The 2023 International Championship Qualifiers start today and here is the last information WST shared about the event. These are the first qualifiers this season that will be played in front of the fans and not behind closed doors.
How To Watch The International Championship Qualifiers
The qualifying round for the 2023 International Championship runs from September 18-23, with the likes of Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, Mark Allen, John Higgins, Mark Williams, Shaun Murphy and Kyren Wilson in action.
The action takes place at Ponds Forge in Sheffield and fans can be there for just £10 per day – for details click here.
Or you can watch it live online, here’s the list of broadcasters:
Monday September 18 Tian Pengfei v Stephen Hendry Barry Hawkins v Andrew Pagett Matthew Selt v Jimmy White
Wednesday September 20 Hossein Vafaei v Reanne Evans
Thursday September 21 Mark Selby v Muhammad Asif Kyren Wilson v Adam Duffy Mark Allen v Ma Hailong Jack Lisowski v He Gouqiang Mark Williams v Rebecca Kenna
Friday September 22 Neil Robertson v Ryan Thomerson John Higgins v Manasawin Phetmalaikul Si Jiahui v Julien LeClercq Shaun Murphy v Andres Petrov
Michael Holt defeated Liam Davies 5-2 in the final at the Snookerhallen in Stockholm, Sweden to win the second UK/Europe Q Tour event of the 2023/24 season.
Former Shoot Out winner Holt is seeking a return to the professional ranks and his maiden Q Tour triumph sees him rise the rankings in pursuit of top spot come the end of the seven-event campaign which guarantees promotion to the World Snooker Tour.
As a seed player, Holt began his challenge on Saturday in the Swedish capital. After receiving a walkover in the last 64 he defeated Yu Kiu Chang (Hong Kong) 3-1 with breaks of 74 and 68, and then dispatched Event One runner Craig Steadman 3-0 – registering a run of exactly 100 in the opening frame.
Returning for the last eight the next day, Holt restricted his opponent Daniel Womersley to just 14 points throughout the entire match as he recorded a 4-0 success with efforts of 84 and 82.
In the semi-finals, the 45-year-old ended the run of Wales’ Alfie Davies 4-1, top scoring with a 58 break in frame four. Previously, Holt had never been past the last 32 of a Q Tour event, but he relinquished just two frames in four matches en route to his first final on the circuit.
Emerging from the other side of the draw was 17-year-old Davies who was looking to become the first player to win back-to-back Q Tour titles after securing Event One in North Shields last month.
Davies – who remains top of the overall rankings – survived a deciding frame against Daniel Holoyda (Poland) in the last 64 before whitewash wins over Oliver Sykes and the experienced former professional and Shoot Out winner Robin Hull in the last 32 and 16 respectively.
In an entertaining quarter-final, Davies ousted last season’s Q Tour Playoff finalist and current Austrian national champion Florian Nuessle 4-3. Nuessle crafted a break of 113 to force a deciding frame but Davies was not to be denied.
Awaiting Davies in the semi-finals was fellow teenager and reigning Polish national champion Antoni Kowalski who was making his Q Tour debut. Davies, though, became only the third player to reach consecutive event finals as he compiled breaks of 79, 50 and 65 in a 4-0 victory.
Holt started the final very well with a 91 break in the opening frame. He then doubled that lead, but Davies responded as he deposited the next two frames (61 break, frame three) to go all square into the mid-session interval.
However, momentum swung again after resumption as Holt strung together three successive frames – including a run of 70 in the sixth – to claim the title.
Event Three is set to take place at the TSG Heilbronn in Germany between October 20-22.
Amateur News – The 900 is back tonight!
In other, unrelated news… my post yesterday about Ronnie’s win in Shanghai was the 3000th one in this blog. Nice milestone … thanks Ronnie!
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) and the Asia-Pacific Snooker and Billiards Federation (APSBF) are today delighted to announce the launch of the new Q Tour Asia-Pacific Series as part of the WPBSA Q Tour Global during the 2023/24 season.
