Stephen Hendry was the star of the show on day one of the Bank of Beijing China Open, beating Matthew Stevens 5-0 in just 66 minutes.
Stevens has been in great form of late but Hendry limited him to just nine points during a performance reminiscent of his peak.
He began with a century - as he often seems to - but, this time, kept it going rather than immediately fizzling out.
Just as one swallow doesn't make a summer, so one excellent performance doesn't mean he is suddenly back to his best but it must have given him great heart.
Hendry has always performed well when his back is to the wall: 8-2 down to Mike Hallett in the 1991 Masters final, 14-8 down to Jimmy White in the 1992 world final and even 9-7 down to Zhang Anda at the Crucible last year.
Now, he knows he needs a good finish to the season to retain a place in the elite top 16. Maybe that will spur him on to end the campaign strongly.
Stephen Lee has not had the best draw for either of the last two tournaments of the season. He has John Higgins to look forward to at the Crucible and today faces Mark Williams, the defending champion, in Beijing.
Lee has played very well this season but Williams clearly has his mojo back. His victory over Ding Junhui in last year's China Open final was his first in a ranking tournament in four years. He has since won the German Masters and came within a whisker of landing the UK crown.
Joe Perry is one of those players well capable of causing an upset against Shaun Murphy, whose Twitter updates suggest he has found sleeping difficult in Beijing.
Similarly, Mark Davis could cause Stephen Maguire problems, particularly as Maguire's pre-tournament focus has been - happily - affected by the arrival of his third child.
29.3.11
27.3.11
CHINA IN THEIR HANDS
The tournament that immediately precedes the World Championship is traditionally overshadowed by it, for no other reason than its slot in the calendar.
Inescapably, everyone is talking about the Crucible and the players are thinking about it, at least those who have qualified are. It is 13 years since the player who won the last title before Sheffield triumphed in the World Championship itself.
It's better now than is used to be when first the British Open, then the Scottish Open took place just a week before the Crucible.
And the Bank of Beijing China Open has grown in prestige, now offering a first prize of £60,000.
This tournament went into abeyance for three years until 2005 when World Snooker staged it again on a one-year deal. To their great relief it was won by Ding Junhui and has since been fully funded by the Chinese organisers.
The one downside to this is that they still insist on Chinese wildcards, whose continued presence in the event is unfair on those who have battled through qualifying.
For instance, Kurt Maflin won four matches in Sheffield to secure his TV debut but now has to play Cao Yupeng before he can take on Ding.
At least the organisers have seen sense this year by putting on two first round matches on the opening day. Stephen Hendry faces the in form Matthew Stevens while world champion Neil Robertson faces Barry Hawkins.
There will be no Jimmy White, though. Apparently White travelled to China on a single entry visa but then went to Thailand for exhibition work which meant he was not allowed back into the country.
This gives wildcard Tian Pengfei a walkover to play Mark Selby in the last 32.
Eurosport - who don't select which matches appear on the two main TV tables, just to head off that annual moan - will be showing live action on both its channels all week, although this varies depending which country you live in, so check local listings.
It's an interesting line-up and, despite its proximity to the World Championship, will doubtless be won by one of the usual suspects.
John Higgins, who won the recent Hainan Classic, has to start favourite again as he hunts down a fifth title of the season.
It looks like Ronnie O'Sullivan will be playing, but he is in a brutal quarter of the draw and starts out against Ryan Day, who beat him at the Welsh Open.
Local support will be for Ding, who finished runner-up to Mark Williams last year.
Inescapably, everyone is talking about the Crucible and the players are thinking about it, at least those who have qualified are. It is 13 years since the player who won the last title before Sheffield triumphed in the World Championship itself.
It's better now than is used to be when first the British Open, then the Scottish Open took place just a week before the Crucible.
And the Bank of Beijing China Open has grown in prestige, now offering a first prize of £60,000.
This tournament went into abeyance for three years until 2005 when World Snooker staged it again on a one-year deal. To their great relief it was won by Ding Junhui and has since been fully funded by the Chinese organisers.
The one downside to this is that they still insist on Chinese wildcards, whose continued presence in the event is unfair on those who have battled through qualifying.
For instance, Kurt Maflin won four matches in Sheffield to secure his TV debut but now has to play Cao Yupeng before he can take on Ding.
At least the organisers have seen sense this year by putting on two first round matches on the opening day. Stephen Hendry faces the in form Matthew Stevens while world champion Neil Robertson faces Barry Hawkins.
There will be no Jimmy White, though. Apparently White travelled to China on a single entry visa but then went to Thailand for exhibition work which meant he was not allowed back into the country.
This gives wildcard Tian Pengfei a walkover to play Mark Selby in the last 32.
Eurosport - who don't select which matches appear on the two main TV tables, just to head off that annual moan - will be showing live action on both its channels all week, although this varies depending which country you live in, so check local listings.
It's an interesting line-up and, despite its proximity to the World Championship, will doubtless be won by one of the usual suspects.
John Higgins, who won the recent Hainan Classic, has to start favourite again as he hunts down a fifth title of the season.
It looks like Ronnie O'Sullivan will be playing, but he is in a brutal quarter of the draw and starts out against Ryan Day, who beat him at the Welsh Open.
Local support will be for Ding, who finished runner-up to Mark Williams last year.
25.3.11
STEVENS BACK WHERE HE BELONGS
So Matthew Stevens will be in next season's Premier League after his 3-1 defeat of Shaun Murphy in the Championship league final last night.
It marks the latest step in what has been an excellent few weeks for the Welshman: a Welsh Open quarter-final, last gasp win over Fergal O'Brien in World Championship qualifying and semi-final spot in the PTC Grand Finals.
Stevens dropped out of the top 16 in 2007 but will be back for the next seedings cut-off point. Good. It's where a player of his ability and class should be.
He was one of the young stars, along with Paul Hunter and Graeme Dott, who turned pro in the wake of O'Sullivan/Higgins/Williams in the mid 1990s and became leading players.
Stevens, like Jimmy White, is unfairly talked about in the main for what he hasn't won rather than what he has.
It is fact, of course, that he has lost two close world finals, both of which he could have won, as well as three close Crucible semi-finals.
However, little is made of the close Masters and UK Championship finals he won.
If you read Snooker Scene's interview with him at the start of the season you will know he made a concerted effort this year to apply himself.
Like Stephen Lee, another player of proven quality, he has found the changes in snooker to have helped him rediscover his form.
Put simply: he is playing so often that he has been able to sustain this form for a lengthy enough period to achieve meaningful results.
I'm glad he's doing well again, not just because I enjoy watching him play but because he is a nice guy who has taken a couple of serious off table knocks.
Matthew's father, Morrell, died in 2001. He was his biggest supporter, travelling everywhere with him.
“It took me at least two years to come to terms with him dying,” Stevens told Snooker Scene.
