Xiao Guodong beat David Gilbert 3-2 in an exciting finish to the final of Group Seven of BetVictor Championship League Snooker Invitational to become the seventh and last player into the Winners’ Group.
China’s Xiao, who landed his first ranking title earlier this season at the Wuhan Open, will return on February 4th and 5th for the Winners’ Group, alongside Judd Trump, Hossein Vafaei, Si Jiahui, Kyren Wilson, Mark Selby and Matthew Selt, when the title and a place in the 2025 Sportsbet.io Champion of Champions will be up for grabs.
Ricky Walden finished top of the group phase on Saturday with five wins out of five, but then suffered 3-2 reverse against Gilbert, who made a break of 135 in the deciding frame. Xiao, who finished second in the group table, beat Noppon Saengkham 3-0 in the semis without conceding a single point, scoring runs of 75, 100 and 123.
In the final, Xiao led 1-0 and 2-1 but Gilbert, who earlier made a 147 during the group phase, battled back to 2-2 with a 101 in frame four. Xiao was on 59 in the decider when he missed the penultimate red, and Gilbert had a chance to clear, but a tricky pot on the last red to a centre pocket hit the far jaw, and that proved his last shot.
Judd Trump calls for German Masters changes ahead of bid for fourth title
Phil Haigh
Judd Trump is defending his German Masters title next week (Picture: Getty Images)
Judd Trump has hailed the German Masters as a top three event on the calendar, calling for the tournament to increase in stature to match its reputation.
The ranking event at the Tempodrom in Berlin is one of the highlights of the snooker season, played in the unique arena in front of a lively German crowd.
Trump is a three-time German Masters champion and will be in Berlin next week looking to defend his title in an event he looks forward to more than most.
In fact, the world number one rates the atmosphere as close to the likes of the Crucible and Alexandra Palace.
‘Berlin is probably third place in terms of the crowd interaction and how good the crowds are, especially when you get to that final weekend and how passionate they are,’ Trump told Metro.
‘The crowds in Berlin and the noise when you come into the final is very close to, or on a par with, the Masters.
‘I think those two are out there on their own in terms of how good you feel when you play on the final weekend.’
Trump beat Si Jiahui in the Berlin final last year (Picture: Getty Images)
Trump is a big fan of his annual trip to Germany, but would like to see the event having even more prominence on the calendar given how highly he rates the experience of playing in Berlin.
Players tend to judge how big events are based on prize money and there has been a boost to the prize fund at the German Masters this year, with the winner leaving with £100,000, up from last year’s £80,000.
However, that leaves the event level with the Home Nations and Trump thinks it deserves to be much bigger than the likes of the English Open in Brentwood.
‘I’d like to have seen it grow somehow,’ he said. ‘I think the tournament deserves to be bigger than it is.
‘I don’t think it should be on a par with some of the other events like the Home Nations, although Northern Ireland is the exception.
‘I think Germany should be up there, just behind the UK [Championship], but it’s not really gone anywhere, it’s stagnated a little bit. There should be a few changes to make a bit bigger than it is because the crowd over there deserve it.
‘It’s a little bit disappointing because I feel like they could even hold the Tour Championship or something over there. The crowd deserve something bigger. Its excellent to have a tournament there, but the fans deserve a bigger, more prestigious event.’
Trump is having a fantastic season so far (Picture: Getty Images)
Trump himself has made big changes to his life this season, leaving his Bristol base to split most of his time between Dubai and Hong Kong.
‘My practice tables are getting taken out next week so it’s pretty permanent now,’ he said. ‘My main base will be in Dubai but my girlfriend lives in Hong Kong. I have residence in both Dubai and Hong Kong so I’ll be split between them depending where the tournaments are.
‘It’s very different, completely different from what I’m used to. I’m used to my old life of just going to practice and then sitting at home all night, every day.
‘Now there’s a lot more opportunities to do different things. It’s a more outdoorsy lifestyle, living in those different places, a lot more time after snooker to spend in the sun, or go to the beach or whatever. It’s a bit better and more inspiring than being in the miserable weather for months.’
Trump’s girlfriend is well-known figure skater from Hong Kong Maisy Ma, who he says is understanding of his globe-trotting lifestyle in the public eye.
‘She’s used to being in the limelight herself, she still does TV work,’ he said. ‘It’s a good balance because she knows what I’m going through, I think that helps as well.’
The world number one is having another great season, with big wins at the UK Championship, Saudi Arabia Masters and Shanghai Masters, while he is enjoying his more glamorous lifestyle, making him even more dangerous on the table.
‘When you’re winning it’s a lot easier to be happy,’ he said. ‘When you’re travelling around and you fancy your chances of winning every event, you’re not dreading going to venues. It definitely helps.
‘Where I’m living as well, it makes it easier to accept defeat. It’s easier to travel back to that. You’re in a bit of a bubble for the first few years when you make changes in your life or new things happen, you’re a lot happier when you lose to go home.
‘It couldn’t be going much better and it helps on the table because I’m trying my best but it’s not the end of the world if I do lose. I think that helps me play my best and be more relaxed when I’m out there.’
Judd Trump is absolutely spot on in this interview. The German fans, and, in general, the mainland Europe fans deserve better. He’s also right in stressing how much happiness in your private life helps succeeding in your professional life. Britain, I’m afraid, is not the best place to live in, especially post-Brexit Britain… unless you are very rich probably. I have been traveling to Britain regularly since 2009 and I can see the difference. There is more poverty, more alcoholism and more insecurity now than 15 years ago. But, even without putting the economical aspect into the equation, the weather is a huge factor1. It is well documented how lack of natural light, and sun, during the winter months affects our mood and and general well-being negatively.
It is the same in Belgium as well of course, and in northern Europe in general. That’s why I chose to live in my husband’s country, Greece, and I feel much better for it. ↩︎
BBC Sport and World Snooker Tour are thrilled to announce an extension to their broadcast agreement to 2032. The new deal is a five-year extension to the current agreement, ensuring that the Triple Crown remains free-to-air for many millions of snooker fans across the UK.
BBC Sport will continue to provide comprehensive live TV and iPlayer coverage of snooker’s three most prestigious tournaments, the World Championship, UK Championship and the Masters.
