The World Snooker Tour heads to mainland China for the first time since 2019 next month for the 2023 Shanghai Masters, with Ronnie O’Sullivan defending the title against snooker’s biggest stars.
The invitation event will run from September 11 to 17 at the Grand Stage in Shanghai. It’s a field of 24 players, comprising the world’s top 16, the next four highest ranked Chinese players, and four wild cards. The names of the wild cards players will be announced by August 19, following the completion of the CBSA Under-21 event.
New World Champion Luca Brecel will open against either Mark Williams or Pang Junxu, while Judd Trump will meet either close friend Jack Lisowski or Zhou Yuelong.
All matches up to and including the quarter-finals are best of 11 frames, with the semi-finals best of 19 and then the final will be best of 21.
Details of how to watch the event will be announced soon. Snooker’s return to China will continue with two ranking events – the Wuhan Open in October and the International Championship in Tianjin City in November.
Shanghai Masters prize money:
Winner £210,000 Runner-up: £105,000 Semi-finals: £70,000 Quarter-finals: £35,000 Last 16: £17,500 Last 24: £10,000 High Break: £10,000 Total £825,000
The CBSA under-21 Event mentioned by WST is the same event Lewis wrote about in the comments section of the 2023 CBSA Team Event final day post.
Ronnie hasn’t a particularly easy draw to say the least. OK, he starts in the last 16 but there he will probably meet Ali Carter a player he doesn’t particularly like to play. Should he reach the QFs, he could face John Higgins, and should he reach the SFs, Judd Trump or Mark Selby… This is an elite event and there are no really easy draws of course.
The 2023 Wine Cellars Women Snooker US Open – Day 1
Jamie Hunter is the defending champions. She and all favourites won all their matches yesterday. The current HB is a 121 scored by On Yee Ng.
Table 1 is streamed on this page and commentary is provided by David Burney and Christian Youngers. If you missed anything you will be able to watch it back on the OxBilliards YouTube page. Yes… even last year event.
I really enjoy their commentary style. For a start they are kind and positive. They know it’s a hard game. They react to good shots with “oh!”, “ah!” and “wow!” aplenty. they clearly enjoy what they see and it is contagious. They tell us a bit about the US and Canadian players… wishing to see more of those Canadians “coming down here” as they say. BTW the ladies are not wearing trousers… no, no, no … they are wearing slacks 😉.
The club looks really lovely, a bit old-fashion. If I understood correctly the players are playing on Star tables, fitted to pro competition standards, and freshly recovered ahead of this event.
The action will continue today… this evening that is for us Europeans.
Here are some images shared on social media by WPBSA
The 900 Qualifiers Week Two starts today
By the end of the week-end, two more players will have booked their spot in the main event.
All the action is streamed on SportyStuffTV YouTube page. If you missed last week-end action it’s there too.
If you missed last week-end action, you can still watch it on that channel in the “Live” section
Here are the Event Week 1 Poster and the Qualifiers Schedule
2023 US Women’s Snooker Open
For us in Europe this event starts tonight. Jamie Hunter is the defending Champion. Main Tour professionals, Mink and Rebecca Kenna are in the field, as is On Yee Ng.
Shaanxi put up a good defence, but ultimately they fell short.
Fan Zhengyi was terribly unlucky in frame 4: having needed a snooker, he got it, potted all the balls up to the pink to trail only 48-47, then pocketed a fantastic mid-range black, only to see the white slowly following it in the same pocket.
In the last frame, Lei Peifan needed the final pink to force a decider, he missed it, Cao Yupeng potted pink and black for victory.
The losers got 75 000 CNY, the winners got 150 000 CNY.
Here are my screenshots of the Final:
… in rather random order for whatever reason… don’t ask.
And, of course the Awards and Trophy Ceremony
If I’m not mistaken, Marco Fu’s trophy was for the HB, a 129. All players reaching the semi-finals were awarded recognition for their performance.
