For the first time, professional snooker players have been drug tested out of competition.
UK Sport has confirmed that five such tests took place from July to September of this year.
“This is the first time we’ve done it in snooker, although out of competition testing is nothing new for us,” a UK Sport spokesman told me.
He added that the WPBSA “can request out of competition testing whereas in competition testing is conducted on a random basis.”
Put bluntly, this means that if the WPBSA suspect a player to be taking an illegal substance they can have them tested.
“World Snooker has the authority to test players in and out of competition in accordance with our anti-doping policy,” a WPBSA spokesman told me.
Indeed it does.
And indeed it should.
Any professional sport should ensure that its house is fully in order and free from speculation about the behaviour of its participants.
Snooker was one of the first sports to implement a drugs testing programme in 1985.
It followed lurid newspaper reports that Kirk Stevens was a cocaine user, later confirmed by Stevens himself. He never failed a test at a tournament, though.
There have been relatively few instances of players failing drugs tests. When they have they tend to be either through taking a cold cure and not checking the contents or through using social drugs such as cannabis.
Famously, Ronnie O’Sullivan was stripped of the 1998 Irish Masters title after testing positive for cannabis during the event.
Out of competition testing may turn up further instances of players using illegal substances between tournaments – stop and test 100 people at random in the street and you’ll find at least three or four who have recently used drugs.
But do drugs enhance performance in snooker?
In his autobiography, O’Sullivan writes of how he was taking Prozac when he won the 2001 World Championship.
This is not a banned substance. It was medically prescribed and I would argue enabled O’Sullivan’s performance rather than enhanced it.
Similarly in the 1980s Neal Foulds was unfairly dragged into a row over Beta Blockers, which he had been medically prescribed and perfectly entitled to take.
I can’t think of many substances a player could take between tournaments to enhance how they play in it.
To be very blunt, snorting a line of cocaine a fortnight before playing in a tournament is not going to improve a player’s performance in it but it is, of course, illegal.
There is not a drugs problem in snooker. The amount of positive tests over the years is far smaller than in most other sports.
However, I think out of competition testing in snooker makes sense as it is commonplace in other sports.
I do not know whether the WPBSA asked UK Sport to test specific players or whether the five tests done so far were based on random selection.
I asked the WPBSA to clarify the process for out of competition testing but have received no reply.
In contrast, UK Sport could not have been more helpful. Their spokesman told me: “the governing body can request that we test a player. There is no need for the player to be notified in advance.”
In this case, the WPBSA must ensure players know that if drugs testers turn up they should co-operate. ‘Failure to comply’ is considered to be as serious an offence as failing a test.
The British 400m runner Christine Ohuruogu missed three tests and received a ban, although she later won gold medals at the World Championship and Beijing Olympics.
One thing is for sure: should any player fail a test or fail to take a test we will find out.
The WPBSA disciplinary process is cloaked in unnecessary secrecy but UK Sport publishes all its drug findings in quarterly reports.
30.10.08
NOT SO PERFECT TEN
David Morris today narrowly avoided setting an unwanted world record at the Bahrain Open qualifiers.
The Irishman scored just ten points as he was beaten 5-0 by Michael Holt in the final qualifying round.
This was only two more than the record for the lowest ever number of points scored in a world ranking event.
Graham Bradley mustered only eight against Paul Smith in the qualifying rounds of the 1992 Welsh Open.
The record for the lowest number of points scored in a televised ranking event match is 11 by Mark King in the 1997 Grand Prix.
The all time low was set by Maureen McCarthy in the B&H Championship.
She scored only two points in one match and earned the unfortunate nickname 'binary' due to the fact that the marker's sheet read 0-0-0-1-0-0-1-0 etc.
The Irishman scored just ten points as he was beaten 5-0 by Michael Holt in the final qualifying round.
This was only two more than the record for the lowest ever number of points scored in a world ranking event.
Graham Bradley mustered only eight against Paul Smith in the qualifying rounds of the 1992 Welsh Open.
The record for the lowest number of points scored in a televised ranking event match is 11 by Mark King in the 1997 Grand Prix.
The all time low was set by Maureen McCarthy in the B&H Championship.
She scored only two points in one match and earned the unfortunate nickname 'binary' due to the fact that the marker's sheet read 0-0-0-1-0-0-1-0 etc.
29.10.08
LIANG IS A REAL HOTSHOT
Liang Wenbo today produced one of the best breakbuilding performances ever seen in beating Martin Gould 5-1 at the Bahrain Open qualifiers.
Liang made a 147 as well as breaks of 115, 139 and 139.
Ronnie O'Sullivan made five centuries during his 5-2 victory over Ali Carter in the Northern Ireland Trophy last year.
