So Q School is finally over and we have the last four qualifiers for the main tour: Dave Gilbert, Kurt Maflin, Adam Duffy and Stuart Carrington.
Gilbert certainly earned his place. He had appeared in the final round of each of the previous two Q School events but finally got through with a 4-1 defeat of Allan Taylor.
The surprise for me was that Gilbert had dropped off the circuit at all. He’s a better player than his overall record suggests.
While a gulf does exist between the top players and those down the ranks – in the big arenas on TV in any case – the standard of play in the qualifiers is extremely high and it takes something special to make it through the quagmire time after time.
I thought Maflin was one of those players with a good chance of coming through Q School and he duly qualified with a 4-1 victory over Martin O’Donnell.
Maflin came close to beating Ding Junhui in the China Open last season and now has a choice to make. A Londoner by birth, he lives in Norway as his partner is Norwegian. They have a young child.
Maflin is now considering moving to the UK full time for all the qualifiers, PTCs and practice. Playing on the professional circuit is something you can’t do half-hearted but it’s obviously a big decision to uproot your family.
I said before Q School started that I fancied eight or nine of the qualifiers to have played on the main tour previously.
The final tally was actually nine, with Duffy and Carrington joining Li Yan, a qualifier from Q School 2.
Duffy is a Sheffield boy and so is in the right place for the qualifiers. He was the WPBSA Paul Hunter Scholar in 2009 and is a pal of Judd Trump, who he intends to practice with.
Carrington, I seem to remember, once won Junior Pot Black and gives the snooker hotbed of Grimsby another professional, following in the footsteps of the likes of Ray Edmonds, Dean Reynolds, Mike Hallett and Sean Storey.
Well done to all the qualifiers and good luck to them on the circuit next season.
27.5.11
THE BEST WHO EVER WASN'T
There was a discussion on Twitter yesterday – which I am now shamelessly hijacking – as to who is the best player never to be world champion.
My responses were split between different snooker eras. In the 1970s it was Eddie Charlton, who reached the final three times. In the 1980s and 90s it was Jimmy White, a six times finalist. In the 2000s it was Matthew Stevens, runner-up twice. Of those playing at the moment it’s slightly different but I would say Mark Selby based on how well he has played there each year and yet not won the title, or at least not yet.
I’m surprised how many people seem to think White shouldn’t be top of this list.
Of course, many people reading this won’t remember or will have had no means to watch Jimmy in his prime.
Well I can assure them that the standard of snooker he produced at his best would be good enough to compete with the top players of today.
It was White who helped change snooker into the all-out attacking game it is today. Stephen Hendry wanted to play like him and, of course, would dish out disappointment upon disappointment at the Crucible.
Much is made of his six finals but perhaps White’s best ever chance to be world champion was in 1982 when a miraculous Alex Higgins clearance denied him a place in the final.
We’ll never know if he’d have beaten Ray Reardon – Higgins only did so 18-15 – but it is one of snooker’s most intriguing what it? moments: the whole course of the game’s history could have been altered had Higgins missed just once during that frame.
But he didn’t, and White didn’t win the title. He wasn’t unlucky but the problem was never his game, rather his preparation – and some of the people he surrounded himself with – and, at times, his temperament.
He freely admits he snatched at the black off its spot just a few balls from winning the decider against Hendry in 1994.
White won all the other big titles but they are overshadowed in the collective consciousness by his failure to become world champion. That is a shame but also the way of the world.
As for the debate which began this post, whoever your choice, “the best player never to win the world title” is almost the definition of a Pyrrhic victory.
Nobody wants to be remembered as a nearly man.
My responses were split between different snooker eras. In the 1970s it was Eddie Charlton, who reached the final three times. In the 1980s and 90s it was Jimmy White, a six times finalist. In the 2000s it was Matthew Stevens, runner-up twice. Of those playing at the moment it’s slightly different but I would say Mark Selby based on how well he has played there each year and yet not won the title, or at least not yet.
I’m surprised how many people seem to think White shouldn’t be top of this list.
Of course, many people reading this won’t remember or will have had no means to watch Jimmy in his prime.
Well I can assure them that the standard of snooker he produced at his best would be good enough to compete with the top players of today.
It was White who helped change snooker into the all-out attacking game it is today. Stephen Hendry wanted to play like him and, of course, would dish out disappointment upon disappointment at the Crucible.
Much is made of his six finals but perhaps White’s best ever chance to be world champion was in 1982 when a miraculous Alex Higgins clearance denied him a place in the final.
We’ll never know if he’d have beaten Ray Reardon – Higgins only did so 18-15 – but it is one of snooker’s most intriguing what it? moments: the whole course of the game’s history could have been altered had Higgins missed just once during that frame.
But he didn’t, and White didn’t win the title. He wasn’t unlucky but the problem was never his game, rather his preparation – and some of the people he surrounded himself with – and, at times, his temperament.
He freely admits he snatched at the black off its spot just a few balls from winning the decider against Hendry in 1994.
White won all the other big titles but they are overshadowed in the collective consciousness by his failure to become world champion. That is a shame but also the way of the world.
As for the debate which began this post, whoever your choice, “the best player never to win the world title” is almost the definition of a Pyrrhic victory.
Nobody wants to be remembered as a nearly man.
26.5.11
ONE MAN BANNED AND OTHER STORIES
I was amused earlier this week to see Sir Alex Ferguson enhance his status as a sane, rational person by attempting to ban a journalist who had asked him a (perfectly reasonable) question at a press conference.
This is the first refuge of the paranoid and the powerful: if I don't like a question not only will I not answer it but I'll go after the person who asked it.
Happily, relations between World Snooker and the media are better now than they have been for a long time.
There is greater openness, a feeling that everyone is working towards the same end and more fun than we have seen for many years.
Journalists are, of course, not to everyone’s taste, but for every stitch-up merchant there are a far greater number of hard working hacks doing their best in often trying circumstances.
My first day in the Crucible pressroom saw me ‘shown the ropes’ by a couple of tabloid journalists who formed a group known affectionately as ‘the Beastie Boys.’
These ‘ropes’ turned out to be situated mainly around the free bar, which in those days dispensed alcohol from morning to night as if it were going out of fashion.
The Beasties were all good blokes, if a little thirsty. They would often decamp to the Brown Bear, a pub just up the road from the Crucible, and re-emerge hours later demanding to know what had happened at the snooker.
One memorably saved time over writing up a piece about Stephen Hendry by making up the quotes before the press conference, an admirable example of economising.
They were a loud bunch but a good laugh and always seemed to get plenty in the papers.
But it wasn’t always fun. When politics intervened things could get nasty, as Snooker Scene’s editor Clive Everton discovered when he arrived in Preston for the 1999 Grand Prix.
Clive had made some criticisms of the then WPBSA chairman, who responded in time honoured even-tempered fashion by issuing a blanket ban on him entering the pressroom.
To complicate matters, Clive was commentating for the BBC and so could enter the building, go to the commentary box and leave again as long as he stayed away from the pressroom, where he was working for the Guardian.
It was at this tournament he fell out of the commentary box, almost throttling Dennis Taylor by grabbing hold of his tie as he rocked back on his chair.
“Doesn’t he know it’s a no-go area,” was Stephen Hendry’s observation on hearing Clive had hit the deck somewhere outside the box.
The absurdity levels were cranked up to 11 at the UK Championship in Bournemouth shortly afterwards where this ban remained in place.
The route to the commentary box was paved with little plastic chickens, which were representative of the sponsor, Liverpool Victoria.
So it was that Clive was photographed in a national newspaper doing the ‘chicken run’ to the box. For some reason this failed to enhance the game’s reputation as a serious, forward thinking sport.
Matters had not been helped by the appointment of a former tabloid investigative reporter as WPBSA media relations boss. It was at Bournemouth where he managed to have such an explosive row with a journalist that its newspaper recalled him to London.
Piers Morgan, now of CNN but then the Mirror editor, made an unlikely foray into snooker history at this point.
The WPBSA media relations boss, in his polite way, had threatened to submit a formal complaint against the Mirror’s correspondent. Morgan responded he could do so and that he [Morgan] would “come down there and personally stick it up his arse.” The complaint never was lodged, in either sense of the word.
A few months later the WPBSA dismissed their man. He successfully sued them, pointing out they had employed him to ‘target specific individuals, including Clive Everton.’
Clive was eventually allowed back in to the pressroom and all was well again...for a bit, anyway.
At the end of 2000 I found myself working for TSN (which became 110sport) on their new website, which remains better in scope and content than most of the sites that have succeeded it.
They then decided to announce a rival tour to the WPBSA circuit, which for some reason didn’t go down too well with the governing body.
Shortly afterwards I went to Shenzhen for a heavily subsidised trip to the China Open. My first indication that all was not well was when the tournament director greeted me with the words, “are you here on holiday?”
It would transpire that I was now banned. Or sort of, anyway. I was told I could come inside the pressroom as long as I didn’t do any actual work.
I responded that this would be no problem as I had been doing it for years.
I was told, very earnestly, by the WPBSA chief executive that this was the only fair solution. I suggested the real reason was that the WPBSA still didn’t have its own website and were trying to stop others establishing themselves.
He later distinguished himself by managing to get sacked from the same job twice – ironically it had been his original dismissal that had kicked off the nonsense with Clive.
Years later I had another run-in with a WPBSA executive who accused me in Glasgow of “distributing Clive Everton’s propaganda” on the basis that I had given Mark Johnston-Allen a copy of Snooker Scene to read in between sessions.
As propaganda spreading goes, I felt this fell somewhere short of an average evening on North Korean state television.
With great theatricality, said executive slung the magazine in the bin and stormed out of the pressroom, a gesture only slightly undermined by him realising he still needed it and so returning, a little sheepishly, and fishing it out again.
It summed up to me a kind of paranoia about the media that has only recently lifted. Their strategy was never to cogently answer the criticisms but try and get even in some way with the critic.
Sometimes they weren’t even being criticised but still got the hump, believing journalists were out to get them.
Politicians - including snooker politicians - have to roll with the punches. If you take a position of responsibility, you should expect to be challenged.
In my experience, journalists just want interesting stories, and that doesn’t mean just scandal.
Offbeat and quirky tales always play well and people enjoy feel-good stories, such as battles against the odds.
Most of the time the main battle is to get anything in the papers at all, particularly given the rise and rise of football and the space it takes up.
It is a world I have largely left behind now due to my commentary commitments and I don’t envy the latest brigade of snooker journos operating in a declining newspaper market.
But at least it’s a little friendlier these days.
This is the first refuge of the paranoid and the powerful: if I don't like a question not only will I not answer it but I'll go after the person who asked it.
Happily, relations between World Snooker and the media are better now than they have been for a long time.
There is greater openness, a feeling that everyone is working towards the same end and more fun than we have seen for many years.
Journalists are, of course, not to everyone’s taste, but for every stitch-up merchant there are a far greater number of hard working hacks doing their best in often trying circumstances.
My first day in the Crucible pressroom saw me ‘shown the ropes’ by a couple of tabloid journalists who formed a group known affectionately as ‘the Beastie Boys.’
These ‘ropes’ turned out to be situated mainly around the free bar, which in those days dispensed alcohol from morning to night as if it were going out of fashion.
The Beasties were all good blokes, if a little thirsty. They would often decamp to the Brown Bear, a pub just up the road from the Crucible, and re-emerge hours later demanding to know what had happened at the snooker.
One memorably saved time over writing up a piece about Stephen Hendry by making up the quotes before the press conference, an admirable example of economising.
They were a loud bunch but a good laugh and always seemed to get plenty in the papers.
But it wasn’t always fun. When politics intervened things could get nasty, as Snooker Scene’s editor Clive Everton discovered when he arrived in Preston for the 1999 Grand Prix.
Clive had made some criticisms of the then WPBSA chairman, who responded in time honoured even-tempered fashion by issuing a blanket ban on him entering the pressroom.
To complicate matters, Clive was commentating for the BBC and so could enter the building, go to the commentary box and leave again as long as he stayed away from the pressroom, where he was working for the Guardian.
It was at this tournament he fell out of the commentary box, almost throttling Dennis Taylor by grabbing hold of his tie as he rocked back on his chair.
“Doesn’t he know it’s a no-go area,” was Stephen Hendry’s observation on hearing Clive had hit the deck somewhere outside the box.
The absurdity levels were cranked up to 11 at the UK Championship in Bournemouth shortly afterwards where this ban remained in place.
The route to the commentary box was paved with little plastic chickens, which were representative of the sponsor, Liverpool Victoria.
So it was that Clive was photographed in a national newspaper doing the ‘chicken run’ to the box. For some reason this failed to enhance the game’s reputation as a serious, forward thinking sport.
Matters had not been helped by the appointment of a former tabloid investigative reporter as WPBSA media relations boss. It was at Bournemouth where he managed to have such an explosive row with a journalist that its newspaper recalled him to London.
Piers Morgan, now of CNN but then the Mirror editor, made an unlikely foray into snooker history at this point.
The WPBSA media relations boss, in his polite way, had threatened to submit a formal complaint against the Mirror’s correspondent. Morgan responded he could do so and that he [Morgan] would “come down there and personally stick it up his arse.” The complaint never was lodged, in either sense of the word.
A few months later the WPBSA dismissed their man. He successfully sued them, pointing out they had employed him to ‘target specific individuals, including Clive Everton.’
Clive was eventually allowed back in to the pressroom and all was well again...for a bit, anyway.
At the end of 2000 I found myself working for TSN (which became 110sport) on their new website, which remains better in scope and content than most of the sites that have succeeded it.
They then decided to announce a rival tour to the WPBSA circuit, which for some reason didn’t go down too well with the governing body.
Shortly afterwards I went to Shenzhen for a heavily subsidised trip to the China Open. My first indication that all was not well was when the tournament director greeted me with the words, “are you here on holiday?”
It would transpire that I was now banned. Or sort of, anyway. I was told I could come inside the pressroom as long as I didn’t do any actual work.
I responded that this would be no problem as I had been doing it for years.
I was told, very earnestly, by the WPBSA chief executive that this was the only fair solution. I suggested the real reason was that the WPBSA still didn’t have its own website and were trying to stop others establishing themselves.
He later distinguished himself by managing to get sacked from the same job twice – ironically it had been his original dismissal that had kicked off the nonsense with Clive.
Years later I had another run-in with a WPBSA executive who accused me in Glasgow of “distributing Clive Everton’s propaganda” on the basis that I had given Mark Johnston-Allen a copy of Snooker Scene to read in between sessions.
As propaganda spreading goes, I felt this fell somewhere short of an average evening on North Korean state television.
With great theatricality, said executive slung the magazine in the bin and stormed out of the pressroom, a gesture only slightly undermined by him realising he still needed it and so returning, a little sheepishly, and fishing it out again.
It summed up to me a kind of paranoia about the media that has only recently lifted. Their strategy was never to cogently answer the criticisms but try and get even in some way with the critic.
Sometimes they weren’t even being criticised but still got the hump, believing journalists were out to get them.
Politicians - including snooker politicians - have to roll with the punches. If you take a position of responsibility, you should expect to be challenged.
In my experience, journalists just want interesting stories, and that doesn’t mean just scandal.
Offbeat and quirky tales always play well and people enjoy feel-good stories, such as battles against the odds.
Most of the time the main battle is to get anything in the papers at all, particularly given the rise and rise of football and the space it takes up.
It is a world I have largely left behind now due to my commentary commitments and I don’t envy the latest brigade of snooker journos operating in a declining newspaper market.
But at least it’s a little friendlier these days.
23.5.11
THREE YEAR DEAL FOR AUSTRALIAN OPEN
The heavily trailed Australian Open has today been officially announced and will be held in Bendigo, Victoria.
This is great news. Even better news is that it is confirmed as an annual event until at least 2013.
There was, as I have written before, an Australian Open announced in 1989, the only snag being that it was played in Hong Kong. The WPBSA discovered that the promoter’s ‘business address’ was actually a bus shelter.
I have rather more faith in this new event.
Pedants will point out that it isn’t the first ranking tournament staged in Australia because the 1975 World Championship, held in Nunawading – also in Victoria – carried ranking points retrospectively.
But that’s hardly comparable. This is a new tournament and most welcome. It represents a genuine attempt by World Snooker to globalise the sport.
And it gets better. In a letter to the players, Barry Hearn has stated that: “we are in discussion for many more events around the world so watch this space” and that “Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, India, Canada etc are all on the agenda.”
Hearn adds that: “I believe a £10m prize fund per season is achievable.”
I hope the players – all the players – support the moves to make our game properly international.
It is the best way of guaranteeing its growth and ongoing success.
With regards to the new Australian tournament, I’m particularly pleased for Neil Robertson, whose world title triumph last year certainly played a major part in this tournament happening.
As you will know, his mother had never seen him play live as a professional before she flew to Sheffield for his Crucible final against Graeme Dott.
Now, his family and friends will surely turn up mob handed as Neil plays in his own country...and snooker takes another welcome step into the future.
This is great news. Even better news is that it is confirmed as an annual event until at least 2013.
There was, as I have written before, an Australian Open announced in 1989, the only snag being that it was played in Hong Kong. The WPBSA discovered that the promoter’s ‘business address’ was actually a bus shelter.
I have rather more faith in this new event.
Pedants will point out that it isn’t the first ranking tournament staged in Australia because the 1975 World Championship, held in Nunawading – also in Victoria – carried ranking points retrospectively.
But that’s hardly comparable. This is a new tournament and most welcome. It represents a genuine attempt by World Snooker to globalise the sport.
And it gets better. In a letter to the players, Barry Hearn has stated that: “we are in discussion for many more events around the world so watch this space” and that “Eastern Europe, Scandinavia, India, Canada etc are all on the agenda.”
Hearn adds that: “I believe a £10m prize fund per season is achievable.”
I hope the players – all the players – support the moves to make our game properly international.