The Asia-Pacific region becomes the first to join the newly expanded WPBSA Q Tour Global, which will culminate in a 24-player playoff, with three places on the professional World Snooker Tour to be won from the start of the 2024/25 season.
As in previous seasons, the playoff will feature a minimum of 16 players from the UK/Europe rankings, who will now be joined by up to eight international qualifiers – including one from the Asia-Pacific region – from across the globe.
ASIA-PACIFIC SERIES
To encompass three recognised tournaments across the region, the Asia-Pacific Series will operate its own ranking list with the top ranked player following the third event to qualify for this season’s Q Tour Global Playoff next spring.
The qualifying events will be:
Bob Hawke AC Open Snooker (12-15 October 2023)
New Zealand Open Snooker
Dr Clem Jones AC Open Snooker
Events will be open to players born in, or resident in the Asia-Pacific region for a minimum of six months.
“PROVEN TRACK RECORD”
Jason Ferguson, WPBSA Chairman said: “I am excited to welcome the APSBF to the WPBSA Q Tour Global and to provide this additional opportunity for players in the Asia-Pacific region to qualify for the World Snooker Tour.
“Frank Dewens and his team have a proven track record of hosting high-quality tournaments, none more so than this year’s WSF Championships in Sydney which were well-supported by players from the region and beyond.
“I look forward to welcoming the successful player to our new Global Playoff, where they will compete among the best amateur snooker players in the world to join our professional circuit.”
Frank Dewens, APSBF President said: “We are extremely excited and honoured to be included in the WPBSA Q Tour Global. This will provide opportunities for the players within the APSBF to qualify for the World Snooker Tour.”
Entry for the Bob Hawke AC Open is open now via the ABSC website with a closing date of 29 September 2023.
WPBSA To Host Landmark New Player Support Programme
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) and WPBSA Players have today announced the launch of the WPBSA Player Support Programme, to be held on September 15 and 16 at the prestigious Lilleshall National Sports Centre.
The groundbreaking new event promises to be a transformative experience for over 40 professional snooker players and will be hosted by the renowned sports broadcaster, Rob Walker, and is proudly presented in association with Taom Billiards.
Over 40 current professionals from all around the world are set to take part in the weekend, including rising stars Julien Leclercq and Ben Mertens from Belgium, China’s WSF world champion Ma Hailong as well as England’s Stan Moody and Liam Pullen, who both joined the Tour this summer.
They will also be joined by the four current women professionals on the circuit including reigning world champion Baipat Siripaporn and 12-time queen Reanne Evans and a host of players making a return to the tour including WPBSA Q Tour number one Martin O’Donnell and Q School graduates Alexander Ursenbacher, Andrew Pagett and Stuart Carrington.
During the two-day event, the next generation of snooker stars will receive comprehensive support and guidance from WPBSA Players on a wide range of critical subjects, including integrity, match-fixing prevention, mental health and wellbeing, media training, financial management and career transition.
Guest speakers will include well known figures from across sport and experts from the world of business who will take the stage to share their experiences and insights, offering invaluable advice to aspiring and established players alike.
“Best preparation possible”
Jason Ferguson, WPBSA Chairman, said: “I am hugely excited by the launch of the WPBSA Player Support Programme as we aim to provide our next generation with meaningful and practical support at the start of their professional careers in our sport.
“I know from my own experience just how big a step up it is coming from the amateur game. Not only on the baize, but equally so off the table, where there is so much to learn. It is our vision that this new programme will provide players new to the tour with the best preparation possible for their respective journeys.
“And for players who might be returning to the tour, or have re-qualified via Q School, the message is the same and I am confident that everyone taking part will be able to take something valuable from the two days.
“I would like to thank our teams at the WPBSA and WPBSA Players, as well as recognise the support to be provided by Taom Billiards and the Professional Players Federation, which demonstrates the commitment of key stakeholders to the future of our sport.”
Brendan Batson, Chairman of the Professional Players Federation (PPF), expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative, saying: “It is vitally important that players know their sport’s rules on betting. Integrity education is essential for all professional players and will help protect them from the devastation that match-fixing scandals bring to reputations and careers. The PPF is delighted to support the first WPBSA Players Support Programme.”
