Ronnie’s snooker schedule this season has been “light” and many probably wonder what the future will bring for him and his fans. Well, there have been a couple of announcements.
Ronnie O’Sullivan and Stephen Hendry among snooker legends to play John Virgo Trophy
by Phil Haigh
A stellar line-up featuring Ronnie O’Sullivan and Stephen Hendry will contest the John Virgo Trophy in April, in honour of the late great snooker star.
Virgo sadly passed away at the age of 79 last week, with the snooker world mourning the iconic player, commentator and entertainer.
In honour of JV, four of the greatest players of all time will compete in a tournament in his honour.
The John Virgo Trophy will be held at the popular Goffs in Kildare, Ireland, the former home of the Irish Masters.
It will feature the two seven-time world champions O’Sullivan and Hendry playing each other, while fellow legendary cuemen John Higgins and Mark Williams will face off in the other semi-final, before the winners meet in the final.
It will be the first competitive meeting between the Rocket and Hendry for nearly 15 years, last playing each other in a 2011 PTC in Gloucester.
The two-day event will be played on April 11-12 and be shown live on Pluto TV, featuring some other attractions outside of the four headliners.
The event organisers state: ‘In what promises to be the biggest snooker event in Ireland for 20 years, the event will also showcase some of Ireland’s top Juniors, some of Ireland’s former legends and a trick shot cabaret from 1985 World Champion Dennis Taylor.’
Snooker 900 Creator Jason Francis said: ‘The line-up speaks for itself, all four probably sit within the top five or six of the greatest ever to play this game, but this is not an exhibition, they are playing for prize money and competing hard, just the way our great friend John Virgo would have wanted.
‘It will be a wonderful tribute to him and a great treat for our fans in Ireland.
‘With this event being just a week before the World Professional Championship I expect the players to be very sharp.’
John Virgo Trophy Schedule
Saturday April 11 (UK times)
12pm–1pm: Irish Legends Doubles
2pm-5pm: The John Virgo Trophy Semi Final 1 – Mark Williams v John Higgins (Best of 11 Snooker 900 Frames)
7pm-11pm: The John Virgo Trophy Cup Semi Final 2 – Ronnie O’Sullivan v Stephen Hendry (Best of 11 Snooker 900 Frames)
Sunday April 12
12pm–1pm: Irish Junior Snooker 900 Championship
2pm-2.30pm: Trick Shot Cabaret with 1985 World Champion Dennis Taylor
2.30pm-5pm: The John Virgo Trophy 3rd v 4th place play-off (Best of 9 Snooker 900 Frames)
7pm-11pm: The John Virgo Trophy Final (Best of 11 Snooker 900 Frames)
Irish Legends Doubles
Four of Irelands most well-known former professionals will play 3 frames of doubles. Already confirmed are Fergal O’Brien, Michael Judge and Joe Delaney.
Irish Junior Snooker 900 Championship
Four of Irelands best under-16 players will compete in two semi-finals and a final one frame shootout.
Snooker 900 is short-format 15-minute frames (900 seconds), with a 20-second shot clock, ball-in-hand for fouls, and a sudden-death blue-ball shootout for ties.
The John Virgo Trophy will see the four former world champions play while the World Championship qualifiers are being contested in Sheffield.
The main stages of the World Championship begin on April 18 at the Crucible, where O’Sullivan, Higgins and Williams will be involved.
Virgo will be remembered as one of snooker’s great voices (Picture: Getty Images)
Hendry spoke movingly about the passing of his colleague in the commentary box and great friend last week.
‘It’s utterly devastating,’ Hendry told WST. ‘Ken (Doherty) phoned me the other day and I am in China. Unfortunately, I’ll be traveling home the day of his funeral. I’m devastated about that as well.
‘At the moment, I’m not even looking forward to the World Championship because I know he’s not going to be there.
‘It’s going to be horrible. A huge, huge gap he’s going to leave in snooker.’
The Scot added: ‘No one could sort of translate the excitement of a match into the commentary box as well as John. He could make dull matches seem exciting because he had that enthusiasm.
‘He just loved the game and he could sort of make you almost enjoy a match that you weren’t enjoying.
‘He was my favourite to be in the box with. As I’m sure that’s the same for a lot of commentators and his knowledge of the game.
‘A lot of the young players sort of criticise old school commentators, saying that they don’t have a clue what’s going on. But he knew the game as well as being an unbelievable character.’
