Here's a chance to find out as I put my head on the block by predicting who will come through the Royal London Watches Grand Prix qualifiers at Prestatyn next week...
Group A: Ricky Walden and Tian Pengfei
Group B: Sean Storey and Michael Judge
Group C: Jamie Cope and Rory McLeod
Group D: Judd Trump and Dave Gilbert
Group E: Gerard Greene and David Morris
Group F: Adrian Gunnell and Stuart Pettman
Group G: Paul Davies and Ben Woollaston
Group H: Mark Allen and Tom Ford
Fingers crossed!
26.9.06
21.9.06
THE DEPRESSING TRUTH ABOUT RONNIE
Watching Stephen Fry’s programme on manic depression on BBC2 the other day I couldn’t help thinking of Ronnie O’Sullivan.
Fry explored the bipolar condition that causes sufferers to experience both extreme highs and crushing lows.
Ronnie has been treated for depression and his moods seem to swing between the two ends of the spectrum with alarming unpredictability.
Of course, this has affected his career to the extent that he hasn’t won as many tournaments as his talent deserves.
However, it has also helped fashion him as an enigma, whose curious statements and behaviour add to the excitement of how he plays.
In his autobiography, O’Sullivan talked of how Prozac helped him to control the problem but it clearly persists.
Watching Fry’s programme, you wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
Fry explored the bipolar condition that causes sufferers to experience both extreme highs and crushing lows.
Ronnie has been treated for depression and his moods seem to swing between the two ends of the spectrum with alarming unpredictability.
Of course, this has affected his career to the extent that he hasn’t won as many tournaments as his talent deserves.
However, it has also helped fashion him as an enigma, whose curious statements and behaviour add to the excitement of how he plays.
In his autobiography, O’Sullivan talked of how Prozac helped him to control the problem but it clearly persists.
Watching Fry’s programme, you wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
18.9.06
HENDRY: SHY BUT NOT RETIRING
Stephen Hendry once vowed to retire at 30. He’s now 37 and still going strong.
Then again, he was in his early 20s when he made his claim and 30 must have seemed a long way off.
Hendry, the most successful player in snooker history, is back as world no.1 in the rankings eight years after relinquishing pole position. Remarkably, it is 16 years since he first secured top spot.
The Scot has won seven Crucible titles, five UK Championships, six Wembley Masters crowns and a total of 36 ranking event trophies – eight more than nearest challenger Steve Davis.
He has compiled more centuries than any other player – close to 700 – and has amassed over £8m in prize money.
On the face of it, he’s done it all and could, in theory, retire happily. But what would be the point if he still believes he can provide a significant challenge to his younger rivals?
I don’t think Hendry is the player he was in the early to mid 1990s, when he was quite simply the best the game has ever seen. He took snooker to a different level and his commitment and total self belief were to be admired.
There’s few in the game who didn’t wish Jimmy White had won at least one of their four world finals but Hendry was there to do his job and did so with considerable authority.
Not everyone took to him. They mistook his innate shyness for aloofness and contrasted his quiet determination with White's natural ebullience.
An edge has gone from Hendry’s game, though on his day he is still a force to be reckoned with. I think it is chiefly his concentration that is the problem. He never enjoyed safety, preferring to attack, but now seems completely unwilling to engage in the tactical side of the game.
He misses the odd pot here and there that would have been unthinkable 10-15 years ago and is a less frequent visitor to the game’s winner’s circle as a result.
All this is inevitable. It happened to Steve Davis as he got older. It happens to all players.
However, I wouldn’t back against Hendry collecting further silverware. All he needs is a week in which everything goes right again. At his best, he is still one of the very best.
Retirement at 30 didn’t happen. I’d bet on him being around long after he turns 40.
Then again, he was in his early 20s when he made his claim and 30 must have seemed a long way off.
Hendry, the most successful player in snooker history, is back as world no.1 in the rankings eight years after relinquishing pole position. Remarkably, it is 16 years since he first secured top spot.
The Scot has won seven Crucible titles, five UK Championships, six Wembley Masters crowns and a total of 36 ranking event trophies – eight more than nearest challenger Steve Davis.
He has compiled more centuries than any other player – close to 700 – and has amassed over £8m in prize money.
On the face of it, he’s done it all and could, in theory, retire happily. But what would be the point if he still believes he can provide a significant challenge to his younger rivals?
I don’t think Hendry is the player he was in the early to mid 1990s, when he was quite simply the best the game has ever seen. He took snooker to a different level and his commitment and total self belief were to be admired.
There’s few in the game who didn’t wish Jimmy White had won at least one of their four world finals but Hendry was there to do his job and did so with considerable authority.
Not everyone took to him. They mistook his innate shyness for aloofness and contrasted his quiet determination with White's natural ebullience.
An edge has gone from Hendry’s game, though on his day he is still a force to be reckoned with. I think it is chiefly his concentration that is the problem. He never enjoyed safety, preferring to attack, but now seems completely unwilling to engage in the tactical side of the game.
He misses the odd pot here and there that would have been unthinkable 10-15 years ago and is a less frequent visitor to the game’s winner’s circle as a result.
All this is inevitable. It happened to Steve Davis as he got older. It happens to all players.
However, I wouldn’t back against Hendry collecting further silverware. All he needs is a week in which everything goes right again. At his best, he is still one of the very best.
Retirement at 30 didn’t happen. I’d bet on him being around long after he turns 40.
