Following the release of the latest episode of the OneFourSeven podcast, David Caulfield has published a very interesting piece on his blog.
Amongst other things he shares Shaun Murphy’s views on Ronnie’s withdrawal
“I’ve seen lots of things written about this,” Shaun Murphy said on the latest episode of the OneFourSeven Snooker Podcast.
“I’m curious. I want to understand and gauge the temperature and opinion of the snooker fraternity.”
“I think there’s quite a bit of misunderstanding here. No one is obliged to play in anything.
“Obviously he and I don’t see eye to eye on many things – everyone knows that – but he’s not obliged to play in anything.
“He’s well within the rules to withdraw from any event that he wants to. The reasons he gives? That’s a different subject.
“But he actually hasn’t done anything wrong by the letter of the law from WST’s point of view, so I’m confused where the narrative comes from.
“I think there is a nuanced difference between someone like Stephen Hendry, who has a tour card and chooses not to enter tournaments, versus someone who enters tournaments and withdraws last minute.
“Those two things are slightly different, and if you look at it from the point of view of the first reserve in this case, who is Anthony Davies’ son Alfie, he got the call to go to Edinburgh four or five hours before – it was completely undoable.
“Now, if O’Sullivan knew he had no intention of going and withdrew last minute, that’s not very good, because that obviously spoils the opportunity for young Mr. Davies.
“But you have no option in these cases but to take the player at their word.
“O’Sullivan has again cited health concerns, and I go back to what I said in the podcast a few episodes ago, he has had it really bad in recent times.
“He has been really poorly. He has been really ill, and to be that ill and to pull out of that many events on medical grounds, and then still turn up and win the UK Championship is incredible really.
That coming from Shaun, who admittedly often disagrees with Ronnie, does put things in a different light. Most of us only see the players on television, or from afar in the arena. But players like Ronnie and Shaun, who have been on tour for over 25 years and regularly meet at events, it’s different. They see each other close-up and away from the cameras. If Shaun says that Ronnie has been in ill health in recent months, then surely that’s true. They are not close friends, why would he lie about this? Of course, it’s worrying and it makes Ronnie’s UK victory even more extraordinary. So, yes, get well soon, Ronnie, or at least better, fingers crossed!
Shaun also speaks about what is at stake as the new board elections are about to take place
Murphy was also asked about his opinions on the ongoing saga between the World Snooker Tour and its players concerning contracts, players’ rights, and the possibility of a breakaway tour.
“This thing isn’t going to go away – the serious battle between the players, and the WPBSA players’ body that represents them, and WST with their players contract.”
“This isn’t going anywhere. It’s only going to increase in velocity and in seriousness, because these two parties are going to clash over this.
“I’m not sure which way it’s going to go. It’s a big week this week in snooker politically. We’ve got the AGM of the WPBSA and the elections to the WPBSA Players Board.
“Such is the interest in this – normally you have to crowbar players into these meetings and nominations – there are three spots available and there are seven candidates.
“That’s the first time in history that there are more candidates than spaces.
“Depending on who gets through the candidacy and the nomination process, if certain members find their way onto that board, that could cause WST a headache going forward.
“I know a few of the players who have put themselves forward have this as one of their key mandates to try to get a fairer and better deal out of WST.
“You know, we want a review of the contract. We want it looked at, we want to sit down and talk. It’s going to be interesting.”
So … it’s not just “some spoiled celebrities” … it’s the WPBSA representing the players vs the commercial body, WST. Note that Shaun, who is by no means an anarchist, uses the words “fairer” and “better deal”. That suggests that even him, known to be respectful of the authorities, finds the contract too onerous and too restrictive.
Interesting times ahead for sure …
David Caulfield on his blog always tries to be fair and expresses balanced opinions. I can only recommend any snooker fan to follow it, especially if they are Irish.
I’m grateful to David and a few others who regularly write about the most interesting topics discussed in the numerous snooker podcasts that are now available to the snooker fans… provided they aren’t partially deaf 😉 THANK YOU!
Yesterday was the “première” of Ronnie’s film, “the Edge of Everything” and, from what transpired, it was certainly a mediatic success with some well known figures attending the event, along with Ronnie’s family and friends.
From what transpired, Judd Trump attended as well. Good on him.
It was not necessarily a treat for O’Sullivan to watch back himself, though, with the documentary offering a really intense look at his life and the experience of competing under the pressure of the World Championship at the Crucible.
The documentary follows O’Sullivan’s campaign at the 2022 World Championship and at times, specifically in the final against Judd Trump, the level of pressure is enormous, with the Rocket admitting he was struggling badly to deal with it.
