Marco Fu played solidly to reach the Maplin UK Championship final in Telford last night but Ali Carter must be very disappointed.
His missed pink in the eighth frame prevented him from building a 6-2 first session lead but is a bit of a red herring. If you'd have asked him at the start of play if he would accept a 5-3 advantage he would have taken it.
The key shot of the match actually came in frame 11. Carter was 35 behind with 35 on but, in potting the last red, cannoned into the brown and so was not on the black, which he needed to tie the frame.
The right shot was to pot the easy green and play for one snooker to tie. Instead, Carter went for a very difficult blue, which he missed.
He thus needed two snookers but, even though he didn't leave the yellow on, he conceded.
After this, the pressure seemed to get to him and Fu - whose temperament is very strong - held firm for victory.
20.12.08
NO MALTA CUP THIS SEASON
The Malta Cup will not be on this season, even as an invitation event.
The WPBSA wrote to the players earlier this month to inform them it would not be on as a ranking tournament but could still be staged at the end of January on an invite only basis, as it was last season.
However, it is not happening, even though a venue, hotel and television coverage had been secured.
The WPBSA wrote to the players earlier this month to inform them it would not be on as a ranking tournament but could still be staged at the end of January on an invite only basis, as it was last season.
However, it is not happening, even though a venue, hotel and television coverage had been secured.
19.12.08
WILDCARD WALDEN
Ricky Walden has been given the remaining wildcard for next month's Wembley Masters.
He was the outstanding choice having won the Shanghai Masters last October.
Nobody could argue the draw opened up for him out in China. Ricky beat Stephen Hendry, Neil Robertson, Steve Davis, Mark Selby and Ronnie O'Sullivan to win the title.
Good luck to him at Wembley. He has earned his place.
He was the outstanding choice having won the Shanghai Masters last October.
Nobody could argue the draw opened up for him out in China. Ricky beat Stephen Hendry, Neil Robertson, Steve Davis, Mark Selby and Ronnie O'Sullivan to win the title.
Good luck to him at Wembley. He has earned his place.
HENDRY AND DING JOIN CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE
Seven times world champion Stephen Hendry and Chinese star Ding Junhui are joining the Championship League for its second year.
The event - screened live on the internet - was won last season by Joe Perry and gets underway again next month.
Hendry and Ding will play in group one alongside Ryan Day, Mark Selby, Ali Carter, Shaun Murphy and Perry.
Carter and Perry put much of their good form this year down to the Matchroom-promoted event.
It has been a great success. Indeed, it is hard to imagine Hendry playing in it if it wasn't.
It affords players top class practice against tough opposition and the financial rewards are huge.
The eventual winner earns a place in the lucrative Premier League.
More info and fixtures here.
The event - screened live on the internet - was won last season by Joe Perry and gets underway again next month.
Hendry and Ding will play in group one alongside Ryan Day, Mark Selby, Ali Carter, Shaun Murphy and Perry.
Carter and Perry put much of their good form this year down to the Matchroom-promoted event.
It has been a great success. Indeed, it is hard to imagine Hendry playing in it if it wasn't.
It affords players top class practice against tough opposition and the financial rewards are huge.
The eventual winner earns a place in the lucrative Premier League.
More info and fixtures here.
WELSH OPEN NEWS
Mark Williams, Matthew Stevens and Dominic Dale will have their final qualifying round matches in the Welsh Open held over to the final stages.
This means there will be at least four Welshmen at the Newport Centre as Ryan Day is seeded through as world no.8.
This strikes me as a sensible move. If you want spectators to come along it helps if there are local players in action.
I suspect the players will agree - all three have had problems getting through from Prestatyn this season and are more at home in the TV set up.
This means there will be at least four Welshmen at the Newport Centre as Ryan Day is seeded through as world no.8.
This strikes me as a sensible move. If you want spectators to come along it helps if there are local players in action.
I suspect the players will agree - all three have had problems getting through from Prestatyn this season and are more at home in the TV set up.
18.12.08
BETTING SCANDAL - WPBSA ISSUE STATEMENT AT LAST
In response to my post earlier today, the WPBSA has finally issued a statement about the betting irregularities surrounding the Stephen Maguire v Jamie Burnett first round match at the Maplin UK Championship in Telford.
It reads:
"The WPBSA is committed to taking all steps within its power to protect the integrity of the sport of snooker. To that end, the WPBSA has strict rules in place prohibiting its members from betting on matches or fixing any aspect of a match. It takes all of the steps available to it to police and enforce those rules, including working with its contacts at the Gambling Commission, as well as putting information-sharing arrangements in place with bookmakers.
"At approximately 4.50 pm on Friday 12 December, the WPBSA received a telephone call from a bookmaker, reporting an unusual pattern of bets on Stephen Maguire to beat Jamie Burnett by a frame score of 9 - 3 in a match due to take place on Sunday 14 December.
