The 2020 World Grand Prix starts tonight, with Ronnie opening proceedings. He will play David Gilbert a 7pm UK time.

This match is important for Ronnie if he wishes to play in the Players Championship, and the Tour Championship later in the season. He is the defending champion in both, but as it stands now, he hasn’t qualified for either. He is 22th on the one year list, with £15000 needed to catch up – just – on the n°16 spot. Reaching the semi finals would give him £20000.

The winner tonight will get £7500, the loser will get £5000 but that won’t count towards their ranking. This is a change as compared to the previous seasons and it’s logical of course.

It’s hard to know in which form, or indeed state of mind, Ronnie will come to this match. He has not played competitively since the 2019 Scottish Open. Ronnie hasn’t got a great season so far, but, contrary to some fans views, he hasn’t played badly especially towards the end of the 2019 year. He reached the final in Belfast. In York and in Glasgow, he lost narrowly to the eventual tournament winner. Ding played extremely well in York. In Glasgow, things might have been different had a “phantom foul” not been called on Ronnie. As Clive Everton reflects in the last Snooker Scene issue, it proved to be a pivotal moment in the match. Neither player challenged the referee call. Ronnie, keen to make sure to hit a red on the second attempt,  elected to play a different shot and left Mark Selby an opening, that wasn’t there the firts time.  I’m not writing this to find “excuses” but rather to stress that the notion that Ronnie hasn’t really tried and has just been “bashing balls around” is wrong and preposterous. Yes, he has been attacking, very much so, but it’s always been his game and his tally shows that it hasn’t been a bad choice over the course of his career. At this stage, he wants to enjoy it when he plays. That’s the key to longevity.

Tonight match is a best of 7. It’s a banana skin. David Gilbert has never beaten Ronnie before, but he is a much improved player. Their last match dates back to the 2018 Northern Ireland Open. David has  been playing recently in the Masters – reaching the semi finals – and he can be relaxed. Being 11th on the one year list, he’s reasonably safe for the Players Championship. So David Gilbert is not an easy draw, but it could have been worse.

Should Ronnie win tonight, he could face Mark Allen, Mark Selby and Shaun Murphy, in that order, en route to the final. It’s not an easy path, but, at least, the two “in form” players, Judd Trump and Neil Robertson are in the other half of the draw, as is John Higgins.

Judd Trump beat Neil Robertson by 9-6 yesterday evening in the Tempodrom, Berlin to become German Masters Champion for the first time.

Congratulations Judd Trump!

It brings Judd’s ranking titles tally to 15, and keep him in contention for the European Series bonus.

This is how the match unfolded (reports by WST)

Afternoon session: Trump 4-4 Robertson 

Sunday 2 Feb 2020 04:39PM

Judd Trump and Neil Robertson emerged locked together at 4-4 after an enthralling first session of the BetVictor German Masters final at the Tempodrom in Berlin.

Both Trump and Robertson are aiming for their maiden German Masters crown, which would carry a top prize of £80,000. The first player to reach nine frames tonight will take home the title.

If Robertson wins this evening he will secure the £150,000 BetVictor European Series bonus with two events to spare, having claimed the title at last week’s European Masters. Trump can keep the series alive by winning tonight, with the Shoot Out and Gibraltar Open still to be played.

The head-to-head record shows little to choose between the players, Trump currently holds a narrow 10-9 lead. Their most recent meeting came at the Champion of Champions, when Robertson emerged a 10-9 victor in a thrilling final. As expected this afternoon’s opening session was again tightly contested.

Trump took this afternoon’s opening frame courtesy of a break of 60, before Robertson restored parity by taking a hard fought second and making it 1-1. Trump regained his lead, but it was Robertson who had the momentum going into the mid-session after he fired in a fine century run of 120 to make it 2-2.

When they returned Trump had looked set to edge further in front, before missing a tricky yellow on a break of 71. Robertson then deposited a gutsy cut to the baulk corner and cleared the colours to lead for the first time at 3-2.

The Australian doubled his advantage after a break of 77 in the next. However, Trump battled back with contributions of 69 and 48 to claim the last two frames of the afternoon to end the session level at 4-4.