The 47-year-old says things were actually not as bad as they appear on film and seeing himself in that state was tough to watch.
In a video posted on Instagram, O’Sullivan said: ‘To give you a little insight, it’s quite sort of live, not staged, warts and all. I have watched it and I must admit it was quite weird to watch yourself in them moments.
‘I can honestly say it didn’t feel anywhere near as bad as it looked. It was a hard one for me to watch back. But don’t worry for me, I’m all good, I’m healthy, I feel great, I’ve loved every minute of my life. I do love the pressure, I enjoy it. I thrive in it. I just find it hard to contain it.
‘I’m getting better and I’m learning. It is a skill but I do deliver, evern under the most extreme pressure and you’re going to get to see that in his documentary. Live, not staged, warts and all.’
Clearly seeing himself suffering on screen has had an effect on O’Sullivan, also posting on X: ‘I look back and I think, “wow, how have I got through that?” It’s so important to look after your mental health!’
Ronnie O’Sullivan: The Edge of Everything is available exclusively in cinemas across UK & Ireland on November 21 and launches on Prime Video on November 23.
There were a few short snippets of the film shared on social media in the last couple of days.
Also these:
The 2023 UK Championship Qualifiers…
Today, the lat round of the 2023 UK Championship qualifiers will start with eighth matches. They will be covered extensively in “Judgement Day” style.
Veteran Ken Doherty remains on course to reach the last 32 of the MrQ UK Championship for the first time since 2014, as he upset the form book with a 6-4 win over Chris Wakelin in the penultimate qualifying round.
Wakelin was runner-up at the recent Northern Ireland Open but couldn’t reproduce that form as he was knocked out by 54-year-old Doherty, who was runner-up in this event in 1994, 2001 and 2002.
From 2-1 down, Ireland’s Doherty won three frames in a row to lead 4-2. Wakelin battled back to 4-4, but Doherty got the better of the last two frames and now faces a Judgement Day clash on Thursday afternoon with China’s Yuan Sijun, who top scored with 135 in a 6-5 win over Alexander Ursenbacher. All winners on Wednesday and Thursday will go through to the final stages in York, which start on Saturday.
“Chris has been playing well so I was just delighted to be keeping pace with him,” said 1997 World Champion Doherty. “I made some good breaks. I’m as surprised as anyone! It would be fantastic to walk down those stairs at the Barbican, but this game is difficult and the last round here will be tough. I’m still a competitor and I love that side of the game.”
Stephen Maguire, the 2004 UK Champion, showed signs of a return to form in reaching the quarter-finals of the recent International Championship and he rattled in breaks of 124, 75, 140, 77 and 115 in a 6-4 defeat of Ashley Hugill.
Hossein Vafaei fired runs of 133 and 109 as he whitewashed Martin O’Donnell 6-0. Stuart Bingham’s hopes of adding the UK title to his World and Masters crowns will have to wait another year as he lost 6-2 to David Lilley.
Matthew Selt fired runs of 84, 59, 127, 52, 95 and 73 as he saw off Dylan Emery 6-4, wile Anthony McGill top scored with 89 in a 6-3 defeat of He Guoqiang. Zak Surety sprang a surprise 6-3 victory over Scottish Open champion Gary Wilson, while David Gilbert’s top break of 93 helped him beat Julien Leclercq 6-1.
Joe O’Connor made a 68 clearance, from 53-0 behind, in the deciding frame to beat Oliver Lines 6-5. Germany’s Lukas Kleckers, enjoying his deepest run in this event, top scored with 105 as he beat Ryan Day 6-2.
Once again this report focuses mainly on the older players – known figures – and on the UK/Irish winners. Lukas Kleckers is the only “non UK/Irish” winner mentioned despite the fact that Hossein Vafaei, Lyu Haotian, Pang Junxu, Zou Yuelong and Yuan Sijun all won as well.
Meanwhile, this article by the BBC , confirms that Ronnie faces disciplinary sanctions for supporting the “Macau” players. I know that Grump will disagree, and I’m ok with that, but personally, I’m still firmly of the opinion that self-employed players should be allowed to take the best offers for them. WST argument is that their absence is detrimental to their business. Possibly, but why? Mainly because they still rely on UK/Irish players nearing their 50th for their main promotion… as the above article shows again. Those players were always going to age, and, as they near the end of their career, they were always going to look for future opportunities away from the main tour. It’s normal, it’s wise on their part and it was totally to be expected. In addition to that, they should remember how Barry Hearn grew to fame: by taking the then top players for exhibitions/tournaments all over the world and away from the “established” tour. That’s how he grew the game and, as such, he has no right to criticise those “current” players who see opportunities away from the WST tour because that’s exactly what he did at the time and it did the sport no harm, quite the opposite.