The groups stages finished this morning in Xian and here are the final results
August 6-10, Xinghe Arena, Xi’an, Shaanxi
Group A
Rank
Team
A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
W
L
Tiebreaker
1
A1
Mianyang
4-1
3-2
5-0
5-0
4
0
2
A4
Dalian
0-5
3-2
3-2
5-0
3
1
3
A3
Chongqing
2-3
4-1
2-3
3-2
2
2
4
A2
Hainan ZSD
1-4
1-4
2-3
4-1
1
3
5
A5
Zhengzhou
0-5
1-4
2-3
0-5
0
4
Group B
Rank
Team
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
W
L
Tiebreaker
1
B1
Suzhou
5-0
5-0
3-2
4-1
4
0
2
B5
Hong Kong
1-4
4-1
4-1
4-1
3
1
3
B2
Wuhan
0-5
4-1
3-2
1-4
2
2
4
B4
Guangdong
2-3
2-3
4-1
1-4
1
3
5
B3
Beijing
0-5
1-4
1-4
1-4
0
4
Group C
Rank
Team
C1
C2
C3
C4
C5
W
L
Tiebreaker
1
C1
Xi’an
4-1
4-1
5-0
2-3
3
1
h2h
2
C2
Wuxi
1-4
5-0
4-1
4-1
3
1
3
C5
CQ Pengshui
3-2
1-4
3-2
3-2
3
1
4
C4
Shanghai
0-5
1-4
3-2
2-3
1
3
5
C3
Luoyang
1-4
0-5
2-3
2-3
0
4
Group D
Rank
Team
D1
D2
D3
D4
D5
W
L
Tiebreaker
1
D1
Dongguan Youth
3-2
5-0
4-1
5-0
4
0
2
D2
Inner Mongolia
2-3
5-0
3-2
3-2
3
1
3
D5
Sichuan
0-5
2-3
4-1
3-2
2
2
4
D4
Henan
1-4
2-3
4-1
2-3
1
3
5
D3
Guizhou
0-5
0-5
1-4
1-4
0
4
Group E
Rank
Team
E1
E2
E3
E4
E5
W
L
Tiebreaker
1
E3
Xinjiang
4-1
3-2
5-0
3-2
4
0
2
E1
Shaanxi
3-2
1-4
5-0
5-0
3
1
3
E5
Sichuan NSD
0-5
4-1
2-3
4-1
2
2
4
E2
Urumqi
2-3
2-3
5-0
1-4
1
3
5
E4
CBSA Academy
0-5
0-5
0-5
1-4
0
4
Group F
Rank
Team
F1
F2
F3
F4
F5
W
L
Tiebreaker
1
F1
Dongguan
4-1
4-1
4-1
4-1
4
0
2
F3
Macau
1-4
3-2
3-2
5-0
3
1
3
F2
Anshan
1-4
2-3
4-1
4-1
2
2
4
F4
Gansu
1-4
1-4
2-3
5-0
1
3
5
F5
Zibo
1-4
1-4
0-5
0-5
0
4
Group G
Rank
Team
G1
G2
G3
G4
G5
W
L
Tiebreaker
1
G1
Xianyang
3-2
4-1
3-2
3-2
4
0
2
G2
Tibet
2-3
3-2
4-1
5-0
3
1
3
G3
Nanchang Xihu
1-4
2-3
3-2
4-1
2
2
4
G4
Shanxi
2-3
1-4
2-3
3-2
1
3
5
G5
Haining
2-3
0-5
1-4
2-3
0
4
Group H
Rank
Team
H1
H2
H3
H4
H5
W
L
Tiebreaker
1
H1
Jiujiang Tianxi
3-2
3-2
4-1
5-0
4
0
2
H3
Lanzhou
2-3
3-2
5-0
4-1
3
1
3
H2
Jilin City
2-3
2-3
5-0
4-1
2
2
4
H5
Jiaxing
0-5
1-4
1-4
4-1
1
3
5
H4
Ningbo
1-4
0-5
0-5
1-4
0
4
And here is the draw and schedule for the round of 16 as well as the explanation about how it was made
Round of 16 (Bo7)
Losers: 9,375 CNY
Mianyang (1)
2023/08/09 14:00:00
Wuxi
Group winners will be seeded 1-8 based on their group results. Group runners-up will be drawn randomly but can’t be drawn into the same half with their own group winner. Current seedings shown are unofficial.