"The WPBSA immediately notified its other bookmaker contacts, so that the bookmakers could alert the industry and obtain feedback in relation to bets placed on the match. It also arranged for World Snooker officials to attend and observe the match in question, and secured tapes of the match afterwards for further study.
"Now that the match has been played, the WPBSA will move forward with a formal investigation. It has already instructed specialist external legal counsel to assist it in pursuing the investigation robustly and efficiently, so as to protect the integrity of the sport while at the same time respecting its obligation to treat those being investigated fairly.
"As part of the investigation, information will be gathered from all pertinent parties, including the players themselves, the match officials, the bookmakers, and others, in order to determine, based on the available evidence, whether or not there is a case to answer for breach of the WPBSA's rules. If it is determined that there is a case to answer, the WPBSA will pursue it vigorously.
"Once a decision has been reached, the WPBSA will announce it. Until that time, it will not comment further on the matter, so as to avoid prejudice to the process or the people involved. In the meantime, anyone with relevant information is invited to contact the WPBSA immediately."
This statement should have been issued earlier but I give credit to the governing body that it was issued at all and for the information contained within it.
I am encouraged that the WPBSA will announce the result of its investigation, as it does not normally release the findings of its disciplinary committee.
However, Maguire and Burnett will be entitled to contrast the scrutiny their match is receiving with that of Peter Ebdon's 5-0 defeat to Liang Wenbo at this season's Northern Ireland Trophy.
On this occasion, the WPBSA were notified of suspicious betting patterns on a 5-0 victory for Liang over Ebdon, a WPBSA board member.
Where is the investigation into this?
It reads:
"The WPBSA is committed to taking all steps within its power to protect the integrity of the sport of snooker. To that end, the WPBSA has strict rules in place prohibiting its members from betting on matches or fixing any aspect of a match. It takes all of the steps available to it to police and enforce those rules, including working with its contacts at the Gambling Commission, as well as putting information-sharing arrangements in place with bookmakers.
"At approximately 4.50 pm on Friday 12 December, the WPBSA received a telephone call from a bookmaker, reporting an unusual pattern of bets on Stephen Maguire to beat Jamie Burnett by a frame score of 9 - 3 in a match due to take place on Sunday 14 December.
"The WPBSA immediately notified its other bookmaker contacts, so that the bookmakers could alert the industry and obtain feedback in relation to bets placed on the match. It also arranged for World Snooker officials to attend and observe the match in question, and secured tapes of the match afterwards for further study.
"Now that the match has been played, the WPBSA will move forward with a formal investigation. It has already instructed specialist external legal counsel to assist it in pursuing the investigation robustly and efficiently, so as to protect the integrity of the sport while at the same time respecting its obligation to treat those being investigated fairly.
"As part of the investigation, information will be gathered from all pertinent parties, including the players themselves, the match officials, the bookmakers, and others, in order to determine, based on the available evidence, whether or not there is a case to answer for breach of the WPBSA's rules. If it is determined that there is a case to answer, the WPBSA will pursue it vigorously.
"Once a decision has been reached, the WPBSA will announce it. Until that time, it will not comment further on the matter, so as to avoid prejudice to the process or the people involved. In the meantime, anyone with relevant information is invited to contact the WPBSA immediately."
This statement should have been issued earlier but I give credit to the governing body that it was issued at all and for the information contained within it.
I am encouraged that the WPBSA will announce the result of its investigation, as it does not normally release the findings of its disciplinary committee.
However, Maguire and Burnett will be entitled to contrast the scrutiny their match is receiving with that of Peter Ebdon's 5-0 defeat to Liang Wenbo at this season's Northern Ireland Trophy.
On this occasion, the WPBSA were notified of suspicious betting patterns on a 5-0 victory for Liang over Ebdon, a WPBSA board member.
Where is the investigation into this?
17.12.08
WHO RULES UK?
Back to the action and it's an interesting quarter-final line up at the Maplin UK Championship in Telford.
Ali Carter and Joe Perry have had such good years that it seems fitting they are still going.
However, Marco Fu - Perry's opponent - has already made four centuries and seems to be cueing very nicely.
I always expected Mark Williams to return to form and the twice champion is starting to look very good indeed.
Shaun Murphy has emerged from his recent slump and his opponent, Stephen Lee, has also rediscovered his touch.
John Higgins impressed yesterday against maximum man Ding Junhui while Stephen Maguire demonstrated a steely nerve to edge Neil Robertson.
So who is going to win?
Ask me another...
Ali Carter and Joe Perry have had such good years that it seems fitting they are still going.
However, Marco Fu - Perry's opponent - has already made four centuries and seems to be cueing very nicely.
I always expected Mark Williams to return to form and the twice champion is starting to look very good indeed.
Shaun Murphy has emerged from his recent slump and his opponent, Stephen Lee, has also rediscovered his touch.
John Higgins impressed yesterday against maximum man Ding Junhui while Stephen Maguire demonstrated a steely nerve to edge Neil Robertson.
So who is going to win?
