Month: February 2024

The 2024 Welsh Open – Day 4 – Moving Day

Monique Professional snooker, Professional snooker tournament

Day 4 at the Home Nations is always a very busy and interesting day as the field shrinks from 24 players to just 8. Yesterday was no different. Here is the report by WST:

BETVICTOR WELSH OPEN: DAY FOUR ROUND-UP

Veteran Dominic Dale remained on course to become the first home winner of the BetVictor Welsh Open this century as he beat Jak Jones 4-0 to reach the quarter-finals in Llandudno.

Love is in the air for the 52-year-old as his passion for snooker has been rekindled by the interest of new girlfriend Anne. And there could be no more romantic finish to the tournament than Dale lifting the trophy on Sunday, which would make him the first Welsh winner since Mark Williams in 1999.

A break of 89 helped two-time ranking event champion Dale to a comfortable victory over Jones, setting up a meeting with Elliot Slessor on Friday afternoon.

“I hadn’t practised much for the last five years, but then I met Anne last summer,” said Dale. “We met on a night out in Stroud – she is an artist and I love art so we are very compatible. She is French and knew nothing about snooker, but then she discovered her father loves it and watches on Eurosport. She has learned about the game and is really intrigued by it. Between the two of them, they wanted me to recommit and put more effort in. I am playing for three hours a day now and I’m having my best season for many years. I have been sending her pictures of Llandudno this week and I think she would love to come if I get further.

“To win another ranking title would be unthinkable for me, at my age. But to do it in the Welsh Open would be the icing on the cake. I’m not playing well enough to win it, but if I can find my best game it is possible.”

World number three Mark Allen, chasing a third title of the season, whitewashed Robbie Williams 4-0 with a top break of 110. The Northern Irishman said: “I have come here to win, it would be great to add another Home Nations title to my cabinet. I don’t feel happy with where my game is, but I am happy with my mental attitude. I am fighting for everything out there, choosing the correct shots and giving it my best.“

On Friday at 12pm, Allen faces a tremendous quarter-final with John Higgins, who triumphed 4-3 in an epic battle with Matthew Selt which lasted three hours and seven minutes. Scotland’s Higgins, who has a record five Welsh Open titles under his belt, came from 3-1 down to 3-3, then got the better of a 42-minute decider. Selt had a chance for victory but missed a tricky cut-back yellow to a baulk corner with the scores tied 41-41, and Higgins cleared to the blue to reach his 139th ranking event quarter-final.

Having won ten consecutive matches in this event, Robert Milkins saw his streak ended by a 4-0 reverse against Gary Wilson. Defending champion Milkins was out of sorts and managed a top break of just 21, as BetVictor Scottish Open champion Wilson continued his bid for back-to-back Home Nations titles. 

World Champion Luca Brecel made it to the last eight of a ranking event for the first time this season, beating Tom Ford 4-1 with a top run of 65. The Belgian’s next opponent will be Martin O’Donnell, who saw off Marco Fu 4-2. Slessor fired breaks of 129, 62, 88 and 77 as he beat Fan Zhengyi 4-3.

The above report covers mainly the last part of the day, the “last 16” round, but there were also 8 “last 32” matches played in the afternoon. As always, all detailed results are on snooker.org.

The first match on the TV table in the afternoon featured Dominic Dale and Stan Moody. Why this was the “main” match is beyond my understanding, or maybe not? Ok, Dominic is Welsh, but so is Jak Jones who was playing Hossein Vafaei on the next table and that should have been the main match by the “rules” WST applies in normal circumstances. It was also a far better and more interesting match but hey… Stan Moody has to be “promoted”, right? Jak Jones played really well to beat Hossein Vafaei and was duly praised by Ronnie in the studio. Stan Moody was pretty awful and I’m not sure that being put on the main table is helping him in any way, nor that it is improving his “image”.

Luca Brecel is back. I didn’t see the evening match, but he was outstanding and extremely entertaining in the afternoon.

Anthony Hamilton and Martin O’Donnell managed to seriously delay the the second match on “their” table. Well … they have a reputation to honour don’t they? It wasn’t helped by the fact that they had two re-racks in the first frame 😉. That being said their match featured a 50+ break in every frame bar one. It wasn’t a bad match, it was a match between two really good players, one who is naturally slow and one who has suffered from various physical ailments and injuries over the recent years.

I didn’t watch any of the evening action. I was feeling tired and, anyway, with the 2 hours time difference with the UK, I would never have managed to stay up until nearly 3 am which, in my time zone, was when the last match finished.

I quite like Dominic. Like most, I’d rather not have him singing 😇 but other than that he’s an interesting character. He has lots of diverse interests, is more cultivated than most of the snooker players and very pleasant as a person. He’s also extremely knowledgeable about the history of snooker and snooker equipment. I would be very happy if he managed to win this one. Unlikely, I know, but …

The 2024 Welsh Open – Day 3 – and some good news …

Monique Professional snooker

Here is the report on what happened yesterday in Llandudno

Mark Allen believes he is building towards his best form, and could be the player to challenge the dominance of Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump this season, as he beat Si Jiahui 4-1 to reach the last 16 of the BetVictor Welsh Open. 