“I couldn’t face up to it. I didn’t want to practise and I was just going out drinking all the time, trying to block it out.
“The last thing I wanted to do was play snooker. He used to go to every tournament with me and it just didn’t feel the same. It still doesn’t.”
Then, in 2006, his best friend, Hunter, lost his long, painful battle with cancer, another devastating blow which must have had an effect on his game.
And what of the various close defeats? Have they formed an edge of uncertainty that has made winning further close games more difficult?
“It’s hard not to think what could have been," Stevens said. "I’ve lost so many close matches at the World Championship and I do find myself replaying certain shots in my mind.
“I remember missing a black off the spot when I was well ahead against Mark and he was brilliant after that. I thought I played well against Shaun but he was inspired.
“It’s tough to take but you can’t change anything. That’s how sport is.”
Indeed it is and the future is suddenly much sunnier.
Stevens is off to China tomorrow. His only problem is that he has been playing so much that he has been unable to obtain a visa and so has had to drive to Manchester to get one today.
Like most other things he has taken this in his stride. He is just happy to be back where he belongs.
It marks the latest step in what has been an excellent few weeks for the Welshman: a Welsh Open quarter-final, last gasp win over Fergal O'Brien in World Championship qualifying and semi-final spot in the PTC Grand Finals.
Stevens dropped out of the top 16 in 2007 but will be back for the next seedings cut-off point. Good. It's where a player of his ability and class should be.
He was one of the young stars, along with Paul Hunter and Graeme Dott, who turned pro in the wake of O'Sullivan/Higgins/Williams in the mid 1990s and became leading players.
Stevens, like Jimmy White, is unfairly talked about in the main for what he hasn't won rather than what he has.
It is fact, of course, that he has lost two close world finals, both of which he could have won, as well as three close Crucible semi-finals.
However, little is made of the close Masters and UK Championship finals he won.
If you read Snooker Scene's interview with him at the start of the season you will know he made a concerted effort this year to apply himself.
Like Stephen Lee, another player of proven quality, he has found the changes in snooker to have helped him rediscover his form.
Put simply: he is playing so often that he has been able to sustain this form for a lengthy enough period to achieve meaningful results.
I'm glad he's doing well again, not just because I enjoy watching him play but because he is a nice guy who has taken a couple of serious off table knocks.
Matthew's father, Morrell, died in 2001. He was his biggest supporter, travelling everywhere with him.
“It took me at least two years to come to terms with him dying,” Stevens told Snooker Scene.
“I couldn’t face up to it. I didn’t want to practise and I was just going out drinking all the time, trying to block it out.
“The last thing I wanted to do was play snooker. He used to go to every tournament with me and it just didn’t feel the same. It still doesn’t.”
Then, in 2006, his best friend, Hunter, lost his long, painful battle with cancer, another devastating blow which must have had an effect on his game.
And what of the various close defeats? Have they formed an edge of uncertainty that has made winning further close games more difficult?
“It’s hard not to think what could have been," Stevens said. "I’ve lost so many close matches at the World Championship and I do find myself replaying certain shots in my mind.
“I remember missing a black off the spot when I was well ahead against Mark and he was brilliant after that. I thought I played well against Shaun but he was inspired.
“It’s tough to take but you can’t change anything. That’s how sport is.”
Indeed it is and the future is suddenly much sunnier.
Stevens is off to China tomorrow. His only problem is that he has been playing so much that he has been unable to obtain a visa and so has had to drive to Manchester to get one today.
Like most other things he has taken this in his stride. He is just happy to be back where he belongs.
23.3.11
THE BIG INTERVIEW: JIMMY ROBERTSON
There are two Robertsons at the Crucible this year. Neil, of course, is defending the Betfred.com World Championship title.Jimmy Robertson, on the other hand, is an unknown quantity whose run to the final stages came out of the blue – certainly for him.
“I was ill in bed a few days before the qualifiers,” he said. “It was one of those flu like things where every part of my body ached. I didn’t expect much when I got to Sheffield but seemed to play well from the start.
“I’m just really happy. My phone was non-stop with calls and texts afterwards. Hopefully this will be the first time I’m at the Crucible but not the last.”
After tight wins over Xiao Guodong (10-9) and Tony Drago (10-8), Robertson faced the vastly experienced Ken Doherty in the final qualifying round.
Doherty, champion in 1997, led 6-3 at the halfway stage and logic dictated that, with all his years in the game, he would close out victory.
“I didn’t have that much to lose. Ken would have been favourite but I felt I played all right in the first session, even though I was behind.
“My aim was to win three of the first four frames and get it back to 7-6 but in fact I won all four, he started missing and I managed to come through.”
Robertson, who turns 25 the day after this year’s World Championship ends, began playing at the age of eight and also pursued a career as a junior football and had trials for Crystal Palace before snooker won out.
He first turned professional in 2002 at the age of just 16 after winning the WPBSA’s junior play-offs, one of the varied paths to joining the main tour that have been employed over the years.
He won his first ranking event match but failed to win another and was immediately relegated.
Robertson was perhaps too young for the big time but his game was also severely hampered by a mysterious attack of the shakes.
“I had it for three or four years,” he said. “Everyone gets a little shaky when they are nervous but I found myself shaking when I was practising on my own.
“I couldn’t understand what it was or why it was happening.
“I went to see a specialist, who said it may have been a condition called dystonia, which causes your muscles to go into spasm but it could also have been because I was doing weights at the gym.
“I stopped doing them, talked it over with a few people and eventually it went away.
“I didn’t talk about it for ages because it was embarrassing for me. I was shaking so much that I couldn’t hold my cue properly and could barely see the balls.
“I thought people were looking at me, wondering what was going on. After it cleared up, though, my snooker started improving.
“I still get the odd shake now and again but it’s nowhere near as bad as it used to be.”
Robertson, who won the English amateur title in 2009, owns a snooker club, O’Sullivan’s in Bexhill-on-Sea, which his parents run for him when he is at tournaments or practising.
They will have to undertake a few more shifts come April 16. He has never been to the Crucible to watch but, alongside this year’s other debutant, Andrew Pagett, will become one of 179 players to have competed there since the World Championship moved to Sheffield in 1977.
22.3.11
HEARN'S GLOBAL VISION GATHERS PACE
The much trailed World Cup has been confirmed for Thailand from July 11-17.
It will feature 20 two-man teams. The players for each team will be selected according to their ranking position.
For example, if the current ranking list were used this would mean John Higgins and Stephen Maguire for Scotland, Mark Selby and Shaun Murphy for England and Mark Williams and Matthew Stevens for Wales. Thailand, as host nation, will have two teams.
The event will be sponsored by PTT, the state-owned energy company, and EGAT, the electricity generating Authority of Thailand. It takes place at the World Trade Centre in Bangkok.
Barry Hearn travelled to Thailand last week to finalise details, the latest in a long line of innovations his stewardship of World Snooker has brought about in the last year.