Ronnie O’Sullivan documentary finally gets release date on Amazon Prime Video
Phil Haigh – Friday 27 Oct 2023
Ronnie O’Sullivan won his record-equalling seventh world title in 2022 (Picture: PA)
The film documenting Ronnie O’Sullivan’s seventh World Snooker Championship win is finally set for release, hitting cinemas on 21 November, before launching on Prime Video two days later.
The Rocket granted cameras extensive access to his Crucible campaign last year, which helpfully ended with him lifting the world title for a seventh time, equalling Stephen Hendry’s record.
O’Sullivan was followed everywhere in the build-up to the event and throughout the tournament, even wearing a microphone during matches, so ‘Ronnie O’Sullivan: The Edge of Everything’ is set to be an incredible insight into the world of the greatest player the sport has ever had.
David Beckham’s Studio 99 has produced the documentary, with the Manchester United icon involved in live Q&A with O’Sullivan when the film is exclusively released in cinemas, before landing on Prime Video on 23 November.
On his motivation for the documentary, O’Sullivan said: ‘My highs and lows have been well-documented by the media but I felt like now was the right time to do something more definitive – something that I can look back and reflect on as I contemplate retirement.
‘Going into my 7th World Championship I wasn’t sure I had it in me but allowing the cameras in ended up driving me on in many ways and gave me a different perspective.’
The Rocket gave some clues on what to expect during the 2022 World Championships, which eventually saw him beat Judd Trump in the final.
‘I’ve given complete access to the point where if you put a fly on the wall and followed me for 17 days, that’s basically what happened,’ O’Sullivan said.
‘They’ve been in my dressing room, they’ve been in my hotel room before and after matches and sessions. I embraced it because whatever I get involved in, let’s just make it the best I could possibly do.’
He also said before the 2022 tournament got underway: ‘If I’m going to get bombed out in the first round, I couldn’t give a monkeys.
‘The documentary isn’t about me trying to win a world title. If it happens, great. If not they’ll have to put up with a first-round exit. They’re the business guys behind it, I’m just an actor.
‘The reason I’m doing it is because of everything I’ve done in my past. It’s a chance for people to watch someone they’ve followed for years.
‘Let them see the pressure, the stress, the good and the not-so-good
Ronnie O’Sullivan: The Edge of Everything is available exclusively in cinemas across UK & Ireland on November 21 and launches on Prime Video on November 23. Theatrical release includes LIVE Q&A featuring Ronnie and very special guests.
We are just days away from the 14th running of snooker’s Shanghai Masters, as the professional circuit prepares to return to mainland China for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic.
The event has played host to surprise champions, as well as title match battles between all-time greats of the sport. We’ve decided to rewind to 2007 and take you through all of the Shanghai Masters finals from past to present…
2007 – Dominic Dale 10-6 Ryan Day
The Spaceman soared in Shanghai as he landed the second and most recent ranking title of his career. On the table Dominic Dale underlined his ability with a momentous week of snooker, beating the likes of Ken Doherty and Mark Selby on his way to the title match. Away from the baize he highlighted why he is one of the most colourful characters on tour, sporting peroxide blonde hair and treating the Chinese media to a rendition of Frank Sinatra’s My Way. The final saw Dale trail Ryan Day 6-2, before a superb sprint saw him claim eight frames in a row to secure the title by a 10-6 scoreline.
One of the toughest draws imaginable stood between Ricky Walden and his first ever ranking title. However, the Chester cueman defeated Stephen Hendry, Neil Robertson, Steve Davis, Mark Selby and Ronnie O’Sullivan to capture silverware in Shanghai. Walden closed out the final in style, firing in a superb break of 105 in the 18th frame to secure the title. He has since added two further ranking event successes to take his title tally to three.
Walden said: “My personality has never been one to have amazing belief before I’ve ever done anything. I’ve always felt I had to achieve stuff before I could allow myself to be like that. I suppose I was just rolling with it in that event, I wasn’t overly confident before that, but once I achieved it I then knew I could win. The two tournament victories I have had since then are down to that day and getting the first one.”