Evening session: Trump 9-6 Robertson

Sunday 2 Feb 2020 10:42PM

World Champion Judd Trump won the BetVictor German Masters for the first time, beating Neil Robertson 9-6 at the Tempodrom in Berlin.

The Ace in the Pack’s victory seals his 15^th career ranking title. That moves 30-year-old Trump clear of Ding Junhui on number of ranking titles won and only seven players have amassed more in the history of the sport. Trump’s only previous appearance in the Berlin final came in 2014, when he was runner-up to Ding.

Trump has now secured four ranking titles in a single season for the first time in his career. The Bristolian has already won silverware at the International Championship, World Open and Northern Ireland Open this campaign.

World number one Trump now leads Robertson 11-9 in their head-to-head record. Tonight he gained revenge for a gut-wrenching defeat in this season’s Champion of Champions final, where Robertson battled back from requiring snookers at 9-8 down to win 10-9.

This evening’s win sees Trump pocket the £80,000 top prize, while Robertson will have to settle for £35,000. That leaves the battle for the £150,000 BetVictor European Series bonus well and truly alive. The bumper payout will be awarded to the player that accumulates the most prize money over the four events in the series.

Robertson only needed to win this evening to secure the series, after victory at last week’s European Masters. However, he now only leads Trump by £35,000 heading into the Shoot Out and the Gibraltar Open.

The pair came into this evening’s session locked together at 4-4 after a tightly contested eight frames this afternoon.

When play got underway tonight it was Trump who seized the early initiative. He composed breaks of 54 and 75 to take the opening two frames and lead 6-4. Robertson showed his steel and responded with a break of 66 to pull back within one. However, it was Trump who went into the mid-session interval in the ascendancy, moving 7-5 ahead courtesy of a contribution of 59.

When they returned Trump won his second consecutive frame without conceding a point to move one from victory at 8-5. Robertson claimed the 14th to extend the match, but it wasn’t to be for the Australian as Trump emphatically secured the title with a century run of 100.

Trump said: “They are all special. All the tournaments I enter I want to win, but especially in one of the biggest arenas we play in. When it gets down to the one-table setup here it is very special. The fans are amazing. It is just nice to be able to tick off all of the events I’ve won and hopefully one day be able to complete them all.

“Tonight I was able to establish a lead and I was always in control from then on. I just managed to battle. My safety was good and I scored well when I needed to. It was a completely different game to the Champion of Champions final, but some of the safety was excellent. I really had to earn my chances today. It was like playing chess trying to figure out my opponent’s next move and put them in the worst place possible. It was very nice to earn the title playing that kind of snooker as well.

“It was very important for me to try and keep up that momentum from winning the World Championship. You don’t want to let your form slip because it can be hard to get back from that.”

Robertson said: “The crowd have been absolutely brilliant. Especially from the semi-finals on, we don’t get to experience occasions like that too often. It was a brilliant last couple of days of snooker. The final was played to a high standard from a safety point of view. It was very tough to earn our chances. Judd thoroughly deserved to win.”

As most of you will know, I’m not a big Trump fan, but, as a snooker fan, I could only admire and appreciate his performance yesterday, especially in the evening. Maybe it was because Neil is a stable mate, a top top player he knows extremely well and respects, but yesterday there was none of the seemingly arrogance that annoys me so much at times. Except for one frame in the first session, after Neil had stolen a frame that Judd should have won, there was no impatience, nor frustration. The level of the safeties – by both – was unreal at times.

Judd once again stressed how much he owns his brother Jack, whose presence at his side at tournaments has been a major factor in Judd’s success.

Here is some coverage, including the trophy ceremony:

Today’s final in Berlin will be contested between Judd Trump and Neil Robertson.

This is how they got there:

Judd Trump 6-4 Graeme Dott (WST report):

Saturday 1 Feb 2020 06:12PM

Judd Trump secured his place in the final of the BetVictor German Masters following a hard fought 6-4 defeat of Graeme Dott in Berlin.