Xi’an (8)
2023/08/09 14:00:00
Lanzhou
Jiujiang Tianxi (5)
2023/08/09 14:00:00
Macau
Dongguan (4)
2023/08/09 14:00:00
Hong Kong
Suzhou (3)
2023/08/09 14:00:00
Tibet
Xinjiang (6)
2023/08/09 14:00:00
Inner Mongolia
Xianyang (7)
2023/08/09 14:00:00
Dalian
Dongguan Youth (2)
2023/08/09 14:00:00
Shaanxi
Yesterday I watched mainly Bai Yulu and her team, Dongguan Youth, on table one during the evening session. That team comprises Bai Yulu (19), Deng Hoahui (20) and Li Jianbing (57). The team did well: as it stands they are seeded number 2 in the last of 16 round, which is excellent. Deng played in the Asian Q-School this year, without much success. Li Jianbing had a run to the semi-finals at the 2019 “Masters” Amateur World Championship in Antalya (Turkey); he had beaten Darren Morgan at the QF stage.
Bai played well in winning her individual match. Her approach was measured, she potted some very good balls. She played the double with Li Jianbing and they lost that frame, having been ahead for most of it. Going by her demeanour during that frame, I wondered if Li could be her coach, or maybe she was just showing respect to an older, knowledgeable, experienced player.
Now their team will face the defending champions in the last 16.
Here are my screenshots:
Here is how things stand after the conclusion of the group phase:
Hong Kong – Marco Fu, Cheung Ka Wai and Wang Yuchen – did well. They were seeded fifth in their group and finished second. They are the only team that started “lowest” in their group and managed to qualify for the knock-out stage. I’m very pleased for them.
This is the situation after day 2 at the 2023 CBSA National Snooker Team Championship:
National Team Championship
August 6-10, Xinghe Arena, Xi’an, Shaanxi
Group A
Rank
Team
A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
W
L
Tiebreaker
A1
Mianyang
5-0
5-0
2
A2
Hainan ZSD
1-4
4-1
1
1
A3
Chongqing
4-1
2-3
3-2
2
1
A4
Dalian
0-5
3-2
1
1
A5
Zhengzhou
0-5
1-4
2-3
3
Group B
Rank
Team
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
W
L
Tiebreaker
B1
Suzhou
3-2
4-1
2
B2
Wuhan
4-1
1-4
1
1
B3
Beijing
1-4
1-4
1-4
3
B4
Guangdong
2-3
4-1
1
1
B5
Hong Kong
1-4
4-1
4-1
2
1
Group C
Rank
Team
C1
C2
C3
C4
C5
W
L
Tiebreaker
C1
Xi’an
5-0
2-3
1
1
C2
Wuxi
5-0
4-1
2
C3
Luoyang
0-5
2-3
2-3
3
C4
Shanghai
0-5
3-2
1
1
C5
CQ Pengshui
3-2
1-4
3-2
2
1
Group D
Rank
Team
D1
D2
D3
D4
D5
W
L
Tiebreaker
D1
Dongguan Youth
5-0
4-1
5-0
3
D2
Inner Mongolia
5-0
3-2
2
D3
Guizhou
0-5
0-5
1-4
1-4
4
D4
Henan
1-4
4-1
1
1
D5
Sichuan
0-5
2-3
4-1
1
2
Group E
Rank
Team
E1
E2
E3
E4
E5
W
L
Tiebreaker
E1
Shaanxi
5-0
5-0
2
E2
Urumqi
2-3
1-4
2
E3
Xinjiang
3-2
5-0
3-2
3
E4
CBSA Academy
0-5
0-5
2
E5
Sichuan NSD
0-5
4-1
2-3
1
2
Group F
Rank
Team
F1
F2
F3
F4
F5
W
L
Tiebreaker
F1
Dongguan
4-1
4-1
2
F2
Anshan
2-3
4-1
1
1
F3
Macau
3-2
3-2
5-0
3
F4
Gansu
1-4
2-3
2
F5
Zibo
1-4
1-4
0-5
3
Group G
Rank
Team
G1
G2
G3
G4
G5
W
L
Tiebreaker
G1
Xianyang
3-2
?