And it gets better. World Snooker says it is in advanced discussions for a new ranking tournament outside the UK in late July. I understand this could turn out to be in Australia.
That would be a huge step forward. An Australian Open was announced way back in 1989, the only snag being that it ended up being played in Hong Kong.
Hearn clearly believes that snooker’s future rests on its global potential, which has never been properly realised.
So many countries – Canada, Dubai, Belgium, Holland and Thailand to name a few – have been visited and then dumped by previous administrations.
We saw huge crowds in Berlin for the German Masters and the last two days of the PTC Grand Finals in Dublin proved snooker is still popular in Ireland.
At this rate there will be at least ten ranking tournaments next season, plus various invitation events, including the new Brazilian Masters, and the World Cup, a picture so rosy as to have been unimaginable just two years ago.
Not content with all this, Hearn has turned his attention to Killing Cancer, a charity the governing body will support by helping to raise £250,000 over the next three years.
Surely all Barry will soon have left to tackle will be world peace...
It will feature 20 two-man teams. The players for each team will be selected according to their ranking position.
For example, if the current ranking list were used this would mean John Higgins and Stephen Maguire for Scotland, Mark Selby and Shaun Murphy for England and Mark Williams and Matthew Stevens for Wales. Thailand, as host nation, will have two teams.
The event will be sponsored by PTT, the state-owned energy company, and EGAT, the electricity generating Authority of Thailand. It takes place at the World Trade Centre in Bangkok.
Barry Hearn travelled to Thailand last week to finalise details, the latest in a long line of innovations his stewardship of World Snooker has brought about in the last year.
And it gets better. World Snooker says it is in advanced discussions for a new ranking tournament outside the UK in late July. I understand this could turn out to be in Australia.
That would be a huge step forward. An Australian Open was announced way back in 1989, the only snag being that it ended up being played in Hong Kong.
Hearn clearly believes that snooker’s future rests on its global potential, which has never been properly realised.
So many countries – Canada, Dubai, Belgium, Holland and Thailand to name a few – have been visited and then dumped by previous administrations.
We saw huge crowds in Berlin for the German Masters and the last two days of the PTC Grand Finals in Dublin proved snooker is still popular in Ireland.
At this rate there will be at least ten ranking tournaments next season, plus various invitation events, including the new Brazilian Masters, and the World Cup, a picture so rosy as to have been unimaginable just two years ago.
Not content with all this, Hearn has turned his attention to Killing Cancer, a charity the governing body will support by helping to raise £250,000 over the next three years.
Surely all Barry will soon have left to tackle will be world peace...
21.3.11
CRUCIBLE DRAW MADE
Neil Robertson will start the defence of his Betfred.com World Championship title against Judd Trump at the Crucible on April 16.
The first round draw was made this morning:
Neil Robertson v Judd Trump
Marco Fu v Martin Gould
Graeme Dott v Mark King
Ali Carter v Dave Harold
Ding Junhui v Jamie Burnett
Peter Ebdon v Stuart Bingham
Stephen Hendry v Joe Perry
Mark Selby v Jimmy Robertson
Mark Williams v Ryan Day
Jamie Cope v Andrew Pagett
Mark Allen v Matthew Stevens
Stephen Maguire v Barry Hawkins
Shaun Murphy v Marcus Campbell
Ronnie O'Sullivan v Dominic Dale
Ricky Walden v Rory McLeod
John Higgins v Stephen Lee
At first glance, the two form players this season, John Higgins and Mark Williams, have been handed tough opening round ties.
However, neither Stephen Lee nor Ryan Day would have wanted to draw them. Lee has long regarded Higgins as the best player in the game and the form the Scot has shown this season means he remains favourite for the title, even though the Trowbridge man is playing much better this season than he has for a couple of years.
Robertson v Trump should ensure an entertaining start to the championship.
Ronnie O'Sullivan has a good record against Dominic Dale but Mark Allen is unlikely to be doing cartwheels at the prospect of meeting an in form Matthew Stevens.
The two rookies, Jimmy Robertson and Andrew Pagett, will just be happy to be there. Robertson has a very tough match against Mark Selby but Pagett may fancy his chances against Jamie Cope, who tends to blow hot and cold.
The first round draw was made this morning:
Neil Robertson v Judd Trump
Marco Fu v Martin Gould
Graeme Dott v Mark King
Ali Carter v Dave Harold
Ding Junhui v Jamie Burnett
Peter Ebdon v Stuart Bingham
Stephen Hendry v Joe Perry
Mark Selby v Jimmy Robertson
Mark Williams v Ryan Day
Jamie Cope v Andrew Pagett
Mark Allen v Matthew Stevens
Stephen Maguire v Barry Hawkins
Shaun Murphy v Marcus Campbell
Ronnie O'Sullivan v Dominic Dale
Ricky Walden v Rory McLeod
John Higgins v Stephen Lee
At first glance, the two form players this season, John Higgins and Mark Williams, have been handed tough opening round ties.
However, neither Stephen Lee nor Ryan Day would have wanted to draw them. Lee has long regarded Higgins as the best player in the game and the form the Scot has shown this season means he remains favourite for the title, even though the Trowbridge man is playing much better this season than he has for a couple of years.
Robertson v Trump should ensure an entertaining start to the championship.
Ronnie O'Sullivan has a good record against Dominic Dale but Mark Allen is unlikely to be doing cartwheels at the prospect of meeting an in form Matthew Stevens.
The two rookies, Jimmy Robertson and Andrew Pagett, will just be happy to be there. Robertson has a very tough match against Mark Selby but Pagett may fancy his chances against Jamie Cope, who tends to blow hot and cold.
20.3.11
SHAUN'S SHOW
Shaun Murphy’s capture of the inaugural Players Tour Championship Grand Finals tonight was just rewards for a player for whom playing snooker is never a chore.
Murphy topped the PTC order of merit. He played in some events even after it was clear he had qualified for Dublin.
I like to see those who make the effort to show up, even when they don’t have to, receiving the spoils. Murphy fully deserves his £60,000 winner’s cheque.
His best performance in the tournament came at the quarter-final stage when he recovered from 3-1 down to beat Stephen Lee 4-3.
These were three world class frames from Murphy. He played superbly and did not lose a frame thereafter.
Bad luck to Martin Gould but a career best cheque for £25,000 will be some consolation.
Gould will be back in action on Monday morning in another Barry Hearn promotion, the Championship League (I’m guessing Martin won’t be calling for any future EGMs).
And so the first ever PTC series is over. The final was watched by a huge crowd in Dublin and clearly it is here to stay, presumably with a few tweaks here and there.
At the end of the day it’s more snooker, and that is to be welcomed...Championship League, China and then the Crucible, the next few weeks are full of green baize action.
Murphy topped the PTC order of merit. He played in some events even after it was clear he had qualified for Dublin.
