The second Asia-Oceania Q-School is still in relatively early stages but actually the new season is only just over two weeks away.
Just like this season, it will start with the ranking Championship League Snooker. The event got a lot of criticism but it has its merit. For a start it’s an event that guarantees every player at least three streamed matches against opponents of various abilities and experience and that’s invaluable for those who are debutants on the main tour. There is no crowd and there isn’t too much pressure either.
2023/24 Season Starts With BetVictor Championship League
The 2023 BetVictor Championship League Snooker Ranking Event will return this June and July at the Morningside Arena, Leicester as the first ranking event of the 2023/24 World Snooker Tour season.
Star names in the field will include Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy, Kyren Wilson, Mark Williams and Ali Carter. The draw is set to be made next week.
The tournament takes place over three stages, starting on Tuesday, 26 June. Winners’ Week will run from Monday 17, July concluding with Finals Day on Friday, 21 July. The eventual winner will also receive an invite into the 2023 Champion of Champions in November.
Please note there is no access for fans at this event. However, wherever you are in the world, you can follow the action live online. Table 1 will be available on Viaplay Extra in the UK. Fans in Scandinavia, Baltics, Netherlands, and Poland will be be able to watch on Viaplay. The tournament will also be live on betting websites around the world, as well as on global OTT platforms and Matchroom.Live.
Yan Bingtao and Zhao Xintong were the star names among the guilty parties (Pictures: Getty)
Two lifetime bans were handed out and eight more players won’t be playing professional snooker any time soon, but there remains a feeling that snooker’s match-fixing punishments didn’t quite go far enough.
The verdicts and bans were announced this week as 10 players were found guilty of various charges from fixing matches to betting on games, and there has been an attempt to chop the head off the snake by ousting the ring-leaders for life.
Liang Wenbo, who has emerged as snooker’s chief villain and all-round abysmal character after a conviction for assaulting a woman last year, has been banned for the rest of his days, as has Li Hang.
The two men were found to have encouraged, enticed and at times bullied younger players into getting involved in match-fixing.
World Professional Snooker and Billiards Association (WPBSA) chairman Jason Ferguson had previously said any lifetime ban was very unlikely for legal reasons, but is now delighted to see the independent disciplinary commission dish them out for the ‘despicable’ actions of Liang and Li.
The influence of the pair on younger players has been taken into account when the punishments were handed out to the other eight guilty parties, and rightly so, but perhaps some still got off a little lightly.
The players have received significant punishments, with Lu Ning banned for 5 years and 4 months, Yan Bingtao and Chen Zifan 5 years, Zhao Jianbo, Chang Bingyu, Bai Langning and Zhang Jiankang all between 2 and 3 years, and Zhao Xintong, who ‘alone among the Respondent players did not himself fix any match’ barred for 1 year and 8 months.
They were given reductions on their bans for admittance of guilt at the earliest opportunities, something Stephen Lee didn’t do when he was banned for 12 years in 2013.
Liang Wenbo did not engage with the investigation before being banned for life (Picture: Getty Images)
If the punishments were firm enough, the WPBSA does not appear to believe so themselves, with the governing body pushing the independent commission to be as strict as possible, but the finding of the hearing revealing that they did not agree.
On considering appropriate sanctions, the finding read: ‘The WPBSA submitted that we should impose a longer ban than the previous snooker cases would suggest should be the case, on the basis that the extent of wrongdoing evident in the present case demonstrates that the sanctions in previous cases had proved to be an insufficient deterrent.
‘We do not accept that submission. The present case involved a close-knit group of Respondent players (including predominantly young professionals) who spoke the same language and shared a similar culture; the relevant events occurred largely during the Covid-19 pandemic when they were not able to travel back home to mainland China and felt isolated in the UK. We do not see in the present case any evidence of a wider culture of wrongdoing in snooker.’
While that makes sense, it has to be something of a concern that the WPBSA feels there was ‘insufficient deterrent’ for match-fixers based on previous bans and the commission disagreed.
However, punishments in reality were longer than they may have been thanks to the WPBSA pushing for no part of bans being suspended, as they have been in the past.