The Masters, currently taking place at Alexandra Palace, is followed by the World Championship in Sheffield in April and the UK Championship in York in November. Last year, BBC Sport’s coverage of the Triple Crown events had 33.9 million streams across BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website and over 16 million tuning in on TV.
Alex Kay-Jelski, Director of BBC Sport said: “Snooker has been a cornerstone of BBC Sport programming since 1969, and extending our partnership with World Snooker until 2032 is fantastic news for the audience. It ensures the drama, intensity and excitement of the Triple Crown events remains free-to-air and we look forward to many more years of iconic sporting moments.”
WST Chairman, Steve Dawson said: “For more than 50 years we have had an outstanding relationship with BBC and their coverage of the Triple Crown is a fundamental part of those three events. So many millions of fans love watching snooker on BBC and it has always been vital to us to keep the biggest tournaments free to air.”
WST Chief Commercial officer Peter Wright said: “The broadcast figures are extremely strong this week at the Masters which highlights the enduring appeal of snooker and the drama it produces year after year. We look forward to many more years working alongside the BBC, delivering world class sport to a vast audience.”
World Champion Kyren Wilson added: “I grew up watching all of the biggest tournaments on the BBC so it’s fantastic to see this deal extended until at least 2032. It’s so important for young people getting into snooker, like my own children, that the Triple Crown events are available to watch free to air, as this will help us to grow the sport. The BBC do an amazing job in the way they broadcast snooker and long may that continue. I have also really enjoyed working for the commentary team myself and finding out how the production works behind the scenes.”
…
The news triggered massive positive reactions from the fans … the UK fans mainly. There were immediate speculations that this news would “help” keeping the World Championship at the Crucible.
Me, personally … I have mixed feelings about it. The BBC coverage is always excellent, no question about that aspect. They do a sterling job. But… I’m from mainland Europe. For many us the BBC isn’t “free on air”, many of us have to rely on an alternative provider or a vpn to access the BBC stream … but that’s not the main point. The main problem for me is that it will certainly mean that the World Championship will continue to be played exclusively in the UK, be it at the Crucible or elsewhere. I have already expressed my feelings about this situation: the WORLD championship should not stay confined in the UK, it should go around the world. The UK-centric nature of the sport has to be “broken” for it to really grow as a global sport. The WSF junior championship is currently under way. There are a lot of young aspiring snooker players, from all around the world playing in that comp. As it is now, most of them would be forced to live as expats in the UK, with all the challenges that this situation brings: social isolation away from family, language barrier and, at times in nowadays’s Britain, nonsensical hostility1. It’s simply no fair and it is counterproductive IF really WST/WPBSA have ambitions to make snooker global.
Sportsbet.io Becomes New Title Partner of Snooker’s Players Championship, Tour Championship and Champion of Champions
January 15, 2024 – Three celebrated events on snooker’s global tour, renowned for their elite fields, will welcome Sportsbet.io as their new title partner for the next two years. The Sportsbet.io Players Championship will run from March 17-23, 2025, at Telford International Centre, followed by the Sportsbet.io Tour Championship from March 31 to April 6 at Manchester Central and then the Sportsbet.io Champion of Champions from November 10-16 in Bolton.
All three events will be screened live by ITV and will receive extensive global television and online coverage from a range of international broadcasters.
Sportsbet.io, a leading crypto sportsbook and casino, Official Regional Partner of LALIGA, Official Betting Partner of English football team, Hull City and a Club Partner of Premier League team Newcastle United, now joins forces with WST and Matchroom for the first time. Sportsbet.io is part of Yolo Group, known for bringing next-level innovation to the worlds of gaming, fintech and blockchain.
The Sportsbet.io Players Championship is the second event in the 2025 Players Series. Only the top 16 on this season’s one-year ranking list will earn a place in the field in Telford. Mark Allen won the trophy last season, and as it stands he could be defending the title in a field including the likes of world number one Judd Trump, World Champion Kyren Wilson, Ding Junhui, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy, Mark Williams, John Higgins and many more top stars.
Then for the climax of the series, the Sportsbet.io Tour Championship at a fantastic venue in the heart of Manchester, only the top 12 earn a spot in the draw.
The Sportsbet.io Champion of Champions, ever present on the calendar since 2013, brings together 16 winners of tournaments over the previous 12 months. Mark Williams took the title in 2024, coming through a superb field which included the likes of Judd Trump, Kyren Wilson and Ronnie O’Sullivan.
Peter Wright, Chief Commercial Officer for WST, said: “We are excited to team up with Yolo Group as they are known for their inventive approach to the digital world which is going to be an ever-changing landscape in years to come. They have a range of fabulous snooker events to help build the Sportsbet.io brand. The Players Series events are only for the best players on the one-year rankings so it rewards the players in form with places in these prestigious tournaments. Fans will pack the arenas in both Telford and Manchester and we look forward to working with the Yolo team over these events.”
Emily Frazer, CEO of Matchroom Multi Sport, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Sportsbet.io as the title sponsor for the Champion of Champions, alongside the Players and Tour Championship. The Champion of Champions is a standout event on the snooker calendar, renowned for its elite line-up and global reach. Partnering with Sportsbet.io, a brand synonymous with innovation and excellence, ensures these tournaments will continue to thrive as world-class spectacles. We’re excited to work together in showcasing the very best of snooker to fans across the globe.”
Shane Anderson – Director of Partnerships, Content, Brand of Yolo Entertainment, said: “At Yolo Group, we’re passionate about pushing boundaries and creating unforgettable experiences, which is why partnering with three of snooker’s most prestigious tournaments is such an exciting opportunity for us. The Players Championship, Tour Championship, and Champion of Champions embody excellence, just as Sportsbet.io strives to innovate and elevate the worlds of sportsbook and blockchain. We’re thrilled to bring this partnership to life and connect with snooker fans around the globe.”
Founded in 2016 as part of Yolo Group, Sportsbet.io is the leading crypto sportsbook. Sportsbet.iohas redefined the online betting space by combining cutting-edge technology, with cryptocurrency expertise and a passion for offering its players with the ultimate fun, fast and fair gaming experience.
Official Regional Partner of LALIGA, Official Betting Partner of English football team, Hull City and a Club Partner of Premier League team Newcastle United, Sportsbet.io provides an expansive range of betting action across all major sports and eSports, offering players more than 1M pre-match events per year and comprehensive in-play content.