2009 – Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-5 Liang Wenbo
Ronnie O’Sullivan made up for his defeat to Ricky Walden by claiming the title a year later. The Rocket dispatched the likes of Marco Fu and Ding Junhui on his way to the semi-finals, where he beat old adversary John Higgins 6-1. His opponent Liang Wenbo was competing in his first ranking final, but O’Sullivan was able to dominate the opening exchanges and lead 6-2 after the first session. The Englishman maintained his advantage in the evening and ran out a 10-5 victor. It was the 22nd of his 39 ranking event wins to date. “I was only able to play flamboyant snooker in two or three frames. The rest of it was steady, hard, match snooker and I needed patience,” said the Rocket.
2010 – Ali Carter 10-7 Jamie Burnett
Victory for Ali Carter saw him secure the second ranking title of his career. The Captain beat the likes of Stuart Bingham and Mark Selby to set up a dramatic quarter-final with Matthew Stevens. He clinched victory by depositing a daring black down the side cushion to win 5-4. Jamie Burnett was competing in his first ever ranking final and it showed in what proved to be a nervy encounter. Carter never led by more than two frames until he pulled clear at 8-7 to win 10-7.
“I just want to win as many titles as I can in my career,” said Carter. “If you keep getting to the business end of tournaments then you will have chances to win them and that’s what I’ve done. It wasn’t the best match, but those are the ones where winning is what matters.”
Since then the Essex cueman has added a further three ranking event wins to his resume, taking his total to five.
2011 – Mark Selby 10-9 Mark Williams
A thrilling final, perhaps best remembered for a controversial incident in the 17th frame, when Mark Williams led 9-7. The Welshman felt that Mark Selby had hit the pink when escaping from a snooker, but after studying a video replay, referee Eirian Williams judged that he had hit a red first, a decision which was later proved correct. Uncharacteristically Williams lost his cool and Selby pounced, taking the final two frames to run out a 10-9 victor. It was only the second of his 22 ranking event victories. The result also came alongside Selby becoming world number one for the first time in his career. Selby said: “It’s a great feeling to be World number one, all I wanted to do was to get to the top of the sport. But I have to keep up the hard work because others will want to get ahead of me.”
2012 – John Higgins 10-9 Judd Trump Another showpiece clash between two greats of the sport, which came down to a final frame decider. It hadn’t looked that way when Trump made a blistering start, which saw him establish a 5-0 advantage. Higgins responded with a magical 147 break, but still trailed 7-2 after the opening session. However, the tide shifted entirely when play got back underway, with Scotland’s Higgins storming to six consecutive frames and an 8-7 advantage. Trump recovered to 9-9 and had first chance in the decider but could only make 36, and had to sit in his chair as Higgins crashed in a do-or-die long red to initiate a match-winning 61. “To beat Judd from 7-2 down is unbelievable, I can’t explain how it feels because I’m shell-shocked,” said Higgins. “To beat Judd when he was playing that well must be one of my best wins ever.”
2013 – Ding Junhui 10-6 Xiao Guodong.
A historic final lineup for the sport, highlighting the globalisation of snooker, with the first ever ranking final to be contested between two Chinese players. Ding Junhui took home the title to kickstart a remarkable run which saw him win three consecutive ranking events, adding further silverware at the Indian Open and International Championship. Xiao Guodong was playing in his first ever ranking final, but fell short and is still seeking a maiden professional win currently. “I had to let my emotions go after winning the tournament. This showed how much I wanted this title, I wanted it more than anybody,” said Ding. “There will be many more chances for the players from China. The young generation is growing up quickly so their days will come soon.”
2014 – Stuart Bingham 10-3 Mark Allen
Shanghai success for Stuart Bingham saw him secure the second ranking title of his career with an emphatic defeat of Mark Allen in the final. He scored a narrow 6-4 win over home hero Ding Junhui in the semi-finals, before mounting a more one-sided defeat of Allen. Bingham said: “Knowing that you can win a title brings different pressures and I have knocked on the door a few times since. It’s very tough to win a tournament these days but after I beat Dominic Dale here in the second round, and played really well, I thought it could be my week.”
The Basildon potter, now aged 47, had to wait until his mid-to-late 30s to regularly find the winning knack. Following his victory in Shanghai he would go on to end the season by securing snooker’s ultimate glory, becoming World Champion at the Crucible.
2015 – Kyren Wilson 10-9 Judd Trump
After a rocky first spell on the tour, which lasted just one season in 10/11, Wilson went away and did what was required to make his game more adaptable to the top level of the sport. Having completely rebuilt his cue action, the Warrior returned a different player and it all fell into place out in Shanghai. Wilson defeated Ding Junhui and Mark Allen on his way to the final, where he held off a Judd Trump fightback to secure the first ranking title of his career. He admits that it wouldn’t have been possible without the changes he made to his technique.