Cao Yupeng was was hit with a six-year ban for match-fixing in 2018, but three-and-a-half years of that was suspended, meaning he was back playing on the main tour in 2021
The commission confirmed that ‘the WPBSA urged us not to adopt that approach’ this time round and that was a good move, because Cao only being banned for two-and-a-half years for fixing three matches and ‘failing to fully co-operate with the WPBSA inquiry’ was ridiculously lenient.
Many players will believe the more serious punishments this time around are still very generous to those found guilty.
Speaking to Metro.co.uk earlier this year world number 21 Dave Gilbert expressed a view that many more will hold, saying: ‘If you’ve put money on yourself to lose a frame or matches, you’re gone forever.
‘I don’t ever want to see you in the practice room, the players’ room or sat opposite playing me. I don’t want to look at you, I don’t want to shake your hand, I don’t want to wish you well if you beat me.
‘I want nothing to do with you. If you’re proven to have done that, I don’t want you near me.’
Yan Bingtao has been found to have fixed four matches, the first in August 2016 and the most recent in December 2022, but could be back on the main tour in 2028, before his 30th birthday.
His reputation may never recover, but his career may well. The former Masters champion is a superb player and could return right to the top of the game for years to come. Many would feel that very hard to accept after serial match-fixing.
Yan Bingtao won £250,000 when he won the Masters in 2021 (Picture: PA)
Zhao Xintong will be back playing a lot sooner, and given that he is the only one of the 10 not to fix a match that is correct, but his return will also be far too soon for some.
The 26-year-old may not have fixed any matches, but he placed bets on games he knew to be fixed by Yan. The WPBSA submitted that if he had not placed the bets then Yan would not have proceeded with the fixes. The commission rejected that submission, but either way it was a meaningful and active role he played.
The finding states of Zhao: ‘His involvement was limited to placing bets for Yan through Li, whereby he became liable as a party to the two match fixes. He attempted to dissuade Yan from match-fixing on both occasions with no success. He felt he had no other option but to place the bets for Yan, as Yan had requested. He has shown genuine remorse for his actions.’
‘Felt he had no other option’ is not a great excuse from Zhao. Since the verdicts, he posted on social media: ‘I have been thoroughly regretting my ignorance and silliness since being suspended a few months ago. I feel ashamed as I disappointed everybody by making a mistake. I just want to say sorry to everyone.
‘I didn’t make any profit from it, but I paid a heavy price for my foolishness.’
Zhao is a very likeable man and a joy to watch at the table so it is easy to feel sorry for him, but a ban of under two years appears generous, as the WPBSA themselves attested with their ‘significant and serious’ involvement claim, which was rejected by the commission.
Zhao Xintong is one of the finest players on the planet, but will not return to the professional tour until at least 2025 (Picture: Getty Images)
The commission found that this case did not present ‘any evidence of a wider culture of wrongdoing in snooker’ which is good news for the sport, but to think that every incident of fixing was hoovered up in this enquiry is fanciful.
The finding stated of the now banned for life Li Hang: ‘Li was a good poker player and had a betting account which he used to help the younger players to place bets, including on snooker games. It was widely known by the Chinese snooker players that they could go to Li if they wished to place a bet on a snooker match or to get involved with match fixing.’
It’s hard to imagine this was widely known among the group of players found guilty but nowhere beyond that number, and for how long that has been widely known is not clear. Li first turned pro as long ago as 2008.
Outside of the guilty parties there were three other players in the finding that were approached to fix matches but rejected the opportunity and were not charged with any breaches.
The aforementioned Cao, Yuan Sijun and Xu Si were these three players and how their involvement came about was not made clear in the finding. Whether it was voluntary as whistle-blowers or that they had found to be approached.
Asked if they had come forward voluntarily, Ferguson said: ‘They came forward as part of the investigation.’
To the WPBSA’s credit they have pushed for severe punishment and will be desperately hoping that the bans that have been handed out are sufficient deterrent to anyone considering any fixing in future.
They have also not given up on further discipline for those involved, with Ferguson telling the Times that there could be criminal charges to come in the UK and in China.
‘We are in constant contact with the Gambling Commission and it is up to them whether they want to take it on for criminal proceedings,’ he said. ‘We will also be handing information to the authorities in China that could also result in prosecutions.’
The sport has a problem, clearly. Will this week’s punishments be enough to stop it? Everyone hopes so, the WPBSA as much as anyone. Could there have been a clearer message that this can never happen again? Yes.