I like to see those who make the effort to show up, even when they don’t have to, receiving the spoils. Murphy fully deserves his £60,000 winner’s cheque.
His best performance in the tournament came at the quarter-final stage when he recovered from 3-1 down to beat Stephen Lee 4-3.
These were three world class frames from Murphy. He played superbly and did not lose a frame thereafter.
Bad luck to Martin Gould but a career best cheque for £25,000 will be some consolation.
Gould will be back in action on Monday morning in another Barry Hearn promotion, the Championship League (I’m guessing Martin won’t be calling for any future EGMs).
And so the first ever PTC series is over. The final was watched by a huge crowd in Dublin and clearly it is here to stay, presumably with a few tweaks here and there.
At the end of the day it’s more snooker, and that is to be welcomed...Championship League, China and then the Crucible, the next few weeks are full of green baize action.
19.3.11
ALL GOULD
Hats off to Martin Gould for reaching his first televised semi-final in Dublin today.
Gould beat Michael Holt 4-2, winning a scrappy fourth frame on the pink before making breaks of 96 and 100 to ease into the last four.
The Players Tour Championship Grand Finals came along just at the right time. Gould has just qualified for the Crucible and will be in Beijing too so has every reason to be full of confidence.
His deadpan demeanour belies an extremely attacking game. I note he'swatched back the first two sessions of his second round match against Neil Robertson but not the last, in which he'd lost eight of the nine frames.
This is what's known as taking the positives, and a positive frame of mind is absolutely crucial.
Gould is due to be in action on Monday mornuing in group 7 of the Championship League in Essex so if he does win the title would be advised to delay the celebrations.
Gould beat Michael Holt 4-2, winning a scrappy fourth frame on the pink before making breaks of 96 and 100 to ease into the last four.
The Players Tour Championship Grand Finals came along just at the right time. Gould has just qualified for the Crucible and will be in Beijing too so has every reason to be full of confidence.
His deadpan demeanour belies an extremely attacking game. I note he'swatched back the first two sessions of his second round match against Neil Robertson but not the last, in which he'd lost eight of the nine frames.
This is what's known as taking the positives, and a positive frame of mind is absolutely crucial.
Gould is due to be in action on Monday mornuing in group 7 of the Championship League in Essex so if he does win the title would be advised to delay the celebrations.
18.3.11
ALEX'S LAST STAND
Alex Higgins would have turned 62 today.It seems fitting that the professional snooker circuit is in Ireland on such a day. It was at Goffs in County Kildare that Higgins won his last major title, the 1989 Irish Masters.
It was not long after he had broken his ankle after falling from the window of his flat following a row with his then partner.
Higgins was thought to be a fading star. His opponent in the final, 20 year-old Stephen Hendry, was very much in the ascendancy.
Goffs showring created a unique atmosphere still much missed by players and everyone else on the circuit.
They pulled for Higgins, of course, although Hendry also had his fans. It was a great match which the Hurricane finally won 9-8.
Unfortunately for him he was required to play in the World Championship qualifiers in Preston the next day and, though he was certainly playing well enough to mount a challenge at the Crucible, was beaten by Darren Morgan.
As time passes after his death, the myths and legends around him will grow.
One thing will never be in doubt, though: Alex Higgins was a great snooker player.
16.3.11
LAST CHANCE SALOON
Of the 23 players taking part in the PTC Grand Finals, 12 will also be at the Crucible.
For the rest – apart from Mark Davis and Gerard Greene, who have qualified for the China Open – Dublin represents a last chance saloon to rise up the rankings this season.
It’s that time of the snooker year again: if you’re still in the World Championship you are walking tall, the hat on the side of your head. If you’re not, you’re down in the dumps. The game’s biggest event is just around the corner and you’re not in it.
It makes a big difference in mindset. The season traditionally ends with the World Championship so if you’re already out the temptation, whether conscious or not, is just to go through the motions in any remaining event.
But the Grand Finals carries 3,000 points to the winner – plus the small matter of a £60,000 first prize – so the campaign could still end on a real high for one of the non-qualifiers.
Even so, the players with the momentum are those already booking their hotels for Sheffield.
One such is Matthew Stevens, who plays Greene tonight.
Stevens is the perfect example of how the increase in tournaments has helped players rediscover their touch.
The Welshman has always been a great talent but in previous seasons found it hard to get any confidence on board due to the stop/start nature of the schedule.
Like Stephen Lee, another former ranking event winner, he has found that playing more has seen his form return.
Now it seems he is playing all the time. Even if he wins the title on Sunday he will be at Crondon Park next Monday for a possible four days of Championship League, then straight on the plane to Beijing and, a fortnight after that finishes, the Crucible beckons.
Stevens will be full of confidence, all due to a single ball, the black he potted to beat Fergal O’Brien 10-9 in the final qualifying round.
After potting it he did something out of character: clenched his fist and screamed with delight.
That’s what it means to be Crucible bound, and that’s why the players headed there are likely to be the ones to watch over the next few days.
For the rest – apart from Mark Davis and Gerard Greene, who have qualified for the China Open – Dublin represents a last chance saloon to rise up the rankings this season.
It’s that time of the snooker year again: if you’re still in the World Championship you are walking tall, the hat on the side of your head. If you’re not, you’re down in the dumps. The game’s biggest event is just around the corner and you’re not in it.
It makes a big difference in mindset. The season traditionally ends with the World Championship so if you’re already out the temptation, whether conscious or not, is just to go through the motions in any remaining event.
But the Grand Finals carries 3,000 points to the winner – plus the small matter of a £60,000 first prize – so the campaign could still end on a real high for one of the non-qualifiers.
Even so, the players with the momentum are those already booking their hotels for Sheffield.
One such is Matthew Stevens, who plays Greene tonight.
Stevens is the perfect example of how the increase in tournaments has helped players rediscover their touch.
The Welshman has always been a great talent but in previous seasons found it hard to get any confidence on board due to the stop/start nature of the schedule.
Like Stephen Lee, another former ranking event winner, he has found that playing more has seen his form return.
Now it seems he is playing all the time. Even if he wins the title on Sunday he will be at Crondon Park next Monday for a possible four days of Championship League, then straight on the plane to Beijing and, a fortnight after that finishes, the Crucible beckons.
Stevens will be full of confidence, all due to a single ball, the black he potted to beat Fergal O’Brien 10-9 in the final qualifying round.
After potting it he did something out of character: clenched his fist and screamed with delight.
That’s what it means to be Crucible bound, and that’s why the players headed there are likely to be the ones to watch over the next few days.
15.3.11
THE PTC'S GRAND FINALE
The field for the partycasino.com Players Tour Championship Grand Finals, which start tomorrow, features a smattering of star names, some established players and a few rank outsiders.
The PTC series was a major cornerstone of the changes introduced by Barry Hearn: 12 tournaments worth £10,000 (or Euro) to the winner of each with a Grand Finals worth £60,000 to the eventual champion.