14.9.06
RONNIE AND DING SET TO RENEW RIVALRY
The big money Betfred Premier League kicks off for another year tonight, with the first match featuring the two favourites for the title.
Ronnie O’Sullivan has won the event for the last two years and is as short as evens with the Tote to complete a hat-trick.
It’s an ideal competition for O’Sullivan. Uniquely, there is a 25 seconds per shot time limit in operation, which means players have to get on with it, limiting the amount of safety play.
Also, O’Sullivan is known to hate having to hang around at week long tournaments, where there may be two or three days between matches. In the League, he merely has to breeze in, play his match and then breeze out again.
There is a huge financial incentive on offer as well. The top prize is £50,000 – more than most ranking events – and players receive £1,000 for every frame won plus another £1,000 for every century.
O’Sullivan scooped £87,000 from the event last year and will be highly motivated to top up his bank balance still further.
However, his opponent in Carlisle tonight, China’s Ding Jun Hui, comes into the event having beaten O’Sullivan 9-6 in the season’s first tournament, last month’s Northern Ireland Trophy.
Ding, still only 19, plays the same flowing sort of game as O’Sullivan and is his main rival to League success this season.
The League line-up is determined by promoters Matchroom and their decision to exclude John Higgins, the only player to win more than one major title last season, has raised eyebrows.
Instead, Stephen Hendry, Ken Doherty, world champion Graeme Dott and veterans Steve Davis and Jimmy White have been given the nod.
Hendry, six times the champion, is in action tonight against Dott, who will surely struggle at first with the shot-clock.
Dott’s style is resolutely methodical – he battled against Peter Ebdon for 14 hours in their world final – and he will have to change his entire game if he’s to make any impact on the League.
Hendry, though back to no.1 in the world, has not produced consistently good form for a couple of years but his fast, attacking style of play is tailor made for success in the League, which is why he’s only once failed to qualify for the semi-finals in the 14 years since play-offs were introduced.
Ronnie O’Sullivan has won the event for the last two years and is as short as evens with the Tote to complete a hat-trick.
It’s an ideal competition for O’Sullivan. Uniquely, there is a 25 seconds per shot time limit in operation, which means players have to get on with it, limiting the amount of safety play.
Also, O’Sullivan is known to hate having to hang around at week long tournaments, where there may be two or three days between matches. In the League, he merely has to breeze in, play his match and then breeze out again.
There is a huge financial incentive on offer as well. The top prize is £50,000 – more than most ranking events – and players receive £1,000 for every frame won plus another £1,000 for every century.
O’Sullivan scooped £87,000 from the event last year and will be highly motivated to top up his bank balance still further.
However, his opponent in Carlisle tonight, China’s Ding Jun Hui, comes into the event having beaten O’Sullivan 9-6 in the season’s first tournament, last month’s Northern Ireland Trophy.
Ding, still only 19, plays the same flowing sort of game as O’Sullivan and is his main rival to League success this season.
The League line-up is determined by promoters Matchroom and their decision to exclude John Higgins, the only player to win more than one major title last season, has raised eyebrows.
Instead, Stephen Hendry, Ken Doherty, world champion Graeme Dott and veterans Steve Davis and Jimmy White have been given the nod.
Hendry, six times the champion, is in action tonight against Dott, who will surely struggle at first with the shot-clock.
Dott’s style is resolutely methodical – he battled against Peter Ebdon for 14 hours in their world final – and he will have to change his entire game if he’s to make any impact on the League.
Hendry, though back to no.1 in the world, has not produced consistently good form for a couple of years but his fast, attacking style of play is tailor made for success in the League, which is why he’s only once failed to qualify for the semi-finals in the 14 years since play-offs were introduced.
8.9.06
ROUND ROBINS: ASKING FOR TROUBLE?
Two men who deserve your sympathy in the coming weeks are Mike Ganley and Martin Clark, World Snooker's excellent tournament directors.
Mike and Martin well be especially tested at the Royal London Watches Grand Prix in Aberdeen, and before that at the qualifiers in Prestatyn, because the tournament is being played under a new round robin format.
Put simply, at Prestatyn this means 224 matches in just five days. There are eight groups of eight players with the top two from each going forward to the final stages. All matches are best of five frames and there will be as many as six sessions a day.
What a logistical nightmare this could prove to be. A couple of slow matches could throw a serious spanner into the works.
However, there are more worrying possibilities with this new format, namely collusion.
If player A has lost his first five matches and can no longer qualify, why should he try especially hard to beat player B? Equally, why should player C, already assured of qualification, be bothered about beating player D?
Perhaps player E would rather play in group 1 than 2 at Aberdeen and so conspires to finish second rather than first in his group.
Perhaps player F has lost six matches already and simply drives home rather than play match seven, skewing the group by handing someone a walkover.
In the final stages, faced with a choice of playing Ronnie O'Sullivan in the last 16 or the world no.80 if he lost, what would player G realistically choose?
I'm not suggesting any of this will happen, or that the players aren't honest (they are, almost universally) but this is the very real danger of such a bold new format.
That said, there is a general - though misinformed, I'd argue - notion that snooker is staid and desperately in need of changes.
At least by trying something new World Snooker have got people talking, which is no bad thing.
My main worry is that a best of five is far too short a test in a ranking event, even if players will play a number of matches.