As the first crypto sportsbook to introduce a cash out function, Sportsbet.io is recognised as a leader in both online sports betting and within the crypto community.
In December 2023, a lucky Sportsbet.io won the biggest ever online slots jackpot while playing on the site, turning a $50 spin into a prize of more than $42 million.
Sportsbet.io prides itself on its secure and trustworthy betting service, with withdrawal times of less than 90 seconds, among the fastest in the industry.
Matchroom is a world-leading sports promotion company specialising in creating and delivering unforgettable live events across a range of sports, including snooker, pool, darts, and boxing. With over four decades of experience, Matchroom produces events watched by millions of fans worldwide, combining top-tier competition with unrivalled entertainment value. Through global partnerships, innovative broadcasting, and digital engagement, Matchroom is committed to driving the growth and visibility of its sports on the international stage.
I have also, many times, made my feeling known about snooker being in bed with the betting industry. Those feelings haven’t changed2. These ones are looking forward to “connect with snooker fans around the globe“. Yeah… all three events are held in the UK, and shown on ITV, only available in the UK. Other broadcasters may relay it but there is no certainly, and it will almost certainly come at a price. I used to be only able to watch it on Matchroom.live . That wasn’t free and, anyway, it’s gone.
I have been loudly criticised, while sitting in a bus, for speaking French with my husband … just imagine that here on Santorini island we would ask British tourists to speak Greek at all times when in a public space, even for a private conversation within the family. They would feel outraged surely? ↩︎
During the some 35 years I had a job in IT, I lost three colleagues to suicide. One was incurably ill and in huge pain, the other two, men, took their own life over betting debts. Both left behind a partner and young children who then had to cope with the betting debts on top of dealing with their sorrows. The betting industry should be VERY strongly regulated and they should not be allowed ANY form of advertising. ↩︎
Shaun Murphy won his first Triple Crown title for a decade with a tremendous 10-7 victory over Kyren Wilson in the final of the Johnstone’s Paint Masters at Alexandra Palace.
Wilson threatened a fight-back when he came from 8-4 down to 8-7, but Murphy retained his composure and took the last two frames with a brace of excellent breaks. Across the match he made four centuries and four more runs over 50.
Age 42, Murphy admits he feared his time of winning the sport’s biggest titles had passed, but he has regained that self-belief and played his best snooker this week in London. Having won the World Championship in 2005, UK Championship in 2008 and Masters in 2015, he now has four Triple Crown victories to his name.
His reward includes the £350,000 top prize, the biggest pay-day of his 27-year career, but far more important to Murphy is the glory of lifting the Paul Hunter Trophy on the 50th birthday of this historic event. He becomes only the 12th player to win the Masters on multiple occasions.
The Englishman was outstanding throughout the tournament, conceding just eight frames in three matches to reach the final, and making a total of seven centuries including his marvellous 147 during the semi-finals. For a player who relies so much on confidence, it was a week when his game clicked and he made potting balls look as easy as shelling peas.
World number seven Murphy will hope to continue that momentum into the rest of the season, as he remains in danger of dropping out of the top 16 and having to qualify for the Crucible. But one thing is for sure – he’ll be back at Alexandra Palace next year as number one seed.
Wilson had hoped to win the Masters for the first time but has now lost two finals as he was also runner-up to Mark Allen in 2018. Having conquered the Crucible last May he is enjoying a fine season as World Champion, winning the Xi’an Grand Prix and BetVictor Northern Ireland Open, but the 33-year-old from Kettering will be devastated not to bring his best today on a huge occasion.
Trailing 6-2 after the first session, Wilson took the opening frame tonight with breaks of 48 and 44 to narrow the gap. Murphy responded with a 125, his third century of the match, before Wilson’s 95 made it 7-4. The key moment of the crucial 12th frame came when Wilson, among the balls leading 14-9, missed a tricky black to a centre pocket, gifting Murphy the opportunity to make 66 to lead 8-4 at the interval.
Murphy scored just one point in the next three frames as Wilson battled back, scoring top breaks of 78 and 65 as he closed to 8-7. Early in frame 16, Wilson went full-blooded for a tough long red and missed the target, scattering reds and leaving Murphy the table to make 55 which proved enough to leave him two up with three to play. And he sealed the result in style with a break of 100 to wrap up a ninth win over Wilson in 12 meetings and win his first title since the 2023 Championship League.
“It’s totally unbelievable, I’m in shock,” said Murphy. “I genuinely thought that my days of competing for these Triple Crown events had gone. There were too many bad losses, you start seeing demons in the pockets. The loss in the world final in 2015 really hurt me, and the one in 2021 also took it out of me.
“I’ve been working with Peter Ebdon and that’s what has saved me because I was in a spiral of negativity. The first thing he wanted to do was restore my belief that I can actually do this. Three events in and we are winners. I came here having worked very hard on my game, in a really good frame of mind. To make the 147 yesterday completed a lifetime ambition. And now to be here with the trophy, it’s one of the best days of my life.
“Peter and I have worked on the mental side. Everyone knows how tough he was. I felt I had gone a bit soft and he agreed. That’s what we have worked on, to be more steely, more granite, to give them nothing and to play my attacking game when I get the chance.
“This reignites my hopes of winning the World Championship again. I have proved to myself I can still win these big ones, so I’ll go to the Crucible knowing I can do it.
“From 8-4 tonight I expected Kyren to come for me because it’s not in a World Champion’s DNA to give up. I wouldn’t have liked to go 8-8 because it was getting twitchy.”
Wilson said: “I gave Shaun too much of a head start. Perhaps there was a bit of fatigue after a late finish last night. Shaun used his experience. I’m proud that I managed to dig in deep. I still fancied it at 6-2 and 8-4. If the long red had gone in at 8-7 the balls were mine to clear up. I’m not a player who is going to play dolly shots, I went all-out and got aggressive. My game is in fantastic shape, being World Champion has inspired me and I’d like to think there are many more trophies to come. I’ll be in Berlin next trying to win that one.“
It’s a shame for Kyren that he had a “bad session” in the final. Every player has them once in a while, they are human, but when it happens in a major final it’s really unfortunate, for the player and for the fans who probably prefer to watch a close battle, not to mention his kids who were around wearing little waistcoats similar to the one their father had been wearing in his previous matches. But Kyren showed what a fighter he is and he should be proud of himself, and of the way he represents his sport as a World Champion
Clearly, working with Peter Ebdon has helped Shaun. I believe that no matter how hard Ebdon could try, he would never be able to get Shaun “grinding” for hours. Hopefully he sticks to snooker and refrains from planting silly ideas in Shaun’s mind …
Ding Junhui came from 5-4 down to beat Mark Williams 6-5 in the opening round of the Johnstone’s Paint Masters, boosting his hopes of doubling his tally of titles in snooker’s biggest invitation event.
