World Snooker Championship is full steam ahead and we’re confident every player will be there, says Jason Ferguson
Phil Haigh – Saturday 23 May 2020
Jason Ferguson is working tirelessly to get his players back on the baize (Picture: Getty Images)
The World Snooker Championship is going on full steam ahead and WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson is confident no player will be left out as he takes on a mission to get everyone back to Sheffield for the big one.
The biggest event in the sport is due to start at the Crucible on the rescheduled date of 31 July, but there has been an ongoing concern over players getting to the tournament, and doing so safely.
Amid the coronavirus crisis, players have returned to their home countries and getting them back into the UK to play snooker is no easy task with travel restricted and the 14-day quarantine coming into place in the UK in June.
Holding the sport’s crown jewel event without a string of top players being able to get there would be far from ideal, and Ferguson is sure that it can be avoided.
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association chief says there is tireless work going on behind the scenes, and has been since lockdown began, to at least give players the option to play, if they want to.
‘We have a number of Chinese players out in China and we’re talking to government about how this is going to work,’ Ferguson told Metro.co.uk.
‘If we do the World Championship end of July, which we believe is full steam ahead at this moment in time, then we’ve got to consider the travel of those international players. How quarantine will work, where they will go, how they’ll get there, so we’re preparing processes for that.
‘I have to say that I’m very confident that we’ll have the opportunity to get everybody back. We have to consider that some people will not want to travel at this moment in time, and that has to be the player’s choice. But I think we will get to a point where every player can get back to the UK for the World Championships.
‘The list of complications is endless: visas, travel, quarantine, but it does look achievable and we’ve got a great team of people working on that at the WPBSA.
‘The first day of lockdown we did a location plan of every single player. Where are they? Are they okay? Tracked every player. Every player got home or chose to stay in the UK and there’s about 40 players out of the country, a mix between Europe and Asia, mainly. But we do think they will be able to return. If we do lose some it will probably be through players’ choice.’
Ferguson is well-supported in his role by the players (Picture: Getty Images)
World Snooker Tour chairman Barry Hearn previously told Metro.co.uk that he may be forced into playing ranking events with a minimum of 75% of players in attendance, if the rest simply could not attend.
Ferguson does not want to see that situation happen, and is sure it won’t, but acknowledges that when a tournament is set in stone, it will go ahead with or without some people.
‘We certainly don’t want to go ahead without any player, which is why we’re doing this extensive work behind the scenes,’ the chairman continued.
‘But we’re full steam ahead, once you engage venues, broadcasters, contracts, it becomes a fact that the event is going to go ahead.
‘With a 14-day quarantine, players will have to be back earlier. We’ve contacted all those players and we do think the players can get back.
‘If that quarantine is a problem then we will try and work with the government to try and produce a safe plan for everybody. We don’t know how that would work, maybe one building that’s quarantined for our people. I don’t know.
‘We’re not sure how it’ll work. I think it’s 22 Chinese players in China. It might be the case that they all come back together on the same flight and have to be quarantined together.
‘If that’s a hotel and they have to have practice facilities then we’ll look at that as well. But then there’s getting tables in, table fitters, transport, the problems are endless.
‘The good thing is that we’re using independent advice and safety is paramount importance. We’ve got loads of energy for the sport and a lot of passion for it. We will investigate, find the pros and cons and get the answers. We’re working full on to get everybody back and we’ll give the players as much support as possible to do so.’
Ferguson and Hearn, as chairmen of the WPBSA and WST have had a huge impact on the game (Picture: Getty Images)
Snooker returns from the coronavirus hiatus on 1 June with the 64-man Championship League, behind closed doors, at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes and it will work as something of a test event for the World Championship.
There are extremely thorough health and safety practices laid out for the tournament, with all players being tested for COVID-19 and social distancing measures remaining in play.
The interest in the event has been widespread, with many big names getting involved, and Ferguson is hoping similar events can be put on for the players still abroad.
‘We will learn a lot over the next few weeks, we’re embarking on our first snooker event on 1 June, which will be a way of getting these processes 100% right and a lot of work is going into that,’ Jason said.
‘We appreciate we can’t get players back for this first ever but we are making the same offer overseas for groups of players to see if we can pull together some smaller events to keep them busy in the meantime. We’re considering everyone around the world, we care about everybody, we have to look at it globally.
‘The uptake in the Championship League has been extremely positive. Initially 77 players registered immediately. Outside of that, there are many more players that want to play.
‘We understand the problems of players overseas, 128 players on the tour and 40 of them are overseas, so that brings that number down and means the turnout is actually huge, a very high percentage for this event.
‘What has helped is the detail we’ve provided about the processes at the venue, it’s extreme caution and will be very carefully managed. I think that’s given the players confidence to go there.’
Away from the professional side of the game, the WPBSA has also been working hard to get snooker clubs across the country back on their feet as they have been closed throughout lockdown.
It is another huge slab of work going on behind the scenes which Ferguson feels is vital, not only for the continuation of the sport, but for the mental health of people who rely on going to play a few frames with their friends as a huge part of their social life.
