Here is the format of play for the first World Series event at Fort Regent, Jersey this coming weekend:
Saturday, June 21
First round (best of seven frames)
11.15am: Mark Selby (England) v Rafal Jewtuch (Poland)
1.30pm: Ken Doherty (Ireland) v Gary Britton (Jersey)
5pm: Shaun Murphy (England) v Martyn Desperques (Guernsey)
7.30pm: John Higgins (Scotland) v Aaron Canavan (Jersey)
Sunday, June 22
Semi-finals (best of nine frames)
11.15am: Selby/Jewtuch v Doherty/Britton
2pm: Murphy/Desperques v Higgins/Canavan
Final (best of 11 frames)
6.30pm
TICKETS
Fort Regent, Jersey
Tel: 01534 449827 for tickets
Further info FSTC Sports Management - 01786 458108 email: info@fstcollege.com
EUROSPORT TRANSMISSION TIMES
(Times given as BST)
Saturday, June 21: 7.15pm-10pm
Sunday, June 22: 7.45pm-10pm
16.6.08
15.6.08
FATHER'S DAY FOR HIGGINS
Twice world champion John Higgins has become a father for the third time.
His wife, Denise, gave birth to daughter Claudia last week. The couple already have two boys, six year-old Pierce and Oliver, three.
Higgins will attempt to shrug off the sleepless nights when he takes part in the first World Series event in Jersey next weekend.
"I'd better do well because my wife is spending a small fortune on pink outfits for the baby," he said.
"But we are thrilled to have our first little girl and while I've had a few sleeps on the couch she has been brilliant. The whole family could not be happier."
His wife, Denise, gave birth to daughter Claudia last week. The couple already have two boys, six year-old Pierce and Oliver, three.
Higgins will attempt to shrug off the sleepless nights when he takes part in the first World Series event in Jersey next weekend.
"I'd better do well because my wife is spending a small fortune on pink outfits for the baby," he said.
"But we are thrilled to have our first little girl and while I've had a few sleeps on the couch she has been brilliant. The whole family could not be happier."
13.6.08
BLOGGING ON
This blog is now two years old and I'd like to thank everyone who has read it, left comments and generally shown any interest during this time.
What would be of help to me is to find out what snooker fans would like from a blog like this.
The idea from the start was to post a mix of news and opinion. I have tried to bring you stories you wouldn't read anywhere else and also analyse various happenings in the snooker world.
But I would welcome any input and opinions as to the future.
What would be of help to me is to find out what snooker fans would like from a blog like this.
The idea from the start was to post a mix of news and opinion. I have tried to bring you stories you wouldn't read anywhere else and also analyse various happenings in the snooker world.
But I would welcome any input and opinions as to the future.
12.6.08
TEN GREATEST MOMENTS IN SNOOKER HISTORY: 9
1988 - DOUG MOUNTJOY WINS SECOND UK TITLE TEN YEARS AFTER FIRST
Snooker, like any sport, is dependant on a constant supply of new blood to refresh and renew its ranks, but for romantics and nostalgics – and there are a high proportion of these who follow the green baize sport – you can’t beat an old timer, apparently past his best, returning from the sidelines to reclaim former glories.
Doug Mountjoy, one of the myriad cast of characters who helped make snooker such a popular television attraction, was one of the leading players of the late 1970s/early 1980s but, by 1988, appeared to be in terminal decline.
He did not look like the player who won the Wembley Masters at his first attempt in 1977 and the UK Championship in 1978.
Down at 24th in the rankings and out of the top 16 after a run of 11 consecutive seasons, it was widely assumed that it would not be long before he was also relegated from the top 32.
Mountjoy was, after all, 46 years of age in a game largely dominated by the younger brigade – Steve Davis (31), Stephen Hendry (19), Jimmy White (26) and John Parrott (24).
There had, though, been signs of an upturn. He defeated Hendry 5-1 at the Grand Prix in Reading where the Scot had been defending champion and had had his confidence restored by having teamed up with Frank Callan, a Blackpool fishmonger and renowned snooker coach.
Mountjoy had sought Callan out after a humiliating, dispiriting 13-1 defeat to Neal Foulds at the previous season’s World Championship.
Callan completely rebuilt his technique and the results started to come at Preston Guild Hall.
First, Mountjoy battled past his fellow Welshman Wayne Jones 9-7 before a confidence-boosting 9-4 victory over Foulds.
In the last 16, he beat Joe Johnson 9-5, wobbled in the quarter-finals before edging John Virgo 9-8 having led 8-3 and then defeated Terry Griffiths 9-4 in the semis.
Even so, few gave him much hope against Hendry, the natural heir to Davis’s decade of domination.
Mountjoy believed, however, and led 8-6 after the first day before winning six of the third session’s seven frames to extend his advantage to 14-7.
This was not some bygone era where players won through tactical play alone; Mountjoy compiled three centuries in four frames at one point.
He led 15-7, suffered anxiety a-plenty when Hendry won the next five, but eventually prevailed 16-12.
His triumph against the odds caught the public imagination with 13.2m tuning in to watch on the BBC.
“Without that guy, I’m nothing,” he said in paying emotional tribute to Callan.
This was a remarkable, heart-warming victory for a player refusing to embrace the apparent dying of the light.
Perhaps even more remarkably, Mountjoy went on to win the next world ranking event, the Mercantile Classic and would rise to fifth in the world.
His professional career ended in 1997. He had gone down the rankings after having a lung removed because of cancer.
But he could look back on 1988 as both a personal high point and as one of the most popular victories in snooker history.
Snooker, like any sport, is dependant on a constant supply of new blood to refresh and renew its ranks, but for romantics and nostalgics – and there are a high proportion of these who follow the green baize sport – you can’t beat an old timer, apparently past his best, returning from the sidelines to reclaim former glories.
Doug Mountjoy, one of the myriad cast of characters who helped make snooker such a popular television attraction, was one of the leading players of the late 1970s/early 1980s but, by 1988, appeared to be in terminal decline.
He did not look like the player who won the Wembley Masters at his first attempt in 1977 and the UK Championship in 1978.
Down at 24th in the rankings and out of the top 16 after a run of 11 consecutive seasons, it was widely assumed that it would not be long before he was also relegated from the top 32.
Mountjoy was, after all, 46 years of age in a game largely dominated by the younger brigade – Steve Davis (31), Stephen Hendry (19), Jimmy White (26) and John Parrott (24).
There had, though, been signs of an upturn. He defeated Hendry 5-1 at the Grand Prix in Reading where the Scot had been defending champion and had had his confidence restored by having teamed up with Frank Callan, a Blackpool fishmonger and renowned snooker coach.
Mountjoy had sought Callan out after a humiliating, dispiriting 13-1 defeat to Neal Foulds at the previous season’s World Championship.
Callan completely rebuilt his technique and the results started to come at Preston Guild Hall.
First, Mountjoy battled past his fellow Welshman Wayne Jones 9-7 before a confidence-boosting 9-4 victory over Foulds.
In the last 16, he beat Joe Johnson 9-5, wobbled in the quarter-finals before edging John Virgo 9-8 having led 8-3 and then defeated Terry Griffiths 9-4 in the semis.
Even so, few gave him much hope against Hendry, the natural heir to Davis’s decade of domination.
Mountjoy believed, however, and led 8-6 after the first day before winning six of the third session’s seven frames to extend his advantage to 14-7.
This was not some bygone era where players won through tactical play alone; Mountjoy compiled three centuries in four frames at one point.
He led 15-7, suffered anxiety a-plenty when Hendry won the next five, but eventually prevailed 16-12.
His triumph against the odds caught the public imagination with 13.2m tuning in to watch on the BBC.
“Without that guy, I’m nothing,” he said in paying emotional tribute to Callan.
This was a remarkable, heart-warming victory for a player refusing to embrace the apparent dying of the light.
Perhaps even more remarkably, Mountjoy went on to win the next world ranking event, the Mercantile Classic and would rise to fifth in the world.
His professional career ended in 1997. He had gone down the rankings after having a lung removed because of cancer.
But he could look back on 1988 as both a personal high point and as one of the most popular victories in snooker history.
11.6.08
TEN GREATEST MOMENTS IN SNOOKER HISTORY: 10
1979 - TERRY GRIFFITHS WINS WORLD TITLE AT FIRST ATTEMPT
Professional snooker in the 1970s was, essentially, a closed shop. Players wanting to join the pro ranks had to be approved by the very people they would be playing against.
It was akin to swimming through glue.
Unlike today, players did not walk out of school and straight onto the circuit. Terry Griffiths, an outstanding amateur from Llanelli, South Wales, worked as a postman, bus conductor and insurance salesman before taking the plunge at 30 – an age today where players are considered to be close to veteran status.
Everyone told him he should turn professional but he was unsure. He had a young family and saw it as a big risk.
But as he himself said in his autobiography, Griff: “What made my mind up was that I was now 30 years old and I didn’t want to get to 40 and be thinking, ‘would I have done as well as a professional?’”
Such was his record, Griffiths was accepted but made an inauspicious start by losing 9-8 to Rex Williams in the UK Championship, his first match, having led him 8-2.
The entirety of the 1970s had been dominated by three men. Ray Reardon won six world titles, John Spencer added two to his first, won in 1969, and Alex Higgins made a remarkable breakthrough by winning the 1972 championship.
All three, as well as the likes of Eddie Charlton and Cliff Thorburn, were expected to excel at the Crucible in 1979.
Griffiths had to qualify and did so with a 9-2 victory over Bernard Bennett and 9-6 defeat of Jim Meadowcroft.
In the first round, he beat Perrie Mans, the runner-up the previous year, 13-8 but it was his electric 13-12 defeat of Higgins in the quarter-finals that truly announced his arrival in the big time.
Higgins led 6-2 but Griffiths fought back and eventually won the decider with a break of 107.
His semi-final against Charlton ground on...and on...and on...until Griffiths came through 19-17.
Memorably, the BBC’s David Vine came into the arena and thrust a microphone under his nose to ask how he felt. Before Griffiths had time to think, he said simply: “I’m in the final now, you know.”
It perfectly captured his charming naivety and utter disbelief at suddenly being through to the final.
The fairytale was completed three days later when Griffiths defeated Dennis Taylor 24-16 and his life changed forever.
Now, the man who had held off turning pro out of concern he would not earn enough to support his family was being offered lucrative endorsement deals, exhibitions and TV appearances by the bucketload.
His victory transformed snooker, too.
It opened the door for a new era in which younger players would come to the fore, no longer over-awed by the old guard.
Chief among them, of course, was Steve Davis, whose rise to the top was surely the main reason Griffiths failed to win a second world title.
The pair played seven times at the Crucible; Davis won all seven.
Professional snooker in the 1970s was, essentially, a closed shop. Players wanting to join the pro ranks had to be approved by the very people they would be playing against.
It was akin to swimming through glue.
Unlike today, players did not walk out of school and straight onto the circuit. Terry Griffiths, an outstanding amateur from Llanelli, South Wales, worked as a postman, bus conductor and insurance salesman before taking the plunge at 30 – an age today where players are considered to be close to veteran status.
Everyone told him he should turn professional but he was unsure. He had a young family and saw it as a big risk.
But as he himself said in his autobiography, Griff: “What made my mind up was that I was now 30 years old and I didn’t want to get to 40 and be thinking, ‘would I have done as well as a professional?’”
Such was his record, Griffiths was accepted but made an inauspicious start by losing 9-8 to Rex Williams in the UK Championship, his first match, having led him 8-2.
The entirety of the 1970s had been dominated by three men. Ray Reardon won six world titles, John Spencer added two to his first, won in 1969, and Alex Higgins made a remarkable breakthrough by winning the 1972 championship.
All three, as well as the likes of Eddie Charlton and Cliff Thorburn, were expected to excel at the Crucible in 1979.
Griffiths had to qualify and did so with a 9-2 victory over Bernard Bennett and 9-6 defeat of Jim Meadowcroft.
In the first round, he beat Perrie Mans, the runner-up the previous year, 13-8 but it was his electric 13-12 defeat of Higgins in the quarter-finals that truly announced his arrival in the big time.
Higgins led 6-2 but Griffiths fought back and eventually won the decider with a break of 107.
His semi-final against Charlton ground on...and on...and on...until Griffiths came through 19-17.
Memorably, the BBC’s David Vine came into the arena and thrust a microphone under his nose to ask how he felt. Before Griffiths had time to think, he said simply: “I’m in the final now, you know.”
It perfectly captured his charming naivety and utter disbelief at suddenly being through to the final.
The fairytale was completed three days later when Griffiths defeated Dennis Taylor 24-16 and his life changed forever.
Now, the man who had held off turning pro out of concern he would not earn enough to support his family was being offered lucrative endorsement deals, exhibitions and TV appearances by the bucketload.
His victory transformed snooker, too.
It opened the door for a new era in which younger players would come to the fore, no longer over-awed by the old guard.
Chief among them, of course, was Steve Davis, whose rise to the top was surely the main reason Griffiths failed to win a second world title.
The pair played seven times at the Crucible; Davis won all seven.
THE TEN GREATEST MOMENTS IN SNOOKER HISTORY
As there won't be much going on - World Series excluded - in the next couple of months I shall be presenting a countdown here of what I consider to be the ten greatest moments in snooker history.
Such lists are often memorable for what's not included, so let me be clear: not everyone will agree with my choices.
A number of what a lot of people will think obvious moments have failed to make the cut. Why? Because it's a personal list and I've limited it to just ten.
Let me explain what I consider to be a 'great' moment.
It has to be memorable, dramatic but also play an important part in the great snooker story.
I could have had a list of ten 147s or ten world finals but this would have ignored the many other stories and memories from down the years.
Feel free to leave your own comments and suggestions as the countdown goes along.
The ending may well prove controversial!
Such lists are often memorable for what's not included, so let me be clear: not everyone will agree with my choices.
A number of what a lot of people will think obvious moments have failed to make the cut. Why? Because it's a personal list and I've limited it to just ten.
Let me explain what I consider to be a 'great' moment.
It has to be memorable, dramatic but also play an important part in the great snooker story.
I could have had a list of ten 147s or ten world finals but this would have ignored the many other stories and memories from down the years.
Feel free to leave your own comments and suggestions as the countdown goes along.
The ending may well prove controversial!
10.6.08
DUSSELDORF TO HOST WORLD SERIES FINALS
Dusseldorf will host the Grand Finals of the new World Series of Snooker from November 28-30.
The field will feature the eight leading players taking part in the first four events, the best four local wildcards from these tournaments and four invited players.
The overall winner will receive a cheque for €70,000 (£56,000) - more than the winners' cheque in four of last season's seven world ranking events.
The new series will be broadcast on Eurosport and includes five former world champions - Shaun Murphy, John Higgins, Graeme Dott, Ken Doherty and Steve Davis - plus world no.2 Stephen Maguire, reigning Masters and Welsh Open champion Mark Selby and Chinese ace Ding Junhui.
WORLD SERIES OF SNOOKER DATES
June 21-22: St. Helier, Jersey
July 12-13: Berlin, Germany
September 27-28: Moscow, Russia
October 25-26: Warsaw, Poland
November 28-30: Grand finals in Dusseldorf, Germany
To keep up with all the news and action on the snooker tour, check out this new sports blog. They have score updates plus the latest snooker betting as well as all your other favourite sports.
Visit their site for the best Ryder Cup odds on the web.
The field will feature the eight leading players taking part in the first four events, the best four local wildcards from these tournaments and four invited players.
The overall winner will receive a cheque for €70,000 (£56,000) - more than the winners' cheque in four of last season's seven world ranking events.
The new series will be broadcast on Eurosport and includes five former world champions - Shaun Murphy, John Higgins, Graeme Dott, Ken Doherty and Steve Davis - plus world no.2 Stephen Maguire, reigning Masters and Welsh Open champion Mark Selby and Chinese ace Ding Junhui.
WORLD SERIES OF SNOOKER DATES
June 21-22: St. Helier, Jersey
July 12-13: Berlin, Germany
September 27-28: Moscow, Russia
October 25-26: Warsaw, Poland
November 28-30: Grand finals in Dusseldorf, Germany
To keep up with all the news and action on the snooker tour, check out this new sports blog. They have score updates plus the latest snooker betting as well as all your other favourite sports.
Visit their site for the best Ryder Cup odds on the web.
9.6.08
RONNIE...THE DEBATE CONTINUES
The rights and wrongs of the punishment given to Ronnie O’Sullivan for his behaviour in China will be debated – indeed is being debated in the comments section of the post below this one – but that is only one issue arising from this matter.
It transpires that the fine was actually £2,750, not £3,750 as reported by 110sport. The costs of the hearing were paid for using the prize money he forfeited.
This will not be well received by the various lower ranked players who have been forced to pay costs for attending hearings on far lesser offences.
Not that we know exactly how many have done this as World Snooker’s disciplinary procedure is so shadowy it belongs in an episode of the X-Files.
We know that the disciplinary committee chairman is Jim McMahon, a long serving World Snooker board member.
There are two other people on the committee but it isn’t known who they are.
O’Sullivan didn’t actually attend the hearing but wrote to the committee promising, I suppose, never to do it again.
Times have changed. When O’Sullivan was stripped of the Irish Masters title in 1998 he turned up to face the music. A press release was then drafted and issued that same day in which the committee members were named and the punishment announced.
Belatedly, World Snooker has put a statement on their website today revealing the punishment.
Make no mistake: this was only done because the story had already appeared in the press and, indeed, on this blog.
The hearing was held on Thursday. They say they held off releasing the news because O’Sullivan had to be informed first.
Yet his management company issued a statement on Saturday, so the player obviously had been informed.
I believe that if 110sport had not sent their statement out then we would never have heard anything about it.
One interesting thing to come out of the statement, though, is that the committee considered a heavier fine but decided against it as O’Sullivan had promised to ‘work closely’ with them in the future.
Can’t see that decision back-firing at all.
It transpires that the fine was actually £2,750, not £3,750 as reported by 110sport. The costs of the hearing were paid for using the prize money he forfeited.
This will not be well received by the various lower ranked players who have been forced to pay costs for attending hearings on far lesser offences.
Not that we know exactly how many have done this as World Snooker’s disciplinary procedure is so shadowy it belongs in an episode of the X-Files.
