Victory gives Selby a welcome boost going into the conclusion of the 2023/24 campaign, and also assures him of a place in the Champion of Champions later this year. The world number five lifted his first trophy since the WST Classic a year ago, and lands the BetVictor Championship League crown for the first time.
Having finished second in the group table earlier in the day, Selby saw off Stuart Bingham 3-0 in the semi-finals. O’Connor scored a fine 3-0 success against defending champion John Higgins, setting up a local derby in the final at the Morningside Arena in Leicester.
O’Connor, seeking his first pro title, came from 55-0 down to snatch the opening frame on the colours. Selby hit back with breaks of 74 and 137 to lead 2-1, then got the better of a scrappy fourth frame to secure the silverware.
He said: “Over the two days, I scored when I got chances so overall I’m happy with my game. It was a tough group with great players in. Joe had done brilliantly to get here and he played some great stuff to reach the final today. It was nice to get the win, but if there was anyone who I was to lose to I would have been chuffed for Joe.”
Selby will join Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Mark Allen, Gary Wilson and more in the Champion of Champions. More information on the event including ticket information and venue will be published in due course.
Congratulations Mark Selby!
It’s not been a great season so far for Mark and quite understandably so considering what is family is going through and Vikki’s illness. I’m happy for Mark and I sincerely hope that everything will be fine soon for the whole family. The surprise man of the event though has been Joe O’Connor and, IMO, it’s only a matter of time before he wins a professional tournament.
Valdislav Gradinari in the 2024 Under-16 EBSA Champion
The 2024 EBSA tournaments are currently underway in Bosnia-Herzegovina. The Under-16 competition already concluded with Vladislav Gradinari beating Riley Powell in the final.
Congratulations Vladislav!
Here are some images shared by WPBSA on X (Twitter)
Bai Yulu has won the 2024 Under-21 Women Snooker World Championship
She defeated Narucha Phoemphul from Thailand by 3-0 to win the World Women’s Under-21 Snooker Championship for the first time!
Congratulations Bai Yulu!
WWS on X (Twitter) posted this:
The 20-year-old hit breaks of 57 and 35 to earn victory and claim the biggest Under-21 crown in women’s snooker. Bai spoke with national and international media during her post-match media conference, with the trophy presentation to take place on Sunday alongside the main event closing ceremony.
Tessa Davidson has won the 2024 Seniors Women World Championship
This was shared by WWS on X (Twitter)
Congratulations to England’s Tessa Davidson who has defeated Han Fang 3-1 to win the World Women’s Seniors Snooker Championship for the second time in three years in Dongguan Changping. The trophy presentation will take place as part of the main ceremony.
16 thoughts on “Pro and Amateur Snooker News – 14 March 2024”
I certainly hope for a Bai Yulu-victory: I would love to see her on the main tour. And hope Mink will finish Nr 1 and she can continue as a pro and see what she improved. Baipat was rather disappointing against Evans.
I agree with all of this.
Do we know what happens if Evans wins? She has one more year on the tour: will the runner-up get the tourcard?
From Wikipedia: “Beginning in 2022, the winner of the World Women’s Snooker Championship is guaranteed a place on the World Snooker Tour. If the winner is already on the tour, a place will go to the next highest-ranked player in the World Women’s Snooker rankings.”
Hello Csilla. I posted a quote from Wikipedia which is pending. I don’t know if Monique is busy and when she approves it. It says that if the winner is already on the tour, a place will go to the next highest-ranked player in the World Women’s Snooker rankings.
I’m traveling today and mostly without Internet access. Things will have to wait until I’m back home
So it would go to Ng On Yee.
Thank you, Christian. Well, On Yee is fine,m but I would certainly prefer Bai Yulu.
Is Mink already on her second year? I thought they turned pro together. If so I suppose it would go to her then. But yes, two more matches for Bai and she earned it herself.
Yes, Evans is on her 3rd year as a pro and 1st as the women’s Nr 1. I think she turned pro together with On Yee, who has been off for a year. Mink is on her 2nd, so she’ll need something to stay on the tour and that unfortunately won’t be finishing among the top 64. So is Rebecca Kenna on her 2nd year, but she’ll end it this year for sure.