‘We’ve been in contact with government to see how we can get players access to practice,’ he said. ‘Believe it or not most players’ have their practice tables in snooker clubs because they want to be in an environment around people, not locked in a room at home or in their garden. Less than 10 of our players, play at home, amazing.
‘That’s a process that’s been done. The second part of that is the soft opening of facilities so that people can use that as part of a safe get-out. There’s a lot of people stuck in their houses right now and it’s very concerning, the mental health side of things going on, and snooker is a major player in mental health support and a major player in getting an ageing population out and doing something together.
‘We’ve submitted the proposals and they have been looked at, we haven’t received anything back yet but we will be following up with government next week.
‘What I didn’t want was for snooker to fall under pub and club closures. People say “oh, it’s a bar isn’t it?” It’s not.
‘I didn’t want to see snooker left out when tennis courts, football pitches, basketball courts were reopening. What we have to do is create a safe environment: one-way systems, secure entry, people on the door managing numbers, every other table. It won’t be perfect, it might be difficult and it might be hard without the social side, but they are snooker clubs with a social element.’
I’m extremely happy to read how determined Jason is to make sure that no player who wants to play, is left out. Jason is a former player, he loved the game when playing it professionally and still loves it just as much now as the WPBSA chairman. That’s his main drive, not business nor money. He’s an extremely hard worker, and I’m certain that he puts every effort to get snooker back, but not at the cost of players’ health and safety, and not if the World Championship becomes a UK centric event. He has worked very hard over the last years to promote snooker all over the world; very promising young talents are emerging both in Asia and in mainland Europe. The international side is important to him.
Hello everyone, it has been a while…
Some wonder when will the season start again 🤷🏼♀️?
Good news, 1st of June we’re back on the table. a new format of the Champions league is out!
Luca is planned on 2nd of June and faces Jack Lisowski, Robbie Williams and Oliver Lines in his group.
The only issue: how to get there 😰 Worldsnooker is arranging an exception to enter the UK for snooker players only 🤞🏼
Here is a translation of the linked article (originally in Dutch)
With or without Luca Brecel? Snooker season resumes in early June
SNOOKER After a months-long interruption due to the corona pandemic, the snooker season will resume in early June. With or without Luca Brecel (25)? He does not know at this time whether he is allowed to enter England.
From Monday 1 to Thursday 11 June, the Championship League will take place in a new format and behind closed doors at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes. That location was chosen because there is the possibility to accommodate everyone. Players, staff and officials will not be allowed to leave the complex. All 128 professional players received an invitation on the bus, the 64 highest ranked players who accept the invitation are admitted. This is on condition that they take a negative coronavirus test. Top players such as world champion Judd Trump (WS-1), Neil Robertson (WS-2), Mark Allen (WS-5) and Kyren Wilson (WS-8) have already committed.
In the first phase, from June 1 to 8, sixteen groups of four will be played. The sixteen group winners will play in groups of four on June 9 and 10, of which the four group winners will compete in the final group on June 11. All games are about four frames. For each participant there is at least £ 1,000 (1,100 euros) in prize money, the tournament winner will raise £ 30,000 (33,500 euros).
Luca Brecel (WS-37) also received an invitation. He is itching to get back to it, but a number of practical problems arise. “We do not currently know whether we are allowed entering England,” said father Carlo Brecel. Are the borders open? Do we get there by car via Calais? Can we fly from the Netherlands? And what happens on arrival in the UK? Should we then be quarantined?”
More questions than answers at the moment for the Brecel family. “We are waiting for further instructions from World Snooker, hopefully there will be more clarity after the weekend.” Just last week, the British government put a plan on the table that would require everyone to be quarantined for two weeks upon arrival in the UK. In addition, no exceptions would be made for professional athletes. Snooker is said to be the first major sport in England to return to live television since the outbreak of the corona crisis. .
Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson and World Champion Judd Trump are among the leading snooker stars to have confirmed their entry to Championship League Snooker, which will mark the return of live snooker to TV screens when it begins on ITV on Monday, June 1st.
Mark Allen, Kyren Wilson and Stuart Bingham are among the other top-16 players who have entered and will compete at Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes.