The format favours lower ranked players. The world no.80 (I'll have to look up who this is...according to the ranking list on worldsnooker.com there isn't one!) would be very unlikely to beat O'Sullivan in a best of 19 frame match but would have every chance over a much shorter distance.
So it will be interesting to see what happens. Most top players appear to welcome the change, however cautiously, although one of them - a member of the top 16 - told me he thought it was "a shambles."
Fingers crossed it will prove to be a good decision, but spare a thought for Mike and Martin when it all begins on September 30.
Mike and Martin well be especially tested at the Royal London Watches Grand Prix in Aberdeen, and before that at the qualifiers in Prestatyn, because the tournament is being played under a new round robin format.
Put simply, at Prestatyn this means 224 matches in just five days. There are eight groups of eight players with the top two from each going forward to the final stages. All matches are best of five frames and there will be as many as six sessions a day.
What a logistical nightmare this could prove to be. A couple of slow matches could throw a serious spanner into the works.
However, there are more worrying possibilities with this new format, namely collusion.
If player A has lost his first five matches and can no longer qualify, why should he try especially hard to beat player B? Equally, why should player C, already assured of qualification, be bothered about beating player D?
Perhaps player E would rather play in group 1 than 2 at Aberdeen and so conspires to finish second rather than first in his group.
Perhaps player F has lost six matches already and simply drives home rather than play match seven, skewing the group by handing someone a walkover.
In the final stages, faced with a choice of playing Ronnie O'Sullivan in the last 16 or the world no.80 if he lost, what would player G realistically choose?
I'm not suggesting any of this will happen, or that the players aren't honest (they are, almost universally) but this is the very real danger of such a bold new format.
That said, there is a general - though misinformed, I'd argue - notion that snooker is staid and desperately in need of changes.
At least by trying something new World Snooker have got people talking, which is no bad thing.
My main worry is that a best of five is far too short a test in a ranking event, even if players will play a number of matches.
The format favours lower ranked players. The world no.80 (I'll have to look up who this is...according to the ranking list on worldsnooker.com there isn't one!) would be very unlikely to beat O'Sullivan in a best of 19 frame match but would have every chance over a much shorter distance.
So it will be interesting to see what happens. Most top players appear to welcome the change, however cautiously, although one of them - a member of the top 16 - told me he thought it was "a shambles."
Fingers crossed it will prove to be a good decision, but spare a thought for Mike and Martin when it all begins on September 30.
7.9.06
NEW ISSUE OUT NOW
The September issue of Snooker Scene is out now.
It includes:
- A full report of Ding Jun Hui's capture of the Northern Ireland Trophy
- The new Cue Factor project launched by Peter Bainbridge
- An analysis of the ranking system
- The latest in the Everton v WPBSA conflict
- A report of the IPT pool event in Las Vegas
- All the other news from the world of cue sports
It includes:
- A full report of Ding Jun Hui's capture of the Northern Ireland Trophy
- The new Cue Factor project launched by Peter Bainbridge
- An analysis of the ranking system
- The latest in the Everton v WPBSA conflict
- A report of the IPT pool event in Las Vegas
- All the other news from the world of cue sports
ALL THE WAY TO RENO
I spoke to Jimmy White yesterday after he was disqualified from a match in the IPT World 8 Ball Pool Championship in Reno, Nevada because his tip did not meet the requirements laid out by the organisers.
Jimmy was using a phonelic tip on his break cue. At the players meeting before the tournament it was stated that players must only use leather tips.
However, Jimmy was delayed in Los Angeles and so couldn't attend. Therefore, his mistake was an innocent one.
It didn't make much difference in the end as he lost all his other matches in any case.
Ronnie O'Sullivan's last minute withdrawal is reportedly because he was suffering from an ear infection and was advised not to fly.
At the time of writing, Tony Drago was still going strong, as was Quinten Hann, banned from snooker for agreeing to throw a match for £50,000.
What a two fingers up to snooker it would be if he won the title.
Jimmy was using a phonelic tip on his break cue. At the players meeting before the tournament it was stated that players must only use leather tips.
However, Jimmy was delayed in Los Angeles and so couldn't attend. Therefore, his mistake was an innocent one.
It didn't make much difference in the end as he lost all his other matches in any case.
Ronnie O'Sullivan's last minute withdrawal is reportedly because he was suffering from an ear infection and was advised not to fly.
At the time of writing, Tony Drago was still going strong, as was Quinten Hann, banned from snooker for agreeing to throw a match for £50,000.
What a two fingers up to snooker it would be if he won the title.
3.9.06
WHERE'S RONNIE?
When Ronnie O'Sullivan elected not to enter Pot Black, won yesterday by Mark Williams, it was widely assumed to be because he was heading to Reno for the latest IPT pool tournament.
However, O'Sullivan is not listed among the entrants for the big money World 8-Ball Championship, which starts today.
I would suggest it is not a good sign if he has given up on the IPT circuit already, having played in only one event.
However, O'Sullivan is not listed among the entrants for the big money World 8-Ball Championship, which starts today.
I would suggest it is not a good sign if he has given up on the IPT circuit already, having played in only one event.
2.9.06
PETER DYKE
Peter Dyke, one of the most important figures in snooker's rise to the big time, has died.
Peter appeared in the presentation party of every World Championship final at the Crucible under Embassy's sponsorship through his various roles with Imperial Tobacco.
He helped bring in millions for the players and was an enthusiastic supporter of the sport.