It is the best way of guaranteeing its growth and ongoing success.
With regards to the new Australian tournament, I’m particularly pleased for Neil Robertson, whose world title triumph last year certainly played a major part in this tournament happening.
As you will know, his mother had never seen him play live as a professional before she flew to Sheffield for his Crucible final against Graeme Dott.
Now, his family and friends will surely turn up mob handed as Neil plays in his own country...and snooker takes another welcome step into the future.
22.5.11
FOUR MORE QUALIFY FROM Q SCHOOL
Congratulations to the second group of qualifiers for the professional circuit from Q School – Tian Pengfei, Li Yan, Davey Morris and Simon Bedford.
Tian and Li will further bolster the Chinese presence on the main tour and have earned their place without the need for wildcards.
Tian in particular is fine talent, as he has proved in various Chinese ranking events. Li is the first of the eight Q School qualifiers who hasn’t played on the pro circuit before.
I’m pleased to see Morris returning after he was relegated at the end of last season.
Irish snooker is still waiting for someone to break through and threaten to emulate at least some of Ken Doherty’s achievements.
That player could still be Morris, who went missing so often from worldsnooker.com’s live scoring at Q School that one wag on Twitter wondered whether he had taken out a super-injunction to prevent people knowing he was playing.
Morris made his TV debut at the World Open last September. After that his performances tailed off badly but he has displayed encouraging fighting qualities to return.
Bedford has bags of experience. He played at the Crucible in 1998 and has the distinction of having once made a maximum against his own mother.
The third and final Q School event starts tomorrow.
Tian and Li will further bolster the Chinese presence on the main tour and have earned their place without the need for wildcards.
Tian in particular is fine talent, as he has proved in various Chinese ranking events. Li is the first of the eight Q School qualifiers who hasn’t played on the pro circuit before.
I’m pleased to see Morris returning after he was relegated at the end of last season.
Irish snooker is still waiting for someone to break through and threaten to emulate at least some of Ken Doherty’s achievements.
That player could still be Morris, who went missing so often from worldsnooker.com’s live scoring at Q School that one wag on Twitter wondered whether he had taken out a super-injunction to prevent people knowing he was playing.
Morris made his TV debut at the World Open last September. After that his performances tailed off badly but he has displayed encouraging fighting qualities to return.
Bedford has bags of experience. He played at the Crucible in 1998 and has the distinction of having once made a maximum against his own mother.
The third and final Q School event starts tomorrow.
19.5.11
BUSY YEAR AHEAD FOR PLAYERS
Do you remember the days when nothing used to happen for about four months after the World Championship finished?
Snooker is now clearly moving towards becoming a year round sport and activity on and off the table in the wake of the great Crucible marathon has been pretty much continuous.
The latest is that World Snooker has issued entry packs for the first four events of the Players Tour Championship, which will be played along the same lines as last season.
Once again it’s £100 to enter, £10,000 to the winner of each with 2,000 ranking points also going to the title winners.
However, prize money for the grand finals next March has increased by £50,000, with the eventual winner now receiving £70,000.
Four of the British PTCs will be played at the Academy in Sheffield and the other two at the South West Snooker Academy in Gloucester.
In the entry pack, World Snooker state that the first EPTC in Germany in August will be broadcast by Eurosport. In fact, the plan is for all six EPTCs to be televised, which would be a great boost for snooker fans.
I’m told there have been ‘discussions’ over possible streaming for the British PTCs, but such a deal would have to make business sense.
The EPTCs, particularly with TV coverage, have the potential to grow into bigger events.
The British PTCs were not to every player’s taste, especially playing in the sterile cubicles in Sheffield with no room for spectators, but it’s the chance to win £10k in three days, it's invaluable match practice and it’s a way of gaining some confidence and momentum.
It’s better than being sat at home moaning that there aren’t any tournaments.
Anyone can enter the PTCs and now amateurs will be able to join the professional circuit in 2012/13 directly from the order of merit as the top eight, regardless of pro or amateur status, will earn promotion.
Of course, expenses mount up and it’s more time away from home but Barry Hearn is being true to his word and vision: the opportunity is there, whether players seize it is up to them.
The first PTC tournament of the new season takes place next month.
It marks the start of what looks certain to be one of the busiest campaigns professional snooker has ever seen.
More details of how to enter the PTCs can be found here.
Snooker is now clearly moving towards becoming a year round sport and activity on and off the table in the wake of the great Crucible marathon has been pretty much continuous.
The latest is that World Snooker has issued entry packs for the first four events of the Players Tour Championship, which will be played along the same lines as last season.
Once again it’s £100 to enter, £10,000 to the winner of each with 2,000 ranking points also going to the title winners.
However, prize money for the grand finals next March has increased by £50,000, with the eventual winner now receiving £70,000.
Four of the British PTCs will be played at the Academy in Sheffield and the other two at the South West Snooker Academy in Gloucester.
In the entry pack, World Snooker state that the first EPTC in Germany in August will be broadcast by Eurosport. In fact, the plan is for all six EPTCs to be televised, which would be a great boost for snooker fans.
I’m told there have been ‘discussions’ over possible streaming for the British PTCs, but such a deal would have to make business sense.
The EPTCs, particularly with TV coverage, have the potential to grow into bigger events.
The British PTCs were not to every player’s taste, especially playing in the sterile cubicles in Sheffield with no room for spectators, but it’s the chance to win £10k in three days, it's invaluable match practice and it’s a way of gaining some confidence and momentum.
It’s better than being sat at home moaning that there aren’t any tournaments.
Anyone can enter the PTCs and now amateurs will be able to join the professional circuit in 2012/13 directly from the order of merit as the top eight, regardless of pro or amateur status, will earn promotion.
Of course, expenses mount up and it’s more time away from home but Barry Hearn is being true to his word and vision: the opportunity is there, whether players seize it is up to them.
The first PTC tournament of the new season takes place next month.
It marks the start of what looks certain to be one of the busiest campaigns professional snooker has ever seen.
More details of how to enter the PTCs can be found here.
18.5.11
MAGUIRE V BURNETT: POLICE CASE DROPPED
The criminal investigation into the Stephen Maguire-Jamie Burnett match at the 2008 UK Championship, which attracted an unusually high volume of bets on the correct scoreline, has been dropped.
The Scottish Crown Counsel say there is insufficient evidence to justify a criminal prosecution.
However, the WPBSA has announced its disciplinary committee will review the case.
"We are treating this case very seriously. We will now be given access to the evidence connected with the case, and our disciplinary committee will review that evidence thoroughly," said Jason Ferguson, WPBSA chairman.
A significant number of bets were placed on Maguire to win the first round match at Telford 9-3.
Burnett had a chance to win the 12th frame but grossly over-cut the final black.
Shot analysis would have formed only a small part of the police investigation, although they did interview TV commentators for their views of the match and shots played.
The bulk of the police case would have been in linking either player to the bets placed, which they have clearly been unable to do to the satisfaction of the prosecuting authorities.
A WPBSA investigation would focus more on the shots played, although an analysis of any match would throw up some odd shot selections because that is the nature of the game, particularly when a player is under pressure.
However, it is right that this case is properly investigated by the governing body, although it goes against the WPBSA's earlier statement that its new disciplinary process would only investigate matches played since it was set up.
The Scottish Crown Counsel say there is insufficient evidence to justify a criminal prosecution.
However, the WPBSA has announced its disciplinary committee will review the case.
"We are treating this case very seriously. We will now be given access to the evidence connected with the case, and our disciplinary committee will review that evidence thoroughly," said Jason Ferguson, WPBSA chairman.
A significant number of bets were placed on Maguire to win the first round match at Telford 9-3.
Burnett had a chance to win the 12th frame but grossly over-cut the final black.
Shot analysis would have formed only a small part of the police investigation, although they did interview TV commentators for their views of the match and shots played.
The bulk of the police case would have been in linking either player to the bets placed, which they have clearly been unable to do to the satisfaction of the prosecuting authorities.
A WPBSA investigation would focus more on the shots played, although an analysis of any match would throw up some odd shot selections because that is the nature of the game, particularly when a player is under pressure.
However, it is right that this case is properly investigated by the governing body, although it goes against the WPBSA's earlier statement that its new disciplinary process would only investigate matches played since it was set up.
17.5.11
WORLD SNOOKER WILDCARDS REVEALED
World Snooker has confirmed it has awarded main tour wildcards to Luca Brecel, James Wattana, Lucky Vatnani and Yu Delu.
There will be 100 players on the professional circuit during the 2011/12 season.
Of these, the least controversial choice is Brecel, who won the European amateur title last year and would have been on the tour but for the fact that, at 15, he was too young.
Though relegated from the circuit, Wattana can still play to a high standard, as he proved by making the highest break of this year’s World Championship (in qualifying).
In his day he was a brilliant player, one of the best of the early 1990s. Wattana’s run to the final of his first professional event, the 1989 Asian Open in his native Bangkok, sparked a snooker boom in Thailand that lasted until he began to decline in the late 90s.
Thailand was the China of its day. During some seasons there were two ranking events staged there.
Wattana is still Thai snooker’s biggest name and his wildcard should ensure he plays in their World Cup team in Bangkok in July, something I’d imagine the organisers would be happy about.
Lucky Vatnani has lived up to his name, landing on the main tour without having to go through Q School.
I understand Pankaj Advani, the talented former IBSF world snooker and billiards champion, was offered a main tour wildcard but turned it down because he did not want to spend months on end in the UK.
Vatnani’s wildcard suggests that India is due to play a role in Barry Hearn’s future plans.
There was a story recently in an Indian newspaper – unconfirmed by World Snooker – that the governing body would be staging a ranking event in India during the coming season.
It’s not beyond the realms that this is where the World Open will end up.
Of course, it was in India where, according to legend, snooker was invented. There have been pro events there before and it is a huge market, ripe for tapping.
I’m not sure why Yu Delu was favoured over, for instance, Li Yang, who beat Ken Doherty and Graeme Dott in the China Open.
It may be that World Snooker gave the Chinese snooker authorities a wildcard and they awarded it to Yu, who has been a stalwart in the various ranking tournaments staged there over the years.
Wildcards have been dished out for many years. I think their worth is overstated. Ultimately, it is still up to the player to make it through qualifying, otherwise their profile remains pretty low and their value to the game as a whole isn’t particularly great.
It’s interesting that there will be four extra players on the circuit. The scare stories about Hearn before he took over centred on him cutting the tour. In fact, he has increased it.
But 100 players as opposed to 96 surely means there will have to be an extra round of qualifying.
There will be 100 players on the professional circuit during the 2011/12 season.
Of these, the least controversial choice is Brecel, who won the European amateur title last year and would have been on the tour but for the fact that, at 15, he was too young.
Though relegated from the circuit, Wattana can still play to a high standard, as he proved by making the highest break of this year’s World Championship (in qualifying).
In his day he was a brilliant player, one of the best of the early 1990s. Wattana’s run to the final of his first professional event, the 1989 Asian Open in his native Bangkok, sparked a snooker boom in Thailand that lasted until he began to decline in the late 90s.
Thailand was the China of its day. During some seasons there were two ranking events staged there.
Wattana is still Thai snooker’s biggest name and his wildcard should ensure he plays in their World Cup team in Bangkok in July, something I’d imagine the organisers would be happy about.
Lucky Vatnani has lived up to his name, landing on the main tour without having to go through Q School.
I understand Pankaj Advani, the talented former IBSF world snooker and billiards champion, was offered a main tour wildcard but turned it down because he did not want to spend months on end in the UK.
Vatnani’s wildcard suggests that India is due to play a role in Barry Hearn’s future plans.
There was a story recently in an Indian newspaper – unconfirmed by World Snooker – that the governing body would be staging a ranking event in India during the coming season.
It’s not beyond the realms that this is where the World Open will end up.
Of course, it was in India where, according to legend, snooker was invented. There have been pro events there before and it is a huge market, ripe for tapping.
I’m not sure why Yu Delu was favoured over, for instance, Li Yang, who beat Ken Doherty and Graeme Dott in the China Open.
It may be that World Snooker gave the Chinese snooker authorities a wildcard and they awarded it to Yu, who has been a stalwart in the various ranking tournaments staged there over the years.
Wildcards have been dished out for many years. I think their worth is overstated. Ultimately, it is still up to the player to make it through qualifying, otherwise their profile remains pretty low and their value to the game as a whole isn’t particularly great.
It’s interesting that there will be four extra players on the circuit. The scare stories about Hearn before he took over centred on him cutting the tour. In fact, he has increased it.
But 100 players as opposed to 96 surely means there will have to be an extra round of qualifying.
16.5.11
FAB FOUR HEADING FOR TOUR
The first Q School event is over and congratulations go to David Grace, Adam Wicheard, Robin Hull and Andrew Norman, who have secured places on the professional circuit for next season.
Competition over the last few days has been fierce but these four players can now look forward to entry to all of the new campaign’s ranking events.
Hull’s return to the circuit is particularly noteworthy. Finland’s best ever player had his career cut horribly short by a virus which caused him to lose his balance to such an extent that he was unable to walk straight, let alone play snooker.
In the 2001/02 season, Hull won 30 matches in ranking events, qualified for the Crucible and the following year got himself into the top 32 for the first time.
Robin also reached two ranking event quarter-finals but his health problems forced him into premature retirement.
So his qualification comes after a bleak period in his life and I’m sure he is now looking forward to having another go at the pro ranks.
Wicheard also had serious health problems. He spent months in hospital after a tumour was found on his spine.
He played on the circuit last season, was relegated but has immediately bounced back.
Grace is a former English amateur champion and is back on the main tour having played on it in 2008/09.
Norman, I know, has been inspired to carry on playing following the establishment of the South West Snooker Academy in Gloucester, near to where he lives.
It has given him a first class practice centre with good opposition and the drive to keep going after an indifferent few years.
So well done to one and all. What is interesting, though, is that the first four qualifiers are all former professionals.
Will any new faces make it through from the second event, which starts tomorrow?
Competition over the last few days has been fierce but these four players can now look forward to entry to all of the new campaign’s ranking events.
Hull’s return to the circuit is particularly noteworthy. Finland’s best ever player had his career cut horribly short by a virus which caused him to lose his balance to such an extent that he was unable to walk straight, let alone play snooker.
In the 2001/02 season, Hull won 30 matches in ranking events, qualified for the Crucible and the following year got himself into the top 32 for the first time.
Robin also reached two ranking event quarter-finals but his health problems forced him into premature retirement.
So his qualification comes after a bleak period in his life and I’m sure he is now looking forward to having another go at the pro ranks.
Wicheard also had serious health problems. He spent months in hospital after a tumour was found on his spine.
He played on the circuit last season, was relegated but has immediately bounced back.
Grace is a former English amateur champion and is back on the main tour having played on it in 2008/09.
Norman, I know, has been inspired to carry on playing following the establishment of the South West Snooker Academy in Gloucester, near to where he lives.
It has given him a first class practice centre with good opposition and the drive to keep going after an indifferent few years.
So well done to one and all. What is interesting, though, is that the first four qualifiers are all former professionals.
Will any new faces make it through from the second event, which starts tomorrow?
SHAUN MURPHY'S YEAR
Shaun Murphy has given an extensive review of his season over at his website.
You can read it here.
I'm pleased to see Shaun making an effort with this site because player websites are few and far between and even in the ones that exist there is very little input from the actual players - unlike in so many other sports.
Players sometimes complain they have been misrepresented in the media (and occasionally they are) but they have a platform on the web to tell it their way and it surprises me that more don't take that opportunity.
Speaking of snooker on the net, there's a useful summary at Pro Snooker Blog here.
You can read it here.
I'm pleased to see Shaun making an effort with this site because player websites are few and far between and even in the ones that exist there is very little input from the actual players - unlike in so many other sports.
Players sometimes complain they have been misrepresented in the media (and occasionally they are) but they have a platform on the web to tell it their way and it surprises me that more don't take that opportunity.
Speaking of snooker on the net, there's a useful summary at Pro Snooker Blog here.
15.5.11
ALL CHANGE FOR PREMIER LEAGUE
The Premier League, an ever present fixture on the circuit since 1987, will undergo a major format change this year.
There will be ten players involved – an increase of three – and each night will be a mini four-man tournament in its own right, with a winner.
Each of the ten players will compete in four of these mini-tournaments. Points earned will decide the top four who will compete in the play-offs.
These semi-finals and finals will be best of five frames. The shot-clock will be reduced from 25 seconds to 20 for the first four frames. The miss rule has been changed so that players will have three attempts to make a legal contact. If they fail to do so, ball-in-hand anywhere on the table will be awarded to the incoming player.
If any of the matches reach 2-2 the decider will be played under the Shootout rules: a maximum of ten minutes with a 20 second shot-clock for the first five minutes and 15 for the next five.
Prize money for the eventual winner has doubled to £60,000 but there will no longer be £1,000 a frame to play for.
So why the change? Promoters Matchroom felt the Premier League had become a bit stale and resembled a series of exhibitions.
In fact, it’s always been that. The League’s great contribution to snooker has been in taking top players around the UK to places not usually served by the game, as well as providing some big paydays for the game’s leading lights.
The financially lucrative nature of the Premier League means it rates much higher in many players’ priorities than audiences may think.
I’ll reserve judgement on the new format until the event starts – on August 18 – but the first observation is that it is no longer actually a league. The players will no longer all play each other.
There is now a simple qualifying structure for the event. The field is made up of winners of last season’s major tournaments, plus Matthew Stevens, who won the Championship League qualifier.
Tenth place has been awarded to Jimmy White, who won the World Seniors Championship. This means Mark Selby, the world no.3, misses out.
On the face of it, choosing White over Selby is highly questionable given that they are separated in the rankings by 52 places.
However, Selby didn’t win a tournament last season. If he had, he’d have been in.
And although White has undoubtedly been shoe-horned in, if I were the promoter – putting up my own money and looking for a return through ticket sales – I’d have him in the tournament without hesitation.