Most players embraced the chance to compete for such prize money, earn ranking points and get invaluable match practice.
It wasn’t a perfect first year. Many players feel the set up in Sheffield is far from ideal – snooker fans who can’t get in to watch would doubtless agree.
Hearn admits it was a mistake to limit qualification for the Grand Finals to players who had played in at least three UK and three European PTCs.
This meant that even though Ding Junhui and John Higgins won titles and finished inside the top 24 on the order of merit, they are not eligible to go to Dublin.
Among the other well known faces missing are Neil Robertson, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Stephen Hendry and Ali Carter.
Mark Williams, Mark Selby and Shaun Murphy are there but Stephen Maguire has withdrawn due to his wife’s imminent delivery of their new baby.
There were teething problems this season but once something is established it can be changed. Next season’s PTC standings are likely to be determined purely on a money list.
And anyway, this was a straight meritocracy. All players came in at the first round stage and the 24 players in Dublin deserve their places.
The Grand Finals represent a great chance for some of the game’s lower ranked players, such as Joe Jogia, Jamie Jones, Jack Lisowski and Barry Pinches.
On one point, though, I believe a mistake has been made. All matches are best of seven, including the final. Fair enough, this was the format for all the PTCs but a best of seven final for £60,000 seems far too short. It should be at least best of 11 to provide a sufficient test.
It will be interesting to see to what extent Irish snooker fans take to this tournament, the first carrying ranking points staged in the Republic for six years.
It’s St. Patrick’s week so attention may be turned elsewhere, although tickets for the weekend are apparently selling well.
Overall, the PTC series has been a welcome addition to the calendar. There is plenty of scope for it to grow in future years, particularly in Europe.
It’s worth remembering that the World Championship itself started off so small scale that the trophy still competed for today was bought using half the entry fees from the original championship in 1927.
You have to start somewhere and the next few days represent another chance for points, money and glory.
The PTC series was a major cornerstone of the changes introduced by Barry Hearn: 12 tournaments worth £10,000 (or Euro) to the winner of each with a Grand Finals worth £60,000 to the eventual champion.
Most players embraced the chance to compete for such prize money, earn ranking points and get invaluable match practice.
It wasn’t a perfect first year. Many players feel the set up in Sheffield is far from ideal – snooker fans who can’t get in to watch would doubtless agree.
Hearn admits it was a mistake to limit qualification for the Grand Finals to players who had played in at least three UK and three European PTCs.
This meant that even though Ding Junhui and John Higgins won titles and finished inside the top 24 on the order of merit, they are not eligible to go to Dublin.
Among the other well known faces missing are Neil Robertson, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Stephen Hendry and Ali Carter.
Mark Williams, Mark Selby and Shaun Murphy are there but Stephen Maguire has withdrawn due to his wife’s imminent delivery of their new baby.
There were teething problems this season but once something is established it can be changed. Next season’s PTC standings are likely to be determined purely on a money list.
And anyway, this was a straight meritocracy. All players came in at the first round stage and the 24 players in Dublin deserve their places.
The Grand Finals represent a great chance for some of the game’s lower ranked players, such as Joe Jogia, Jamie Jones, Jack Lisowski and Barry Pinches.
On one point, though, I believe a mistake has been made. All matches are best of seven, including the final. Fair enough, this was the format for all the PTCs but a best of seven final for £60,000 seems far too short. It should be at least best of 11 to provide a sufficient test.
It will be interesting to see to what extent Irish snooker fans take to this tournament, the first carrying ranking points staged in the Republic for six years.
It’s St. Patrick’s week so attention may be turned elsewhere, although tickets for the weekend are apparently selling well.
Overall, the PTC series has been a welcome addition to the calendar. There is plenty of scope for it to grow in future years, particularly in Europe.
It’s worth remembering that the World Championship itself started off so small scale that the trophy still competed for today was bought using half the entry fees from the original championship in 1927.
You have to start somewhere and the next few days represent another chance for points, money and glory.
MAGUIRE WITHDRAWS FROM PTC FINALS
Stephen Maguire has withdrawn from the PTC grand finals as his wife is about to give birth.
Stuart Bingham receives a walkover into the last 16.
Maguire and his wife, Sharon, have two children, Finn and Faith.
Stuart Bingham receives a walkover into the last 16.
Maguire and his wife, Sharon, have two children, Finn and Faith.
DIDN'T THEY DO WELL?
John Higgins captured the recent Hainan Classic in China, for which he won £40,000.
It looked a lot of fun, too. Hainan Island is by all accounts a beautiful destination, particularly for golf lovers of which there are many in the snooker world.
The entertaining off table seemed pretty spectacular as well, although to the untrained eye it appears that the players have landed in some dystopian version of The Generation Game.
Warning: this clip includes Stephen Hendry taking part in traditional Chinese dancing.
Meanwhile, Ali Carter and Jamie Cope take part in a coconut drinking game.
It looked a lot of fun, too. Hainan Island is by all accounts a beautiful destination, particularly for golf lovers of which there are many in the snooker world.
The entertaining off table seemed pretty spectacular as well, although to the untrained eye it appears that the players have landed in some dystopian version of The Generation Game.
Warning: this clip includes Stephen Hendry taking part in traditional Chinese dancing.
Meanwhile, Ali Carter and Jamie Cope take part in a coconut drinking game.
14.3.11
KEEPING UP APPEARANCES
While we have a minute, here are the 32 players at the Crucible this season by their number of appearances in the final stages (including this year).
It is a pretty experienced line-up with mainly familiar faces, plus newcomers Andrew Pagett and Jimmy Robertson.
Stephen Hendry: 26
Peter Ebdon: 20
Ronnie O'Sullivan: 19
John Higgins: 17
Stephen Lee: 16
Mark Williams: 15
Graeme Dott, Mark King: 13
Matthew Stevens: 12
Marco Fu, Dave Harold: 11
Joe Perry: 10
Ali Carter, Shaun Murphy: 9
Stephen Maguire: 8
Ryan Day, Neil Robertson, Mark Selby: 7
Dominic Dale, Barry Hawkins: 6
Mark Allen, Stuart Bingham, Ding Junhui: 5
Jamie Cope: 4
Jamie Burnett, Marcus Campbell, Martin Gould: 3
Rory McLeod, Judd Trump, Ricky Walden: 2
Andrew Pagett, Jimmy Robertson: 1
There are eight world champions in the field and 18 winners of major ranking titles.
The seven nations represented are England (17), Scotland (6), Wales (5), Australia (1), China (1), Hong Kong (1) and Northern Ireland (1).
It is a pretty experienced line-up with mainly familiar faces, plus newcomers Andrew Pagett and Jimmy Robertson.
