Shanghai Masters 2016 – Charity, practice and PR day

September 18, 2016 Monique Professional snooker tournament Professional snooker

Yesterday evening, Ronnie took part to a charity event, with Judd Trump and Neil Robertson

He also did a bit of sightseeing

Wich prompted this tweet:

Shanghai is the best city I’ve been in the world. this place amazes me. Food people hotel culture.Defo going to spend more time here

Today he went for a bit of practice

Thanks to Windy Xu for these pictures on Weibo

And as usual in China, there was a lot of PR work …

Pictures from Weibo: Ronnie signing for the fans and by Tai Chengzhe, with a big thank you, Ronnie at the PR Lunch

No red carpet this time apparently …

China News

September 17, 2016September 17, 2016 Monique Professional snooker tournament Professional snooker

Ronnie has arrived in Shanghai safely … and has been immediately involved in promotion activities

pictures posted by Jason Francis on twitter and by fans on weibo

Meanwhile Worldsnooker has announced a new mega event in China, with the first instalment taking place early November

Snooker’s new Evergrande China Championship will have a top prize of £200,000, the biggest ever for a tournament outside the UK.

The event will run from November 1st to 5th and it will also be the first ever professional tournament in the city of Guangzhou in the Guangdong Province of South East China.

This year it will be a 16-man non-ranking invitation tournament, with the top ten in the world rankings invited, along with the next four-players from the separate one-year ranking list, and the field to be made up by two players nominated by the China Billiards and Snooker Association (CBSA).

The total prize money will be £650,000, with first round losers to receive £15,000, and the winner to bank £200,000.

The winner will also earn a place in the Champion of Champions which runs the following week in Coventry.

For the following three years, it will become a world ranking event, contested by 128 players. Total prize money for the 2017 edition will be £700,000 with the winner’s cheque at £150,000.

World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “We are thrilled to be working with the promoter Evergrande and the CBSA on this brand new event. Our global calendar gets busier every season and this is a major addition.

“For the invited players this time it’s an incredible opportunity to play a big tournament in a new city with the chance to earn a huge top prize – the biggest we’ve ever had in Asia. And from next year it’s a full ranking event open to all tour players.

“Snooker in China goes from strength to strength, we now have five major tournaments there this season and we’re thrilled to be going to Guangzhou for the first time. Alongside our partners in China we’re creating a very bright future for our sport.”

Full details on the list of players and television coverage will be announced shortly.

Ronnie isn’t currently in the top 10, and it remains to be seen if he wants to play in this, but by doing well in the coming events he still can qualify.

The Cornwall Tour – Day 3

September 16, 2016 Monique Snooker Legends event Snooker Legends

Yesterday Ronnie played two more exhibitions in Bodmin, one in the afternoon, where he made back to back centuries, 119 and 110, and in the evening where, according to fans tweets he made two more centuries. He also enjoyed his stay … taking a walk around the place.

And now, it’s off to Shanghai!

The Cornwall Tour – Day 2

September 15, 2016September 21, 2016 Monique Snooker Legends event Snooker Legends

The Legends arrived in Bodmin, where they have three exhibitions scheduled, the first of them, yesterday night.

But they are obviously mixing pleasure and work!

Michaela tweeted:

Having a ball in Cornwall! Could move here… lots of family and snooker mixed together – doesn’t get much better lol Bodmin tomorrow now!

Not much transpired about the exhibition itself, except that Ronnie made (at least) another century, a 123, and that the table he played on is very special! Ronnie also met the fans, some very young …

The Cornwall Tour – Day 1

September 14, 2016September 14, 2016 Monique Snooker Legends event Snooker Legends

Ronnie was on his way to Cornwall yesterday, for a series of club nights, starting in Redruth. But before that he made a stop in Exeter, on Monday.

Jason Francis tweets as usual kept us in the loop … so what did we learn?

They traveled with Michaela’s car, Ronnie being their chauffeur …

This apparently is Ronnie’s way to relax after a long drive…

And he played, won his eight frames and made two tons.