The complete field is: Ronnie O’Sullivan (defending champion), John Higgins (World champion), Ding Junhui (Masters champion), Mark Williams (German Masters champion), Ali Carter (Shanghai Masters champion), Judd Trump (China Open champion), Neil Robertson (World Open champion), Shaun Murphy (PTC Finals champion), Matthew Stevens (Championship League winner) and Jimmy White (World Seniors champion).
There will be ten players involved – an increase of three – and each night will be a mini four-man tournament in its own right, with a winner.
Each of the ten players will compete in four of these mini-tournaments. Points earned will decide the top four who will compete in the play-offs.
These semi-finals and finals will be best of five frames. The shot-clock will be reduced from 25 seconds to 20 for the first four frames. The miss rule has been changed so that players will have three attempts to make a legal contact. If they fail to do so, ball-in-hand anywhere on the table will be awarded to the incoming player.
If any of the matches reach 2-2 the decider will be played under the Shootout rules: a maximum of ten minutes with a 20 second shot-clock for the first five minutes and 15 for the next five.
Prize money for the eventual winner has doubled to £60,000 but there will no longer be £1,000 a frame to play for.
So why the change? Promoters Matchroom felt the Premier League had become a bit stale and resembled a series of exhibitions.
In fact, it’s always been that. The League’s great contribution to snooker has been in taking top players around the UK to places not usually served by the game, as well as providing some big paydays for the game’s leading lights.
The financially lucrative nature of the Premier League means it rates much higher in many players’ priorities than audiences may think.
I’ll reserve judgement on the new format until the event starts – on August 18 – but the first observation is that it is no longer actually a league. The players will no longer all play each other.
There is now a simple qualifying structure for the event. The field is made up of winners of last season’s major tournaments, plus Matthew Stevens, who won the Championship League qualifier.
Tenth place has been awarded to Jimmy White, who won the World Seniors Championship. This means Mark Selby, the world no.3, misses out.
On the face of it, choosing White over Selby is highly questionable given that they are separated in the rankings by 52 places.
However, Selby didn’t win a tournament last season. If he had, he’d have been in.
And although White has undoubtedly been shoe-horned in, if I were the promoter – putting up my own money and looking for a return through ticket sales – I’d have him in the tournament without hesitation.
The complete field is: Ronnie O’Sullivan (defending champion), John Higgins (World champion), Ding Junhui (Masters champion), Mark Williams (German Masters champion), Ali Carter (Shanghai Masters champion), Judd Trump (China Open champion), Neil Robertson (World Open champion), Shaun Murphy (PTC Finals champion), Matthew Stevens (Championship League winner) and Jimmy White (World Seniors champion).
14.5.11
CHANDLER JOINS FORCES WITH EX-110 DIRECTORS
Ricky Cowan of the now apparently defunct 110sport has joined forces with International Sports Management, headed by leading sports agent Andrew 'Chubby' Chandler.
John Carroll, a long time 110sport director and a familiar figure at tournaments, will also be part of the set up.
"ISM will now have a presence in Scotland to further grow their portfolio of sports stars and commercial interests throughout the world," said a statement.
ISM represent a host of golfers, including Ernie Els, Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy. The group also represents cricketers and footballers.
They will now presumably be representing snooker players too, although it's not clear how many of 110's former clients will be involved in the new arrangement.
110sport Group went into liquidation last month.
John Carroll, a long time 110sport director and a familiar figure at tournaments, will also be part of the set up.
"ISM will now have a presence in Scotland to further grow their portfolio of sports stars and commercial interests throughout the world," said a statement.
ISM represent a host of golfers, including Ernie Els, Lee Westwood and Rory McIlroy. The group also represents cricketers and footballers.
They will now presumably be representing snooker players too, although it's not clear how many of 110's former clients will be involved in the new arrangement.
110sport Group went into liquidation last month.
9.5.11
ON CUE FOR Q SCHOOL
Q School is World Snooker’s latest method of producing qualifiers for the main tour.
There have been many over the years. Originally players had to be formally invited by existing players. Later there was the Pro Ticket series then the game went open, then there were qualifying schools and play-offs and a Challenge Tour and an Open Tour and the PIOS and...well, here we are with Q School.
The format is very simple: anyone can enter if they pay £1,000. There are three tournaments. The semi-finalists in each will qualify for the world ranking circuit in 2011/12. 124 players have entered.
As John Parrott said on the BBC last week, there are a lot of players who feel they may be good enough to be professionals. Now is the time to find out.
The entries include new, young players, some old stagers and several players from outside the UK.
It starts on Wednesday with the likes of David Gray, a former Scottish Open champion, Lee Walker, who once reached the Crucible quarter-finals, and Thanawat Tirapongpaiboon, the Thai teenager who made a 147 on the main tour last season in action.
Luca Brecel is also listed, although it’s been reported he has received a World Snooker wildcard (he would have been on the circuit last season after winning the European amateur title but was too young).
Mike Hallett and Tony Knowles, two of snooker’s leading lights in the 1980s/early 90s, will play each other in the first round.
Reanne Evans, the women’s world champion, who failed to win a main tour match last season, faces Sachin Plaha.
It’s an eclectic line-up. Mohammed Raoof, an Indian doctor, will play Craig Barber.
Thai legend James Wattana faces young Sean O'Sullivan.
Jason Tart, a nephew of Stephen Hendry, tackles James Loft.
It’s hard to predict exactly who will come through all of this but I’d be surprised if eight or nine of the qualifiers weren’t players who had already been on the main tour, and some of these probably on it last season.
Kurt Maflin, who impressed in qualifying for the China Open, would be a likely candidate.
This system is tough for players, say, unwell but sport is tough full stop. If you look at the top players of today, everyone of them has come through a qualifying system of some sort – with both merits and negative aspects – and they have all reached the top through their talent and application.
The Q School is certainly a cheaper option than the PIOS and even if players are unsuccessful they can still enter the 12 PTCs.
This is a little like school exams, with all the nerves that they involve, so I wish all players the best of luck.
There have been many over the years. Originally players had to be formally invited by existing players. Later there was the Pro Ticket series then the game went open, then there were qualifying schools and play-offs and a Challenge Tour and an Open Tour and the PIOS and...well, here we are with Q School.
The format is very simple: anyone can enter if they pay £1,000. There are three tournaments. The semi-finalists in each will qualify for the world ranking circuit in 2011/12. 124 players have entered.
As John Parrott said on the BBC last week, there are a lot of players who feel they may be good enough to be professionals. Now is the time to find out.
The entries include new, young players, some old stagers and several players from outside the UK.
It starts on Wednesday with the likes of David Gray, a former Scottish Open champion, Lee Walker, who once reached the Crucible quarter-finals, and Thanawat Tirapongpaiboon, the Thai teenager who made a 147 on the main tour last season in action.
Luca Brecel is also listed, although it’s been reported he has received a World Snooker wildcard (he would have been on the circuit last season after winning the European amateur title but was too young).
Mike Hallett and Tony Knowles, two of snooker’s leading lights in the 1980s/early 90s, will play each other in the first round.
Reanne Evans, the women’s world champion, who failed to win a main tour match last season, faces Sachin Plaha.
It’s an eclectic line-up. Mohammed Raoof, an Indian doctor, will play Craig Barber.
Thai legend James Wattana faces young Sean O'Sullivan.
Jason Tart, a nephew of Stephen Hendry, tackles James Loft.
It’s hard to predict exactly who will come through all of this but I’d be surprised if eight or nine of the qualifiers weren’t players who had already been on the main tour, and some of these probably on it last season.
Kurt Maflin, who impressed in qualifying for the China Open, would be a likely candidate.
This system is tough for players, say, unwell but sport is tough full stop. If you look at the top players of today, everyone of them has come through a qualifying system of some sort – with both merits and negative aspects – and they have all reached the top through their talent and application.
The Q School is certainly a cheaper option than the PIOS and even if players are unsuccessful they can still enter the 12 PTCs.
This is a little like school exams, with all the nerves that they involve, so I wish all players the best of luck.
7.5.11
AWARD WINNING NIGHT
A good time – and in some cases a very good time – was had by all at the World Snooker Awards at the Dorchester in London last night, the first such bash staged for a decade.
It was attended by a number of players plus various other figures within the snooker world and staged in association with the Killing Cancer charity.
Ray Stubbs, formerly a BBC snooker presenter but now at ESPN, did a first rate job as host. Similarly, Willie Thorne was superb as charity auctioneer.
Entertainment was provided by Chris Difford, who ran through a few Squeeze songs, and comedian and satirist Rory Bremner.
John Higgins was unable to attend due to being in Italy for a family wedding but won the first award of the night, Journalists’ Player of the Year, voted for by the media. Higgins was later announced as the winner of the evening's main award, World Snooker Player of the Year, voted for by a panel which included Stephen Hendry and John Parrott.
Players’ Player of the Year – voted for by the players – was won by Mark Williams, who won my admiration for his elastic interpretation of the dress code.
Judd Trump won two awards. He was voted Fans’ Player of the Year in an online vote and won Performance of the Year for reaching the world final, although as Steve Davis said, he probably would have received this in any case for capturing the China Open.
Trump’s housemate Jack Lisowski spoke well after receiving his award for Rookie of the Year.
Rory McLeod’s fluked black to beat Tony Drago in the Shootout won Magic Moment of the Year and Rory gave an amusing speech in which he promised to play quicker.
Snooker’s new Hall of Fame was unveiled with inductions for the late Joe and Fred Davis, John Pulman, John Spencer and Alex Higgins as well as Ray Reardon, Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis, who received a standing ovation when he took to the stage.
The best speech came from Barry Hearn, the World Snooker chairman, who listed the steps forward the sport has taken in the last year.
It was a very sociable occasion and mercifully free from politics. Everyone knows who is in charge now and anyone with half a brain can see he is doing a good job. There is much to be positive about for snooker players and it was good to see them enjoying themselves after an intensive season.
Then it was all off to a nightclub to continue the celebrations, although at this point the memory began to fade...
It was attended by a number of players plus various other figures within the snooker world and staged in association with the Killing Cancer charity.
Ray Stubbs, formerly a BBC snooker presenter but now at ESPN, did a first rate job as host. Similarly, Willie Thorne was superb as charity auctioneer.
Entertainment was provided by Chris Difford, who ran through a few Squeeze songs, and comedian and satirist Rory Bremner.
John Higgins was unable to attend due to being in Italy for a family wedding but won the first award of the night, Journalists’ Player of the Year, voted for by the media. Higgins was later announced as the winner of the evening's main award, World Snooker Player of the Year, voted for by a panel which included Stephen Hendry and John Parrott.
Players’ Player of the Year – voted for by the players – was won by Mark Williams, who won my admiration for his elastic interpretation of the dress code.
Judd Trump won two awards. He was voted Fans’ Player of the Year in an online vote and won Performance of the Year for reaching the world final, although as Steve Davis said, he probably would have received this in any case for capturing the China Open.
Trump’s housemate Jack Lisowski spoke well after receiving his award for Rookie of the Year.
Rory McLeod’s fluked black to beat Tony Drago in the Shootout won Magic Moment of the Year and Rory gave an amusing speech in which he promised to play quicker.
Snooker’s new Hall of Fame was unveiled with inductions for the late Joe and Fred Davis, John Pulman, John Spencer and Alex Higgins as well as Ray Reardon, Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis, who received a standing ovation when he took to the stage.
The best speech came from Barry Hearn, the World Snooker chairman, who listed the steps forward the sport has taken in the last year.
It was a very sociable occasion and mercifully free from politics. Everyone knows who is in charge now and anyone with half a brain can see he is doing a good job. There is much to be positive about for snooker players and it was good to see them enjoying themselves after an intensive season.
Then it was all off to a nightclub to continue the celebrations, although at this point the memory began to fade...
6.5.11
GRIFFITHS JOINS ON Q
Terry Griffiths, the 1979 world champion and one of the game’s most respected coaches, has been appointed Director of Coaching for On Q Promotions.Griffiths has previously fulfilled this role for the WPBSA and 110sport.
The Welsh snooker legend will coach and offer advice to On Q’s 19 players managed by Paul Mount, who runs the South West Snooker Academy in Gloucester. Among the squad are Jimmy White, Tony Drago and Dominic Dale.
“I’m really excited about this opportunity,” Griffiths said. “The On Q players include opponents who I played as a professional, players who are real contenders for titles and also the new young talent at the start of their careers. It is a wonderful mix of players and I am looking forward to working with them.”
Griffiths’s role will be a dual one, working to continue to develop the Junior Club at the Academy and bringing his knowledge of Snooker in Schools Projects to Gloucester, to provide opportunities for young players to participate in the sport in the World Snooker endorsed facility.
“Terry is a key piece of the jigsaw, working with the team at the South West Snooker Academy,” Mount said.
“With the schemes we have in place from Junior Club, community projects, local schools, summer schools and the specialist packages for international players and governing bodies, I am sure that we will see a future world champion emerge from the South West Snooker Academy.”
In addition to his coaching of pupils, Griffiths also trains new coaches. He is part of the WPBSA coaching team along with Steve Davis and Chris Lovell and the next WPBSA Coaches’ Training Course will take place at SWSA on June 23-24.
The SWSA will also stage the second annual Pink Ribbon pro-am from June 2-5.
5.5.11
SEASON REVIEW: THE AWARD WINNERS
So the season is over and that can mean only one thing: the annual Snooker Scene Blog awards, if your definition of ‘annual’ is something I did in 2008 and 2009 but not last year.
Like the Golden Globes, these awards are seen as an indicator - by me anyway - for the Oscars that are the World Snooker awards, which take place tomorrow at the Dorchester in London.
Anyway, a reminder to the winners that there are no actual awards, but plenty of cred, street or otherwise, to be gained.
Doubtless others will have their own ideas for who the winners should have been...
PLAYER OF THE SEASON
Winner: John Higgins
When Higgins returned from suspension in November there were dire warnings that he would struggle to recapture his previous form and that it would take him a while to win a trophy. In fact, he immediately won his first tournament, reached the final of the second and, on his TV comeback, landed the UK Championship crown for a third time.
He went on to win a total of six titles during the campaign, rounded off by capturing a fourth world title, exhibiting remarkable mental strength and determination.
Higgins’s longevity at the top has been considerable. He was the best player in the 1997/98 season and several times since. He lost his no.1 spot largely because of the tournaments he missed but he was the best player of the season by some distance.
BREAKTHROUGH OF THE SEASON
Winner: Judd Trump
Trump has had to endure some pretty spiteful comments due to having the effrontery not to have been a world beater almost immediately that he turned pro.
But that all changed in Beijing when he mixed his awesome attacking game with some mature tactical play and displayed poise under pressure to win the China Open. More – much more – was to follow at the Crucible where his run to the World Championship final caught the public imagination.
Trump played the game with a smile on his face and his shot-making and general attitude were a joy to watch. And it shut up all those who doubted he could make it at the top level.
ROOKIE OF THE SEASON
Winner: Jack Lisowski
Lisowski, a level-headed, dedicated young player, lost his first three matches as a new professional and fretted about possibly falling off the tour but the new PTC series came to his rescue. He reached the final of event three and flourished thereafter.
The Gloucester potter, who wrote a column for Snooker Scene throughout the campaign, qualified for the final stages of the German Masters and Welsh Open – where he ran John Higgins to 4-3 – and also the PTC Grand Finals.
He lost out 10-9 to Steve Davis in World Championship qualifying but ended the season inside the top 64. Lisowski will no doubt take inspiration from all this and from the achievements of his housemate – Judd Trump.
BREAK OF THE SEASON
Winner: Stephen Lee (61)
There have been some great breaks – centuries, maximums – this season but Stephen Lee’s 61 clearance to complete his 5-4 victory over Mark Williams in the first round of the China Open was, in the context of what had gone before, a superb example of nerve under pressure.
Williams had made four century breaks in the match but Lee hung on in there and made it 4-4. He trailed 11-70 when he came to the table in the decider with three of the five remaining reds close to cushions.
Lee set about the clearance, developing the reds, but finished awkward on the black and needed the rest to pot it. Cool as you like, he did, and completed a remarkable victory in what was perhaps the finest best of nine frame match contested all season. You can watch it here.
SHOT OF THE SEASON
Winner: Judd Trump
In fact, not one single shot but a series of them from Trump, who raised the bar for attacking snooker at the Crucible.
The amount of long balls he powered in was incredible, the embodiment of talent, self belief and nerve on the big stage, which is clearly where he belongs.
I have a few favourites: the red down the side cushion (which won the BBC’s Shot of the Championship) and the high pace black he rammed in to complete the century in the 12th frame of the final included.
MATCH OF THE SEASON
Winner: John Higgins v Judd Trump
Yes, it’s a boring choice to pick the world final – and there were many other contenders – but Higgins v Trump was a great way to round off a successful season: the established modern great against the new kid on the baize, full of drama, intrigue, close frames and all played in a wonderful atmosphere in Sheffield.
Trump delighted his many new fans by building a 10-7 first day lead but Higgins found his form on the second afternoon when, trailing 12-9, he cleared blue to black after Trump had missed a tricky blue down the side cushion using the rest.
Higgins led 13-12 going into the evening but Trump continued to go for his shots and could have closed to just 17-16 behind only for Higgins to get the snooker he needed, double the pink and slot home the black to bring the curtain down on a great match, championship and campaign.
BEST TOURNAMENT
Winner: German Masters
The World Championship is always the best tournament so I have disqualified it from this category. Instead, the honours go to this new event which marked the return of big time snooker to Germany and proved that the game’s popularity here is no myth.
The final was attended by around 2,500 people, all of whom played their part in creating the unforgettable atmosphere for Mark Williams v Mark Selby. The prolonged, heartfelt standing ovation that followed Williams’s victory will live long in the memory.