Ask me another...
DEAFENING SILENCE
Sir Rodney Walker, the WPBSA chairman, has become unusually publicity shy.
Responding to a request by Phil Yates of The Times for a comment about the betting irregularities surrounding the Stephen Maguire v Jamie Burnett match at the Maplin UK Championship, he would not give one.
The governing body he chairs has not even stated whether they are investigating this match and refuse to answer questions about it.
It is pretty much the only topic of conversation backstage in Telford. When Burnett fluked the pink, a huge ironic cheer went up in a packed players’ room, followed by an even louder one when he missed the black.
Players scurried into the media centre to watch the press conferences.
What most people can’t believe – regardless of what actually happened in the match – is that the WPBSA are remaining silent.
It isn’t good enough.
Snooker’s integrity hangs by a thread. The governing body cannot merely bury its head in the sand and hope it all goes away.
Stephen Hendry has spoken out, and credit to him. He told the Daily Record: “If any player is caught match-fixing they deserve to be banned for life. It’s such a serious issue no player can go unpunished.”
Clive Everton has also called for an investigation and many commentators – players of the old school who came into the game when there was little money available and who were grateful to be able to make a living from snooker – are absolutely appalled by the whole affair.
The WPBSA needs to show leadership. They did so when Peter Francisco lost 10-2 to Jimmy White at the 1995 World Championship, another match with suspicious betting patterns.
A panel of former players was convened to watch the match back on tape and Francisco was swiftly found guilty and banned for five years.
This whole process was conducted openly and the WPBSA regime of the time actively encouraged the media to report it because they wanted to be seen to be getting their house in order.
How times change.
This defeaning silence over an affair that has seriously harmed snooker’s reputation has to end and it has to end before the tournament is over.
Responding to a request by Phil Yates of The Times for a comment about the betting irregularities surrounding the Stephen Maguire v Jamie Burnett match at the Maplin UK Championship, he would not give one.
The governing body he chairs has not even stated whether they are investigating this match and refuse to answer questions about it.
It is pretty much the only topic of conversation backstage in Telford. When Burnett fluked the pink, a huge ironic cheer went up in a packed players’ room, followed by an even louder one when he missed the black.
Players scurried into the media centre to watch the press conferences.
What most people can’t believe – regardless of what actually happened in the match – is that the WPBSA are remaining silent.
It isn’t good enough.
Snooker’s integrity hangs by a thread. The governing body cannot merely bury its head in the sand and hope it all goes away.
Stephen Hendry has spoken out, and credit to him. He told the Daily Record: “If any player is caught match-fixing they deserve to be banned for life. It’s such a serious issue no player can go unpunished.”
Clive Everton has also called for an investigation and many commentators – players of the old school who came into the game when there was little money available and who were grateful to be able to make a living from snooker – are absolutely appalled by the whole affair.
The WPBSA needs to show leadership. They did so when Peter Francisco lost 10-2 to Jimmy White at the 1995 World Championship, another match with suspicious betting patterns.
A panel of former players was convened to watch the match back on tape and Francisco was swiftly found guilty and banned for five years.
This whole process was conducted openly and the WPBSA regime of the time actively encouraged the media to report it because they wanted to be seen to be getting their house in order.
How times change.
This defeaning silence over an affair that has seriously harmed snooker’s reputation has to end and it has to end before the tournament is over.
SPARKLING PERRY
Worldsnooker.com described Ronnie O'Sullivan's concession in the 12th frame of his second round match of the Maplin UK Championship with Joe Perry trailing 23-0 as 'impetuous' and I for one am not going to disagree with the governing body.
It was unprofessional and O'Sullivan is likely to be fined.
Greatness in sport is not so much measured by how well you perform when things are going well but by how you respond when things are going badly.
O'Sullivan's answer to this was to throw his cue at the white and concede.
I prefer to focus on how well Perry played.
Here is a player who does not want 2008 to end. He began it as someone who seemed consigned to spend each season closely studying the provisional rankings to see if he would make the top 16.
He is now seventh and looks likely to end the campaign as a top eight player.
Good luck to Joe. He stuck to his task and his run in Telford follows his capture of the Championship League title, run to the Premier League semi-finals and appearance in the last four at the Crucible.
At the age of 34 he is a late developer. However, his development has not come too late and his professionalism tonight should be applauded.
It was unprofessional and O'Sullivan is likely to be fined.
Greatness in sport is not so much measured by how well you perform when things are going well but by how you respond when things are going badly.
O'Sullivan's answer to this was to throw his cue at the white and concede.
I prefer to focus on how well Perry played.
Here is a player who does not want 2008 to end. He began it as someone who seemed consigned to spend each season closely studying the provisional rankings to see if he would make the top 16.
He is now seventh and looks likely to end the campaign as a top eight player.
Good luck to Joe. He stuck to his task and his run in Telford follows his capture of the Championship League title, run to the Premier League semi-finals and appearance in the last four at the Crucible.