We know that the disciplinary committee chairman is Jim McMahon, a long serving World Snooker board member.
There are two other people on the committee but it isn’t known who they are.
O’Sullivan didn’t actually attend the hearing but wrote to the committee promising, I suppose, never to do it again.
Times have changed. When O’Sullivan was stripped of the Irish Masters title in 1998 he turned up to face the music. A press release was then drafted and issued that same day in which the committee members were named and the punishment announced.
Belatedly, World Snooker has put a statement on their website today revealing the punishment.
Make no mistake: this was only done because the story had already appeared in the press and, indeed, on this blog.
The hearing was held on Thursday. They say they held off releasing the news because O’Sullivan had to be informed first.
Yet his management company issued a statement on Saturday, so the player obviously had been informed.
I believe that if 110sport had not sent their statement out then we would never have heard anything about it.
One interesting thing to come out of the statement, though, is that the committee considered a heavier fine but decided against it as O’Sullivan had promised to ‘work closely’ with them in the future.
Can’t see that decision back-firing at all.
8.6.08
O'SULLIVAN FINED FOR CHINA OUTBURST
Ronnie O'Sullivan has been fined £3,750 for his behaviour at a press conference at the China Open last March.
O'Sullivan, the 888.com world champion, was filmed making lewd remarks and the video was posted on the internet.
He has been docked the 700 ranking points he earned from the event and also fined the £2,750 prize money he received as a first round loser. A further £1,000 was added to the fine to cover legal costs.
However, we only know he was punished at all because his management company, 110sport, issued a statement.
There has been no such statement from World Snooker, who will now face allegations that they have attempted to cover the whole thing up.
The 110sport statement said: "Ronnie regrets what has happened and he has accepted his punishment.
"He realises he made a mistake in China, but he never intended to offend anyone. He wants to forget what happened and move forward.
"He has apologised to World Snooker, the promoter of the China Open, his fans and also to his sponsors.
"He is keen to get on with his career and continue demonstrating why he is regarded as the best player in the world."
I think many will share my view that though this incident was regrettable, it was something of a storm in a Chinese teacup.
Ronnie has since apologised and his contracts in China have not been affected.
The punishment is, in my view, about right.
But what I find incredible is that the governing body of snooker do not routinely announce the results of their disciplinary hearings as is standard practice in just about every other major sport.
What have they got to hide?
O'Sullivan, the 888.com world champion, was filmed making lewd remarks and the video was posted on the internet.
He has been docked the 700 ranking points he earned from the event and also fined the £2,750 prize money he received as a first round loser. A further £1,000 was added to the fine to cover legal costs.
However, we only know he was punished at all because his management company, 110sport, issued a statement.
There has been no such statement from World Snooker, who will now face allegations that they have attempted to cover the whole thing up.
The 110sport statement said: "Ronnie regrets what has happened and he has accepted his punishment.
"He realises he made a mistake in China, but he never intended to offend anyone. He wants to forget what happened and move forward.
"He has apologised to World Snooker, the promoter of the China Open, his fans and also to his sponsors.
"He is keen to get on with his career and continue demonstrating why he is regarded as the best player in the world."
I think many will share my view that though this incident was regrettable, it was something of a storm in a Chinese teacup.
Ronnie has since apologised and his contracts in China have not been affected.
The punishment is, in my view, about right.
But what I find incredible is that the governing body of snooker do not routinely announce the results of their disciplinary hearings as is standard practice in just about every other major sport.
What have they got to hide?
6.6.08
LIU CHUANG AWARDED MAIN TOUR WILDCARD
Liu Chuang, who became only the fourth 17 year-old ever to play at the Crucible last season, celebrated his 18th birthday today with the news that he has been awarded a wildcard to remain on the main tour during 2008/09.
This is the right decision. By holding Ronnie O'Sullivan to 4-4 in their first round match, Liu proved he has great potential and it would have been a shame if he had disappeared from the circuit after only one year.
Jin Long and Li Hang will also be on the main tour next season after winning the Asian Championship and Asian Under 21 Championship respectively.
Stefan Mazrocis won the European play-off yesterday and has now been nominated by the European Billiards and Snooker Association for a main tour place.
The remaining place will go to the winner of the European Championship, which began today in Poland.
Full coverage of this event is available - of course - at the excellent Global Cue Sports Centre.
This is the right decision. By holding Ronnie O'Sullivan to 4-4 in their first round match, Liu proved he has great potential and it would have been a shame if he had disappeared from the circuit after only one year.
Jin Long and Li Hang will also be on the main tour next season after winning the Asian Championship and Asian Under 21 Championship respectively.
Stefan Mazrocis won the European play-off yesterday and has now been nominated by the European Billiards and Snooker Association for a main tour place.
The remaining place will go to the winner of the European Championship, which began today in Poland.
Full coverage of this event is available - of course - at the excellent Global Cue Sports Centre.
DING IN THE SWING IN NANJING
Ding Junhui will face Mark Selby in Sunday's Jiangsu Classic final.
Ding beat Ryan Day 4-0 while Selby defeated Joe Perry 4-1 in Nanjing today.
This is good news for this new tournament as the final will be played in Wuxi City - Ding's home town.
However, what a daft decision it was to play one semi-final on one table and one on the other, which isn't televised.
They were only best of seven frame affairs and could easily have been played one after the other on the TV table.
It means TV audiences will not see a ball of Selby's victory.
Also, Ding's match lasted just 50 minutes and Eurosport have an hour and 45 minute long programme to fill.
And it gave the paying public only an hour and 20 minutes of entertainment.
There is no logic at all to this.
Ding beat Ryan Day 4-0 while Selby defeated Joe Perry 4-1 in Nanjing today.
This is good news for this new tournament as the final will be played in Wuxi City - Ding's home town.
However, what a daft decision it was to play one semi-final on one table and one on the other, which isn't televised.
They were only best of seven frame affairs and could easily have been played one after the other on the TV table.
It means TV audiences will not see a ball of Selby's victory.
Also, Ding's match lasted just 50 minutes and Eurosport have an hour and 45 minute long programme to fill.
And it gave the paying public only an hour and 20 minutes of entertainment.
There is no logic at all to this.
5.6.08
WPBSA DROPS CLAIM AGAINST SNOOKER SCENE EDITOR
The following statement has been agreed by the WPBSA and Clive Everton, editor of Snooker Scene:
"The WPBSA has withdrawn its claim against Clive Everton for payment of costs awarded by the S.D.R.P. on 1 November 2006.
"Although the board believes it has conducted its case correctly and that it would ultimately prevail in court, it is acknowledged that as with all litigation there is sufficient doubt about the outcome as to render further expenditure of the membership's funds inappropriate.
"Mr Everton also believes his case was conducted correctly and that he would ultimately have prevailed in court but is happy that it can now be concluded without further expenditure on either side."
"The WPBSA has withdrawn its claim against Clive Everton for payment of costs awarded by the S.D.R.P. on 1 November 2006.
"Although the board believes it has conducted its case correctly and that it would ultimately prevail in court, it is acknowledged that as with all litigation there is sufficient doubt about the outcome as to render further expenditure of the membership's funds inappropriate.
"Mr Everton also believes his case was conducted correctly and that he would ultimately have prevailed in court but is happy that it can now be concluded without further expenditure on either side."
1.6.08
A BRIEF HISTORY OF PRO SNOOKER IN CHINA
The snooker circuit is becoming well acquainted with China as more and more tournaments are developed in the world’s largest country.
The latest, the Jiangsu Classic, begins on Wednesday. It features eight members of the world’s top 12 plus four local wildcards.
The trailblazer for snooker in China was Barry Hearn, the Matchroom supremo, who took his stable of players out there in the 1980s.
After a few forays to Hong Kong, they first played in the People’s Republic in 1986, where Steve Davis defeated Terry Griffiths in the final of the China Masters.
Also part of the field was the then WPBSA chairman Rex Williams, who turned up for a promotional tour of the Great Wall of China in an expensive cashmere coat. When Hearn told him that the dress code was ‘casual’ the always immaculately attired Rex replied: ‘Dear boy, this is casual.’
Several more invitation events were staged in China before Stephen Hendry won the first world ranking event on Chinese soil, the 1990 Asian Open in Guangzhou.
Hendry beat Dennis Taylor 9-3 in the final, although Taylor had been exhausted after finishing his semi-final at close to midnight only for the final to start shortly after 9am.
Nine years passed before China hosted another ranking event, the 1999 China International.
This was notable for having all four semi-finalists coming from Scotland. Billy Snaddon beat Stephen Hendry but came up short against John Higgins, who defeated Alan McManus in their semi.
The boom hadn’t quite started at this point but I recall going through passport control with Higgins where an austere official asked him to stop and wait at the desk.
I worried there may have been something wrong with John’s passport and was envisaging the diplomatic repercussions only for the guard to return with a piece of paper for the champion to sign.
He’d watched the snooker on the TV the previous night and wanted Higgins’s autograph.
Shanghai also hosted the China Open at the end of 1999, won by Ronnie O’Sullivan, before this event switched to the magnificent Mission Hills golf resort in Shenzhen a year later.
I remember the interest was such that Hendry had to be locked in the pressroom – not necessarily his preferred place of refuge – for his own safety as a sea of fans tried to get his autograph.
O’Sullivan spent the whole week mired in depression but still beat Mark Williams to win the title.
We went back to Shanghai in 2002 where a 14 year-old Ding Junhui was a wildcard.
It was here that Mark Selby, in full snooker dress, attempted to hire a taxi at one in the morning because he was playing at two (in the afternoon).
Selby was so jetlagged he had not realised it was night, even though it was pitch black outside.
Nevertheless, he still beat Stephen Hendry the next day and also knocked O’Sullivan out on his way to the semi-finals.
Graeme Dott, it would be fair to say, did not enjoy the trip. His flight from Glasgow to London was delayed, which then held up his flight from London to Bangkok and on to Shanghai.
It took him 38 wretched hours to reach China and, understandably exhausted, he went to bed where he slept through his alarm.
Realising he was late, he threw on his snooker gear – although famously not any underwear – and hailed a taxi to the venue.
Unfortunately, the taxi driver went the wrong way and Graeme got out and ran the last half a mile.
He arrived 15 minutes late for his match with Darren Morgan, was docked two frames and lost 5-3.
Asked how he felt afterwards, he simply replied: ‘Suicidal.’
Anthony Hamilton wasn’t too happy either after throwing away a golden chance to win his first ranking title when he lost 9-8 to Williams from 8-5 up.
Because the game had gone into financial disarray, the China Open disappeared from the calendar for three years but returned in 2005 at the Haidian Stadium, Beijing.
Ding was taken out of the qualifiers and put into the main draw as a wildcard. This was the week of his 18th birthday but played with great maturity to land a succession a good scalps – Peter Ebdon, Marco Fu and Ken Doherty – to reach the final.
A couple of things stand out from that week. One was Davis banging his head on a thick steel door and becoming so dizzy as a result that he had to withdraw from his match with Ricky Walden.
I had every sympathy with Steve because I managed to bang my head on the same door and it was not an enjoyable experience to say the least.
The other was Paul Hunter who, unbeknown to all but his closest friends, had just been diagnosed with cancer but still flew the 8,000 miles to play.
After one match, it was noted that Paul had not come in for his press conference. Some 20 minutes went by before we went to look for him.
He was still in the arena signing autographs, which he did for around 300 people.
Ding beat Hendry 9-5 in the final. He received no money or ranking points as a wildcard but, for the sport as a whole, his victory was an extraordinary stroke of luck.
Everything that has happened in China since is down to this one match. It helped ignite a snooker boom that is continuing to this day.
Williams won the 2006 China Open and Dott took the crown in 2007. This year’s final, in which Stephen Maguire beat Shaun Murphy 10-9, was, for me, the best match of the season.
Last August, a second Chinese ranking tournament was added to the schedule, the Shanghai Masters, won by Dominic Dale.
A third could well be on the cards and the Jiangsu Classic, which will be played in two cities, Nanjing and Wuxi City, serves as evidence of the huge interest that remains in China.
This is reflected by the number of Chinese journalists now following the circuit and the emergence of players to challenge Ding’s prominence as top dog in his home country.
Liu Song was a quarter-finalist in last season’s Grand Prix, Liu Chuang qualified for the Crucible at 17 while Liang Wenbo made many friends as he reached the World Championship quarter-finals.
Fast forward ten, certainly 20 years, and it seems likely that the World Championship will be staged in China.
Whether this actually happens or not, China is one snooker success story worth noting.
The latest, the Jiangsu Classic, begins on Wednesday. It features eight members of the world’s top 12 plus four local wildcards.
The trailblazer for snooker in China was Barry Hearn, the Matchroom supremo, who took his stable of players out there in the 1980s.
After a few forays to Hong Kong, they first played in the People’s Republic in 1986, where Steve Davis defeated Terry Griffiths in the final of the China Masters.
Also part of the field was the then WPBSA chairman Rex Williams, who turned up for a promotional tour of the Great Wall of China in an expensive cashmere coat. When Hearn told him that the dress code was ‘casual’ the always immaculately attired Rex replied: ‘Dear boy, this is casual.’
Several more invitation events were staged in China before Stephen Hendry won the first world ranking event on Chinese soil, the 1990 Asian Open in Guangzhou.
Hendry beat Dennis Taylor 9-3 in the final, although Taylor had been exhausted after finishing his semi-final at close to midnight only for the final to start shortly after 9am.
Nine years passed before China hosted another ranking event, the 1999 China International.
This was notable for having all four semi-finalists coming from Scotland. Billy Snaddon beat Stephen Hendry but came up short against John Higgins, who defeated Alan McManus in their semi.
The boom hadn’t quite started at this point but I recall going through passport control with Higgins where an austere official asked him to stop and wait at the desk.
I worried there may have been something wrong with John’s passport and was envisaging the diplomatic repercussions only for the guard to return with a piece of paper for the champion to sign.
He’d watched the snooker on the TV the previous night and wanted Higgins’s autograph.
Shanghai also hosted the China Open at the end of 1999, won by Ronnie O’Sullivan, before this event switched to the magnificent Mission Hills golf resort in Shenzhen a year later.
I remember the interest was such that Hendry had to be locked in the pressroom – not necessarily his preferred place of refuge – for his own safety as a sea of fans tried to get his autograph.
O’Sullivan spent the whole week mired in depression but still beat Mark Williams to win the title.
We went back to Shanghai in 2002 where a 14 year-old Ding Junhui was a wildcard.
It was here that Mark Selby, in full snooker dress, attempted to hire a taxi at one in the morning because he was playing at two (in the afternoon).
Selby was so jetlagged he had not realised it was night, even though it was pitch black outside.
Nevertheless, he still beat Stephen Hendry the next day and also knocked O’Sullivan out on his way to the semi-finals.
Graeme Dott, it would be fair to say, did not enjoy the trip. His flight from Glasgow to London was delayed, which then held up his flight from London to Bangkok and on to Shanghai.
It took him 38 wretched hours to reach China and, understandably exhausted, he went to bed where he slept through his alarm.
Realising he was late, he threw on his snooker gear – although famously not any underwear – and hailed a taxi to the venue.
Unfortunately, the taxi driver went the wrong way and Graeme got out and ran the last half a mile.
He arrived 15 minutes late for his match with Darren Morgan, was docked two frames and lost 5-3.
Asked how he felt afterwards, he simply replied: ‘Suicidal.’
Anthony Hamilton wasn’t too happy either after throwing away a golden chance to win his first ranking title when he lost 9-8 to Williams from 8-5 up.
Because the game had gone into financial disarray, the China Open disappeared from the calendar for three years but returned in 2005 at the Haidian Stadium, Beijing.
Ding was taken out of the qualifiers and put into the main draw as a wildcard. This was the week of his 18th birthday but played with great maturity to land a succession a good scalps – Peter Ebdon, Marco Fu and Ken Doherty – to reach the final.
A couple of things stand out from that week. One was Davis banging his head on a thick steel door and becoming so dizzy as a result that he had to withdraw from his match with Ricky Walden.
I had every sympathy with Steve because I managed to bang my head on the same door and it was not an enjoyable experience to say the least.
The other was Paul Hunter who, unbeknown to all but his closest friends, had just been diagnosed with cancer but still flew the 8,000 miles to play.
After one match, it was noted that Paul had not come in for his press conference. Some 20 minutes went by before we went to look for him.
He was still in the arena signing autographs, which he did for around 300 people.
Ding beat Hendry 9-5 in the final. He received no money or ranking points as a wildcard but, for the sport as a whole, his victory was an extraordinary stroke of luck.
Everything that has happened in China since is down to this one match. It helped ignite a snooker boom that is continuing to this day.
Williams won the 2006 China Open and Dott took the crown in 2007. This year’s final, in which Stephen Maguire beat Shaun Murphy 10-9, was, for me, the best match of the season.
Last August, a second Chinese ranking tournament was added to the schedule, the Shanghai Masters, won by Dominic Dale.
A third could well be on the cards and the Jiangsu Classic, which will be played in two cities, Nanjing and Wuxi City, serves as evidence of the huge interest that remains in China.
This is reflected by the number of Chinese journalists now following the circuit and the emergence of players to challenge Ding’s prominence as top dog in his home country.
Liu Song was a quarter-finalist in last season’s Grand Prix, Liu Chuang qualified for the Crucible at 17 while Liang Wenbo made many friends as he reached the World Championship quarter-finals.
Fast forward ten, certainly 20 years, and it seems likely that the World Championship will be staged in China.
Whether this actually happens or not, China is one snooker success story worth noting.
27.5.08
JIANGSU CLASSIC TO BE SCREENED ON EUROSPORT
Eurosport will show the Jiangsu Classic, World Snooker's new invitation event in China, from June 4-8.
The first broadcast is on Wednesday, June 4 at 8.30am.
This tournament features eight of the world's top 12 ranked players plus four local wildcards.
It will be played first in Nanjing, using a round robin format, with the final in Wuxi City, hometown of Ding Junhui.
Good news, this, for snooker fans suffering withdrawal symptoms after the 888.com World Championship!
Note: there's not coverage every day as they aren't playing every day.
The first broadcast is on Wednesday, June 4 at 8.30am.