Berlin witnessed some fine snooker but it was the audience that helped make it such a spectacular success story.
BEST INNOVATION
Winner: the new ranking system
Under the old ranking system, a player could wait months to see any improvement in their ranking if they won a major title. Players outside the top 16 winning ranking tournaments would still have to go to qualifiers. Players not winning matches full stop would be protected.
Barry Hearn’s new system has changed all this. Now, it is possible to make strides up the list for doing well – rewarding success and not protecting mediocrity.
It has made a huge difference to a number of players and even some of those who have lost out as a result – Mark King being an example – have applauded the changes. They have given the players the incentive of aspiration. As one said to me: “I didn’t start to play snooker to try and stay where I was. I did it to shoot for the stars.”
WORST INNOVATION
Winner: Power Snooker
In fairness, the idea behind Power Snooker was conceived with the best of intentions: to create a new, vibrant form of the game mixing tradition with innovation.
What we got, though, was an odd hybrid of snooker and stag-do, an event played before an increasingly drunk crowd shouting abuse so unpleasant that it left one of the referees in tears.
The game itself was entertaining enough but was trumped by Barry Hearn’s own short-form version of snooker, the Shootout in Blackpool, where the banter was better natured and the action more enjoyable.
UNSUNG HERO AWARD
Winner: Chris Lovell, the Paul Hunter Foundation
When Paul Hunter died of cancer at the tragically young age of just 27 in 2006, the sport was shocked and saddened. Snooker had lost one of its brightest stars.
Paul, though, was always such a positive spirit and those around him resolved to do something positive in his name. Thus, the Paul Hunter Foundation was born and it goes from strength to strength, giving young people who have had to endure disadvantages in life a chance to play snooker and build their confidence.
Chris Lovell and his team deserve great credit for their endeavours and for keeping Paul’s name alive in such a worthwhile way. Find out more about their work here.
BEST WEBSITE
Winner: www.snooker.org
Your view of websites depends on what you want from them. Some want information, some want opinion, some want a chance to express their own opinion.
In my line of work, facts are paramount and so I commend those behind www.snooker.org, a website full of constantly updated information including latest scores, results and rankings which together form an invaluable resource.
This was actually one of the first snooker websites, established way back in 1994 when the internet was not a major part of most people’s lives. It has flourished again in the last year and is now the first place I go to crosscheck information.
BEST TWEETER
Winner: Matt, ProSnookerBlog
Twitter now has a fun, relaxed snooker community featuring players, referees, commentators and fans. If you’re wondering what the point of it is, well, there isn’t one really.
That said, at the World Championship qualifiers snooker fans starved of a chance to watch web streaming of the matches were treated to an invaluable service from Matt from Pro Snooker Blog, who gave a running commentary of the action.
It made compelling reading and was proof of the power of social media. The snooker authorities, not always the quickest to recognise the importance of such things, should take note.
THE BARRY HEARN AWARD FOR BEING BARRY HEARN
Winner: Barry Hearn
Hearn, like so many of his predecessors who have run snooker, is full of big talk. The big difference, though, between him and them is that he actually delivers. In just one year Hearn has presided over a rejuvenation for the sport that has left everyone feeling more positive. New tournaments, new sponsors, new formats...Hearn has injected his considerable energies into making snooker- his first sporting love – big again.
This season was just the start. In 2011/12 the circuit will touch down in Thailand, Australia and Brazil and snooker is now becoming more in line with other sports – no huge gaps between tournaments, opportunities there for players willing to take them.
Hearn doesn’t do modesty. Neither should he. His achievements since becoming World Snooker chairman speak for themselves. For once, the game is in safe hands.
Like the Golden Globes, these awards are seen as an indicator - by me anyway - for the Oscars that are the World Snooker awards, which take place tomorrow at the Dorchester in London.
Anyway, a reminder to the winners that there are no actual awards, but plenty of cred, street or otherwise, to be gained.
Doubtless others will have their own ideas for who the winners should have been...
PLAYER OF THE SEASON
Winner: John Higgins
When Higgins returned from suspension in November there were dire warnings that he would struggle to recapture his previous form and that it would take him a while to win a trophy. In fact, he immediately won his first tournament, reached the final of the second and, on his TV comeback, landed the UK Championship crown for a third time.
He went on to win a total of six titles during the campaign, rounded off by capturing a fourth world title, exhibiting remarkable mental strength and determination.
Higgins’s longevity at the top has been considerable. He was the best player in the 1997/98 season and several times since. He lost his no.1 spot largely because of the tournaments he missed but he was the best player of the season by some distance.
BREAKTHROUGH OF THE SEASON
Winner: Judd Trump
Trump has had to endure some pretty spiteful comments due to having the effrontery not to have been a world beater almost immediately that he turned pro.
But that all changed in Beijing when he mixed his awesome attacking game with some mature tactical play and displayed poise under pressure to win the China Open. More – much more – was to follow at the Crucible where his run to the World Championship final caught the public imagination.
Trump played the game with a smile on his face and his shot-making and general attitude were a joy to watch. And it shut up all those who doubted he could make it at the top level.
ROOKIE OF THE SEASON
Winner: Jack Lisowski
Lisowski, a level-headed, dedicated young player, lost his first three matches as a new professional and fretted about possibly falling off the tour but the new PTC series came to his rescue. He reached the final of event three and flourished thereafter.
The Gloucester potter, who wrote a column for Snooker Scene throughout the campaign, qualified for the final stages of the German Masters and Welsh Open – where he ran John Higgins to 4-3 – and also the PTC Grand Finals.
He lost out 10-9 to Steve Davis in World Championship qualifying but ended the season inside the top 64. Lisowski will no doubt take inspiration from all this and from the achievements of his housemate – Judd Trump.
BREAK OF THE SEASON
Winner: Stephen Lee (61)
There have been some great breaks – centuries, maximums – this season but Stephen Lee’s 61 clearance to complete his 5-4 victory over Mark Williams in the first round of the China Open was, in the context of what had gone before, a superb example of nerve under pressure.
Williams had made four century breaks in the match but Lee hung on in there and made it 4-4. He trailed 11-70 when he came to the table in the decider with three of the five remaining reds close to cushions.
Lee set about the clearance, developing the reds, but finished awkward on the black and needed the rest to pot it. Cool as you like, he did, and completed a remarkable victory in what was perhaps the finest best of nine frame match contested all season. You can watch it here.
SHOT OF THE SEASON
Winner: Judd Trump
In fact, not one single shot but a series of them from Trump, who raised the bar for attacking snooker at the Crucible.
The amount of long balls he powered in was incredible, the embodiment of talent, self belief and nerve on the big stage, which is clearly where he belongs.
I have a few favourites: the red down the side cushion (which won the BBC’s Shot of the Championship) and the high pace black he rammed in to complete the century in the 12th frame of the final included.
MATCH OF THE SEASON
Winner: John Higgins v Judd Trump
Yes, it’s a boring choice to pick the world final – and there were many other contenders – but Higgins v Trump was a great way to round off a successful season: the established modern great against the new kid on the baize, full of drama, intrigue, close frames and all played in a wonderful atmosphere in Sheffield.
Trump delighted his many new fans by building a 10-7 first day lead but Higgins found his form on the second afternoon when, trailing 12-9, he cleared blue to black after Trump had missed a tricky blue down the side cushion using the rest.
Higgins led 13-12 going into the evening but Trump continued to go for his shots and could have closed to just 17-16 behind only for Higgins to get the snooker he needed, double the pink and slot home the black to bring the curtain down on a great match, championship and campaign.
BEST TOURNAMENT
Winner: German Masters
The World Championship is always the best tournament so I have disqualified it from this category. Instead, the honours go to this new event which marked the return of big time snooker to Germany and proved that the game’s popularity here is no myth.
The final was attended by around 2,500 people, all of whom played their part in creating the unforgettable atmosphere for Mark Williams v Mark Selby. The prolonged, heartfelt standing ovation that followed Williams’s victory will live long in the memory.
Berlin witnessed some fine snooker but it was the audience that helped make it such a spectacular success story.
BEST INNOVATION
Winner: the new ranking system
Under the old ranking system, a player could wait months to see any improvement in their ranking if they won a major title. Players outside the top 16 winning ranking tournaments would still have to go to qualifiers. Players not winning matches full stop would be protected.
Barry Hearn’s new system has changed all this. Now, it is possible to make strides up the list for doing well – rewarding success and not protecting mediocrity.
It has made a huge difference to a number of players and even some of those who have lost out as a result – Mark King being an example – have applauded the changes. They have given the players the incentive of aspiration. As one said to me: “I didn’t start to play snooker to try and stay where I was. I did it to shoot for the stars.”
WORST INNOVATION
Winner: Power Snooker
In fairness, the idea behind Power Snooker was conceived with the best of intentions: to create a new, vibrant form of the game mixing tradition with innovation.
What we got, though, was an odd hybrid of snooker and stag-do, an event played before an increasingly drunk crowd shouting abuse so unpleasant that it left one of the referees in tears.
The game itself was entertaining enough but was trumped by Barry Hearn’s own short-form version of snooker, the Shootout in Blackpool, where the banter was better natured and the action more enjoyable.
UNSUNG HERO AWARD
Winner: Chris Lovell, the Paul Hunter Foundation
When Paul Hunter died of cancer at the tragically young age of just 27 in 2006, the sport was shocked and saddened. Snooker had lost one of its brightest stars.
Paul, though, was always such a positive spirit and those around him resolved to do something positive in his name. Thus, the Paul Hunter Foundation was born and it goes from strength to strength, giving young people who have had to endure disadvantages in life a chance to play snooker and build their confidence.
Chris Lovell and his team deserve great credit for their endeavours and for keeping Paul’s name alive in such a worthwhile way. Find out more about their work here.
BEST WEBSITE
Winner: www.snooker.org
Your view of websites depends on what you want from them. Some want information, some want opinion, some want a chance to express their own opinion.
In my line of work, facts are paramount and so I commend those behind www.snooker.org, a website full of constantly updated information including latest scores, results and rankings which together form an invaluable resource.
This was actually one of the first snooker websites, established way back in 1994 when the internet was not a major part of most people’s lives. It has flourished again in the last year and is now the first place I go to crosscheck information.
BEST TWEETER
Winner: Matt, ProSnookerBlog
Twitter now has a fun, relaxed snooker community featuring players, referees, commentators and fans. If you’re wondering what the point of it is, well, there isn’t one really.
That said, at the World Championship qualifiers snooker fans starved of a chance to watch web streaming of the matches were treated to an invaluable service from Matt from Pro Snooker Blog, who gave a running commentary of the action.
It made compelling reading and was proof of the power of social media. The snooker authorities, not always the quickest to recognise the importance of such things, should take note.
THE BARRY HEARN AWARD FOR BEING BARRY HEARN
Winner: Barry Hearn
Hearn, like so many of his predecessors who have run snooker, is full of big talk. The big difference, though, between him and them is that he actually delivers. In just one year Hearn has presided over a rejuvenation for the sport that has left everyone feeling more positive. New tournaments, new sponsors, new formats...Hearn has injected his considerable energies into making snooker- his first sporting love – big again.
This season was just the start. In 2011/12 the circuit will touch down in Thailand, Australia and Brazil and snooker is now becoming more in line with other sports – no huge gaps between tournaments, opportunities there for players willing to take them.
Hearn doesn’t do modesty. Neither should he. His achievements since becoming World Snooker chairman speak for themselves. For once, the game is in safe hands.
3.5.11
GREAT END TO A GOLDEN SEASON
A peak viewing audience of 6.4m on BBC2 – the biggest snooker figure for years – watched the thrilling conclusion of the Betfred.com World Championship.
Footballers Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen and Labour party leader Ed Miliband were among those waxing lyrical on Twitter.
John Higgins’s dramatic 18-15 victory over the ferociously talented Judd Trump brought the curtain down on a memorable season in which the game was reinvigorated.
No wonder the man responsible, World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn, was all smiles as he stood on the Crucible floor where 30 years earlier he barrelled into Steve Davis after the first of Davis’s six world title triumphs.
Hearn has injected energy, ideas and fun back into snooker, a sport which was allowed to drift on without innovation for years.
He recognises in Trump the game’s new standard bearer: a young, attacking, exciting player who can bring a new fanbase to snooker
His run to the final is what captured the public’s imagination. His style of play is easy on the eye and he now has what it takes to be the game’s new superstar.
I will review the season in greater depth later in the week but the stand out highlights were the German Masters, played amid a wonderful atmosphere in the Berlin Tempodrom, the tightly contested UK Championship final and new innovations such as the World Open and Shootout, which brought something different to the circuit.
Players used to put their cues down for up to four months. The 2011/12 season starts for the main tour members next month.
This season was only the start of the Hearn-led resurgence of snooker. The next will see a prize money hike to around £6m with new tournaments in Thailand, Australia and Brazil.
The future is bright and there is every reason for optimism as we bask in the memory of another great World Championship to complete a fine season on and off the table.
Footballers Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen and Labour party leader Ed Miliband were among those waxing lyrical on Twitter.
John Higgins’s dramatic 18-15 victory over the ferociously talented Judd Trump brought the curtain down on a memorable season in which the game was reinvigorated.
No wonder the man responsible, World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn, was all smiles as he stood on the Crucible floor where 30 years earlier he barrelled into Steve Davis after the first of Davis’s six world title triumphs.
Hearn has injected energy, ideas and fun back into snooker, a sport which was allowed to drift on without innovation for years.
He recognises in Trump the game’s new standard bearer: a young, attacking, exciting player who can bring a new fanbase to snooker
His run to the final is what captured the public’s imagination. His style of play is easy on the eye and he now has what it takes to be the game’s new superstar.
I will review the season in greater depth later in the week but the stand out highlights were the German Masters, played amid a wonderful atmosphere in the Berlin Tempodrom, the tightly contested UK Championship final and new innovations such as the World Open and Shootout, which brought something different to the circuit.
Players used to put their cues down for up to four months. The 2011/12 season starts for the main tour members next month.
This season was only the start of the Hearn-led resurgence of snooker. The next will see a prize money hike to around £6m with new tournaments in Thailand, Australia and Brazil.
The future is bright and there is every reason for optimism as we bask in the memory of another great World Championship to complete a fine season on and off the table.
HIGGINS DOES IT AGAIN
Well, what can you say?
John Higgins has once again proved his strength of character to win a fourth world title following an engrossing World Championship final in which he repelled the challenge of the spirited Judd Trump 18-15.
Higgins got the snooker he needed in what proved to be the concluding frame and then spectacularly doubled the pink before slotting home the black for victory.
It comes a year after his world was sent into turmoil by damaging tabloid newspaper accusations surrounding match fixing.
The nuances of the case have escaped many who would rather think the worst of someone successful – and thus end that success – than the facts.
But Higgins has grabbed the second chance he was granted with both hands. It says a lot about him that he could win his first tournament back from suspension and then, at the UK Championship, his first TV event too.
To land the world title for a fourth time propels him into the snooker stratosphere. In the modern era only Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis and Ray Reardon can claim more world titles and the effort and application he displayed at the Crucible this year was formidable.
Credit, though, must go to Trump for the way he played. This exciting, entertaining, personable player gained many supporters throughout the event and is clearly set to be the game’s next superstar.
The final turned on a single shot this afternoon. Leading 12-9, Trump went for a very difficult thin blue using the rest.
Had it gone in it should have been 13-9. But he missed and it was 12-10.
There has been much discussion as to whether this was the ‘right’ shot. I wouldn’t criticise Judd because the way he played got him to within touching distance of the title.
What is indisputable, though, is that Higgins, who prior to this had been on the ropes and struggling, was given a huge injection of confidence when he won that frame and did not lose another in the afternoon session.
I thought Trump endured a poor run of the ball overall, particularly when going into the reds, but he will be back and the bad news for the rest is that he can only improve.
But Higgins and the way he plays the game is the standard everyone else must aspire to. He has played the best snooker of the season and brings the curtain down on a campaign in which the sport has been reinvigorated.
It was my pleasure to have spent time with his father, John senior, backstage at tournaments enjoying the odd drink and laugh.
He would have been proud of his boy for the way he applied himself at the Crucible this year.
It was a great performance in a great match that brings a great season to a close.
John Higgins has once again proved his strength of character to win a fourth world title following an engrossing World Championship final in which he repelled the challenge of the spirited Judd Trump 18-15.
Higgins got the snooker he needed in what proved to be the concluding frame and then spectacularly doubled the pink before slotting home the black for victory.
It comes a year after his world was sent into turmoil by damaging tabloid newspaper accusations surrounding match fixing.
The nuances of the case have escaped many who would rather think the worst of someone successful – and thus end that success – than the facts.
But Higgins has grabbed the second chance he was granted with both hands. It says a lot about him that he could win his first tournament back from suspension and then, at the UK Championship, his first TV event too.
To land the world title for a fourth time propels him into the snooker stratosphere. In the modern era only Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis and Ray Reardon can claim more world titles and the effort and application he displayed at the Crucible this year was formidable.
Credit, though, must go to Trump for the way he played. This exciting, entertaining, personable player gained many supporters throughout the event and is clearly set to be the game’s next superstar.
The final turned on a single shot this afternoon. Leading 12-9, Trump went for a very difficult thin blue using the rest.
Had it gone in it should have been 13-9. But he missed and it was 12-10.
There has been much discussion as to whether this was the ‘right’ shot. I wouldn’t criticise Judd because the way he played got him to within touching distance of the title.
What is indisputable, though, is that Higgins, who prior to this had been on the ropes and struggling, was given a huge injection of confidence when he won that frame and did not lose another in the afternoon session.
I thought Trump endured a poor run of the ball overall, particularly when going into the reds, but he will be back and the bad news for the rest is that he can only improve.
But Higgins and the way he plays the game is the standard everyone else must aspire to. He has played the best snooker of the season and brings the curtain down on a campaign in which the sport has been reinvigorated.
