Commission agrees £691,000 regulatory settlement with MrQ
20th September 2023 | By Zak Thomas-Akoo
20th September 2023
The GB Gambling Commission agreed a £690,947 (€798,643/ $853,793) regulatory settlement with MrQ operator Lindar Media for anti-money laundering (AML) and social responsibility breaches.
The Commission began its regulatory review of MrQ after it made a compliance assessment in September 2022.
The review found failings in the online bingo and igaming operator’s processes for stopping money laundering and protecting people from being harmed by gambling.
It also found that Lindar Media had breached several of its Licence Conditions and Codes of Practice (LCCP). These ranged from AML to social responsibility failings.
The Commission said that, based on these failures and considering the operator’s actions since the assessment, it had agreed a £690,947 regulatory settlement with Lindar Media. This money will be directed to social responsible causes.
Findings of the compliance assessment
The GC outlined the specific failings it had found in Lindar Media’s compliance assessment. These included weaknesses in its implementation of AML policies, procedures and controls.
The regulator also discovered shortcomings in its responsible gambling policies, procedures, controls and practices. It highlighted failures that extended to its reporting as to when key events took place.
Other deficiencies included Lindar’s head of regulatory compliance taking additional management posts without Commission approval.
The operator also did not advertise its products in a socially responsible way. Finally, it failed to make its required research, prevention and treatment contributions to an organisation supporting those harmed by gambling.
“You win some, you lose some”
Responding to the regulatory settlement, Lindar Media said that the breaches happened during a time of growth for the business and that safer gambling policies had been improved since the time of the failures.
“My focus since 2022 has been centred around maturing the day-to-day operations through the development of the senior leadership team,” said Lindar Media chief executive Savvas Fellas.
“We’ve implemented scalable processes that provide consistency as we grow and built technology-driven models that underpin compliance and safer gambling promises to our players; all of which are aligned with our mission of offering progressive, value entertainment – with delight and transparency,” he added.
Money laundering and terrorist financing failures
Licence condition 12.1.1(1) says licence holders must assess their money laundering and terrorist financing (ML and TF) risk.
The Commission said MrQ failed to have an appropriate assessment for these risks. This was because it did not assess risk relating to customers, their means of payment, or additional inherent and emerging risks.
The ML and TF assessment also did not address key risk factors. These include customers associating with higher risk countries, along with a disproportionate spend relative to their wealth and business arrangements taking place in unusual circumstances.
Other risks not accounted for related to a customer being the beneficiary of a life insurance policy as well as when a customer is a foreign national applying for residence in return for transfers of capital.
The Commission also said Lindar breached licence condition 12.1.1(2) which outlines the operator’s responsibility for putting in place ML and TF controls.
Lindar failed to have appropriate measures in place. This included the company’s practice of automatically assigning a “low” level of ML risk to new customers.
The Commission said that, at this point, there would be not enough information to give them a rating. It assessed there was an over-reliance on financial triggers to identify and maintain ML risks.
The Commission also noted that financial thresholds for ML were too high, thereby allowing customers to deposit and lose more than £10,000. The regulator said this “did not appear to be sufficiently risk-based”.
MrQ’s social responsibility breaches
MrQ’s licence condition 15.2.1(4) makes clear licensees must notify the Commission within five working days after a key event takes place.
The operator did not inform the Commission promptly when its head of regulatory compliance left the position in June 2022. As such, the regulator found that the business was in breach of the licence condition between 20 June and September 2022.
The online bingo business also failed to comply with paragraphs 1a, 1b and 2 of the Social Responsibility Codes of Practice 3.4.1 (Customer Interaction).
These rules outline how licensees must interact with customers in a manner that minimise the risk of customers experiencing harms associated with gambling.
Lindar Media failed to identify customers at risk of experiencing gambling harms. Its financial and safer gambling triggers “were not always effective”, especially when dealing with customers depositing at a high velocity.
Disproportionate spend relative to personal circumstances was not considered until large amounts of money had been lost. When MrQ did consider personal circumstances, it did so using County Court judgements and bankruptcy data which was not always effective.
MrQ’s advertising failures
The Commission criticised the company for allowing its agents to use cartoon imagery to advertise the business. This is because of its appeal to children.
Surely such association is much more damaging to the sport’s image, and hence its future, than a handful of top players opting out of a rather minor event in favour of an unstreamed exhibition in China, earning some money whilst sparing themselves a tiring back and forth trip across several time zones…
Any player making two maximum breaks during this season’s Triple Crown Series will be rewarded with a massive £147,000 bonus.
This new initiative applies to the 2023 MrQ UK Championship, the 2024 Masters and the 2024 Cazoo World Championship. A player who makes two maximums (either a 147 or 155) in either the qualifying rounds or the final stages of those three tournaments will earn the huge bonus.
WST Chairman Steve Dawson said: “There is nothing quite as exhilarating in snooker as a maximum break, those moments bring us to the edge of our seats. And we’re making that achievement all the more special this season during our Triple Crown events.
“We’d love to see at least one player make a 147 at the MrQ UK Championship which would give them two more tournaments to chase the bonus. Last season we saw maximums from Kyren Wilson and Mark Selby at the Crucible – imagine the thrill if there was an extra £147,000 on the line!
“The skill level in snooker now is higher than ever and we expect this new prize will give the players extra motivation to go for maximum breaks.”
The bonus would be awarded in addition to the high break prizes for the individual events.
Up to three players could win this bonus, for example if three different players each made two 147s then they would each win £147,000. Or if one player made six maximums then he would bank £441,000!
The counting events are:
MrQ UK Championship. November 18-23 (qualifying rounds) and November 25 to December 3 The Masters. January 7-14. Cazoo World Championship. April 8-17 (qualifying rounds) and April 20 to May 6.