Peter Ebdon, Tom Ford, Stephen Hendry and Shaun Murphy have previously made four centuries in a best of nine frame ranking event match.
However, the audience for Liang's extraordinary performance was miniscule. His table at Prestatyn only seats 20 people and it was not a full house.
How different it would have been had World Snooker heeded my advice and put a webcam on the qualifiers.
The standard of snooker and big names at Prestatyn this season make much of what happens there more interesting than some matches at the main venues.
And it doesn't cost very much to stream matches live.
The money would certainly be better spent than on the Hotshots PR initiative, of which virtually nothing has been heard since it was launched.
Judd Trump turned this down because he wanted to concentrate on his snooker and has gained more media coverage in the last fortnight than all the Hotshots put together.
Why? Because ultimately it is what happens on the table that matters.
And it is on the table that Liang has reminded us just what an awesome talent he is.
What a shame hardly anyone witnessed this slice of snooker excellence.
Liang made a 147 as well as breaks of 115, 139 and 139.
Ronnie O'Sullivan made five centuries during his 5-2 victory over Ali Carter in the Northern Ireland Trophy last year.
Peter Ebdon, Tom Ford, Stephen Hendry and Shaun Murphy have previously made four centuries in a best of nine frame ranking event match.
However, the audience for Liang's extraordinary performance was miniscule. His table at Prestatyn only seats 20 people and it was not a full house.
How different it would have been had World Snooker heeded my advice and put a webcam on the qualifiers.
The standard of snooker and big names at Prestatyn this season make much of what happens there more interesting than some matches at the main venues.
And it doesn't cost very much to stream matches live.
The money would certainly be better spent than on the Hotshots PR initiative, of which virtually nothing has been heard since it was launched.
Judd Trump turned this down because he wanted to concentrate on his snooker and has gained more media coverage in the last fortnight than all the Hotshots put together.
Why? Because ultimately it is what happens on the table that matters.
And it is on the table that Liang has reminded us just what an awesome talent he is.
What a shame hardly anyone witnessed this slice of snooker excellence.
QUESTIONS, QUESTIONS
We will (hopefully) soon be recording the first, some say historic, Snooker Scene podcast.
Thanks for all your suggestions as to what Clive Everton, Phil Yates and myself should talk about.
I have decided to throw it open to snooker fans and therefore ask you all to send us some questions you would like answered.
We will then pick some of the best ones and endeavour to answer them.
Please either leave your questions as a comment below or email them to snookersceneblog@aol.com.
It would be help if you left your (first) name and where you are from.
Many thanks.
Thanks for all your suggestions as to what Clive Everton, Phil Yates and myself should talk about.
I have decided to throw it open to snooker fans and therefore ask you all to send us some questions you would like answered.
We will then pick some of the best ones and endeavour to answer them.
Please either leave your questions as a comment below or email them to snookersceneblog@aol.com.
It would be help if you left your (first) name and where you are from.
Many thanks.
28.10.08
RONNIE'S NEW WEBSITE
Ronnie O'Sullivan's new official website can be found at http://www.ronnieosullivan.tv/.
It is not yet up and running but there is already a forum open.
It is not yet up and running but there is already a forum open.
WHY O'SULLIVAN IS PLAYER OF THE DECADE
There is only one World Championship to come in this 00s decade and so it is safe to state that Ronnie O’Sullivan has been the outstanding player of this period.A reader, Sam Hinton, has sent me some research he has done taking in ranking points earned over the last ten seasons.
They are based on around 70 ranking tournaments and help paint a picture as to which players have found success - although of course some did not come to the fore until later in the decade.
Here is the top ten from 1998-2008:
1) Ronnie O’Sullivan 215,901 (total points)
2) Mark Williams 203,409
3) John Higgins 198,173
4) Stephen Hendry 196,720
5) Ken Doherty 166,702
6) Peter Ebdon 163,732
7) Stephen Lee 153,318
8) Matthew Stevens 146,604
9) Graeme Dott 133,327
10) Alan McManus 120,938
Points earned in the 1998/99 season counted towards ranking positions at the start of the decade.
In terms of ranking titles won this decade (starting in 2000), the top ten reads as follows:
1) Ronnie O’Sullivan 15
2) Mark Williams 9
3) John Higgins 7
4) Peter Ebdon 5
5) Ken Doherty, Stephen Hendry, Stephen Maguire 4
8) Ding Junhui, Stephen Lee 3
10) Graeme Dott, Paul Hunter, Shaun Murphy, Neil Robertson 2
O’Sullivan has not dominated the decade in the way Steve Davis did the 1980s and Stephen Hendry the 1990s but has still been the leading player of what has been a very competitive era.