I have put two parts in bold. I find it interesting that WPBSA pushed for harder punishments.
Also there is a psychological aspect to the relationship between the group of young players that isn’t mentioned in this article, but has been brought forward by Lewis Pirnie a few times in the past: the “one child policy” has now been lifted in China, but when the players in this age group were born it was still enforced and most, if not all, have no siblings. Because of that, the relationship they build with their “friends” is often more intense that what we are used to see in our corner of the world, they become like brothers to them because they have no biological brothers. Some of these young players have known each other, and practiced/played with each other since they were kids. Their friendship is very strong and very important to them, and it only became more important during the covid crisis, when they were kept away and isolated for a long period of time. I’m not looking to excuse them, but it probably explains – to an extent – why they felt compelled to support each other even knowing that what was going on was wrong.
The project is to organise three leagues: the PREMIER League, the DIVISION 1 League and the OVER 50’s League
The the PREMIER League and the DIVISION 1 League are explicitly restricted to amateurs. There is no other restriction whatsoever, notably this is not restricted to British players.
The Leagues have different entry fees and different prize money. The PREMIER League will NOT CLASH with the Q-Tour.
The matches will be long format matches, over two sessions. Proper matches.
You must commit to complete your matches.
If you are interested, REGISTER your interest. Jason will only organise those leagues if he gets the required number of entries.
Whilst the main talking point yesterday was the outcome of the match fixing enquiry involving 10 Chinese players, the second event of the Asia-Oceania Q-School got underway.
Ng On Yee stormed to a 4-0 victory over Ong Jia Jun as Asia-Oceania Q School Event Two got underway in Bangkok.
Event one finished on Tuesday, with Thor Chuan Leong and Manasawin Phetmalaik earning tour cards. Event two runs until next Monday, with two more tour cards up for grabs.
Three-time World Women’s Champion Ng was relegated from the pro tour at the end of last season but the Hong Kong ace is looking to bounce straight back, and today’s success puts her straight into the last 32, as her last 64 opponent Haris Tahir has withdrawn.
Ka Wai Cheung, who lost to Phetmalaik in the final round of event one, got up and running again by thrashing Habib Sabah Hamood 4-0. Two Filipinos, Jefrey Roda and Alvin Barbero, both scored 4-2 victories to progress to the last 64.
I watched On Yee’s match on Facebook and “stormed” isn’t a word I would use to describe what she did… it was quite slow going and she didn’t score heavily at all. It was slow going and bits and pieces. She came across a weak opponent – probably the guy can play better but isn’t used to professional conditions – and she scraped through rather than stormed through. She will need to improve to stand any chance.
In other news … the good news
Jason Francis is probably the most active person when it comes to promote amateur snooker and he came up with some great ideas and news
First one… the 900 will be on for its second season
And he presented his latest brain child: the amateur League series
Six players secured a two years tour card yesterday: four emerged from the 2023 (UK) Q-School Event , two qualified through the Asia-Oceania Q-School Event 1. Here are the reports by WST:
Burden, Young, Carrington And Heathcote Regain Cards
Alfie Burden, Dean Young, Stuart Carrington and Louis Heathcote all bounced back from relegation by regaining their World Snooker Tour cards on the final day of Q School event two.
Heathcote, Burden and Young all won nail-biting matches by a 4-3 scoreline in the final round in Leicester, to secure a place on the pro circuit for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons. Carrington eased through with a 4-0 success against Rory McLeod.
Londoner Burden, a veteran who first turned pro in 1994, was up against Ukraine’s Iulian Boiko in the last round. He made a break of 88 to lead 2-1, before falling 3-2 behind. Runs of 52 and 43 set up a nervy decider in which both players had chances, but Burden was always in front and eventually potted the final brown to clinch the result.
“There are so many emotions,” admitted Burden. “I actually tried to pull out of Q School after the World Seniors (where he lost to Jimmy White in the final) because I felt I had let my family down by not winning that event – I felt very down and didn’t want to pick my cue up. I had a few days practice, came here and rolled the dice.
“Q School is so tough. After I won I went to the toilet and there was a kid bent over the sink crying his eyes out because he had lost. It was Florian (Nuessle) and I feel for him. I almost wanted to swap places with him because I have had a long career, while he is a young kid just starting out and wanting it so badly, trying to win a place on the tour.