This tournament features eight of the world's top 12 ranked players plus four local wildcards.
It will be played first in Nanjing, using a round robin format, with the final in Wuxi City, hometown of Ding Junhui.
Good news, this, for snooker fans suffering withdrawal symptoms after the 888.com World Championship!
Note: there's not coverage every day as they aren't playing every day.
23.5.08
SELBY GETS PREMIER LEAGUE WILDCARD
Mark Selby, the Saga Insurance Masters and Welsh Open champion, has been given the last place in next season's seven-man Premier League.
Full story here
Full story here
WHO SHOULD GET THE MAIN TOUR WILDCARD?
World Snooker has one wildcard to be awarded at its discretion to a player who has not qualified for the professional tour in any of the myriad of ways possible.
There may – for various reasons – be more wildcards available but assuming for now there is just one, who should get it?
For me, the outstanding choice is Liu Chuang, who gave Ronnie O’Sullivan something of a first session scare before losing 10-5 to the eventual winner at the 888.com World Championship.
Liu was only the fourth 17 year-old – after Stephen Hendry, O’Sullivan and Judd Trump – to compete at the Crucible and the first pro to qualify in their debut season for 13 years.
He was unable to play in the qualifiers for the season-opening Shanghai Masters because of a mix up over visas so had only six tournaments to count towards his final ranking.
Liu found it hard at first to adjust to life on the circuit. This is hardly surprising: he’s a teenager from China, abroad for the first time in a completely different culture.
Yet he demonstrated by qualifying for the Crucible – and against O’Sullivan – that he has potential and surely deserves another, immediate chance.
If not Liu, then who?
Drew Henry, a pro for 17 years before relegation after the World Championship, has chosen to retain his professional status rather than resign like all the other players who missed out. Last I heard he was considering applying for the wildcard.
I’m unsure, to be brutally honest, on what grounds it could be given to him. This is not to detract from his career – which has been better than most – but he would not have a better claim than Liu in my opinion.
Tony Drago has applied and could be in with a chance on the basis of being a recognisable name who is, unquestionably, attractive to watch.
Also, with a professional event established in Malta, it may be seen to be smart politically to keep him on the tour.
The same does not apply for James Wattana, who appears to have lost interest in the game. Thailand’s greatest ever player does not wish to continue and has returned home to pursue other interests.
Michael White could be a good outside bet. There was widespread sympathy for this 16 year-old when he was denied the chance to play in the Shanghai Masters qualifiers because he was, for a few days, still 15.
Shaun Murphy had been given an exemption in almost identical circumstances in 1998. Almost unbelievably, World Snooker denied this had happened until Snooker Scene produced irrefutable evidence that it did.
White, then, was under pressure from the off, not just because he had one less tournament to play in but also because of the furore surrounding his exclusion and the sense of injustice it must have engendered.
He didn’t make any great impact on the other events but he’s still very young and, most observers would conclude, has time to improve.
Perhaps a season on the PIOS would do him good but plenty of 16/17 year-olds have played on the main tour so why not White?
Other names will doubtless be presented before a decision is made. Hopefully, it will be made for the right reasons.
There may – for various reasons – be more wildcards available but assuming for now there is just one, who should get it?
For me, the outstanding choice is Liu Chuang, who gave Ronnie O’Sullivan something of a first session scare before losing 10-5 to the eventual winner at the 888.com World Championship.
Liu was only the fourth 17 year-old – after Stephen Hendry, O’Sullivan and Judd Trump – to compete at the Crucible and the first pro to qualify in their debut season for 13 years.
He was unable to play in the qualifiers for the season-opening Shanghai Masters because of a mix up over visas so had only six tournaments to count towards his final ranking.
Liu found it hard at first to adjust to life on the circuit. This is hardly surprising: he’s a teenager from China, abroad for the first time in a completely different culture.
Yet he demonstrated by qualifying for the Crucible – and against O’Sullivan – that he has potential and surely deserves another, immediate chance.
If not Liu, then who?
Drew Henry, a pro for 17 years before relegation after the World Championship, has chosen to retain his professional status rather than resign like all the other players who missed out. Last I heard he was considering applying for the wildcard.
I’m unsure, to be brutally honest, on what grounds it could be given to him. This is not to detract from his career – which has been better than most – but he would not have a better claim than Liu in my opinion.
Tony Drago has applied and could be in with a chance on the basis of being a recognisable name who is, unquestionably, attractive to watch.
Also, with a professional event established in Malta, it may be seen to be smart politically to keep him on the tour.
The same does not apply for James Wattana, who appears to have lost interest in the game. Thailand’s greatest ever player does not wish to continue and has returned home to pursue other interests.
Michael White could be a good outside bet. There was widespread sympathy for this 16 year-old when he was denied the chance to play in the Shanghai Masters qualifiers because he was, for a few days, still 15.
Shaun Murphy had been given an exemption in almost identical circumstances in 1998. Almost unbelievably, World Snooker denied this had happened until Snooker Scene produced irrefutable evidence that it did.
White, then, was under pressure from the off, not just because he had one less tournament to play in but also because of the furore surrounding his exclusion and the sense of injustice it must have engendered.
He didn’t make any great impact on the other events but he’s still very young and, most observers would conclude, has time to improve.
Perhaps a season on the PIOS would do him good but plenty of 16/17 year-olds have played on the main tour so why not White?
Other names will doubtless be presented before a decision is made. Hopefully, it will be made for the right reasons.
21.5.08
GRAND PRIX TO GO AHEAD
This blog is more influential than I'd imagined.
Further to my post about the Grand Prix, World Snooker have now decided to name the tournaments the BBC are showing. This includes the Grand Prix - so it looks like it will be taking place after all.
It has been suggested to me that they only posted their skeletal calendar because I had already posted one, which was based on information given to me by a very well known player.
Nice to know they're reading, anyway.
Further to my post about the Grand Prix, World Snooker have now decided to name the tournaments the BBC are showing. This includes the Grand Prix - so it looks like it will be taking place after all.
It has been suggested to me that they only posted their skeletal calendar because I had already posted one, which was based on information given to me by a very well known player.
Nice to know they're reading, anyway.
19.5.08
BEST OF THE BEST
As the professional season has now finished, here are my award winners for the campaign just gone.
Note to the winners: there are no actual awards.
PLAYER OF THE SEASON
Despite good campaigns for Mark Selby, Stephen Maguire and Shaun Murphy, the winner is Ronnie O’Sullivan by virtue of winning the world and UK titles, regaining no.1 spot and making three maximum breaks. O’Sullivan also appeared in two further finals and won the Premier League.
BREAK OF THE SEASON
We saw a number of 147s, including one by Ronnie O’Sullivan in the deciding frame of his UK Championship semi-final with Mark Selby, but I can honestly say the best break I saw all season was one of just 48 by Fergal O’Brien in his Northern Ireland Trophy quarter-final against O’Sullivan.
O’Brien was 4-2 up but had reds on cushions and balls awkwardly placed as he came to the table. He crafted the break out of virtually nothing and it was a display of sheer artistry by one of the circuit’s unsung talents.
PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON
Ronnie O’Sullivan’s supreme display in making five centuries in the five frames he won in beating Ali Carter 5-2 in the Northern Ireland Trophy. Included in it was a 147. It was awesome stuff.
MATCH OF THE SEASON
The China Open final was of superb quality and went down to a very exciting conclusion as Stephen Maguire edged Shaun Murphy 10-9 all in front of a capacity crowd who remained in their seats until gone midnight. O’Sullivan v Selby in the UK Championship semi-finals comes a close second.
ACHIEVEMENT OF THE SEASON
Just ahead of Ali Carter’s run to the Crucible final comes Mark Selby, who became the first player in 19 years to win the Wembley Masters at his first attempt. He beat three great players – Stephen Hendry, Stephen Maguire and Ken Doherty – in deciding frame finishes and compiled four centuries in beating Stephen Lee in the final.
It heralded his arrival in snooker’s winners’ circle and he followed it up with his capture of the Welsh Open a few weeks later.
BREAKTHROUGH OF THE SEASON
The Chinese contingent, in the shadow of Ding Junhui, came into their own with Liu Song reaching the Grand Prix quarter-finals and Liu Chuang making the Crucible at just 17.
However, Liang Wenbo really came into his own by fighting through to the World Championship quarter-finals, doing so with great humour, audacious shot selections and a little controversy. Let’s hope we see plenty more of him in the future.
INNOVATION OF THE SEASON
The Championship League is a far more significant development than most people seem to realise. It has shown how tournament promoters can bypass not only the governing body but also television broadcasters and basically just do it themselves.
Ali Carter and Joe Perry’s successful ends to the campaign are down in large part to the fact they got match fit in this new venture. I know of a (very) well known player who rang up to try and get in it only to be told he couldn’t as he was already in the Premier League and it wouldn’t be fair on the others.
QUOTE OF THE SEASON
John Higgins complaining about conditions at the Crucible: “The tournament director will put a blazer on, go in front of the BBC and probably quote section 3a or whatever from some handbook.”
Within minutes of Higgins saying this, Mike Ganley duly appeared on the BBC in his blazer. Sadly, he didn’t have a handbook with him.
LOW POINT OF THE SEASON
The round robins at the Grand Prix, and to a lesser extent at the Malta Cup, left the sport facing accusations of corruption amid talk of police investigations.
The very suggestion of this – whatever the truth – damages snooker’s reputation. Regardless of what World Snooker say, most players loathe the format. It won’t be employed at the Grand Prix next season – you read it here first.
HIGH POINT OF THE SEASON
Two high points, just over 24 hours apart, at the Crucible when first Ronnie O’Sullivan and then Ali Carter each constructed a 147 break, which brought the crowd to their feet in appreciation of the dazzling skill on show.
For all the talk and controversy and complaints and arguments, these scenes illustrated what all of us already know: that snooker is a great game and, at the very highest level, can produce moments of sporting excellence that will forever be frozen in time.
Note to the winners: there are no actual awards.
PLAYER OF THE SEASON
Despite good campaigns for Mark Selby, Stephen Maguire and Shaun Murphy, the winner is Ronnie O’Sullivan by virtue of winning the world and UK titles, regaining no.1 spot and making three maximum breaks. O’Sullivan also appeared in two further finals and won the Premier League.
BREAK OF THE SEASON
We saw a number of 147s, including one by Ronnie O’Sullivan in the deciding frame of his UK Championship semi-final with Mark Selby, but I can honestly say the best break I saw all season was one of just 48 by Fergal O’Brien in his Northern Ireland Trophy quarter-final against O’Sullivan.
O’Brien was 4-2 up but had reds on cushions and balls awkwardly placed as he came to the table. He crafted the break out of virtually nothing and it was a display of sheer artistry by one of the circuit’s unsung talents.
PERFORMANCE OF THE SEASON
Ronnie O’Sullivan’s supreme display in making five centuries in the five frames he won in beating Ali Carter 5-2 in the Northern Ireland Trophy. Included in it was a 147. It was awesome stuff.
MATCH OF THE SEASON
The China Open final was of superb quality and went down to a very exciting conclusion as Stephen Maguire edged Shaun Murphy 10-9 all in front of a capacity crowd who remained in their seats until gone midnight. O’Sullivan v Selby in the UK Championship semi-finals comes a close second.
ACHIEVEMENT OF THE SEASON
Just ahead of Ali Carter’s run to the Crucible final comes Mark Selby, who became the first player in 19 years to win the Wembley Masters at his first attempt. He beat three great players – Stephen Hendry, Stephen Maguire and Ken Doherty – in deciding frame finishes and compiled four centuries in beating Stephen Lee in the final.
It heralded his arrival in snooker’s winners’ circle and he followed it up with his capture of the Welsh Open a few weeks later.
BREAKTHROUGH OF THE SEASON
The Chinese contingent, in the shadow of Ding Junhui, came into their own with Liu Song reaching the Grand Prix quarter-finals and Liu Chuang making the Crucible at just 17.
However, Liang Wenbo really came into his own by fighting through to the World Championship quarter-finals, doing so with great humour, audacious shot selections and a little controversy. Let’s hope we see plenty more of him in the future.
INNOVATION OF THE SEASON
The Championship League is a far more significant development than most people seem to realise. It has shown how tournament promoters can bypass not only the governing body but also television broadcasters and basically just do it themselves.
Ali Carter and Joe Perry’s successful ends to the campaign are down in large part to the fact they got match fit in this new venture. I know of a (very) well known player who rang up to try and get in it only to be told he couldn’t as he was already in the Premier League and it wouldn’t be fair on the others.
QUOTE OF THE SEASON
John Higgins complaining about conditions at the Crucible: “The tournament director will put a blazer on, go in front of the BBC and probably quote section 3a or whatever from some handbook.”
Within minutes of Higgins saying this, Mike Ganley duly appeared on the BBC in his blazer. Sadly, he didn’t have a handbook with him.
LOW POINT OF THE SEASON
The round robins at the Grand Prix, and to a lesser extent at the Malta Cup, left the sport facing accusations of corruption amid talk of police investigations.
The very suggestion of this – whatever the truth – damages snooker’s reputation. Regardless of what World Snooker say, most players loathe the format. It won’t be employed at the Grand Prix next season – you read it here first.
HIGH POINT OF THE SEASON
Two high points, just over 24 hours apart, at the Crucible when first Ronnie O’Sullivan and then Ali Carter each constructed a 147 break, which brought the crowd to their feet in appreciation of the dazzling skill on show.
For all the talk and controversy and complaints and arguments, these scenes illustrated what all of us already know: that snooker is a great game and, at the very highest level, can produce moments of sporting excellence that will forever be frozen in time.
16.5.08
PERRY GOES LARGE
Joe Perry wore a broad smile as he left Crondon Park golf club in Essex last night as the winner of the inaugural Championship League.
What an end to the season it’s been for Perry. He picked up £52,000 for reaching the semi-finals of the 888.com World Championship and now has another £29,100 and a place in the lucrative Premier League next season.
Perry has also risen to 12th in the world rankings, the highest position of his 17-year professional career.
And he was the first to admit that the new Championship League has provided the springboard to this new run of form.
This has been a welcome snooker success story. There were 25 players in the event and not one expressed even mild criticism of it. And why would they? It’s brought the perfect mix of high quality match practice and financial reward to players forced to spend long periods twiddling their thumbs, if not their cues, due to the fragmented nature of the pro circuit.
Look at Ali Carter. He played in all seven qualifying groups of the League and ended up in the world final.
Like Perry, Carter has thus rediscovered his enthusiasm for playing snooker. A day after losing in Group 7 he got on a plane and flew to China as a late call up for an invitation tournament following the withdrawal of Ronnie O’Sullivan.
I suspect that 12 months ago he wouldn’t have fancied it but, right now, it seems he can’t get enough of snooker.
The Championship League was unique as it was targeted at the betting community and shown live on the web on betting sites.
All three sites – betfair.com, bet365.com and williamhill.com – have said that they regard the new tournament as a welcome development.
It was superbly run by Matchroom, a professional but refreshingly laidback company who tweaked what needed to be tweaked in the format and ensured it all ran smoothly.
Perform provided excellent coverage on the web. They did not have the resources of the major television broadcasters but their enthusiasm and commitment to the event enhanced it considerably.
Behind the scenes, the players all enjoyed some banter and there was a pleasant, relaxed feel about proceedings, although this naturally changed in the match arena.
The staff at Crondon Park also went out of their way to make everyone feel welcome.
The event will return in 2009.
I suspect those players who turned it down this year will be clambering to get in it next time around.
What an end to the season it’s been for Perry. He picked up £52,000 for reaching the semi-finals of the 888.com World Championship and now has another £29,100 and a place in the lucrative Premier League next season.
Perry has also risen to 12th in the world rankings, the highest position of his 17-year professional career.
And he was the first to admit that the new Championship League has provided the springboard to this new run of form.
This has been a welcome snooker success story. There were 25 players in the event and not one expressed even mild criticism of it. And why would they? It’s brought the perfect mix of high quality match practice and financial reward to players forced to spend long periods twiddling their thumbs, if not their cues, due to the fragmented nature of the pro circuit.
Look at Ali Carter. He played in all seven qualifying groups of the League and ended up in the world final.
Like Perry, Carter has thus rediscovered his enthusiasm for playing snooker. A day after losing in Group 7 he got on a plane and flew to China as a late call up for an invitation tournament following the withdrawal of Ronnie O’Sullivan.
I suspect that 12 months ago he wouldn’t have fancied it but, right now, it seems he can’t get enough of snooker.
The Championship League was unique as it was targeted at the betting community and shown live on the web on betting sites.
All three sites – betfair.com, bet365.com and williamhill.com – have said that they regard the new tournament as a welcome development.
It was superbly run by Matchroom, a professional but refreshingly laidback company who tweaked what needed to be tweaked in the format and ensured it all ran smoothly.
Perform provided excellent coverage on the web. They did not have the resources of the major television broadcasters but their enthusiasm and commitment to the event enhanced it considerably.
Behind the scenes, the players all enjoyed some banter and there was a pleasant, relaxed feel about proceedings, although this naturally changed in the match arena.
The staff at Crondon Park also went out of their way to make everyone feel welcome.
The event will return in 2009.
I suspect those players who turned it down this year will be clambering to get in it next time around.
15.5.08
GRAND PRIX TO BE SCRAPPED?
Mystery surrounds the fate of the Royal London Watches Grand Prix following the publication of a provisional calendar today on worldsnooker.com.
The calendar merely lists dates for 'BBC events' but does not specify what they are.
Why not? It can only be because there is some change to their exact composition.
There's no way the 888.com World Championship, Saga Insurance Masters or Maplin UK Championship will be changed so that leaves the Grand Prix, first staged in 1984, as the tournament under threat.
The BBC will still be showing a tournament that week.
The question is, what will it be?
There are three possibilities:
1) It's the Grand Prix
2) It's the Grand Prix with a different name (as when it was the LG Cup)
or
3) It's a completely different event
After the controversy of the round robin format, has the tournament now been ditched altogether?
And what will replace it?
Watch this space!
Also, the Shanghai Masters has been moved forward two days to now start on a Monday and end on a Sunday.
This will hardly be good news for John Higgins, whose World Series event in Moscow is scheduled for September 27-28, a day before the Shanghai tournament begins.