It was my pleasure to have spent time with his father, John senior, backstage at tournaments enjoying the odd drink and laugh.
He would have been proud of his boy for the way he applied himself at the Crucible this year.
It was a great performance in a great match that brings a great season to a close.
2.5.11
THE WORLD AT HIS FEET
An intriguing, dramatic first day of the Betfred.com World Championship final has left Judd Trump eight frames from becoming the second youngest winner of the title.
Trump, a few months older than Stephen Hendry when he won for the first time in 1990, is 10-7 up overnight against John Higgins.
His fanbase growing all the time, he received a huge cheer as he was introduced into the Crucible and once again stepped up to the occasion.
And again flamboyant shot-making – including the last black he powered in to complete his 103 break in the 12th frame – was the order of the day.
Higgins’s problem was that he wasn’t scoring heavily enough. He competed well tactically and made a couple of good clearances but his highest break was just 64. This surely has to go up if he is to win a fourth world title tonight.
My only concern for Trump is that there were a couple of frames where he was 50-60 ahead and couldn’t close the shop in the way Higgins would do. But for these he could be even further ahead.
But Trump still seems completely unaffected by the whole experience. His little asides to the camera and his obvious enjoyment of the whole experience have been refreshing.
Today is Jimmy White’s 49th birthday. The symmetry is perfect. White famously never won the world title but has graciously sent his best wishes to Trump.
He recognises in this left-hander something of his own early days and the entertainment it is bringing the public.
So it’s the biggest day of the snooker year. 17 days of competition – and the 2010/11 season – ends tonight in Sheffield with the 84 year-old trophy being presented.
If Trump wins the title this evening then this will be a day still talked about many years from now, like the other iconic days snooker has experienced during its rich, varied history.
This exceptionally talented young man has the world at his feet.
Destiny awaits. It’s up to him now.
Trump, a few months older than Stephen Hendry when he won for the first time in 1990, is 10-7 up overnight against John Higgins.
His fanbase growing all the time, he received a huge cheer as he was introduced into the Crucible and once again stepped up to the occasion.
And again flamboyant shot-making – including the last black he powered in to complete his 103 break in the 12th frame – was the order of the day.
Higgins’s problem was that he wasn’t scoring heavily enough. He competed well tactically and made a couple of good clearances but his highest break was just 64. This surely has to go up if he is to win a fourth world title tonight.
My only concern for Trump is that there were a couple of frames where he was 50-60 ahead and couldn’t close the shop in the way Higgins would do. But for these he could be even further ahead.
But Trump still seems completely unaffected by the whole experience. His little asides to the camera and his obvious enjoyment of the whole experience have been refreshing.
Today is Jimmy White’s 49th birthday. The symmetry is perfect. White famously never won the world title but has graciously sent his best wishes to Trump.
He recognises in this left-hander something of his own early days and the entertainment it is bringing the public.
So it’s the biggest day of the snooker year. 17 days of competition – and the 2010/11 season – ends tonight in Sheffield with the 84 year-old trophy being presented.
If Trump wins the title this evening then this will be a day still talked about many years from now, like the other iconic days snooker has experienced during its rich, varied history.
This exceptionally talented young man has the world at his feet.
Destiny awaits. It’s up to him now.
1.5.11
TED LOWE DIES
Ted Lowe, who has died at the age of 90, was for 50 years the hushed voice of televised snooker.
He earned the nickname ‘Whispering Ted’ because, when his commentary career began, he would sit in the audience and had to keep his voice down to a level that would not disturb the players.
Lowe devised the weekly BBC series ‘Pot Black’, which began in 1969 and led to a snooker boom which in turn paved the way for the professional circuit as it stands today. In the 1980s, he commentated on almost all of the sport’s best remembered moments, including the conclusion of the 1985 World Championship final, in which Dennis Taylor beat Steve Davis 18-17 on the last black watched by a BBC2 record audience of 18.5m.
His commentary career began by chance. He was part of the fledgling snooker scene as manager of Leicester Square Hall, at the time the home of billiards and snooker, and knew all the greats of the pre and post war years, including Joe Davis, who won the World Championship in each of its first 15 stagings.
One day, the BBC’s regular commentator, Raymond Glendenning, was unavailable and Lowe was invited to fill in. He was to remain behind the microphone for half a century.
Snooker was used as a regular filler on Grandstand in its early days to ensure something was on screen between horse races. That it was hard to differentiate between the various coloured balls in this age of black and white TV did not seem to be a hindrance but snooker’s exposure was only fleeting.
That changed when colour television arrived. Lowe had tried for many years to get snooker a proper showcase on the BBC but he had to wait until 1969 and the launch of BBC2.
The channel’s first controller, David Attenborough, wanted something to show off this new service and snooker, with its colours and cheap production costs, was ideal.
Lowe devised the format for Pot Black, which featured the leading professionals of the day, and commentated on the matches. It brought snooker players into living rooms around Britain and the game’s popularity rocketed.
The BBC began to show highlights of what tournaments there were and, with the emergence of Alex Higgins and the following he gained, took the decision in 1978 to show every ball of the World Championship.
The professional game thus grew from just a handful of events to an international circuit, which next season will be worth over £6m in prize money.
Lowe was an unobtrusive commentator who preferred to let the action do the talking. Indeed, so sparing were his comments that when he collapsed in the commentary box one year at the Masters at Wembley, and his colleague Rex Williams put down his own microphone to go and get help, nobody rang the BBC to ask why 15 minutes had passed without a word being uttered.
A traditionalist, Lowe disapproved of the behaviour of some of the game’s wilder characters, most notably Higgins and, more latterly, Ronnie O’Sullivan.
He insisted Joe Davis – not Steve or even Stephen Hendry – was the greatest player of all time.
Lowe retired from BBC commentary in 1996 at the age of 75 but was invited back for a brief reprise of his role for the last World Championship to be sponsored by Embassy in 2005 and recently took part in documentaries on both Higgins and the Taylor-Davis final.
He lives on through the many snooker moments to which he lent his voice, part of a golden time when our sport hit the heights he could scarcely have believed were possible when he started out.
He earned the nickname ‘Whispering Ted’ because, when his commentary career began, he would sit in the audience and had to keep his voice down to a level that would not disturb the players.
Lowe devised the weekly BBC series ‘Pot Black’, which began in 1969 and led to a snooker boom which in turn paved the way for the professional circuit as it stands today. In the 1980s, he commentated on almost all of the sport’s best remembered moments, including the conclusion of the 1985 World Championship final, in which Dennis Taylor beat Steve Davis 18-17 on the last black watched by a BBC2 record audience of 18.5m.
His commentary career began by chance. He was part of the fledgling snooker scene as manager of Leicester Square Hall, at the time the home of billiards and snooker, and knew all the greats of the pre and post war years, including Joe Davis, who won the World Championship in each of its first 15 stagings.
One day, the BBC’s regular commentator, Raymond Glendenning, was unavailable and Lowe was invited to fill in. He was to remain behind the microphone for half a century.
Snooker was used as a regular filler on Grandstand in its early days to ensure something was on screen between horse races. That it was hard to differentiate between the various coloured balls in this age of black and white TV did not seem to be a hindrance but snooker’s exposure was only fleeting.
That changed when colour television arrived. Lowe had tried for many years to get snooker a proper showcase on the BBC but he had to wait until 1969 and the launch of BBC2.
The channel’s first controller, David Attenborough, wanted something to show off this new service and snooker, with its colours and cheap production costs, was ideal.
Lowe devised the format for Pot Black, which featured the leading professionals of the day, and commentated on the matches. It brought snooker players into living rooms around Britain and the game’s popularity rocketed.
The BBC began to show highlights of what tournaments there were and, with the emergence of Alex Higgins and the following he gained, took the decision in 1978 to show every ball of the World Championship.
The professional game thus grew from just a handful of events to an international circuit, which next season will be worth over £6m in prize money.
Lowe was an unobtrusive commentator who preferred to let the action do the talking. Indeed, so sparing were his comments that when he collapsed in the commentary box one year at the Masters at Wembley, and his colleague Rex Williams put down his own microphone to go and get help, nobody rang the BBC to ask why 15 minutes had passed without a word being uttered.
A traditionalist, Lowe disapproved of the behaviour of some of the game’s wilder characters, most notably Higgins and, more latterly, Ronnie O’Sullivan.
He insisted Joe Davis – not Steve or even Stephen Hendry – was the greatest player of all time.
Lowe retired from BBC commentary in 1996 at the age of 75 but was invited back for a brief reprise of his role for the last World Championship to be sponsored by Embassy in 2005 and recently took part in documentaries on both Higgins and the Taylor-Davis final.
He lives on through the many snooker moments to which he lent his voice, part of a golden time when our sport hit the heights he could scarcely have believed were possible when he started out.
CLASH OF THE GENERATIONS
The Betfred.com World Championship final will be one of contrasts: one of snooker’s greatest champions against the new, exciting kid on the block.
Judd Trump has been the star of this tournament and he may well prove to be the winner.
But John Higgins has been there and done it before – three times – and this experience may prove to be crucial.
Nobody who saw Trump’s 17-15 victory over Ding Junhui could fail to be impressed by the 21 year-old’s performance.
He stood up to all of the pressure and expectation on the big stage and there’s every reason to believe he can do it again in the final.
Higgins described him as “the new young star our game badly needs.” It is a role Trump is willing to play. He is still loving every minute of his Crucible adventure.
But Higgins has the game, the class and the iron will to stop the Juddernaut in his tracks.
It’s been obvious ever since his return that he is giving every frame of every match 100% and that intensity isn’t going to wane in a world final.
“I don’t know where I can put the cue ball to stop him potting,” was his view on Trump’s game. But as one of snooker’s finest tacticians, he knows full well what he needs to do to contain this ferociously good potter.
Trump’s safety game is vastly improved of late but Higgins’s is still stronger. This may ultimately be key in him dictating what sort of match it will be.
This Crucible final is a clash of styles and generations. It is a modern day great against a young man giving us a glimpse of the future.
Trump has the belief to win but does he, over four sessions against Higgins, have the game?
The fascination, as ever, lies in finding out.
Judd Trump has been the star of this tournament and he may well prove to be the winner.
But John Higgins has been there and done it before – three times – and this experience may prove to be crucial.
Nobody who saw Trump’s 17-15 victory over Ding Junhui could fail to be impressed by the 21 year-old’s performance.
He stood up to all of the pressure and expectation on the big stage and there’s every reason to believe he can do it again in the final.
Higgins described him as “the new young star our game badly needs.” It is a role Trump is willing to play. He is still loving every minute of his Crucible adventure.
But Higgins has the game, the class and the iron will to stop the Juddernaut in his tracks.
It’s been obvious ever since his return that he is giving every frame of every match 100% and that intensity isn’t going to wane in a world final.
“I don’t know where I can put the cue ball to stop him potting,” was his view on Trump’s game. But as one of snooker’s finest tacticians, he knows full well what he needs to do to contain this ferociously good potter.
Trump’s safety game is vastly improved of late but Higgins’s is still stronger. This may ultimately be key in him dictating what sort of match it will be.
This Crucible final is a clash of styles and generations. It is a modern day great against a young man giving us a glimpse of the future.
Trump has the belief to win but does he, over four sessions against Higgins, have the game?
The fascination, as ever, lies in finding out.
30.4.11
DAY OF DRAMA AWAITS
We wondered how Judd Trump would cope with having a bad session at the Betfred.com World Championship and he coped extremely well as a much better performance last night left his semi-final against Ding Junhui poised at 12-12.
These long matches are effectively a series of matches, played over four sessions. Trump got over his disappointing display in the morning by producing some stunning shot-making in the evening.
This has been an absorbing, at times enthralling contest between two young stars of the game. For once, it's almost as if the semi-finals aren't long enough. I could watch plenty more of this one.
John Higgins, as usual, dug deep into his deep reservoir of reserves to stay with Mark Williams, who at 9-5 yesterday looked set to take complete control of their semi-final.
Williams produced some excellent snooker and could have led 10-5 but Higgins made a trademark pressure clearance and then won the last to trail only 9-7.
Both semi-finals look set to be close today, which is good for the tournament but not neccessarily for the players, who still have a two-day final to come.
But that's the test provided by the World Championship: it's a battle to be the last man standing.
And today looks set to be the most dramatic of the Crucible marathon so far.
These long matches are effectively a series of matches, played over four sessions. Trump got over his disappointing display in the morning by producing some stunning shot-making in the evening.
This has been an absorbing, at times enthralling contest between two young stars of the game. For once, it's almost as if the semi-finals aren't long enough. I could watch plenty more of this one.
John Higgins, as usual, dug deep into his deep reservoir of reserves to stay with Mark Williams, who at 9-5 yesterday looked set to take complete control of their semi-final.
Williams produced some excellent snooker and could have led 10-5 but Higgins made a trademark pressure clearance and then won the last to trail only 9-7.
Both semi-finals look set to be close today, which is good for the tournament but not neccessarily for the players, who still have a two-day final to come.
But that's the test provided by the World Championship: it's a battle to be the last man standing.
And today looks set to be the most dramatic of the Crucible marathon so far.
29.4.11
ADVANTAGE PRINCE WILLIAMS
For those of you – and there are far more than the media would have you believe – with little or no interest in the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Betfred.com World Championship offers a respite.
There’s not much pomp and ceremony at the Crucible but there is a chance to be part of snooker history.
For Judd Trump and Ding Junhui, there is a chance to become world champion for the first time.
I was wondering yesterday if it would finally dawn on Trump just what he is involved in, or rather whether he would be overawed by it.
Well, he wasn’t. He knocked in some terrific balls and at times seemed to be channelling the great Alex Higgins in some of his shot-making.
Trump leads 5-3. Ding was unhappy with his own performance and needed the session to end but, of course, these are long matches and he is quite capable of turning it on.
Ding could do with a good start this morning, though. You feel he needs to win the session to clip Trump’s wings.
Mark Williams proved that snooker isn’t all about big breaks as he took a 5-3 lead over John Higgins last night.
Williams, at his best, has a big match temperament, responding to the importance of the occasion. Like all the greats of the game he relishes the pressure and doesn't fear the winning line.
But then the same can be said of Higgins and this match has the potential to be very close indeed.
Long before I was working in snooker I thought the semi-finals were too long but I do also agree with Shaun Murphy, who in an interview for Eurosport said that the format of the World Championship shouldn’t change because every champion in the modern age has had to pass the same test (give or take the odd frame here and there).
The attention of much of the world may be diverted elsewhere this morning but that test is what sorts out the greats from the also-rans and it remains as fascinating as ever.
There’s not much pomp and ceremony at the Crucible but there is a chance to be part of snooker history.
For Judd Trump and Ding Junhui, there is a chance to become world champion for the first time.
I was wondering yesterday if it would finally dawn on Trump just what he is involved in, or rather whether he would be overawed by it.
Well, he wasn’t. He knocked in some terrific balls and at times seemed to be channelling the great Alex Higgins in some of his shot-making.
Trump leads 5-3. Ding was unhappy with his own performance and needed the session to end but, of course, these are long matches and he is quite capable of turning it on.
Ding could do with a good start this morning, though. You feel he needs to win the session to clip Trump’s wings.
Mark Williams proved that snooker isn’t all about big breaks as he took a 5-3 lead over John Higgins last night.
Williams, at his best, has a big match temperament, responding to the importance of the occasion. Like all the greats of the game he relishes the pressure and doesn't fear the winning line.
But then the same can be said of Higgins and this match has the potential to be very close indeed.
Long before I was working in snooker I thought the semi-finals were too long but I do also agree with Shaun Murphy, who in an interview for Eurosport said that the format of the World Championship shouldn’t change because every champion in the modern age has had to pass the same test (give or take the odd frame here and there).
The attention of much of the world may be diverted elsewhere this morning but that test is what sorts out the greats from the also-rans and it remains as fascinating as ever.
28.4.11
FANTASTIC FOUR
So the one table stage of the Betfred.com World Championship is here and, to trot out the old cliche, this is where the Crucible comes into its own.
Here's another fact that bears repetition: the players have so far won 36 frames apiece. They still need to win another 35 to become champion.
It's a fascinating line-up featuring two great former champions and two young pretenders to the throne.
Judd Trump carried on in the same merciless style he has displayed all through the tournament as he put Graeme Dott to the sword yesterday.
Dott made a good point when he said the test for Trump will be what happens if he has a bad session, how he handles something going against him.
But of course there's no guarantee that he will. Whatever happens, he's been a breath of fresh (h)air and has built up a fanbase who have loved his entertaining brand of snooker.
I thought Ding showed real fighting qualities yesterday against Mark Selby. Ding played the better safety during the second session and stopped Selby going on the attack.
Selby came back at him last night but could not finish the job and suggestions that Ding can't handle the Crucible pressure must surely now be a thing of the past.
He beat Trump in the qualifiers of the 2005 UK Championship, a tournament he went on to win, but Trump has now come of age so this could be close.
Trump is the youngest Crucible semi-finalist since Ronnie O'Sullivan, 20, reached that stage in 1996.
Mark Williams is now guaranteed to be world no.1 at the start of next season, returning to top spot after a gap of seven years.
He has played superbly so far but I still reckon he can go up a couple of gears if required.
The Welshman beat John Higgins in the Crucible semi-finals in 1999 and 2000, as I posted about here.
Higgins hasn't played at the very top of his game but produced a much better performance last night to see off O'Sullivan.
Much has been made of the fluke he got in the last frame - and he was lucky - but he was let off the hook in the afternoon.
O'Sullivan simply missed too many and made unforced errors. He said afterwards that he played like an amateur. He didn't. He is still good enough to beat 95% of the players.
The problem is the other 5%. O'Sullivan has lost some of the fear factor as his game has failed to fire. The example of Williams, though, tells him that he can get it back if he wants to.