“Everything I do is for my children and I’m just delighted to win today.”
Scotland’s Young, who first turned pro two years ago, faced Austria’s promising Nuessle, who was looking to earn a tour place for the first time. A break of 90 helped give Nuessle a 3-1 advantage, and he had chances in each of the next three frames. The closest he came to victory was in frame six which came down to the last two balls, but Young potted the pink for 3-3, then made a break of 30 at the crucial moment of the decider to seal the tie.
“I could hardly stand up towards the end,” said Young. “I don’t have a clue how I won. He missed a pink at 3-2, he should have closed it out. I had no Plan B, so to get through Q School was all or nothing for me. The pressure here is immense, I have never felt anything like that in my life. My first two years on tour was an apprenticeship and I am hoping to do better next time.”
Leicester’s Heathcote turned pro in 2019 and was named Rookie of the Year after his debut season. He struggled for results in 2022/23 and slipped out of the world’s top 64, but handled the immense pressure of Q School to book two more years on the top tier.
He faced Ryan Davies and – just like Burden and Young – trailed for much of the afternoon before producing a strong finish. England’s 21-year-old Davies, looking to earn a tour card for the first time, led 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2. But Heathcote fired breaks of 111 and 74 to take the last two frames.
“I have never felt so focussed, and now I am so relieved it’s all over,” said 25-year-old Heathcote. “At 3-2 down, nothing was going my way. I went to the toilet and told myself to use my last four years of experience and somehow won two frames with two good breaks. I am really proud of myself and I can have a fresh start now. I hope I never have to go back to Q School because it is the most stressful ten days.”
Carrington, from Grimsby, had a ten-year spell as a pro from 2013 to 2023, and the two-time ranking event semi-finalist can enjoy an immediate return. He was made to wait several hours for his final match as his opponent Rory McLeod battled to a marathon four hour 13 minute 4-3 victory over Robin Hull in the penultimate round. But Carrington was unflustered as he eased to a 4-0 success with top runs of 66 and 53.
“I was expecting to be there all night!” he said. “I thought it would be a tough match. I was solid and my safety was good, though 4-0 was a bit flattering. The last 18 months has been really difficult for me, it has been mental torture. I have been struggling to pull the cue back. I wasn’t expecting a great deal this week but I have hung in there and fought my way through, without hitting the ball well. I have two years now to work on that and find the right person who can help me technically as well as mentally.”
Eventually the 2023 (UK) Q-Schools produced just one debutant: Liam Pullen. All the other players coming through it are either former professionals or players who regained their tour card immediately. Six out of 8 laureates were competing on the main tour in 2022/23. This shows again that this system strongly favours former pros and in particular those who have just been relegated. It’s certainly NOT the best system to get new young talents on tour. Alexander Ursenbacher is the only laureate from mainland Europe. Iulian Boiko actually tops the Q-School order of merit. Although he didn’t regain a tour card he has been the best/most consistent player in the field. I do hope that he gets opportunities to play in in several ranking events in the coming season.
Bai Yulu has in many ways been the story of the European Q-Schools. She has shown that women can compete with men. She has beaten several experienced, solid players. All her matches went the distance and I believe that, against Simon Bedford, she eventually ran out of steam. Out of 208 entrants, she finished 41st in the order of merit, which is better than 80% of those who entered. I hope that she gets the opportunity to compete on the Q-Tour. She needs a lot of matches against strong opposition to progress further and she won’t get that on the Women’s tour.
Malaysia’s Thor Chuan Leong beat Lei Peifan 4-1 in the final round of Asia-Oceania Q School Event One in Bangkok, regaining a place on the pro tour after a three-year absence.
In the other semi-final, Thailand’s Manasawin Phetmalaik beat China’s Ka Wai Cheung to earn a place on the tour for the first time.
Thor, age 35, earns a two-year card for the World Snooker Tour for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 seasons. He previously competed on the circuit for six seasons between 2014 and 2020 and has reached the last 32 of four ranking events.
Having won four matches to reach today’s final round in Thailand, Thor made breaks of 106 and 58 to take a 2-0 lead. China’s Lei, who was relegated from the tour at the end of last season, pulled a frame back, but Thor then won the next two to seal the result.
“I’m very pleased with the win today,” he said. “I have prepared myself well, entering this year’s Thailand Ranking Circuit. The gold medal in snooker singles at the South East Asian Games in Cambodia earlier in May really boosted me up for the Q School.