Stephen Hendry: 26
Peter Ebdon: 20
Ronnie O'Sullivan: 19
John Higgins: 17
Stephen Lee: 16
Mark Williams: 15
Graeme Dott, Mark King: 13
Matthew Stevens: 12
Marco Fu, Dave Harold: 11
Joe Perry: 10
Ali Carter, Shaun Murphy: 9
Stephen Maguire: 8
Ryan Day, Neil Robertson, Mark Selby: 7
Dominic Dale, Barry Hawkins: 6
Mark Allen, Stuart Bingham, Ding Junhui: 5
Jamie Cope: 4
Jamie Burnett, Marcus Campbell, Martin Gould: 3
Rory McLeod, Judd Trump, Ricky Walden: 2
Andrew Pagett, Jimmy Robertson: 1
There are eight world champions in the field and 18 winners of major ranking titles.
The seven nations represented are England (17), Scotland (6), Wales (5), Australia (1), China (1), Hong Kong (1) and Northern Ireland (1).
13.3.11
NEW FACES AT THE CRUCIBLE
There will be two Crucible debutants this year, taking the number of players to have competed at the famous Sheffield theatre since the World Championship moved there in 1977 to 179.
Andrew Pagett won four matches to qualify, beating Andrew Higginson 10-6 in the final round.
Pagett practises with - and is relentlessly teased by - Mark Williams. He will become the 16th Welshman to play at the Crucible.
Jimmy Robertson, a former English amateur champion, won all seven frames in the evening session to beat 1997 Crucible winner Ken Doherty 10-6.
Robertson's story is an interesting one. He was a supremely talented junior who originally qualified for the professional circuit at the age of just 16.
But he was too young to know what he was doing and won only one match before being relegated.
His career went backwards and he took on part time jobs, such as stacking shelves in a supermarket, to provide the money to continue practising.
But there were greater problems than merely financial. Robertson came to realise he was shaking while on the shot and that it was not just nerves.
His condition was believed to be dystonia, a disorder which causes involuntary muscle spasms.
He consulted a specialist and, thankfully, the condition improved.
Professional snooker is a precarious way to make a living. Its cut-throat nature means that most of the tour don't earn fortunes. Some hardly earn a penny.
With this in mind, Robertson as become the owner of a snooker club in Bexhill which his parents help to run.
He is a member of Paul Mount's 'pink ribbon' brigade and, at last, has made a big and meaningful breakthrough.
I'm disappointed for Ken because he's a good guy and popular player but he has won the world title and tonight's defeat doesn't take any of the shine off that.
But what a night for Robertson and what a month in prospect as he and Pagett get ready for the greatest snooker show on earth.
Having spent years watching it on TV, they are going to be part of it.
For a snooker player, it doesn't get any more exciting than that.
Andrew Pagett won four matches to qualify, beating Andrew Higginson 10-6 in the final round.
Pagett practises with - and is relentlessly teased by - Mark Williams. He will become the 16th Welshman to play at the Crucible.
Jimmy Robertson, a former English amateur champion, won all seven frames in the evening session to beat 1997 Crucible winner Ken Doherty 10-6.
Robertson's story is an interesting one. He was a supremely talented junior who originally qualified for the professional circuit at the age of just 16.
But he was too young to know what he was doing and won only one match before being relegated.
His career went backwards and he took on part time jobs, such as stacking shelves in a supermarket, to provide the money to continue practising.
But there were greater problems than merely financial. Robertson came to realise he was shaking while on the shot and that it was not just nerves.
His condition was believed to be dystonia, a disorder which causes involuntary muscle spasms.
He consulted a specialist and, thankfully, the condition improved.
Professional snooker is a precarious way to make a living. Its cut-throat nature means that most of the tour don't earn fortunes. Some hardly earn a penny.
With this in mind, Robertson as become the owner of a snooker club in Bexhill which his parents help to run.
He is a member of Paul Mount's 'pink ribbon' brigade and, at last, has made a big and meaningful breakthrough.
I'm disappointed for Ken because he's a good guy and popular player but he has won the world title and tonight's defeat doesn't take any of the shine off that.
But what a night for Robertson and what a month in prospect as he and Pagett get ready for the greatest snooker show on earth.
Having spent years watching it on TV, they are going to be part of it.
For a snooker player, it doesn't get any more exciting than that.
11.3.11
THE FINAL HURDLE
The stage is set for the last round of qualifying for the Betfred.com World Championship, which features four players who have never before played at the Crucible.
Andrew Pagett made a dramatic late night escape to beat Nigel Bond 10-9, having got the two snookers he needed in the decider.
Pagett is a mate of Mark Williams. I watched some of his match the other day against Bjorn Haneveer and he seemed to be striking the ball with real confidence.
I’ve been very impressed with Liu Song this season for making the most of the chance he was given to play on the tour first through John Higgins’s suspension and then because of the retirement of Patrick Einsle.
Liu is one of three Chinese players in the final round so there could be four Chinese in the TV stages, plus Hong Kong’s Marco Fu.
Matt Selt has played well enough the past couple of seasons to suggest he can make it through, although Marcus Campbell has had a good season and got himself into the top 32 for the first time.
Jimmy Robertson is no relation to the reigning world champion – although that didn’t stop the hapless Press Association describing him as an Australian in the results the other day – but could do with some of Neil’s grit when he faces Ken Doherty, the 1997 Crucible winner.
Robertson, a former English amateur champion, staved off a late rally from Tony Drago yesterday and has plenty of momentum behind him but he, like all the rest, will be understandably nervy with the Crucible now within touching distance.
So there could be a few new faces at the Crucible and there may be an old one too after Steve Davis raised his game to come from 7-3 down to beat Jack Lisowski 10-9.
Davis, who first won the world title 30 years ago, made two centuries and displayed the iron competitive spirit that has sustained his long, glorious career.
Stephen Lee would have to be favourite to win their match on recent form but Davis just seems to find an extra couple of gears in the World Championship.
He’s played at the Crucible 30 times before but you can tell it would still mean everything to him to appear there again.
Final qualifying round draw:
Mark Davis v Rory McLeod
Joe Perry v Liu Song
Liang Wenbo v Jamie Burnett
Mark King v Mike Dunn
Dominic Dale v Michael Holt
Martin Gould v Robert Milkins
Ryan Day v Liu Chuang
Judd Trump v Dave Gilbert
Matthew Stevens v Fergal O’Brien
Marcus Campbell v Matt Selt
Barry Hawkins v Anthony Hamilton
Stephen Lee v Steve Davis
Gerard Greene v Dave Harold
Stuart Bingham v Alan McManus
Andrew Higginson v Andrew Pagett
Ken Doherty v Jimmy Robertson
Andrew Pagett made a dramatic late night escape to beat Nigel Bond 10-9, having got the two snookers he needed in the decider.
Pagett is a mate of Mark Williams. I watched some of his match the other day against Bjorn Haneveer and he seemed to be striking the ball with real confidence.
I’ve been very impressed with Liu Song this season for making the most of the chance he was given to play on the tour first through John Higgins’s suspension and then because of the retirement of Patrick Einsle.