The result means that, for the first time since 2011, none of the ‘Class of 92’ of Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins and Williams are in the line up for the quarter-final stages. In that year, Ding went all the way to the title, and the Chinese ace will hope that’s a good omen. The 37-year-old certainly had his fair share of good fortune today, enjoying a string of lucky moments in the closing stages of an exciting contest.
It’s the second match already this year to go to a deciding frame, and Ding finished in style by taking it in one visit. He already has a huge title under his belt this season having won the International Championship in November and can now look forward to a meeting with Judd Trump or Barry Hawkins at Alexandra Palace on Friday.
After sharing the first two frames, Williams led 41-7 in the third when he mid-cued, attempting blue to centre, and Ding punished him with 69 to go ahead. Williams responded with breaks of 57 and 70 to go 3-2 up, then Ding made 64 and 60 to edge ahead at 4-3.
A tremendous 136 total clearance, the new front-runner for the £15,000 high break prize, gave Williams frame eight. Ding looked set to go 5-4 up until he missed a straight-forward black at 66-0 in the ninth, and Williams eventually cleared from the last red to black to pinch it by a single point.
In the last two frames, Ding missed three attempts at difficult reds, but each time was lucky not to leave his opponent a clear chance. Williams twice attempted awkward reds to a centre pocket, but couldn’t find the target and Ding capitalised with breaks of 76 and 90 to reach the second round for the eighth time in all and first since 2019.
Williams turns 50 in just two months and victory today would have made him the oldest winner of a match at the Masters since a 56-year-old Eddie Charlton in 1986. The Welshman said: “Ding had a hell of a run of the ball, especially in the last two frames when he could have left me in. I lost count of the number of times he held his hand up to say ‘sorry’, it must have been ten or 11 times. Those are the fine margins. I have had plenty of run in my time, that’s the game. He still had to make two really good breaks.
“I tried my best. It’s a great venue and the reception when I came in was unbelievable. I loved it, it’s the best venue we play in and I hope I get back next year.“
Ding said: “At 5-4 down, I missed a long red and the balls went everywhere, and I thought maybe today is done. Then I saw a bit of luck, Mark didn’t have an easy one. He had to take a difficult one under pressure, and when he missed I saw my chance was there. It was the same in the last frame. My concentration and confidence was good after the interval, I didn’t think too much about winning or losing.
“I still want to be the best I have ever been. I’ve been watching videos of myself when I was young and I am trying to get that feeling back. I used to just pot the balls without thinking too much, just playing the shots very clearly. I still struggle sometimes but I am feeling better than before.“
Mark Selby hasn’t reached the semi-finals at Alexandra Palace since 2014 but on today’s evidence he is among the favourites for the Johnstone’s Paint Masters title as he romped to a 6-1 victory over Ali Carter in the opening round.
Selby looked close to his best last week at the BetVictor Championship League, notably making six centuries in a single day. And he carried that momentum into tonight as he outplayed Carter, rattling in two tons and three more breaks over 50. The Leicester cueman’s reward is a quarter-final meeting with Mark Allen or Si Jiahui on Thursday.
World number five Selby had a tremendous record at the Masters between 2008 and 2014, winning it three times and reaching two further finals. Since then it has been slim pickings in London as he has failed to go beyond the quarter-finals. Selby, winner of the British Open in September, will be quietly confident of a deep run this time as he seeks to become the only player other than Ronnie O’Sullivan and Stephen Hendry to lift the trophy for a fourth occasion.
He took the opening frame tonight with a break of 62, and added the 41-minute second by getting the better of a safety exchange on the final brown. Stepping up a gear, Selby fired breaks of 108 and 93 to lead 4-0 at the interval.
In frame five, Carter led by 62 points with four reds left when he failed to double a red to centre, and his tenacious opponent battled back and gained the snooker he required, then could have forced a respotted black but failed to pot the blue along the top cushion, allowing a relieved Carter to pull one back. But Selby regained the initiative with a 126 for 5-1, and he made an excellent 53 clearance in frame seven to settle the result.
“I felt a bit edgy at the start but winning the second frame was huge, if Ali had gone 1-1 it could have been very different,” said Selby. “I kicked on after that and felt comfortable. It’s always great playing in front of a full house here and it gives you motivation.
“My only concern was not getting in my own way and freezing, which I do sometimes. That’s something I am trying to work on. I enjoyed it and felt I was zoned in and focused. I have been there and done it in this event which will stand me in good stead if I get to the business end.“
Carter said simply: “Mark was very good and I was absolute rubbish. He strangles you and zaps you of confidence. I just wanted to get out of there in the end.“
Neither Willo nor Ding played really well. Maybe they were still a bit tired from their Tibetan adventure. The match was very eventful with all sorts happening at the table. It was certainly entertaining albeit not of the highest quality despite some big breaks from both.
In the evening, it was the complete opposite. Mark Selby delivered a master class. If he can keep that level, he will probably win the tournament. Ali had no answers and, although he continued to apply himself, it was plainly evident that he was frustrated and, after the MSI, had given up hope and didn’t want to be there.
Ronnie was in the studio in the evening and gave an update about his own state of mind. He’s OK. He explained that by Sunday he was feeling OK to play, but had not wanted to delay making his decision in order to give whoever would replace him enough time to prepare. That was the right thing to do indeed. All things considered, he looked settled and thinking clearly. It’ reassuring.
Ronnie O’Sullivan ‘lost the plot’ as he explains Masters withdrawal and gives update on future
Ronnie O’Sullivan withdrew from the Masters on the eve of the tournament with snooker fans and his fellow pros concerned about the seven-time world champion
Image PA
Ronnie O’Sullivan has explained his decision to withdraw from the Masters – and insists he WILL be back on the baize.
