the World Open there. Not too sure people are going to want to see the early rounds. Ultimately you need 15 odd rankers and about the same number of other events for balance/interest so, in that regard, I hope it's a success.

Anonymous said...

will es show the finals live on one of their british channels?

Dave H said...

According to the schedules it's live on British Eurosport2

Anonymous said...

thank you david

Anonymous said...

I hope for the success of this tournament, and the (re)development of snooker in Australia that Neil will have a good one. But also, that both "wilcards" will be able to give a good account of themselves. Steve did great in the World Cup. I think that seeing amateurs involved with the pros and doing well is an excellent incentive for newbies to take on the game, or take it more seriously. Sometimes the "pro" world can appear as too "inaccessible", in a way "from another planet" and trigger thoughts along the way "this is great but it isn't for me" ... seeing good amateur in action and doing well can break those fears/prejudices

Claus said...

3:15 To warm up to the aussie crowd the 99% of players who storm out of the arena after matches could spend 2 minutes signing autographs. World snooker should ensure this happens.

Anonymous said...

Dave I'm not happy at seeing Wild still being allowed to post after his previous blaspehmus comments. Please ban him.

Anonymous said...

Has to be Dave, you can't allow folk to make comments like that on your site, I haven't read what Wild has said but if it's blasphemus then he has to go. People get angry with things like that and don't appreciate it on such a good blog as your own Dave and you go a great job, it's just a shame you have to deal with idiots like that.

Anonymous said...

8.18- hahahaha

Anonymous said...

Claus, the players would stay in the arena longer if it were their choice but World Snooker want them out of there as fast as possible.

And I agree, ban Wild, but not because he's a blasphemer but because he's a retard.

Anonymous said...

Hey Dave, do you know that journo who fitted up Higgins, did he get binned when Screws got shut down? Talk about karma eh.

Anonymous said...

It's disgusting. If what's been written on here is true Wild needs to be banned.

kildare said...

Why do eurosport not show snooker as advertised I organised my evening to watch highlights of snookers world cup and its 12am now and it starts an hour and 10 minutes late..anyway regardless it should have been shown live..what makes all this worse is that snookers majors wont be on eurosport this year..ARE THEY ON THE EUROSPORT PLAYER??which is probably the only decent aspect of eurosport even with no commentry??i mean this is lousy I dont know how world snooker can boast of a big eurosport deal when the game is treated like this

wild said...

anons

show some guts and lets see who you are its easy to hide your identity isn't it chickens.

Dave H said...

Kidlare: the women's World Cup final went to extra time and penalties which pushed everything back by about an hour, something live snooker often does to other sports

kildare cueman said...

Kildare, do I know you? I play in Newbridge CYMS.

Anonymous said...

Sorry I can't wild. Some of us are on the tour and we need the anonymity so we can freely criticise the management without fear of retribution. The game is being run into the ground, and it looks like prize money is increasing but the majority of players have seen their money go down because of ptc expenses. Its ok Dave saying professional snooker should'nt reward mediocrity but there are more mediocre players than good players and we want to be rewarded.

Anonymous said...

9.19, How can you say the game is being run into the ground? If as you say, mediocre players are losing money, then they should become an amateur again and work in a snooker club or something. They will be replaced pretty quickly.
The sport is about pleasing fans, not players, as without fans there will be even less cash to go around. Winners draw fans. They should be rewarded. If you keep paying deadwood, the whole system will get clogged up and make it impossible for new talent to come through.

Anonymous said...

If you can't make a living playing snooker get a job. The sport doesn't exist to hand money to people putting nothing into it.

Anonymous said...

Do coca cola and Mac Dondals prioritise their customers? No 1057, the shareholders are the priority and that's the truth for any business, and since I am technically a shareholder I expect to be recompensed accordingly.

kildare cueman said...

Looks like a decent crowd in Australia.

Anonymous said...

ahhhhhh hendo

stuartfanning said...

Clive Everton is in Bendigo commentating for IMG Media. He did the Gould Hendry match. It was streamed online so will future matches.

Anonymous said...

where stuart?

Dave H said...

I believe it's available on Bet365

Anonymous said...

no kildare cueman i used to play in celbridge...i just hope that all tiurnaments will be on the eurosport player

Anonymous said...

anon player, you make a ridiculous argument when asking if Coca Cola and MDs prioritise their shareholders. Maybe they dont, but you are only as long as your ability allows, the golf tours, tennis tours and fottball leagues all give more money to the better players, the weaker ones fall off the circuit.

The only major extra expense you have is entering the PTCs abroad and I suggest that if you did not go to these you would have ample opportunity to make more money than you have in the past years.

At a guess, are you in your early 30s and on the decline? You sound bitter where most youngsters are basking in the knowledge that they have a much better opportunity now than ever.

Anonymous said...

Wild having a go at people for being anonymous lol well your name tells us a lot about who you are haha

stuartfanning said...

Also comes up on the following site when matches are pending.

http://www.fromsportcom.com/

Rigsby said...

This better wild, have i made you feel all gooey inside awwww bless ya son xxx