The calendar merely lists dates for 'BBC events' but does not specify what they are.
Why not? It can only be because there is some change to their exact composition.
There's no way the 888.com World Championship, Saga Insurance Masters or Maplin UK Championship will be changed so that leaves the Grand Prix, first staged in 1984, as the tournament under threat.
The BBC will still be showing a tournament that week.
The question is, what will it be?
There are three possibilities:
1) It's the Grand Prix
2) It's the Grand Prix with a different name (as when it was the LG Cup)
or
3) It's a completely different event
After the controversy of the round robin format, has the tournament now been ditched altogether?
And what will replace it?
Watch this space!
Also, the Shanghai Masters has been moved forward two days to now start on a Monday and end on a Sunday.
This will hardly be good news for John Higgins, whose World Series event in Moscow is scheduled for September 27-28, a day before the Shanghai tournament begins.
14.5.08
SNOOKERED OUT
There can be such a thing as too much snooker, as Ali Carter will testify.
A week on from losing in the 888.com World Championship final, he was back in action at Crondon Park Golf Club here in sunny Essex in the latest group of the Championship League.
Ali had played in all six previous groups but finished bottom of group 7. He was clearly exhausted and had nothing left to give.
Therefore, he won’t be playing any further part in the competition, which seems a shame given his great run through it.
Indeed, it was the Championship League that got Carter match fit for the Crucible.
He won £22,600 from the event and, of course, £203,500 at the World Championship.
It means his earnings this season represent around a third of what he’s won in his 12 year pro career.
Now seventh in the world rankings, the only way is up for the Captain.
A week on from losing in the 888.com World Championship final, he was back in action at Crondon Park Golf Club here in sunny Essex in the latest group of the Championship League.
Ali had played in all six previous groups but finished bottom of group 7. He was clearly exhausted and had nothing left to give.
Therefore, he won’t be playing any further part in the competition, which seems a shame given his great run through it.
Indeed, it was the Championship League that got Carter match fit for the Crucible.
He won £22,600 from the event and, of course, £203,500 at the World Championship.
It means his earnings this season represent around a third of what he’s won in his 12 year pro career.
Now seventh in the world rankings, the only way is up for the Captain.
10.5.08
WHERE IT'S AT
Just in case you thought snooker was going into hibernation for the summer, here are the dates for all the upcoming professional events.
Important note: this calendar is provisional and liable to change. Do not arrange tickets/travel/time off work without first checking with individual promoters.
The Malta Cup and China Open, as well as all the qualifiying dates, are still to be added and there will hopefully be further tournaments to be slotted in.
2008
May 12-15: Championship League at Crondon Park, Essex (Live on Betfair.com, Bet365.com and Williamhill.com)
Group 7 (Mon, Tue); Champions Group (Wed, Thu)
May 14-18: Huangshan Cup at Heifei, China
Invitation event featuring Ronnie O’Sullivan, Stephen Hendry, Mark Williams, Ding Junhui, Liang Wenbo and others
June 6-8: Jiangsu Classic at Jiangsu, China
World Snooker promoted invitation event featuring 12 top players, including Ding Junhui
June 21-22: World Series at St. Hellier, Jersey (Live on Eurosport)
Featuring John Higgins, Shaun Murphy, Mark Selby and Ken Doherty plus four local players
July 8-13: Sangsom 6-red International at Montien Riverside Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
New event played with only six reds featuring several big names, including Peter Ebdon, Ken Doherty, Mark Williams, Jimmy White and Ding Junhui
July 12-13: World Series at Berlin, Germany (Live on Eurosport)
Featuring John Higgins, Stephen Maguire, Graeme Dott and Shaun Murphy plus four local players
August 24-31: Northern Ireland Trophy at Waterfront Hall, Belfast (Live on TG4 and Eurosport)
First ranking event of the season
September 11: Premier League at Grimsby Auditorium (Live on Sky Sports)
September 18: Premier League at the Anvil, Basingstoke (Live on Sky Sports)
September 25: Premier League at the Assembly Rooms, Derby (Live on Sky Sports)
September 27-28: World Series at Moscow, Russia (Live on Eurosport)
Featuring Graeme Dott, Steve Davis, Ding Junhui and Stephen Maguire plus four local players
October 1-7: Roewe Shanghai Masters (Live on Eurosport)
Second ranking event of the season
October 9: Premier League at Malvern Theatre, Great Malvern (Live on Sky Sports)
October 11-19: Royal London Watches Grand Prix at venue TBC (Live on BBC and Eurosport)
Third ranking event of the season
October 23: Premier League at Plymouth Pavilions (Live on Sky Sports)
October 25-26: World Series at Warsaw, Poland (Live on Eurosport)
Featuring Ding Junhui, Steve Davis, Stephen Maguire and Graeme Dott plus four local players
October 30: Premier League at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield (Live on Sky Sports)
November 6: Premier League at Newport Centre, Wales (Live on Sky Sports)
November 13: Premier League at Olympos, Haywards Heath (Live on Sky Sports)
November 20: Premier League at the Sands Centre, Carlisle (Live on Sky Sports)
November 27: Premier League at the Glades Arena, Kidderminster (Live on Sky Sports)
December 6-7: Premier League play-offs and final at Potters, Norfolk (Live on Sky Sports)
December 13-21: Maplin UK Championship at venue TBC (Live on BBC and Eurosport)
Fourth ranking event of the season
2009
January 11-18: Saga Insurance Masters at Wembley Arena (Live on BBC and Eurosport)
The game’s leading invitation event
February 9-15: Welsh Open at Newport Centre (Live on BBC Wales and Eurosport)
Fifth ranking event of the season
April 18-May 4: 888.com World Championship at Crucible Theatre, Sheffield (Live on BBC and Eurosport)
Seventh ranking event of the season
Important note: this calendar is provisional and liable to change. Do not arrange tickets/travel/time off work without first checking with individual promoters.
The Malta Cup and China Open, as well as all the qualifiying dates, are still to be added and there will hopefully be further tournaments to be slotted in.
2008
May 12-15: Championship League at Crondon Park, Essex (Live on Betfair.com, Bet365.com and Williamhill.com)
Group 7 (Mon, Tue); Champions Group (Wed, Thu)
May 14-18: Huangshan Cup at Heifei, China
Invitation event featuring Ronnie O’Sullivan, Stephen Hendry, Mark Williams, Ding Junhui, Liang Wenbo and others
June 6-8: Jiangsu Classic at Jiangsu, China
World Snooker promoted invitation event featuring 12 top players, including Ding Junhui
June 21-22: World Series at St. Hellier, Jersey (Live on Eurosport)
Featuring John Higgins, Shaun Murphy, Mark Selby and Ken Doherty plus four local players
July 8-13: Sangsom 6-red International at Montien Riverside Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
New event played with only six reds featuring several big names, including Peter Ebdon, Ken Doherty, Mark Williams, Jimmy White and Ding Junhui
July 12-13: World Series at Berlin, Germany (Live on Eurosport)
Featuring John Higgins, Stephen Maguire, Graeme Dott and Shaun Murphy plus four local players
August 24-31: Northern Ireland Trophy at Waterfront Hall, Belfast (Live on TG4 and Eurosport)
First ranking event of the season
September 11: Premier League at Grimsby Auditorium (Live on Sky Sports)
September 18: Premier League at the Anvil, Basingstoke (Live on Sky Sports)
September 25: Premier League at the Assembly Rooms, Derby (Live on Sky Sports)
September 27-28: World Series at Moscow, Russia (Live on Eurosport)
Featuring Graeme Dott, Steve Davis, Ding Junhui and Stephen Maguire plus four local players
October 1-7: Roewe Shanghai Masters (Live on Eurosport)
Second ranking event of the season
October 9: Premier League at Malvern Theatre, Great Malvern (Live on Sky Sports)
October 11-19: Royal London Watches Grand Prix at venue TBC (Live on BBC and Eurosport)
Third ranking event of the season
October 23: Premier League at Plymouth Pavilions (Live on Sky Sports)
October 25-26: World Series at Warsaw, Poland (Live on Eurosport)
Featuring Ding Junhui, Steve Davis, Stephen Maguire and Graeme Dott plus four local players
October 30: Premier League at the English Institute of Sport, Sheffield (Live on Sky Sports)
November 6: Premier League at Newport Centre, Wales (Live on Sky Sports)
November 13: Premier League at Olympos, Haywards Heath (Live on Sky Sports)
November 20: Premier League at the Sands Centre, Carlisle (Live on Sky Sports)
November 27: Premier League at the Glades Arena, Kidderminster (Live on Sky Sports)
December 6-7: Premier League play-offs and final at Potters, Norfolk (Live on Sky Sports)
December 13-21: Maplin UK Championship at venue TBC (Live on BBC and Eurosport)
Fourth ranking event of the season
2009
January 11-18: Saga Insurance Masters at Wembley Arena (Live on BBC and Eurosport)
The game’s leading invitation event
February 9-15: Welsh Open at Newport Centre (Live on BBC Wales and Eurosport)
Fifth ranking event of the season
April 18-May 4: 888.com World Championship at Crucible Theatre, Sheffield (Live on BBC and Eurosport)
Seventh ranking event of the season
7.5.08
FINAL WORD ON THE CRUCIBLE
As the 888.com World Championship recedes into memory, here are my highlights...
SHOT OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Ronnie O'Sullivan's 13th black in his 147. Forcing an angle to free one of the two remaining reds from the pink he played the perfect cannon.
SHOCK OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Although the scale of Ali Carter's defeat of Shaun Murphy surprised me, I'd go for Joe Perry's quarter-final victory over Stephen Maguire, who had been playing superbly up to this point.
CHARACTER OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Liang Wenbo was a refreshing presence for various reasons, not just his all-out attacking approach.
BREAK OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Hard to choose between the two 147s but Ali Carter just takes it because it was his first and, given his tendency to feel the pressure in the past, he held himself together brilliantly.
QUOTE OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
'I played like a man with no arms' - a decidedly un-PC Dave Harold after losing to Shaun Murphy.
PERFORMANCE OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Stephen Maguire's 8-0 demolition of Neil Robertson in the first session of their second round match had to be seen to be believed, even outstripping Ronnie O'Sullivan's thrashing of Stephen Hendry.
MATCH OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Liang Wenbo v Joe Swail had it all: youth v experience, close frames, unexpected misses, controversy, premature celebrations, a deciding frame finish and recriminations afterwards. Classic stuff.
PLAYER OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Who else but the winner? Ronnie O'Sullivan, ever enigmatic, ever his own man, joined the pantheon of players to have won three world titles and provided great entertainment along the way.
Roll on 2009!
SHOT OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Ronnie O'Sullivan's 13th black in his 147. Forcing an angle to free one of the two remaining reds from the pink he played the perfect cannon.
SHOCK OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Although the scale of Ali Carter's defeat of Shaun Murphy surprised me, I'd go for Joe Perry's quarter-final victory over Stephen Maguire, who had been playing superbly up to this point.
CHARACTER OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Liang Wenbo was a refreshing presence for various reasons, not just his all-out attacking approach.
BREAK OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Hard to choose between the two 147s but Ali Carter just takes it because it was his first and, given his tendency to feel the pressure in the past, he held himself together brilliantly.
QUOTE OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
'I played like a man with no arms' - a decidedly un-PC Dave Harold after losing to Shaun Murphy.
PERFORMANCE OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Stephen Maguire's 8-0 demolition of Neil Robertson in the first session of their second round match had to be seen to be believed, even outstripping Ronnie O'Sullivan's thrashing of Stephen Hendry.
MATCH OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Liang Wenbo v Joe Swail had it all: youth v experience, close frames, unexpected misses, controversy, premature celebrations, a deciding frame finish and recriminations afterwards. Classic stuff.
PLAYER OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP
Who else but the winner? Ronnie O'Sullivan, ever enigmatic, ever his own man, joined the pantheon of players to have won three world titles and provided great entertainment along the way.
Roll on 2009!
6.5.08
THE WORLD TURNS FOR O'SULLIVAN
Ronnie O'Sullivan has always been a person of extreme highs and lows and last night savoured one of the all time highs of his extraordinary life.
OK, so it was a poor final. There was little drama and for long periods the snooker was of low quality.
Had O'Sullivan gone 17-6 up the players would have been brought off just so that there could be some snooker in the evening.
But despite all this, it was still a great night. O'Sullivan is a sportsman, indeed a person, who defies convention.
He's done things to make himself unpopular but he's also created a large store of wonderful memories for those who follow snooker.
All the Crucible spectators who saw his 147 up close can tell everyone they know that they were there.
I was pleased to see that Ronnie was genuinely happy with winning again because he won't have enjoyed the match.
He won't retire, regardless of what he says. Yes, snooker and the pursuit of perfection continues to torture him but it's in his blood and he needs it as much as the game needs him.
There will doubtless be more lows but also many more highs in this most remarkable career.
OK, so it was a poor final. There was little drama and for long periods the snooker was of low quality.
Had O'Sullivan gone 17-6 up the players would have been brought off just so that there could be some snooker in the evening.
But despite all this, it was still a great night. O'Sullivan is a sportsman, indeed a person, who defies convention.
He's done things to make himself unpopular but he's also created a large store of wonderful memories for those who follow snooker.
All the Crucible spectators who saw his 147 up close can tell everyone they know that they were there.
I was pleased to see that Ronnie was genuinely happy with winning again because he won't have enjoyed the match.
He won't retire, regardless of what he says. Yes, snooker and the pursuit of perfection continues to torture him but it's in his blood and he needs it as much as the game needs him.
There will doubtless be more lows but also many more highs in this most remarkable career.
5.5.08
RONNIE'S HAT-TRICK
Sport is a world of extremes. Defeat is the biggest calamity in the history of civilisation, victory the greatest achievement since the invention of the wheel.
There has been an extraordinary over reaction to Ronnie O’Sullivan’s progress towards a third world title, which he appears certain to land at the Crucible later today.
Let me say this from the start: Ronnie has played great snooker. Really good. In finishing off against Mark Williams and the second session against Stephen Hendry it was up there with the all time Crucible performances.
However, to compare him to Tiger Woods and Roger Federer is wrong. He has their talent but has not demonstrated their application or dedication to be a consistent winner.
The world title will be his third ranking event victory in three years. This is not the record of a dominant force.
Would Woods or Federer have played the kamikaze stuff O’Sullivan did at the China Open?
Rather, O’Sullivan is more a George Best or Paul Gascoigne: a genius whose flaws make him even more fascinating, even more attractive.
He can’t be placed above Stephen Hendry until he’s won more world titles. Yes, his maximum was superb but so was Ali Carter’s.
I’ve commentated on most of Ronnie’s matches this season and, in the main, he’s played like he did yesterday.
In other words, well enough to beat most players but, aside from a few occasions, not to the very high standards he sets himself.
This is his essential problem: he is striving for perfection and when he fails to find this it eats him up.
I don’t think he’ll derive much pleasure from winning the world title in this manner, which is a shame because he has given so many other people so much enjoyment.
Ronnie is the deserving champion this year but he hasn’t played any better than he did to win his other two worlds titles or any better than many of the other great champions have in previous years.
I hope he can enjoy his moment of victory but, alas, this can’t be guaranteed. It’s not the winning he likes so much as the fulfilment of snooker perfection.
Anything less won’t do, even if it is good enough to see off the best the game has to offer.
There has been an extraordinary over reaction to Ronnie O’Sullivan’s progress towards a third world title, which he appears certain to land at the Crucible later today.
Let me say this from the start: Ronnie has played great snooker. Really good. In finishing off against Mark Williams and the second session against Stephen Hendry it was up there with the all time Crucible performances.
However, to compare him to Tiger Woods and Roger Federer is wrong. He has their talent but has not demonstrated their application or dedication to be a consistent winner.
The world title will be his third ranking event victory in three years. This is not the record of a dominant force.
Would Woods or Federer have played the kamikaze stuff O’Sullivan did at the China Open?
Rather, O’Sullivan is more a George Best or Paul Gascoigne: a genius whose flaws make him even more fascinating, even more attractive.
He can’t be placed above Stephen Hendry until he’s won more world titles. Yes, his maximum was superb but so was Ali Carter’s.
I’ve commentated on most of Ronnie’s matches this season and, in the main, he’s played like he did yesterday.
In other words, well enough to beat most players but, aside from a few occasions, not to the very high standards he sets himself.
This is his essential problem: he is striving for perfection and when he fails to find this it eats him up.
I don’t think he’ll derive much pleasure from winning the world title in this manner, which is a shame because he has given so many other people so much enjoyment.
Ronnie is the deserving champion this year but he hasn’t played any better than he did to win his other two worlds titles or any better than many of the other great champions have in previous years.
I hope he can enjoy his moment of victory but, alas, this can’t be guaranteed. It’s not the winning he likes so much as the fulfilment of snooker perfection.
Anything less won’t do, even if it is good enough to see off the best the game has to offer.
4.5.08
REMEMBER 1986
I’ve had the pleasure of commentating with Joe Johnson throughout much of this World Championship and he is better qualified than most to assess Ali Carter’s chances of causing an upset in the final.
Joe famously beat Steve Davis 18-12 to win the title in 1986. The official programme of this year’s tournament ranks it as the second biggest shock in Crucible history, behind only Davis’s humbling 10-1 defeat to Tony Knowles in the first round in 1982.
Most people seem to think Ronnie O’Sullivan will not only beat Carter but beat him soundly. World Snooker has been ringing ex-players in case O’Sullivan wins with a session to spare and an exhibition is needed on Monday night.
888sport.com has O’Sullivan as 1/8 favourite with Carter 5/1.
I agree that O’Sullivan is likely to win given his form during the championship but Joe has made a few good points to me that are worth sharing.
Firstly, O’Sullivan was highly motivated in the semi-finals because he was playing Stephen Hendry. There would have been no disgrace in losing to this great champion but the respect Ronnie has for him brought out his best snooker.
He’s beaten Carter all eight times they have played and, being such a heavy favourite, has a huge weight of expectation on his shoulders.
Carter, in a sense, has nothing to lose, just as Joe didn’t in 1986. He could enjoy the occasion while the pressure was on Davis.
However, Ali must not settle for just being in the final. He has to – and I'm sure he does – believe he can win.