He has compiled more centuries and more maximums than any other player in the last ten years.
Mark Williams and John Higgins, who turned professional with him as teenagers in 1992, are second and third respectively.
In the case of Williams, it is a reminder of how good he has been. Some may have forgotten this after his struggles of the last couple of years.
Notice Hendry fourth in terms of ranking points won – more than creditable for a player now late into his 30s.
Of course, had we examined the period 1995-2005 we would have got different results, so I don't present this as anything other than a fun and interesting analysis.
In a year’s time we will be gearing up to welcome a new decade.
Who will be the dominant force?
Ding Junhui?
Judd Trump?
Shaun Murphy, Stephen Maguire or Mark Selby?
Or what about O’Sullivan, who will end it as the age of 43?
We’ll only know with 2020 vision.
27.10.08
WORLD SERIES GRAND FINALS TO BE STAGED IN THE KREMLIN
The Grand Finals of the World Series will be staged inside the Kremlin, the iconic seat of Russian power.
They will no longer be held in November but have instead been switched to March of next year.
A replacement event will still be staged in Moscow on November 22-23.
"The chance to hold the final in the Kremlin, one of the world's most iconic buildings, was irresistible," said Pat Mooney, chief executive of the World Series.
"It will be the ultimate launching pad for snooker in Russia.
"Eurosport, who have been covering the event, and the World Series of Snooker have had thousands of ticket enquires from fans all over Europe.
"We originally fixed the final for Moscow next month but when a chance came to play it in the Kremlin in March, John [Higgins] and I decided we could not possibly say no.
"However, to avoid disappointment for fans an additional World Series leg will be run on the original dates towards the end of November at another venue in Moscow."
What an amazing thing this is. Has there ever been a more extraordinary venue for a snooker tournament?
Vladimir Putin, when he was Russian president, played a frame against Tony Blair, the then British prime minister, at Chequers a few years ago.
Perhaps he could get a wildcard?
They will no longer be held in November but have instead been switched to March of next year.
A replacement event will still be staged in Moscow on November 22-23.
"The chance to hold the final in the Kremlin, one of the world's most iconic buildings, was irresistible," said Pat Mooney, chief executive of the World Series.
"It will be the ultimate launching pad for snooker in Russia.
"Eurosport, who have been covering the event, and the World Series of Snooker have had thousands of ticket enquires from fans all over Europe.
"We originally fixed the final for Moscow next month but when a chance came to play it in the Kremlin in March, John [Higgins] and I decided we could not possibly say no.
"However, to avoid disappointment for fans an additional World Series leg will be run on the original dates towards the end of November at another venue in Moscow."
What an amazing thing this is. Has there ever been a more extraordinary venue for a snooker tournament?
Vladimir Putin, when he was Russian president, played a frame against Tony Blair, the then British prime minister, at Chequers a few years ago.
Perhaps he could get a wildcard?
BAHRAIN OR BUST
Qualifying gets underway this morning in Prestatyn for the Bahrain Open, the newest ranking event on the snooker calendar.
There are four rounds in total to decide the 16 qualifiers to join the 16 seeds in Bahrain next month.
I will repeat what I always say about the qualifiers: if you are able to go along and watch then do so. You get to see some really good snooker and, later in the week, some very big names - Jimmy White, John Parrott, Steve Davis, Mark Williams and Judd Trump to name but a few.
Follow the action here.
There are four rounds in total to decide the 16 qualifiers to join the 16 seeds in Bahrain next month.
I will repeat what I always say about the qualifiers: if you are able to go along and watch then do so. You get to see some really good snooker and, later in the week, some very big names - Jimmy White, John Parrott, Steve Davis, Mark Williams and Judd Trump to name but a few.
Follow the action here.
26.10.08
DING IN POLE POSITION
The latest World Series event in Warsaw, Poland at the weekend once again drew huge crowds and proved the popularity of snooker on mainland Europe.
As in Berlin in July, the audience was not only enthusiastic but also fair to all players.
It was obvious they were genuinely excited to see top class snooker close up.
Ding Junhui produced a vintage 64 clearance to win the last frame of the final and beat Ken Doherty 6-4.
His shot from pink to black was, under the circumstances, probably the best of the tournament.
It was good to see him smiling again. Freed from the pressures of ranking points he produced some great snooker over the weekend, particularly during his 5-1 semi-final victory over Steve Davis.
Hopefully he can use this as a springboard for the rest of the season. He is surely too good not to win another ranking title very soon.
As in Berlin in July, the audience was not only enthusiastic but also fair to all players.
It was obvious they were genuinely excited to see top class snooker close up.