Group Draw
Monday June 1st
Group 2
Judd Trump
Daniel Wells
Elliot Slessor
David Grace
Group 13
David Gilbert
Stuart Carrington
Jak Jones
Jackson Page
Tuesday June 2nd
Group 9
Jack Lisowski
Luca Brecel
Robbie Williams
Oliver Lines
Group 3
Michael Holt
Mark Davis
Mark Joyce
Louis Heathcote
Wednesday June 3rd
Group 12
Kyren Wilson
Ryan Day
Alfie Burden
Chen Feilong
Group 4
Joe Perry
Mark King
Sam Baird
Harvey Chandler
Thursday June 4th
Group 5
Mark Selby
Liang Wenbo
Joe O’Connor
Lee Walker
Group 14
Gary Wilson
Matthew Stevens
John Astley
Mitchell Mann
Friday June 5th
Group 10
Ronnie O’Sullivan
Chris Wakelin
Michael Georgiou
Kishan Hirani
Group 15
Tom Ford
Robert Milkins
Mike Dunn
Ian Burns
Saturday June 6th
Group 1
Stuart Bingham
Ricky Walden
Jordan Brown
Jamie Clarke
Group 8
Jimmy Robertson
Ben Woollaston
Liam Highfield
Alex Ursenbacher
Sunday June 7th
Group 16
Neil Robertson
Kurt Maflin
Ken Doherty
Ashley Carty
Group 7
Barry Hawkins
Anthony McGill
Craig Steadman
Hammad Miah
Monday June 8th
Group 11
Mark Allen
Martin O’Donnell
Michael White
Nigel Bond
Group 6
Ali Carter
Matt Selt
Sam Craigie
Dominic Dale
Group Winners’ Stage
Tuesday June 9th
Group C
Winner of Group 10
Winner of Group 6
Winner of Group 1
Winner of Group 4
Group D
Winner of Group 15
Winner of Group 11
Winner of Group 8
Winner of Group 5
Wednesday June 10th
Group B
Winner of Group 12
Winner of Group 2
Winner of Group 7
Winner of Group 13
Group A
Winner of Group 14
Winner of Group 3
Winner of Group 9
Winner of Group 16
Tournament finals
Thursday June 11th
Winner of Group C
Winner of Group D
Winner of Group B
Winner of Group A
The format of matches on each day will be announced next week.
Featuring 64-players in round-robin groups, the Championship League will take place behind closed doors with strict rules on social distancing, COVID testing and hygiene in place, in line with government guidelines. The Marshall Arena has been selected as the venue as it has on-site accommodation meaning no players, officials or staff will need to leave the venue once they have entered.
Play will begin at 3pm on Monday, June 1st with Judd Trump in Group Two action. O’Sullivan enters the fray in Group Ten on Friday, June 5th. All players who entered were seeded in order of their World Ranking after the Gibraltar Open, and split into four seeding pots of 16 players, with one player from each pot drawn at random into each group.
Championship League will be split into three phases, with all matches during all stages played as the best-of-four frames. Play will begin at 3pm each day, running continuously until both groups are complete, with the exception of Friday, June 5th when play will begin at 4pm.
GROUP MATCHES from June 1st to 8th will feature 16 groups of four players, with two groups played each day across two tables. The player who tops each group table will progress to Phase Two. Players will be awarded three points for a win and one point for a drawn match.
GROUP WINNERS from June 9th to 10thsees the 16 group winners split into four further groups of four, with two groups per day also played over two tables.
TOURNAMENT FINALS from June 11thwill see the four Phase Two winners battle it out over one final group, played on one table, to determine the Championship League winner.The total prize fund will stand at over £200,000. Players will earn a guaranteed £1,000 with the winner taking home £30,000 and a place in November’s Champion of Champions. Championship League will not be a ranking event and will be promoted by Matchroom Multi Sport.
Prize money
First group round
Winner: £4,000
2nd: £2,000
3rd: £1,500
4th: £1,000
Winners’ groups
Winner: £6,000
2nd: £2,500
3rd: £2,000
4th: £1,500
Tournament final group
Winner: £20,000
2nd: £8,000
3rd: £4,000
4th: £2,000
Total: £218,000
Unless I missed something, none of the Scottish players entered the event, which is weird. On the other hand, Alex Ursenbacher (Swiss), Luca Brecel (Belgium), Liang Wenbo and Chen Feilong (China) have entered. Hopefully, they will be able to make the trip and avoid quarantine (unless of course they are in the UK already).
Ronnie has entered and will play his first matches (and hopefully not last) on Friday, June 5th. Whatever happens, it’s a good sign that he wants to play.
Snooker’s Championship League will return with an exciting new format from June 1st to 11th live on ITV, bringing world-class sport back to living rooms nationwide.
Announcement from Matchroom Multi Sport
Featuring 64-players in round-robin groups, the new-look Championship League will take place behind closed doors at Marshall Arena, Milton Keynes with strict rules on social distancing, COVID testing and hygiene in place, in line with government guidelines. Marshall Arena has been selected as the venue as it has an on-site accommodation meaning no players, officials or staff will need to leave the venue once they have entered.
All 128 World Snooker Tour card holders will be invited to participate, with the top 64 who enter receiving a place in the tournament. Top players including Judd Trump, Neil Robertson, Mark Allen and Kyren Wilson have already confirmed they will enter the event.
Championship League will be split into three phases, with all matches during all stages played as the best-of-four frames. Play will begin at 3pm each day, running continuously until both groups are complete, with the exception of Friday, June 5th when play will begin at 4pm.
• GROUP MATCHES from June 1st to 8th will feature 16 groups of four players, with two groups played each day across two tables. The player who tops each group table will progress to Phase Two. Players will be awarded three points for a win and one point for a drawn match.