Peter's gregarious nature ensured his after dinner speeches were full of outrageous jokes and lots of laughs. He never took himself too seriously and will be sadly missed.
Peter appeared in the presentation party of every World Championship final at the Crucible under Embassy's sponsorship through his various roles with Imperial Tobacco.
He helped bring in millions for the players and was an enthusiastic supporter of the sport.
Peter's gregarious nature ensured his after dinner speeches were full of outrageous jokes and lots of laughs. He never took himself too seriously and will be sadly missed.
1.9.06
ON POT BLACK
Pot Black this Saturday is primarily a bit of fun and a way of filling the BBC's Grandstand with something popular but the importance of the competition to snooker's development as a major television sport should not be underestimated.
The year was 1969 and colour TV was being introduced. The controller of new channel BBC2, David Attenborough, now a widely respected presenter of natural history programmes, wanted something to showcase the new invention and snooker - with its various coloured balls and cloth - fitted the bill perfectly.
The first edition of Pot Black was transmitted in the same week as man first walked on the moon. It proved to be one giant leap for the sport. Soon, the players, who had all been merely scratching out a living on the exhibition circuit, were household names: Ray Reardon, John Spencer, Eddie Charlton among them.
The popularity of the weekly Pot Black programme led to the BBC - and later ITV - broadcasting whole tournaments, leading to the extraordinary snooker boom of the 1980s.
No honeymoon lasts forever, but snooker today is still attracting healthy TV audiences in the UK, is enjoying a huge following in Europe thanks to Eurosport's extensive coverage and is also booming in China, helped of course by Ding Jun Hui's success.
All of this is down in no small way to Pot Black, which is reason enough to cheer its return this weekend.
The year was 1969 and colour TV was being introduced. The controller of new channel BBC2, David Attenborough, now a widely respected presenter of natural history programmes, wanted something to showcase the new invention and snooker - with its various coloured balls and cloth - fitted the bill perfectly.
The first edition of Pot Black was transmitted in the same week as man first walked on the moon. It proved to be one giant leap for the sport. Soon, the players, who had all been merely scratching out a living on the exhibition circuit, were household names: Ray Reardon, John Spencer, Eddie Charlton among them.
The popularity of the weekly Pot Black programme led to the BBC - and later ITV - broadcasting whole tournaments, leading to the extraordinary snooker boom of the 1980s.
No honeymoon lasts forever, but snooker today is still attracting healthy TV audiences in the UK, is enjoying a huge following in Europe thanks to Eurosport's extensive coverage and is also booming in China, helped of course by Ding Jun Hui's success.
All of this is down in no small way to Pot Black, which is reason enough to cheer its return this weekend.
30.8.06
WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING
The season has made something of a false start. Now that the Northern Ireland Trophy is over, we have to wait until October 21 for the next event, the Grand Prix.
However, here is a rundown of what's been happening of late:
- Michael Holt has won the German Open, an enthusiatically attended pro-am in Furth. Holty beat Barry Hawkins in the final and Matthew Stevens, Ken Doherty and Joe Swail in the earlier rounds
- Royal London Watches will sponsor the Grand Prix in a three-year deal worth more than £1m
- World Snooker have confirmed that the Grand Prix will be played using a round robin format. At the qualifiers, there will be 224 matches in five days featuring eight groups of eight, with the top two from each advancing to the venue. In Aberdeen, there will be eight groups of six - 120 matches over four days - with the top two going through to the last 16
- More than £30,000 was raised at a testimonial evening for Chris Small, who retired last year because of the degenerative spinal disease ankylosing spondilytis
- World Snooker unveiled a new logo. It's red
- Ronnie O'Sullivan has elected not to play in this Saturday's Pot Black. He has instead entered the latest IPT pool event in Reno
- Judd Trump demonstrated his talent for golf as well as snooker by winning a junior stableford event in Bristol
- The England team of David Lilley, David Craggs and Michael Rhodes won the inaugural IBSF World Team Cup in San Jose, California
- 888.com, sponsors of the World Championship, launched a new stable of players who will wear their logo: John Higgins, Ding Jun Hui and Graeme Dott - the winners of the BBC televised tournaments last season
However, here is a rundown of what's been happening of late:
- Michael Holt has won the German Open, an enthusiatically attended pro-am in Furth. Holty beat Barry Hawkins in the final and Matthew Stevens, Ken Doherty and Joe Swail in the earlier rounds
- Royal London Watches will sponsor the Grand Prix in a three-year deal worth more than £1m
- World Snooker have confirmed that the Grand Prix will be played using a round robin format. At the qualifiers, there will be 224 matches in five days featuring eight groups of eight, with the top two from each advancing to the venue. In Aberdeen, there will be eight groups of six - 120 matches over four days - with the top two going through to the last 16
- More than £30,000 was raised at a testimonial evening for Chris Small, who retired last year because of the degenerative spinal disease ankylosing spondilytis
- World Snooker unveiled a new logo. It's red
- Ronnie O'Sullivan has elected not to play in this Saturday's Pot Black. He has instead entered the latest IPT pool event in Reno
- Judd Trump demonstrated his talent for golf as well as snooker by winning a junior stableford event in Bristol
- The England team of David Lilley, David Craggs and Michael Rhodes won the inaugural IBSF World Team Cup in San Jose, California
- 888.com, sponsors of the World Championship, launched a new stable of players who will wear their logo: John Higgins, Ding Jun Hui and Graeme Dott - the winners of the BBC televised tournaments last season
20.8.06
ON THE WATERFRONT
The Waterfront Hall in Belfast, where we have spent a very pleasant week, is a first class venue and we all hope that the Northern Ireland Trophy will grow into an established event.