Ding Junhui produced a vintage 64 clearance to win the last frame of the final and beat Ken Doherty 6-4.
His shot from pink to black was, under the circumstances, probably the best of the tournament.
It was good to see him smiling again. Freed from the pressures of ranking points he produced some great snooker over the weekend, particularly during his 5-1 semi-final victory over Steve Davis.
Hopefully he can use this as a springboard for the rest of the season. He is surely too good not to win another ranking title very soon.
SIR RODNEY'S AWARD
Many congratulations to Sir Rodney Walker, the WPBSA chairman, who has been named Man of the Year in the annual Yorkshire Awards.
These awards have been running for 20 years and recognise achievements by those from the region. The awards are decided on after nominations are received and reviewed by a committee.
The chairman of this committee is, er, Sir Rodney Walker...
These awards have been running for 20 years and recognise achievements by those from the region. The awards are decided on after nominations are received and reviewed by a committee.
The chairman of this committee is, er, Sir Rodney Walker...
24.10.08
DAVIS BACKS WORLD SERIES
Green baize legend Steve Davis believes the World Series will help spread the snooker word across Europe.Davis, 51, turned professional 30 years ago and has 28 ranking titles to his name, including six World Championship crowns.
He makes his World Series debut in Warsaw, Poland this weekend.
In the 1980s, Davis and his manager, Barry Hearn, promoted invitation events in countries new to snooker which went on to stage fully fledged ranking tournaments - including China and Thailand.
And Davis believes the game can only benefit by taking tournaments to countries where snooker has grown in popularity in recent years thanks to Eurosport’s extensive coverage of the professional circuit.
“What the World Series does is to take top flight snooker to countries who have not had a great deal of exposure,” he said.
“The last leg in Berlin was a huge success and hopefully, Warsaw will be the same.
“Snooker has become a little bit stale in the UK and the aim is for Europe to become a catalyst to kick-start the game again. It’s all about making the world sit up and take notice.”
Davis faces Polish champion Rafal Jewtuch in the first round tomorrow.
The action starts live on Eurosport2 at 1pm UK time.
READ ALL ABOUT IT
I was interested to hear Ryan Day tell Hazel Irvine that one of the reasons he had never done particularly well in a UK ranking event before the recent Royal London Watches Grand Prix was possibly to do with the British press.
Ryan explains here (from around 3.20) that some stories had ‘got my back up.’
Myself and my fellow journalists couldn’t remember any stories in which he had been maligned.
Actually, Ryan hasn’t had that much coverage over the years (perhaps this was what he meant).
It brings into question the relationship between players and the media.
Journalists have a low reputation generally. This is because of the actions of a few hacks and their newspapers.
People usually say they don’t believe what they read in the papers but you soon find that the very same people base almost all their views and opinions on what they’ve read or heard.
In snooker, there is a small, committed group of journalists who cover the circuit, including the qualifiers.
Our relationship with just about every player is very good. They know we would never willingly stitch them up. Apart from the fact that we’re not like that, it would spell professional suicide as they would never talk to us again.
I’ve been told many things – often deeply scurrilous – by players over the years that I would never report.
Some would argue this is not a good thing, that the old principle of ‘publish and be damned’ should apply.
Perhaps they are right, but I have no wish to become snooker’s version of a ‘3am girl’ (for those outside Britain, they write a showbiz and gossip column in the Mirror).
Often it is simply the case that what has been written is misunderstood.
I don’t think Ryan really believes the media is the reason why he’s yet to win a ranking tournament.
But perhaps it’s a salutary lesson to those of us who wield a pen (or in most cases a laptop) that even the most inconsequential of articles may be taken the wrong way.
Ryan explains here (from around 3.20) that some stories had ‘got my back up.’
Myself and my fellow journalists couldn’t remember any stories in which he had been maligned.
Actually, Ryan hasn’t had that much coverage over the years (perhaps this was what he meant).
It brings into question the relationship between players and the media.
Journalists have a low reputation generally. This is because of the actions of a few hacks and their newspapers.
People usually say they don’t believe what they read in the papers but you soon find that the very same people base almost all their views and opinions on what they’ve read or heard.
In snooker, there is a small, committed group of journalists who cover the circuit, including the qualifiers.
Our relationship with just about every player is very good. They know we would never willingly stitch them up. Apart from the fact that we’re not like that, it would spell professional suicide as they would never talk to us again.
I’ve been told many things – often deeply scurrilous – by players over the years that I would never report.
Some would argue this is not a good thing, that the old principle of ‘publish and be damned’ should apply.
Perhaps they are right, but I have no wish to become snooker’s version of a ‘3am girl’ (for those outside Britain, they write a showbiz and gossip column in the Mirror).