At the age of 34 he is a late developer. However, his development has not come too late and his professionalism tonight should be applauded.
16.12.08
THE 147 FILES
Maximum breaks have become more common but making one, particularly on television, is still a fine achievement.
There have now been 67 in professional competition. When you consider the many thousands of frames that have been played, this still isn't all that much.
John Spencer would have made the first televised 147 in the 1979 International were in not for the fact the TV cameramen were in a nearby McDonalds at the time enjoying a meal break.
(As it transpired, the pockets were not ratified to tournament templates in any case.)
Spencer was Steve Davis's opponent at the 1982 Classic when Davis made the first TV 147 (and still one of the best).
Cliff Thorburn made the first of - so far - eight maxiums at the Crucible in 1983.
Kirk Stevens completed one at the Wembley Masters in 1984.
James Wattana made a maximum at the 1992 British Open shortly after hearing his father had been shot in Thailand.
Ronnie O'Sullivan's 147 in five minutes, 20 seconds at the 1997 World Championship remains the greatest exhibition of pure snooker skill I have ever seen.
There were eight maximums in the 1980s, 26 in the 1990s and 33 this decade with a year left to run.
Congratulations to Ding on a great personal moment.
After the events of yesterday it was also exactly what the tournament - and snooker itself - needed.
There have now been 67 in professional competition. When you consider the many thousands of frames that have been played, this still isn't all that much.
John Spencer would have made the first televised 147 in the 1979 International were in not for the fact the TV cameramen were in a nearby McDonalds at the time enjoying a meal break.
(As it transpired, the pockets were not ratified to tournament templates in any case.)
Spencer was Steve Davis's opponent at the 1982 Classic when Davis made the first TV 147 (and still one of the best).
Cliff Thorburn made the first of - so far - eight maxiums at the Crucible in 1983.
Kirk Stevens completed one at the Wembley Masters in 1984.
James Wattana made a maximum at the 1992 British Open shortly after hearing his father had been shot in Thailand.
Ronnie O'Sullivan's 147 in five minutes, 20 seconds at the 1997 World Championship remains the greatest exhibition of pure snooker skill I have ever seen.
There were eight maximums in the 1980s, 26 in the 1990s and 33 this decade with a year left to run.
Congratulations to Ding on a great personal moment.
After the events of yesterday it was also exactly what the tournament - and snooker itself - needed.
MAXIMUM FOR DING
Ding Junhui has just made the eighth 147 break in the 31-year history of the UK Championship.
It was his second maximum having made one in the 2007 Wembley Masters.
It was the fourth of the season and the 67th in snooker history.
There have now been 36 televised maximums and 44 in ranking events.
Only 15 have been made by the loser of the match.
Ding's 147 came in the third frame of his last 16 clash with John Higgins, which reduced his arrears to 2-1.
He becomes the 11th player to have made more than one in competition.
It was his second maximum having made one in the 2007 Wembley Masters.
It was the fourth of the season and the 67th in snooker history.
There have now been 36 televised maximums and 44 in ranking events.
Only 15 have been made by the loser of the match.
Ding's 147 came in the third frame of his last 16 clash with John Higgins, which reduced his arrears to 2-1.
He becomes the 11th player to have made more than one in competition.
VINTAGE TOURNAMENT...BUT PROBLEMS REMAIN
Perhaps the saddest thing about the match fixing stories swirling around the Maplin UK Championship is that they have overshadowed what has so far been a really excellent tournament.
The last 16 line up is about as good as it gets. 13 members of the elite top 16 made it through. The three non-seeds - Matthew Stevens, Mark Williams and Stephen Lee - were all in the top 16 last season.
Ronnie O'Sullivan was, I thought, superb last night. He made three centuries in claiming a 5-3 lead over Joe Perry.
The first, a 127, was particularly sublime. In fact, it was a beautiful break.
There has been some top quality snooker played so far and it promises to be a vintage week.
This is another reason the investigation into the Maguire v Burnett match needs to be conducted openly and swiftly (the precedent was set in Peter Francisco's case, which was concluded within a month of his match in the 1995 World Championship).
The WPBSA should release a statement - today - to confirm that the match is under investigation. This would reassure everyone that they are taking it seriously. The general statement about betting they issued yesterday did not.
One last thing: a big thanks to globalcuesportscentre for their coverage. Worldsnooker.com does not work while play is on, which is absurd for a governing body's official website.
Were it not for GSC this tournament would be impossible for many people to follow.
The last 16 line up is about as good as it gets. 13 members of the elite top 16 made it through. The three non-seeds - Matthew Stevens, Mark Williams and Stephen Lee - were all in the top 16 last season.
Ronnie O'Sullivan was, I thought, superb last night. He made three centuries in claiming a 5-3 lead over Joe Perry.
The first, a 127, was particularly sublime. In fact, it was a beautiful break.
There has been some top quality snooker played so far and it promises to be a vintage week.