“I’d have flopped under the pressure, 100%. My cue action was too long. It wouldn’t have worked under that sort of pressure. Rebuilding it was a tough thing to do at first, but it has done me good in the long run,” said the now 31-year-old Wilson.
2016 – Ding Junhui 10-6 Mark Selby
Ding Junhui came out on top to become the first player to win the Shanghai Masters more than once. On the tenth staging of the tournament in China, fittingly it was the home favourite who lifted the trophy as he gained a measure of revenge against Mark Selby, who defeated him in the World Championship final earlier that year.
“I felt so strong in the last frame. Mark was coming back at me and he is so strong in safety so he was trying to get snookers. He made every shot so difficult for me, I was just trying to hit the red, that’s it,” said Ding.
“This is a special tournament in Shanghai, it was been going since 2007 and I have learned a lot from it. I’m always very happy to win anywhere in China.”
2017 – Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-3 Judd Trump
The Rocket landed his 30th ranking event win by thumping Judd Trump in the Shanghai Masters final. It was his second ranking title within a month having won the English Open in October, and he also reached the final of the Champion of Champions where he lost to Shaun Murphy. Defeat for the Ace in the Pack meant he had now appeared in the final of the event three times and failed to register victory an any of them. O’Sullivan did the bulk of the damage in the first session by going 7-0 ahead, and he shared the next six frames to secure the trophy and £150,000 top prize. “I have had a fantastic last four weeks. I feel a bit tired but I don’t mind that if it means winning tournaments. I’ve got my titles in the bank and I can build on that,” said O’Sullivan.
2018 – Ronnie O’Sullivan 11-9 Barry Hawkins
The Shanghai Masters transitioned into one of the most prestigious invitational events on the World Snooker Tour calendar, but the new format yielded a familiar champion in Ronnie O’Sullivan. The final was a repeat of the 2013 World Championship title match, with the Rocket being pitted against Barry Hawkins. The afternoon session saw Hawkins seize the advantage, emerging with a 6-4 lead. However, O’Sullivan surged ahead when the evening play got underway. He took the first four of the session to turn the match on its head and move 8-6 up. They traded frames from there as the match came down to the wire. With O’Sullivan leading 10-9, he closed out the win in style with a break of 122. “It is a very major and prestigious tournament,” O’Sullivan said: “There are a few like that now though. You have the Champion of Champions, which is a great tournament. This and the Masters are great tournaments, just because every player in it is very, very good.”
2019 – Ronnie O’Sullivan 11-9 Shaun Murphy
Ronnie O’Sullivan secured his fourth Shanghai Masters crown and won the event for a third straight year. That means he heads into this year’s event unbeaten in his last 15 matches in the city. It was O’Sullivan’s first appearance of the 19/20 season, which was heavily interrupted by the coronavirus pandemic, but ended with him winning the World Championship at the Crucible. After the first session of the Shanghai showpiece saw O’Sullivan and Shaun Murphy locked together at 5-5, it was the Magician who took the first of the evening to move 6-5 up. O’Sullivan then made a charge for the finish line and moved 10-7 ahead. While Murphy kept the pressure on and pulled within a frame it was O’Sullivan who got over the line with a break of 86.
“I always just try to hang in there. It is a bit like Seve Ballesteros or Tiger Woods with how they play golf. They are never out of it because every now and then they can produce a little bit of magic. That is the hallmark of my game really,” said Shanghai Masters champion O’Sullivan.
Ronnie has arrived in Shanghai yesterday.
The tournament has been promoted on weibo via a video and a series of “posters” …
Least we can say is that the defending champion looks scary in those!
Indeed Ronnie is the defending champion. It’s a tournament he loves. He’s been in the final 5 times, winning it 4 times., more than anyone else. That said, he hasn’t played competitively since his defeat to Luca Brecel at the Crucible and I’m really not sure what to expect.
Santino is wrong to think that Ronnie doesn’t genuinely love China. He does. He loves the food, he loves the people who are more “natural” and spontaneous than most Europeans. Also, of course, he’s a hero over there, especially after the way he helped Ding during the 2007 Masters final. He’s very close to Ding and his family. What he doesn’t like is the long flight. He’s scared of flying, believe it or not.
Ronnie was interviewed and here is the report I found on weibo:
[Preparation] Most players started the new season very early, and most of the top sixteen have participated in two to three games, so My first game (game on the 12th) is very critical. The first game is always the most difficult. I hope I can perform better.