“I just played my game today, trying to relax and continue with good breaks to keep the game under control. To be able to get back on the tour has been on my mind since I dropped off and always wanted to go back. It is very good that I can qualify here in Thailand rather than going to qualify in the UK as the cost is much less coming here. It is very good for all Asian players to have the opportunities to qualify here. The venue is great and the table condition is perfect. All the hard work I have put in over the past months has now paid off.”
Phetmalaik has been based in England for several years as his father Chusak owns the Q House snooker academy in Darlington, home to the likes of Thepchaiya Un-Nooh and Zhou Yuelong.
Breaks of 99, 82 and 65 today helped 24-year-old Phetmalaik to a comfortable victory. He said: “The standard of snooker is just as good here as it is in the UK Q School. I really had to be on top of my game to get through each round especially today as Cheung has compiled many big breaks this week.
“I have always been keen to become a professional player. I first picked up the cue when I was 14 and it took me ten years to finally make my dreams come true. I would like to thank my dad and my family for their tremendous support.”
The match was presided over by Assistant Prof. Dr. Veeris Ammarapala, the governor of Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand, as guest of honour along with Mr. Suntorn Jarumon, President of Billiard Sports Association of Thailand and his board members.
Today the independent WPBSA Disciplinary Commission has delivered its decision on the ten players charged with match fixing offences and have issued two lifetime bans for Liang Wenbo and Li Hang, and lengthy bans for the other players concerned.
Liang Wenbo has been given a lifetime from snooker and is to pay £43,000 in costs.
Li Hang has been given a lifetime from snooker and is to pay £43,000 in costs.
Lu Ning has been given an 8 year suspension, reduced following early admissions and his plea of guilty, to 5 years and 4 months until 6 April 2028. He is to pay £7,500 in costs.
Yan Bingtao has been given a 7 year and 6 months suspension, reduced following early admissions and plea of guilty, to 5 years until 11 December 2027. He is to pay £7,500 in costs.
Zhao Xintong has been given a 2 year and 6 months suspension, reduced following early admissions and his plea of guilty, to 1 year and 8 months until 1 September 2024. He is to pay £7,500 in costs.
Zhao Jianbo has been given a 3 year and 6 months suspension, reduced following early admissions and his plea of guilty, to 2 years and 4 months until 7 April 2025. He is to pay £7,500 in costs.
Chang Bingyu has been given a 3 year suspension, reduced following early admissions and his plea of guilty, to 2 years until 7 December 2024. He is to pay £7,500 in costs.
Bai Langning has been given a 4 year suspension, reduced following early admissions and his plea of guilty, to 2 years and 8 months until 6 August 2025. He is to pay £7,500 in costs.
Chen Zifan has been given a 7 year and 6 months suspension, reduced following early admissions and his plea of guilty, to 5 years until 20 December 2027. He is to pay £7,500 in costs.
Zhang Jiankang has been given a 4 year and 5 months suspension, reduced following early admissions and his plea of guilty, to 2 years and 11 months until 1 December 2025. He is to pay £7,500 in costs.
Jason Ferguson WPBSA Chairman said: “This has been a very complex case. It has been heart-breaking to see some young talented players fall foul of the WPBSA Conduct Regulations through pressure exerted by two senior players. This behaviour has been recognised as wholly unacceptable by the imposition of two lifetime bans from participating in recognised snooker in any way.
“Those who try to corrupt sport are constantly trying to find new ways to avoid our monitoring processes and this outcome must be taken as a lesson to those who think they can avoid detection. If any player is involved in fixing a snooker match, they will be caught and will face severe penalties.
“I am pleased that the Commission found that they did not see from the present case “any evidence of a wider culture of wrongdoing in snooker”. The WPBSA will continue its strong stance against those who try to manipulate sport and today’s outcome sends out a clear message that match fixing will not be tolerated in snooker.”
The circumstances of the case are that following an alert in August 2022 from the International Betting integrity Association (IBIA), the WPBSA Integrity Unit working closely with Sportradar carried out a detailed investigation that led to charging ten snooker players with serious breaches of the WPBSA Conduct Regulations. Pending the determination of those breaches the ten players were each suspended.