O’Sullivan and Trump have won four titles apiece this term but they are both absent from Llandudno this week. Allen is the only other player with more than one, having landed the Champion of Champions and BetVictor Shoot Out, and looks determined to add to that tally. The Northern Irishman compiled breaks of 63, 76, 110 and 52 in a fine display against Si.

“I played well, I only missed one ball,” said Allen, who now meets Robbie Williams. “Si can scare you a bit because he looks like he fancies potting everything. You could see his confidence and he takes on some very aggressive shots, which is great to see because that’s the way to beat the top players. He is very talented. 

“I am still nowhere near my best but I am slowly growing into the tournament, I’m getting closer. Judd and Ronnie have played much better than me this season, but I do feel I’m the one closest on their heels.” 

Robert Milkins has clearly been inspired this week by memories of last year’s title success and he thrashed David Gilbert 4-0 with top breaks of 77 and 91, setting up a tie with Gary Wilson. 

John Higgins looked sharp in a 4-1 win over Ryan Day, with a high break of 124. Home favourite Mark Williams suffered a 4-1 reverse against Anthony McGill, while Matthew Selt made a 135 in a 4-1 win over Duane Jones.

Si is now out of the running to qualify for next week’s Johnstone’s Paint Players Championship, as is Neil Robertson whose recent resurgence was dented by a 4-2 reverse against Ricky Walden. From 2-0 down, Walden won four frames in a row with breaks of 96, 68, 69 and 65. The Merseysider later paid tribute to Dave Higginson, father of Andrew, who passed away this morning.

“Everyone is thinking of Andrew, we’re all devastated, ” said Walden. “Dave was a brilliant guy, I had known him a long time. It’s a tough day for everyone.”

Earlier in the last 64, Luca Brecel showed glimpses of the form which won him the world title last May as he raced to a 4-0 success against Joe O’Connor, knocking in breaks of 83, 119, 62 and 75.

Aaron Hill has beaten both Trump and O’Sullivan in previous seasons and he can now add Mark Selby to his list of scalps having seen off the four-time World Champion 4-2. “Mark is one of the greats and one of the players I look up to,” said 21-year-old Irishman Hill, who reached his first ranking quarter-final at the Wuhan Open earlier this season. “I’m absolutely delighted. I thrive in that kind of atmosphere, I love been out there especially when I’m playing well. I know my game is good enough to be beating them.” 

Anthony Hamilton scored a 4-1 victory over Kyren Wilson while Jak Jones saw off Zhang Anda by the same scoreline. In a Welsh derby between experience and youth, veteran Dominic Dale came from 3-1 down to beat amateur Alfie Davies 4-3. Rookie Stan Moody top scored with 103 in an impressive 4-3 victory over Jordan Brown.

As you will have understood reading the above it was a strange day, full of upsets but before I kook further into yesterday’s result, my thoughts and heart go out to Andrew Higginson and his family in these incredibly difficult moments. I got to know Andrew quite well when I was a regular at events. He’s a great person, a kind heart, loved by everyone and so was his father. 💔 Rest in peace Dave Higginson.

As for the report above… well … there are strange omissions.

No report whatsoever – again – on the only match that didn’t feature a British or Irish player. Hossein Vafaei beat Julien Leclercq by 4-1. Hossein played really well but that wasn’t the whole story. After five frames it could and probably should have been 3-2 for Julien… if only he could cut out the unexpected misses. I’m not sure why they happen, wether it’s lapses of concentration, taking shots for granted or something else, but it’s a shame because Julien is very talented and very good to watch, as is Hossein of course.

No report either on Marco Fu’s 4-3 win over Zak Surety. I didn’t watch that match but it’s an important and very good win given Marco’s eyes issues.

Also nothing about Jak Jones’ win over Zhang Anda, one of the players on the early season, nor about young Dylan Emery’s victory over Noppon Saengkham. It’s all the more bizarre because both are Welsh and this is the Welsh Open… but hey, they were playing Asian players …

I’m sorry if I “sound” like a broken record, but it seems to me that WST reports tend to focus more on British and Irish players than on “foreign” players, highlighting once again how “UK centric” the whole “management” of the sport actually is, including in its reporting.

In other news … something positive … finally a long term sponsor that isn’t a bookie!

A COLOURFUL FUTURE!

A Colourful Future! WST Announces New Long-Term Partnership With Johnstone’s Paint

World Snooker Tour is delighted to announce an exciting new partnership with Johnstone’s Paint, a brand of PPG Architectural Coatings, UK & Ireland. 

The journey will begin this season with Johnstone’s Paint becoming the Lead Partner of the Players Championship and Tour Championship, the second and third events of the 2024 Players Series. The long-term partnership will evolve further on snooker’s global tour, with additional announcements in the pipeline ahead of next season. 