[How confident are you in the fifth Shanghai Masters title?] All players are in the top 16. No matter what the draw is, every opponent is difficult to beat. Only by winning the first game will you feel more confident, and then talk about defending the title. In addition, there are many wild card players. Although they are not ranked high, they are young, motivated and have the strength to challenge the top 16 players. I look forward to seeing the outstanding performance of the young players and looking forward to a close competition with the Chinese players.
[Teacher in career] I think Davis is my teacher. At the beginning of my career, I grew up watching Davis play. He became my idol. I hope to be like Davis. champion. I will also set my sights on other sports, such as Schumacher in F1 and Tiger Woods in golf. We can learn from other athletes about diligence, how to adjust the state at all times, don’t drink, and go to bed early. get up early. I hope to learn more about the shining points of outstanding athletes.
[Participation plan] The three-year epidemic has not allowed players from all over the world to play games around the world. This time I can meet the fans again. I hope that all Chinese ranking tournaments can come and participate. I feel that I can still reach 6-6 in my career. 8 years, until over 55 years old. In the coming time, I will participate in more Asian competitions and will continue to participate in Chinese competitions.
[Favorite Shanghai Food] I really like Asian food, especially hot pot, which is hard to find in Europe and not authentic. I always eat hot pot when I come to China, and I also like Cantonese morning tea.
I went to the 2012 Shanghai Masters and I was made to feel very welcome. The Chinese media “colleagues” were very friendly, we went out to visit the Bund, and ate together in the evenings. I have fantastic memories from the event. Also, I realised that there are far more people in the arena that the TV shows. Indeed, seats more “up” in the arena are cheaper and most Chinese are not really wealthy. So, quite often, especially in the early rounds, the seats closest to the players were not very “populated” and it looked poor on TV, but most seats upper in the arena were occupied. One Chinese fan told me at the time that two “normal” seats – for himself and his wife – had cost him half of his monthly wages. The guy was an IT engineer, so surely getting a good salary for the time and place.
Meanwhile another event – a WDBS event – started today in Shanghai
Good luck to all involved!
Addendum …
the draw for the wildcards has been made during the opening ceremony (source weibo)
Ali Carter vs Dong Zihao
Robert Milkins vs Bai Yulu
John Higgins vs Deng Haohui
Hossein Vafei vs Gong Chenzhi
Some more images from the opening ceremony… the sponsors aren’t a bookies. One a company, Tango, is producing/selling fitness and gym appliances. Another one is called Lumeniser and sells lighting appliances.
The welcome ceremony of the 2023 World Snooker Shanghai Masters was held grandly
On the evening of September Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trmp, Mark Selby, John Higgins and other top 16 players in the world, as well as Zhou Yuelong, Si Jiahui, led by “China’s No. 1 Brother” Ding Junhui, Fan Zhengyi, Pang Junxu and other powerful young players were all present to kick off tomorrow’s event.
Group photo of players
Chairman of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association Fukuze Sheng, Acting Secretary-General of the Chinese Billiards Association Gao Kunpeng, China Eastern Airlines Group Co., Ltd. Deputy Director of the Publicity Department and Deputy General Manager of the Brand Department Ye Kewen, Shanghai Jiushi Sports Industry Development (Group) Co., Ltd. Chairman and General Manager Yang Yibin, General Manager Li Yi of Five Star Sports Media Co., Ltd., Deputy General Manager Wang Shuwei of Shanghai Jiushi Sports Industry Development (Group) Co., Ltd., Huang Ming, General Manager of Shanghai Jiushi Sports Event Operation Management Co., Ltd., Shanghai Zhou Weifang, general manager of the Government and Group Customer Department of the Bank’s Puxi Branch, and representatives of sponsors and other guests attended the ceremony.
This year, the Shanghai Masters still adopts the format of a 24-person invitational tournament. According to the previous relevant regulations of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, and according to the CBSA Snooker Youth Ranking (as of the latest ranking of the China Youth Championship Dongguan Open), the wild card players for this event are Bai Yulu, Gong Chenzhi, Deng Haohui and Dong Zihao. At the ceremony, the first-round matches of the four wild card players were also announced. Dong Zihao will face Ali Carter, Bai Yulu will face Robert Milkins, Deng Haohui will face John Higgins, and Gong Chenzhi will face Hussein Wafi. They will stand on the Masters stage where experts gather, take steps to compete in international competitions, and achieve their life dreams.
In addition, “Rocket” O’Sullivan also interacted cordially with the lucky fans at the scene, took photos, signed autographs, and showed his masterly style. While everyone was enthralled, it also pushed the warm atmosphere of snooker’s top feast to a climax.