Snooker icon O’Sullivan was due to defend his title at Alexandra Palace with his first-round match against John Higgins slated to get the tournament underway on Sunday. But he unexpectedly pulled out after snapping his cue following a defeat by Robert Milkins in the Championship League on Thursday.
O’Sullivan has had well-documented mental health issues in the past, and there were concerns for his wellbeing from fans and fellow pros alike. But the seven-time world champion insists he is OK and will return to the sport.
“I’m alright, not too bad,” he said while working for Eurosport on Monday evening. “It was a nightmare decision really to make, if you’d have asked me Sunday if I was ready to play I’d probably have been ok to play. But it’s such a massive tournament.
“I’d been on a three-week trip away playing and I just think I exhausted myself, a lot of pressure while I was away. The build-up of all that just got a bit too much really.
“I lost the plot on Thursday, snapped my cue, so that’s unplayable, so I knew at that moment in time the right decision was to not play and such a big tournament that I thought whoever was to come in should have had at least a couple of days notice.”
Neil Robertson was the man to take O’Sullivan’s place, and he staged a miraculous comeback from 5-1 down to pip Higgins 6-5 and advance to the quarter-finals.
I just knew at that moment in time, the right decision was to not play” .
On his cue, the Rocket added: “It was in the bin, one of them wheelie bins, but my mate said we can’t leave that here, so he got it out and brought it with us.”I’ve got a couple of other cues that I can start practicing with because there’s some tournaments coming up. I’m going to continue to play so I need to get used to the cue now.”
In words O’Sullivan fans will be relieved to hear, the 49-year-old even talked of a return to Ally Pally next year and still harbours aspirations of lifting a ninth Masters title.
“This is an unbelievable tournament, top 16, best players in the world, amazing crowd, I’ve won this tournament many times, been in 14 finals,” he said. “I’d love to come here and play again and hopefully be lucky enough to win the trophy again, that would be great.
After the evening match, in the studio, Mark and Ronnie had a very interesting and honest discussion about mental health
In the news there is also suggestion that Ronnie “faces” a lawsuit … This is misleading as I explained in this previous post.
When snooker’s greatest ever player eventually decides to put his cue away for good, his legacy will not just be his record number of titles and his unique relationship with fans worldwide, but also his willingness to pass on his knowledge and experience to younger players.
In recent years, Ronnie O’Sullivan has been generous with his time and willingness to offer advice to players who have asked him to help fulfill their talent.
Judd Trump benefited from O’Sullivan’s influence when they worked together in Romford during the early years of the younger man’s career. During their emotional embrace at the end of the 2022 World Championship final, Trump told the newly-crowned seven-time Crucible king: “Thank you for letting me practise with you. You took your time out for me and I really appreciate that. You’ve always taken care of me. The dedication, everything that you’ve put in, you deserve everything.”
In October this year, O’Sullivan was in Riyadh to open the new Ronnie O’Sullivan Snooker Academy, where he will play a role in nurturing the best young talent from Saudi Arabia. Ahead of that launch, we asked the 49-year-old about his coaching philosophy and his lifelong emphasis on hard work.
Ronnie, how exciting is it to be involved with the new academy in Riyadh?
It’s great to be part of it and to see what the development is like, and to help nurture the talent. Nigel Bond will be the head coach and he is perfect for that job. It won’t be easy for the local players to get to the standard of tour players, but if someone has the talent and the willingness then it can be done. Academies are so important in any sport, you can see that in Kenya for running, the USA for golf and tennis or football in France where the likes of Thierry Henry and Kylian Mbappe came through. It’s about being in the right environment with access to the best coaching as well as advice and nutrition.
How important is it for young snooker players to be coached from an early age?
Some players are blessed, like John Higgins. From the minute they pick up the cue, they are natural. Others need guidance. I don’t believe in over-coaching, because instinct is important. You have to allow a player to grow his own game and let his personality come through. But you do need someone to keep you on the right track.
How much coaching did you have when you started playing?
I didn’t have a coach but I watched a lot of Steve Davis videos and you can learn a lot from that. Not everyone can be a Jimmy White or Stephen Hendry, but anyone can be like Davis, John Higgins or me. If you can learn good fundamentals and get them right, you can become very consistent because it’s a repetitive sport. You can’t follow anyone better than Davis, no one comes anyone near him for doing all the right things. He didn’t coach me personally, but I watched everything he did. His tempo, the way he hit the ball, the way he played safe, his ability to keep still on every shot…he was incredible.
During your career you have often worked with coaches, notably Frank Adamson and Ray Reardon. Have you always wanted to learn more?
Everyone in every sport has to learn. People say I’m gifted, but I wasn’t the most gifted junior or amateur. I always had to work hard at my game. I was never a good safety player or potter, or not as good as some of the others who were playing at the time. I was always good at scoring, that was my thing. But I had to learn the other stuff. I didn’t have a good temperament, I still don’t deal with bad spells that well.
When you said you don’t believe in over coaching, do you mean that you have to give a player space to make the most of natural flair?
Yes. As a junior I saw very natural payers going to certain coaches and then become stiff and methodical, losing the ability to play at a high pace. Steady, slow and methodical doesn’t often get you anywhere. It might win you a few matches, but if you want to be a real winner you have to play at speed, in any sport. You have to be clinical, but speed is a big weapon. You can’t over-think this game. To play as quickly as you can without being careless is the goal.
In the latter part of your career, you’ve been generous with younger players and willing to give advice. Do you enjoy helping them?
If someone asks you for help it’s hard to say no. Victoria, who runs one of the academies in Sheffield, is passionate about her players and wanted them to do well. She asked me, and I always want to help if I can. I don’t see at as giving secrets away because there is no secret really, it’s just hard work and determination. It’s nice to try to pass on knowledge in any sport. In athletics, the Kenyan runners don’t keep it to themselves, they see sharing as a good thing.
Judd Trump is one such player you helped. When you first saw him play, did you see something of yourself in him?
He has amazing talent, he didn’t need to learn from me. But being in that environment when we practised at the same club in Romford helped him because he saw how hard I worked. A lot of people think it’s just talent, but if you ask players who have spent time with me, they are surprised at how dedicated I am and how seriously I take practice. When I was young I saw Stephen Hendry practise and realised he was the hardest worker on the tour. It’s true in any sport. That’s why they are the best, because they are willing to put the work in.