The middle of August is probably too early for this tournament, not least because the next one isn’t until October. In the summer, people think cricket, tennis, golf and athletics. The media also think football, as they do at all other times of the year.
However, any tournament at any time is better than none at all and though the crowds have not been brilliant, they have not been terrible either.
What’s surprised me is how high the standard of snooker has been bearing in mind how nobody has played professionally for the best part of four months.
Leading the way has been Ronnie O’Sullivan, quite superb after stuttering to a 5-4 victory over Stuart Pettman in the opening round.
His final opponent, Ding Jun Hui, has once again demonstrated his formidable skills and their best of 17 frame meeting today could be a classic.
It may feel far too early to some, but snooker is back and, as this showdown proves, still as entertaining as ever.
The middle of August is probably too early for this tournament, not least because the next one isn’t until October. In the summer, people think cricket, tennis, golf and athletics. The media also think football, as they do at all other times of the year.
However, any tournament at any time is better than none at all and though the crowds have not been brilliant, they have not been terrible either.
What’s surprised me is how high the standard of snooker has been bearing in mind how nobody has played professionally for the best part of four months.
Leading the way has been Ronnie O’Sullivan, quite superb after stuttering to a 5-4 victory over Stuart Pettman in the opening round.
His final opponent, Ding Jun Hui, has once again demonstrated his formidable skills and their best of 17 frame meeting today could be a classic.
It may feel far too early to some, but snooker is back and, as this showdown proves, still as entertaining as ever.
RECORD BREAKING RONNIE
In just 53 breathtaking minutes yesterday, Ronnie O’Sullivan demonstrated his extraordinary natural genius for snooker by completing the fastest ever best of 11 frame victory in defeating Dominic Dale 6-0 to reach the Northern Ireland Trophy final at the Waterfront Hall, Belfast.
The previous record was set by Stephen Hendry, who needed only 71 minutes to beat Dave Harold in the 1993 International Open semi-finals. O’Sullivan also beat his own personal best of 73 minutes, which he set at last year’s Premier League final against Mark Williams.
Against Dale, he oozed class from the start, accounting for the first frame with breaks of 65 and 64. At ten minutes, 42 seconds, this proved to be the longest of the contest.
Welshman Dale, ranked 40th in the world, had beaten last season’s 888.com World Championship finalists, Peter Ebdon and Graeme Dott, en route to the semi-finals but failed to put O’Sullivan under any sort of pressure. His highest break was just 12 in the second frame and when he broke down, O’Sullivan stepped in with an 84 for 2-0.
Just under nine minutes later it was 3-0 courtesy of a 75 and Dale failed to pot a ball in the fourth as O’Sullivan secured it through runs of 63 and 67. A fluid 106 made it 5-0 before he clinched the sixth in just five minutes with a 63, outpointing Dale 608-29.
If O’Sullivan played like this all the time he would never lose but throughout his career he has struggled intermittently with his state of mind. In years gone by he would frequently threaten retirement while the day before last year’s Grand Prix final he announced he would rather be at home gardening.
However, a recent excursion to America for an 8-ball pool tournament has opened his eyes to a different, more glitzy approach.
“I’m very conscious that snooker needs to be watched by people and I want to play a game that people want to watch and that’s by being open and entertaining so that they buy a ticket and come back,” O’Sullivan said.
There will certainly be a few takers for today’s best of 17 frames final when O’Sullivan plays Ding Jun Hui, the 19 year-old Chinese prodigy who won last season’s UK Championship.
Ding played sublimely on his way to defeating Stephen Lee 6-1 last night, although he enjoyed a huge slice of luck when he fluked the blue out of a snooker in the fifth frame, adding a difficult pink to lead 4-1. He closed out victory with breaks of 67 and 73, having earlier constructed efforts of 72 and 81.
A shy teenager, he knows more English than he is willing to speak at post match press conferences, but it was apparent he is looking forward to playing O’Sullivan, his snooker hero.
“I have to forget anything else about him and just play the match,” Ding said. “I like him. He’s a very good player.”
They have only previously played on two occasions. O’Sullivan won 6-1 in their 2005 Masters quarter-final while their meeting in last year’s Betfred Premier League ended in a 3-3 draw.
The previous record was set by Stephen Hendry, who needed only 71 minutes to beat Dave Harold in the 1993 International Open semi-finals. O’Sullivan also beat his own personal best of 73 minutes, which he set at last year’s Premier League final against Mark Williams.
Against Dale, he oozed class from the start, accounting for the first frame with breaks of 65 and 64. At ten minutes, 42 seconds, this proved to be the longest of the contest.
Welshman Dale, ranked 40th in the world, had beaten last season’s 888.com World Championship finalists, Peter Ebdon and Graeme Dott, en route to the semi-finals but failed to put O’Sullivan under any sort of pressure. His highest break was just 12 in the second frame and when he broke down, O’Sullivan stepped in with an 84 for 2-0.
Just under nine minutes later it was 3-0 courtesy of a 75 and Dale failed to pot a ball in the fourth as O’Sullivan secured it through runs of 63 and 67. A fluid 106 made it 5-0 before he clinched the sixth in just five minutes with a 63, outpointing Dale 608-29.