From September 11th to September 17th, let’s go to Shanghai together to witness the return of the World Snooker Shanghai Masters to the brand-new Shanghai Stadium, and enjoy the endless charm brought by this gentleman’s sport. Published in Shanghai
Also some images of the venue. The general view picture shows you what I meant when writing about the size of the arena. Only the lowest rows of seats are visible on television.
World number 109 Hammad Miah scored a 4-3 victory over a player ranked 84 places higher, Zhou Yuelong, to reach the final stages of the Cazoo British Open in Cheltenham.
…
China’s Zhou is a three-time ranking event finalist but he won’t be at the final stages of this one as he finished second best in the qualifying round despite making a break of 105 in the opening frame then going 2-0 ahead. Miah hit back to win four of the last five frames with a top break of 61.
World number 20 Ricky Walden was another player to lose to a lower-ranked opponent as he went down 4-0 against Xu Si, whose top break was 67.
Highest break of the day was 134, made by Robbie Williams during a 4-0 rout of Pang Junxu. Dominic Dale rattled in runs of 91, 67 and 54 during a 4-1 defeat of Mark Joyce.
Oliver Lines top scored with 71 in a 4-0 win over practice partner Liam Pullen, while Oliver Brown made a 79 clearance in the deciding frame to edge out Himanshu Jain 4-3.
The match between Oliver Brown and Himanshu Jain was as close and as hard-fought as it gets. Neither deserved to lose. They both gave it everything. The match actually over-ran. It’s good that the tournament director allowed them to finish it, and didn’t pull them off.
I didn’t expect Xu Si to beat Ricky Walden by 4-0. Ricky was really poor and Xu played well. Another surprise for me was Robbie Williams trashing Pang Junxu by 4-0. Robbie on his day is a very big scorer. It must have been one of these days: Pang potted just one ball in the last three frames, whilst Robbie scored breaks of 51, 77 and 134.
Once again some matches are missing in the report, this time they are the two that finished late. You will find all the detailed results on snooker.org
Scott Donaldson beat Adam Duffy by 4-1 in a match that featured 5 breaks over 60. It was “one visit” snooker from start to finish. It’s nice to see Scott play well again despite still not being completely over his health issues.
Barry Hearn was on Hendry’s “cuetips”, answering fans’ questions
It’s very interesting, and very funny at times as well. You may need to listen to it several times to absorb everything. Here are the things I picked as important
Confirmation that Eddie Hearn is NOT interested in snooker one bit. Barry insist that he can still be useful on the commercial side but will he want to make the effort if he’s not interested?
Barry Hearn is all about money, but we knew that, and it has benefitted snooker that he has that mentality actually.
The Saudi Arabia contract is not signed yet but the event will almost certainly happen. They won’t be able to put on an extravagant prize money because Barry insists that the World Championship must stay the one offering the biggest prize money. So he capped their acceptable offer at equalling it.
Barry would love to stay at the Crucible, but at the same time he wants a bigger Crucible, some 2500 seats. And it should be a multipurpose venue that Sheffield can use all year long.
Barry praised Ronnie for what he brought to the game but is convinced that once he retires, players will come that will be better than him. Personally I’m not sure about the latter, I can’t see anyone in the current crop with such a potential. I can’t see the next Ronnie, nor can I see the next John Higgins or the next Willo. Not unless the amateur game grows and becomes far more brutal and competitive.
Barry recognises that the game is UK centric, too much so, and he wants to expand it. Europe though doesn’t seem to be on his radar. Probably because that’s not where he sees the money coming from. And his thoughts are about having more events outside UK, but there was no mention of the current organisation with all qualifiers being held in the UK and that’s a huge part of the issue.
In a few hours the 2023 Wine Cellars Women Snooker US Open will enter it’s last day of action as we are currently at the semi-finals stage, where the four highest seeds in the competition will do battle.
Three of the semi-finalists are or have been competing on the main tour: Mink, On Yee and Bex. Jamie Hunter is the defending champion. All four have won their QF match by 3-0.
The best players in the competition so far have been Mink and On Yee. At the time of writing, we had ten breaks over 50 during the competition, three by On Yee, seven by Mink. On Yee still has the highest break, a 121. Mink has a century as well, a 107 … that could have been a 142 had she not missed the last red.
For us in Europe, the action – streamed on YouTube by OXBilliards – will start in the evening and one hour earlier than on the two previous days. The semi-finals and Final are best of 7, and all three matches will be played, and streamed on the main table.