So the stage is set for the denouement of this great event featuring a fantastic foursome. Ding v Trump, Williams v Higgins: the title is still wide open.
Here's another fact that bears repetition: the players have so far won 36 frames apiece. They still need to win another 35 to become champion.
It's a fascinating line-up featuring two great former champions and two young pretenders to the throne.
Judd Trump carried on in the same merciless style he has displayed all through the tournament as he put Graeme Dott to the sword yesterday.
Dott made a good point when he said the test for Trump will be what happens if he has a bad session, how he handles something going against him.
But of course there's no guarantee that he will. Whatever happens, he's been a breath of fresh (h)air and has built up a fanbase who have loved his entertaining brand of snooker.
I thought Ding showed real fighting qualities yesterday against Mark Selby. Ding played the better safety during the second session and stopped Selby going on the attack.
Selby came back at him last night but could not finish the job and suggestions that Ding can't handle the Crucible pressure must surely now be a thing of the past.
He beat Trump in the qualifiers of the 2005 UK Championship, a tournament he went on to win, but Trump has now come of age so this could be close.
Trump is the youngest Crucible semi-finalist since Ronnie O'Sullivan, 20, reached that stage in 1996.
Mark Williams is now guaranteed to be world no.1 at the start of next season, returning to top spot after a gap of seven years.
He has played superbly so far but I still reckon he can go up a couple of gears if required.
The Welshman beat John Higgins in the Crucible semi-finals in 1999 and 2000, as I posted about here.
Higgins hasn't played at the very top of his game but produced a much better performance last night to see off O'Sullivan.
Much has been made of the fluke he got in the last frame - and he was lucky - but he was let off the hook in the afternoon.
O'Sullivan simply missed too many and made unforced errors. He said afterwards that he played like an amateur. He didn't. He is still good enough to beat 95% of the players.
The problem is the other 5%. O'Sullivan has lost some of the fear factor as his game has failed to fire. The example of Williams, though, tells him that he can get it back if he wants to.
So the stage is set for the denouement of this great event featuring a fantastic foursome. Ding v Trump, Williams v Higgins: the title is still wide open.
27.4.11
WHEN EIGHT BECOMES FOUR
I thought Graeme Dott did well last night to pull back the last three frames. Many other players would have let their heads drop after the onslaught from Judd Trump but, after a little frustration, Dott stuck to his task.
OK, so he's 11-5 down and unlikely to win but at least he fought hard and has given himself an outside chance - nothing more - of turning it round.
Trump, though, continues to impress and is clearly enjoying the whole experience. He possibly believes a shot-clock has been introduced for the Crucible judging by his pace of play.
Snooker won't always be this much fun so I hope he carries on having the time of his life for as long as he can.
Mark Williams once again demonstrated how good he is at forcing himself into frames and how adept he is at winning scrappy frames as he opened an 11-5 lead over Mark Allen.
The Northern Irishman seemed to be in first in most of the frames but wasn't making enough and Williams was knocking in all sorts to force his way back into them.
Williams finished off with two centuries for good measure. Allen has won two deciders so far but is surely too far back to win another.
The remaining two quarter-finals are much closer. Ding Junhui leads Mark Selby 5-3 while John Higgins and Ronnie O'Sullivan are poised at 4-4.
A couple of close finishes tonight would make great TV viewing, though wouldn't do much for the nerves of those involved.
OK, so he's 11-5 down and unlikely to win but at least he fought hard and has given himself an outside chance - nothing more - of turning it round.
Trump, though, continues to impress and is clearly enjoying the whole experience. He possibly believes a shot-clock has been introduced for the Crucible judging by his pace of play.
Snooker won't always be this much fun so I hope he carries on having the time of his life for as long as he can.
Mark Williams once again demonstrated how good he is at forcing himself into frames and how adept he is at winning scrappy frames as he opened an 11-5 lead over Mark Allen.
The Northern Irishman seemed to be in first in most of the frames but wasn't making enough and Williams was knocking in all sorts to force his way back into them.
Williams finished off with two centuries for good measure. Allen has won two deciders so far but is surely too far back to win another.
The remaining two quarter-finals are much closer. Ding Junhui leads Mark Selby 5-3 while John Higgins and Ronnie O'Sullivan are poised at 4-4.
A couple of close finishes tonight would make great TV viewing, though wouldn't do much for the nerves of those involved.
26.4.11
ALL CHANGE
The Masters will end its long association with Wembley when it moves across London to Alexendra Palace next year.
The Masters was staged at Wembley Conference Centre for 28 years before the building was closed in 2006.
Wembley Arena then took over hosting duties and although it was the stage for some great snooker, it was never felt to be as atmospheric as the old Conference Centre.
The move also suits the sponsors, Ladbrokes, who are also sponsoring the PDC World Darts Championship staged at Alexndra Palace a few days before the start of the Masters.
I find it hard to be nostalgic about Wembley Arena but I think it's right to keep the game's premier invitation tournament in London.
Another tournament on the move is the UK Championship, which transfers from Telford back to the Barbican Centre in York.
This building closed in 2007 but has re-opened and World Snooker have decided to re-establish it as the UK's home.
York is a lovely place, particularly just before Christmas. There is more going on there than in Telford.
However, the fanbase will have to be built up again after a five year absence.
The Masters was staged at Wembley Conference Centre for 28 years before the building was closed in 2006.
Wembley Arena then took over hosting duties and although it was the stage for some great snooker, it was never felt to be as atmospheric as the old Conference Centre.
The move also suits the sponsors, Ladbrokes, who are also sponsoring the PDC World Darts Championship staged at Alexndra Palace a few days before the start of the Masters.
I find it hard to be nostalgic about Wembley Arena but I think it's right to keep the game's premier invitation tournament in London.
Another tournament on the move is the UK Championship, which transfers from Telford back to the Barbican Centre in York.
This building closed in 2007 but has re-opened and World Snooker have decided to re-establish it as the UK's home.
York is a lovely place, particularly just before Christmas. There is more going on there than in Telford.
However, the fanbase will have to be built up again after a five year absence.
NO QUARTER GIVEN
So a great night at the Crucible has left us with eight men left standing in the Betfred.com World Championship.
I'm sure you all saw the drama unfold last night so let's press on with the quarter-finals, every one of which has the potential to be a classic...
GRAEME DOTT V JUDD TRUMP
Dott once again demonstrated his fearlessness under pressure in putting away Ali Carter while Trump played his entertaining attacking game to great effect against Martin Gould.
Trump has the advantage of being young and therefore having no Crucible war wounds, no mental scars that will cause doubts to creep in.
He is enjoying himself - palpably - and will doubtless continue in the same vein today.
But Dott is a Crucible form horse; a former champion whose game suits these long matches where psychology can be just as important as form.
That experience may well prove to be the vital ingredient over their three sessions.
MARK SELBY V DING JUNHUI
"If you keep playing like that you'll win it," said Stephen Hendry to Mark Selby after he was beaten 13-4 by the Leicester Jester.
Selby certainly played superbly, scoring heavily and making the most of virtually every chance. His advantage over Ding is that the Chinese expended considerable mental energy last night in fighting back against Stuart Bingham.
But Ding has cleared a little Crucible hurdle by reaching the quarter-finals for the first time in his career and, while he may not relax as such, he has at least proved he can handle the pressure in Sheffield.
Selby has not won a major title this season but is clearly cueing beautifully. The real key to this match will be how Ding responds to his late night drama. He needs to punish any Selby mistakes.
MARK WILLIAMS V MARK ALLEN
It seems an age since these two won their respective second round matches. Williams has coasted through so far while Allen has had to survive two deciders.
Williams remains a joy to watch when in full flow. He makes the game look ridiculously easy, as if it's no effort, but of course the effort has been put in throughout the season and he has played some great stuff all year.
Allen is a fighter but he surely can't afford to go too far behind to Williams. The Northern Irishman needs to play his best stuff from the start, try and treat each session as a separate match. His intensity and will to win are among his best assets and he has to use them.
Williams needs to be put under pressure, otherwise he will surely continue his canter towards the final.
JOHN HIGGINS V RONNIE O'SULLIVAN
What is there left to say about these two? They first played at the Crucible 15 years ago, met in the final ten years ago and are still each capable of brilliance.
For Higgins, the second round was a chore. He got weighed down by Rory McLeod but it'll be a different match against O'Sullivan, who stuttered a little before putting away Shaun Murphy.
O'Sullivan's mood in Sheffield has been good and his discipline has been strong. He has treated the game with the respect it deserves and got the reward.
There are few players he respects as much as Higgins and the feeling is mutual. What a match this could be.
In close, O'Sullivan looks as good as ever but his long game isn't quite firing on all cylinders and this may be a factor.
Higgins's all round game is terrific and he clearly has the stomach for the fight but he hasn't yet played the sort of world beating snooker that suggests he is going to steamroller anyone.
Higgins has won their last couple of meetings and, on form this season, should be the slight favourite but when players of this quality clash the formbook goes out of the window. It's the sort of match where you could see them both raising their games.
I'm sure you all saw the drama unfold last night so let's press on with the quarter-finals, every one of which has the potential to be a classic...
GRAEME DOTT V JUDD TRUMP
Dott once again demonstrated his fearlessness under pressure in putting away Ali Carter while Trump played his entertaining attacking game to great effect against Martin Gould.
Trump has the advantage of being young and therefore having no Crucible war wounds, no mental scars that will cause doubts to creep in.
He is enjoying himself - palpably - and will doubtless continue in the same vein today.
But Dott is a Crucible form horse; a former champion whose game suits these long matches where psychology can be just as important as form.
That experience may well prove to be the vital ingredient over their three sessions.
MARK SELBY V DING JUNHUI
"If you keep playing like that you'll win it," said Stephen Hendry to Mark Selby after he was beaten 13-4 by the Leicester Jester.
Selby certainly played superbly, scoring heavily and making the most of virtually every chance. His advantage over Ding is that the Chinese expended considerable mental energy last night in fighting back against Stuart Bingham.
But Ding has cleared a little Crucible hurdle by reaching the quarter-finals for the first time in his career and, while he may not relax as such, he has at least proved he can handle the pressure in Sheffield.
Selby has not won a major title this season but is clearly cueing beautifully. The real key to this match will be how Ding responds to his late night drama. He needs to punish any Selby mistakes.
MARK WILLIAMS V MARK ALLEN
It seems an age since these two won their respective second round matches. Williams has coasted through so far while Allen has had to survive two deciders.
Williams remains a joy to watch when in full flow. He makes the game look ridiculously easy, as if it's no effort, but of course the effort has been put in throughout the season and he has played some great stuff all year.
Allen is a fighter but he surely can't afford to go too far behind to Williams. The Northern Irishman needs to play his best stuff from the start, try and treat each session as a separate match. His intensity and will to win are among his best assets and he has to use them.
Williams needs to be put under pressure, otherwise he will surely continue his canter towards the final.
JOHN HIGGINS V RONNIE O'SULLIVAN
What is there left to say about these two? They first played at the Crucible 15 years ago, met in the final ten years ago and are still each capable of brilliance.
For Higgins, the second round was a chore. He got weighed down by Rory McLeod but it'll be a different match against O'Sullivan, who stuttered a little before putting away Shaun Murphy.
O'Sullivan's mood in Sheffield has been good and his discipline has been strong. He has treated the game with the respect it deserves and got the reward.
There are few players he respects as much as Higgins and the feeling is mutual. What a match this could be.
In close, O'Sullivan looks as good as ever but his long game isn't quite firing on all cylinders and this may be a factor.
Higgins's all round game is terrific and he clearly has the stomach for the fight but he hasn't yet played the sort of world beating snooker that suggests he is going to steamroller anyone.
Higgins has won their last couple of meetings and, on form this season, should be the slight favourite but when players of this quality clash the formbook goes out of the window. It's the sort of match where you could see them both raising their games.
25.4.11
HEND OF AN ERA
Stephen Hendry has always struck me as being rather shy. We are still to find out if he is also retiring.
His 13-4 defeat to Mark Selby today had the feeling of being the end of an era. If he does carry on - and he is yet to fully decide - there is certainly no guarantee he will be back at the Crucible next year.
The discussion over his top 16 place is something of a red herring because he has already declared he won't be playing in the PTCs next season, so he will fall out soon enough under the new ranking system.
I can't see this golf lover forsaking the fairways of Gleneagles for the practice table during the summer with any great enthusiasm as the new season makes an early start.
He doesn't need to slog round small tournaments and qualifiers when he knows, deep down, that his game is not going to return to the heights it hit in the 1990s.
So the end is nigh, if it hasn't already arrived.
Hendry is probably a little nonplussed by the fuss being made. For Stephen, it was never about the acclaim or even the records, just about winning.
He decided at an early age that he would be the best there ever was and set about making that into a reality.
Hendry has struggled for consistent form in recent seasons but can walk away with his head held high.
"Hendry is the greatest snooker player of all time, no doubt. Trust me I have played them all," was Ronnie O'Sullivan's view on Twitter, a gracious and heartfelt tribute to a rival.
Hendry, though, does not just want to turn up at tournaments to be applauded. That isn't him.
It's telling that he considers his greatest performance at the Crucible not to be his first world title or even his seventh, not his comeback against Jimmy White in 1992 or deciding frame win in 1994, but his 18-5 demolition of White in 1993.
Hendry won without mercy or sympathy the way all great champions in any sport do.
Retirement is a difficult decision, particularly as he is only 42. Terry Griffiths is the only top player to retire while still high in the rankings.
Terry did so in 1996 after dropping out of the top 16 but entered the World Championship the following year and qualified before losing 10-9 to a young Mark Williams.
With the new ranking system that option isn't really realistic for Hendry. I'm sure he would shy away from a sympathy wildcard at the Masters or any notion of receiving the kind of send off most will feel he deserves.
In his own head he doesn't need it: he proved he was the best on the table and that is enough for him.
His 13-4 defeat to Mark Selby today had the feeling of being the end of an era. If he does carry on - and he is yet to fully decide - there is certainly no guarantee he will be back at the Crucible next year.
The discussion over his top 16 place is something of a red herring because he has already declared he won't be playing in the PTCs next season, so he will fall out soon enough under the new ranking system.
I can't see this golf lover forsaking the fairways of Gleneagles for the practice table during the summer with any great enthusiasm as the new season makes an early start.
He doesn't need to slog round small tournaments and qualifiers when he knows, deep down, that his game is not going to return to the heights it hit in the 1990s.
So the end is nigh, if it hasn't already arrived.
Hendry is probably a little nonplussed by the fuss being made. For Stephen, it was never about the acclaim or even the records, just about winning.
He decided at an early age that he would be the best there ever was and set about making that into a reality.
Hendry has struggled for consistent form in recent seasons but can walk away with his head held high.
"Hendry is the greatest snooker player of all time, no doubt. Trust me I have played them all," was Ronnie O'Sullivan's view on Twitter, a gracious and heartfelt tribute to a rival.
Hendry, though, does not just want to turn up at tournaments to be applauded. That isn't him.
It's telling that he considers his greatest performance at the Crucible not to be his first world title or even his seventh, not his comeback against Jimmy White in 1992 or deciding frame win in 1994, but his 18-5 demolition of White in 1993.
Hendry won without mercy or sympathy the way all great champions in any sport do.
Retirement is a difficult decision, particularly as he is only 42. Terry Griffiths is the only top player to retire while still high in the rankings.
Terry did so in 1996 after dropping out of the top 16 but entered the World Championship the following year and qualified before losing 10-9 to a young Mark Williams.
With the new ranking system that option isn't really realistic for Hendry. I'm sure he would shy away from a sympathy wildcard at the Masters or any notion of receiving the kind of send off most will feel he deserves.
In his own head he doesn't need it: he proved he was the best on the table and that is enough for him.
THE LAST GOODBYE?
It was April 22nd, 1986 when Stephen Hendry first walked into the Crucible arena. Today could very well be the last time he walks out.
In between he has taken snooker forward in terms of the way it is played and set down a series of achievements which mark him out as the greatest player who ever lived.
He finds himself 12-4 down overnight to Mark Selby, one of the many young players who grew up watching Hendry and now play his game better than the seven times world champion himself.
Selby even set a record of his own yesterday by becoming the first player to compile six centuries in a single match at the Crucible.
Then he won the last frame of the afternoon having needed four snookers.
Not everyone would have played on but, in fact, the colours were ideally positioned to at least give it a go.
With one red on, it's actually two snookers and a free ball, although Selby eventually got five snookers as well as giving away six points himself.
Laughably, he was accused by some of being unsporting for doing this.
Hendry for one would have been embarrassed to be merely handed a frame out of sympathy. He never showed any of his opponents any when he was destroying them.
I expect Hendry to delay any decision about retirement until after the tournament is over. Even so, he is by no means guaranteed an automatic place at the Crucible next year.
John Higgins clawed his way into a 10-5 overnight lead over Rory McLeod.
There's no doubt McLeod was trying hard. Yes, he was really trying.
Class shone through in the end, though, but Higgins has expended far more mental energy than he would have liked just to reach the quarter-finals if he does indeed come through today.
Tonight's session could be a cracker with both matches poised at 9-7.
That's the lead Stuart Bingham holds over Ding Junhui. I was impressed with Bingham's attitude last night. He came out attacking, playing positively and going for his shots and, as Ding faltered, he opened an 8-4 lead.
The dreaded interval allowed just enough time for a few doubts to creep in and suddenly he only led 8-6 and trailed 61-0 in the next.
But a superb 72 clearance to the pink gave him the frame and though Ding won the last, the match is still in the balance.
The final session will be as much a test of nerve as a test of skill. Bingham has to try and remain positive if he is to cause an upset.
Ronnie O'Sullivan's 9-5 advantage over Shaun Murphy was reduced to 9-7 by the end of their second session.
This match is bubbling up nicely and may well come properly to life this evening...13-12 has a certain ring to it.