1
G2
Tibet
3-2
5-0
2
G3
Nanchang Xihu
2-3
3-2
4-1
2
1
G4
Shanxi
2-3
2-3
2
G5
Haining
?
0-5
1-4
2
Group H
Rank
Team
H1
H2
H3
H4
H5
W
L
Tiebreaker
H1
Jiujiang Tianxi
4-1
5-0
2
H2
Jilin City
2-3
4-1
1
1
H3
Lanzhou
3-2
5-0
4-1
3
H4
Ningbo
1-4
0-5
2
H5
Jiaxing
0-5
1-4
1-4
3
Don’t ask why the last cell stubbornly refused to be copied … I have no clue. It was empty anyway.
I watched quite a bit of the action and too some screenshots again
The “double” frame shown in the pictures was an absolute epic!
I must admit that, watching this event, I am surprised by both the level of the snooker on show, and the “style” of snooker the players chose to play. Based on what I watched from Ding and the younger Chinese players on the main tour, I was expecting very attacking snooker and high scoring. In fact, most of what I watched was extremely tactical, and I witnessed just one big break. Is it because the importance of the event gets to the players? Are they more cautious because the outcome of their performance impacts the whole team, not just their own result? Are the conditions a factor? I’m not sure and I would be happy to find out, because this is definitely not what I expected.
Although WST is part of the Matchroom “portfolio”, I’m not sure about posting those pieces on the WST website. The one about the Nine Ball Pool Corporation in particular is rather “out of place”.
But Matchroom chose to post them there and that move only strengthen my feelings that snooker is no more one of their top priorities. Eddie Hearn has never been interested in snooker, it’s all about boxing for him. Probably the most dynamic member of the new board is Emily Frazer, and she’s the woman behind the growth and expansion of nine ball pool. I have every respect for Emily’s dynamism and work ethic. I met her a few times and I really wish she was behind snooker instead of nine ball pool.
These are the results and scores after day 1 at the 2023 CBSA National Team Championship
National Team Championship
August 6-10, Xinghe Arena, Xi’an, Shaanxi
Group A
Team
A1
A2
A3
A4
A5
W
L
Tiebreaker
A1
Mianyang
5-0
1
A2
Hainan ZSD
4-1
1
A3
Chongqing
2-3
1
A4
Dalian
3-2
1
A5
Zhengzhou
0-5
1-4
2
Group B
Team
B1
B2
B3
B4
B5
W
L
Tiebreaker
B1
Suzhou
4-1
1
B2
Wuhan
1-4
1
B3
Beijing
1-4
1
B4
Guangdong
4-1
1
B5
Hong Kong
1-4
4-1
1
1
Group C
Team
C1
C2
C3
C4
C5
W
L
Tiebreaker
C1
Xi’an
2-3
1
C2
Wuxi
4-1
1
C3
Luoyang
2-3
1
C4
Shanghai
3-2
1
C5
CQ Pengshui
3-2
1-4
1
1
Group D
Team
D1
D2
D3
D4
D5
W
L
Tiebreaker
D1
Dongguan Youth
5-0
1
D2
Inner Mongolia
3-2
1
D3
Guizhou
1-4
1
D4
Henan
4-1
1
D5
Sichuan
0-5
2-3
2
Group E
Team
E1
E2
E3
E4
E5
W
L
Tiebreaker
E1
Shaanxi
5-0
1
E2
Urumqi
1-4
1
E3
Xinjiang
5-0
1
E4
CBSA Academy
0-5
1
E5
Sichuan NSD
0-5
4-1
1
1
Group F
Team
F1
F2
F3
F4
F5
W
L
Tiebreaker
F1
Dongguan
4-1
1
F2
Anshan
4-1
1
F3
Macau
3-2
1
F4
Gansu
2-3
1
F5
Zibo
1-4