The WPBSA in accordance with the WPBSA Conduct Regulations, asked Sport Resolutions to appoint an independent King’s Counsel to hear the case against the ten players. Ian Mill KC was appointed to Chair the Independent Disciplinary Commission sitting with Grace Cheng of Counsel and Gordon McKay.
The case was heard in London between the 24th and 26th April and on 3rd May 2023 with the players attending in person or by video link. The Players were each legally represented or assisted by the WPBSA Players Association.
On 6th June 2023 the Disciplinary Commission released its finding on the contested charges and its decision on the sanctions to be imposed:
Liang Wenbo has been found in to be in breach of the Conduct Regulations as follows:
That he fixed or was a party to fix five snooker matches between 24th July and 28th September 2022
That he solicited, induced, enticed, persuaded, encouraged, or facilitated players to fix nine matches between 24th July and 13th December 2022
That between 1st September 2019 and 31st December 2022 he bet on snooker matches in breach of the rules.
That he behaved in conduct that was corrupt by threatening another player and making him delete his messages on his phone.
That he threatened another player to seek to persuade him not to assist the WPBSA enquiry.
That he on or after 1st September 2022 when aware of the WPBSA enquiry covered up or attempted to cover up his involvement in match fixing by deleting messages on his mobile phone and by requesting that other players deleted messages on their phones.
That he failed to cooperate with the WPBSA enquiry by failing to attend interviews and provide material requested by the WPBSA enquiry.
Li Hang has been found to be in breach of the Conduct Regulations as follows:
That he fixed or was a party to fix five snooker matches between 24th July and 29th September 2022
That he solicited, induced, enticed, persuaded, encouraged or facilitated players to fix seven snooker matches between 24th July and 13th December 2022.
That between 1st September 2019 and 31st December 2022 he bet on snooker matches in breach of the rules.
That he on or after 1st September 2022 when aware of the WPBSA enquiry covered up or attempted to cover up his involvement in match fixing by deleting messages on his mobile phone and by requesting that other players deleted messages on their phones.
Lu Ning was found not to have been involved in inducing others to fix matches. He accepted the following:
That in the 2014-15 season he fixed three snooker matches that he played in
That he on 23rd July 2022 he fixed one snooker match that he played in.
That between 1st September 2019 and 31st December 2022 he bet on snooker matches in breach of the rules.
That he on or after 1st September 2022 when aware of the WPBSA enquiry covered up or attempted to cover up his involvement in match fixing by deleting messages on his mobile phone.
Yan Bingtao accepted the following:
That he on 29th August 2016 fixed one match that he played in
That he between 3rd March 2022 and 29th September 2022 fixed three snooker matches that he played in.
That between 1st September 2019 and 31st December 2022 he bet on snooker matches in breach of the rules.
Zhao Xintong accepted the following:
That he on 3rd March and 11th March 2022 he was a party to another player fixing two snooker matches.
That between 1st September 2019 and 31st December 2022 he bet on snooker matches in breach of the rules.
Zhao Jianbo accepted the following:
That he on 26th August 2022 fixed a snooker match that he was playing in
That he bet on the snooker match that he fixed.
Chang Bingyu accepted that he on 28th September 2022 had fixed a snooker match that he was playing in.
Bai Langning accepted that he on 26th September 2022 had fixed a snooker match that he was playing in.
Chen Zifan accepted the following:
That he between 24th July and 23rd August 2022 fixed or contrived, or were a party to an effort to fix or contrive the result or score of three snooker matches that he played in
Zhang Jiankang accepted the following:
That he on 22nd July 2022 fixed a match that he was playing in
That between 1st September 2019 and 31st December 2022 he bet on snooker matches in breach of the rules.
That he failed to provide information requested by the WPBSA
The respondents have until 20th June 2023 to appeal the decisions of the Disciplinary Commission.
The full finding of the Independent Disciplinary Commission can be found here.
Without deeper analysis, the obvious consequences of this is that none of those players will be able to play next season nor will they be able to enter the 2023/24 Q-Schools. This means that none of them will be on tour before 2024/25 if they ever come back. As a result some of the amateurs/ex-pros that did well on the Q-School, without managing to secure a tour card will probably get a lot of opportunities to play next season.