On a final point, it is Paul Hunter day in the CueZone in Sheffield today, commemorating Paul's life and the good work of the Paul Hunter Foundation set up in his name.
Paul's father, Alan, and daughter, Evie Rose, will be in attendance.
In between he has taken snooker forward in terms of the way it is played and set down a series of achievements which mark him out as the greatest player who ever lived.
He finds himself 12-4 down overnight to Mark Selby, one of the many young players who grew up watching Hendry and now play his game better than the seven times world champion himself.
Selby even set a record of his own yesterday by becoming the first player to compile six centuries in a single match at the Crucible.
Then he won the last frame of the afternoon having needed four snookers.
Not everyone would have played on but, in fact, the colours were ideally positioned to at least give it a go.
With one red on, it's actually two snookers and a free ball, although Selby eventually got five snookers as well as giving away six points himself.
Laughably, he was accused by some of being unsporting for doing this.
Hendry for one would have been embarrassed to be merely handed a frame out of sympathy. He never showed any of his opponents any when he was destroying them.
I expect Hendry to delay any decision about retirement until after the tournament is over. Even so, he is by no means guaranteed an automatic place at the Crucible next year.
John Higgins clawed his way into a 10-5 overnight lead over Rory McLeod.
There's no doubt McLeod was trying hard. Yes, he was really trying.
Class shone through in the end, though, but Higgins has expended far more mental energy than he would have liked just to reach the quarter-finals if he does indeed come through today.
Tonight's session could be a cracker with both matches poised at 9-7.
That's the lead Stuart Bingham holds over Ding Junhui. I was impressed with Bingham's attitude last night. He came out attacking, playing positively and going for his shots and, as Ding faltered, he opened an 8-4 lead.
The dreaded interval allowed just enough time for a few doubts to creep in and suddenly he only led 8-6 and trailed 61-0 in the next.
But a superb 72 clearance to the pink gave him the frame and though Ding won the last, the match is still in the balance.
The final session will be as much a test of nerve as a test of skill. Bingham has to try and remain positive if he is to cause an upset.
Ronnie O'Sullivan's 9-5 advantage over Shaun Murphy was reduced to 9-7 by the end of their second session.
This match is bubbling up nicely and may well come properly to life this evening...13-12 has a certain ring to it.
On a final point, it is Paul Hunter day in the CueZone in Sheffield today, commemorating Paul's life and the good work of the Paul Hunter Foundation set up in his name.
Paul's father, Alan, and daughter, Evie Rose, will be in attendance.
24.4.11
HALFWAY HOUSE
Stephen Hendry's essential problem is that he wants to play like Stephen Hendry, or rather the imperious Hendry of the 1990s.
His approach to the game is the same, but he is no longer playing it well enough and so many of the players who have copied him are now playing it better.
One of them is Mark Selby, who turned on the style last night to open a 7-1 first session lead.
Victory with a session to spare is a distinct possibility this afternoon. This would obviously not improve Hendry's chances of carrying on as a member of the circuit but I hope he takes a few weeks to assess the situation.
The first session of Ronnie O'Sullivan v Shaun Murphy failed to live up to the billing. It was all a little subdued, Murphy in particular, and O'Sullivan played well enough to open a 6-2 lead.
Clearly O'Sullivan is focused and playing with discipline, happy to dig in for the long haul.
We are still to see how he reacts if put under the sort of pressure Selby managed to apply in the quarter-finals last year.
Murphy needs a vast improvement today to stay with him, otherwise Ronnie will be in the last eight once again.
Nobody thinks Rory McLeod will beat John Higgins, just as nobody thought Steve Davis would beat him last year.
McLeod is an awkward, obdurate player who makes things difficult but Higgins has the temperament - and obviously the class - to deal with all this over such a long distance.
Ding Junhui has never been in the World Championship quarter-finals. It's all very well pointing to who has beaten him in the second round but if this pattern continues then it suggests he has a problem with the Crucible.
Stuart Bingham is no pushover. His confidence has grown this season with all the snooker he has played. The test for him will be if it goes close and the pressure descends.
Two brilliant, close finishes yesterday. Wee Dotty did it again when he beat Ali Carter 13-11 with a fine clearance in the last frame.
Graeme Dott is a Crucible form horse. Crucially, he seems to play his best snooker while bang under pressure.
You can only admire this tenacity but he doesn't just do it through pluck: we know he has the game to win the title because he did so five years ago.
The conclusion of the Mark Allen-Barry Hawkins clash was fascinating viewing.
Allen led 12-9 but Hawkins saved his best snooker for the end of the match and made three big breaks to force a decider.
Alas, he only had one shot in the last - a bungled break-off that saw the cue ball catch the blue.
Allen could have made a 147 but got a kick on the 12th black, leaving the next red awkward.
Still, it was a gutsy way to finish after all that was thrown at him and yet another slice of drama from what is boiling up to be a vintage championship.
Meanwhile, Judd Trump moves on serenely. The lad is having the time of his life, enjoying every minute.
In time he'll come to learn about Crucible pressure. Right now, it's all good fun.
Today marks the halfway point of the tournament. Some of these guys will be playing every day for the next nine if they are to win the title as the fight for the most prized trophy in snooker intensifies.
His approach to the game is the same, but he is no longer playing it well enough and so many of the players who have copied him are now playing it better.
One of them is Mark Selby, who turned on the style last night to open a 7-1 first session lead.
Victory with a session to spare is a distinct possibility this afternoon. This would obviously not improve Hendry's chances of carrying on as a member of the circuit but I hope he takes a few weeks to assess the situation.
The first session of Ronnie O'Sullivan v Shaun Murphy failed to live up to the billing. It was all a little subdued, Murphy in particular, and O'Sullivan played well enough to open a 6-2 lead.
Clearly O'Sullivan is focused and playing with discipline, happy to dig in for the long haul.
We are still to see how he reacts if put under the sort of pressure Selby managed to apply in the quarter-finals last year.
Murphy needs a vast improvement today to stay with him, otherwise Ronnie will be in the last eight once again.
Nobody thinks Rory McLeod will beat John Higgins, just as nobody thought Steve Davis would beat him last year.
McLeod is an awkward, obdurate player who makes things difficult but Higgins has the temperament - and obviously the class - to deal with all this over such a long distance.
Ding Junhui has never been in the World Championship quarter-finals. It's all very well pointing to who has beaten him in the second round but if this pattern continues then it suggests he has a problem with the Crucible.
Stuart Bingham is no pushover. His confidence has grown this season with all the snooker he has played. The test for him will be if it goes close and the pressure descends.
Two brilliant, close finishes yesterday. Wee Dotty did it again when he beat Ali Carter 13-11 with a fine clearance in the last frame.
Graeme Dott is a Crucible form horse. Crucially, he seems to play his best snooker while bang under pressure.
You can only admire this tenacity but he doesn't just do it through pluck: we know he has the game to win the title because he did so five years ago.
The conclusion of the Mark Allen-Barry Hawkins clash was fascinating viewing.
Allen led 12-9 but Hawkins saved his best snooker for the end of the match and made three big breaks to force a decider.
Alas, he only had one shot in the last - a bungled break-off that saw the cue ball catch the blue.
Allen could have made a 147 but got a kick on the 12th black, leaving the next red awkward.
Still, it was a gutsy way to finish after all that was thrown at him and yet another slice of drama from what is boiling up to be a vintage championship.
Meanwhile, Judd Trump moves on serenely. The lad is having the time of his life, enjoying every minute.
In time he'll come to learn about Crucible pressure. Right now, it's all good fun.
Today marks the halfway point of the tournament. Some of these guys will be playing every day for the next nine if they are to win the title as the fight for the most prized trophy in snooker intensifies.
23.4.11
CLASH OF THE CHAMPIONS
Had the draw worked out differently, Shaun Murphy v Ronnie O’Sullivan could have been the Betfred.com World Championship final but these two former champions are in fact meeting in the second round.
It is a tantalising clash of personalities. Both players are outspoken and attract almost as much comment for their opinions as their performances.
Each has played snooker regularly since boyhood and gone on to triumph at the Crucible.
While Murphy’s love of snooker has not wavered, O’Sullivan has of course struggled to retain his affection for the game amid the whirl of real life events.
But he appears to be in much better shape after consulting Dr Steve Peters, a psychiatrist, ahead of the tournament.
The key to the match could be the extent to which Murphy can put O’Sullivan under pressure. This will be the real test of his game as Dominic Dale failed to exert much in the first round.
Ali Carter couldn’t quite put Graeme Dott away yesterday, losing three successive black ball frames to trail 5-3 before producing a much better second session performance to lead 8-6.
True to form, though, battler Dott dug in to make it 8-8 and set up a fascinating final session this afternoon.
Judd Trump needs just two more frames to see off Martin Gould, who went for a risky double on the re-spotted black in their 13th frame.
In missing it and leaving it in the jaws, the match turned away from him and Trump eased away to 11-5.
Judd is clearly loving every minute of his Crucible experience. And why not? He does not have the baggage of many other players, or the mental scars accumulated over the years at Sheffield.
He is only 21 and so if he doesn’t win it this year there will be plenty more opportunities in the future. This makes him very dangerous and a live outsider for the title.
Mark Allen didn’t seem quite right against Barry Hawkins, who played solidly in claiming a 5-3 first session lead.
When Mark Selby played Stephen Hendry at the same stage last year the first session was close before Selby pulled away.
Logic dictates something similar will happen this year, although logic and snooker don’t always go together.
It is a tantalising clash of personalities. Both players are outspoken and attract almost as much comment for their opinions as their performances.
Each has played snooker regularly since boyhood and gone on to triumph at the Crucible.
While Murphy’s love of snooker has not wavered, O’Sullivan has of course struggled to retain his affection for the game amid the whirl of real life events.
But he appears to be in much better shape after consulting Dr Steve Peters, a psychiatrist, ahead of the tournament.
The key to the match could be the extent to which Murphy can put O’Sullivan under pressure. This will be the real test of his game as Dominic Dale failed to exert much in the first round.
Ali Carter couldn’t quite put Graeme Dott away yesterday, losing three successive black ball frames to trail 5-3 before producing a much better second session performance to lead 8-6.
True to form, though, battler Dott dug in to make it 8-8 and set up a fascinating final session this afternoon.
Judd Trump needs just two more frames to see off Martin Gould, who went for a risky double on the re-spotted black in their 13th frame.
In missing it and leaving it in the jaws, the match turned away from him and Trump eased away to 11-5.
Judd is clearly loving every minute of his Crucible experience. And why not? He does not have the baggage of many other players, or the mental scars accumulated over the years at Sheffield.
He is only 21 and so if he doesn’t win it this year there will be plenty more opportunities in the future. This makes him very dangerous and a live outsider for the title.
Mark Allen didn’t seem quite right against Barry Hawkins, who played solidly in claiming a 5-3 first session lead.
When Mark Selby played Stephen Hendry at the same stage last year the first session was close before Selby pulled away.
Logic dictates something similar will happen this year, although logic and snooker don’t always go together.
22.4.11
THE CRUCIBLE'S EASTER PARADE
It seems unlikely to be a long Good Friday for Mark Williams, who resumes 7-1 up on Jamie Cope and is therefore able to wrap up victory with a session to spare this morning.
Cope is a fine talent but seems to let frustration get to him early when things aren't going his way.
This is a best of 25 so even at 5-1 down he had a chance of winning. 7-1 down to Williams, though, and it'll be a tall order but still not impossible.
Possibly the toughest second round match to call is Ali Carter v Graeme Dott, two players evenly matched, although Dott has been in three Crucible finals and, of course, won the title.
Carter blew away Dave Harold. Dott responded well when Mark King came from 7-3 down to trail him just 7-6.
I think this will be a good match and most likely close. They are two strong competitors who wear their hearts on their sleeve and are capable of producing high quality snooker under pressure.
Speaking of which, Judd Trump v Martin Gould lived up to its billing with an entertaining first session which Trump shaded 5-3.
These two are attacking, entertaining and get on with it.
The same can be said for Mark Allen, who is back in action following his emotional comeback against Matthew Stevens.
Allen, who has always struck me as a big occasion player, unafraid of the big stage, faces Barry Hawkins, who held off Stephen Maguire in the first round.
Apparently there's a glut of bank holidays coming up. With the above as well as O'Sullivan v Murphy, Selby v Hendry plus Higgins and Ding also in action, the extended weekend could be a green baize bonanza.
Cope is a fine talent but seems to let frustration get to him early when things aren't going his way.
This is a best of 25 so even at 5-1 down he had a chance of winning. 7-1 down to Williams, though, and it'll be a tall order but still not impossible.
Possibly the toughest second round match to call is Ali Carter v Graeme Dott, two players evenly matched, although Dott has been in three Crucible finals and, of course, won the title.
Carter blew away Dave Harold. Dott responded well when Mark King came from 7-3 down to trail him just 7-6.
I think this will be a good match and most likely close. They are two strong competitors who wear their hearts on their sleeve and are capable of producing high quality snooker under pressure.
Speaking of which, Judd Trump v Martin Gould lived up to its billing with an entertaining first session which Trump shaded 5-3.
These two are attacking, entertaining and get on with it.
The same can be said for Mark Allen, who is back in action following his emotional comeback against Matthew Stevens.
Allen, who has always struck me as a big occasion player, unafraid of the big stage, faces Barry Hawkins, who held off Stephen Maguire in the first round.
Apparently there's a glut of bank holidays coming up. With the above as well as O'Sullivan v Murphy, Selby v Hendry plus Higgins and Ding also in action, the extended weekend could be a green baize bonanza.
21.4.11
DAY SIX: DREAMS AND NIGHTMARES
So an eventful Sheffield Wednesday gives way to Thursday and the start of the second round.
Over three sessions, I would expect Mark Williams to have too much for Jamie Cope, although we shouldn’t forget just how well Cope played at that stage against John Higgins two years ago.
Judd Trump v Martin Gould should be great entertainment: two attacking, exciting players who go for their shots.
Gould never wavered against Marco Fu and THAT red will linger long in the Crucible memory this year.
Higgins maintained his mightily impressive season by racking up three centuries against Stephen Lee, he of the exotic coiffure, and leads 6-3 overnight.
Mark Selby wasn’t at all impressive, indeed was edgy and made numerous errors, but still leads Jimmy Robertson 8-1.
I can well imagine people watching this and assuming Robertson is simply no good. Obviously this is nonsense. He beat Tony Drago and Ken Doherty to qualify.
But like so many of the other 178 players to have played at the Crucible he found the Sheffield theatre-in-the-round to be an intimidating arena.
With little TV experience under his belt – in fact only one frame in the Shootout – he froze and Selby, though well below par, picked him off. I suspect when Selby is pressured he will step it up as the tournament goes on.
Well done to Rory McLeod for finally reaching the last 16 of a world ranking event with his 10-6 defeat of Ricky Walden.
This was a slow match and, in Walden’s words, ‘painful’ at times. He is right that snooker would be in poor shape if every match were like this but you still have to credit McLeod’s application.
Nevertheless, it was absurd of him to suggest Walden dragged him down. They were both slow, but McLeod is naturally slow.
Walden’s error was getting dragged into his opponent’s pace of play and not imposing himself on the match: you can’t slow it down when you’re sat in your chair.
High drama last night was provided by Mark Allen, who came from 9-6 down to beat Matthew Stevens 10-9.
He was watched in the decider by his young daughter, Lauren, and kissed her at the end some 29 years after another Northern Irishman, the late, great Alex Higgins, beckoned for his baby daughter, also Lauren, to join him in the immediate aftermath of his world title victory.
Stevens, I’m afraid, felt the pressure. He simply has too much mental scar tissue at the Crucible, too many close matches lost from ahead. It was impossible to shut all that out of his mind.
We’ve only had five days of play but clearly the Crucible remains a heady cauldron of dreams but also an unremitting chamber of nightmares.
Over three sessions, I would expect Mark Williams to have too much for Jamie Cope, although we shouldn’t forget just how well Cope played at that stage against John Higgins two years ago.
Judd Trump v Martin Gould should be great entertainment: two attacking, exciting players who go for their shots.
Gould never wavered against Marco Fu and THAT red will linger long in the Crucible memory this year.
Higgins maintained his mightily impressive season by racking up three centuries against Stephen Lee, he of the exotic coiffure, and leads 6-3 overnight.
Mark Selby wasn’t at all impressive, indeed was edgy and made numerous errors, but still leads Jimmy Robertson 8-1.
I can well imagine people watching this and assuming Robertson is simply no good. Obviously this is nonsense. He beat Tony Drago and Ken Doherty to qualify.
But like so many of the other 178 players to have played at the Crucible he found the Sheffield theatre-in-the-round to be an intimidating arena.
With little TV experience under his belt – in fact only one frame in the Shootout – he froze and Selby, though well below par, picked him off. I suspect when Selby is pressured he will step it up as the tournament goes on.
Well done to Rory McLeod for finally reaching the last 16 of a world ranking event with his 10-6 defeat of Ricky Walden.
This was a slow match and, in Walden’s words, ‘painful’ at times. He is right that snooker would be in poor shape if every match were like this but you still have to credit McLeod’s application.
Nevertheless, it was absurd of him to suggest Walden dragged him down. They were both slow, but McLeod is naturally slow.
Walden’s error was getting dragged into his opponent’s pace of play and not imposing himself on the match: you can’t slow it down when you’re sat in your chair.
High drama last night was provided by Mark Allen, who came from 9-6 down to beat Matthew Stevens 10-9.
He was watched in the decider by his young daughter, Lauren, and kissed her at the end some 29 years after another Northern Irishman, the late, great Alex Higgins, beckoned for his baby daughter, also Lauren, to join him in the immediate aftermath of his world title victory.
Stevens, I’m afraid, felt the pressure. He simply has too much mental scar tissue at the Crucible, too many close matches lost from ahead. It was impossible to shut all that out of his mind.