Often it is simply the case that what has been written is misunderstood.
I don’t think Ryan really believes the media is the reason why he’s yet to win a ranking tournament.
But perhaps it’s a salutary lesson to those of us who wield a pen (or in most cases a laptop) that even the most inconsequential of articles may be taken the wrong way.
23.10.08
DAVIS AND DING JOIN WORLD SERIES LINE-UP
Snooker legend Steve Davis and Chinese sensation Ding Junhui will be making their debuts in the World Series of Snooker in Warsaw this weekend.
Davis, six times the winner of the World Championship in the 1980s, faces Polish champion Rafal Jewtuch in the first round.
Ding, who won three ranking titles as a teenager, takes on Polish qualifier Piotr Murat.
Mark Selby, the reigning Wembley Masters champion, and 1997 Crucible winner Ken Doherty are also in action in the third leg of the World Series.
It is organised by John Higgins and manager Pat Mooney in an effort to take snooker around Europe, where it has grown in popularity in recent years through Eurosport’s coverage of the professional circuit.
One of the Polish wildcards will be guaranteed a place in the Grand Finals and will be selected by Higgins.
“It gives us a chance to bring in local talent," said Higgins.
“It is a dream for some of these guys to play against their heroes in the type of match conditions we are used to on the tour.
“I look at someone like Ding who came out of China and became a world star and I wonder why we can’t have someone from Poland or Germany or the Czech Republic do something similar in five or 10 years time.
“But we have to give them a chance. With the way that snooker is organised at the moment it would take someone four or five years to break through the log-jam.
“With the World Series we are trying to offer them little short-cuts and a little taste of the big time.”
The Warsaw leg of the World Series will be broadcast live by Eurosport.
Here are the transmission times (British time given):
Saturday, October 25: 1pm-4pm (Eurosport2), 5.30pm-10pm
Sunday, October 26: 1pm-5pm (Eurosport2), 6.30pm-10pm
Davis, six times the winner of the World Championship in the 1980s, faces Polish champion Rafal Jewtuch in the first round.
Ding, who won three ranking titles as a teenager, takes on Polish qualifier Piotr Murat.
Mark Selby, the reigning Wembley Masters champion, and 1997 Crucible winner Ken Doherty are also in action in the third leg of the World Series.
It is organised by John Higgins and manager Pat Mooney in an effort to take snooker around Europe, where it has grown in popularity in recent years through Eurosport’s coverage of the professional circuit.
One of the Polish wildcards will be guaranteed a place in the Grand Finals and will be selected by Higgins.
“It gives us a chance to bring in local talent," said Higgins.
“It is a dream for some of these guys to play against their heroes in the type of match conditions we are used to on the tour.
“I look at someone like Ding who came out of China and became a world star and I wonder why we can’t have someone from Poland or Germany or the Czech Republic do something similar in five or 10 years time.
“But we have to give them a chance. With the way that snooker is organised at the moment it would take someone four or five years to break through the log-jam.
“With the World Series we are trying to offer them little short-cuts and a little taste of the big time.”
The Warsaw leg of the World Series will be broadcast live by Eurosport.
Here are the transmission times (British time given):
Saturday, October 25: 1pm-4pm (Eurosport2), 5.30pm-10pm
Sunday, October 26: 1pm-5pm (Eurosport2), 6.30pm-10pm
HALLETT'S GREAT RUN
I realise journalists are supposed to be impartial but I’d like to wish my Eurosport commentary colleague Mike Hallett good luck for this afternoon when he takes part in the semi-finals of the latest PIOS event at Prestatyn.
Some people question why the stars of yesteryear carry on playing. For instance, James Wattana and Kirk Stevens are in the forthcoming IBSF world amateur championship.
But why shouldn’t they? Snooker has run through their blood since boyhood. If they can still play to a standard that satisfies them then I see no reason why they should stop.
Look at Steve Davis. He is not the player he was but good enough to reach the quarter-finals of the last two ranking events.
The notion that players should retire the minute their form starts to slip is not one I subscribe to.
Put simply: if you enjoy doing something then carry on doing it. Who is it hurting?
Mike’s run to the semis also demonstrates that those who blithely dismiss the players of the 1980s and early 90s don’t know what they're talking about.
At 49, he is still capable of producing a standard necessary to compete on what is a very competitive secondary circuit.
He is rather unfairly remembered for losing the 1991 Wembley Masters final 9-8 to Stephen Hendry from 8-2 up.
Think of all the hundreds and hundreds of professional players there have been. Only 45 have won a ranking event, in Mike’s case the 1989 Hong Kong Open.