PPG Architectural Coatings, UK & Ireland is headquartered just outside of Leeds in Birstall, West Yorkshire. PPG’s portfolio boasts a distinguished array of brands within the coatings industry including the prestigious Johnstone’s and Leyland Brands. From a global perspective PPG was originally founded and headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and currently operates in over 70 countries worldwide.

The Johnstone’s Paint Players Championship commences February 19th for seven days, and takes place at the Telford International Centre with an elite field of 16 players from the one-year ranking list. 
The Johnstone’s Paint Tour Championship will run from April 1st to 7th at the outstanding Manchester Central venue, culminating in the best 12 players of the season so far to compete for one of the sport’s most prestigious trophies. 

Snooker fans can look forward to a variety of engaging Johnstone’s Paint themed activations and initiatives. As we anticipate the sponsorship’s growth over 2024, we aim to enhance the experience for both spectators and viewers. Keep an eye out for the exciting developments! 

WST’s Chief Commercial Officer Peter Wright said: “We are excited to join forces with PPG on a long-term partnership. The natural alignment between our organisations presents exciting opportunities for collaboration as we work together to achieve our respective goals.

“The Tour Championship is an elite field of the world’s best players and that matches Johnstone’s Paint’s status as a respected, high performance paint brand. We look forward to working with PPG and to developing this partnership with further announcements to come.”

PPG’s Marketing Director, UK & Ireland Megan Esmond said: “I am thrilled about our new partnership with the World Snooker Tour. This collaboration represents an exciting new chapter for Johnstone’s and gives us a great platform to continue to build the awareness for our flagship brand.

“The synergy between the World Snooker Tour’s elite players and Johnstone’s Paint’s high performance products aligns perfectly with our brand goals. The vibrant colours associated with snooker create a dynamic connection, and we eagerly anticipate the positive impact this sponsorship will bring.”

Coming back to the Saudi announcements … WST has eagerly shared the positive reactions of a number of players, mainly top players. I wonder how many of them know what happens in Saudi Arabia, be it with women, migrant workers or everyone who doesn’t abide by the views of the government and the strict islamist leaders … unless they bring money? I didn’t read any Ronnie quotes to that effect, so far, which pleased me. He will almost certainly play in it though. With so much money at stakes, it’s not just about the purse… it’s the ranking as well that will suffer badly if players miss this event. Another reason to scrap the money list!

Ronnie is in the ES studio, usually with Allan Mc Manus. He expressed his sympathy for Anthony McGill who currently hates his own (slow) game, despite winning, he praised Aaron Hill’s performance and attitude and when Alan downplayed Mark Selby’s chances at the Crucible, Ronnie came to his rival defence warning Alan not to write him off…. but he also harshly criticised John Astley after a bad miss. Too harshly actually.

Stephen Hendry has been guilty of that as well … being overly harsh towards players when he’s in commentary or in the studio. It’s not great, these guys try very hard but, on the other hand, that’s how they see it from their personal perspective, a perspective of great champions, serial winners, not really in touch with the lower ranked players reality and daily struggles.

That’s why having people like Fergal O’Brian, Dominic Dale , Joe Perry and Steven Hallworth in commentary is important as well and all of them are great at it.

The 2024 Welsh Open – Day 2

Monique Professional snooker

I have to admit that after yesterday’s Saudi announcement, I was so upset that I didn’t want to watch any snooker. Even today, I’m not sure if I will continue to watch it in the future. I love the players, I love what I see at the table but I absolutely hate the direction it has taken.

Anyway … here is WST report on day 2 in Llandudno

In-form Si Jiahui turned up the heat in the race to qualify for next week’s Players Championship by beating Andrew Pagett 4-2 to reach the last 32 of the BetVictor Welsh Open in Llandudno.

China’s Si was 18th in the one-year rankings coming into this tournament, with only the top 16 to earn a place in Telford for the second event in the Players Series. He needs to make the semi-finals this week to have a chance, and his hopes were boosted by tonight’s success, as well as defeat for 16th place Chris Wakelin, who lost 4-1 to Martin O’Donnell. 

Si was a semi-finalist at the Crucible last year and reached his first ranking final at the recent BetVictor German Masters before losing to Judd Trump. Breaks of 64, 50, 52, 98 and 58 helped him beat Pagett and set up a third-round tie with Mark Allen or Ma Hailong.

 “There was a sense of relief when I reached the final in Berlin,” said Si. “People expect you to perform and have results matching that Crucible semi-final run. In the first half of the season I didn’t achieve as much. But that week I showed that I’m capable of having deep runs, and the Crucible wasn’t a fluke. It helped with my confidence.

“I watched a video of the final afterwards and realised I’m still a long way behind Judd Trump. I tried to figure out what exactly the difference is and work on the practice table. To be honest I got a bit nervous. There were so many spectators all watching a single table, and so passionate. I need more experience in finals.”