Ken Doherty, Chairman of WPBSA Players, said: “Professional sport can be tough. Our commitment to supporting snooker professionals on issues such as personal and professional development, and welfare is unwavering. We believe that a healthy and well-supported player community is the cornerstone of a thriving sport. Together, we are cueing up a brighter future for our players, ensuring they have the support and resources needed to excel both on and off the baize.”
This event started yesterday and the first reactions from participant were very positive, going by what I was able to read on social media.
Here are some images, shared on social media by WPBSA:
The semi-finals today in Nuremberg will see Judd Trump face John Higgins and Mark Selby do battle with Barry Hawkins. Here is how yesterday on the baize unfolded as reported by WST.
Barry Hawkins inflicted Luca Brecel’s first defeat as World Champion, coming through a deciding frame to win 5-4 in their last 16 clash at the BetVictor European Masters in Nuremberg.
Defeat for Brecel ends his ambitions of emerging from this event as world number one. The 28-year-old had to make the semi-finals to leapfrog Ronnie O’Sullivan, but ended up falling two hurdles short.
Hawkins is seeking a first ranking title in six years, having last lifted silverware at the World Grand Prix back in 2017. Next up he faces a quarter-final clash with Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham this evening, who edged out former European Masters winner Jimmy Robertson 5-4.
Leading 2-1, Hawkins composed a fine break of 70 to head into the mid-session interval with a commanding 3-1 advantage this afternoon. However, when play resumed, Brecel responded by taking the fifth and sixth frames to restore parity at 3-3. The Crucible king then made it three on the bounce to move just a frame from victory at 4-3.
Hawkins showed his class with a stunning 133 to force a decider, where both players spurned opportunities for victory. Eventually the Londoner got himself over the line and wrapped up a 5-4 win.
Defeat left Brecel disappointed to miss out on the world number one spot. However, that blow was softened after finding out the cue he won the World Championship had been found, after it was lost on a recent flight from Seattle to Frankfurt.
“Missing world number one and the chance to get a trophy was quite disappointing. I think it would have been quite gettable. It wasn’t to be,” said four-time ranking event winner Brecel.
“It was surprising that after ten days I have got my cue back. It is going to be delivered to my home. That is good news. With this cue it is no fun, it would have been a horrible season for me so I’m glad I’ve got the old one back.”
Mark Selby secured his place in the last eight with a 5-2 win over Ashley Hugill. The four-time World Champion composed breaks of 69, 84, 60,103 and 68 on his way to the win. He now plays China’s Lyu Haotian, who thrashed David Gilbert 5-1.
Judd Trump saw off Ashley Carty 5-1 to make the semi-finals of the BetVictor European Masters in Nuremberg, where he will face a blockbuster clash with John Higgins tomorrow.
The Ace in the Pack is aiming to secure a first piece of ranking silverware in over a year if he can claim the title this weekend, with his last ranking win coming at the 2022 Turkish Masters.
Trump has enjoyed fantastic success against tomorrow’s opponent Higgins in recent times. He has won seven of their last eight meetings, dating back to his victory in the 2019 World Championship final. However, Higgins did get the better of their most recent encounter at the Hong Kong Masters last season.
Defeat for Carty draws the best week of his career so far to a close. The Rotherham cueman regained professional status last season by winning the Q Tour Playoffs. His run here in Nuremberg has seen him make the quarter-finals of a professional event for the first time in his career.
Breaks of 68 and 113 helped Trump secure victory this afternoon. He is eagerly looking forward to what is set to be a showpiece meeting with Higgins tomorrow.
“It is always an incredible occasion against him and always a game I cherish. We played each other a couple of weeks ago in China and it is something I always get up for. The games always seem to be pretty close. Whoever plays their best snooker normally comes out on top and it is always a great standard. Some of the best games I’ve ever been involved with have been against him and probably some of the best of all time. I think he enjoys me and I enjoy playing him,” said 34-year-old Trump.