O’Sullivan needs to go into the final with the same mindset he had against Hendry but this will be difficult because he knows everyone expects him to win.
Of course, Davis had the baggage of what happened against Dennis Taylor the previous year. O’Sullivan’s only real baggage is his notoriously fragile emotional state, but he appears to have been on a largely even keel throughout the tournament.
In short, I think both Joe and I expect O’Sullivan to win but not by as big a margin as many are predicting, and not with a session to spare.
As ever, though, we will only find out when the punditry stops and the action begins at 3pm.
Joe famously beat Steve Davis 18-12 to win the title in 1986. The official programme of this year’s tournament ranks it as the second biggest shock in Crucible history, behind only Davis’s humbling 10-1 defeat to Tony Knowles in the first round in 1982.
Most people seem to think Ronnie O’Sullivan will not only beat Carter but beat him soundly. World Snooker has been ringing ex-players in case O’Sullivan wins with a session to spare and an exhibition is needed on Monday night.
888sport.com has O’Sullivan as 1/8 favourite with Carter 5/1.
I agree that O’Sullivan is likely to win given his form during the championship but Joe has made a few good points to me that are worth sharing.
Firstly, O’Sullivan was highly motivated in the semi-finals because he was playing Stephen Hendry. There would have been no disgrace in losing to this great champion but the respect Ronnie has for him brought out his best snooker.
He’s beaten Carter all eight times they have played and, being such a heavy favourite, has a huge weight of expectation on his shoulders.
Carter, in a sense, has nothing to lose, just as Joe didn’t in 1986. He could enjoy the occasion while the pressure was on Davis.
However, Ali must not settle for just being in the final. He has to – and I'm sure he does – believe he can win.
O’Sullivan needs to go into the final with the same mindset he had against Hendry but this will be difficult because he knows everyone expects him to win.
Of course, Davis had the baggage of what happened against Dennis Taylor the previous year. O’Sullivan’s only real baggage is his notoriously fragile emotional state, but he appears to have been on a largely even keel throughout the tournament.
In short, I think both Joe and I expect O’Sullivan to win but not by as big a margin as many are predicting, and not with a session to spare.
As ever, though, we will only find out when the punditry stops and the action begins at 3pm.
3.5.08
CRUCIBLE 2008: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
As we approach the final of the World Championship, let's look back and the high and low points of the greatest snooker show on earth.
THUMBS UP FOR...
- Liang Wenbo
Yes, his shot selection was at times suicidal but he was a refreshing presence in the tournament. He became a cult hero after walking into the arena unannounced for his second session against Ken Doherty and proved his fighting qualities by prevailing against Joe Swail in the most exciting of all the matches thus far.
- Brendan Moore
This was Brendan's first time refereeing at the Crucible and I was very impressed with him. Definitely capable of taking charge of the final in future years.
- Close finishes
You can't beat the Crucible for drama when a match goes close and, in the first round in particular, we had a number that did: Hendry v Allen, Ebdon v Cope, Davis v Bingham to name but three. Davis's comeback was a joy to watch, even if he did fall short in the end.
- Ronnie O'Sullivan
On and off the table, O'Sullivan has been exemplary. The standard he produced in taking all eight frames from Stephen Hendry in the second session of their semi-final was up there with the all time great performances at the Crucible. His 147 was an exhibition of sheer natural talent.
- Ali Carter's 147
Carter has been guilty of slipping up at important moments throughout his career but was cool personified in completing a maximum break just a day after O'Sullivan made his. Some break it was, too, not least the final black, which would have been a pressure ball to win a frame, let alone for a 147.
- The sponsors
I thought whoever took over from Embassy would struggle to establish themselves as the recognised sponsor but 888.com have been so enthusiastic that they've managed it. I'd even argue that they've helped to reinvigorate the event over the last three years without it losing its essential heavyweight status.
THUMBS DOWN FOR...
- Conditions
Once again, the middle part of the tournament was overshadowed by complaints about playing conditions. It seems logical now to re-cloth the tables on the first Wednesday as well as the middle Sunday and second Wednesday. This would surely lessen any complaints at next year's championship.
- The Joe Swail-Liang Wenbo controversy
Swail didn't do himself any favours, although, in his defence, he was speaking minutes after suffering a very disappointing last gasp defeat. The fact is, the referee - in this case Alan Chamberlain - asked both players if they were happy the balls had been replaced properly. Swail said he was and, if he had not been, should have said so in the arena.
- MC Rob Walker's 'Let's get the boys on the baize' intro
I wouldn't fault Walker for his enthusiasm but I can't be the only person who finds this catchphrase annoying. Last night, we had two of snooker's greatest champions playing. O'Sullivan and Hendry are not 'boys' they're all time greats. Plus, the crowd does not need to be whipped into a frenzy when they basically have to be quiet for the best part of three hours.
- The strike 'threat'
Possibly the biggest non-story of the championship was the idea that top players will put down their cues because of a row over logo spaces. They won't. Simple as that.
- Football
Interested though many of us were in the Champions League semi-finals this week, there is a section of the media who seem to believe sports coverage should begin and end with football. After his epic win over Stephen Maguire, Joe Perry was asked by a journalist how it felt that nobody had been watching because they were all tuned in to Chelsea v Liverpool. Apart from this being obviously wrong - not least because the snooker was still going on a good hour and a half after the football had finished - Joe had every reason to feel aggreived having just pulled off the win of his career.
THUMBS UP FOR...
- Liang Wenbo
Yes, his shot selection was at times suicidal but he was a refreshing presence in the tournament. He became a cult hero after walking into the arena unannounced for his second session against Ken Doherty and proved his fighting qualities by prevailing against Joe Swail in the most exciting of all the matches thus far.
- Brendan Moore
This was Brendan's first time refereeing at the Crucible and I was very impressed with him. Definitely capable of taking charge of the final in future years.
- Close finishes
You can't beat the Crucible for drama when a match goes close and, in the first round in particular, we had a number that did: Hendry v Allen, Ebdon v Cope, Davis v Bingham to name but three. Davis's comeback was a joy to watch, even if he did fall short in the end.
- Ronnie O'Sullivan
On and off the table, O'Sullivan has been exemplary. The standard he produced in taking all eight frames from Stephen Hendry in the second session of their semi-final was up there with the all time great performances at the Crucible. His 147 was an exhibition of sheer natural talent.
- Ali Carter's 147
Carter has been guilty of slipping up at important moments throughout his career but was cool personified in completing a maximum break just a day after O'Sullivan made his. Some break it was, too, not least the final black, which would have been a pressure ball to win a frame, let alone for a 147.
- The sponsors
I thought whoever took over from Embassy would struggle to establish themselves as the recognised sponsor but 888.com have been so enthusiastic that they've managed it. I'd even argue that they've helped to reinvigorate the event over the last three years without it losing its essential heavyweight status.
THUMBS DOWN FOR...
- Conditions
Once again, the middle part of the tournament was overshadowed by complaints about playing conditions. It seems logical now to re-cloth the tables on the first Wednesday as well as the middle Sunday and second Wednesday. This would surely lessen any complaints at next year's championship.
- The Joe Swail-Liang Wenbo controversy
Swail didn't do himself any favours, although, in his defence, he was speaking minutes after suffering a very disappointing last gasp defeat. The fact is, the referee - in this case Alan Chamberlain - asked both players if they were happy the balls had been replaced properly. Swail said he was and, if he had not been, should have said so in the arena.
- MC Rob Walker's 'Let's get the boys on the baize' intro
I wouldn't fault Walker for his enthusiasm but I can't be the only person who finds this catchphrase annoying. Last night, we had two of snooker's greatest champions playing. O'Sullivan and Hendry are not 'boys' they're all time greats. Plus, the crowd does not need to be whipped into a frenzy when they basically have to be quiet for the best part of three hours.
- The strike 'threat'
Possibly the biggest non-story of the championship was the idea that top players will put down their cues because of a row over logo spaces. They won't. Simple as that.
- Football
Interested though many of us were in the Champions League semi-finals this week, there is a section of the media who seem to believe sports coverage should begin and end with football. After his epic win over Stephen Maguire, Joe Perry was asked by a journalist how it felt that nobody had been watching because they were all tuned in to Chelsea v Liverpool. Apart from this being obviously wrong - not least because the snooker was still going on a good hour and a half after the football had finished - Joe had every reason to feel aggreived having just pulled off the win of his career.
2.5.08
UNSTOPPABLE O'SULLIVAN
A total of 109 players entered this year’s World Championship. Of these, 32 made the Crucible, including great champions of the past and likely winners of the future.
However, it seems inconceivable now that Ronnie O’Sullivan won’t be the last man standing on Monday.
He has clinically taken Stephen Hendry apart in this morning’s session of their semi-final and I can’t see Ali Carter or Joe Perry stopping him in the final.
It was the first time Hendry has suffered a session whitewash in 23 Crucible appearances encompassing 80 matches. It was the seventh session whitewash in a Crucible semi-final and the third by O'Sullivan at Sheffield.
O'Sullivan has now constructed 47 centuries this season. If he makes seven more in the rest of this match and the final he will surpass Hendry's record of 53, set in the 1993/94 campaign.
This would be remarkable because it would have been accomplished in far fewer tournaments - 9 compared with Hendry's 15.
O'Sullivan is also now tied with John Higgins on 85 centuries, with Hendry still top at Sheffield on 116.
Some would argue the Rocket’s had an easy draw but I’d say this is unfair: it was only ‘easy’ because he is so good.
His main fortune has been to avoid players who play the kind of game he dislikes: slow, scrappy and drawn out.
All of his opponents thus far – Liu Chuang, Mark Williams, Liang Wenbo and Stephen Hendry – are open, attacking players who go for their shots. There is no better player in the modern game at this kind of snooker than O’Sullivan, so their approach would have suited him fine.
A Hendry comeback looks unlikely now and Carter or Perry will have to produce the snooker of their life to prevent Ronnie completing a hat-trick of world titles.
However, it seems inconceivable now that Ronnie O’Sullivan won’t be the last man standing on Monday.
He has clinically taken Stephen Hendry apart in this morning’s session of their semi-final and I can’t see Ali Carter or Joe Perry stopping him in the final.
It was the first time Hendry has suffered a session whitewash in 23 Crucible appearances encompassing 80 matches. It was the seventh session whitewash in a Crucible semi-final and the third by O'Sullivan at Sheffield.
O'Sullivan has now constructed 47 centuries this season. If he makes seven more in the rest of this match and the final he will surpass Hendry's record of 53, set in the 1993/94 campaign.
This would be remarkable because it would have been accomplished in far fewer tournaments - 9 compared with Hendry's 15.
O'Sullivan is also now tied with John Higgins on 85 centuries, with Hendry still top at Sheffield on 116.
Some would argue the Rocket’s had an easy draw but I’d say this is unfair: it was only ‘easy’ because he is so good.
His main fortune has been to avoid players who play the kind of game he dislikes: slow, scrappy and drawn out.
All of his opponents thus far – Liu Chuang, Mark Williams, Liang Wenbo and Stephen Hendry – are open, attacking players who go for their shots. There is no better player in the modern game at this kind of snooker than O’Sullivan, so their approach would have suited him fine.
A Hendry comeback looks unlikely now and Carter or Perry will have to produce the snooker of their life to prevent Ronnie completing a hat-trick of world titles.
1.5.08
DOWN TO THE SEMIS
Now we’re down to the semi-finals of the 888.com World Championship, let’s look back at my tips for the last four.
I went for:
Ding Junhui v Mark Williams
Shaun Murphy v Neil Robertson
Oh dear.
Still, I’d be amazed if anyone tipped Ali Carter v Joe Perry.
Carter reminds me a little of Joe Johnson, who found inspiration in 1986 to play some remarkable snooker and go all the way to the title.
Everyone seems to be saying that the winner of the O’Sullivan-Hendry semi will land the title.
Carter, though, is growing in confidence and could yet pull off what would be a huge upset.
I went for:
Ding Junhui v Mark Williams
Shaun Murphy v Neil Robertson
Oh dear.
Still, I’d be amazed if anyone tipped Ali Carter v Joe Perry.
Carter reminds me a little of Joe Johnson, who found inspiration in 1986 to play some remarkable snooker and go all the way to the title.
Everyone seems to be saying that the winner of the O’Sullivan-Hendry semi will land the title.
Carter, though, is growing in confidence and could yet pull off what would be a huge upset.
30.4.08
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
I don’t know about you but my nerves are shredded by this extraordinary 888.com World Championship.
Last night saw more drama as Peter Ebdon failed on the 15th black on a 147 only for Ali Carter to knock in a maximum in the very next frame.
This came a day after Ronnie O’Sullivan’s 147, earning Carter a share of the £157,000 prize – although you couldn’t rule out another max before this remarkable Crucible event is over.
Carter is training to be an airline pilot and the ‘Captain’ charted a course to snooker history in fine style, not least in potting the last black, which would have been a pressure ball to win a frame, let alone make a 147.
It was the first time there have been two maximums in the TV stages of a major event.
After all the complaints about below par conditions, nobody can say they are anything but perfect now.
Last night saw more drama as Peter Ebdon failed on the 15th black on a 147 only for Ali Carter to knock in a maximum in the very next frame.
This came a day after Ronnie O’Sullivan’s 147, earning Carter a share of the £157,000 prize – although you couldn’t rule out another max before this remarkable Crucible event is over.
Carter is training to be an airline pilot and the ‘Captain’ charted a course to snooker history in fine style, not least in potting the last black, which would have been a pressure ball to win a frame, let alone make a 147.
It was the first time there have been two maximums in the TV stages of a major event.
After all the complaints about below par conditions, nobody can say they are anything but perfect now.
29.4.08
WARNING: GENIUS AT WORK
Ronnie O’Sullivan raised the bar still further with his audacious 147 yesterday that once again reaffirmed his instinctive snooker genius.
This was his ninth. Stephen Hendry has made eight. There are only seven years between them so it seems likely to be the only substantive record O’Sullivan will take from the game’s all time great.
In some ways it is indicative of his personality. Easily bored, he thrives on the euphoric thrill of a great moment rather than taking satisfaction from, say, a consistent season.
It was Ronnie’s third Crucible maximum and, not for the first time, he made the game look ridiculously easy in completing it.
The crowd reaction was a sight to behold. The usual quiet of the Crucible arena gave way to one of the loudest roars ever heard there as the spectators rose as one to applaud O’Sullivan off the stage.
When any of the multitude of sneering, metropolitan broadsheet columnists deride snooker as being boring or in decline in the future, send them the tape of Ronnie’s 147.
And when they say, ‘well Ronnie’s all you’ve got,’ send them a tape of the extraordinary conclusion to the Liang Wenbo-Joe Swail match last night.
This was a Crucible thriller to rate alongside all the great games you can think of. Liang thought he’d won it on potting the blue at 12-10 but later struggled over the line 13-12.
It proved that snooker can still deliver great excitement, even from two players who are not high profile.
Yes, there has been plenty of complaints from players about various matters but the controversy has only added to what is already one of the best World Championships ever.
This was his ninth. Stephen Hendry has made eight. There are only seven years between them so it seems likely to be the only substantive record O’Sullivan will take from the game’s all time great.
In some ways it is indicative of his personality. Easily bored, he thrives on the euphoric thrill of a great moment rather than taking satisfaction from, say, a consistent season.
It was Ronnie’s third Crucible maximum and, not for the first time, he made the game look ridiculously easy in completing it.
The crowd reaction was a sight to behold. The usual quiet of the Crucible arena gave way to one of the loudest roars ever heard there as the spectators rose as one to applaud O’Sullivan off the stage.
When any of the multitude of sneering, metropolitan broadsheet columnists deride snooker as being boring or in decline in the future, send them the tape of Ronnie’s 147.
And when they say, ‘well Ronnie’s all you’ve got,’ send them a tape of the extraordinary conclusion to the Liang Wenbo-Joe Swail match last night.
This was a Crucible thriller to rate alongside all the great games you can think of. Liang thought he’d won it on potting the blue at 12-10 but later struggled over the line 13-12.
It proved that snooker can still deliver great excitement, even from two players who are not high profile.
Yes, there has been plenty of complaints from players about various matters but the controversy has only added to what is already one of the best World Championships ever.
28.4.08
SIR RODNEY'S TABLE TALK
Sir Rodney Walker, the chairman of World Snooker, has missed the point about the row over playing conditions at the 888.com World Championship.
In response to John Higgins’s trenchant criticisms following his Crucible defeat to Ryan Day, Walker told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Sportsweek programme on Sunday that, as the table was the same for both players, Higgins’s comments may merely have been a reaction to losing.
“Ryan Day was playing on the same table and lots of other players have played on it,” Walker said.
“Maybe – and I’m not saying John didn’t have a legitimate complaint – with the benefit of hindsight he may not have been quite so critical as he was at the time.
“Emotions were running high. Overall, as John did say at one point, it’s the same for both players so they’re both affected equally.”
Yes, it was the same for both players but, as I wrote yesterday, this doesn’t mean it’s a level playing field.
I take nothing away from Day at all because he deserved to win but only the best conditions produce the best quality snooker.
If the grass on Centre Court at Wimbledon has not been cut, it would be the same for both players but conditions would not be conducive to top quality tennis.
Ditto if someone digs up the greens at St. Andrews or covers an F1 track with oil.
The main problem at the Crucible was odd bounces off cushions that were impossible to predict and a high number of bad contacts.
Higgins allowed this to get to him and has admitted that he shouldn’t have.
However, I don’t believe his comments were down to sour grapes on his part. He first complained to World Snooker officials when he was leading 5-3.
Peter Ebdon has also complained and he’s still going in the tournament.
Walker is not an expert on playing conditions – neither does he claim to be – but he would be better advised to listen to what the top players are saying rather than shrug off their complaints.
In response to John Higgins’s trenchant criticisms following his Crucible defeat to Ryan Day, Walker told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Sportsweek programme on Sunday that, as the table was the same for both players, Higgins’s comments may merely have been a reaction to losing.
“Ryan Day was playing on the same table and lots of other players have played on it,” Walker said.
“Maybe – and I’m not saying John didn’t have a legitimate complaint – with the benefit of hindsight he may not have been quite so critical as he was at the time.