Mark Allen became the tenth player in snooker history to reach the landmark of 600 centuries during a 4-0 win over Ma Hailong. A break of 141 in the third frame helped Allen to a comfortable victory. “It’s nice to be a part of that club. Hopefully I’ll go on to make many more,” said the Pistol.

Home favourite Mark Williams, the last Welsh winner of this title back in 1999, edged out Sanderson Lam 4-3 in a high quality tussle. Williams compiled breaks of 90, 117, 55 and – in the decider – 96 to set up a last 32 tie with Anthony McGill.

Neil Robertson, who must win this title to qualify for the Players Championship, let slip a 3-1 lead against Stuart Carrington but eventually came through 4-3. After losing the opening frame, Robertson took three in a row with a top break of 139, but then passed up chances to seal the result in frames five and six. Having fought back to 3-3, Carrington had a clear match-winning chance in the last, but missed the black off its spot when he led 31-7. Robertson was clinical in a 65 clearance. 

“It’s a big relief, Stuart is always a tough opponent,” said Robertson. “It was a strange match, some crazy things were happening. It wasn’t looking good for me when he had a chance in the last frame, but when he missed the black, the reds were perfect for me and I held myself together. I’m not sure what I could have done differently to create better openings from 3-1, I will talk to Joe (Perry) and see where we go from here. I don’t think every match will be as tough a battle as that.“

Robertson now faces Ricky Walden, who enjoyed a tremendous comeback against Matthew Stevens as he recovered a 3-0 deficit to win 4-3, making a break of 80 in the decider.

Ding Junhui lost 4-2 to Robbie Williams, which leaves the Chinese ace vulnerable in the race to qualify for next month’s Riyadh Season World Masters of Snooker. The top eight after the Players Championship will qualify, and Ding remains eighth, but the chasing pack now have the chance to gain ground.

Defending champion Robert Milkins made a 140 total clearance as he beat Allan Taylor 4-1. Barry Hawkins fired runs of 52, 59, 89, 102 and 72 as he beat Xiao Guodong 4-3, while John Higgins battled to a 4-1 success against Tian Pengfei.

Up-and-coming Welsh teenager Liam Davies made a 119 as he beat Alexander Ursenbacher 4-0, though he later lost 4-1 to practice partner Duane Jones.

No mention at all of the match between Ben Mertens and Fan Zhengyi? It was a hard fought and high scoring match between two young and talented players but, of course, it was the only match yesterday played between two non British/Irish players …

Sanderson Lam can be proud of the match he played and it’s a shame that he’s out of the tournament. Mark Williams was excellent of course and deserved the win. What I mean is … players who played no where near as well as Sanderson progressed and he’s out. But that’s sport you will tell me …

… life goes on and snooker is just a game …

Saudi Arabia Snooker and Nine Ball Pool Announcements … and what I think of it.

Monique opinion, Professional snooker, Professional snooker tournament ,

This has been published on WST site earlier today:

SAUDI ARABIA SNOOKER MASTERS: NEW RANKING EVENT ANNOUNCED!

INAUGURAL SAUDI ARABIA SNOOKER MASTERS AND WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP TO TAKE PLACE IN RIYADH AND JEDDAH AS PART OF MAJOR 10-YEAR DEAL

•    Snooker’s ‘fourth Major’, with over £2m prize fund, to launch in Riyadh in August
•    ‘Crown Jewel’ World Pool Championship will take place in Jeddah this June 
•    Exciting legacy commitment with Ministry of Sport for Saudi Arabia and the Saudi Arabian Billiard & Snooker Federation sees strong focus on developing both sports in the region over next decade
 
The world’s best snooker and Nineball pool players will this year descend upon Saudi Arabia to launch a 10-year deal that will bring two major annual sporting events to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and transform Billiards in the Middle East.

The World Snooker Tour and World Nineball Tour – in partnership with the Saudi Arabian Billiard & Snooker Federation and the Ministry of Sport for Saudi Arabia – confirmed today that a historic, decade-long association will start this summer, with events in both Riyadh and Jeddah. 

It begins this June (3rd-8th), when the 2024 World Pool Championship – the crown jewel of the World Nineball Tour – takes place at the Green Halls in Jeddah.

A record World Nineball Tour prize fund of $1,000,000 will be contested by the planet’s premier pool cueists, including reigning world champion Francisco Sanchez Ruiz, five-time US Open champion and 2022 world champion Shane Van Boening and 2018 world champion Joshua Filler.

Then, in August (31st-September 7th) in Riyadh, the inaugural Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters – spearheaded by the world’s leading players – takes place and officially becomes the sport’s ‘fourth major’ alongside the traditional Triple Crown events. A prize pot of over £2million will be at stake in what is the second richest event on the prestigious World Snooker Tour schedule in 2024.

The Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters will be a world ranking event open to all 128 tour players, plus six local wild cards from the Saudi Arabian Billiard & Snooker Federation.

HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal, Saudi Minister of Sport, and President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee Sports said: “Saudi Arabia is an ever-emerging home to all sports and we’re excited by the opportunity to add new world-class events in snooker and Nineball pool to our growing year-round calendar. Hosting global events is all part of our strategy to grow all sports and to inspire our people to participate by giving them the chance to enjoy live sporting action. We are a young country with a young population and the approach is working. Since 2018 we’ve hosted over 100 international sports events and during that time sports participation has more than tripled.”

Under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia’s ongoing social and economic transformation, the country has become a welcoming host for some of the biggest global sports events for both male and female athletes including football, motorsports, tennis, equestrian, esports and golf, attended by over 2.6 million sports fans.

Matchroom Sport chairman Eddie Hearn said: “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has forged a reputation for growth and creating new opportunities for sports to grow in a new market to new fans. The country has hosted some of the world’s premier sporting events in recent years, welcoming visitors from all over to experience its passion for sport and unique culture. The addition of both the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters and World Pool Championship over the next decade further enhances that as it heralds an exciting chapter for Snooker and Nineball pool. We have seen the incredible impact Boxing has had in this region. Now, I believe we will see Billiards cement its legacy here too, creating incredible opportunities and competition for the finest players on the planet.” 

Saudi Arabia Billiard & Snooker Federation President, Dr. Nasser Saab Al-Shammari, added: “The introduction of two brand new global events in Saudi Arabia with long-term deals in place is absolute game changing moment for our sports. We have a flourishing community but until now opportunities were limited expose to the game’s elite. 

“This will undoubtedly accelerate our progress and development. We look forward to warmly welcoming the very best snooker and Nineball pool players in the world to the Kingdom and taking their sports into the heart of our communities, while also giving emerging young Saudi players the chance to compete at this level for the first time with a ‘home’ event.”  

“Both events will be underpinned by community engagement to introduce new players to the sport and will open up new talent pathways over the decade. Clinics for coaches, for referees and player visits will guarantee a massive boost and a bright future for both snooker and pool in Saudi Arabia.”       

Global television syndication will ensure fans around the world will get to enjoy both the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters and the World Pool Championship.

Both sports have also pledged a strong focus and commitment to grow and develop the game in the region in tandem with the Saudi Arabian Billiard and Snooker Federation, along with offering wild card places to burgeoning, local talent to take part in the annual world-class competitions. 

Further details in relation to both ground-breaking events will be released in due course separately by the World Snooker Tour and the World Nineball Tour.

This snooker Masters is clearly a different event to the invitational that will take place in March this year. It’s “open” to the 128 players, but it’s unclear if all 128 will play at the venue or if, once again, “qualifiers” will be played in the UK.

There is no doubt that the prize money is very attractive and I’m not expecting the players to boycott it.

BUT … but …

Saudi Arabia has one of the worst records when it comes to human rights and women’s rights.

This is a country where one can be imprisoned or even executed for peacefully protesting or peacefully expressing opinions that go against what the authoritarian regime and the religious authorities see as appropriate. Children as young as 15 years old have been arrested and imprisoned. You might want to read this report by Amnesty International and this one as well

This is a country where women are not considered “adults”, they are always under the control of a male legal “guardian”. Although there been some recent reforms, women’s rights are still very restricted under the guardianship system. You might want to read this piece by Amnesty International.

I have no doubts that the events will be well organised, and that the players will be well looked after and spoiled. In recent years, organising major sporting events have been a “means” for the Saudi authorities to improve their “image” and attract lucrative investments. That’s the very nature of sports-washing. I’m extremely disappointed and saddened to see snooker heading this way, although I’m not surprised. “Making money” as always been what the Hearn clan, and hence Matchroom, are about. There is nothing wrong in trying to make good money … I just wish it was done with at least some kind of moral compass. 😔

And … to brand this event “officially the fourth major” only adds insult to injury. 😡

13 February 2024 – David Hendon on why we shouldn’t be too quick to “judge” our snooker heroes

Monique Eurosport, Media, opinion , ,

Following Ronnie’s withdrawal from the 2024 Welsh Open, David Hendon – who has been around the tour and got to know the circuit and the players for many years – shared this piece on the Eurosport website.

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN, MARK SELBY, NEIL ROBERTSON DESERVE MORE EMPATHY REGARDING EXTERNAL FACTORS – DAVE HENDON

BY DAVE HENDON

Dave Hendon details why the general public must not forget that snooker players – and sportspeople in general – should not be seen as superheroes, but as human beings. With Ronnie O’Sullivan withdrawing from the Welsh Open due to “anxiety”, and Mark Selby recently opening up about his issues at home, Hendon explains why it’s important to consider “external factors” when analysing their play.

What was Dennis Taylor thinking about as Steve Davis won frame after frame, threatening to turn their 1985 World Championship final into a damp squib?