How much satisfaction does it give you when you see an improvement in a player you have given guidance to?
There was a player who is super talented and he’d had some success. He asked if I could help him. I had watched a few of his games and had the feeling that something wasn’t quite right but I couldn’t put my finger on it. We got on the practice table and I showed him a few things and he said he understood it. It was nice to see him develop as a player, that was a good feeling.
In your book Unbreakable you describe your obsession with practice and the technical side of the game. Have you always had that fascination?
I never used to as a kid, that was my biggest downfall, it held me back and made my career tougher than it needed to be. I got into bad habits when I was 16 or 17 and it got worse and worse That’s why I had to go and see Frank Adamson. I knew I wasn’t going to win the World Championship, I was good one day, terrible next, when in this game you need consistency. Frank had to deconstruct my game, take it apart. Within the first year I managed to win the world title – not by playing better, but just by being a bit more consistent.
So much for those who say Ronnie doesn’t care about his sport and its future. He’s not Mr Perfect. He has his ups and downs, violent mood swings that, at times, are difficult to cope with. But over the last 32 years and a half, he has given plenty to the sport, countless magical moments and even more talking points. He’s kept snooker in the news. It was not always for the good reasons but nothing is worse for a sport than to be “invisible”. And he has been giving to his sport away from the spotlights as well. He’s been helping other players, talented youth he certainly knew could become dangerous rivals. Judd Trump is the prime example.
Yes, he has set limits. Yes, he has done it his own way … but if you are in his position and you try to please everyone you will soon find it impossible and overwhelming. So many people want a piece of him at events, and even away from events … sponsors, media, aspiring players, fans … you name it.
It’s nice to see WST giving recognition to that side of him.
Ronnie O’Sullivan reveals new goal after rediscovering snooker enjoyment
Phil Haigh
Ronnie O’Sullivan hopes to keep playing for another 10 years as he says he is enjoying snooker more now than he ever has as a professional.
It has not been a great season so far in terms of results for the Rocket, without a final appearance yet and he has just suffered back-to-back first round exits at the Champion of Champions and UK Championship.
The 49-year-old is still number three in the world rankings after winning two big ranking events last season, so it is not disastrous and he says he has rediscovered some enjoyment in his game over the last few weeks.
Despite winning five tournaments in total last season, O’Sullivan cut a frustrated figure, dissatisfied with how he was playing.
Since working with coach Lee Walker he now feels like he is returning towards his best form and, although the results have not come yet, he is confident they will.
‘The last time I enjoyed playing snooker like I have done the last couple of months was when I was 14,’ said O’Sullivan. ‘I’m actually loving playing.
‘It’s quite weird, I played awful last year and pretty terrible at the start of the year, but I’ve won five tournaments last year, but just not enjoyed playing. Then I took a couple of months off, figured out a couple of things about the game and really enjoying it, loving the game.
‘The last three tournaments I’ve played pretty well, maybe just a little bit too open. I’ve realised that and I’ve worked the last few weeks on trying to tighten up a little bit, trying not to leave so many easy chances.’
Asked how he rated his game in recent times, the seven-time world champion reckoned he had really hit a low.
‘The start of this season and the whole of last season I would say it’s probably about 4 [out of 10]. Really bad. 3? Probably as bad as its ever been.
‘But I played what I felt wasn’t great and won five tournaments. Then I start to play great and can’t win a match. Maybe I’m better off playing terrible if I want to get results.
‘To be honest I always play the long game. My game’s in good shape. As long as I apply myself, little bit of run of the ball, a couple of opponents don’t play so well against you, get on a run, win the tournament, then before you know it you’re back in a good spot.
‘I never panic, I never worry. I’m not really bothered either. If I was bothered I might be worried. I’m not bothered, I know I’m on the back end of my career so it’s less important now. I’m just enjoying it.’
O’Sullivan has flirted with retirement for years, but he says it is now a long way from his mind and intends to keep playing for another decade.
O’Sullivan expects to get on a run again soon (Picture: Getty Images)
Still the sport’s biggest attraction and with business interests and opportunities in Asia and the Middle East, O’Sullivan doesn’t want to see his star power wane.
‘I’ve set a new goal. If I can just stay on the tour – even if I fell off the tour they’d probably give me a wildcard – but I’m enjoying everything about snooker.
‘I just said to Lee Walker, who I’ve been working with, just keep me going for 10 years, keep me enjoying it for 10 years. If I can enjoy it and not get many results I’ll take that, because I’ve had a lot of good results over my career.
‘I don’t have anything to prove, but I definitely don’t want to miss out on the next 10 years because things are quite exciting for me off the table more than it is on the table.
‘It’s a good combination I’ve got at the moment. I still like getting my cue out, people still like to see me play and I still like to think I can put in some good performances, but who knows? Maybe I won’t.’
I suppose that’s the article Mark saw a few days ago. It’s a nice change from the depressed doom and gloom that so often engulfed him. Long may it last. It’s not what us, fans want to see, but we have to be realistic. He’s in his 50th year, he’s given us a lot to enjoy for over 30 years. He deserves “me time”, we shouldn’t be greedy 💖.
Ronnie O’Sullivan ‘can’t be bothered’ playing UK snooker events
By Tom Parsons
Ronnie O’Sullivan has spoken out on his lack of desire to play at some snooker events.
Ronnie O’Sullivan has admitted he ‘can’t be bothered’ to attend some UK snooker events (Image: GETTY)
Ronnie O’Sullivan has admitted he “can’t be bothered” to travel long distances to play at some UK snooker events and has conceded that he would prefer to stay at home instead.
The 49-year-old pulled out of the Scottish Open in Edinburgh earlier this month before travelling to Saudi Arabia to compete in the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship.
The Rocket thrashed Ding Junhui 4-0 in his opening match in the Middle East as he took just 49 minutes to complete the rout.
But he missed out on the opportunity to land the £250,000 winning prize pot after being dispatched by eventual champion Mark Allen in the semi-finals.
O’Sullivan has been critical of a number of the UK venues he has had to visit in the past, with some snooker tournaments taking place at leisure centres across the country.