He won the 1991 Scottish and Belgian Masters – two high quality invitation tournaments – and occupied a highest ranking of sixth.
He was also Hendry’s partner in the last World Doubles Championship in 1987 and for the doubles in the 1991 World Masters, both of which they won.
I’m pleased to see Mike is still enjoying playing after all these years and the fact that he has beaten so many younger players this week shows he can, on his day, still compete.
Some people question why the stars of yesteryear carry on playing. For instance, James Wattana and Kirk Stevens are in the forthcoming IBSF world amateur championship.
But why shouldn’t they? Snooker has run through their blood since boyhood. If they can still play to a standard that satisfies them then I see no reason why they should stop.
Look at Steve Davis. He is not the player he was but good enough to reach the quarter-finals of the last two ranking events.
The notion that players should retire the minute their form starts to slip is not one I subscribe to.
Put simply: if you enjoy doing something then carry on doing it. Who is it hurting?
Mike’s run to the semis also demonstrates that those who blithely dismiss the players of the 1980s and early 90s don’t know what they're talking about.
At 49, he is still capable of producing a standard necessary to compete on what is a very competitive secondary circuit.
He is rather unfairly remembered for losing the 1991 Wembley Masters final 9-8 to Stephen Hendry from 8-2 up.
Think of all the hundreds and hundreds of professional players there have been. Only 45 have won a ranking event, in Mike’s case the 1989 Hong Kong Open.
He won the 1991 Scottish and Belgian Masters – two high quality invitation tournaments – and occupied a highest ranking of sixth.
He was also Hendry’s partner in the last World Doubles Championship in 1987 and for the doubles in the 1991 World Masters, both of which they won.
I’m pleased to see Mike is still enjoying playing after all these years and the fact that he has beaten so many younger players this week shows he can, on his day, still compete.
RONNIE'S WEBSITE SHUTS DOWN
Ronnie O'Sullivan's official website - ronnieosullivan.biz - has today closed down.
His manager tells me this is because the site administrator cannot devote the time required to maintain it.
However, Ronnie fans should not despair - a new website devoted to the great man will be up and running soon.
His manager tells me this is because the site administrator cannot devote the time required to maintain it.
However, Ronnie fans should not despair - a new website devoted to the great man will be up and running soon.
22.10.08
MURPHY'S PART OF THE UNION
Shaun Murphy has become the latest big name to give his backing to a new players’ union, the Professional Snooker Players 'Association.
It has already received a thumbs up from John Higgins, Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry.
And today Murphy tells the Sheffield Star: "I think it’s a great idea. It's great news and I fully support it.
"It’s something that all the major sports have. I think it’s about time something like this happened and the players can have their say.
“I’m surprised it hasn’t been done before. There’s been a lot of upset in snooker over the last 20 years so it’s funny it's taken 20 years to get up and running.
“If it had been here 15 years ago maybe we wouldn’t have had the problems we’ve had.”
I’ve already heard it put about that the new body is a front for Barry Hearn (Matchroom) and Pat Mooney (World Series) to ‘take over the game.’
Actually, Hearn and Mooney have made it clear that, once the PSPA is set up, they will withdraw from having anything to do with running it.
The first test of the union’s strength will be when it is required to step in on a player’s behalf over some row or another.
There’s no reason why it can’t co-exist reasonably happily alongside the WPBSA.
That said, when you look at the political unrest that has blighted the sport over the years this may seem like a naive hope.
It has already received a thumbs up from John Higgins, Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry.
And today Murphy tells the Sheffield Star: "I think it’s a great idea. It's great news and I fully support it.
"It’s something that all the major sports have. I think it’s about time something like this happened and the players can have their say.
“I’m surprised it hasn’t been done before. There’s been a lot of upset in snooker over the last 20 years so it’s funny it's taken 20 years to get up and running.
“If it had been here 15 years ago maybe we wouldn’t have had the problems we’ve had.”
I’ve already heard it put about that the new body is a front for Barry Hearn (Matchroom) and Pat Mooney (World Series) to ‘take over the game.’
Actually, Hearn and Mooney have made it clear that, once the PSPA is set up, they will withdraw from having anything to do with running it.
The first test of the union’s strength will be when it is required to step in on a player’s behalf over some row or another.
There’s no reason why it can’t co-exist reasonably happily alongside the WPBSA.
That said, when you look at the political unrest that has blighted the sport over the years this may seem like a naive hope.
21.10.08
HIGHFIELD'S 147
There's more to snooker than the professional circuit so well done to Liam Highfield, 17, who recently made a 147 break in the first EASB English Premier Tour event of the season.
Liam is pictured here receiving a certificate from the EASB's John Hartley.