• GROUP WINNERS from June 9th to 10th sees the 16 group winners split into four further groups of four, with two groups per day also played over two tables.
• TOURNAMENT FINALS from June 11th will see the four Phase Two winners battle it out over one final group, played on one table, to determine the Championship League winner.
The total prize fund will stand at over £200,000. Players will earn a guaranteed £1,000 with the winner taking home £30,000 and a place in November’s Champion of Champions. Championship League will not be a ranking event and will be promoted by Matchroom Multi Sport.
All players, staff and contractors will be virus-tested prior to entering the venue and will be in isolation until their results are known. Players will require a negative test result in order to enter the venue. They will play all group matches on one day, remaining on site throughout, and will then leave the venue.
Other safety measures in place will include:
• Social distancing measures in place throughout the venue.
• Players seated at least two metres apart during matches.
• Players using anti-bacterial hand sanitiser before matches and avoiding handshakes.
• Referees endeavouring to keep two metres away from players where possible.
• There will be no access for players’ guests.
• First aid personnel on site at all times
Matchroom Sport Chairman Barry Hearn said: “During the challenging times of the past few weeks we have examined the opportunities which still exist and worked relentlessly towards the goal of getting our tour going again. While most other sports remain sidelined, we are ready to return from June 1st. This sends out a message to the sporting world that snooker is at the forefront of innovation.
“Our first priority has to be safety and we have had detailed discussions with government in creating a set of approved guidelines for the event which will be rigorously followed. We are making this very clear to the players and everyone working on the event.
“We will be the first major sport to get back to live televised action. That’s not by chance, it’s because of the hard work and preparation we have done during the lockdown to make sure we are ready to get going again as soon as it is legal.
“Liaising with government advisors, we have prepared highly detailed health and safety documents which will be followed to the letter during the tournament. These measures surpass any others made in any other professional sport right now.
“In particular, procedures are being put in place for testing players, staff and contractors, which ensure that we are doing everything possible to keep the event safe. Players who have any doubts about their own welfare can rest assured that all precautions are being taken.
“I am confident that there is no other major sport which can meet health and safety criteria on isolation and social distancing as stringently as snooker can, so we are able to return more quickly than others.
“One of the reasons we have selected the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes is that the accommodation is on site, which means that once players arrive for testing the night before they play, they don’t need to leave until their matches have finished, and they can remain isolated within the venue. It is a superb venue with ideal facilities.
“Following testing, the players will remain in an isolated environment until they are eliminated from the event. It is a group format so the group winners will leave the venue, then come back for their next group when the process begins again. Keeping players isolated at all possible times is an integral part of the procedures we are putting in place.
“These are challenging times but as always we are looking at the opportunities rather than the limitations.
“Championship League will provide 11 days of televised sport with extensive live coverage, from 3pm until 10pm each day. For the fans out there who are starved of live sport it will be a fantastic boost and a very welcome diversion from these tough times we are all going through.
“We are thrilled to be working with ITV on Championship League for the first time, with an exciting new format. The field of players and more details will be announced in the coming days.”
Controller of ITV Sport Production, Mark Demuth, said: “We know fans have been missing live action since the lockdown has been in place, so we’re delighted to bring snooker back, marking the return of live sport to free-to-air TV. Behind the scenes, our team has been working with the event organisers to ensure strict adherence to guidelines to safeguard the well-being of all involved, which is our priority.”
Further information on format and players entered will be announced in due course.
So there are a few changes as compared to the initial announcement, and it’s clear that a lot of efforts and thoughts have been devoted to ensuring the safety and health of all involved. It’s also a welcome move that all players are guaranteed a £1000 and that the prize money for the winner has been upped to £30000.
Having accommodations on-site is also the only way to make sure that external contamination risks are kept minimal: no transports needed, no contacts with the “outside” world.
It will be interesting to see who enters, and how it goes.
Earlier today, Jason Ferguson on Twitter, said that the target for starting the World Championship Qualifiers is the 18th of July. Replicating the above model with a much longer format and 128 players would represent a massive challenge. I can only suppose that all options will be explored, including moving the qualifiers in a different venue, if accommodations on site are still deemed necessary to protect the players’, referees’ and officials’ health and safety. The delicate issue of players possibly unable to travel, by no fault of themselves, and subsequently potentially being relegated, will need to be addressed. The easiest and, in my view, fairest solution, would be to relegate nobody and cancel the Q-school. That would allow starting the 2020/21 season earlier which is highly desirable. The Q-school would “cost” at least one month in the calendar, probably more, considering that the newcomers on the tour need some time to get ready, especially if they need to get a visa, a work permit, and maybe need to relocate to the UK as well.