World Champion Trump is through to his fifth final of the current World Snooker Tour season. Trump, a winner of 14 ranking titles, has already secured victories at the International Championship, the World Open and the Northern Ireland Open this campaign. He was runner-up to Neil Robertson at the Champion of Champions.

The Ace in the Pack is a former finalist in Berlin, having lost to Ding Junhui in 2014, but he is yet to pick up the title at the Tempodrom. Tomorrow will be the 24^th ranking final of his career and he will face either Shaun Murphy or Neil Robertson over 17 frames for the title and the £80,000 top prize.

Dott, who was runner-up to Mark Williams in 2018, leaves with the consolation of £20,000 for reaching the semis and will now turn his attention to next week’s Coral World Grand Prix in Cheltenham.

They traded the first two frames today, before Dott stole the third on the black. Scotland’s 2006 World Champion then had a chance to move further ahead, but missed a red to the top corner which allowed Trump to step in and level at 2-2 heading into the mid-session.

The match continued to swing back and forth, until Trump seized the initiative by composing a break of 70 to move 4-3 ahead. The following frame came down to a lengthy safety battle on the final brown. Eventually Dott prevailed, clearing the table after depositing a steely black to draw level at 4-4.

Trump produced his best at the crucial moment in the ninth frame, potting a long red from a Dott safety and firing in a break of 110 to move one from victory. He wrapped things up with a break of 42 in the next to secure his place in the final.

Trump said: “I missed my opportunities early on. Graeme kept fighting back and I just tried to stay positive after he made it 4-4. I know from experience in the past that when an opponent wins an important frame they can get so pumped that they forget to do the rest of the job. I made a great break in the next frame to go 5-4 up.

“This is one of the best venues when it gets down to one table. It is up there with the Masters. The noise when you walk out is amazing. The crowd support both players. Every single game they are very fair. It is an excellent arena for snooker.

“It is important to try and tick off all the events that I haven’t won. It is always nice to go to new places and win new events. This is one I haven’t won in the past and that I always look forward to coming to.”

Dott said: “I felt I got what I deserved out of the game. I thought Judd was the better player and I was hanging on. You never know what could have happened when it went 4-4. It could have changed, but it didn’t.

“My game has been good. It has been consistent. You are just hoping that it all falls in the one week. It could have been this week, but it wasn’t so we go to next week and try again.”

Neil Robertson 6-1 Shaun Murphy (WST report):

Saturday 1 Feb 2020 10:30PM

Neil Robertson put on a blistering display to beat Shaun Murphy 6-1 and reach the BetVictor German Masters final in Berlin.

Robertson will now meet World Champion and world number one Judd Trump over the best of 17 frames, with both players seeking their maiden German Masters crown and the £80,000 top prize.

Robertson is one win away from securing the £150,000 BetVictor European Series bonus with two tournaments to spare, having won last week’s European Masters. Victory for Trump would leave the series well and truly alive with the Shoot Out and Gibraltar Open still to come.

Australia’s 2010 World Champion Robertson has been dominant throughout this week and that can be highlighted by the fact he has only dropped two frames on his way to the final.

After Robertson secured a tightly contested opening frame this evening in front of over 2,500 fans in a packed Tempodrom, the encounter burst into life. Murphy composed a fine run of 92 to restore parity and had looked to be in a good position to claim the next. The Magician missed a red to end his run on 53 and Robertson ruthlessly stepped in to clear with 73 to move 2-1 ahead.

From that point onwards it was total dominance from 37-year-old Robertson. Breaks of 136, 62, 53 and 129 saw him blitz to the line and win 6-1 to set up tomorrow’s meeting with Trump.

“It was amazing. The atmosphere was absolutely incredible. You have to pinch yourself to be a top snooker player these days to play in front of these kinds of crowds,” said Robertson. “I felt like Russell Crowe in Gladiator. I thought I was going to have to search for a sword and shield and put a helmet on. It has that colosseum effect and is the closest thing I’ve seen to the Wembley Conference Centre. Alexandra Palace is amazing and the Crucible one-table setup is too, but this is something else because the crowd is really vocal and there are so many people.