Liu is one of three Chinese players in the final round so there could be four Chinese in the TV stages, plus Hong Kong’s Marco Fu.
Matt Selt has played well enough the past couple of seasons to suggest he can make it through, although Marcus Campbell has had a good season and got himself into the top 32 for the first time.
Jimmy Robertson is no relation to the reigning world champion – although that didn’t stop the hapless Press Association describing him as an Australian in the results the other day – but could do with some of Neil’s grit when he faces Ken Doherty, the 1997 Crucible winner.
Robertson, a former English amateur champion, staved off a late rally from Tony Drago yesterday and has plenty of momentum behind him but he, like all the rest, will be understandably nervy with the Crucible now within touching distance.
So there could be a few new faces at the Crucible and there may be an old one too after Steve Davis raised his game to come from 7-3 down to beat Jack Lisowski 10-9.
Davis, who first won the world title 30 years ago, made two centuries and displayed the iron competitive spirit that has sustained his long, glorious career.
Stephen Lee would have to be favourite to win their match on recent form but Davis just seems to find an extra couple of gears in the World Championship.
He’s played at the Crucible 30 times before but you can tell it would still mean everything to him to appear there again.
Final qualifying round draw:
Mark Davis v Rory McLeod
Joe Perry v Liu Song
Liang Wenbo v Jamie Burnett
Mark King v Mike Dunn
Dominic Dale v Michael Holt
Martin Gould v Robert Milkins
Ryan Day v Liu Chuang
Judd Trump v Dave Gilbert
Matthew Stevens v Fergal O’Brien
Marcus Campbell v Matt Selt
Barry Hawkins v Anthony Hamilton
Stephen Lee v Steve Davis
Gerard Greene v Dave Harold
Stuart Bingham v Alan McManus
Andrew Higginson v Andrew Pagett
Ken Doherty v Jimmy Robertson
10.3.11
MASTER V PUPIL
Jack Lisowski wasn’t alive for any of Steve Davis’s six world title triumphs but will know more about his opponent in today’s Betfred.com World Championship qualifiers than Davis will know about him.This is an intriguing clash of styles and generations, the oldest player in the tournament against one of the youngest to have reached the penultimate qualifying round.
Lisowski, 19, did so on Tuesday by beating Kuldesh Johal 10-7. Resuming 5-4 down he won the first three but suffered a kick in the last before the interval, lost it and, having never experienced the intense atmosphere of the World Championship, spent the 15 minute break in a state of some distress.
Then, all this went away when he returned to the match table to find Johal had not turned up in time and was docked a frame. Suddenly it was 8-6 and Lisowski won 10-7.
“I’ve never felt so angry after that kick. I just wanted to scream but then he never turned up,” he said.
“You don’t feel like you’ve earned the frame but it happened to me earlier in the season and that helped me to concentrate.”
Davis, 53, will receive considerable nostalgic support. He first played in the World Championship when Jim Callaghan was prime minister and is surely snooker’s greatest ever ambassador.
But Lisowski is also fast establishing a following. Like the black pudding industry, snooker needs a steady flow of fresh blood if it is to renew itself. Young players have been coming through slower than ever in recent years but the Gloucester teenager has had an excellent debut season and there are many hoping he goes all the way to the Crucible.
He is, Colin Firth-like, a racing certainty to win Newcomer of the Year at the revived World Snooker Awards in May.
Against Davis, he will find his fledgling tactical game tested like never before. It will be a lesson in safety play but if he can get in and score has every chance.
He has every right to believe in himself. Lisowski is confident but not cocky. He is grounded enough not to get carried away with life on the tour.
What a proud moment, too, for his parents, Nick and Tracey, who will of course remember Davis from their younger days. Now, their son is playing him in the World Championship.
“One of the videos I've got at home is of when he beat Ronnie O’Sullivan to win the Masters. Steve is one of the all time greats and I’m relishing playing him,” Lisowski said.
“It’ll be a proper test. He could totally outplay me, but I could get in and start potting a few.”
9.3.11
HAINAN CLASSIC INFO
The Hainan Classic starts tomorrow so here is some information.
The first two days are played over a round robin format, best of three frames.
GROUP A
John Higgins, Peter Ebdon, Stephen Hendry and Li Yan
GROUP B
Neil Robertson, Jamie Cope, Cao Yupeng and Jin Long
GROUP C
Shaun Murphy, Ali Carter, Dennis Taylor and Tian Pengfei
GROUP D
Ding Junhui, Graeme Dott, Ricky Walden and Yu Delu
The TV matches on Thursday are:
Session 1 (7am CET) - Higgins v Ebdon, Carter v Taylor, Robertson v Cao
Session 2 (12pm CET) - Ding v Dott, Murphy v Tian, Robertson v Cope
(Note: CET is an hour ahead of UK time)
The winner of each group progresses to the semi-finals on Saturday, which are best of nine frames.
Sunday's final is best of 13 frames.
The total prize fund is £100,000 with the winner pocketing £40,000.
Eurosport 2 has live coverage of tomorrow's two sessions.
The first two days are played over a round robin format, best of three frames.
GROUP A
John Higgins, Peter Ebdon, Stephen Hendry and Li Yan
GROUP B
Neil Robertson, Jamie Cope, Cao Yupeng and Jin Long
GROUP C
Shaun Murphy, Ali Carter, Dennis Taylor and Tian Pengfei
GROUP D
Ding Junhui, Graeme Dott, Ricky Walden and Yu Delu
The TV matches on Thursday are:
Session 1 (7am CET) - Higgins v Ebdon, Carter v Taylor, Robertson v Cao
Session 2 (12pm CET) - Ding v Dott, Murphy v Tian, Robertson v Cope
(Note: CET is an hour ahead of UK time)
The winner of each group progresses to the semi-finals on Saturday, which are best of nine frames.
Sunday's final is best of 13 frames.
The total prize fund is £100,000 with the winner pocketing £40,000.
Eurosport 2 has live coverage of tomorrow's two sessions.
8.3.11
DREAMING OF THE CRUCIBLE
It’s a long road to the Crucible but not as long as it once was.
In 1992, Spencer Dunn won a record 11 matches to qualify for that season’s World Championship. These qualifiers were, for reasons unknown, played in September – nearer the previous season’s event than the one the players were competing in.
It helped create some surprise qualifiers: Dunn, John Giles and Shaun Mellish, who earned the distinction of becoming the first player to sport an earring at the Crucible.
Among the other qualifiers were Karl Payne, who later appeared on TV singing as Rick Astley on ‘Stars in Their Eyes’, and some teenager by the name of Ronnie O’Sullivan.
Most years you get at least one qualifier who is, even to many snooker fans, a complete unknown.
Last year it was Zhang Anda. In 1992 it was Chris Small, who won eight matches to qualify before beating Doug Mountjoy in the first round.
