6.6.13

SOFIA CALLS

The first televised snooker of the new season takes place in Sofia, Bulgaria over the next three days.

The European Tour is now the name given to the eight PTCs played in Europe and the UK. The first prize for the European events has risen from €10,000 in its first season to €25,000 in the current campaign.

Bulgaria is a part of Europe which has taken to snooker on Eurosport but there is much to be done to pull together an event – and it has been, chiefly by Oleg Velinov, the promoter.

It was a proud moment for him and the Bulgarian snooker community last year when they staged the first professional event held there, won in fine fashion by Judd Trump.

Trump is among the star names heading back to Sofia, alongside the likes of Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy, John Higgins, Mark Williams and the reigning world champion, Ronnie O’Sullivan, who is apparently to appear on Bulgarian TV’s version of the Letterman show.

Like all the PTCs, this is a gathering of the great, the good and the not very good. But amateurs see it as their big chance to gain experience and some of the locals will make it on to TV.

Step forward Iveilo Pekov, who faces Robertson in the first match tomorrow morning. Logic suggests he is on a one-way ticket to a beatdown but as Robertson forgot to take his dress suit with him to the Wuxi Classic qualifiers you never know.

One TV match pits Barry Hawkins, the Crucible runner-up just a month ago, against 17 year-old Alexander Ursenbacher of Switzerland, who has turned professional after coming through the Q School.

My research on Ursenbacher reveals he once won a tournament called the Sausage Open, but it will surely take a superhuman effort if he is to bring home the bacon in Sofia.

Eurosport’s live coverage starts at 7.30am UK time on Friday morning.

16 comments:

JimJampot said...

Any reason why no Chinese or Thai players have entered this, a lot are based in the UK, why not hang around for this then pop over to China for the first ATPC before Wuxi like teh rest of the Uk based players. Would of thought some would be keen given the prize money difference between the PTC's and the APTC's. Anyone know why?



mg147 said...

..the newest addition to the pro ranks (2013-2014 and 2014-2015) is:
Robin Hull, who won the European Amateur Championship final (held in Poland) earlier today. He beat Gareth Allen (Wal) by 7-2 finishing off with a 129 and a 109 in a high quality final. If I´m not mistaken the European Champion gets a main tour card?

Anonymous said...

Hi dave what time does ronnie play Saturday UK time please ?

Dave H said...

10.30 UK time

John F said...

mg147 - I think he gets one as I know Scott Donaldson only joined the tour when it was already into the season last year.

It would be great to see Hull back as his career basically stalled through illness. It was some kind of serious virus?

Hopefully he takes up the card even if he might not play every event - it would be great to see him back.

Roland said...

The Sausage Open remark made me laugh out loud. lol

Ursenbacher could be one to watch out for not so much this season but next and beyond. Obviously Hawkins is likely to pump anyone after his exploits at the Crucible, and for the first half of this season will be a big contender for every title, but this Ursenbacher lad from Switzerland appears to have genuine pedigree. He blitzed Q School 2 kicking off one 4-0 drubbing with a 140 and he's only 17.

Anonymous said...

Guys - why can't we have commentary all day on the Eurosport Red Button (the eurosport web Player) ?

Dave H said...

The commentary is TV specific so only currently done on TV broadcasts

Ray said...

Going off subject .... What is your view on diverting some of the budget down to the lower reaches of snooker?
Would it be good for the game going forward?
Please could you tell me what is the average age of the current top 32 snooker players?
In my opinion it would seem to be beneficial to the game if the overall WS budget was cascaded further down than at present in order to support up and coming talent.

Anonymous said...

Isn't the flat format supposed to funnel some of the cash down? Last season we had players sometimes winning a match and not earning anything, which was hardly an incentive to do well: win your match and pay for another night in a b&b. On the other hand, I don't agree with knocking down the top prize and giving the cash to lower players. If you win the title you've done your job as well you possibly could have done, and it shouldn't be down to you to subsidise the lower ranks. The overpaid tiers have always been the 2nd round and quarter-finals, and UK based first rounds. You sometimes get massive hikes in those rounds and it is not warranted:players like Ding, Maguire, Murphy, Selby and so forth have been on a nice little earner getting rich off plenty of 2nd round and QF exits, and it is this band of players that are overpaid IMO, not the winners. It remains to be seen if the flat format will spread the cash out, but at least everyone has the same earning potential now, so no more free rides.

Anonymous said...

Re 1128 dave appreciate commentary is tv specific but bbc do commentary live as match progresses, which is what we hear on bbc red button, so why not Eurosport....

Anonymous said...

Dave, just to say you are spot on with your comments about the Wuxi draw and Reanne having to play a Chinese Wildcard (who, on past form, has to be the favourite). The mainstream media coverage of Reanne's win was unprecedented for a last 128 match. I find it all very surprising given how Bazza has actually done quite a bit for women's darts

Ray said...

It really frustrates the hell out of me to watch Luca Brecel play. Here's a young man with an abundance of talent but he has such a laissez faire attitude to the game. If only he sought some sage advice,sooner rather than later,from someone like Frank Callan,Frank Adamson or Ray Reardon for example. He could then harness his undoubted talent and start winning tournaments and shoot up the rankings in double quick time.

Anonymous said...

When we talk about snooker in Eatern Europe we are talking nationwide cue throwing.

Anonymous said...

Eurosport 2 - Snooker 08.00-12.00...

Serena Williams looks nothing like Ronnie O'Sullivan and now, what's this ?...John Higgins on a 1000cc Honda ???

What's occurring ?????

Anonymous said...

They can't have commentary on eurosport player (red button equivalent) due to all the different languages ES broadcasts in. It would be a technical knightmare!

They could however have 2 audio feeds, one for english and the 2nd just the auditorium feed?