Once again, it’s all well and nice, but unless the World Championship becomes a top 16 event, the qualifiers need to happen first, and it’s an even bigger challenge. The tournament scheduled to start on June 1, may give an indication of whether it’s actually possible to play the qualifiers, and how. However, a “best of 19” event with 128 players is certainly much more difficult to run safely than a “best of 5” event with 64 players. Also, I expect WPBSA to insist that a fair solution is found for those who will not be able to attend because of travel restrictions, and, maybe in some cases, health conditions that would put them at a higher risk than the average person. It would be totally unfair if players were relegated without a chance to defend their professional status by no fault of themselves.
Snooker’s imminent return is incredible, important and energising, believes Michael Holt
Phil Haigh – Tuesday 19 May 2020
Snooker will make its return in less than two weeks after the coronavirus hiatus, and despite the inevitable dissenting voices, Michael Holt believes it is an important step forward as the sporting world adapts to the global pandemic.
The Championship League will begin on 1 June at the Morningside Arena in Leicester, with 64 players competing behind closed doors for a £20,000 top prize. All of which will be broadcast on ITV.
Strict health and safety rules will be in place, with all players, officials and staff tested for coronavirus, the venue and all equipment sanatised and social distancing measures enforced, even during matches.
With the majority of other sport yet to bounce back from the coronavirus crisis, World Snooker Tour (WST) is attempting to help lead the way.
Chairman Barry Hearn has pushed hard to get the sport up and running again, less than two months after the 71-year-old suffered his second heart attack, and world number 25 Holt believes he should be backed in his fight for the players, fans and, of course, viewing figures.
‘Snooker, like everyone, for the foreseeable we’ve got to change the way we are,’ Holt told Metro.co.uk. ‘Until they get a vaccine or whatever happens on that front.
‘I will be playing in Leicester. It’s nice to have something to practice for and as much as I’m loving life, it’s nice to get out the house. I’ve negotiated with the club, they’ve let me in to practice.
‘It’ll be strange, it’ll be a bit weird, I suppose, with the new things in place, social distancing and whatnot, but we’ve got to accept that going forward things are going to be a bit different.
‘All credit to Barry and his team for getting the event on. It would be easy for him to sit back, use it as an excuse to do nothing and not forget about the snooker players but, you know…he’s had a heart attack!
`‘Him and his team have got the event on knowing that the players have to earn money and it’s incredible he’s even attempting it, really. If it does go ahead, all credit to him, incredible.
‘He’s a promoter and he knows it’ll be good for snooker. The fact we’re being proactive, trying to move forward, if you just stand still, where’s that going to get you? He’s accepted we’ve got to do things differently so let’s have a go.
‘On the criticism, nobody ever made a statue of a critic. People just like to have a moan. If you don’t like it don’t watch it, and if you don’t like it don’t play in it, stay indoors.’
Holt is well aware that competing creates more of a health risk than staying at home, but is putting his faith in WST’s safety measures and feels that small steps back to normality need to be taken.
‘We’re getting tested,’ the Hitman continued. ‘No [I’m not worried], you can look at it how you like.
‘People are dying, it’s a risk leaving the house, I suppose, but I have to look at the stats. I’m not in the high-risk demographic, none of my family are.
‘What can I say? It’s one of those, I’ve got to leave the house at some point. What do you do? You have to do something. You take the precautions you can and carry on.
‘They know what they’re doing, they want to take the best precautions for obvious reasons. Just make the decision and do your best to protect yourself.
’ The rearranged World Snooker Championship is due to begin on 31 July in Sheffield, and the Championship League will be a first step back towards the Crucible.
Holt’s superb Snooker Shoot Out win in February saw him climb to number 25 in the world, meaning he still has to go through qualifying for the Worlds, so is keen to get back into some rhythm ahead of that critical contest.
‘With the World Championship potentially going ahead, it’s a bit of a trial run for that,’ continued the 41-year-old. ‘I’m looking forward to playing and at the end of the day it’s an opportunity to earn money, which is one of the biggest reasons I play.
‘I’ll be playing and trying my best, 100%, give it everything. It’s a nice warm up as well, if you play well, have a run, put you in good stead for the Worlds qualifiers. For every reason it’s important.
‘I’ve been playing a bit, had a few games the last week or so. For me personally, I’m having the best time of my career, really.
‘I’ve been playing well for a while, won the Shoot Out, I know it’s not a normal format, but I’ve had some good performances and I feel great, I’m happy to play as much as I can because everything’s going okay at the minute.
’ The last WST event played was the Gibraltar Open, which came to an end with Judd Trump lifting the trophy on 15 March. With the majority of players having no access to a table at home there is likely to be some rustiness in Leicester, but the Hitman is unconcerned.
‘It might show in this tournament because it’s come quite quick, but players have had 8 or 10 weeks off, we used to have that in the summer all the time,’ Michael said.
‘You don’t forget how to play in 10 weeks. I’m quite lucky, I’ve always been able to pick my cue up and feel okay. I’ve been playing a little bit and I feel alright now. You lose a bit of match sharpness, playing proper frames with people. But in terms of playing shots, it doesn’t take long to get back to normal. Other players will be different though.
‘Some players benefit from having a bit of time off, the season’s basically wall-to-wall so some might be better coming back, a bit more eager.
