8.7.12

ALL GO FOR BENDIGO

The Australian Goldfields Open, which starts tomorrow, is the second world ranking event of the season.

It was won last year by Stuart Bingham, who recovered from 8-5 down to beat Mark Williams 9-8.

This was the greatest day of Bingham’s snooker career and a popular win for a player who has always supported the game by playing in tournaments big, small and long forgotten.

He’s back, of course, as defending champion but seven top 16 players have decided not to enter.

This is their right. Entry to tournaments has never been compulsory and if you feel you don’t need the points, or that it’s too far to travel, then you are free not to go.

But this doesn’t mean the tournament should not be on at all, despite what Mark Allen says.

There are many complaints about this and that behind the scenes. There always have been. Some are legitimate and others seem more spurious.

What annoys me, though, is that so many people think everything should be perfect immediately and forget why we are where we are.

When Barry Hearn took over in 2010, he did so because the game was going nowhere. It had stagnated.

He said he had a five-year plan to revive it. This is year three. The plan is still being rolled out.

New markets are being tried. Some will work, some will not, but it’s better than having hardly any events at all.

Of course everyone would want more prize money and for things to be ‘better’ full stop but tournaments have to be built up. Most events on the calendar now are being built up from scratch.

It is likely several of the European PTCs will grow into becoming fully fledged ranking tournaments, but these things take time.

I can understand players thinking mainly about the here and now because it is their livelihoods and a big tournament in three years time doesn’t pay the mortgage in 2012.

Sport as a career carries potential riches but also great uncertainty and anxiety, disappointment and frustration.

But is also about opportunity, and for one of the 32 players (plus two local wildcards) in Bendigo there is the chance to win a ranking title.

The most important player there as far as the organisers are concerned is there own Neil Robertson, closely followed by Ding Junhui.

There are a few what might be termed old sticks – Peter Ebdon, Ken Doherty, Alan McManus and Nigel Bond – and younger prospects such as Jack Lisowski, Xiao Guodong and Cao Yupeng.

There are also the dependables, players such as Mark Selby and Shaun Murphy, who play in everything.

In another week, in another part of the world, let’s hope they all put on a show which will best reflect the positives about the sport.

Coverage starts on Eurosport and liveworldsnooker.tv on Monday.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Money's only going to come if the sponsors see a lot of interest. There's only going to be a lot of interest if the best players turn up and entertain the crowds. Shame Mark Allen doesn't see that.

I thought last year's tournament was pretty good and there was a better turn out in Bendigo than in Wuxi and even Newport in the early stages of the tournament.

Anonymous said...

2 years ago he would only be paying tax on 6 events. as an ex player i would rather have a lot more opportunities to play and pay more tax in certain events.these players have such short memories. Im very surprised at Judd ,it was only a few years ago he was driving all over the country playing in clubs for £200 to the winner.If the tour went back to how it was a few years ago these players might regret not playing in these extra events.

Anonymous said...

mark allen is a spoilt little brat.

i so hope his career takes a complete nosedive.

Anonymous said...

Australia - let's not forget Mark Davis who is on a roll.

As somebody who isn't a Pro Snooker player. to me it's very difficult to ask Pro Snooker players to go to a tournament if they are probably going to make a £ loss. If you were a new player you might accept a period of time when you make a loss, but not when you are established.

As we saw at the six ball final, the game is still very dominated by British players. There may be five events in China, but the local players are not reaching the last 16 in most cases.

From a business perspective, a single tour per season outside of Europe, to China, Thailand, Australia would make a lot more sense. Maybe tour in Summer, Europe in Winter.

Anonymous said...

Aus always seemed a non-starter to me, put it was worth a punt with Robbo's profile as high as it is. If the sport can emulate its China success in Europe then it doesn't really need to go elsewhere. I think a few of the top players are making it clear they don't want to play over the summer period too, and it's reasonable to want some time off after a demanding season.

Anonymous said...

a ptc a few days before bendy would do well....

Anonymous said...

"we are where we are" that dave sounds like something churned out from a government press office.

NewsfoxSport said...

Players get loads of time off - actually add up their work days instead of just believing their crap.

If players went to Oz, the tourney grows and the money goes up. And you get to go to Australia, which is a pretty nice place.

Oh no, Higgins, ROS, Juddward, just you stay at home and play on your fruit machine in the local club!

Spoons!

wild said...

What annoys me, though, is that so many people think everything should be perfect immediately and forget why we are where we are.

When Barry Hearn took over in 2010, he did so because the game was going nowhere. It had stagnated.

He said he had a five-year plan to revive it. This is year three. The plan is still being rolled out.

New markets are being tried. Some will work, some will not, but it’s better than having hardly any events at all.

Of course everyone would want more prize money and for things to be ‘better’ full stop but tournaments have to be built up. Most events on the calendar now are being built up from scratch.
--------------------------------------

that is also something that irritates the hell out of me too.

and trying to explain sense to some on the internet (you know who you are) gets frustrating beyond belief.

not only players that don't see the bigger picture.

Anonymous said...

And what exactly counts as a "work day" Newsfox? Are practice sessions just a knockaround to you? Do you count in travel days? What about days inbetween matches at tournaments, are you on your own time then? I'm pretty sure you're not clocking them on and off so so maybe you should check your facts before esposuing ill-informed opinions.

JAMIE O'REILLY said...

I can't wait David. 15 reds again, haha. It should be a great event.

Anonymous said...

I assume Australia is too far for Mark Allen to travel to.
Which begs the question how on earth did Neil Robertson win the worlds when he is from so far away.
Maybe we should have every tournament in Antrim and Mark Allen can dazzle everyone with his rapier wit and unbridled and thus far undetectable class,