1-4
2
Group G
Team
G1
G2
G3
G4
G5
W
L
Tiebreaker
G1
Xianyang
tbc
G2
Tibet
5-0
1
G3
Nanchang Xihu
3-2
1
G4
Shanxi
2-3
1
G5
Haining
tbc
0-5
1
Group H
Team
H1
H2
H3
H4
H5
W
L
Tiebreaker
H1
Jiujiang Tianxi
5-0
1
H2
Jilin City
4-1
1
H3
Lanzhou
5-0
1
H4
Ningbo
0-5
1
H5
Jiaxing
0-5
1-4
2
And those are the teams
Total Teams: 40
Team Members
Shaanxi
Fan Zhengyi
Mei Xiwen
Lei Peifan
Henan
Zhang Yang
Ma Feite
Liu Yiqi
Shanxi
Zhao Wei
Han Bin
Zhang Rui
Xinjiang
Ma Chunmao
Paruke Aierken
Yuan Jiming
Sichuan
Hao Jin
Wang Li
Au Chi Wai
Guangdong
Ma Hailong
Liu Wenwei
Lee Chen Man
Gansu
Du Jiantao
Hu Yihong
Zhang Yinhu
Inner Mongolia
Chen Xiaolong
Deng Fuyi
Cheng Sihong
Tibet
Fan Jinxing
Li Chengjie
Feng Yu
Guizhou
Zhang Xibing
Wu Xiang
Song Liang
Beijing
Xu Xinjian
Fu Jing
Tu Xuan
Shanghai
Ma Geng
Wang Jianxin
Liao Binjun
Chongqing
Han Fuyuan
Cao Jin
Zheng Dian
Ningbo
Wang Jinjing
Yang Guanjun
Gao Nuocheng
Dalian
Tuergongjiang
Ababaikeri
Xiaokaiti
Macau
Lee Git Ming
Leung Wai Hou
Lan Yuhao
Hong Kong
Marco Fu
Cheung Ka Wai
Wang Yuchen
Xi’an
Wang Zepeng
Zhang Anda
Jin Peng
Wuhan
Yu Chao
Wang Peng
Hu Bin
Zhengzhou
Liu Yunlong
Gao Yu
Wang Lige
Urumqi
Zhao Yafei
Rouzi Maimaiti
Tuerhong Reheman
Lanzhou
Fan Xin
Halimilati Mijiti
Li Yang
Dongguan
Liang Xiaolong
Liu Hongyu
Zhang Yitu
Dongguan Youth
Bai Yulu
Deng Haohui
Li Jianbing
Mianyang
Chen Ruifu
Jin Long
Yuan Sijun
Anshan
Liang Dong
Luo Guangsheng
Jin Di
Jilin City
Pu Qingsong
Chen Qiyu
Cui Ming
Luoyang
Huang Yanqi
Lei Zhenyu
Tian Ruyi
Suzhou
Cao Yupeng
Chen Feilong
Yao Pengcheng
Wuxi
Liu Chuang
Hu Hao
Li Yan
Xianyang
Xiao Guodong
Qiu Yalong
Yang Jiaxin
Zibo
Han Qing
Zhang Jun
Li Nan
Jiaxing
Xiang Xun
Wu Zhefan
Zhang Yajun
Chongqing Pengshui
Xu Yuan
Luo Junhao
Yin Xiaowei
Nanchang Xihu
Dong Zihao
Pan Yiming
Yao Dongcheng
Haining
Gao Yun
Huang Lijun
Qiao Tianhao
CBSA Academy
Liao Pengbo
Xu Yang
Sun Wenchao
Hainan ZSD
Zhang Jiajian
Xu Fuyuan
Ma Huiming
Jiujiang Tianxi
Jureti
Gong Chenzhi
Gao Yang
Sichaun NSD
Liu Yuan
Huang Yanyun
Jian Long
Team Shaanxi, represented by Fan Zhengyi, Lei Peifan and Mei Xiwen, is the defending Champion. They were in action in today’s evening session, on the main table. This evening session actually started with the official Opening Ceremony. All teams were introduced into the arena, guided by ladies in beautiful traditional dresses. As usual, there were speeches by officials and the presentation of the trophy, before the action started on the tables.
I was able to watch it on stream and took a few screenshots of the ceremony …
as well as from the opening match of the defending team
Fan Zhengyi was extremely tense and nervous at the start of the match and couldn’t pot a ball for the first ten minutes or so … but still managed to win the first frame somehow and played much better after that. Mei Xiwen is very sound tactically. Shaanxi won by 5-0.