And the seven-time world champion said: “I’m not being harsh, it’s really difficult when you go to a leisure centre.
“You’ve got 50 to 100 people all standing outside. You’ve got to get through that, play a best of seven frames. Then you’re not sure when you’re going to be on. They say you could be on at 8.30pm but you get on at 11pm.
Ronnie O’Sullivan was dumped out of the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship by Mark Allen in the week (Image: GETTY)
“It’s a nine-hour journey from my house [in Essex] to Edinburgh. You weigh it all up and think you can’t be bothered. Ten to 15 years ago I’d probably have been fine, but I can’t play every tournament or every week.”
O’Sullivan then admitted he will limit his appearances at tournaments as he added: “I’ll try and play a minimum of 10 and I’ll pick the best 10 to play in.
“After that, if I feel like I need to play in a few more I will. I still want to play snooker but I want to spend time at home as well.
“I enjoy practising at home, going down the club, spending time with friends. I love being on the road as well. But it’s about getting that practice.
“In Saudi Arabia, the events we’ve had there, it’s been brilliant. Food, dressing rooms, shower rooms, loads of practice tables, courtesy cards, it was amazing. Same in China. With these tournaments they have 8 to 10 practice tables.
“Some of the events in the UK, there are 3 to 4 practice tables in a leisure centre, it’s not the easiest. They have bigger budgets in China and Saudi Arabia. Maybe in the UK not so much. They do the best they can with what they’ve got. It is what it is.”
I think it’s a normal evolution in life. As we are getting older, we want, and need, more comfort, more “me time”. Ronnie, more than any other player faces huge demands from the fans wherever he goes. I have witnessed him getting out of the Crucible, very downbeat and disappointed after losing and being met by dozens of fans wanting him to stop for a chat or an autograph. That’s not right. Those players have feelings, usually right after a defeat they only want one thing: they want left alone. For young players all this is new and exciting. For many older players, snooker is a mainly job and if they are not able to do it in a good environment – good conditions and respect of their privacy – it often becomes a burden.
The snooker community is in mourning as, today, Clive Everton has left the scene …
Here is the obituary written by David Hendon, and shared by WST
COMMENTARY LEGEND CLIVE EVERTON PASSES AWAY
Clive Everton, one of snooker’s greatest ever commentators and voice of the sport, has died at the age of 87.
Everton devoted his life to snooker and covered some of the sport’s most historic moments as a broadcaster and journalist.
Commentator David Hendon was a protege of Everton and a close friend. Here is his obituary for a snooker legend.
Clive Everton deserves to be remembered as one of the most significant figures in snooker history.
He reached a highest world ranking of 47th but it was off the table where he made a vast and varied contribution, primarily as a broadcaster and journalist but also as the trusted conscience of the sport.
As editor of Snooker Scene for 51 years he provided an invaluable chronicle of snooker’s rise from folk sport to a mainstream television attraction, charting the careers of players from boyhood to stardom. He forensically examined the governance of the professional game and campaigned for change and transparency.
Clive was also passionate about billiards, the game in which he particularly excelled, and he worked tirelessly to promote it and help it survive.
In his book, Black Farce and Cue Ball Wizards, Clive explained how this love affair began: “My emotional commitment to the game dated back to boyhood and one rainy London afternoon when my father and I settled into the plush fauteuils of Leicester Square Hall, which was then the 220-seat home of the professional game. From the first click of the balls, I was entranced.”
Clive won the 1952 British under 16 billiards title but the reputation of cue sports was such that his achievement received little recognition.
He wrote: “Far from making me any kind of hero at school – King’s, Worcester – this success made me more of an outsider and nurtured, in turn, my anti-establishment instincts. My headmaster, F. R. Kittermaster, an Old Rugbeian from the Thomas Arnold tradition, wrote in Sport and Society that only sports with an element of physical danger like rugby, cricket or hockey, were ‘character building.’ He was fond of insisting: ‘You came here to be made into gentlemen.’ Proficiency at billiards, the classic sign of a misspent youth, did not fit into his definition.”
This did not deter Clive, whose attitude to authority was always one of scepticism. He went on to win the British under 19 billiards championship and at age 22 the first of four Welsh amateur billiards titles. He reached the final of the English amateur championship on five occasions.
He was also talented at tennis, competing for the Worcestershire county team and entering qualifying for Wimbledon.
A BA Hons English graduate of Cardiff University, he moved to the Midlands after marrying Valerie, whose father arranged a teaching job at a college of further education in Halesowen. Clive taught English and Liberal Studies but journalism was what he wanted to do.
He was helped by Rex Williams, with whom he would practise and who negotiated columns in the Wolverhampton Express and Star and its sporting ‘pink’ published on Saturdays.
Clive also picked up some freelance work as a tennis and hockey writer and after a year in post gave up his teaching job to pursue journalism: “What it amounted to was that I loved sport and wanted to spend my life in it.”
Enterprising and ambitious, Clive was determined to succeed but also to push the cause of snooker and billiards. In 1966, he was appointed editor of Billiards and Snooker, the magazine of the Billiard Association and Control Council. Still a young man and an independent thinker, his ideas did not always meet with approval from the powers that be and in January 1971 he began his own magazine. Originally titled World Snooker, the following year it became Snooker Scene.
The ethos behind the magazine was to provide a first draft of history by recording every available result. Detailed match reports informed readers as to the ebb and flow of contests, especially valuable in the age before television became heavily involved. Players would also advertise for exhibitions.
In addition, Clive did not stint from providing his analysis of the decisions being made by those charged with running the sport. His intention was that Snooker Scene would incorporate the best parts of Wisden and Private Eye.
Covering a range of sports, including football and rugby, he set up Everton’s News Agency, which supplied reports to newspapers and radio stations. Jim Rosenthal, who later became one of ITV’s best known broadcasters, was an early employee. Clive was a regular hockey reporter and even set up Hockey Scene, a monthly magazine modelled on its snooker equivalent.
Gradually, though, snooker’s popularity was such that Clive poured all of his energies into evangelising for it and billiards.
He took over the running of the British Junior Championship after it had lapsed and played a key role in the founding of the International Billiards and Snooker Federation.