‘It’ll make you miss it, I’ve missed it, missed playing. I’ve always loved playing anyway, had periods where I’ve not, but at the minute I love it more than ever, for a few years now. Players will come out of it changed.’
While no one has an issue with the Championship League being played behind closed doors, the potential of the upcoming World Championship going ahead with no fans is anathema for some snooker fans.
Undoubtedly an empty Crucible would be a below-par experience but Holt does not want to see the event cancelled and, in a situation where it is impossible to please everyone, has backed WST to make the right choices,
‘It’s not as good obviously,’ said the Hitman, ‘Hopefully I get through and qualify and walking out at the Crucible with no one there is going to be strange to put it mildly.
‘But these are strange times we’re living in, we have to make the best of what we’ve got and move forward. I don’t think it’ll be like this forever, but the other option is no event.
‘Snooker is a sport that is watched by 99.9% of people on the TV. It’s a massive TV sport and it’s growing all the time. It will be watched, and if there’s not many other events on, it might be watched by even more.
‘The criticism, for me, people just like to moan. People love it, they’ll never stop moaning. You just have to do the right thing, carry on and do your best.
All credit to Barry and his team for getting it on, I don’t think there’s many other people that would have achieved it.
‘It’s one of those situations where there’s no perfect answer, it’s damage limitation. There are going to be people on the wrong end of any decisions and there’s not a lot they can do. They’ve got to make a decision that hurts the fewest people.’
While the Shoot Out champ is excited to get back on the baize, lockdown has been timed pretty well for the Holt family as it has given them time together with new arrival Sadie, although her brother was not entirely impressed with her timing.
‘We’ve enjoyed being together 24/7 basically,’ said Michael. ‘We’re still married, which is great news. It’s been a nice time, we’ve made the best of it.
‘She was born on 10 March, which is Jude’s birthday, his second birthday, which ruined it a bit. They’re going to have some good parties in the future. She came along fine, everyone’s fine, Amy did amazing.
‘The doctors have done really well, they were coming out at the start and we’ve done some video consultations. It’s strange times we’re living in, they’ve changed the way they’re doing things as well to cope with it, like everyone.’
Michael Holt’s praise for Barry Hearn’s and his team’s efforts is totally justified and it’s nice to see him eager to play again, even if conditions will be difficult. Make no mistake, they will. Making sure that social distancing is respected, that all equipment and the place are kept sanitized, that any potential infection is spotted immediately … all that will result in a lot of constraints for players and officials. And that’s just at the venue. But players and officials will have to stay somewhere, preferably in just one place that they have for themselves, with the same precautions being applied. And there is also the small matter of traveling, particularly for those who aren’t living in England.
Part of those issues was discussed by Stephen Hendry and Alan McManus in their chat last Monday.
I haven’t listened to the whole chat yet. I must confess that I struggle badly with their heavy accent. Even Reanne Evans, who of course is a native English speaker, reflected that she was close to the point of needing subtitles 😉.
But in the first half of their chat, they discuss the coming Championship League and it doesn’t look like many Scottish top players will be there.
From what I understood … Alan certainly does not intend to enter, and, for what he reports, nor do John Higgins, Stephen Maguire or Graeme Dott. John has a table at home, but the others didn’t have access to a table to practice. And John himself wasn’t apparently too keen on practice during the lockdown. Alan said that it would be a lot of hassle to play under those conditions, that traveling wasn’t straightforward and that going there unprepared was probably pointless.
Of course, younger players, hungrier, at risk to lose their tour card or just plain skint might see it differently. Someone like Scot Donaldson might be one of them: he did well this season and will certainly want to do well at WC qualifiers, should that go ahead. This would be good preparation for it.
Stephen Hendry was on Instagram, chatting with Alan McManus this time, and the question was raised, whether Ronnie can surpass Stephen’s record of 7 World Titles.
Hendry: O’Sullivan has ‘three or four more world titles in him’
Stephen Hendry is convinced Ronnie O’Sullivan can win “three or four more world titles” if he is determined to become snooker’s greatest Crucible champion.
The seven-times world champion Hendry insists O’Sullivan can still overtake him as the game’s most prolific winner despite celebrating the last of his five world victories in Sheffield seven years ago.
“If he wants to and his head is right, I think he can win another three or four world titles,” said Hendry during an Instagram chat with Alan McManus, who won the 1994 Masters with a 9-8 win over his fellow Scotsman.
McManus believes O’Sullivan, 44, has underachieved in his 28-year professional career despite drawing level with Hendry on 36 ranking event victories and becoming the first player to compile over 1000 career centuries.
“Probably (has underachieved). How many goes has he had at Sheffield? 27 goes or something. He’s won it five times which is good,” commented McManus.
“He looked like he was never being bothered properly until the early 2000s or something,” said Hendry.
He’ll always be a genius, but there seemed to be a time when he was suddenlythere to win.
McManus is slightly baffled by O’Sullivan’s recent comments regarding the length of the World Championship being too long for him and feels the Essex player should trust in the advice of sports psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters.