“Something that I have learned from being a professional for so long is that you feel you have a lot of time and a lot of tournaments, but you really haven’t. If you lose your first couple of games then nine times out of ten it will dictate the whole season. Often it is the other way round and you have a good season if you get a good start. So much is down to the first couple of events and getting that confidence early on. It is nice to get off to a good start.”
Higgins secured his passage through thanks to a narrow 5-3 defeat of defending champion Kyren Wilson. The Wizard of Wishaw has now won all of the last four meetings between the pair.
Despite losing the opener, Scotland’s four-time World Champion Higgins composed breaks of 105, 74 and 52 as he took the next three frames to lead 3-1 at the mid-session.
When play resumed Wilson clawed his way back into contention to trail by one at 4-3, but Higgins closed out the tie in style with 118 to run out a 5-3 victor.
Mark Selby and Barry Hawkins will have to put their friendship to one side when they meet in tomorrow’s BetVictor European Masters semi-finals, after the pair secured respective last eight victories in Nuremberg.
Selby booked his place in the semis with a 5-2 win over China’s Lyu Haotian. Today’s victory sees him reach the 60th ranking event semi-final of his career.
The four-time World Champion is gunning for a second European Masters crown. He took home the trophy back in 2020, when he edged out Martin Gould 9-8 in the final.
It was Lyu who took a hard fought 30-minute opening frame this evening, before Selby replied with a century run of 106 to restore parity at 1-1. The Leicester cueman then added a further two on the bounce to head into the mid-session interval 3-1 in front.
When play resumed a break of 64 helped 25-year-old Lyu claw back within a frame at 3-2. He then looked set to draw level when leading 65-8 in the sixth. A break of 51 saw 22-time ranking event winner Selby take the frame down to the black, where a safety battle ensued. Eventually Selby deposited the black to the green corner and moved one from the win. He then got over the line with a break of 74 in the seventh to clinch a semi-final berth.
“Barry is one of my best mates on the tour so it is great he is in the semi-finals as well. The positive out of the match is one of us will be in the final. We will both be trying to beat each other out there, but hopefully it is a good game and we both put on a good performance,” said 40-year-old Selby.
“Once you are out there you have a job to do. He will be thinking the same as well. We have been going out for food every day this week. I’ll probably eat on my own tomorrow!
“I always say to win one tournament in a season, where the standard is now, you have to class that as a good season. If you can get it out of the way early doors then it would be great, you can relax for the rest of the season at that point.”
Hawkins earned his semi-final spot with a 5-2 defeat of Thailand’s Noppon Saengkham. The Londoner fired in breaks of 89, 52, 70 and 70 on his way to victory this evening in an impressive performance, having already beaten World Champion Luca Brecel 5-4 earlier in the day.
The Hawk is aiming to land silverware for the first time in six years this weekend. He last won a ranking title all the way back at the 2017 World Grand Prix. Since then he has been to four finals without getting over the line, including last year at the European Masters when he came up short against Kyren Wilson.
WST shared some images on Twitter (yeah I know it’s X now … how stupid!)
So then, as we arrive at the SF stage all players remaining on course are in the top 16, except for the Hawk and we all know that somehow his current ranking (19) is not a true reflection of his actual strength.
There are many former pros in the draw. It’s a shame those events are not streamed.
Someone who isn’t there despite being eligible is Bai Yulu … she has been sent to Russia to represent her country in a tournament featuring the BRIC nations (Russia, Brazil, India and China… a very democratic club is BRIC).
The event started with a group stage and has now reached the knock-out stage. Bai won all her group matches.
The following images were shared by Bai Yulu on weibbo:
It seems that no matter what there will be a Russian finalist… pure luck of the draw surely 😇.
Also this podcast is worth listening to … it explains how the enquiry ending in 10 Chinese players being banned started and unfolded. Reminds me… any news about Mark King?
Mink Nutcharut has defeated Ng On Yee 4-2 to win the WineCellars.com US Open for the first time her career following a high-quality final at Ox Billiards in Seattle.