“Emotions were running high. Overall, as John did say at one point, it’s the same for both players so they’re both affected equally.”
Yes, it was the same for both players but, as I wrote yesterday, this doesn’t mean it’s a level playing field.
I take nothing away from Day at all because he deserved to win but only the best conditions produce the best quality snooker.
If the grass on Centre Court at Wimbledon has not been cut, it would be the same for both players but conditions would not be conducive to top quality tennis.
Ditto if someone digs up the greens at St. Andrews or covers an F1 track with oil.
The main problem at the Crucible was odd bounces off cushions that were impossible to predict and a high number of bad contacts.
Higgins allowed this to get to him and has admitted that he shouldn’t have.
However, I don’t believe his comments were down to sour grapes on his part. He first complained to World Snooker officials when he was leading 5-3.
Peter Ebdon has also complained and he’s still going in the tournament.
Walker is not an expert on playing conditions – neither does he claim to be – but he would be better advised to listen to what the top players are saying rather than shrug off their complaints.
27.4.08
LOGO AREAS, BAD BOUNCES AND SPIN
Today marks the mid point of what has thus far been an engrossing 888.com World Championship but much of the publicity surrounding the tournament remains negative.
This is partly due to the nature of what makes ‘news’ and partly because of problems in the way in which the sport is administered.
This story in the News of the World highlights growing unrest over player logos. However, the BBC has been unfairly blamed for this is my view.
Their guidelines limit players to two logos but it was not their decision to award one logo space to 888.com. This was down to World Snooker, as Barry Hearn makes clear in the NOTW article.
The BBC has taken a battering over this. A word of warning: if they pull out of snooker the professional circuit as we know it will be dead in the water.
The other major controversy has been the playing conditions.
Anyone who has watched the championship will have witnessed bad bounces off cushions and a high number of kicks.
Why are kicks now accepted as just part of the game?
Why is there no concerted effort to eradicate them?
John Higgins was scathing about the cushions and laid the blame at the door of World Snooker tournament director Mike Ganley for not re-covering the tables before the second round.
World Snooker issued a bland, meaningless statement at the same time that Ganley went in front of the BBC cameras to answer questions from Hazel Irvine, where he admitted he had been “disappointed” by the way the table had played.
“We always try to ensure the best conditions and it’s disappointing to have inconsistent bounces for the players,” he said.
“Years ago we only used to re-cover the tables before the semi-finals but it is disappointing, even if it’s the same for both players.
“We have sheets for the players to fill in after their matches if they have any comments to make. John has done so, as has Peter Ebdon but not many others. The boys need to knock on the door a bit more often.”
Credit to Ganley for being honest enough to admit the conditions weren’t good enough. Much thought needs to go into what will be done at next year’s World Championship because this cannot keep happening every year.
Yes, it’s the same for both players. But if Roger Federer and Andy Roddick turned up at Centre Court at Wimbledon to find the grass had not been cut would their match really be a true reflection of their talents?
Shaun Murphy last night heavily criticised playing conditions but readers of worldsnooker.com, the website of the governing body, would not think so.
Here’s what he said: “We have a gambling sponsor, why don't we take the championship to a casino and have a real game of chance?
"This is the world championship, the gala event we all look forward to. Yes, I'll hold my hands up, I missed some shots I shouldn't have but there were a lot of problems out there that cost me the match.
"It's not just me and John Higgins having a problem with it and it's not just because we lost. It will look like sour grapes but it's not and it will cost other players.
"The comments have been made backstage for days. The cloth is so thin and light it's only good for three days' play.
"After three days you get bad bounces and balls going where they shouldn't be and it makes a mockery of the biggest tournament we've got.”
Here’s what worldsnooker.com quoted: “I just think there are a whole mixtures of things that have gone on that have made the match that way and a lot of talk about the conditions and the playing conditions that we are all under but I’m not really that bothered at losing because I know I’ve played well all season, I’ve prepared as well as I’ve ever done to come to the Crucible, I played well against Dave and I know I played a lot of good shots out there today but the playing conditions weren’t beneficial to me at all.”
Leaving aside the fact that this comes across as gibberish, ‘not beneficial’ does not necessarily mean ‘poor’ and this sort of spin hardly enhances World Snooker’s reputation. Either quote what he said properly or don't quote him at all.
Thank goodness the snooker remains high quality as we enter the second half of the Crucible marathon.
This is partly due to the nature of what makes ‘news’ and partly because of problems in the way in which the sport is administered.
This story in the News of the World highlights growing unrest over player logos. However, the BBC has been unfairly blamed for this is my view.
Their guidelines limit players to two logos but it was not their decision to award one logo space to 888.com. This was down to World Snooker, as Barry Hearn makes clear in the NOTW article.
The BBC has taken a battering over this. A word of warning: if they pull out of snooker the professional circuit as we know it will be dead in the water.
The other major controversy has been the playing conditions.
Anyone who has watched the championship will have witnessed bad bounces off cushions and a high number of kicks.
Why are kicks now accepted as just part of the game?
Why is there no concerted effort to eradicate them?
John Higgins was scathing about the cushions and laid the blame at the door of World Snooker tournament director Mike Ganley for not re-covering the tables before the second round.
World Snooker issued a bland, meaningless statement at the same time that Ganley went in front of the BBC cameras to answer questions from Hazel Irvine, where he admitted he had been “disappointed” by the way the table had played.
“We always try to ensure the best conditions and it’s disappointing to have inconsistent bounces for the players,” he said.
“Years ago we only used to re-cover the tables before the semi-finals but it is disappointing, even if it’s the same for both players.
“We have sheets for the players to fill in after their matches if they have any comments to make. John has done so, as has Peter Ebdon but not many others. The boys need to knock on the door a bit more often.”
Credit to Ganley for being honest enough to admit the conditions weren’t good enough. Much thought needs to go into what will be done at next year’s World Championship because this cannot keep happening every year.
Yes, it’s the same for both players. But if Roger Federer and Andy Roddick turned up at Centre Court at Wimbledon to find the grass had not been cut would their match really be a true reflection of their talents?
Shaun Murphy last night heavily criticised playing conditions but readers of worldsnooker.com, the website of the governing body, would not think so.
Here’s what he said: “We have a gambling sponsor, why don't we take the championship to a casino and have a real game of chance?
"This is the world championship, the gala event we all look forward to. Yes, I'll hold my hands up, I missed some shots I shouldn't have but there were a lot of problems out there that cost me the match.
"It's not just me and John Higgins having a problem with it and it's not just because we lost. It will look like sour grapes but it's not and it will cost other players.
"The comments have been made backstage for days. The cloth is so thin and light it's only good for three days' play.
"After three days you get bad bounces and balls going where they shouldn't be and it makes a mockery of the biggest tournament we've got.”
Here’s what worldsnooker.com quoted: “I just think there are a whole mixtures of things that have gone on that have made the match that way and a lot of talk about the conditions and the playing conditions that we are all under but I’m not really that bothered at losing because I know I’ve played well all season, I’ve prepared as well as I’ve ever done to come to the Crucible, I played well against Dave and I know I played a lot of good shots out there today but the playing conditions weren’t beneficial to me at all.”
Leaving aside the fact that this comes across as gibberish, ‘not beneficial’ does not necessarily mean ‘poor’ and this sort of spin hardly enhances World Snooker’s reputation. Either quote what he said properly or don't quote him at all.
Thank goodness the snooker remains high quality as we enter the second half of the Crucible marathon.
26.4.08
DING FALLS TO THE KING
Stephen Hendry seems certain to beat Ding Junhui at the Crucible this afternoon and thus stop him from assuming his own mantle of youngest ever world champion.
Resuming 11-5 up, it's very unlikely Hendry will lose given the excellent form he is in.
Ding should have been no worse than 9-7 down but missed the black to win the 11th frame and frame ball red in the 15th.
Make no mistake, though: he is a man under intense pressure.
Ding is the standard bearer of the Chinese snooker revolution. Around 30 accredited Chinese journalists are at the Crucible and millions (and I do mean millions) are following it live on TV.
He won his three ranking titles before the close scrutiny he is now under began and seems to be struggling to cope with it.
What he needs - and what is happening with the emergence of Liang Wenbo and others - is more talented Chinese players doing well in the pro ranks to take some of the weight off his shoulders.
And what of Hendry?
He started the match with a century and made a vintage clearance to win that 15th frame. It was just like the old days.
Crucially, his concentration is back and, cueing as nicely as he is, he can beat anyone in the field.
Is an eighth world title on the cards?
There are still plenty of top class players left in the field who can prevent him but he must know that this is his big chance to land the game's top prize once again.
Resuming 11-5 up, it's very unlikely Hendry will lose given the excellent form he is in.
Ding should have been no worse than 9-7 down but missed the black to win the 11th frame and frame ball red in the 15th.
Make no mistake, though: he is a man under intense pressure.
Ding is the standard bearer of the Chinese snooker revolution. Around 30 accredited Chinese journalists are at the Crucible and millions (and I do mean millions) are following it live on TV.
He won his three ranking titles before the close scrutiny he is now under began and seems to be struggling to cope with it.
What he needs - and what is happening with the emergence of Liang Wenbo and others - is more talented Chinese players doing well in the pro ranks to take some of the weight off his shoulders.
And what of Hendry?
He started the match with a century and made a vintage clearance to win that 15th frame. It was just like the old days.
Crucially, his concentration is back and, cueing as nicely as he is, he can beat anyone in the field.
Is an eighth world title on the cards?
There are still plenty of top class players left in the field who can prevent him but he must know that this is his big chance to land the game's top prize once again.
23.4.08
UNDER PRESSURE
Have we ever had a more exciting start to the World Championship than the first few days this year?
Close finishes, comebacks and tension a-plenty. It can only be the Crucible.
Ronnie O’Sullivan was clearly feeling the pressure this afternoon against Liu Chuang this afternoon, missing pots and misjudging position.
Let’s lay one myth to rest: ‘Ronnie can win if he wants to.’
The fact is, he does want to. This is why he felt the pressure. If he couldn’t care less, he wouldn’t feel any at all.
I think he’ll still beat Liu but he isn’t the certainty he appeared to be this morning.
It’s a worrying sign for Ronnie because it follows three close defeats in as many tournaments.
In the Masters in January he missed a blue he should have potted in the decider against Stephen Maguire and lost 6-5.
He led Mark Selby 8-5 in February’s Welsh Open final but missed chances to win and was beaten 9-8.
He played kamikaze snooker in losing 5-4 to Marco Fu in the China Open last month.
None of this means he has ‘gone.’ He made two good clearances under pressure to hold off Liu. Everyone knows how good he can be when it all comes together.
However, O’Sullivan will be looking to improve in tomorrow’s final session to regain what appears to be lost confidence.
Close finishes, comebacks and tension a-plenty. It can only be the Crucible.
Ronnie O’Sullivan was clearly feeling the pressure this afternoon against Liu Chuang this afternoon, missing pots and misjudging position.
Let’s lay one myth to rest: ‘Ronnie can win if he wants to.’
The fact is, he does want to. This is why he felt the pressure. If he couldn’t care less, he wouldn’t feel any at all.
I think he’ll still beat Liu but he isn’t the certainty he appeared to be this morning.
It’s a worrying sign for Ronnie because it follows three close defeats in as many tournaments.
In the Masters in January he missed a blue he should have potted in the decider against Stephen Maguire and lost 6-5.
He led Mark Selby 8-5 in February’s Welsh Open final but missed chances to win and was beaten 9-8.
He played kamikaze snooker in losing 5-4 to Marco Fu in the China Open last month.
None of this means he has ‘gone.’ He made two good clearances under pressure to hold off Liu. Everyone knows how good he can be when it all comes together.
However, O’Sullivan will be looking to improve in tomorrow’s final session to regain what appears to be lost confidence.
22.4.08
GOLDEN GREATS SERVE UP VINTAGE DAY
All sports rely on an influx of fresh, new talent but you can’t quite beat the legends rolling back the years for excitement.
Yesterday’s play at the 888.com World Championship was thrilling as first Stephen Hendry, then Steve Davis evoked memories of their respective heydays by hitting the comeback trail at the Crucible.
Hendry pulled it off, rallying from 6-3 and 9-7 down to see off Mark Allen 10-9.
Davis just came up short, losing 10-8 to Stuart Bingham after fighting from 8-3 adrift to 8-8.
Hendry’s recovery proved that the Crucible has inspired him to produce close to his best form. Although Allen slipped up, the Scot finished off in style, in one visit in the decider.
“There are a lot of good players capable of winning the title but as long as I’m still in it they’ve got a headache,” he said afterwards.
And who could possibly argue with that?
Davis lost out after messing up position from blue to pink in an extraordinary 17th frame. He had Bingham on the ropes and failed to land the knockout blow but what a great performance it was.
Gone are the days 50 year-old Davis is booed at venues. The support he enjoyed from the crowd last night was amazing.
Nobody can go on forever, but Hendry and Davis are a breed apart because the competitive fire burns deeper in them than any of the players who have followed them.
They would always look to the next tournament after picking up a trophy. They never got comfortable.
Hendry believes he can land an eighth world title. As long as he remains in the event then this possibility cannot be written off.
As for Davis, he will have to qualify next year. Regardless, I repeat what I said in my closing line of commentary for Eurosport last night: He’s walked off the Crucible stage for what may be the last time, but hasn’t he left us with some wonderful memories.
Yesterday’s play at the 888.com World Championship was thrilling as first Stephen Hendry, then Steve Davis evoked memories of their respective heydays by hitting the comeback trail at the Crucible.
Hendry pulled it off, rallying from 6-3 and 9-7 down to see off Mark Allen 10-9.
Davis just came up short, losing 10-8 to Stuart Bingham after fighting from 8-3 adrift to 8-8.
Hendry’s recovery proved that the Crucible has inspired him to produce close to his best form. Although Allen slipped up, the Scot finished off in style, in one visit in the decider.
“There are a lot of good players capable of winning the title but as long as I’m still in it they’ve got a headache,” he said afterwards.
And who could possibly argue with that?
Davis lost out after messing up position from blue to pink in an extraordinary 17th frame. He had Bingham on the ropes and failed to land the knockout blow but what a great performance it was.
Gone are the days 50 year-old Davis is booed at venues. The support he enjoyed from the crowd last night was amazing.
Nobody can go on forever, but Hendry and Davis are a breed apart because the competitive fire burns deeper in them than any of the players who have followed them.
They would always look to the next tournament after picking up a trophy. They never got comfortable.
Hendry believes he can land an eighth world title. As long as he remains in the event then this possibility cannot be written off.
As for Davis, he will have to qualify next year. Regardless, I repeat what I said in my closing line of commentary for Eurosport last night: He’s walked off the Crucible stage for what may be the last time, but hasn’t he left us with some wonderful memories.
21.4.08
BARRY POTTER AND THE CASE OF THE LONG WAIT
It was Mike Ganley’s call to bring Ali Carter and Barry Hawkins off at 9-9, causing a two hour wait before the resumption.
Ganley is World Snooker’s tournament director and had to weigh up the various factors governing the decision.
Had they carried on when it went 9-9 at 6.35pm, they would most likely have run into the final session.
The other view is that, as it was a decider, they should have remained out there, not least so that the crowd who had stuck with it could see the end.
In Ganley’s job, you are never going to please all of the people all of the time. Certainly, Hawkins wasn’t happy because he had just won three successive frames and the momentum was clearly with him.
However, to read some of the coverage you would think that such a pull-off is unprecedented. It isn’t. It happens every year.
The cut-off point for starting another frame is 40 minutes before the following session.
Therefore, Ganley was right to bring them off.
He could have used his discretion but may then have got it in the neck from those waiting to play the evening session.
Ganley is World Snooker’s tournament director and had to weigh up the various factors governing the decision.
Had they carried on when it went 9-9 at 6.35pm, they would most likely have run into the final session.
The other view is that, as it was a decider, they should have remained out there, not least so that the crowd who had stuck with it could see the end.
In Ganley’s job, you are never going to please all of the people all of the time. Certainly, Hawkins wasn’t happy because he had just won three successive frames and the momentum was clearly with him.
However, to read some of the coverage you would think that such a pull-off is unprecedented. It isn’t. It happens every year.
The cut-off point for starting another frame is 40 minutes before the following session.
Therefore, Ganley was right to bring them off.
He could have used his discretion but may then have got it in the neck from those waiting to play the evening session.
20.4.08
HIGGINS SHOWS HIS CLASS
As great champions do, John Higgins raised his game when the pressure was on to see off Matthew Stevens in what turned out to be a very interesting first day encounter at the 888.com World Championship.
Having seen his 7-2 lead reduced to just 7-5, Higgins fired in breaks of 75, 120 and 103 to win 10-5. It was reminiscent, as he himself said, of his finish against Mark Selby in last year's Crucible final.
Few have tipped John to win the title this year. Then again, few tipped him to win it last year.
He hasn't practised as hard as he usually would this season but, like a student cramming for exams, has been putting the hours in at the Craigpark Masters in Glasgow these last three weeks.
If he hits top form in Sheffield he could well land a third world title. Ask the other players and many, if not most, would say he is a better all round player than Ronnie O'Sullivan when at his best.
When Higgins won the title in 1998, I assumed, as did many others, he would be a three, four or even five time winner.
That's not what's happened so far and, as he told me himself in an interview for the Sunday Herald, time is not on his side, even though he's still only 32.
“I’m capable of winning the world title again but I know time is running out,” Higgins said. “I’ll have to do it in the next few years because it gets harder as you get older.
“You look at Jimmy White. Four years ago he won the Players Championship, now he’s almost off the tour. Mark Williams looks like losing his top 16 place and for a while was in danger of falling out of the top 32, which would have been ridiculous because just a few years ago he held the game’s top four titles. It just shows how quickly it can all disappear.”
Who is to say that, now safely through what looked like a tricky opening round encounter, Higgins can't become the first player in 12 years to successfully defend the greatest snooker prize of them all?
(There is a full account of the first day's play here)
Having seen his 7-2 lead reduced to just 7-5, Higgins fired in breaks of 75, 120 and 103 to win 10-5. It was reminiscent, as he himself said, of his finish against Mark Selby in last year's Crucible final.