Taylor played that season in a haze of grief following the sudden death of his mother at the age of 62. He withdrew from a tournament when the sad news came through and was not going to play in the next one, the Grand Prix at Reading, until urged to do so by his family.

Driven by pure emotion, he beat Cliff Thorburn 10-2 to win his first ranking title. A few months later he was facing Davis in snooker’s showpiece match at the Crucible.

Taylor had first seen a snooker table as an excited eight year-old in Coalisland, Northern Ireland. He was from a typically close-knit Catholic family, the bonds of which could not be broken. As Davis piled on the misery, Taylor talked in his head to his mother. Finding calm amid the Sheffield storm, he staged a memorable recovery from 8-0 down to win on the final black of the match.

As he told the Belfast Telegraph in 2020: “That was one for my mum. She was still there helping me. I had her to chat to. It helped to keep me relaxed throughout that final game.”

Taylor’s story underlines something fundamental. The world of modern sport endlessly analyses technique and performance but can often forget the human realities which lie behind every competitor.

In snooker, we routinely obsess about cue actions, a player’s long game, their safety prowess and how many centuries they are knocking in. We rarely stop to consider the external factors which could be affecting all of the above.

Every life is informed by a heady mix of experiences, some exhilaratingly good, some heartbreakingly bad.

It’s no surprise these are widely overlooked because we go to sport to escape the very pressures which burden us in everyday life. But peel back the surface and you will find that snooker players, like anyone else, are human.

Mark Selby has long been regarded as snooker’s iron man, at times impossible to break down, yet he has dealt with considerable pain away from the baize. His parents divorced when he was young and, at 16, his father passed away, leaving Selby to rely on help from friends at the snooker club.

He rose to the top of the sport but has been battling mental health issues stemming from unresolved grief. During the last year his wife, Vikki, has been undergoing treatment for cancer. A close friend of the couple died recently from the same cancer at the age of 44.

Given all of this, how does Selby concentrate on a snooker match?

Perhaps the table can serve as a refuge. In some ways it’s as far away from real life as you can get, a cocoon away from the cruelty of fate where the only concern is whether you can successfully get a ball into a hole.

Selby’s form has dipped this season, most likely because his preparation has been affected by what is going on at home, but the experience has also reminded him of what is important. He told the Metro last week: “Playing does help because it gives me a purpose. I’m doing it for Vikki and [daughter] Sofia, to put food on the table, so I’ve got a drive to keep going for them.”

Neil Robertson has spoken of his wife, Mille’s, struggles with mental health and his pride in how she has overcome them. It was a difficult time for the couple, with Robertson attempting to juggle family with a high profile career.

He told Eurosport in 2020: “I had a few mixed results on the table and people not really knowing why. It wasn’t myself going through those issues, but when you are trying to help someone through them in some ways it can probably be worse because you feel completely helpless in that situation.”

Ronnie O’Sullivan has been through several emotional maelstroms and somehow still come out not only standing tall but arguably stronger than ever.

His father’s imprisonment just as O’Sullivan became a national figure precipitated a spiral of depression and substance abuse. It took him years to find a way to cope. Snooker was both an anchor and a weight around his feet. He needed it but at the same time it exacerbated the very problems he was dealing with.

In the midst of arguably his greatest ever season, he is skipping this week’s Welsh Open pointing to “stage fright” and anxiety over his performance. “I just can’t get my cue out when I feel like this,” O’Sullivan said.

Even Stephen Hendry, the iceman of the 1990s with a seemingly impenetrable shield of invincibility wrapped around his shoulders, was not immune to real life.

He spent long hours playing snooker as a boy in part as a distraction from his parents’ divorce. In his autobiography, Me and the Table, Hendry writes of this unhappy part of his childhood: “Now, more than ever, snooker is a fixation. I discover that the physical and emotional disturbance caused by the split can be pushed away into a corner when I’m at the table.”

It’s sad to hear exciting talents such as Jack Lisowski and world champion Luca Brecel recently talking about how they are not enjoying their snooker. Lisowski said at the World Grand Prix that he was longing for a break. When Brecel was asked before walking out at the Masters if he was looking forward to it, he sounded as if he’d rather be anywhere else.

To the watching world this sounds strange, but we are only watching. The media, social media, the wider public – all of us – are guilty of judging without really knowing what is going on underneath the shiny surface. Maybe we don’t really want to know, because sport is where we go to escape our own pain.

To some, it is ephemeral, a distraction to be switched on or off, its performers there for our benefit and entertainment. Others regard sportspeople as superheroes. They aren’t. They bruise like the rest of us.

In a world that could use more empathy, maybe sport is where we should start.