If O’Sullivan played like this all the time he would never lose but throughout his career he has struggled intermittently with his state of mind. In years gone by he would frequently threaten retirement while the day before last year’s Grand Prix final he announced he would rather be at home gardening.
However, a recent excursion to America for an 8-ball pool tournament has opened his eyes to a different, more glitzy approach.
“I’m very conscious that snooker needs to be watched by people and I want to play a game that people want to watch and that’s by being open and entertaining so that they buy a ticket and come back,” O’Sullivan said.
There will certainly be a few takers for today’s best of 17 frames final when O’Sullivan plays Ding Jun Hui, the 19 year-old Chinese prodigy who won last season’s UK Championship.
Ding played sublimely on his way to defeating Stephen Lee 6-1 last night, although he enjoyed a huge slice of luck when he fluked the blue out of a snooker in the fifth frame, adding a difficult pink to lead 4-1. He closed out victory with breaks of 67 and 73, having earlier constructed efforts of 72 and 81.
A shy teenager, he knows more English than he is willing to speak at post match press conferences, but it was apparent he is looking forward to playing O’Sullivan, his snooker hero.
“I have to forget anything else about him and just play the match,” Ding said. “I like him. He’s a very good player.”
They have only previously played on two occasions. O’Sullivan won 6-1 in their 2005 Masters quarter-final while their meeting in last year’s Betfred Premier League ended in a 3-3 draw.
3.8.06
IN OUR AUGUST ISSUE...
The August issue is out now and includes:
- A tribute to John Spencer, who died last month
- The latest on Clive Everton's battle with the WPBSA
- My interview with The Spinto Band
- News of turmoil in the amateur game
- All the other news and results from around the world
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- A tribute to John Spencer, who died last month
- The latest on Clive Everton's battle with the WPBSA
- My interview with The Spinto Band
- News of turmoil in the amateur game
- All the other news and results from around the world
To subscribe, click here http://www.snookersceneshop.co.uk/catalog/index.php?cPath=55&osCsid=0156c997befb189ff866c3b9e3a423e6
TIME RUNNING OUT FOR JIMMY WHITE
I fear for Jimmy White’s professional future.
As many of you will know, Jimmy lost his qualifying match for the Northern Ireland Trophy at Prestatyn this week. It seemed odd that he should have to qualify at all, but having dropped from eighth in the world to 35th, he is set to become all too familiar with this corner of North Wales.
He didn’t play well. Jimmy Michie played better and won 5-3. What surprised me was White’s appearance. Despite having been around him a great deal for the last decade, I still picture him at his peak in all those Crucible finals against Stephen Hendry: a young, slim man with that mischievous grin.
The reality is, though, that Jimmy’s now 44 and his best days are behind him. His highest break against Michie was just 58 and he was a mere shadow of the player who thrilled audiences for two decades with his fast, exciting style of snooker.
Not that this stopped the tiny arena from selling out. The fans still love Jimmy, still will on his every shot in the hope that fortune will favour him. But even they must know the years are fast running out.
After the match, he asked myself and the WPBSA press officer – not much of a press turnout – where the Grand Prix would be staged, apparently oblivious to the fact he has to pre qualify.
Jimmy has been one of snooker’s greatest assets: a thrilling player and a fine sportsman.
But the end is nigh. In one interview last month he spoke of his intention to get back in the top 16. I’d suggest his chief priority should be to stay on the tour.
As many of you will know, Jimmy lost his qualifying match for the Northern Ireland Trophy at Prestatyn this week. It seemed odd that he should have to qualify at all, but having dropped from eighth in the world to 35th, he is set to become all too familiar with this corner of North Wales.
He didn’t play well. Jimmy Michie played better and won 5-3. What surprised me was White’s appearance. Despite having been around him a great deal for the last decade, I still picture him at his peak in all those Crucible finals against Stephen Hendry: a young, slim man with that mischievous grin.
The reality is, though, that Jimmy’s now 44 and his best days are behind him. His highest break against Michie was just 58 and he was a mere shadow of the player who thrilled audiences for two decades with his fast, exciting style of snooker.
Not that this stopped the tiny arena from selling out. The fans still love Jimmy, still will on his every shot in the hope that fortune will favour him. But even they must know the years are fast running out.
After the match, he asked myself and the WPBSA press officer – not much of a press turnout – where the Grand Prix would be staged, apparently oblivious to the fact he has to pre qualify.
Jimmy has been one of snooker’s greatest assets: a thrilling player and a fine sportsman.
But the end is nigh. In one interview last month he spoke of his intention to get back in the top 16. I’d suggest his chief priority should be to stay on the tour.
24.7.06
THE RIGHT DECISION
An EGM of the players has today resulted in a change to the WPBSA constitution allowing the board to freeze a player's ranking for a whole season for medical reasons.
The vote went through 19-5, meaning Paul Hunter, still fighting cancer, will not have to play this season (assuming the board, as expected, grants his request).
This is a humanitarian issue and one on which the players and WPBSA should be congratulated for getting right.
Paul's ranking will be frozen at 34th and, hopefully, he can pick up his career in a year's time.
The vote went through 19-5, meaning Paul Hunter, still fighting cancer, will not have to play this season (assuming the board, as expected, grants his request).
This is a humanitarian issue and one on which the players and WPBSA should be congratulated for getting right.
Paul's ranking will be frozen at 34th and, hopefully, he can pick up his career in a year's time.