“With me, I’m such an emotional player and person, to try and hold it down for 17 days, I’m beaten before I go there sometimes, it’s just not a great tournament for me. It’s like asking Usain Bolt to run the marathon. It’s just not suited to his genes or personality,” said O’Sullivan.
McManus is adamant the duration of the event should not be an issue.
“I think we can safely say, can he win another world title? The answer is yes, of course he can,” said McManus.
“I don’t know about this 17-day thing he talks about. The first week you are only playing one match. I think he needs to get tuned in properly.
That guy Steve Peters seems to help him whatever he does. I would get him in tow and just get on with it.
Hendry says O’Sullivan cannot be blamed for not enjoying the challenge of the World Championship.
“Ronnie admits that he isn’t really interested in being there for 17 days. You can’t argue with that. If that’s how you feel, that’s how you feel,” said Hendry.
McManus feels a dream final would be an O’Sullivan showdown with undisputed world number one and world champion Judd Trump if the postponed tournament goes ahead behind closed doors at the end of July.
“He’s capable of doing it. Whether he can be bothered putting the work in to be able to do it, I don’t know it,” said McManus.
“It would be good if he gets to play Judd in the final. It would actually be interesting to see Ronnie being the underdog.
Robertson: O’Sullivan can still equal Hendry’s world record haul
By Desmond Kane
Ronnie O’Sullivan can still reach Stephen Hendry’s record Crucible haul of seven if he wants it badly enough, according to 2010 world champion Neil Robertson.
Australia’s greatest player believes O’Sullivan – world champion in 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2013 – has the ability to add to his total of five victories despite last winning snooker’s ultimate event seven years ago with an 18-12 win over Barry Hawkins.
Hendry’s Crucible record is arguably the last major one O’Sullivan has yet to topple having lifted seven Masters and seven UK titles, compiling over 1,000 centuries and joining Hendry on 36 career ranking event wins.
O’Sullivan last reached the world final when he lost 18-14 to Mark Selby in 2014, but has suffered several surprising defeats in recent times including a 10-8 defeat to amateur qualifier James Cahill in the first round a year ago, one of the biggest shocks of all time.
He has twice lost in the quarter-finals over the past five years being unseated by Stuart Bingham in 2015 – a year where he removed his shoes during a first-round win over Craig Steadman – and Ding Junhui in 2017.
There was also the infamous incident with Ali Carter in a second-round defeat in 2018 where both players bumped into each other at the table.
“Yeah for sure Ronnie could win seven. It all depends on his head,” Robertson told Eurosport. “Last year was one of the strangest things I’ve ever seen.
“Ever since he lost to Selby in the final, every year since has been really strange. He lost to Barry Hawkins (second round in 2016) which was an unbelievable match.
A lot is expected of him. Not so much from the crowd. He just seems to attract a lot more attention from people away from the table. Nothing bad or anything, it’s just he is the superstar of the game so he has to deal with a lot of that.
“He was quite open and honest about how he has approached this season. He has been quite attacking and playing to enjoy it rather than not really enjoying it at all.”
O’Sullivan has vowed to commit to a full schedule over the next two years. “I do think for the next two years I might just focus and play in every event I can possibly play in,” he said on Instagram. “Give it one last shot and see if I can get my game to a level where I’m confident of winning.”
O’Sullivan’s five-year Crucible record
2019 Lost 10-8 James Cahill (first round)
2018 Lost 13-9 Ali Carter (second round)
2017 Lost 13-10 Ding Junhui (quarter-finals)
2016 Lost 13-12 Barry Hawkins (second round)
2015 Lost 13-9 Stuart Bingham (quarter-finals)
History suggests O’Sullivan will struggle to land even one more world title at the age of 44 at an event he admits he dislikes due to the elongated and exhaustive nature of it over 17 days in Sheffield. Six-times world champion Ray Reardon remains the oldest winner of the Crucible era aged 45 and 203 days in 1978.
This year’s rescheduled event is due to begin on July 31 and is likely to be played to behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic if it goes ahead. O’Sullivan is ranked 18 on the game’s one-year list. His last ranking event victory came in March 2019 when he beat Robertson 13-11 in the Tour Championship final in Llandudno.
Robertson feels O’Sullivan’s desire is the key to any future success.
“He has still played to a decent standard, but not really to the levels he reached over the previous two seasons when he won around 80 percent of all the tournaments he played in,” said Robertson.
“Which was an insane record. It all depends on what his mindset is, and what he wants out it. He has said he plans to give it a real good go.
“For the game, it would obviously be brilliant if he wants to compete again at most of the events. That would be fantastic even though it would lessen mine and everybody else’s chances of winning events including Ronnie’s too.
“It will be a fantastic challenge to see Ronnie playing more that we should all welcome.”