There is not much to add to this and it applies to people around us in every day’s life as well as to our sporting heroes. In particular, this applies to our every day usage of social media. There is that idea floating around that those who earn a lot of money and are “successful” should be happy, have no actual right to feel down. How often have I read about Ronnie that he should “get a real job” or “work down the mine” to know what hardship is. Of course money helps in life but it doesn’t buy you happiness, it doesn’t heal deep psychological wounds. A rather depressed and self-deprecating Ronnie once told me about his money … “it gives me the luxury to go and cry somewhere sunny if I so wish … ”

Words can hurt as much, and sometimes even more, than a physical blow. Being kind(er) costs nothing.

The bold highlight is my doing.

The 2024 Welsh Open – Day 1

Monique Professional snooker, Professional snooker tournament

This is WST report on day 1 at the 2024 Welsh Open in Llandudno

BETVICTOR WELSH OPEN DAY ONE ROUND-UP

Luca Brecel ended a two-month winless streak by beating Jiang Jun 4-3 in the first round of the BetVictor Welsh Open, and believes his game is gradually coming good.

So far this season, Brecel hasn’t come close to scaling the heights he reached at the Crucible last Spring when he won the world title for the first time. He is yet to reach the quarter-finals of a ranking event this term, and before tonight the Belgian had not won a match since December 12th. But with the return to Sheffield on the horizon, the 28-year-old hopes he can regain his natural fluency.

There were signs of it tonight, particularly in the deciding frame when he rattled in a match-winning break of 93 to set up a last 64 encounter with Joe O’Connor.

“I felt good, I was positive,” said Brecel. “Hopefully I can play better in the next round. My mind was clear in the whole game. Ever since I won the world title I have not experienced any pressure at all, even in a deciding frame. I feel totally relaxed, I am just a bit low on confidence, but I feel like my game is coming back. I am practising every day, just one or two hours, but that’s a lot compared to zero! I am working on my diet and fitness as well, trying to get back into shape. There’s a long way to go, but at least I have started. I am here to enjoy myself and hopefully find something.”

Amateur Barry Pinches scored the biggest shock of the opening day, beating Shaun Murphy 4-3 in a dramatic finish, despite having needed a snooker on the final blue in the deciding frame.

Veteran Pinches, age 53, only discovered that he was playing in this tournament two days ago, when David Grace pulled out and he was handed an invitation. He didn’t arrive in Llandudno until 3am on Monday morning, but the former world number 18 from Norwich took advantage by knocking out Murphy with his best win in recent years. Pinches goes through to the last 64 to face Daniel Wells.

World number six Murphy led three times, making breaks of 58, 128 and 88, but his experienced opponent recovered to level each time. Murphy was also 45-1 up in the decider, before Pinches clawed his way back into it. Former World Champion Murphy potted the yellow to lead by 27 points, and was later 20 ahead on the blue, but failed to escape from a tough snooker, then went in-off attempting safety. Pinches held his nerve to pot blue, pink and black. 

The result means that Murphy will not be in the field for next week’s Players Championship – a tournament he won last season – as he had needed to reach the final this week to climb into the top 16 of the one-year rankings.

Pinches said: “I thought it was all over, but managed to lay a good snooker, and then knocked in the last three balls. It was a great game, I enjoyed it and it’s a fantastic win for me. I don’t play all the time now, but I have been practising because I am just back from the WSF event in Albania. I am still in that group of 30 or 40 amateurs who are probably as good as the bottom pros. It’s just really tough to get through Q School or earn a tour car because the players are a very high standard.”

Robert Milkins made a successful start to the defence of his title, edging a nervy 4-3 win over Jamie Jones, taking the last frame on the colours. “It felt different, being defending champion, but I tried to treat it like any other game,” said Milkins. “Jamie probably played the better snooker and maybe just my safety made the difference in the end. It has brought back memories, coming back here. That’s something that no one can ever take away from me.” 

Neil Robertson continued his return to form as he top scored with 103 in a 4-1 win over Jackson Page. “I have played a lot of matches, my confidence is building and I feel great, ready to win big tournaments again” said the Australian, who has been working on his diet and fitness to get into shape on and off the table. “It’s not like I needed to lose two stone, it was just a couple of kilos, but that makes a massive difference around the table and I feel very good now. I cut out processed sugar like white bread. We travel a lot so it’s easy to fall into the habit of snacking. I had five or six boxes to tick to get myself back on track, and I feel I have done that now.” 

 Mark Allen came back from the brink of a 4-1 defeat to beat Cao Yupeng 4-3 and boost his hopes of a third title this season. Leading 3-1, Cao was on a break of 68 when he was unlucky not to land on a red when splitting the pack, and Allen cleared with 70 to gain momentum. The Northern Irishman then made a 101 for 3-3 and came from 52-0 down to take the decider, clearing from the last red.

Home favourite Mark Williams came from 2-1 down to beat John Astley 4-2 while Welsh amateur Alfie Davies – a late call up when Ronnie O’Sullivan pulled out – finished with a 103 as he beat Liam Graham 4-1. John Higgins top scored with 118 in a 4-0 whitewash of Mohamed Ibrahim.