22.7.06
RONNIE STILL AN ENIGMA
As I write this, Ronnie O'Sullivan is in Las Vegas preparing for his debut on the IPT Pool circuit.
Despite what you may have read, though, we are not losing him to the American game. Ronnie will be back in good time for the Northern Ireland Trophy, which starts in Belfast on August 13.
It's hard to predict what sort of season he will have. In theory, he should probably win everything. At his best, he's the best. For me, there's only John Higgins and Stephen Hendry at their very best who can beat him.
However, we all know there's more to Ronnie - and by extension his on-table fortunes - than this raw ability. His mental state is precarious to say the least and this makes following his progress a fascinating business.
During the 2004/05 season he won five titles; last season he won just one. There's no way of knowing which extreme will apply during the new campaign, or whether he will fall somewhere between the two.
I have a theory, though, that Ronnie will actually become more successful as he gets older, in contrast to most players. At 30, he is no longer the wild child of snooker and having become a father in February has some stability in his life.
He seems to be more at ease, even if he is still capable of cracking up - as witnessed against Graeme Dott at the Crucible.
You'll recall he gave his cue away to a boy in the crowd at the end of that match, but I'd fancy him to knock in a century with a broom handle.
With Ronnie, only one thing can truly be predicted: the unpredictable.
That's why he's such a positive for snooker.
Despite what you may have read, though, we are not losing him to the American game. Ronnie will be back in good time for the Northern Ireland Trophy, which starts in Belfast on August 13.
It's hard to predict what sort of season he will have. In theory, he should probably win everything. At his best, he's the best. For me, there's only John Higgins and Stephen Hendry at their very best who can beat him.
However, we all know there's more to Ronnie - and by extension his on-table fortunes - than this raw ability. His mental state is precarious to say the least and this makes following his progress a fascinating business.
During the 2004/05 season he won five titles; last season he won just one. There's no way of knowing which extreme will apply during the new campaign, or whether he will fall somewhere between the two.
I have a theory, though, that Ronnie will actually become more successful as he gets older, in contrast to most players. At 30, he is no longer the wild child of snooker and having become a father in February has some stability in his life.
He seems to be more at ease, even if he is still capable of cracking up - as witnessed against Graeme Dott at the Crucible.
You'll recall he gave his cue away to a boy in the crowd at the end of that match, but I'd fancy him to knock in a century with a broom handle.
With Ronnie, only one thing can truly be predicted: the unpredictable.
That's why he's such a positive for snooker.
17.7.06
ROCK 'N' ROLL 'N' SNOOKER
Last week I went to Nottingham to interview The Spinto Band (l-t-r Tom, Nick, Joe, Jon, Jeff, Sam) for the magazine. You probably know we don't have a music column but I enjoyed myself so much that I'm thinking of pushing for one.
The band, who are into snooker in a big way, couldn't have been nicer guys and they did a great show for an enthusiastic audience (any night that ends with an up tempo cover of Tiffany's 'I Think We're Alone Now' has to be considered a success). Check out their album 'Nice and Nicely Done' and their blog http://shark-dance.blogspot.com/
I should apologise to Jon for the photo which shows him with demonic red eyes. Perhaps it was all the talk of Alex Higgins.
Meanwhile, here's a slightly shortened version of the article which will appear next month...
ROCK 'N' ROLL 'N' SNOOKER
Wilmington, Delaware has a population of around 73,000 and, it’s safe to assume, not a single snooker table. It does, however, now have six snooker obsessives in the shape of The Spinto Band, a delightfully energetic indie group fast accruing a large following in Britain.
The sextet, whose album ‘Nice and Nicely Done’ earned a 9/10 review in the NME, landed in the UK during the Wembley Masters and were immediately entranced, if confused, by what they saw.
“We were in the UK in January, put the TV on and they were showing this game called snooker,” said guitarist Jon Eaton. “We watched it for about three hours before we started to figure out what was going on. Early on, it was really just a puzzle.
“We couldn’t understand why the guy in the white gloves kept putting the pink back on the table, but it seemed kind of cool.”
Despite their puzzlement, the band, which features two sets of brothers, Tom and Sam Hughes and Jeff and Joe Hobson, plus Eaton and Nick Krill, quickly became hooked.
So quickly, in fact, that it wasn't long before they were dedicating a gig to Ronnie O’Sullivan at Centrepoint Snooker Club in London.
“Ronnie has become our inspiration,” said Krill. “We had banners which read ‘what would Ronnie do?’ at our record release gig. We had stickers with it on, too, and someone made me a t-shirt. Ronnie’s the man.”
“Maybe Ronnie could do our album artwork. That’d be cool,” added drummer Jeff Hobson before Eaton, somewhat hopefully, asked, “do you think Ronnie would like to be in one of our videos?”
The band has only seen action from the Masters and 888.com World Championship but already have their favourites outside of O’Sullivan.
“We liked seeing (Ryan) Day jumping over the ball twice (against O’Sullivan),” said Jeff Hobson. “It was a classic moment. He got really flustered.”
“And we like ‘Cueman Fu’,” added his brother.
“Yeah, we really wanted a Ronnie-Fu final,” said Tom Hughes.
Some felt this world final, contested in the end by Graeme Dott and Peter Ebdon, was one of the worst ever seen at the Crucible. For the Spinto Band, as the only world final they’ve witnessed, it was gripping fare right until the last ball.