Ronnie O’Sullivan Set for World Seniors Snooker Championship Debut
Ronnie O’Sullivan will make his long-awaited World Seniors Snooker Championship debut at the Crucible Theatre in May.
Widely regarded as the sport’s greatest ever player, ‘The Rocket’ will headline the strongest ever field assembled for an event on the World Seniors Snooker (WSS) Tour.
He joins an outstanding line-up that includes fellow former world champions Mark Williams, Stuart Bingham, Ken Doherty and Reanne Evans.
The tournament, which will be broadcast on Channel 5 in the UK, will also feature established WSS Tour stars including Jimmy White, Matthew Stevens, Tony Drago, Robert Milkins, Peter Lines, Anthony Hamilton, Dominic Dale and reigning British Seniors Open champion Joe Perry – as well as Alfie Burden who returns as defending champion.
WSS Chairman Jason Francis said: “The most commercially valuable player the sport has ever seen will make his World Seniors debut at the Crucible Theatre in May in an attempt to add another world title to his CV — wow! We’ve already sold more tickets than we did for the entire event last year, and Ronnie O’Sullivan’s participation is set to drive even greater demand.”
.Those announcements, I’m sure, will not please everyone. They are probably an indication that the professional tour is no more Ronnie’s top priority. But then, he’s 50, he’s won everything, he has nothing to prove and, maybe, he doesn’t want anymore the constant pressure of expectations that comes with his status in the professional sport. … something he had/has to cope with for the best part of 34 years now.
I thought there were rules that excluded high-ranked professionals from the Seniors. Especially because Mark Williams is also mentioned.
As to Ronnie, the sooner he announces his retirement is the better, so the entering events then pulling out in the last minute can be stopped. I’m certainly not happy he wants to play the seniors, for me he has been the ultimate professional as long as he was and compared to that the Seniors are well… There are other ways to stay close to the sport.
But that could also put an end to the idea that he only pulled out of important tournaments to be a nice husband or something.
He is close friend with Jason Francis who has helped him massively in difficult times. Him playing in seniors events will no doubt attract fans, and maybe sponsors too. That will help Jason. Jason’s goal was/is to create a competitive circuit where those who have given a lot to the game can continue to play after their pro career, and play competitively in arenas, in front of fans, not just play in a club. Do you see something wrong in that Csilla?
Wrong in helping a friend – no, but we won’t agree on the rest: I just don’t like the idea of the senior circuit. Of course it is nice that those who can no longer play on the tour (or never could) find a venue for themselves to pot balls, fool around a bit, but that’s all what it is: nice. It rubs me in the wrong way, I know you are a big fan of the seniors, but I just can’t find it appealing. In my mind it is like the women’s tour: a lot of positives can be said for it, but quality it is not (or hardly is).
But still: is there not a rule that excludes professionals in the top 64?
There were rules because there was a contract between Jason and WST. When the contract ended, they couldn’t agree on a new contract which effectively left Jason free of the constraints the contract had set.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 
I thought there were rules that excluded high-ranked professionals from the Seniors. Especially because Mark Williams is also mentioned.
As to Ronnie, the sooner he announces his retirement is the better, so the entering events then pulling out in the last minute can be stopped. I’m certainly not happy he wants to play the seniors, for me he has been the ultimate professional as long as he was and compared to that the Seniors are well… There are other ways to stay close to the sport.
But that could also put an end to the idea that he only pulled out of important tournaments to be a nice husband or something.
He is close friend with Jason Francis who has helped him massively in difficult times. Him playing in seniors events will no doubt attract fans, and maybe sponsors too. That will help Jason. Jason’s goal was/is to create a competitive circuit where those who have given a lot to the game can continue to play after their pro career, and play competitively in arenas, in front of fans, not just play in a club. Do you see something wrong in that Csilla?
Wrong in helping a friend – no, but we won’t agree on the rest: I just don’t like the idea of the senior circuit. Of course it is nice that those who can no longer play on the tour (or never could) find a venue for themselves to pot balls, fool around a bit, but that’s all what it is: nice. It rubs me in the wrong way, I know you are a big fan of the seniors, but I just can’t find it appealing. In my mind it is like the women’s tour: a lot of positives can be said for it, but quality it is not (or hardly is).
But still: is there not a rule that excludes professionals in the top 64?
There were rules because there was a contract between Jason and WST. When the contract ended, they couldn’t agree on a new contract which effectively left Jason free of the constraints the contract had set.
Thank you, did not know that bit.
…for him and his fans (and his “fans”)
Yeah, those too 😄