Yesterday players were invited to join the commentary team. Maryann McConnell was particularly interesting. Maryann, who started playing competitively at the age of 24 whilst at University was runner-up to Mandy Fisher in the 1984 Women Snooker World Championship. She explained how thriving snooker was in Canada when she started, and how important a figure Cliff Thorburn was at the time, and still is. She also explained why, in her opinion, snooker has regressed and pool has thrived instead. She’s a multiple pool champion herself.
Maryann McConnell
If you are interested in the history of snooker and want to understand the challenges this sport faces, it’s worth a listen. The streams are on the OXBilliards YouTube, even those from last year … so no hurry and well worth it.
Ray Reardon, one of snooker’s all-time greats, still plays and watches snooker and retains his love of the sport at the age of 90.
David Hendon travelled to Churston Golf Club in Devon to interview Reardon, and found the six-time World Champion in fine fettle. Here are a few extracts from the interview, which you can watch at the bottom of the page.
On whether he still plays snooker
“Very badly. I think they have moved the pockets actually. Either that or the balls got bigger and the pockets smaller. I still enjoy playing. I can help all of the members a little bit if they need it and there’s no charge. I never charge anybody.
On what still attracts him to the sport
“It is the nature of the game. The unreliability and the uncertainty of it. Some days you can do most things and others you can’t do anything. There is no rhyme or reason for it. Just whether or not you feel in the mood for it. I don’t know what it is. When you are in a little world of your own you can pot everything, get out of everything and you aren’t aware of anything. Nothing distracts you and you just get on doing your job.”
On his dominance of snooker in the 1970s
“I was number one for seven years, how about that? That is something isn’t it? You can only be the best of your day. You can’t compare it with modern times. They are much younger now and conditions seem to be much better than what we had. The tables are nice and warm, the balls are nice and light and the clothes are thinner. I would love to be able to play in these conditions. The table is so fast now and you see them screw the ball effortlessly over long distances. It is fascinating.”
On whether Ronnie O’Sullivan will beat his record as oldest ranking event winner
“I can’t see any reason why not. I wish him well because I’m on his side. It would be wonderful. Good for him. What a wonderful player and the most natural player you will ever see. I was amazed when I worked with him. I saw him play and I’d heard about him and read about him. To stand by him for a practice session is unbelievable. It is magic and I used to call him the magician. He wouldn’t have that, he wanted to be the Rocket.
“He is the greatest player without a doubt and I think most players would agree. I can’t think of anybody who wouldn’t agree. He is so natural and effortless. You would have to see him practising to realise how good he really is. Snooker is one of these games where you have an audience going along and I’m sure they don’t understand what they are seeing. They don’t realise how good this person is. They see a ball go from A to B. The white ball goes here there and everywhere. You can’t understand the skill involved in making this happen.”
On the resurgence of Mark Williams
“Look how dangerous he is. He has a second lease of life hasn’t he? He’s coming back. Mark came down here for a game of golf. What a good golfer he is. He birdied 15, 16, 17 and 18. It was unbelievable. He has a new lease of life on a snooker table and how nice it is to see that.”
Ray also gives his views – enthusiastic views – on the reigning World Champion, Luca Brecel, but no word of that in the above account. Oh well … Luca might be World Champion, he isn’t from the UK , so, who cares he?
The exhibition tournament in Shanghai was played to a conclusion yesterday but I have no clue who won it, neither who played who, nor what the match scores were. It seems that the format was best of 11. I’m not sure if the final was longer.
Anyway…
Here is a short video showing Ronnie thumping in a fantastic final black
From what I understood, reading the comments on that video, this was during Ronnie’s match v Marco Fu, and to avoid going 3-0 down. Marco then won the next two frames to go 4-1 up, only for Ronnie to win five on the bounce for a 6-4 victory.
I also found a few pictures
One of those shows Ronnie being 3-0 up on Judd Rump, and at the table. And it’s nice to see Zhou Ying refereeing. Since she got married, she rarely referees outside China, if ever.
Thanks to Silvry who found the crucial information on Instagram: Ronnie won the event, beating Judd Trump by 6-5 in the Final.
And some off-math pictures shared by Robbie
And, while Ronnie was at the other side of the world, Stephen Hendry shared a video where Ronnie answers the fan’s questions, and they have a relaxed chat:
It’s really enjoyable.
Meanwhile, in Leicester, the 2023 ranking CLS week 2 is about to start and here is today’s program, as shred by WST:
WST can’t get a thing right at the moment it seems … unless Barry Pinches, who already qualified for stage two, is tasked to replace Alex Ursenbacher in the afternoon session.
PS… they realised their mistake and corrected it. Still … it’s careless 😏
Ronnie O'Sullivan 