This is another reason the investigation into the Maguire v Burnett match needs to be conducted openly and swiftly (the precedent was set in Peter Francisco's case, which was concluded within a month of his match in the 1995 World Championship).
The WPBSA should release a statement - today - to confirm that the match is under investigation. This would reassure everyone that they are taking it seriously. The general statement about betting they issued yesterday did not.
One last thing: a big thanks to globalcuesportscentre for their coverage. Worldsnooker.com does not work while play is on, which is absurd for a governing body's official website.
Were it not for GSC this tournament would be impossible for many people to follow.
15.12.08
BETTING 'SCANDAL' ROCKS UK CHAMPIONSHIP
Stephen Maguire’s 9-3 victory over Jamie Burnett in the Maplin UK Championship may be the subject of an official investigation after betting was suspended on this very scoreline ahead of the match.
“When you get new accounts opened from Glasgow addresses to bet frame scores, alarm bells go off,” said Cliff Wilds, Head of Sport at the bookmakers Victor Chandler.
“We took no money on Maguire to win 9-2 or 9-4, only 9-3. That sets the alarm bells off as well.”
Maguire the 2004 UK champion and an obvious favourite to win the match, led 6-2 overnight against Burnett, a friend, fellow Glaswegian and sometime practice partner who beat Jamie Cope 9-7 to qualify.
Burnett compiled a classy 113 break to win the tenth frame before Maguire made it 8-3.
The next was littered with errors on both sides. Eventually, Maguire left the green in the jaws and Burnett potted it.
He added the brown but massively overhit his positional shot for the blue, which he nevertheless stroked in from distance.
He missed a long pink but fluked it, leaving himself an awkward, missable cut-back black.
Burnett overcut this by such a margin that it did not even hit the pocket jaws.
Both players vehemently denied any part in a betting coup. Burnett said he was aware betting had been suspended and that this intensified the pressure he felt at 8-3.
"In the last frame I have never felt more pressure in my life," he said. "I didn't think I could have played the colours knowing people have been saying things.
"On the black I said to myself, 'I need to get this, I need to get this' in case some people start talking. I just felt so under pressure, probably the most pressure I have felt in my life. Then to come off was the lowest feeling. I felt terrible."
"People have been laughing and joking about things like that for years, but to my knowledge nobody has ever done anything. Snooker is too important. There is a career here."
The WPBSA issued a statement. It reads: “We have agreements in place with both Betfair and the Association of British Bookmakers who contact World Snooker confidentially if irregular betting patterns are reported.
“In such cases the match in question is carefully monitored by World Snooker and a thorough assessment of the players’ performance will be made.
“In past incidents, which are extremely rare, World Snooker have taken a particularly stringent line where players have been judged guilty of match fixing or intention to match fix.”
Peter Francisco was banned for five years in 1995 and Quinten Hann for eight in 2006.
Since then, there have been a few grumbles from bookmakers, particularly at the 2006 and 2007 Grand Prix and 2008 Malta Cup – all played under a round robin format.
Peter Ebdon’s 5-0 defeat to Liang Wenbo at this season’s Northern Ireland Trophy is still under investigation by the Gambling Commission.
Snooker, I believe, is mainly clean but any suspicious matches should be investigated in full.
This means taking evidence from bookmakers, the players themselves, the referee, commentators and anyone else with relevant information.
And it should not matter whether matches involve the world no.80, the world champion or a WPBSA board member – they should all be treated the same.
Regardless of what happens with this latest case - which may turn out to be entirely innocent - I believe that any player found guilty of match fixing should be banned from the sport for life.
If people don’t believe the sport is honest then it will not continue to attract sponsors, broadcasters or spectators.
That would mean the end of professional snooker as we know it.
“When you get new accounts opened from Glasgow addresses to bet frame scores, alarm bells go off,” said Cliff Wilds, Head of Sport at the bookmakers Victor Chandler.
“We took no money on Maguire to win 9-2 or 9-4, only 9-3. That sets the alarm bells off as well.”
Maguire the 2004 UK champion and an obvious favourite to win the match, led 6-2 overnight against Burnett, a friend, fellow Glaswegian and sometime practice partner who beat Jamie Cope 9-7 to qualify.
Burnett compiled a classy 113 break to win the tenth frame before Maguire made it 8-3.
The next was littered with errors on both sides. Eventually, Maguire left the green in the jaws and Burnett potted it.
He added the brown but massively overhit his positional shot for the blue, which he nevertheless stroked in from distance.
He missed a long pink but fluked it, leaving himself an awkward, missable cut-back black.
Burnett overcut this by such a margin that it did not even hit the pocket jaws.
Both players vehemently denied any part in a betting coup. Burnett said he was aware betting had been suspended and that this intensified the pressure he felt at 8-3.
"In the last frame I have never felt more pressure in my life," he said. "I didn't think I could have played the colours knowing people have been saying things.