“I’ve just carried on from last week. I only dropped a few frames then as well. I am like that in practise, I get really annoyed if I lose a frame to anyone. I think maybe the Masters was a friendly reminder of how the game can bite you in the back if you don’t keep your foot down. I am really pleased. You have to make a lot of things happen and get a little bit of luck in some close frames, but I think I have been really good value for that record.

“The occasion tomorrow will be enough. I don’t have time to think about other things like where I am in the order of merit. I have been working hard and preparing well. I think I have made a huge change in that regard over the last few years. I have been doing everything I possibly can to get the best results and I am really proud of myself with the way it has paid off.”

Murphy said: “The test against a Triple Crown champion is different to everyone else. With respect to the other players, those who have won all three of those major championships are a sterner test. He’s played unbelievably well all week and on present form there is only one winner in the final tomorrow.”

Neither finalist has won the German Masters before. If both play today the way they played all week, there is only one winner, Neil Robertson and he should win comfortably. But of course every day is different and the Tempodrom on the Finals day is a very special place. Just read what Neil had to say about it. This is why – rich sponsors or not – the European events deserve better. Betting is nowhere near in our culture as it is in the UK and the states won’t sponsor a sport that isn’t even recognised as a sport. But the interest is there. And a lot of young Europeans did well in the last WSF event. If Barry Hearn really wants to grow the sport internationally, he has to “invest” in those events and raise the prize money as well as to move the qualifiers to a better slot in the calendar, or better, just before the event at a venue nearby. The local sponsoring will come eventually.

Well, we didn’t have to wait until monday after all …

WST has just published the World Grand Prix draw and format:

Saturday 1 Feb 2020 08:58PM

The draw and format is now available for next week’s Coral World Grand Prix at the Cheltenham Racecourse, with several big name clashes in a star-studded opening round. The event runs from 3rd to 9th February.

Click here for the draw.

Click here for the format.

Last year’s Coral Cup winner and five-time World Champion Ronnie O’Sullivan kicks the tournament off at 7pm on Monday evening in a blockbuster meeting with David Gilbert. Defending champion and world number one Judd Trump gets his campaign underway against Li Hang at 7pm on Tuesday night.

Wednesday afternoon’s 1pm session sees two intriguing first round ties, with World Champions colliding when John Higgins faces Stuart Bingham, while Kyren Wilson and Jack Lisowski meet in a contest between the world’s two highest ranked players under the age of 30.

Should Ronnie win his first match, he will play again on Wednesday evening at 7 pm, against Mark Allen or Liang Wenbo.

The line-up for the World Grand Prix has been confirmed by WST

Saturday 1 Feb 2020 12:42PM

The field of 32 players for next week’s Coral World Grand Prix at Cheltenham Racecourse has now been confirmed.

The final qualifying event is this week’s BetVictor German Masters, and at the start of the tournament in Berlin there were 19 players outside the top 32 of the one-year ranking list who could have earned a place in Cheltenham with a deep run.

However all 19 were knocked out by the semi-final stage, which meant Li Hang held on to 32nd place.

The players heading to Cheltenham are (the seeing order could change depending on results over the final weekend in Berlin):

Judd Trump
Shaun Murphy
Mark Selby
Ding Junhui
Neil Robertson
Mark Allen
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh
Yan Bingtao
John Higgins
Stephen Maguire
David Gilbert
Mark Williams
Joe Perry
Graeme Dott
Zhou Yuelong
Kyren Wilson
Jack Lisowski
Gary Wilson
Kurt Maflin
Ali Carter
Barry Hawkins
Ronnie O’Sullivan
Tom Ford
Stuart Bingham
Zhao Xintong
Matthew Selt
Liang Wenbo
Michael Holt
Scott Donaldson
Xiao Guodong
Matthew Stevens
Li Hang

The full draw and format will be announced on Monday. Four of the first round matches have already been scheduled.

…

The tournament was staged in  Cheltenham Racecourse for the first time last year, and Bristol’s Trump took the title by beating Ali Carter in the final.

Televised live by ITV4, the event has total prize money of £380,000.

