The 2022 London Masters was played this week-end at the Alexandre Palace theatre.
The event was won by Ronnie who beat Stephen Hendry by 6-3 in the final.
On Saturday, Reanne Evans played Stephen Hendry in the afternoon, and Ronnie played Jimmy White in the evening. Stephen beat Reanne by 6-4, Ronnie beat Jimmy by 6-5. Ronnie was 3-1 down at the MSI and needed two snookers in the decider.
On Sunday, the afternoon started with some “Snooker Cabaret” before Jimmy beat Reanne by 4-1 in the “Small Final”. In the evening, the theatre was packed. Ronnie lead Stephen Hendry by 4-0 at the MSI. Stephen fought back to trail only 5-3, but it was in vain as Ronnie took the next frame to win by 6-3.
They had an illustious visitor in the person of Sir Ian McKellen, who played Gandalf. It was allegedly the first time that Sir Ian attended a snooker match live. Hopefully he was treated with some table wizzardy.
Here are some pictures taken over the week-end and shared on social media, mainly by Jason Francis.
The fitters who set the table also shared an interesting video about the process of building and tuning the table at the venue before the event.
Whilst the latest of the 2022 Welsn Open Qualifiers were played in Wolverhampton, Ronnie, Jimmy White, Reanne Evans and Stephen Hendry were in Liverpool to play a two days long Snooker Legends tournament.
The venue was St Georges Hall, an iconic snooker venue where Jo and Fred Davis played in 1952 …
Image credits – Thurston Snooker
This magnificent venue hasn’t changed much.
The event was played over four sessions, two days. Snooker Legends events are not actually professional tournaments: the offer the righ mix between “exhibition” entertainment and serious, high quality snooker.
On Saturday, Stephen Hendry faced Jimmy White in the afternoon over best of 11; Jimmy won by 6-1. In the evening Ronnie defeated Reanne Evans by the same score; he made a century, two breaks over 90 and three breaks over 80. In the last frame of the day, he missed on 88 whilst on a maximum. Not bad!
On Sunday, the afternoon started with a bit of “cabaret” and trick shots by John Virgo. A best of 7 match between Stephen Hendry and Reanne Evans followed. Stephen won it by 4-3. In the evening Ronnie faced Jimmy for the title. Jimmy made the better start and lead by 3-0, before Ronne stopped the rot by taking the last frame before the MSI. He then won the next three to lead by 4-3. Jimmy wasn’t going to roll over though and the match went to a deciding frame. Eventually Ronnie won it by 6-5.
Here are some images, shared by Jason and fans on social media.
The event wasn’t streamed as this isn’t allowed by the professional players contract.
But this video, recorded by a fan, emerged on social media
If anyone wonders about the scores… remember that this is an exhibition event. When Ronnie and Jimmy play in those events, their priority is to give the crowd a good time and they both go for spectacular shots, which are not always the “right” shots. Also, from my own experience, in a more relaxed environment, Jimmy can still play at a very high level much to the delight of his faithful fans.
Is the new tour Jason Francis is planning with Ronnie coming June and July. Some very special limited items will be available ONLY on those nights, commemorating the “1000 centuries” achievement.
Jason is looking for clubs able to host those “Nights”. Here is what he posted on social media. If you are a club owner and interested please contact Jason. If you are a fan and want to go to one of those events … DO NOT contact Jason. Places and dates have not yet been organised. When they are I will publish all the info on this blog.
If your club fancies staging one of our ‘A Night of 1000 Centuries’ Ronnie shows then please email me as I will have some dates in June and July. @ronnieo147 maximum audience of 200 so very intimate and allows Ronnie to meet EVERYONE email info@snookerlegends.co.uk
On 10 and 11 April we had the WSS ROKiT Seffield Masters 2019 at the Crucible theatre.
This event is part of the “Seniors Tour” and was won by Joe Johnson.
Everyone was happy for Joe after what happened last year. Indeed during the launch dinner last year, Joe collapsed and if it wasn’t for the prompt and competent care he received from the medics, he wouldn’t be with us today, let alone a tournament winner.
A very important announcement was made during the event: the WSS ROKiT World Championship 2019 will be held at the Crucible Theatre from August 15 to August 18, 2019 and the Crucible will become home of the WSS World Championship for the years to come.
Aside from the main competition, this event will also have sessions featuring Women Snooker players and Disability Snooker players. Not to be missed!
Yesterday, 12 April, Ronnie did an exhibition in Mansfield.
The day before he had come on twitter and Instagram, saying that he was practicing and “at it” again. Well apparently being “at it” meant this: heavy scoring. Indeed in nine frames, Ronnie had six centuries, the top one a 134, and two 90+ breaks. He must have had a lapse of concentration somewhere … 6+2=8 ?
Anyway, going by the reactions on social media, people had a good time. Here are some images that were shared on twitter:
And one of the matches is now on youtube:
Apparently Ronnie and Jason are working on new merchandise items celebrating the 1000 centuries.
The second item has all the dates on it… but they have a slight problem: counting the centuries, based on Ronnie’s list, the 134 he made to win in Preston was in fact century n°1001! Where is the rogue one? This illustrates an issue all statisticians of the sport have: in early days, nobody was keeping proper, well documented stats. Cuetracker.net for instance, credits Ronnie with less centuries than the official body does because Ron Florax, being extremely thorough, only accepts the centuries he can properly document, and information is hard to find for some older events, in particular team events like the Nations Cups for instance. Also some events, although sanctioned by Worldsnooker were not played on tables that were certified to comply with the governing body competitions standards, therefore those centuries made in them shouldn’t be counted. This was the case for the “Kilkenny Master” in 2007, an event that Ronnie won, and where he made a 147, but that doesn’t count in his official tally of maximum breaks.
Finally the World Championships 2019 qualifiers are underway at the English Institute of Sport.
Those are the results of the first three days:
Today will see the conclusion of the first round and I’ll come back on those results tomorrow…
According to what transpired on social media, it was another great night, with Ronnie having 6 centuries in 8 frames he played…
He also gave the fans plenty of time.
This is a short video that was shared on twitter:
This was Ronnie’s reaction – on twitter – to the night
Great night at Hartlepool last night, thanks for everyone who came out to watch, top crowd, I was on good form last night, and I don’t think it can get any better then that
And when asked if he had a 147, he answered this
No, but some super snooker was played, cue ball was inch perfect all night that’s what I love about this game
Ronnie was in Gateshead yesterday for the second night of a three stands tour.
This is what happened, as reported by Jason Francis on twitter:
8 frames made 4 tons on the bounce then 85 and finished with his 5 th ton a brilliant 147 maximum genius. Hartlepool tomorrow
Apparently, those tons were 137, 130, 130, 122 an.d 147
Those images were shared on social media.
and this was Ronnie’s reaction:
Amazing crowd tonight in Gateshead, it was a pleasure to have the opportunity to perform for you all, and such friendly people, big up to the northeast
This is a short video posted by a fan on twitter – probably the last balls of the 147
And another one
As well as this one – an entire frame here – captured in an original way
Also this video emerged from Ronnie’s performance yesterday in Halifax, thanks to krdlr who found it!
I know that Christmas is still very far away, but be sure to put this one in your agenda. Remember surplus proceed to World Disability Billiard and Snooker. You can have fun and help others in need, isn’t that great?
Just a little reminder of what happened the last times similar events were run in Lincoln!
Ronnie had a “sandwich” …
And there was a great Q&A session too
Images taken at the events last February can be found here and here.
This time it will be Jimmy White and Dennis. Come along!
I was on good form last night, and I don’t think it can get any better then that 
Ronnie O'Sullivan 