"On the black I said to myself, 'I need to get this, I need to get this' in case some people start talking. I just felt so under pressure, probably the most pressure I have felt in my life. Then to come off was the lowest feeling. I felt terrible."
"People have been laughing and joking about things like that for years, but to my knowledge nobody has ever done anything. Snooker is too important. There is a career here."
The WPBSA issued a statement. It reads: “We have agreements in place with both Betfair and the Association of British Bookmakers who contact World Snooker confidentially if irregular betting patterns are reported.
“In such cases the match in question is carefully monitored by World Snooker and a thorough assessment of the players’ performance will be made.
“In past incidents, which are extremely rare, World Snooker have taken a particularly stringent line where players have been judged guilty of match fixing or intention to match fix.”
Peter Francisco was banned for five years in 1995 and Quinten Hann for eight in 2006.
Since then, there have been a few grumbles from bookmakers, particularly at the 2006 and 2007 Grand Prix and 2008 Malta Cup – all played under a round robin format.
Peter Ebdon’s 5-0 defeat to Liang Wenbo at this season’s Northern Ireland Trophy is still under investigation by the Gambling Commission.
Snooker, I believe, is mainly clean but any suspicious matches should be investigated in full.
This means taking evidence from bookmakers, the players themselves, the referee, commentators and anyone else with relevant information.
And it should not matter whether matches involve the world no.80, the world champion or a WPBSA board member – they should all be treated the same.
Regardless of what happens with this latest case - which may turn out to be entirely innocent - I believe that any player found guilty of match fixing should be banned from the sport for life.
If people don’t believe the sport is honest then it will not continue to attract sponsors, broadcasters or spectators.
That would mean the end of professional snooker as we know it.
THE CHAOS THEORY
Paul McCartney once released an album called 'Chaos and Creation in the Backyard.'
Maybe Stephen Hendry has a copy judging by his press conference in Telford yesterday.
The game's greatest ever player spoke about the 'chaos' in his head when he comes to the table in the aftermatch of his 9-7 defeat to Stephen Lee in the Maplin UK Championship.
It all sounds a bit cryptic but is actually very simple: Hendry plays well in practice because there is no pressure. In tournaments, he is struggling for consistency. His mind is clouded by self-doubt - can he still play to a high enough standard to compete?
Actually, the answer to that question is 'yes' because the standard at the top level is not quite as high as it was ten years ago.
If Hendry can get to the World Championship semi-finals and finish sixth in the rankings not playing at his best then suggestions he should retire are absurd.
The problem, though, is not first round exits or even poor performances.
No, the problem is this: will his best form ever return?
Or will he be consigned to several years of frustration as he fails to perform on the big stage?
Steve Davis reconciled this inner conflict and is now back competing well again, happy to still be able to turn up and chance his arm.
The only way Hendry will free himself of the 'chaos' in his mind is to accept - though it will be difficult - that he may not be a force for much longer.
If he can do so he may play with more freedom and, paradoxically, start to produce some form again.
You write off great players at your peril. Davis played some sensational snooker to reach the UK final just three years ago at a time where he wasn't expecting much. He wasn't trying to force anything or put unreasonable expectations on himself.
Hendry must face the fact that he is fighting the inevitable decline that comes when players get older.
If he can accept that his best days are behind him he may find that he still has plenty of good days to come.
Maybe Stephen Hendry has a copy judging by his press conference in Telford yesterday.
The game's greatest ever player spoke about the 'chaos' in his head when he comes to the table in the aftermatch of his 9-7 defeat to Stephen Lee in the Maplin UK Championship.
It all sounds a bit cryptic but is actually very simple: Hendry plays well in practice because there is no pressure. In tournaments, he is struggling for consistency. His mind is clouded by self-doubt - can he still play to a high enough standard to compete?
Actually, the answer to that question is 'yes' because the standard at the top level is not quite as high as it was ten years ago.
If Hendry can get to the World Championship semi-finals and finish sixth in the rankings not playing at his best then suggestions he should retire are absurd.
The problem, though, is not first round exits or even poor performances.
No, the problem is this: will his best form ever return?
Or will he be consigned to several years of frustration as he fails to perform on the big stage?
Steve Davis reconciled this inner conflict and is now back competing well again, happy to still be able to turn up and chance his arm.
The only way Hendry will free himself of the 'chaos' in his mind is to accept - though it will be difficult - that he may not be a force for much longer.
If he can do so he may play with more freedom and, paradoxically, start to produce some form again.
You write off great players at your peril. Davis played some sensational snooker to reach the UK final just three years ago at a time where he wasn't expecting much. He wasn't trying to force anything or put unreasonable expectations on himself.
Hendry must face the fact that he is fighting the inevitable decline that comes when players get older.
If he can accept that his best days are behind him he may find that he still has plenty of good days to come.
TRUMP ON 'KING SWEARING
Judd Trump's 9-8 defeat to Mark King in the Maplin UK Championship yesterday ended with the teenager accusing his opponent of excessive swearing.