John Parrott has qualified more often than any other player, a total of nine times. Tony Drago and Nigel Bond can equal this record if they make it through this year.
Were Bond to lose in the final qualifying round he would equal Michael Judge’s record for most defeats – seven – at this stage.
For more – much more – of all this I can recommend Chris Downer’s excellent Crucible Almanac, available through Snooker Scene’s mail order service.
Of course it means a hell of a lot to get through to the Crucible, which is why the snooker is not always the most free flowing.
A decade ago I sat with a handful of other poor saps in Newport waiting for the final match of the final qualifying round to finish.
At 1.40am, Gary Wilkinson duly beat Jason Ferguson 10-9. Their contest clocked in at 11 hours, 38 minutes duration, the longest ever best of 19 frame encounter.
Gary (who won 10-9) is now working diligently backstage for World Snooker – waiting for everyone else to finish – while Jason has become WPBSA chairman.
The rest of us present that night formed a support group and meet regularly in a church basement.
Jimmy White starts out today as he bids to reach the Crucible for a 26th time.
It’s 27 years since White was first in the world final. Many players on the current professional circuit were not even alive.
Some weren’t even alive when he played Stephen Hendry in their first final 21 years ago but they, like Jimmy, are fully aware how special the World Championship is and how much it would mean to be part of that 32-man field when the draw is made on March 21.
In 1992, Spencer Dunn won a record 11 matches to qualify for that season’s World Championship. These qualifiers were, for reasons unknown, played in September – nearer the previous season’s event than the one the players were competing in.
It helped create some surprise qualifiers: Dunn, John Giles and Shaun Mellish, who earned the distinction of becoming the first player to sport an earring at the Crucible.
Among the other qualifiers were Karl Payne, who later appeared on TV singing as Rick Astley on ‘Stars in Their Eyes’, and some teenager by the name of Ronnie O’Sullivan.
Most years you get at least one qualifier who is, even to many snooker fans, a complete unknown.
Last year it was Zhang Anda. In 1992 it was Chris Small, who won eight matches to qualify before beating Doug Mountjoy in the first round.
John Parrott has qualified more often than any other player, a total of nine times. Tony Drago and Nigel Bond can equal this record if they make it through this year.
Were Bond to lose in the final qualifying round he would equal Michael Judge’s record for most defeats – seven – at this stage.
For more – much more – of all this I can recommend Chris Downer’s excellent Crucible Almanac, available through Snooker Scene’s mail order service.
Of course it means a hell of a lot to get through to the Crucible, which is why the snooker is not always the most free flowing.
A decade ago I sat with a handful of other poor saps in Newport waiting for the final match of the final qualifying round to finish.
At 1.40am, Gary Wilkinson duly beat Jason Ferguson 10-9. Their contest clocked in at 11 hours, 38 minutes duration, the longest ever best of 19 frame encounter.
Gary (who won 10-9) is now working diligently backstage for World Snooker – waiting for everyone else to finish – while Jason has become WPBSA chairman.
The rest of us present that night formed a support group and meet regularly in a church basement.
Jimmy White starts out today as he bids to reach the Crucible for a 26th time.
It’s 27 years since White was first in the world final. Many players on the current professional circuit were not even alive.
Some weren’t even alive when he played Stephen Hendry in their first final 21 years ago but they, like Jimmy, are fully aware how special the World Championship is and how much it would mean to be part of that 32-man field when the draw is made on March 21.
7.3.11
GRAEME DOTT'S ROAD TO THE TOP
Graeme Dott’s new autobiography “Frame of Mind” is rare for a snooker book in that it presents its subject as he actually is, not as he would like to be perceived.The book is unmistakably Dott: forthright, to the point and devoid of self promoting embellishment.
It details his rise from a boyhood spent on the notorious Easterhouse estate in Glasgow to world champion and then the depression that came in the wake of the death of his long time manager, Alex Lambie.
Make no mistake, Dott came from humble beginnings. When he and his mother would leave their house she would turn and wave back towards it, even if it was empty, to deter the break-ins that were common in this socially deprived environment.
His family were a model of working class pride: they didn’t have much money but they worked hard, did the best for their kids and looked out for each other.
What they clearly instilled in Dott was that to get anywhere in life you had to work for it, and he threw himself into snooker, battling against various odds, including pneumonia, depression, a broken wrist and, of course, the other players.
Defying the odds seems to be the theme of his life and perhaps this explains why Dott has such a vast a range of things that annoy him, which veer from the understandable to the comical.
His contempt for the WPBSA board who tried to discipline him for having an opinion was well placed but quite why he is angered by TV commentators saying players have a cup of tea at the interval – which he claims never happens – I have no idea.
But in some ways it doesn’t matter because Dott has always had a me-against-the-world attitude and it has served him well. He seems fuelled by a desire to prove everyone wrong, and he did do when he became world champion.
His account of his depression and how he came out of it is moving and inspiring.
Comic relief is provided by vignettes such as his son’s pet guinea pig sitting on Dotty’s shoulder and urinating on him, or the time he proposed to his wife, Elaine, by ‘cooking’ her a microwaved meal.
Dott has a nice, self-deprecating style but he doesn’t hold back in his criticisms.
And on one group of people Dott could not be more trenchant: the press. He dislikes them and spends a whole chapter detailing the numerous ways they have done him down.
Writing as a journalist who has covered snooker through most of Dott’s professional career I would say some of this is true but much of it is imagined.
Like many players, Dott will have found himself misrepresented on the odd occasion, although in my experience this is usually done through incompetence or misunderstanding rather than as part of some grand conspiracy to bring a player down.
Dott comments that most journalists have “never held a snooker cue.” This may be true. There was one snooker correspondent of a national newspaper who didn’t know how much the yellow was worth.
But, just as journalists have never been players, Dott has never been a journalist and has no idea how the media works.
He certainly has no idea how hard it is to get snooker stories into a largely apathetic press, or how hard the committed band of journalists who cover the circuit work.
He criticises those who criticised the manner of his world final triumph over Peter Ebdon in 2006. “Much of what was written was vile,” he says. However, just a few pages later he himself describes the match as “dreadful” and “horrible.”
I would agree with him that he deserved more credit for becoming world champion. This achievement was not isolated to one match against Ebdon but the result of a lifetime of hard work, commitment and dedication.
I would argue with anyone who describes Graeme as an unworthy winner of the World Championship. The fact that he has appeared in two other Crucible finals is further testament to his talent and application.
At the end of the book, Dott says that he feels anyone who knows him will like him.
I would agree with that because I always have. He is an honest, decent player and person with integrity and the guts to speak his mind rather than hide behind platitudes.
It is entirely right that he has his say and his story is proof that sport offers a way out of unpromising beginnings.
In the book, Dott muses on Easterhouse today, with its crime and social problems. He must wonder what would have become of him had he not had snooker.
But he did and through his own endeavours he climbed to the top of the world.
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