The Thai star extends her career-title haul to six on the World Women’s Snooker Tour (WWS) since her maiden victory in 2019 and in doing so ensured that she will reclaim the world number one ranking following the tournament.
The second staging of the tournament welcomed four of the world’s top five players, with Mink and Ng both competing on US soil for the first time, while 2022 finalists Jamie Hunter and Rebecca Kenna both returned for another tilt at the title. The field included players from no fewer than eight countries, with Canada’s Maryann McConnell notably making her return to the circuit following a 28-year hiatus and sensationally reaching the knockout stages.
With the top four seeds having progressed to the semi-finals, it was Mink and Ng Yee who were the standout players throughout the event and defeated the defending champion Hunter and last year’s runner-up Kenna to reach the title match.
Three-time world champion Ng made the stronger start as she dominated the opening frame with runs of 55 and 47, before she claimed a dramatic second on the black to double her advantage.
Mink was not to be deterred, however, as she responded by winning the following two frames to draw level, before turning the tables with a black-ball steal of her own in frame five to take the lead for the first time. A high-quality contest with both players approaching 90% pot success, hopes of a deciding-frame for neutral watchers were to be dashed as Mink closed out victory with an impressive run of 56 in what would prove to be the sixth and final frame.
Success for Mink means that the 23-year-old has claimed the season-opening event for the first time and will replace England’s Reanne Evans at the top of the world rankings, after Evans had overtaken her following last season’s British Open. She also recorded her first century break of the season with a run of 107.
For Ng, the tournament nevertheless represented an impressive return to form as she reached her first ranking final of the calendar year, as well as having claimed the bumper $500 high-break prize on offer from tournament title sponsors WineCellars.com following her impressive run of 121 during Friday’s group stage matches.
Side-Tournaments
The Seniors side-tournament saw Hong Kong’s Jaique Ip Wan In defeat US player Kathleen Stanley to win her first Tour title in four years. The 43-year-old saw off Maryann McConnell and Diana Schuler in two hard-fought matches to reach the final match against home player Stanley, before scoring a 2-0 victory to earn her maiden Seniors crown.
In the Challenge Cup it was Germany’s Schuler who earned her second career WWS title following wins against US trio Frances Tso, Kaarin Lysen and Stanley to add to her success at last season’s Scottish Open Seniors tournament.
World Women’s Snooker would like to thank title sponsors WineCellars.com for their support of the event which helped ensure a significant increase in prize money from a year ago, as well as all of the team at Ox Billiards for their wonderful hospitality without whom the event would not be possible.
And some more pictures from yesterday’s action
Now about the future of our sports…
David Hendon has gone to see and talk to Barry Hearn at his home in Brentwood.
Barry Hearn may be retired but he remains very active and very much involved in snooker. His ambition is to further develop the sport by bringing in more events and upping the prize money to 20 millions pounds next season. That’s ambitious but also typical Barry Hearn.
However to reach that goal snooker will have to go where the money is and currently the money is essentially coming from countries that are after sportswashing. Although the contract isn’t signed yet, it looks very likely that snooker will head to Saudi Arabia next season. I know that we live in world driven by money, not morals. I know that the players deserve to earn more from a very skilful and difficult sport. Yet, I can’t come to terms with the idea. You will tell me that China isn’t the most democratic/tolerant country either, that they don’t treat persons from some ethnic minorities as equal citizens. I know that, I don’t agree with it at all, but at least snooker IS played in China, the CBSA is a very active body. It’s not just about the money, it’s not just about sportswashing.
The other major theme in this conversation is the Crucible. WST contracts with the Crucible and with the BBC end in 2027. What’s next? Barry Hearn feels that for the sports to grow, the World Championship MUST move to a bigger venue. He is pressing Sheffield to build such venue, but if they don’t he’s ready to see the World Championship move away from the city. The truth is that – for all the sentimental attachment we have for that iconic venue – the Crucible isn’t a very suitable venue for the World Championship. It’s too small by today’s standards, it’s too cramped, it doesn’t offer enough proper facilities for hospitality. And it’s not true that you have the perfect view from every seat either, not if you are a 1m 67cm tall (or short) woman like me. Unless you are up in the rafters, you may well spend most of the session trying to peek around the head of the taller person(s) sat in front of you. David admits that he is now convinced that moving away from the Crucible is almost inevitable and that staying in it, as it currently is, would be unwise.