"He was getting frustrated and swearing during the match," Trump said. "He shouldn't be doing that.
"He kept swearing every time he played a bad shot, every time someone said 'come on Judd'.
"It was silly of him. It didn't really put me off but it just made me want to beat him.
"He didn't get warned once. He should have lost the match really. He swore at least ten times."
Players can be warned for swearing under the 'ungentlemanly conduct' rule. They are warned that a further transgression will result in a frame being awarded to their opponent.
If they break this rule again the match is awarded against them.
I have no way of verifying if what Trump said is accurate. Equally, I have no reason to disbelieve him.
"He was getting frustrated and swearing during the match," Trump said. "He shouldn't be doing that.
"He kept swearing every time he played a bad shot, every time someone said 'come on Judd'.
"It was silly of him. It didn't really put me off but it just made me want to beat him.
"He didn't get warned once. He should have lost the match really. He swore at least ten times."
Players can be warned for swearing under the 'ungentlemanly conduct' rule. They are warned that a further transgression will result in a frame being awarded to their opponent.
If they break this rule again the match is awarded against them.
I have no way of verifying if what Trump said is accurate. Equally, I have no reason to disbelieve him.
14.12.08
A SWAIL OF A TIME
Joe Swail is a player who tends to go through streaks of either winning or losing.
He has yo-yoed up and down the rankings over the years and had he beaten Liang Wenbo at the Crucible last season would have been the first player to drop out of the top 16 and top 32 and then re-enter the top 16 on two occasions in his career.
Swail has an unconventional cue action but his fighting qualities are among the best of any player.
He has won a high proportion of deciding frame finishes and tends to be at his best when his back is to the wall.
Joe plays on inspiration and has made several great comebacks during an often emotional career.
Surprisingly, he’s never been in a ranking tournament final, having fallen at the semi-final stage a record nine times.
But you don’t get to two World Championship semi-finals in this decade without being a very good player indeed.
He’s failed to beat John Higgins in seven previous meetings so the omens aren’t good for him when they meet in the Maplin UK Championship at Telford today but he will have been boosted by his dramatic 9-8 victory over Liang in the final qualifying round last week.
Perhaps it’s time for the Belfast child to sing again...
He has yo-yoed up and down the rankings over the years and had he beaten Liang Wenbo at the Crucible last season would have been the first player to drop out of the top 16 and top 32 and then re-enter the top 16 on two occasions in his career.
Swail has an unconventional cue action but his fighting qualities are among the best of any player.
He has won a high proportion of deciding frame finishes and tends to be at his best when his back is to the wall.
Joe plays on inspiration and has made several great comebacks during an often emotional career.
Surprisingly, he’s never been in a ranking tournament final, having fallen at the semi-final stage a record nine times.
But you don’t get to two World Championship semi-finals in this decade without being a very good player indeed.
He’s failed to beat John Higgins in seven previous meetings so the omens aren’t good for him when they meet in the Maplin UK Championship at Telford today but he will have been boosted by his dramatic 9-8 victory over Liang in the final qualifying round last week.
Perhaps it’s time for the Belfast child to sing again...
13.12.08
NEW FACE
Eagle eyed viewers may have noticed a new face at the Maplin UK Championship in Telford today - Olivier Marteel, the referee for the Ryan Day v Matthew Stevens match.
The 39 year-old Belgian has been a ref since 1994 but has only recently started officiating in the professional ranks and this was his first television appearance.
And he did very well. He was probably nervous beforehand but handled the occasion in a very professional manner.
Commentating for British Eurosport, Mike Hallett and myself each gave two thumbs up for the Gent from Ghent as Rob Walker will almost certainly start calling him.
The 39 year-old Belgian has been a ref since 1994 but has only recently started officiating in the professional ranks and this was his first television appearance.
And he did very well. He was probably nervous beforehand but handled the occasion in a very professional manner.
Commentating for British Eurosport, Mike Hallett and myself each gave two thumbs up for the Gent from Ghent as Rob Walker will almost certainly start calling him.
FIRST MEETING FOR SPA
The first steps towards the formation of the Snooker Players Association will be taken in Telford on Tuesday.
Here is the text of a letter the SPA has sent to players and other interested parties:
A meeting is to be held at 10.30 am on Tuesday 16th December in the Holiday Inn Telford/Ironbridge, St. Quentin Gate, Telford, TF3 4EH in the Rathbone Room.
The meeting will set out to establish the next steps to legally forming the Association and look towards appointing an interim group responsible for officially structuring and setting the objectives of the Association.
The meeting is also intended to be a follow up to the information sent to yourselves and available on the players association information page on www.snookerassociation.com
The meeting is being chaired by a development group and will be hosted by a legal advisor Gareth Williams, and attended by Pat Mooney, Steve Davis, John Higgins and Brandon Parker.
All other players and managers are invited and particularly welcome.
For those players or managers that cannot attend for whatever reason, you can give your thoughts and comments via the association page and they will be raised at the meeting and considered as part of the agenda.