Desmond Kane
Well … personally, I would love to see Ronnie win ONE more. I would be delighted if he gets to six. Of course seven would be fantastic, but just one more would make me perfectly happy. Can he do it? I’m not sure. Does he still have the game? Definitely in my opinion. Does he have the desire? Probably. The real issue – in my view – is neither desire nor ability, it’s a combination of stress related to the expectations everyone puts on him, anxiety caused his own perception of the very high standard he is expected to deliver and the scars left by the 2014 defeat to Mark Selby. The latter are not to be underestimated. That defeat did hurt, very badly, and not just the defeat but the manner of it. Ronnie and Mark go along well nowadays, and there is huge respect between them, but the scars remain.
In my opinion, Ronnie’s best chance to win another World title would be to head to the Championship as an underdog, just like in 2012 and in 2013. In 2012 he had only just avoided to have to qualify after two terrible seasons, in 2013 he came as the World Champion but having just played one low key match all season, a match he had lost. If the focus and expectations are on other players, then he has a good chance to avoid the early rounds “banana skin” (*). Once we get to the one table set-up, the whole atmosphere of the Championship changes. It’s no more a cramped venue made even more claustrophobic by the curtain in the middle. It’s a proper arena. It’s still a bear pit, but that doesn’t matter: so was Goffs in Ireland, and it was one of Ronnie’s favourite venues.
(*) I know that many fans think that Ronnie must be a confident player, considering how much he has won so far in his career. Nothing is further from the truth. He’s an anxious person. He’s been open about his depression, anxiety, and panic attacks. He’s learned to cope with that better than in the past, but it’s not gone, it never will, it’s part of the person he is. When he can get in the zone – only him and the table in a bubble – he’s incredibly strong under pressure, but when he can’t … he’s vulnerable.
Another World Championship related question was also debated between Stephen and Alan: what would happen if Judd Trump was to face Steve Davis in his prime?
Generation game: Could Davis at his best topple Trump?
Stephen Hendry and Alan McManus agree that Steve Davis in his prime would have caused real problems for world champion and world number one Judd Trump with his superior tactical game.
Seven-times world champion Hendry believes Trump in top gear would win a world final “18-7 or 18-8” if the pair met at the peak of their powers, but added that his old rival’s “granite” safety game would give him a chance.
Three-times World Championship semi-finalist McManus points out that it would not be a foregone conclusion because of six-times world champion Davis’ ability to starve his opponents of chances.
“It’s tough. When you discuss different eras, you have to remember this: the day that Davis won his world titles, all the days between now and then hadn’t happened yet,” said 1994 Masters winner McManus on Instagram
“He didn’t know about Judd. He was playing the guy in the other chair.
“You’ve got to take that into account. I only played ‘The Nugget’ in the nineties, and I thought he was an unbelievable player.”
Trump produced the greatest performance in a world final with an 18-9 win over John Higgins in the 2019 final, a match that saw him make seven century breaks.
While Hendry feels Trump will carry snooker to a new level, he agreed with McManus that Davis – Crucible winner in 1981, 1983, 1984, 1987, 1988 and 1989 – was a fearsome competitor in his pomp.
“There was time when you wondered: ‘How could you beat him?’,” said Hendry.
“I think Judd is possibly going to take the game to a new level. Judd would probably beat him, but I’d be interested to see.
“Judd would probably beat him 18-7 or 18-8. Something like that.”
McManus recalled the UK Championship final in 1990 when Hendry edged Davis 16-15 in one of the sport’s all-time classic clashes at Preston’s Guild Hall.
“The famous UK final between you and him in 1990. I know how well you were playing. He was playing good, wasn’t he?,” said McManus.
“The other thing you have to say is that Judd would need to play well to win otherwise ‘The Nugget’ would get him.
“Davis was an unbelievable player. I played him in my first final (Asian Open in 1992) in Bangkok. I never missed a shot, I played awesome, one of the best matches I’ve ever played.
“He beat me 9-3 and I was over the moon with myself.”
This, in my opinion, is an impossible question to answer. For a start, the conditions were quite different, notably because of the heavier cloth. This made some shots easier to master (I’m thinking massés f.i.) whilst others were much more difficult (splitting the pack wide open f.i.). I think that Judd would struggle with those conditions, despite his tremendous cue power. He developed as a player on much faster tables and he plays a lot of shots that have balls traveling the full length of the table. It’s one of his strength and those shots might prove more difficult to get right on a slower table. Conversely, Steve Davis started playing on those slower tables and he may struggle for accuracy on the ultra-fast ones. Why am I writing this? Because players develop and hone their game in a certain context: the conditions available to them in their time. I’m not sure that Judd would play the type of game he plays now if he was born 30 years earlier, and Steve Davis might have become a different player too if he had been exposed to nowadays conditions in his prime. They are both supremely talented, and very fierce competitors, and that’s who they are, no matter when they were born, but how they developed as players would probably be different. I believe that, each playing at their prime level, Steve would beat Judd on the 80th conditions, whilst Judd would beat Steve playing on nowadays tables. But it’s a completely academic question.
At the time of writing I haven’t listened to the chat yet… probably more on that tomorrow then.