The findings also confirm that some of the younger players felt threatened by Liang Wenbo and Li Hang. It’s particularly bad because those youngsters, finding themselves isolated, away from their families in a foreign country probably looked up to their more seniors fellow countrymen for advice and guidance. I can only suppose that this aspect of things contributed to the life-ban verdict, something that Jason Ferguson had initially ruled out. It also brings the question of what can be done to protect the potentially most vulnerable and I’m thinking about someone like Bai Yulu, a very young woman, alone, in a foreign country, likely not mastering the language, and finding herself in an essentially male environment/sport.
Report on the 2 Q-Schools that concluded today will be posted tomorrow.
The action continued in the UK and in Thailand as amateurs and relegated pros try to earn/regain professional tour cards. Here are the WST reports on what happened yesterday:
Michael Holt kept his hopes of avoiding another year away from the professional circuit alive, thrashing Muhammad Aurangzaib 4-0 at Q School event two in Leicester.
Former Shoot Out champion Holt was relegated at the conclusion of the 2021/22 season and subsequently was unable to secure a return through 2022 Q School. Having lost in event one this year against Hayden Staniland, he must be successful this time out if he wishes to be on tour next season.
Over the last year he has turned to coaching amateur players to earn a living, as well as setting up his own YouTube channel. However, the Nottingham cueman is determined to regain his place on the professional circuit. He played well this afternoon and crafted break of 57, 81 and 68 on his way to victory. Next up is a third round meeting with Belgian Daan Leyssen.
“It has been a big part of my life for so long. It has been tough watching. I have to deal with that situation and crack on. The coaching is going alright. Ultimately I still see myself as a player, because when I practice the level is more than there. I will keep going,” said 44-year-old Holt.
“I have to think about things because I have a family and that is life. I might not get back on. I am aware of that, but until I can’t play to the level I always have to try. I know there is a big world out there, so we will see.”
China’s World Women’s Championship runner-up Bai Yulu scored a thrilling 4-3 late night win over Joshua Thomond. The 19-year-old sensation had trailed 3-2 but came through to win on the final black. She faces Simon Bedford tomorrow.
Ukrainian 17-year-old Iulian Boiko staved off a fightback from India’s Laxman Rawat to progress as a 4-3 victor. Boiko had led 3-1 before being reeled back into a deciding frame. He held his nerve and got over the line to book a third round clash with Zachary Richardson.
World Seniors runner-up Alfie Burden progressed with a 4-2 defeat of Andrew Tapper, while talented Welsh teenager Liam Davies succumbed to a shock 4-0 defeat against Stephen Kershaw.
There are three players from outside the UK/Ireland already through to round 4, and 8 more still competing in round 3. Of those 11, 10 are from mainland Europe. And I’m not counting Eden Sharav, who plays for Israël but who has always been UK based.
Malaysian former professional Thor Chuan Leong is through to the penultimate day of Asia-Oceania Q School event one after scoring a 4-1 win over India’s Kreishh Gurbaxani in Bangkok.
Thor crafted breaks of 62 and 79 on his way to victory. Next up he faces a last 16 clash with Thailand’s Narongdat Takantong.
Lei Peifan continued his bid for an immediate return to the professional circuit with a 4-2 defeat of Yu Kiu Chang. Lei made contributions of 128 and 66 during the tie and will now play Tawan Pooltong, who edged to a 4-3 win over Raza Mubashir Faraz.
Filipino Jefrey Roda made breaks of 105 and 56 on his way to a 4-0 victory against Prin Ratmukda, while Manasawin Phetmalaikul secured a 4-2 defeat of Alvin Barbero.
The last 16 and quarter-finals will take place tomorrow, with the final round being played on Tuesday. There are two tour cards up for grabs in each event.
All four winners mentioned above have already won their first match today, as did Ka Wai Cheung who is a very fine player. Having a Filipino on tour could be interesting. Filipinos have a strong tradition in cue sports, mainly pool. Of course, wether Jeffrey Roda, should he qualifiy, will be able to afford to move to UK to play on the main tour, remains to be seen.
Scotland’s Young, who first turned pro two years ago, faced Austria’s promising Nuessle, who was looking to earn a tour place for the first time. A break of 90 helped give Nuessle a 3-1 advantage, and he had chances in each of the next three frames. The closest he came to victory was in frame six which came down to the last two balls, but Young potted the pink for 3-3, then made a break of 30 at the crucial moment of the decider to seal the tie.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 