“We were actually happy our show ended so we could watch the match,” said Sam Hughes.
“As soon as we were done we ran out because we wanted to watch it,” added Krill.
“We were on our tour bus and stuck a big aerial up so we could get the TV working,” said Eaton. “They had that longest ever TV frame. I think that lasted about as long as our whole set.”
Tom Hughes added: “Half an hour in, I went out to get Indian food, which took half an hour, and when I came back it was still the same frame. I couldn’t believe it.”
“Maybe Dott and Ebdon aren’t the most exciting people to watch. They’re a bit dry but we had some money on the match,” Eaton said. “We’ve got a bit of a love-hate relationship with the pair of them.”
In fact, the band has nicknamed Ebdon ‘The Robot’ and say he’s unlikely to have any future gigs dedicated to him.
Inevitably, the Spinto Band wanted to take to the green baize themselves but despite their enthusiasm found it tough going.
“We sort of know the rules but sometimes when we play crazy things happen, like two balls go in at the same time and then we’re not sure what to do,” said Sam Hughes.
“We love all the nicknames like the ‘Rocket’ and Alan ‘Angles’ McManus,” said Jeff Hobson. “We gave ourselves little nicknames when we went to play. We called Tom ‘the Fluke’ because he was lucky.”
Krill added: “We’re not very good and sometimes something happens and we ask each other ‘what the heck was that? Is there even a rule for it?’ because we’ve never seen it happen on TV, like when the cueball flies off the table or something. We also take a really long time to play a frame.”
They were honest when asked who the best player in the band is. “Nobody’s good,” said Tom Hughes. Eaton added: “I think my highest break is four. I’ve potted a red and a colour but the next red is the problem.”
Snooker has never been big in America and there seems to be little immediate prospect of this situation changing.
In the 1980s, Steve Davis and his manager Barry Hearn went to Dallas for exhibitions and the game has attracted some interest in New York, which the American association is trying its best to foster.
The International Billiards and Snooker Federation are staging its inaugural World Team Championship in San Jose, California this month but the USA is such a vast place that the notion of Snooker suddenly hitting it big seems almost absurd. Snooker usurping pool in America would be like Billiards usurping snooker in Britain.
The Spinto Band, though, are doing their best to change this. “We’ve got a few other people into it, so we’re doing our best to spread the word,” said Eaton.
“At the moment, there seems to be a big push by ESPN for dominos because poker has been so successful,” said Sam Hughes. “If dominos can get on TV so much then I don’t see why snooker can’t.”
Joe Hobson added: “It might have a chance with such great characters. If people got to know them they’d take to it.”
“A couple of years ago I’d have said Americans wouldn’t be patient enough for something like snooker but I think now people have more time for niche sports,” said Krill.
“The only thing is that it might be looked at as a curiosity. People would be saying, ‘look at this crazy game British people play.’
“I was thinking I could probably become the Snooker champion of Wilmington, Delaware as long as I can find a guy to play.”
The band, perhaps naturally, have become fascinated by Alex Higgins, who lived what is often described as a rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle.
“We were hoping John Higgins was related to him in some way,” Eaton said. “I’ve looked the Hurricane up on the internet and I guess he’s out of control. I’d like him to make a comeback.”
The Spinto Band isn’t the first rock outfit to be seduced by snooker. Ronnie Wood of the Rolling Stones is a good friend of Jimmy White and the Stones are so into the game that they have a man on their tour whose sole job it is to erect a table wherever they are.
Bernard Butler, formerly of Suede, now of The Tears, has attended a few tournaments, such is his fascination with the sport.
For sheer enthusiasm, though, The Spinto Band take some beating.
“It’s a great game and it seems to be on all the time when there’s a tournament happening,” said Sam Hughes. “We can’t get enough of it.”
The Spinto Band’s album ‘Nice and Nicely Done’ (Virgin Records) is out now.
Their new single ‘Oh Mandy’ is released on August 14.
12.7.06
JOHN SPENCER: 1935-2006
John Spencer, the three-times world champion, died on July 11 at the age of 70.
John had been ill for many years. In 1985, he was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, a muscle wasting disease which effectively ended his playing career. Treatment for this condition led to severe depression. During the last few years, he had been battling stomach cancer.
John bore all these health problems with trademark good humour and did much to raise awareness of Myasthenia Gravis, including parachute jumps.
He was also WPBSA chairman during the early 1990s and a leading member of the BBC TV commentary team.
John loved snooker. He was grateful for the opportunities it gave him and was a good friend to many in the game.
Snooker is poorer without him. He will be sadly missed.
John had been ill for many years. In 1985, he was diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis, a muscle wasting disease which effectively ended his playing career. Treatment for this condition led to severe depression. During the last few years, he had been battling stomach cancer.
John bore all these health problems with trademark good humour and did much to raise awareness of Myasthenia Gravis, including parachute jumps.
He was also WPBSA chairman during the early 1990s and a leading member of the BBC TV commentary team.
John loved snooker. He was grateful for the opportunities it gave him and was a good friend to many in the game.
Snooker is poorer without him. He will be sadly missed.
6.7.06
PAUL HUNTER NEWS
Further to my post about Paul Hunter here, http://snookerscene.blogspot.com/2006/06/why-paul-hunter-deserves-break.html, an EGM will be held on July 24 to ask the WPBSA membership whether they want to change the constitution to allow a player's ranking to be frozen for a season.
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