That was Exeter … then they were heading to Cornwall

Where Ronnie got some special training. He didn’t need much to become good at it …

And it didn’t stop him to play in Redruth in the evening, making a 123 and a 133 as well

Eleven30 Series – Judd wins leg 6 but Ronnie wins the series.

September 12, 2016 Monique Snooker Legends event Snooker Legends

Judd won the last leg of the first Eleven30 series by 6-4, bringing the score to 3-3, but Ronnie wins the series, on “tons scores”: he made 10 centuries to 3 to Judd.

Ronnie made the strongest start, leading 3-1 at the MSI, and adding two centuries to his tally. At that point he had already won the series because Judd couldn’t possibly make 7 centuries in five frames … So all credit to Judd who kept fighting to win the leg, despite having already lost the series.

Here is how the evening in Preston Guild Hall unfolded (thanks to Jason Francis on twitter)

Underway in Preston and the rocket is in

Ronnie 102 to open

Judd looking good for 1-1 here. 69 up, 67 on

Ronnie going 2-1 up here

102 from Ronnie, century 10 3-1 up

Lovely quote from @judd147t in the interval claiming he is ahead of Ronnie in this series for 20 breaks!!

70+ from Judd 2-3 now

Ronnie potted the brow to go 24 up… Went in off. Judd cleared 3-3 now

Judd 84 and he now leads 4-3

Judd looking strong here

4-4 now..best of 3

Judd at the table, chance for 5/4

And he does it!! 5-4 now Judd

Judd wins 6-4 tonight!! 3-3 the series

Both @judd147t and @ronnieo147 want a decider so is any country or county wants to stage it GET IN TOUCH @Dafabet

Credit to @judd147t for fighting back tonight

Ronnie takes the 30k because he made more centuries

Both players hugely enjoyed the challenge, and they now want a decider …

Judd tweeted this, right after the match

Cracking series with @Snookerlegends really enjoyed it. Ronnie the much better scorer overall tho. Well done @ronnieo147

And Ronnie replied

@judd147t @Snookerlegends top man really enjoyed it, keep entertaining people with your style of snooker, they love it

Which earned him this rather egnigmatic answer answer …

@ronnieo147 thanks ron shave your eyebrows for next time tho

Django Fung, Judd’s manager also showed his appreciation

I’m not sure if I can stand any more of this. So exciting. Bradford was amazing last night, how was tonight?

This series is different atmosphere, haven’t seen anything like it. You two want to play a decider?

Jason Francis concluded by

Too many people to thank for taking the idea of eleven 30 and turning it into reality. formats next outing is BULGARIA! @markjesterselby

Eleven30 Series – Leg 5 – Ronnie takes the lead in Bradford

September 11, 2016May 7, 2020 Monique Snooker Legends event Snooker Legends

Ronnie now leads 3-2 in the Eleven30 series, after beating Judd Trump in another tense match that went to a decider. He also leads Judd by 8-3 in the “tons score” and holds the high break, 141. Tonight they will play the 6th and last leg and Judd has it all to do!

Here is Jason Francis account of the Bradford evening.

Bradford is going to ROCK tonight

Doors open

Jimmy now underway

1300 here in Bradford

The atmosphere here in Bradford is amazing!!!! #loud

Jv in action

If anyone has a video of the player walk ons get it up cos it was like one direction walked out!! #Bradford

Judd went 50 up but Ronnie cleared with 77, 1-0 rocket

Judd 84! 1-1

Scrappy third frame

Judd 2-1

Ronnie 141!!!! 2-2

Frame 5.. Important

Ronnie 71 and counting 3-3 here

Frame 7.. Ronnie flukes the red

Ronnie 4-3

Ronnie 5-3 Judd has it all to do

Ronnie is in frame 9

42 and counting

Judd has the chance of a fantastic clearance here, Ronnie only needed one red

Take a bow @judd147t fantastic 4-5 now

Judd needs the respotted black

Ronnie tried to cut it in!!! Leaves it on. 5-5 DECIDER

Final frame… First chance Ronnie

Ronnie wins 6-5!!!!!!

So Ronnie wins an epic match in Bradford… But Judd can level up the series tonight but to win he needs 5 centuries as Ronnie is 8-3 up

5 and beat 141.. Easy!