Few have tipped John to win the title this year. Then again, few tipped him to win it last year.
He hasn't practised as hard as he usually would this season but, like a student cramming for exams, has been putting the hours in at the Craigpark Masters in Glasgow these last three weeks.
If he hits top form in Sheffield he could well land a third world title. Ask the other players and many, if not most, would say he is a better all round player than Ronnie O'Sullivan when at his best.
When Higgins won the title in 1998, I assumed, as did many others, he would be a three, four or even five time winner.
That's not what's happened so far and, as he told me himself in an interview for the Sunday Herald, time is not on his side, even though he's still only 32.
“I’m capable of winning the world title again but I know time is running out,” Higgins said. “I’ll have to do it in the next few years because it gets harder as you get older.
“You look at Jimmy White. Four years ago he won the Players Championship, now he’s almost off the tour. Mark Williams looks like losing his top 16 place and for a while was in danger of falling out of the top 32, which would have been ridiculous because just a few years ago he held the game’s top four titles. It just shows how quickly it can all disappear.”
Who is to say that, now safely through what looked like a tricky opening round encounter, Higgins can't become the first player in 12 years to successfully defend the greatest snooker prize of them all?
(There is a full account of the first day's play here)
19.4.08
THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH
This is an interesting story reflecting the global interest in the 888.com World Championship but it does not change the fact that of the 32 competitors at the Crucible, 27 are from the UK and Ireland.
The game is actually less international now than it was 20 years ago when various Canadians and Australians were part of the scene. Thailand, Finland, Malta and Iceland are among the other countries to have been represented at the home of snooker.
What can be done?
It would take a complete overhaul of the format to enable individual qualifying in different countries but one thing that will help is if players such as Ding Junhui and Neil Robertson continue their success.
Neil tells me snooker in Australia is starting to pick up after years in the doldrums. He's getting some recognition and his profile is gradually growing.
Ding has, of course, already inspired Liang Wenbo and Liu Chuang, who will be making their Crucible debuts next week.
Fast forward 20 years the field may well be dominated by non-British stars.
Then we'll have situation as in tennis where the British sporting public are rooting for a couple of home grown stars, with the inevitable heartbreak ensuing.
The game is actually less international now than it was 20 years ago when various Canadians and Australians were part of the scene. Thailand, Finland, Malta and Iceland are among the other countries to have been represented at the home of snooker.
What can be done?
It would take a complete overhaul of the format to enable individual qualifying in different countries but one thing that will help is if players such as Ding Junhui and Neil Robertson continue their success.
Neil tells me snooker in Australia is starting to pick up after years in the doldrums. He's getting some recognition and his profile is gradually growing.
Ding has, of course, already inspired Liang Wenbo and Liu Chuang, who will be making their Crucible debuts next week.
Fast forward 20 years the field may well be dominated by non-British stars.
Then we'll have situation as in tennis where the British sporting public are rooting for a couple of home grown stars, with the inevitable heartbreak ensuing.
18.4.08
ALL EYES ON THE CRUCIBLE
Soon the talking will, thank goodness, be over and we can actually get on with the 888.com World Championship.
The build up in the newspapers this year has been low key to say the least.
This may reflect a decline in interest from the British media in general but I expect coverage to pick up once the tournament begins. It tends to be that all the people and publications that ignore snooker throughout the season suddenly decide it’s worth covering after all.
Let’s hope it’s covered properly.
The BBC website has a large section on the event. It’s a shame, then, that they have the draw in the wrong order and Ali Carter and Barry Hawkins playing three sessions in their first round match (do they know something we don’t?).
The BBC also has an extremely late nightly highlights programme (midnight most nights and contrary to their own listings) during the first week having come off air at 8pm with the evening session just getting interesting.
They are showing it all live on their interactive service but this doesn’t include a presenter or interviews with players.
Eurosport will be showing pretty much every session live and there is a full coverage on their website.
However you are following the tournament – at the Crucible, on TV or via live scoring – I hope you enjoy it.
The build up in the newspapers this year has been low key to say the least.
This may reflect a decline in interest from the British media in general but I expect coverage to pick up once the tournament begins. It tends to be that all the people and publications that ignore snooker throughout the season suddenly decide it’s worth covering after all.
Let’s hope it’s covered properly.
The BBC website has a large section on the event. It’s a shame, then, that they have the draw in the wrong order and Ali Carter and Barry Hawkins playing three sessions in their first round match (do they know something we don’t?).
The BBC also has an extremely late nightly highlights programme (midnight most nights and contrary to their own listings) during the first week having come off air at 8pm with the evening session just getting interesting.
They are showing it all live on their interactive service but this doesn’t include a presenter or interviews with players.
Eurosport will be showing pretty much every session live and there is a full coverage on their website.
However you are following the tournament – at the Crucible, on TV or via live scoring – I hope you enjoy it.
16.4.08
BLIND DATES
Next season’s Shanghai Masters will start on a Wednesday and finish on a Tuesday (October 1-7). This will be the first time a ranking event has ever ended on a Tuesday, unless you count the last two world finals, which both finished post-midnight on successive May Bank Holiday Mondays.
It is unusual but there’s a reason for it: the day in question is a public holiday in Shanghai, just as we have the May Day holiday in the UK.
When you think about it, there’s no real reason why events always have to end at the weekend, apart from that it is when people are less likely to be working and can therefore attend.
However, such is the competition with other sports for media coverage that a midweek final could end up being a huge plus.
What is less easy to comprehend is how the Shanghai tournament fits in with the rest of the schedule.
When it finishes, there will be just four days until the Grand Prix in Scotland. After that, the next ranking event – the UK Championship – will not be staged for another two months.
Remember, next season’s first ranking event – the Northern Ireland Trophy – is on from August 24-31 so there will be a whole month between this and Shanghai.
Of course, there may be – and we all hope there will be – more events to be slotted in, but this seems unlikely given that Matchroom have already published their Premier League dates.
Twenty years ago, indeed ten years ago, you knew where you were. Each tournament had a recognisable sponsor, venue and slot in the calendar.
If it was October, it’d be the Rothmans Grand Prix in Reading. February would mean the B&H Masters at Wembley, and so on.
Now, tournaments are moved about with such regularity that you need Sat Nav to find them.
And the huge gaps between them hardly convince a sceptical media that we have a thriving circuit.
This is not meant as explicit criticism of World Snooker. Staging ranking tournaments is hard work and securing venues not a piece of cake. World Snooker’s on site tournament team do a good job and rarely get any praise for this.
But to have a month between next season’s first and second tournament, four days between second and third and then two months between third and fourth is going to strike almost everybody – not least the players – as very odd indeed.
There has been criticism in the press – albeit anonymously – from players of late and this only seems likely to continue until new tournaments are announced.
Edit (on April 24): I'm now assured that the Shanghai Masters will now end on Sunday, October 5 after all, having been moved forward two days
It is unusual but there’s a reason for it: the day in question is a public holiday in Shanghai, just as we have the May Day holiday in the UK.
When you think about it, there’s no real reason why events always have to end at the weekend, apart from that it is when people are less likely to be working and can therefore attend.
However, such is the competition with other sports for media coverage that a midweek final could end up being a huge plus.
What is less easy to comprehend is how the Shanghai tournament fits in with the rest of the schedule.
When it finishes, there will be just four days until the Grand Prix in Scotland. After that, the next ranking event – the UK Championship – will not be staged for another two months.
Remember, next season’s first ranking event – the Northern Ireland Trophy – is on from August 24-31 so there will be a whole month between this and Shanghai.
Of course, there may be – and we all hope there will be – more events to be slotted in, but this seems unlikely given that Matchroom have already published their Premier League dates.
Twenty years ago, indeed ten years ago, you knew where you were. Each tournament had a recognisable sponsor, venue and slot in the calendar.
If it was October, it’d be the Rothmans Grand Prix in Reading. February would mean the B&H Masters at Wembley, and so on.
Now, tournaments are moved about with such regularity that you need Sat Nav to find them.
And the huge gaps between them hardly convince a sceptical media that we have a thriving circuit.
This is not meant as explicit criticism of World Snooker. Staging ranking tournaments is hard work and securing venues not a piece of cake. World Snooker’s on site tournament team do a good job and rarely get any praise for this.
But to have a month between next season’s first and second tournament, four days between second and third and then two months between third and fourth is going to strike almost everybody – not least the players – as very odd indeed.
There has been criticism in the press – albeit anonymously – from players of late and this only seems likely to continue until new tournaments are announced.
Edit (on April 24): I'm now assured that the Shanghai Masters will now end on Sunday, October 5 after all, having been moved forward two days
15.4.08
WHITE TAKES CENTRE STAGE
Jimmy White fans – and there are, of course, many of them – can’t watch their hero in next week’s 888.com World Championship but he will be in action in the Championship League on Wednesday and Thursday.
White joins Mark Selby and Gerard Greene in Group 6. There are no seats for spectators but all the action is screened live on the internet on three betting websites – Betfair.com, Bet365.com and Williamhill.com.
Jimmy was beaten 10-3 by Mark King in the final qualifying round of the World Championship and has not been invited to the Premier League next season.
However, he will still get in if he gets into and then wins the Champions Group next month.
White will doubtless have mixed feelings about playing with the World Championship coming up but I’m sure his army of supporters will be willing on his every shot.
White joins Mark Selby and Gerard Greene in Group 6. There are no seats for spectators but all the action is screened live on the internet on three betting websites – Betfair.com, Bet365.com and Williamhill.com.
Jimmy was beaten 10-3 by Mark King in the final qualifying round of the World Championship and has not been invited to the Premier League next season.
However, he will still get in if he gets into and then wins the Champions Group next month.
White will doubtless have mixed feelings about playing with the World Championship coming up but I’m sure his army of supporters will be willing on his every shot.
14.4.08
SNOOKER ISN'T IN CRISIS...SAY WORLD SNOOKER
World Snooker have hit back at the 'mystery' player who criticised them in the News of the World with a statement on their website.
In this, they defend their actions and point to the various positives since Sir Rodney Walker was made chairman in 2004.
Personally, I wouldn't take issue with any of them and it's actually refreshing that the governing body should defend its position rather than say nothing at all, which has all too often been their stance in the past.
However, to talk about 'discussions' for events in the Middle East and Europe is not a good idea because we've been hearing this for, literally, four or five years and such 'discussions' have not yet borne any fruit at all in terms of actual tournaments.
World Snooker have previously announced events in Brazil, Thailand, Macao and Holland that have simply never taken place.
I think players have every right to complain in public if they are unhappy with how their sport is being run but would add that they should do so on the record rather than anonymously.
However, the notion, as suggested in the last paragraph of the statement, that players should only say nice things about the governing body - regardless of what they feel about them - is, frankly, ludicrous.
In this, they defend their actions and point to the various positives since Sir Rodney Walker was made chairman in 2004.
Personally, I wouldn't take issue with any of them and it's actually refreshing that the governing body should defend its position rather than say nothing at all, which has all too often been their stance in the past.
However, to talk about 'discussions' for events in the Middle East and Europe is not a good idea because we've been hearing this for, literally, four or five years and such 'discussions' have not yet borne any fruit at all in terms of actual tournaments.
World Snooker have previously announced events in Brazil, Thailand, Macao and Holland that have simply never taken place.
I think players have every right to complain in public if they are unhappy with how their sport is being run but would add that they should do so on the record rather than anonymously.
However, the notion, as suggested in the last paragraph of the statement, that players should only say nice things about the governing body - regardless of what they feel about them - is, frankly, ludicrous.
CUETUBE
This week, to get us in the mood for Ronnie O'Sullivan's 888.com World Championship meeting with Liu Chuang, some footage of their only other meeting.
This was in last season's China Open in Beijing when Liu was a wildcard.
I'm sure he's hoping Ronnie doesn't turn it on like this at the Crucible...
This was in last season's China Open in Beijing when Liu was a wildcard.
I'm sure he's hoping Ronnie doesn't turn it on like this at the Crucible...
13.4.08
SNOOKER ISN'T IN CRISIS
This story in today's News of the World claims that a number of leading snooker players are 'fed up' with World Snooker, the governing body.
It quotes a top player as saying: "I'm fed up with world snooker, sometimes I wonder whether they have the best interests of the game at the top of their agenda.
"Prize money is down and there are not as many tournaments as there used to be, which frustrates me and a lot of the other players.
"I remember when there were 15 tournaments in a season and there was a lot more money on offer.
"At one point this season there was a two-month break between tournaments. That's not the way to run the game."
The newspaper does not name the player because he feared disciplinary action so neither will I, but I can tell you he has had a love/hate relationship with World Snooker throughout his career.
However, his comments do not mean that 'a string of top players' are 'fed up.' He speaks for himself, nobody else.
Everyone would like more tournaments but although World Snooker have done themselves few favours over the years, the fault for all this is not theirs and theirs alone.
In 2001, 110sport won a court ruling which meant any promoter could stage events without a World Snooker sanction.
But very few have been staged since by anyone other than the governing body.
Why?
Because getting tournaments on is hard work. You need a venue, sponsor, broadcaster and top players, and it's hard to get, say, the first without already having the second and vice versa.
If the top players really are 'fed up' then why haven't they voted out the World Snooker board in the various elections of the last few years?
They've had ample chance to organise themselves to take proper action. Almost uniquely, snooker is run by the players, at least in theory.
I don't believe snooker is 'in crisis' as the story suggests. It could be doing much, much better but it could equally be doing far, far worse.
It quotes a top player as saying: "I'm fed up with world snooker, sometimes I wonder whether they have the best interests of the game at the top of their agenda.
"Prize money is down and there are not as many tournaments as there used to be, which frustrates me and a lot of the other players.
"I remember when there were 15 tournaments in a season and there was a lot more money on offer.
"At one point this season there was a two-month break between tournaments. That's not the way to run the game."
The newspaper does not name the player because he feared disciplinary action so neither will I, but I can tell you he has had a love/hate relationship with World Snooker throughout his career.
However, his comments do not mean that 'a string of top players' are 'fed up.' He speaks for himself, nobody else.
Everyone would like more tournaments but although World Snooker have done themselves few favours over the years, the fault for all this is not theirs and theirs alone.
In 2001, 110sport won a court ruling which meant any promoter could stage events without a World Snooker sanction.
But very few have been staged since by anyone other than the governing body.
Why?
Because getting tournaments on is hard work. You need a venue, sponsor, broadcaster and top players, and it's hard to get, say, the first without already having the second and vice versa.
If the top players really are 'fed up' then why haven't they voted out the World Snooker board in the various elections of the last few years?
They've had ample chance to organise themselves to take proper action. Almost uniquely, snooker is run by the players, at least in theory.
I don't believe snooker is 'in crisis' as the story suggests. It could be doing much, much better but it could equally be doing far, far worse.
12.4.08
DEPRESSED DOTT CONSIDERS CRUCIBLE WITHDRAWAL
Graeme Dott, the 2006 888.com world champion, has been diagnosed with depression and is reported to be considering withdrawing from this year’s Crucible event.
He has failed to win any of his last 15 matches in a run stretching back to last August’s Shanghai Masters.
In December 2006, Alex Lambie, Dott’s father-in-law and long time manager, died of cancer.
Dott’s wife Elaine had a cancer scare in January 2007 before being given the all clear.
This season, he was involved in a time consuming fight with World Snooker when they tried to discipline him for comments he made about Ian McCulloch.
It was clear all was not well at the Welsh Open in February when he broke off in one frame of his match with Michael Judge in such a negative mood that, trying not to disturb too many reds, he missed the pack altogether.
Last month at the China Open in Beijing he was close to tears when a journalist asked whether Lambie's death had affected his form.
“I desperately want to play but I’ve not been in the right frame of mind for some time as you can see from my results. I will only go to Sheffield if I feel I can do myself justice,” Dott told the Scottish Sun.
The 30 year-old is due to play Joe Perry on Tuesday, April 22 and Wednesday, April 23.
If he pulled out it would be the first time any player had failed to turn up for a Crucible match.
My gut feeling is that he will play, but it depends on how serious the diagnosis is.
Contrary to what some people believe, you can’t just tell depressed people to “cheer up.”
Graeme should do what is in his own best interests in this case. His health is more important than a snooker match.
He has failed to win any of his last 15 matches in a run stretching back to last August’s Shanghai Masters.
In December 2006, Alex Lambie, Dott’s father-in-law and long time manager, died of cancer.
Dott’s wife Elaine had a cancer scare in January 2007 before being given the all clear.
This season, he was involved in a time consuming fight with World Snooker when they tried to discipline him for comments he made about Ian McCulloch.
It was clear all was not well at the Welsh Open in February when he broke off in one frame of his match with Michael Judge in such a negative mood that, trying not to disturb too many reds, he missed the pack altogether.
Last month at the China Open in Beijing he was close to tears when a journalist asked whether Lambie's death had affected his form.
“I desperately want to play but I’ve not been in the right frame of mind for some time as you can see from my results. I will only go to Sheffield if I feel I can do myself justice,” Dott told the Scottish Sun.
The 30 year-old is due to play Joe Perry on Tuesday, April 22 and Wednesday, April 23.
If he pulled out it would be the first time any player had failed to turn up for a Crucible match.
My gut feeling is that he will play, but it depends on how serious the diagnosis is.
Contrary to what some people believe, you can’t just tell depressed people to “cheer up.”
Graeme should do what is in his own best interests in this case. His health is more important than a snooker match.
11.4.08
WILL THESE BE THE FINAL FOUR?
Here is my prediction for the semi-final line-up at the 888.com World Championship:
Ding Junhui v Mark Williams
Shaun Murphy v Neil Robertson
After this I predict Ding will beat Robertson 18-10 in the final.
Before anyone suggests therapy, I should point out that I used to have a very good record in tipping the winner of the world title. This was mainly because I always used to tip Stephen Hendry.
I also called it for Mark Williams and Ronnie O’Sullivan the years they won it and, in 2003, got all four semi-finalists right.
In the last three years, though, I don’t think I’ve got any of them right. The reason is quite simple: there are so few tournaments that form is irrelevant.
OK, so Murphy, Mark Selby and Stephen Maguire have been the three form players of the season but by the time the Crucible comes round none of them will have played for three weeks (apart from Selby’s two days in the Championship League).