We will also publish minutes of the meeting for comment to all registered players allowing ongoing feedback and where appropriate voting on any proposed resolutions.
It is important to note that this Association can and will only be formed with the express blessing and support of the players we would therefore ask for input where possible and direct involvement from as many stakeholders in the game of snooker as is practical.
Here is the text of a letter the SPA has sent to players and other interested parties:
A meeting is to be held at 10.30 am on Tuesday 16th December in the Holiday Inn Telford/Ironbridge, St. Quentin Gate, Telford, TF3 4EH in the Rathbone Room.
The meeting will set out to establish the next steps to legally forming the Association and look towards appointing an interim group responsible for officially structuring and setting the objectives of the Association.
The meeting is also intended to be a follow up to the information sent to yourselves and available on the players association information page on www.snookerassociation.com
The meeting is being chaired by a development group and will be hosted by a legal advisor Gareth Williams, and attended by Pat Mooney, Steve Davis, John Higgins and Brandon Parker.
All other players and managers are invited and particularly welcome.
For those players or managers that cannot attend for whatever reason, you can give your thoughts and comments via the association page and they will be raised at the meeting and considered as part of the agenda.
We will also publish minutes of the meeting for comment to all registered players allowing ongoing feedback and where appropriate voting on any proposed resolutions.
It is important to note that this Association can and will only be formed with the express blessing and support of the players we would therefore ask for input where possible and direct involvement from as many stakeholders in the game of snooker as is practical.
RORY'S BIG DAY
Rory McLeod tells me he is looking forward to his match against Ronnie O’Sullivan in the Maplin UK Championship at Telford today.
It’s the biggest match of his career thus far as he tackles the world champion live on television in one of snooker’s oldest and most prestigious events.
Rory recognises he is not expected to win. I certainly expect O’Sullivan to progress but sport is capable of throwing up all manner of shocks so Ronnie cannot afford complacency.
(By the way, there's an excellent profile of Ronnie by my colleague Phil Yates in today's Times.)
McLeod has been a professional for 17 years, although has not been on the circuit all that time.
It took him until 2002 to make his television debut. Today’s match is only his fourth appearance in the last 32 of a ranking tournament and he is yet to go further.
But he has been consistent in recent years, not losing many opening round matches, and is currently 44th in the world – his highest ever ranking.
He is Wellingborough born and bred but spends a fair amount of time in Qatar as he coaches their national team.
He has three children, the youngest just five months, and these take up much of his time.
Rory is also the only player of Afro Caribbean descent – his parents are from Jamaica – competing on the professional circuit.
Snooker is not elitist sport. Anyone can join a club so this anomaly is hard to explain.
It’s not something Rory has ever made an issue of and he was embarrassed a few years ago when the BBC put him on the trailer for the UK Championship even though he hadn’t qualified while ignoring Stephen Hendry and Mark Williams.
Players spend many often lonely hours practising and honing their skills for matches like these.
Whatever happens against O’Sullivan, Rory should enjoy his big day.
- Coverage starts at 1pm on BBC1 and 1.45pm on British Eurosport2.
It’s the biggest match of his career thus far as he tackles the world champion live on television in one of snooker’s oldest and most prestigious events.
Rory recognises he is not expected to win. I certainly expect O’Sullivan to progress but sport is capable of throwing up all manner of shocks so Ronnie cannot afford complacency.
(By the way, there's an excellent profile of Ronnie by my colleague Phil Yates in today's Times.)
McLeod has been a professional for 17 years, although has not been on the circuit all that time.
It took him until 2002 to make his television debut. Today’s match is only his fourth appearance in the last 32 of a ranking tournament and he is yet to go further.
But he has been consistent in recent years, not losing many opening round matches, and is currently 44th in the world – his highest ever ranking.
He is Wellingborough born and bred but spends a fair amount of time in Qatar as he coaches their national team.
He has three children, the youngest just five months, and these take up much of his time.
Rory is also the only player of Afro Caribbean descent – his parents are from Jamaica – competing on the professional circuit.
Snooker is not elitist sport. Anyone can join a club so this anomaly is hard to explain.
It’s not something Rory has ever made an issue of and he was embarrassed a few years ago when the BBC put him on the trailer for the UK Championship even though he hadn’t qualified while ignoring Stephen Hendry and Mark Williams.
Players spend many often lonely hours practising and honing their skills for matches like these.
Whatever happens against O’Sullivan, Rory should enjoy his big day.
- Coverage starts at 1pm on BBC1 and 1.45pm on British Eurosport2.
12.12.08
CAN YOU HELP RONNIE?
Ronnie O'Sullivan is looking for footage of his appearance on the Cockney Classic in 1990 when he was 14.
It was broadcast on ITV.
Does anyone out there have a recording?
If so, drop me a line at snookersceneblog@aol.com
It was broadcast on ITV.
Does anyone out there have a recording?
If so, drop me a line at snookersceneblog@aol.com
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