Mark Selby earned a 4-2 success against Yuan Sijun, clinching victory at the end of a 69-minute sixth frame, resolved when Yuan was trapped in a tricky snooker on the final blue and failed to escape six times.

Luca Brecel was still far from the form that he showed at the Crucible but, at least, he was clearly trying his best and playing seriously.

Cao Yupeng was very unlucky in frame 5 of his match against Mark Allen, and losing that frame appeared to take all the stuffing out of him. Granted, Mark Allen played well after that but Cao is one player who could benefit from seeing a sports psychologist1

I gave up on the Selby v Yuan match… 2 hours time difference is to blame!

  1. I know it’s not that simple. He should need to find someone who speaks Chinese because accurate communication is essential f.or such support to work ↩︎

Ka Wai Cheung is the 2024 WSF Champion

Monique Amateur, Snooker ,

Ka Wai Cheung from Hong Kong won the 2024 WSF Championship yesterday evening in Golem, Albania. This victory earns him a professional tour card for two seasons: 2024/25 and 2025/26. He was impressive throughout the competition. Here is the report by WPBSA:

Ka Wai Cheung Wins WSF Championship

Ka Wai Cheung has defeated Gao Yang 5-0 in the final of the 2024 WSF Championship to secure the title and his status as a main tour professional for the first time at the Grand Blue Fafa Resort in Albania.

Cheung’s victory continues Asia’s dominance in snooker’s most prestigious amateur competition, which has been won by players from the continent in four of its five editions, with the 24-year-old following in the footsteps of Luo Honghao (2018), Si Jiahui (2022) and Ma Hailong (2023).

The result means Cheung will compete on the main tour in the 2024/25 and 2025/26 seasons for the first time in his career and also denied 2020 WSF Junior champion Gao the feat of becoming the first player to win both the Junior and Open events.

The man from Hong Kong China was in dominant form all week, dropping just four frames in ten matches, and also fired in the tournament high break of 138 en route to a 4-0 semi-final victory over former Ukrainian professional Iulian Boiko, runner-up at the event in 2020.

After topping his group with four straight victories, Cheung overcame Oskar Charlesworth, Luke Pinches, Harvey Chandler, Oliver Sykes and Boiko to set up a final meeting with Gao.

The former professional from China had battled his way to the final by winning three final frame deciders, including a dramatic 4-3 semi-final victory over England’s Daniel Womersley earlier in the day.

The nerves were clearly apparent from both cueists in the early exchanges, but it was Cheung who managed to get over the line in a scrappy opener before doubling his advantage courtesy of breaks of 52 and 39 in the second frame of the evening.

Gao desperately needed to find something quickly after also losing a scrappy third frame and he looked to have found some form when he got in first in frame four and scored a break of 53.

However, Cheung showed determination to fight back and get a snooker on the colours when only able to tie before eventually winning it on the final black to head into the mid-session interval just one frame away from the title.

A break of 60 from Cheung upon their return was enough to complete the whitewash victory and secure both the title and a two-year World Snooker Tour card.

“It is every player’s dream to join the World Snooker Tour,” said Cheung. “I just feel very happy and surprised with my performance, especially in the semi-finals with back-to-back centuries. I played my own game and tried to play like it was practice, which is not easy, but my performance gave me a lot of confidence for the final.

“In the final, the fourth frame was big as I already thought it was 3-1 at the mid-session interval but I tried to play the shot I thought was right and the result came.”

“This is the biggest achievement in my snooker life, I think. I have always wished to be a professional player, so I am really happy to make this happen. It is also a significant result for our sport and I hope that the Hong Kong government will consider to keep Billiard Sports in the Hong Kong Sport Institute instead of asking us to leave in 2025.

“I’ve been a part of the Hong Kong Sports Institute (HKSI) for around 7-8 years as a full-time athlete and even when I was younger, I was a part-time junior athlete. Every tournament, every competition I get support from the HKSI and HKSBCC.

“I have always had a lot of support and encouragement from people in Hong Kong to play more and to chase my goal to earn a [World Snooker] Tour ticket. I am grateful to the HKSI because we get a lot of support to go to all the places to get experience and to play competitions and practice with high standard players. I hope this can remain unchanged in the future so that I can have an easier way to do well in the World Snooker Tour.

Cheung has played snooker since he was 10 years old after he watched the sport on TV and counts former ranking event winner Marco Fu as one of his key inspirations in the sport:

“Marco Fu is always like an idol for me,” continued Cheung. “Because he is always flying around, I do not have much time to see and practice with him, so when I practice in the Elite Training Centre, I have thoughts like I want to be like him and stay on the World Snooker Tour. When I see him play at big tournaments like the Hong Kong Masters that is a big encouragement for me.”

The World Snooker Federation would like to thank all of its partners who have supported the event, including the Albanian Snooker Federation and of all the players, officials and supporters who contributed to a fortnight to remember in Albania.

Congratulations Ka Wai Cheung!

and some images taken during the final and shared by Matt Huart on social media …