We're used to big breaks flying in during pro tournaments but it's worth noting the many talented teenagers in the junior ranks.
Judd Trump was one who played in loads and loads of junior events when he was a kid and so was used to being a winner before he even turned pro.
Respect should go to Malcolm Thorne, who has been running junior tournaments for the best part of 25 years.
It's people like him who provide a base from which young players can go on to become household names.
JOHN HIGGINS: GRAND PRIX CHAMPION
John Higgins could be described as an underachiever, which sounds like a strange thing to say about a player who has won the World Championship twice, the UK Championship twice, the Masters twice, 19 ranking events in total and been world no.1 for a total of three seasons.However, it is actually meant as a compliment.
Higgins’s victory in the Royal London Watches Grand Prix on Sunday was his first major title since he captured his second world crown 18 months earlier.
He was one of my tips for Betfair for the reasons that he was in his home city and it was about time he won another one.
I have to say – and hope John would not take offence at this – that overall it was probably the worst he has ever played to win a ranking title.
But this should be of no concern. He has the trophy after all.
When he became world champion in 1998 at the age of 22 it looked as if the Scot would become the game’s next dominant force after Steve Davis and Stephen Hendry.
It didn’t quite happen, for a couple of reasons.
Firstly, the standard around this time was the highest it has ever been – before or since. Higgins had several top quality opponents, most notably his contemporaries Ronnie O’Sullivan and Mark Williams.
It all went wrong for him when he lost 17-15 to Williams from 14-10 up in the 2000 Crucible semi-finals. Had he won the world title that year he may well have won it three, four or maybe five times.
(Of course, he still could but, as he is now 33, this seems unlikely).
But the other major factor that stopped him dominating was his growing realisation that there was more to life than snooker.
John became a father for the first time in 2001 and again in 2004 and earlier this year. He is a family man and enjoys family life. In an interview earlier this year he said, “I don’t think when I’m on my deathbed I’ll wish I spent more time on a snooker table.”
In other words, he is contented enough at his profession that he can, from time to time, cut down on practising, even if this means he sometimes produces performances well below standards we expect from him.
Something interesting has happened to Higgins in the last couple of years: he has suddenly become interested in the administration of snooker.
He has helped to set up the World Series and was involved in setting up a new players union.
He has also become quite outspoken about certain aspects of the way the game is run and clearly believes that snooker must look to life beyond the UK to grow.
All this suggests he is already looking to life beyond his professional career, even though there’s no reason why it doesn’t have several more years to run.
Crucially, Higgins has the respect of his fellow professionals. In fact, most believe he is the best all round player in the sport.
I admire his off table enterprise but hope he continues to hone his talents on the table because there is no reason why he can’t win at least one more world title.
His career record speaks for itself. That it could be even better is testament to his all round skill.
Not just now but when we are all older and we talk of the great snooker players we have seen, John Higgins will always be mentioned.
JOHN HIGGINS: THE STATS
Date of birth: 18/5/75
Home Town: Wishaw, Scotland
Turned professional: 1992
World Ranking: 5
Provisional ranking: 6
Highest ever ranking: 1 (1998-2000, 2007/08)
Prize money last season: £138,775
Prize money this season: £87,500
Total career prize money: £4,563,595
Career centuries: 379
Centuries last season: 17
Centuries this season: 5
Highest tournament break: 147 (x5)
World ranking titles: (19) 1994, 1999, 2005, 2008 Grand Prix; 1995, 1996 International Open; 1995, 1998, 2001, 2004 British Open; 1995, 1997 German Open; 1997 European Open, 1998, 2007 World Championship; 1998, 2000 UK Championship; 1999 China International; 2000 Welsh Open
Date of birth: 18/5/75
Home Town: Wishaw, Scotland
Turned professional: 1992
World Ranking: 5
Provisional ranking: 6
Highest ever ranking: 1 (1998-2000, 2007/08)
Prize money last season: £138,775
Prize money this season: £87,500
Total career prize money: £4,563,595
Career centuries: 379
Centuries last season: 17
Centuries this season: 5
Highest tournament break: 147 (x5)
World ranking titles: (19) 1994, 1999, 2005, 2008 Grand Prix; 1995, 1996 International Open; 1995, 1998, 2001, 2004 British Open; 1995, 1997 German Open; 1997 European Open, 1998, 2007 World Championship; 1998, 2000 UK Championship; 1999 China International; 2000 Welsh Open
19.10.08
STRANGE FINAL, GREAT TOURNAMENT
The Royal London Watches Grand Prix final was one of the strangest I've ever seen.
John Higgins was in complete control at 7-2, even though he wasn't playing his best stuff.
He became unusually anxious, Ryan Day recovered, and then the mistakes grew on either side.