In a more immediate future … this from Sinosports on twitter today
The World Snooker Tour heads to mainland China for the first time since 2019 next month for the 2023 Shanghai Masters, with Ronnie O’Sullivan defending the title against snooker’s biggest stars.
The invitation event will run from September 11 to 17 at the Grand Stage in Shanghai. It’s a field of 24 players, comprising the world’s top 16, the next four highest ranked Chinese players, and four wild cards. The names of the wild cards players will be announced by August 19, following the completion of the CBSA Under-21 event.
New World Champion Luca Brecel will open against either Mark Williams or Pang Junxu, while Judd Trump will meet either close friend Jack Lisowski or Zhou Yuelong.
All matches up to and including the quarter-finals are best of 11 frames, with the semi-finals best of 19 and then the final will be best of 21.
Details of how to watch the event will be announced soon. Snooker’s return to China will continue with two ranking events – the Wuhan Open in October and the International Championship in Tianjin City in November.
Shanghai Masters prize money:
Winner £210,000 Runner-up: £105,000 Semi-finals: £70,000 Quarter-finals: £35,000 Last 16: £17,500 Last 24: £10,000 High Break: £10,000 Total £825,000
The CBSA under-21 Event mentioned by WST is the same event Lewis wrote about in the comments section of the 2023 CBSA Team Event final day post.
Ronnie hasn’t a particularly easy draw to say the least. OK, he starts in the last 16 but there he will probably meet Ali Carter a player he doesn’t particularly like to play. Should he reach the QFs, he could face John Higgins, and should he reach the SFs, Judd Trump or Mark Selby… This is an elite event and there are no really easy draws of course.
The 2023 Wine Cellars Women Snooker US Open – Day 1
Jamie Hunter is the defending champions. She and all favourites won all their matches yesterday. The current HB is a 121 scored by On Yee Ng.
Table 1 is streamed on this page and commentary is provided by David Burney and Christian Youngers. If you missed anything you will be able to watch it back on the OxBilliards YouTube page. Yes… even last year event.
I really enjoy their commentary style. For a start they are kind and positive. They know it’s a hard game. They react to good shots with “oh!”, “ah!” and “wow!” aplenty. they clearly enjoy what they see and it is contagious. They tell us a bit about the US and Canadian players… wishing to see more of those Canadians “coming down here” as they say. BTW the ladies are not wearing trousers… no, no, no … they are wearing slacks 😉.
The club looks really lovely, a bit old-fashion. If I understood correctly the players are playing on Star tables, fitted to pro competition standards, and freshly recovered ahead of this event.
The action will continue today… this evening that is for us Europeans.
Here are some images shared on social media by WPBSA
The 900 Qualifiers Week Two starts today
By the end of the week-end, two more players will have booked their spot in the main event.
All the action is streamed on SportyStuffTV YouTube page. If you missed last week-end action it’s there too.
World Championship semi-finalist Si Jiahui will lock horns with 1997 World Champion Ken Doherty at the BetVictor European Masters later this month in Nuremberg, following the completion of the second-round draw.
The Darling of Dublin has been handed a tough assignment against the Chinese sensation, who reached the quarter-finals at last year’s tournament, after the pair advanced through July’s qualifying event in Leicester.
Elsewhere, there’s an all-Welsh clash as Mark Williams and Matthew Stevens go head-to-head. And 12-time Women’s World Champion Reanne Evans plays David Gilbert.
The top eight seeds, including Ronnie O’Sullivan and Judd Trump, are yet to play their first-round matches, with their ties being held over until the opening day at the Kia Metropol Arena. …
Kyren Wilson won the title last season, beating Barry Hawkins 9-3 in the final, and his first-round match is against Scotland’s Dean Young, one of eight players to make it through this summer’s Q School.