Clive travelled to London in 1968 to interview the squash player, Jonah Barrington, and departed as his manager. Through this venture he got to know Peter West and Patrick Nally, who ran a consultancy specialising in the relatively new world of sports sponsorship. West Nally advised Gallaher, the parent group of Benson and Hedges, and Clive suggested a snooker tournament as a fit for their brand. The B&H Masters was launched in 1975 and has long been regarded as one of the sport’s major events.
Clive won the 1977 National Pairs title with Roger Bales and turned professional at snooker in 1981 but by this time was past his best. He had an exaggerated playing style, twisting himself into each shot following major back surgery. He beat a young John Parrott and former UK champion Patsy Fagan before retiring in 1991.
He fared better at billiards, winning the 1980 Canadian Open, of which he wrote: “In a field of variable quality, I beat Long John Baldrey’s pianist in the first round and Steve Davis in the final.”
Clive reached the quarter-finals of the World Billiards Championship three times and achieved a highest ranking of ninth. He kept a table at home where he would spend many happy hours playing the game he loved.
Clive’s mastery of the English language and encyclopaedic knowledge of snooker made him a natural choice for commentary when the sport established a foothold on television. He auditioned for the BBC in 1963 and was told he had done well but heard nothing more. In the mid-1970s he undertook a commentary test for executives from Thames TV, held at Stoke Poges golf club which housed a snooker table.
The executives enjoyed a boozy lunch – Clive abstained – and repaired to the snooker room to play a frame over which he was expected to commentate. The standard was predictably appalling but Clive passed the audition and was engaged by various ITV regional companies to commentate on events before his life changed on the opening day of the 1978 World Championship. Arriving at the Crucible, he was asked by Nick Hunter, the BBC executive producer, if he would be interested in doing some commentary. Confirming he would, Clive was told his first match would be starting in 20 minutes time.
It was an encounter between Willie Thorne and Eddie Charlton. With typical sardonic humour, Clive described it as a time when “Willie had yet to lose his hair and Eddie had yet to acquire more.”
He quickly became a mainstay of the BBC team, the third lead commentator behind Ted Lowe and Jack Karnehm. After Karnehm retired in 1994 and Lowe in 1996, Clive became widely known as the ‘Voice of Snooker’ and was behind the mic for many memorable moments.
His commentaries were notable for his crisp, spare, pinpoint use of language, with not a word wasted. He only spoke when necessary. When he did, it was worth hearing.
“Warning: genius at work,” was how he once summed up a Jimmy White century.
“Ray Reardon six times world champion in the 70s, Steve Davis six times in the 80s, but it’s a magnificent seven times for Stephen Hendry in the 90s,” he said as Hendry triumphed in 1999.
“Amazing, astonishing, astounding,” was his summation of Shaun Murphy’s shock capture of the 2005 world title.
Clive was aware of the need for journalistic distance in commentary, using surnames when describing the players to avoid any suggestion of bias. He was friendly with players but not one for socialising. You would not see him in the hotel bar at night.
When not in the commentary box he would be found in the media centre, writing daily reports for the Guardian newspaper and updating listeners on BBC Radio 5 Live. At the weekend he wrote first for the Sunday Times and later the Independent on Sunday.
Over the course of his career he wrote close to 30 books about snooker and billiards, whether technical, historical or biographical.
Snooker Scene remained his great passion and an outlet in which he scrutinised the administration of the game, often leading to serious disagreements with the authorities. Clive himself briefly served on the WPBSA board but understood the conflict of interest involved. Instead, he was often a thorn in the side of various chairmen, board members and executives.
As a campaigning journalist, he was at times obsessed with snooker politics as the change he desired time and again failed to materialise. He could suffer depressive episodes and found it almost impossible to switch off from work.
His battles with those in power led to various legal threats but he stood his ground and was eventually delighted by the arrival of Barry Hearn at the WST chairmanship in 2010, ushering in an era of change and growth.
Clive loved absurdist humour. He would not want his own obituary to be entirely serious.
Fortunately, there were lighter moments, most notably at the Grand Prix in Preston in 1998 when he toppled backwards off his chair while in the box. Attempting to halt the inevitable fall, he grabbed the tie of his co-commentator, Dennis Taylor, almost strangling the 1985 world champion.
A cultured man, he once wrote a novel based in the tennis world. Handwritten on several hundred sides of A4, he intended to take the first draft to the office for revisions but, on putting the stack of paper on the roof of his car while he unlocked the door, a gust of wind scattered the pages far and wide and the project was abandoned.
By his own admission, he was hopeless with technology. For many years, he did not own a computer, preferring to hand write his reports and dictate them down the phone to newspaper copytakers. When they were phased out, he was forced to buy a laptop and had to be given several lessons in how to send an email.
Clive made no secret of his disappointment at being phased out of the BBC commentary team but continued on Sky Sports in their coverage of the Premier League and headed the ITV team when they returned to the snooker fold in 2013. He remained there until the Covid pandemic of 2020, when his age meant his was unable to travel to events with their strict protocols.
He was by now in his 80s and diagnosed with Parkinson’s, a condition which took a physical toll and left him unable to write by hand. It forced him to relinquish the editorship of Snooker Scene in 2022 after 51 years at the helm, something he struggled to accept.
However, his interest in the sport did not diminish. He still contributed articles to the magazine and watched tournaments from home, as fascinated by snooker as he was as a youth.
Proudly anti-establishment, his achievements were nevertheless in time recognised by those in authority. He was inducted into the WST Hall of Fame in 2017 and in 2019 was awarded an MBE for his services to the sport. In 2022, The British Open trophy was named in his honour.
These were fitting accolades for someone who had contributed so much to snooker’s own success story. He was respected by colleagues in the media, players and snooker fans as an authoritative figure and huge source of anecdotes spanning the sport’s long history. He had known every world champion since the first, Joe Davis, and his work was a celebration of their collective efforts.
Clive Everton devoted his life to snooker and billiards and was perhaps the greatest friend these sports have ever had.
We have lost something special with his passing but have gained so much more from his many decades of loyal service.
Thank you David for this great piece.
This news saddens me deeply. I had the privilege to meet Clive on many occasions during the six years I was taking pictures on the main tour. He was a giant of a man, physically, spiritually and journalistically.
Farewell Clive … I hope they have a nice billiard table and a working typewriter up there … snooker will miss you, I will miss you. 💔