Yea, I just don’t know now if they would give Mink or On Yee the tour card in case of an Evans win.(Very) Theoretically Mink could still get into the top 64. Do they wait for the end of the Main Tour season then?
Same question if Mink herself wins it of course.
I think they should wait till the end of season to see who is the highest ranked woman too. And yes, they should wait to see who needs that tourcard after all. Any of them can enter QSchool and win a card there.
Mink only played in the main event, but hasn’t lost a frame either up until now. Mink and Bai could meet in the final.
Bai Yulu has not lost a single frame in the 7 matches she has played this week. I think that deserves to be mentioned, Monique. She scored breaks of 81 and 94 and at the time of writing 104. She also holds the tournament HB with a 113. Her Round 2 match is now live on YT and FB.
It’s 25 unanswered frames from Bai now.
I certainly hope for a Bai Yulu-victory: I would love to see her on the main tour. And hope Mink will finish Nr 1 and she can continue as a pro and see what she improved. Baipat was rather disappointing against Evans.
Poor Higgins did not manage to win the Ch’ship League for a third time, but it seems that this tournament is not just a paid practice for most of the players. I suppose O’Connor look like someone who should win something soon, but the same has been expected of Lisoswski for some time by now. And Kyren Wilson seems to have taken a dip this season…
Ronnie O'Sullivan 
I agree with all of this.
Do we know what happens if Evans wins? She has one more year on the tour: will the runner-up get the tourcard?
From Wikipedia: “Beginning in 2022, the winner of the World Women’s Snooker Championship is guaranteed a place on the World Snooker Tour. If the winner is already on the tour, a place will go to the next highest-ranked player in the World Women’s Snooker rankings.”
Hello Csilla. I posted a quote from Wikipedia which is pending. I don’t know if Monique is busy and when she approves it. It says that if the winner is already on the tour, a place will go to the next highest-ranked player in the World Women’s Snooker rankings.
I’m traveling today and mostly without Internet access. Things will have to wait until I’m back home
So it would go to Ng On Yee.
Thank you, Christian. Well, On Yee is fine,m but I would certainly prefer Bai Yulu.
Is Mink already on her second year? I thought they turned pro together. If so I suppose it would go to her then. But yes, two more matches for Bai and she earned it herself.
Yes, Evans is on her 3rd year as a pro and 1st as the women’s Nr 1. I think she turned pro together with On Yee, who has been off for a year. Mink is on her 2nd, so she’ll need something to stay on the tour and that unfortunately won’t be finishing among the top 64. So is Rebecca Kenna on her 2nd year, but she’ll end it this year for sure.
Yea, I just don’t know now if they would give Mink or On Yee the tour card in case of an Evans win.(Very) Theoretically Mink could still get into the top 64. Do they wait for the end of the Main Tour season then?
Same question if Mink herself wins it of course.
I think they should wait till the end of season to see who is the highest ranked woman too. And yes, they should wait to see who needs that tourcard after all. Any of them can enter QSchool and win a card there.
Mink only played in the main event, but hasn’t lost a frame either up until now. Mink and Bai could meet in the final.
Bai Yulu has not lost a single frame in the 7 matches she has played this week. I think that deserves to be mentioned, Monique. She scored breaks of 81 and 94 and at the time of writing 104. She also holds the tournament HB with a 113. Her Round 2 match is now live on YT and FB.
It’s 25 unanswered frames from Bai now.
I certainly hope for a Bai Yulu-victory: I would love to see her on the main tour. And hope Mink will finish Nr 1 and she can continue as a pro and see what she improved. Baipat was rather disappointing against Evans.
Poor Higgins did not manage to win the Ch’ship League for a third time, but it seems that this tournament is not just a paid practice for most of the players. I suppose O’Connor look like someone who should win something soon, but the same has been expected of Lisoswski for some time by now. And Kyren Wilson seems to have taken a dip this season…