Jason Ferguson has been working on more international events (Picture: Getty Images)
The World Snooker Tour calendar for this season is not complete yet, with more events set to be added, confirmed WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson.
After three pandemic-hit seasons, there has been an encouraging return to China for this campaign, with the Shanghai Masters, Wuhan Open and International Championship on the calendar after no events in the country since 2019.
This was welcome news for players who had felt earning opportunities were frustratingly low with the loss of the big-money Chinese events due to Covid.
Ferguson says there will be more good news to come too, with gaps in the calendar later in the season promised to be filled.
March is currently a quiet time of the season, with the Six Red World Championship running from 4-9 and the World Mixed Doubles from 30-31, but we can expect at least one event to fill that void.
‘We’ve so many opportunities on the go at the moment,’ Ferguson told Metro.co.uk. ‘There’s a lot going on in the Far East, the Middle East, Europe.
‘We’re probably going to run out of dates rather than events, the way things are going. It’s already getting to that point now, where we’re looking at longer term calendars and we’re becoming very tight for space for major events, which is great.
‘We’re not finished this season. There’s a few gaps in March which will be filled in so there’s still more to come. Lots going on. What we’re trying to do is put bigger events on. You can put events on just to fill gaps but we’re really trying to up the game.’
There is hope that there will be expansion in Europe as well as China, especially given the remarkable World Championship success of Belgian superstar Luca Brecel.
The thrilling triumph for the 28-year-old over Mark Selby in the Crucible final will hopefully create a surge of popularity in snooker in Belgium, ideally leading to a major event in the country.
Ferguson confirms that discussions are ongoing, as they are with numerous countries, but details on progress are light at this stage.
Luca Brecel’s World Championship win should usher in a wave of popularity in snooker in Belgium (Picture: Getty Images)
‘I’m excited about the international space for snooker, it’s growing a lot,’ he said. ‘It’s pleasing for me as someone who’s been out on the frontline, pushing it in every corner of the world, it’s great to see how it’s expanding.
‘Belgium is one of the territories we’re talking to and there’s ongoing discussions all over Europe.’
There is something of a gap in the WST calendar right now as European Masters qualifiers finished on 29 July and British Open qualifying begins on 14 August.
Snooker was ALWAYS popular in Belgium. Our Federation is quite big actually considering that Belgium is a small country. The likes of Ben Mertens and Julien Leclercq don’t develop overnight. Only this week there has been a national 6-reds Soot-out event … which was the perfect fun event for this time of the year!
Let’s hope that Jason’s promises translate in actual events, and preferably, not events hosted by countries where snooker is barely ever played but are after sports-washing.
Indeed it starts with the first day of the ranking 2023 Championship League Snooker and it doesn’t start in the best fashion …
Indeed this is the program for tomorrow as shared by the organisers
What was supposed to be the strongest group of the two has now been moved to table 2 as Neil Robertson and Liam Highfield are being replaced by Craig Steadman and Sean McAllister.
So we already lost one of the poster boys… and it’s a pretty horrible poster too TBH
McAllister is ranked 22 in the Q-School order of merit, Craig Steadman is ranked 25.
It’s also unclear whether we will have live scores ….
In the interim period we will have a temporary match centre, which you can find here.
The new website and app, to launch later in 2023, will offer a much-improved experience for fans worldwide. We are working with new partners on building a digital offering which, once complete, will provide fans with new insights and opportunities to engage with snooker online.
Following the link to the temporary match centre currently sends you to this…
Well I suppose they still have the coming night to make it work …
in better news …
This was shred today on twitter …
It’s both good and not so good news actually
The good news is that Bai Yulu, who impressed at the Q-School shows again that she can certainly compete with the guys. She’s the best news ever (so far, of course) for those who support women in snooker. The not so good news is that she’s back in China and whether she may be able to compete in the Q-Tour – provided that she is invited in the first place – is far from certain.
World Championship semi-finalist Si Jiahui will lock horns with 1997 World Champion Ken Doherty at the BetVictor European Masters later this month in Nuremberg, following the completion of the second-round draw.
Ronnie O'Sullivan 