In the end, Higgins won 9-7 to cap a great week at the SECC in Glasgow.
Does anyone now seriously prefer the round robin format to the random draw?
Those who warned it would produce a sub standard winner were well and truly proved wrong.
Unlike last year, not a single player has publicly complained about the tournament format. Neither did I hear any moans about conditions or much else for that matter.
The venue was first class, the crowds were very encouraging, the tournament was well organised and there was plenty of top quality snooker and interesting stories.
Judd Trump came good for the first, but surely not last, time.
Day proved his fighting qualities by coming through three deciders, including a 55 clearance to the black to see off Mark Selby.
Peter Ebdon added a bizarre bit of theatre by lying on the floor after suffering some bad luck at the end of his defeat to Jamie Cope.
All in all, the Grand Prix was a success story.
Don't let anyone tell you interest in snooker is over in the UK. There's plenty of life in this sport yet.
John Higgins was in complete control at 7-2, even though he wasn't playing his best stuff.
He became unusually anxious, Ryan Day recovered, and then the mistakes grew on either side.
In the end, Higgins won 9-7 to cap a great week at the SECC in Glasgow.
Does anyone now seriously prefer the round robin format to the random draw?
Those who warned it would produce a sub standard winner were well and truly proved wrong.
Unlike last year, not a single player has publicly complained about the tournament format. Neither did I hear any moans about conditions or much else for that matter.
The venue was first class, the crowds were very encouraging, the tournament was well organised and there was plenty of top quality snooker and interesting stories.
Judd Trump came good for the first, but surely not last, time.
Day proved his fighting qualities by coming through three deciders, including a 55 clearance to the black to see off Mark Selby.
Peter Ebdon added a bizarre bit of theatre by lying on the floor after suffering some bad luck at the end of his defeat to Jamie Cope.
All in all, the Grand Prix was a success story.
Don't let anyone tell you interest in snooker is over in the UK. There's plenty of life in this sport yet.
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TO STAY AT THE CRUCIBLE
WPBSA chairman Sir Rodney Walker today gave the clearest possible indication that the World Championship will remain at the Crucible.
There had been speculation - started by him - that it would be going to China when the Sheffield contract runs out in 2010.
I suggested this may be a smart tactic on his part to drive up the Sheffield bid and in a BBC interview today he confirmed that the Crucible remains a heavy favourite.
"There’s no firm offer from China but there is interest," Walker said.
"News of that has brought interest from the Middle East but I’ve already begun negotiations with Sheffield city council which have started very well.
"There’s a lot of excitement about it going out the UK but people have to understand we have a contract with the BBC and if the World Championship left the UK it would put at risk our BBC contract, which would have serious financial consequences.
"The likelihood is that the event will stay in the UK and in Sheffield.
"Sheffield will put a provisional offer in front of me before the end of November. The plan would be to get a new deal in place so that we can announce it ahead of the 2009 World Championship, which would take us to 2015. But it depends whether any of these other proposals turn into serious offers."
Steve Davis, six times the Crucible champion, made a good point in response to this.
He said: "Most players would want it to stay in this country and at the Crucible. The best idea for China or other countries would be to create their own super event which, over time, would be compared to the World Championship. Why not do that instead of trying to steal the World Championship?"
So it looks like the Crucible is set to keep the game's greatest event for at least another seven years.
Not everyone will believe this is a good thing but I think most probably would.
There had been speculation - started by him - that it would be going to China when the Sheffield contract runs out in 2010.
I suggested this may be a smart tactic on his part to drive up the Sheffield bid and in a BBC interview today he confirmed that the Crucible remains a heavy favourite.
"There’s no firm offer from China but there is interest," Walker said.
"News of that has brought interest from the Middle East but I’ve already begun negotiations with Sheffield city council which have started very well.
"There’s a lot of excitement about it going out the UK but people have to understand we have a contract with the BBC and if the World Championship left the UK it would put at risk our BBC contract, which would have serious financial consequences.
"The likelihood is that the event will stay in the UK and in Sheffield.
"Sheffield will put a provisional offer in front of me before the end of November. The plan would be to get a new deal in place so that we can announce it ahead of the 2009 World Championship, which would take us to 2015. But it depends whether any of these other proposals turn into serious offers."
Steve Davis, six times the Crucible champion, made a good point in response to this.
He said: "Most players would want it to stay in this country and at the Crucible. The best idea for China or other countries would be to create their own super event which, over time, would be compared to the World Championship. Why not do that instead of trying to steal the World Championship?"
So it looks like the Crucible is set to keep the game's greatest event for at least another seven years.
Not everyone will believe this is a good thing but I think most probably would.
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