We’ve only had five days of play but clearly the Crucible remains a heady cauldron of dreams but also an unremitting chamber of nightmares.
20.4.11
DAY FIVE: HIGGINS TAKES CENTRE STAGE
Just as not much was expected of Ronnie O'Sullivan, many feel John Higgins is the man to beat at the Crucible.
But O'Sullivan silenced the doubters - at least for now - with a superb display against Dominic Dale. Can Higgins now deliver against Stephen Lee?
Higgins played Lee on his TV comeback at this season's UK Championshjip last December. He began with two centuries, they both played well and the Scot won 9-6.
Like O'Sullivan, Higgins is aiming to win the Betfred.com World Championship for a fourth time. He's had a great season, winning five titles, and so is clearly going to take some stopping...if he continues in the same vein.
The good news for Ronnie fans is that their man is not only playing well but, for the moment at least, feeling good in himself. Shaun Murphy, and possibly Higgins in the quarters, will provide a sterner challenge than Dale managed and how O'Sullivan deals with the pressure he is put under will be key.
But it's not like he hasn't dealt with it before at the Crucible.
Marco Fu leads Martin Gould 6-3 overnight. Fu is a hard player to predict. He either seems to play great or pretty average. Gould went for everything, which is how he plays, but they need to start going in if he's to repeat his win over Fu at the same stage last year.
Rory McLeod has never been to the last 16 of a ranking event. It could take a long time if he is to do so today.
McLeod is level at 4-4 with Ricky Walden. They were pulled off a frame early yesterday and could need a third session to finish the match if it goes close.
Peter Ebdon was very unlucky to suffer a kick when nicely in to make it 9-9 with Stuart Bingham last night but the truth is he had let the match slip from 8-6 up.
Matthew Stevens and Mark Allen served up an entertaining, highly sporting nine frames and we hope for more of the same tonight.
Graeme Dott started to play well from 2-2 to 6-2 over Mark King, although the Essex man did win the last of the afternoon.
Mark Selby has been extremely well backed for success. He plays Jimmy Robertson, a debutant also making his first appearance in the final stages of a ranking event.
Victory for Robertson would be one of the Crucible's biggest ever shocks. To stand any chance he surely needs to settle early, and that's easier said than done at the theatre of both dreams and nightmares.
But O'Sullivan silenced the doubters - at least for now - with a superb display against Dominic Dale. Can Higgins now deliver against Stephen Lee?
Higgins played Lee on his TV comeback at this season's UK Championshjip last December. He began with two centuries, they both played well and the Scot won 9-6.
Like O'Sullivan, Higgins is aiming to win the Betfred.com World Championship for a fourth time. He's had a great season, winning five titles, and so is clearly going to take some stopping...if he continues in the same vein.
The good news for Ronnie fans is that their man is not only playing well but, for the moment at least, feeling good in himself. Shaun Murphy, and possibly Higgins in the quarters, will provide a sterner challenge than Dale managed and how O'Sullivan deals with the pressure he is put under will be key.
But it's not like he hasn't dealt with it before at the Crucible.
Marco Fu leads Martin Gould 6-3 overnight. Fu is a hard player to predict. He either seems to play great or pretty average. Gould went for everything, which is how he plays, but they need to start going in if he's to repeat his win over Fu at the same stage last year.
Rory McLeod has never been to the last 16 of a ranking event. It could take a long time if he is to do so today.
McLeod is level at 4-4 with Ricky Walden. They were pulled off a frame early yesterday and could need a third session to finish the match if it goes close.
Peter Ebdon was very unlucky to suffer a kick when nicely in to make it 9-9 with Stuart Bingham last night but the truth is he had let the match slip from 8-6 up.
Matthew Stevens and Mark Allen served up an entertaining, highly sporting nine frames and we hope for more of the same tonight.
Graeme Dott started to play well from 2-2 to 6-2 over Mark King, although the Essex man did win the last of the afternoon.
Mark Selby has been extremely well backed for success. He plays Jimmy Robertson, a debutant also making his first appearance in the final stages of a ranking event.
Victory for Robertson would be one of the Crucible's biggest ever shocks. To stand any chance he surely needs to settle early, and that's easier said than done at the theatre of both dreams and nightmares.
19.4.11
LEGENDS PLAY STARRING ROLE
Two snooker legends lit up the Betfred.com World Championship yesterday.
Ronnie O'Sullivan turned on the style to take a 7-2 lead over Dominic Dale while Stephen Hendry scraped over the line 10-9 against Joe Perry after a very edgy decider.
All eyes were on O'Sullivan after a fractious season and a build-up which included a threat to withdraw from the tournament.
The good news for his many fans was that he arrived in Sheffield last Thursday determined to dig in and work hard prior to the event. He prepared well and at times played superbly.
Several times in his career O'Sullivan has bounced back from controversy and won a title.
For instance, following his infamous walk-out against Hendry at the 2006 UK Championship he immediately won the Masters.
After his lewd behaviour at a China Open press conference three years ago he landed a third world title.
Maybe he feels he has a point to prove. O'Sullivan certainly gave his supporters hope...but he needs to keep it going against Shaun Murphy and possibly John Higgins in what remains a very difficult draw.
O'Sullivan has often said he is pondering retirement and, of course, nothing has ever come of it but Hendry is genuinely considering hanging up his cue.
He may need to win one more match to stay in the top 16 but has already decided not to enter the PTCs next season and this is likely to cost him his spot among the elite at some point in the near future.
I know Stephen loves winning above mere playing but it would be a great shame to lose him from the circuit at the age of just 42.
Hats off to Barry Hawkins for withstanding a fine comeback from Stephen Maguire, who recovered from 6-2 down before Hawkins won 10-9.
This isn't necessarily a huge shock but it was Hawkins's first win at the Crucible in six visits to Sheffield and I'm sure a source of huge satisfaction for him.
Up today are Marco Fu against Martin Gould, re-running a first round match from last year which Gould won 10-9.
Mark Allen, who is thankfully receiving the treatment he needs for depression, faces a rejuvenated Matthew Stevens in one of the first round's most intriguing matches.
Graeme Dott, a Crucible form horse having appeared in three finals there, starts out against Mark King.
But all eyes will be on O'Sullivan again, not just for how he plays but for what he says after what should now be a routine victory.
Ronnie O'Sullivan turned on the style to take a 7-2 lead over Dominic Dale while Stephen Hendry scraped over the line 10-9 against Joe Perry after a very edgy decider.
All eyes were on O'Sullivan after a fractious season and a build-up which included a threat to withdraw from the tournament.
The good news for his many fans was that he arrived in Sheffield last Thursday determined to dig in and work hard prior to the event. He prepared well and at times played superbly.
Several times in his career O'Sullivan has bounced back from controversy and won a title.
For instance, following his infamous walk-out against Hendry at the 2006 UK Championship he immediately won the Masters.
After his lewd behaviour at a China Open press conference three years ago he landed a third world title.
Maybe he feels he has a point to prove. O'Sullivan certainly gave his supporters hope...but he needs to keep it going against Shaun Murphy and possibly John Higgins in what remains a very difficult draw.
O'Sullivan has often said he is pondering retirement and, of course, nothing has ever come of it but Hendry is genuinely considering hanging up his cue.
He may need to win one more match to stay in the top 16 but has already decided not to enter the PTCs next season and this is likely to cost him his spot among the elite at some point in the near future.
I know Stephen loves winning above mere playing but it would be a great shame to lose him from the circuit at the age of just 42.
Hats off to Barry Hawkins for withstanding a fine comeback from Stephen Maguire, who recovered from 6-2 down before Hawkins won 10-9.
This isn't necessarily a huge shock but it was Hawkins's first win at the Crucible in six visits to Sheffield and I'm sure a source of huge satisfaction for him.
Up today are Marco Fu against Martin Gould, re-running a first round match from last year which Gould won 10-9.
Mark Allen, who is thankfully receiving the treatment he needs for depression, faces a rejuvenated Matthew Stevens in one of the first round's most intriguing matches.
Graeme Dott, a Crucible form horse having appeared in three finals there, starts out against Mark King.
But all eyes will be on O'Sullivan again, not just for how he plays but for what he says after what should now be a routine victory.
18.4.11
GOOD NEWS DAY
Barry Hearn was at the Crucible today to unveil a raft of announcements for the 2011/12 season.
As revealed on this blog last month, there will a ranking event staged in Australia in July.
This will immediately follow the World Cup in Bangkok, which will be a biannual event.
There will be eight seeded teams - Australia, China, England, Hong Kong, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales - from a field of 24. The winning team receives a cheque for $200,000.
There will be a new format for the Premier League next season as it becomes a World Snooker event.
In order that any player can qualify, the ten man field will be filled based on tournaments won.
Therefore, confirmed are defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan, Championship League winner Matthew Stevens plus ranking event winners Ali Carter, Neil Robertson, John Higgins, Mark Williams, Shaun Murphy and Judd Trump.
Ding Junhui qualifies as Masters champion and if one of the above wins the World Championship, Jimmy White will get a call up as world seniors champion.
Sky Sports will screen the Shootout, won this season by Nigel Bond, for the next three years having broadcast a World Snooker event for the first time for seven years in January.
Hearn also revealed talks are underway with Paul Mount to stage some PTCs and/or qualifiers at the South West Snooker Academy in Gloucester rather than having them all in Sheffield, which would mean access for spectators.
Prize money on the circuit will rise above £6m and there looks like there will be 10-11 ranking tournaments, plus the new Brazilian Masters.
Hearn also wants players to come forward to record a new version of the Chas 'n' Dave 'classic' Snooker Loopy, which reached no.6 in the chart 25 years ago.
The mind boggles, frankly, as to who would want to take part in this...but we will see.
So there will be plenty of snooker next season and plenty of reasons to be optimistic in this new era for the game.
As revealed on this blog last month, there will a ranking event staged in Australia in July.
This will immediately follow the World Cup in Bangkok, which will be a biannual event.
There will be eight seeded teams - Australia, China, England, Hong Kong, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales - from a field of 24. The winning team receives a cheque for $200,000.
There will be a new format for the Premier League next season as it becomes a World Snooker event.
In order that any player can qualify, the ten man field will be filled based on tournaments won.
Therefore, confirmed are defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan, Championship League winner Matthew Stevens plus ranking event winners Ali Carter, Neil Robertson, John Higgins, Mark Williams, Shaun Murphy and Judd Trump.
Ding Junhui qualifies as Masters champion and if one of the above wins the World Championship, Jimmy White will get a call up as world seniors champion.
Sky Sports will screen the Shootout, won this season by Nigel Bond, for the next three years having broadcast a World Snooker event for the first time for seven years in January.
Hearn also revealed talks are underway with Paul Mount to stage some PTCs and/or qualifiers at the South West Snooker Academy in Gloucester rather than having them all in Sheffield, which would mean access for spectators.
Prize money on the circuit will rise above £6m and there looks like there will be 10-11 ranking tournaments, plus the new Brazilian Masters.
Hearn also wants players to come forward to record a new version of the Chas 'n' Dave 'classic' Snooker Loopy, which reached no.6 in the chart 25 years ago.
The mind boggles, frankly, as to who would want to take part in this...but we will see.
So there will be plenty of snooker next season and plenty of reasons to be optimistic in this new era for the game.
DAY THREE: HENDRY ON TOP
Stephen Hendry was overall pretty solid in taking a 6-3 lead over Joe Perry in their first round match at the Betfred.com World Championship yesterday.
There were mistakes but his two centuries - taking his tally at the Crucible to 123 - were proof that his game is still there. His challenge in Sheffield will be sustaining it over long enough periods.
Hendry had a lot of support from the crowd, who respect him for his unparalleled record of achievement.
Indeed, he was very popular when he first came on the scene a quarter of a century ago as a young, attacking, exciting player - a little like Judd Trump now.
This being Britain, he ended up being booed now and again for being too successful but there was a warmth to the audience reaction to his match yesterday and I'd expect that to continue this afternoon.
Humility was not high on Ronnie O'Sullivan's list of priorities in an interview with yesterday's Daily Star on Sunday, in which he claimed: "I've done more for snooker than anybody else has ever done in the game."
The soap opera rolls into town today where, as ever, what happens on the table will be more important than the endless talk off it.
O'Sullivan has had a poor season but has never lost to Dominic Dale, has been practising hard and is quite capable of finding form and blowing the Welshman away.
I expect moments of brilliance from snooker's greatest ever natural talent. The test, for the whole tournament, will come in finding some consistency and knuckling down to compete when his game isn't firing on all cylinders.
Shaun Murphy says he is looking forward to playing O'Sullivan in the second round after a superb display to hammer Marcus Campbell 10-1.
Murphy is one of a number of players who have played so much snooker this season that they are fully sharp for the World Championship.
Mark Williams, a 10-5 winner over Ryan Day, and Ali Carter, who beat Dave Harold 10-3, are two others.
Meanwhile, spare a thought for Andrew Pagett. His match against Jamie Cope was by no means a classic but he fought back well from 9-5 down to trail only 9-7 and had the pink for 9-8 before this happened.
And the lights duly went out on his challenge.
There were mistakes but his two centuries - taking his tally at the Crucible to 123 - were proof that his game is still there. His challenge in Sheffield will be sustaining it over long enough periods.
Hendry had a lot of support from the crowd, who respect him for his unparalleled record of achievement.
Indeed, he was very popular when he first came on the scene a quarter of a century ago as a young, attacking, exciting player - a little like Judd Trump now.
This being Britain, he ended up being booed now and again for being too successful but there was a warmth to the audience reaction to his match yesterday and I'd expect that to continue this afternoon.
Humility was not high on Ronnie O'Sullivan's list of priorities in an interview with yesterday's Daily Star on Sunday, in which he claimed: "I've done more for snooker than anybody else has ever done in the game."
The soap opera rolls into town today where, as ever, what happens on the table will be more important than the endless talk off it.
O'Sullivan has had a poor season but has never lost to Dominic Dale, has been practising hard and is quite capable of finding form and blowing the Welshman away.
I expect moments of brilliance from snooker's greatest ever natural talent. The test, for the whole tournament, will come in finding some consistency and knuckling down to compete when his game isn't firing on all cylinders.
Shaun Murphy says he is looking forward to playing O'Sullivan in the second round after a superb display to hammer Marcus Campbell 10-1.
Murphy is one of a number of players who have played so much snooker this season that they are fully sharp for the World Championship.
Mark Williams, a 10-5 winner over Ryan Day, and Ali Carter, who beat Dave Harold 10-3, are two others.
Meanwhile, spare a thought for Andrew Pagett. His match against Jamie Cope was by no means a classic but he fought back well from 9-5 down to trail only 9-7 and had the pink for 9-8 before this happened.
And the lights duly went out on his challenge.
17.4.11
MANDY FISHER RESIGNS FROM WLBSA
Mandy Fisher, who founded the World Ladies Billiards and Snooker Association 30 years ago, has resigned as its chair.
Fisher, 49, began the women's circuit in 1981 but told players and officials at the recent World Championship: “I have done all that I am capable of doing for the ladies game and I will not be standing for re-election.
"I don’t want it to fold and I don’t want it to fail. I just feel I can’t do any more than I’ve done.”
Fisher's commitment to the women's game has been one of the main reasons it has survived this long.
World champion herself in 1984, she oversaw a transformation in fortunes in the late 80s/early 90s in which women's snooker gained television coverage.
One of Fisher’s great personal memories is the run up to her 1991 World Championship quarter-final clash with Allison Fisher on the day her second son Matthew was due.
She was corralled by Barry Hearn, now World Snooker chairman, into parading in front of the press in Hyde Park wearing carpet slippers and a maternity dress.
She also helped get the women's game taken under the wing of the WPBSA in 1997, which meant their major finals were played at venues such as the Crucible during the main professional events.
The WPBSA subsidy was cut in 2003 and the women's game continues now at a lower level, even though it attracts an international field. Reanne Evans won just £1,000 for retaining her world title last week.
Fisher will remain as president of the WLBSA. Her role as chairman will pass to Brian Harvey, who has represented England at billiards.
“It wasn’t always easy but Mandy’s heart was always in the right place and she worked tirelessly for little reward," said former WLBSA secretary and tournament director Jane O'Neill.
“There were always the knockers and detractors and plenty with ‘bright ideas’, but no one ever came close to achieving better than Mandy.
“Who can replace her? She shouldn’t go unless Barry Hearn is taking over."
Fisher, 49, began the women's circuit in 1981 but told players and officials at the recent World Championship: “I have done all that I am capable of doing for the ladies game and I will not be standing for re-election.
"I don’t want it to fold and I don’t want it to fail. I just feel I can’t do any more than I’ve done.”
Fisher's commitment to the women's game has been one of the main reasons it has survived this long.
World champion herself in 1984, she oversaw a transformation in fortunes in the late 80s/early 90s in which women's snooker gained television coverage.
One of Fisher’s great personal memories is the run up to her 1991 World Championship quarter-final clash with Allison Fisher on the day her second son Matthew was due.
She was corralled by Barry Hearn, now World Snooker chairman, into parading in front of the press in Hyde Park wearing carpet slippers and a maternity dress.
She also helped get the women's game taken under the wing of the WPBSA in 1997, which meant their major finals were played at venues such as the Crucible during the main professional events.
The WPBSA subsidy was cut in 2003 and the women's game continues now at a lower level, even though it attracts an international field. Reanne Evans won just £1,000 for retaining her world title last week.
Fisher will remain as president of the WLBSA. Her role as chairman will pass to Brian Harvey, who has represented England at billiards.
“It wasn’t always easy but Mandy’s heart was always in the right place and she worked tirelessly for little reward," said former WLBSA secretary and tournament director Jane O'Neill.
“There were always the knockers and detractors and plenty with ‘bright ideas’, but no one ever came close to achieving better than Mandy.
“Who can replace her? She shouldn’t go unless Barry Hearn is taking over."
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