The Coral World Grand Prix is the first of the Coral Series events, with the top 16 going through to the Coral Players Championship in Southport (February 24 to March 1) and then only the top eight make the Coral Tour Championship in Llandudno (March 17-22).

Liang Wenbo will donate allhis prize money to help the victims of the coranavirus outbreak.

Saturday 1 Feb 2020 03:01PM

Liang Wenbo has pledged to donate all of his prize money at next week’s Coral World Grand Prix to the Huizhou Red Cross in light of the Coronavirus outbreak.

This is a fantastic act of generosity from Liang in very difficult circumstances. Everyone at WST would like to send our best wishes to those people impacted on by this outbreak and our thoughts are with all our friends across China.

Magnificent gesture by Liang Wenbo!

“Provisionally” the draw looks like this (source snooker.org)

Actually it can’t change anymore unless there are withdrawals.

As we enter into the finals week-end in Berlin, only four players remain: Neil Robertson, Judd Trump, Shaun Murphy and Graeme Dott. All four, former World Champions.

The one table setup in the Tempodrom is one  of the better and most impressive in snooker, and the German crowd is one of the best, appreciative, supportive and respectful.

Here is WST report about how we got here:

Friday 31 Jan 2020 10:59PM

Judd Trump is through to the semi-finals of the BetVictor German Masters after a 5-1 defeat of Cypriot Michael Georgiou in Berlin.

World Champion Trump progresses to the one-table setup at the iconic Tempodrom venue for the third time. Trump is yet to lift the trophy at Germany’s most prestigious event, he was runner-up to Ding Junhui in 2014. He’ll face 2006 World Champion Graeme Dott for a place in this year’s final.

If world number one Trump harbours hopes of clinching the £150,000 BetVictor European Series bonus, he may need to win the event this week. The prize goes to the player who accumulates the most prize money across the four tournaments in the series.

BetVictor European Masters winner Neil Robertson was also victorious today to clinch his place in the other semi-final and he will secure the series bonus with two events to spare if he takes home the title this weekend.

Trump was in impressive form this evening as he eased past his counterpart. He fired in breaks of 81 and 73, before finishing off the win with back-to-back century runs of 119 and 112.

Trump said: “After the interval I was good and scored pretty heavily. Hopefully I can gain some confidence and momentum from that and push on to produce some good snooker in the semi-final.

“It is very exciting to be involved in the semi-finals here. When there are four or five tables going on it is hard to keep your concentration. It is nice to have just one table now. Hopefully I can just relax and go out and enjoy the moment.”

Robertson booked his semi-final place with a blistering 5-0 whitewash win against Elliott Slessor.

The Thunder from Down Under needed just under an hour and 15 minutes to secure the victory, composing breaks of 133, 101, 94, 73 and 53.

Australia’s Robertson will now face a mouth-watering semi-final meeting with Shaun Murphy. The Magician secured his passage to the last four with a 5-3 defeat of young Chinese star Zhao Xintong.

Dott’s 5-2 win over Matthew Selt saw him book his semi-final showdown with Trump, ensuring that all four remaining competitors are World Champions. With both semis set to be played in front of a capacity Tempodrom crowd an enthralling Saturday lies in wait.

Judd Trump is the World Champion and the world n°1, and he’s young, so it’s to be expected that World Snooker Tour is trying to big him as much as possible, but he hasn’t really be tested this week until now. Today might be different. Graeme Dott is a massively under-rated player. Ok, he has not been in great form for a long time, but he’s getting back to it – he scored heavily in his previous matches this week – and there is nobody on tour more tenacious than the “terrier”. He’s also very sound tactically.

Neil Robertson has been very impressive this week. He’s clearly determined to get his hands on that bonus! Shaun Murphy though may have something to say about it. I only saw a bit of both matches involving Shaun yesterday. Scott Donaldson played some very good safeties, but when getting the opportunity, he failed to score heavily enough. Zhao Xintong is much improved tactically, but still no match for a “post Fergal” Murphy. Yes folks, Shaun Murphy has a safety game nowadays, and a pretty good one at that! And he seems to enjoy it.