The format of this event is quite interesting …
Each match at the group stage is played over 5 frames. It doesn’t matter if a team has already won the match, all five frames are played and count. Frames 1,2,4 and 5 are “normal” frames, frame 3 is played as a “double” with alternate shots. Each player is involved in two frames.
I would like this type of format being used by WPBSA/WST for the World Cup round robin phase.
World Championship semi-finalist Si Jiahui will lock horns with 1997 World Champion Ken Doherty at the BetVictor European Masters later this month in Nuremberg, following the completion of the second-round draw.
The Darling of Dublin has been handed a tough assignment against the Chinese sensation, who reached the quarter-finals at last year’s tournament, after the pair advanced through July’s qualifying event in Leicester.
Elsewhere, there’s an all-Welsh clash as Mark Williams and Matthew Stevens go head-to-head. And 12-time Women’s World Champion Reanne Evans plays David Gilbert.
The top eight seeds, including Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump, are yet to play their first-round matches, with their ties being held over until the opening day at the Kia Metropol Arena. …
Kyren Wilson won the title last season, beating Barry Hawkins 9-3 in the final, and his first-round match is against Scotland’s Dean Young, one of eight players to make it through this summer’s Q School.
Jason Ferguson has been working on more international events (Picture: Getty Images)
The World Snooker Tour calendar for this season is not complete yet, with more events set to be added, confirmed WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson.
After three pandemic-hit seasons, there has been an encouraging return to China for this campaign, with the Shanghai Masters, Wuhan Open and International Championship on the calendar after no events in the country since 2019.
This was welcome news for players who had felt earning opportunities were frustratingly low with the loss of the big-money Chinese events due to Covid.
Ferguson says there will be more good news to come too, with gaps in the calendar later in the season promised to be filled.
March is currently a quiet time of the season, with the Six Red World Championship running from 4-9 and the World Mixed Doubles from 30-31, but we can expect at least one event to fill that void.
‘We’ve so many opportunities on the go at the moment,’ Ferguson told Metro.co.uk. ‘There’s a lot going on in the Far East, the Middle East, Europe.
‘We’re probably going to run out of dates rather than events, the way things are going. It’s already getting to that point now, where we’re looking at longer term calendars and we’re becoming very tight for space for major events, which is great.
‘We’re not finished this season. There’s a few gaps in March which will be filled in so there’s still more to come. Lots going on. What we’re trying to do is put bigger events on. You can put events on just to fill gaps but we’re really trying to up the game.’
There is hope that there will be expansion in Europe as well as China, especially given the remarkable World Championship success of Belgian superstar Luca Brecel.
The thrilling triumph for the 28-year-old over Mark Selby in the Crucible final will hopefully create a surge of popularity in snooker in Belgium, ideally leading to a major event in the country.
Ferguson confirms that discussions are ongoing, as they are with numerous countries, but details on progress are light at this stage.
Luca Brecel’s World Championship win should usher in a wave of popularity in snooker in Belgium (Picture: Getty Images)
‘I’m excited about the international space for snooker, it’s growing a lot,’ he said. ‘It’s pleasing for me as someone who’s been out on the frontline, pushing it in every corner of the world, it’s great to see how it’s expanding.
‘Belgium is one of the territories we’re talking to and there’s ongoing discussions all over Europe.’
There is something of a gap in the WST calendar right now as European Masters qualifiers finished on 29 July and British Open qualifying begins on 14 August.
Snooker was ALWAYS popular in Belgium. Our Federation is quite big actually considering that Belgium is a small country. The likes of Ben Mertens and Julien Leclercq don’t develop overnight. Only this week there has been a national 6-reds Soot-out event … which was the perfect fun event for this time of the year!
Let’s hope that Jason’s promises translate in actual events, and preferably, not events hosted by countries where snooker is barely ever played but are after sports-washing.
World Championship semi-finalist Si Jiahui will lock horns with 1997 World Champion Ken Doherty at the BetVictor European Masters later this month in Nuremberg, following the completion of the second-round draw.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 