The last three winners – Murphy, Graeme Dott and John Higgins – all had poor seasons heading to Sheffield before finding form over the 17 days.
Ding is my tip to win, which is strange, really, when you consider he has the hardest first round draw in Marco Fu.
He could lose this but if he doesn’t I fancy him to go all the way.
Williams has, of course, been off the boil of late but let’s not forget that its only five years since he won the biggest cheque in snooker history - £270,000 – in winning the title for a second time (incidentally, I’ve no idea what the winner gets this year as the prize money appears to be a state secret).
With Ronnie O’Sullivan’s tendency this season to struggle against the more methodical players, I think Williams has a great chance to take him out in the second round.
Murphy is Mr. Consistency and although he’s in a tough quarter that includes Selby and Peter Ebdon, I reckon he’ll come through it.
Robertson has done nothing of note all season but is the sort of player who could suddenly spring into life with devastating effect.
Maguire is favourite in this quarter but has been laid up this last week with flu and unable to practice – hardly ideal preparation for the game’s biggest event.
How many of my four tips will actually reach the semis?
Probably none, but who’d bet on snooker these days? It’s never been so unpredictable.
That’s why watching the championship will be so enjoyable – anything can happen.
Please post your own predictions below.
Ding Junhui v Mark Williams
Shaun Murphy v Neil Robertson
After this I predict Ding will beat Robertson 18-10 in the final.
Before anyone suggests therapy, I should point out that I used to have a very good record in tipping the winner of the world title. This was mainly because I always used to tip Stephen Hendry.
I also called it for Mark Williams and Ronnie O’Sullivan the years they won it and, in 2003, got all four semi-finalists right.
In the last three years, though, I don’t think I’ve got any of them right. The reason is quite simple: there are so few tournaments that form is irrelevant.
OK, so Murphy, Mark Selby and Stephen Maguire have been the three form players of the season but by the time the Crucible comes round none of them will have played for three weeks (apart from Selby’s two days in the Championship League).
The last three winners – Murphy, Graeme Dott and John Higgins – all had poor seasons heading to Sheffield before finding form over the 17 days.
Ding is my tip to win, which is strange, really, when you consider he has the hardest first round draw in Marco Fu.
He could lose this but if he doesn’t I fancy him to go all the way.
Williams has, of course, been off the boil of late but let’s not forget that its only five years since he won the biggest cheque in snooker history - £270,000 – in winning the title for a second time (incidentally, I’ve no idea what the winner gets this year as the prize money appears to be a state secret).
With Ronnie O’Sullivan’s tendency this season to struggle against the more methodical players, I think Williams has a great chance to take him out in the second round.
Murphy is Mr. Consistency and although he’s in a tough quarter that includes Selby and Peter Ebdon, I reckon he’ll come through it.
Robertson has done nothing of note all season but is the sort of player who could suddenly spring into life with devastating effect.
Maguire is favourite in this quarter but has been laid up this last week with flu and unable to practice – hardly ideal preparation for the game’s biggest event.
How many of my four tips will actually reach the semis?
Probably none, but who’d bet on snooker these days? It’s never been so unpredictable.
That’s why watching the championship will be so enjoyable – anything can happen.
Please post your own predictions below.
10.4.08
SHOCKS TO THE SYSTEM
There will no doubt be shock results at the Crucible, but what constitutes a shock?
For instance, would Mark Allen beating Stephen Hendry be a shock considering he did so at the same stage of this season’s UK Championship?
Would Marco Fu beating Ding Junhui be a shock? Or Matthew Stevens beating John Higgins?
The biggest shock of them all at Sheffield was Tony Knowles’s 10-1 trouncing of the then defending champion Steve Davis in 1982.
However, if Liu Chuang beats Ronnie O’Sullivan this year it will dwarf that and then some. It would be the most surprising victory in the sport’s history.
To qualify as a shock, the losing player must be one of the very top players and the winner has to be a virtual unknown, or someone whose career has been going downhill.
Stephen Hendry was famously ‘shocked’ twice in the first round, by Jimmy White in 1998 and Stuart Bingham in 2000. He also lost to Nigel Bond in 2006 but this wasn’t such a shock because Hendry was not considered the title favourite, as he had been the previous two times.
Ronnie O’Sullivan’s defeat to David Gray in 2000 was a surprise, as was John Higgins’s to Mark Selby in 2006.
Steve Davis was not expected to lose to Peter Ebdon in 1992 and John Parrott’s defeat to Rod Lawler in 1996 was a complete surprise.
So where will the shocks come this year?
Looking at the first round matches, I think Stephen Maguire could be vulnerable against Anthony Hamilton, which would be a surprise result because Maguire’s had a good season and just won the China Open.
Also, I wouldn’t rule out Mark King upsetting Mark Selby.
However, the whole point about shocks is that you don’t see them coming...
For instance, would Mark Allen beating Stephen Hendry be a shock considering he did so at the same stage of this season’s UK Championship?
Would Marco Fu beating Ding Junhui be a shock? Or Matthew Stevens beating John Higgins?
The biggest shock of them all at Sheffield was Tony Knowles’s 10-1 trouncing of the then defending champion Steve Davis in 1982.
However, if Liu Chuang beats Ronnie O’Sullivan this year it will dwarf that and then some. It would be the most surprising victory in the sport’s history.
To qualify as a shock, the losing player must be one of the very top players and the winner has to be a virtual unknown, or someone whose career has been going downhill.
Stephen Hendry was famously ‘shocked’ twice in the first round, by Jimmy White in 1998 and Stuart Bingham in 2000. He also lost to Nigel Bond in 2006 but this wasn’t such a shock because Hendry was not considered the title favourite, as he had been the previous two times.
Ronnie O’Sullivan’s defeat to David Gray in 2000 was a surprise, as was John Higgins’s to Mark Selby in 2006.
Steve Davis was not expected to lose to Peter Ebdon in 1992 and John Parrott’s defeat to Rod Lawler in 1996 was a complete surprise.
So where will the shocks come this year?
Looking at the first round matches, I think Stephen Maguire could be vulnerable against Anthony Hamilton, which would be a surprise result because Maguire’s had a good season and just won the China Open.
Also, I wouldn’t rule out Mark King upsetting Mark Selby.
However, the whole point about shocks is that you don’t see them coming...
9.4.08
POCKET MONEY
I’ve reviewed this book for the new issue of Snooker Scene and would heartily recommend it to anyone with an interest in the game.
Indeed, I would recommend any of Gordon Burn’s books because he’s one of those writers who can make you interested in just about any subject.
Pocket Money, which has just been reissued with an afterword by Snooker Scene editor Clive Everton, covers the 1985/86 season and is bookended by Steve Davis’s two world final defeats – on the black to Dennis Taylor and 18-12 to Joe Johnson.
On the way to the Crucible it takes on all points on a circuit that was flourishing at the height of the 1980s snooker boom.
Davis’s manager Barry Hearn becomes the main focus through his expanding Matchroom empire.
The money and prosperity sloshing about in the game then is hard to believe in these days of a disjointed circuit and groans over low prize money.
Pocket Money is not only a celebration of the golden days but also served as a warning that these days would not last forever – a warning that was ignored.
Indeed, I would recommend any of Gordon Burn’s books because he’s one of those writers who can make you interested in just about any subject.
Pocket Money, which has just been reissued with an afterword by Snooker Scene editor Clive Everton, covers the 1985/86 season and is bookended by Steve Davis’s two world final defeats – on the black to Dennis Taylor and 18-12 to Joe Johnson.
On the way to the Crucible it takes on all points on a circuit that was flourishing at the height of the 1980s snooker boom.
Davis’s manager Barry Hearn becomes the main focus through his expanding Matchroom empire.
The money and prosperity sloshing about in the game then is hard to believe in these days of a disjointed circuit and groans over low prize money.
Pocket Money is not only a celebration of the golden days but also served as a warning that these days would not last forever – a warning that was ignored.
8.4.08
CUETUBE
This week, the greatest player in the history of the game.
Stephen Hendry is this not just because he is the most successful but also because of his extraordinary natural ability - something that is, oddly, hardly ever referred to.
Consider this: he started playing at 12. At 16 he was at the Crucible.
This clip is from his 1987 quarter-final with Joe Johnson. It was this style of play that inspired a generation and helped move snooker on to be the ultra-attacking game it is today.
Stephen Hendry is this not just because he is the most successful but also because of his extraordinary natural ability - something that is, oddly, hardly ever referred to.
Consider this: he started playing at 12. At 16 he was at the Crucible.
This clip is from his 1987 quarter-final with Joe Johnson. It was this style of play that inspired a generation and helped move snooker on to be the ultra-attacking game it is today.
7.4.08
MEET THE MISSES
We can all think of great shots we’ve seen down the years but it’s often those spectacular misses that have turned frames, matches and even whole tournaments that live long in the memory.
In all sport, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory is fascinating to observe, even if it’s crippling to endure for the person screwing up in front of millions.
Here, then, are my five biggest misses in snooker history.
Please feel free to agree or disagree with any of the choices.
5) WILLIE THORNE’S BLUE, 1985 UK CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Thorne was leading Steve Davis 13-8 in this best of 31 frame final and looked certain to extend his advantage to six frames when clearing up in the 22nd.
However, he missed a straightforward blue he would pot 99 times out of a 100 and went on to lose 16-14 as Davis sensed blood, regrouped and ruthlessly punished him.
Willie never got over this and his career of underachievement – considering his great talent – came to be defined by it.
4) JIMMY WHITE’S BLACK, 1994 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
This was White’s sixth world final and at last, at long last, it appeared as if it would provide him with his first world title.
Up 37-24 with the balls well set in the decider, he snatched on a routine black. It was only pressure that caused him to miss it; pressure built up by the weight of expectation after so many failures at the Crucible’s final hurdle and the knowledge that so many millions were willing him on.
Hendry, as he always did in those days, cleared up from the miss and White never again featured in a world final.
3) REX WILLIAMS’S BLUE, 1972 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINALS
This was, without overstatement, one of the most significant shots in snooker history. Williams was well placed to win the deciding frame of his semi-final with Alex Higgins when he missed a relatively easy blue.
Higgins won the decider and went on to claim the title. His flamboyant, controversial, mercurial style lit the blue touch paper for snooker and undoubtedly accelerated the game’s march to the top of the TV ratings charts in the 1980s.
This would in all likelihood still have happened but, had Williams potted that blue, probably not anywhere near as quickly.
2) KEN DOHERTY’S BLACK, 2000 MASTERS FINAL
Doherty’s temperament has never been in doubt but it was surely only nerves that caused him to miss the black on 140 in the 2000 Masters final at Wembley. Had it gone in, he would have emulated Kirk Stevens’s maximum feat in 1984. To date, only Ding Junhui (2007) has added to the Masters 147 list.
The nerves were understandable. The Wembley Conference Centre was the game’s biggest venue, there were millions watching on TV and there was an £80,000 sportscar on offer for a max. The next day, a national newspaper took Doherty to a local snooker club and he successfully potted the black from the same position he had missed it ten times in a row.
But by then it was, of course, far too late.
1) STEVE DAVIS’S BLACK, 1985 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
It wasn’t dead simple but it was a ball the all-conquering Davis would have potted at any other time in any other frame.
As it was, at 17-17 and down to the last ball of his Crucible final with Dennis Taylor, he felt the pressure. He knew as he missed it - a little cut-back into a blind pocket - that he’d left it for Taylor. Watching it back, you can almost see all life drain from his features as he trudges back to his seat.
This uncharacteristic slip up proved that even the authentic greats are human and was further proof that, in snooker, it’s every bit as exciting when they miss and when the great pots are flying in.
In all sport, snatching defeat from the jaws of victory is fascinating to observe, even if it’s crippling to endure for the person screwing up in front of millions.
Here, then, are my five biggest misses in snooker history.
Please feel free to agree or disagree with any of the choices.
5) WILLIE THORNE’S BLUE, 1985 UK CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Thorne was leading Steve Davis 13-8 in this best of 31 frame final and looked certain to extend his advantage to six frames when clearing up in the 22nd.
However, he missed a straightforward blue he would pot 99 times out of a 100 and went on to lose 16-14 as Davis sensed blood, regrouped and ruthlessly punished him.
Willie never got over this and his career of underachievement – considering his great talent – came to be defined by it.
4) JIMMY WHITE’S BLACK, 1994 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
This was White’s sixth world final and at last, at long last, it appeared as if it would provide him with his first world title.
Up 37-24 with the balls well set in the decider, he snatched on a routine black. It was only pressure that caused him to miss it; pressure built up by the weight of expectation after so many failures at the Crucible’s final hurdle and the knowledge that so many millions were willing him on.
Hendry, as he always did in those days, cleared up from the miss and White never again featured in a world final.
3) REX WILLIAMS’S BLUE, 1972 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINALS
This was, without overstatement, one of the most significant shots in snooker history. Williams was well placed to win the deciding frame of his semi-final with Alex Higgins when he missed a relatively easy blue.
Higgins won the decider and went on to claim the title. His flamboyant, controversial, mercurial style lit the blue touch paper for snooker and undoubtedly accelerated the game’s march to the top of the TV ratings charts in the 1980s.
This would in all likelihood still have happened but, had Williams potted that blue, probably not anywhere near as quickly.
2) KEN DOHERTY’S BLACK, 2000 MASTERS FINAL
Doherty’s temperament has never been in doubt but it was surely only nerves that caused him to miss the black on 140 in the 2000 Masters final at Wembley. Had it gone in, he would have emulated Kirk Stevens’s maximum feat in 1984. To date, only Ding Junhui (2007) has added to the Masters 147 list.
The nerves were understandable. The Wembley Conference Centre was the game’s biggest venue, there were millions watching on TV and there was an £80,000 sportscar on offer for a max. The next day, a national newspaper took Doherty to a local snooker club and he successfully potted the black from the same position he had missed it ten times in a row.
But by then it was, of course, far too late.
1) STEVE DAVIS’S BLACK, 1985 WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
It wasn’t dead simple but it was a ball the all-conquering Davis would have potted at any other time in any other frame.
As it was, at 17-17 and down to the last ball of his Crucible final with Dennis Taylor, he felt the pressure. He knew as he missed it - a little cut-back into a blind pocket - that he’d left it for Taylor. Watching it back, you can almost see all life drain from his features as he trudges back to his seat.
This uncharacteristic slip up proved that even the authentic greats are human and was further proof that, in snooker, it’s every bit as exciting when they miss and when the great pots are flying in.
3.4.08
PRECIOUS CHINA
This is an interesting story for three reasons:
1) For the way snooker has come to be seen as 'respectable' in China
2) For the suggestion that there may be as many as ten events in China in the future
3) For describing Jimmy White as a 'former world champion' - is the author the only person in the world who doesn't know about Jimmy's many Crucible heartbreaks?
1) For the way snooker has come to be seen as 'respectable' in China
2) For the suggestion that there may be as many as ten events in China in the future
3) For describing Jimmy White as a 'former world champion' - is the author the only person in the world who doesn't know about Jimmy's many Crucible heartbreaks?
2.4.08
MAGUIRE IN FORM FOR CRUCIBLE
Stephen Maguire's Beijing form certainly makes him one of the favourites for the world title but it's been ten years since the player who won the tournament immediately before the World Championship went on to triumph at the Crucible.
That was John Higgins, who won the 1998 British Open in Plymouth before landing the sport's greatest prize.
What does this mean? Probably nothing, as few players win back-to-back ranking titles in any case.
Maguire is in what appears to be the easiest quarter of the draw, which includes the struggling Graeme Dott and inconsistent Neil Robertson.
If he could get through this Shaun Murphy or Mark Selby could be waiting in the semis.
Whatever, it's good to see Stephen playing well again.
I'm going to crow here - because I get very little chance to do so - and republish something I wrote on this very blog last July:
Looking at the season as a whole I’m going to predict one player in particular to watch: Stephen Maguire.
You’ll recall the manner of his semi-final defeat to Higgins at the Crucible. Entering the final session leading 14-10 – having played superbly – he was beaten 17-15, missing the pink in losing a crucial 30th frame which would have put him 16-14 up.
I well remember Maguire turning pro in 1999. I interviewed him after his very first match. He seemed far too polite and reserved for this game but they breed them pretty tough in Glasgow and his personality soon came to the fore.
He’ll have been gutted by his Sheffield exit with the sure knowledge that he let a gilt-edged chance to become world champion slip.
And he’ll be back fighting harder than ever to prove himself as one of the game’s best, which he is, as proved by the manner in which he won the 2004 UK Championship.
I suspect he feels like a wounded animal at the moment and will want to get stuck into the new season to cast off the disappointments of the last campaign.
How things have turned round for him.
He heads to Sheffield in less than three week's time with the perfect chance to make amends for last year's disappointment.
That was John Higgins, who won the 1998 British Open in Plymouth before landing the sport's greatest prize.
What does this mean? Probably nothing, as few players win back-to-back ranking titles in any case.
Maguire is in what appears to be the easiest quarter of the draw, which includes the struggling Graeme Dott and inconsistent Neil Robertson.
If he could get through this Shaun Murphy or Mark Selby could be waiting in the semis.
Whatever, it's good to see Stephen playing well again.
I'm going to crow here - because I get very little chance to do so - and republish something I wrote on this very blog last July:
Looking at the season as a whole I’m going to predict one player in particular to watch: Stephen Maguire.
You’ll recall the manner of his semi-final defeat to Higgins at the Crucible. Entering the final session leading 14-10 – having played superbly – he was beaten 17-15, missing the pink in losing a crucial 30th frame which would have put him 16-14 up.
I well remember Maguire turning pro in 1999. I interviewed him after his very first match. He seemed far too polite and reserved for this game but they breed them pretty tough in Glasgow and his personality soon came to the fore.
He’ll have been gutted by his Sheffield exit with the sure knowledge that he let a gilt-edged chance to become world champion slip.
And he’ll be back fighting harder than ever to prove himself as one of the game’s best, which he is, as proved by the manner in which he won the 2004 UK Championship.
I suspect he feels like a wounded animal at the moment and will want to get stuck into the new season to cast off the disappointments of the last campaign.
How things have turned round for him.
He heads to Sheffield in less than three week's time with the perfect chance to make amends for last year's disappointment.
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