Looks great he? Well the snooker.org team had a good look at the stats. In the history of the game so far, a player having 2 maximum breaks in the course of those three events happened only once, in 2007/08 when Ronnie had one against Mark Selby in the 2007 UK Championship semi-finals, and another one in the last 16 of the 2008 World Championship against Mark Williams. In total there was never more than three maximums made during those three events combined in a season, and, other than Ronnie’s “double”, they were always made by three different players. So, this, in my eyes is just a publicity coup, as WST probably looked at the stats and know that the “risk” they are taking is very, very small … No player in their right mind will take the risk to go for a maximum in the second most important ranking tournament of the season, unless, maybe, if they are so far behind that they have forfeited any serious hope to win the match in progress.
This season eight “week winners” will compete for the biggest price in amateur snooker.
They are Michael Holt, Harvey Chandler, Lee Walker, Hayden Staniland, Josh Thomond, Dharminder Lilly, Andy Lavin and Nic Barrow. Good luck to them all!
Here is what happened on week 8
On Monday … Wayne Townsend bet Patrick Wallace in the final
On Tuesday … Fergal Quinn beat Hayden Staniland in the final
On Wednesday … Hayden Staniland was our winner
The event was well supported! By pool legend Jayson Shaw and … by the local pub!
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) and UAE Cue Sports have announced the launch of a new Middle East Series of events as the latest addition to WPBSA Q Tour Global.
Following the launch of both the Asia-Pacific and Americas Series previously, the Middle East region represents another significant addition to the newly expanded WPBSA Q Tour Global, which will see 24 players contest three places on the professional World Snooker Tour for the next two 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 Middle East region – from across the globe.
MIDDLE EAST SERIES
The WPBSA Q Tour Middle East Series will include three recognised tournaments to be held at the Cue Sports Academy, Zayed Sports City, Abu Dhabi and will operate its own ranking list with the top ranked player following the third event to qualify for the Global Playoff next spring.
The qualifying events will be:
Event 1 – 4-10 January 2024
Event 2 – 11-17 January 2024
Event 3 – 18-24 January 2024
Events will be open to players holding nationality for the following countries:
Provisional African countries eligible: Egypt, Libya, Morocco
Provisional European countries eligible: Israel, Turkey
All players cannot have played in Q Tour UK/Europe during this season.
“A KEY GROWTH AREA”
Jason Ferguson, WPBSA Chairman said: “I am delighted to welcome the Middle East region to the WPBSA Q Tour Global in what is unquestionably a groundbreaking moment for our sport.
“We have been aware for several years of the great talent that exists in this region, none more so than our former Shoot Out champion Hossein Vafaei on the World Snooker Tour. We firmly believe this project will grow throughout the Middle East with many countries already active in snooker. It is vital that all players have the ability through localised events to have the opportunity to enjoy a successful career in our sport at the highest level.
“I must thank our friend Mohamad Shehab Al Hashmi for his support of this important project. Mohamed Shehab is without doubt the most decorated athlete for cuesports in the Middle East and we look forward to welcoming UAE Cue Sports as a Q Tour host venue next January.”
Mohamed Shehab Al Hashmi said, UAE Cue Sports and 12-time Arab champion said: “It is a great honour for UAE Cue Sports to be able to host these prestigious tournaments, with the top ranked player to be able to represent our region at the Q Tour Global playoff next year.
“The Middle East region is home to so many talented snooker players and we are excited to be able to provide them with this incredible opportunity to be able to compete with the best players around the world and to earn their place on the professional tour.“
Full tournament information, including entry and results will be available via WPBSA SnookerScores in due course.
Since when is Israel a European country and not a Middle East country? I’m not sure. Every geography book will tell you it’s in the Middle East. This distinction, for me, is just a trick to allow Israel exclusion from the final list as many of the Islam dominated countries cited above will not want them in there. Often in the past, when IBSF has organised events in the region, Israeli athletes were refused the necessary visas. Also, some countries – like Iran – might forbid their own players to play Israeli players. That happened even on the main tour when Hossein Vafaei was set to play Eden Sharav. Whatever your opinion on the current conflict, you have to understand that this is not right. WPBSA must obtain the guaranties that this will not happen.
Snooker in CRISIS with Mark Selby, John Higgins and world champion Luca Brecel leading a player mutiny – as Ronnie O’Sullivan brands governing body’s stance ‘b****cks’
Selby, Higgins and Brecel are among five players to have snubbed a key event
The trio have shunned this month’s Northern Ireland Open to play in Macau
Mark Selby, John Higgins and world champion Luca Brecel are leading a player mutiny – handing an embarrassing snub to snooker bosses.
Four-time world champions Selby and Higgins plus the reigning Crucible king Brecel – along with Ali Carter and Thepchaiya Un-Nooh – have shunned this month’s official Northern Ireland Open.
Despite threats of legal action from World Snooker Tour, the five decided not to enter Belfast and opt instead for a lucrative Macau exhibition.
WST bosses sent first emails and then strongly-worded letters claiming if the players took part in Macau they would be breaching contracts, harming the game and facing disciplinary action.
But lawyers representing the players reckon the threats are baseless since they did not enter the Northern Ireland event, and believe they are just doing what they want on their own time.
Both John Higgins (left) and world champion Luca Brecel have shunned the Northern Ireland Open
And world No1 Ronnie O’Sullivan, himself playing in a Shanghai exhibition this month, has backed the ‘Macau Five’ – describing WST’s stance as ‘b*ll*cks, trying to scare players like that’.
Many of the players involved are furious over what they see as heavy-handed tactics. Part-organiser Victoria Shi, owner of a Sheffield academy, has also been threatened with action.
Selby, who has suffered badly with mental health issues in recent years, is understood to have requested he receive no further correspondence on the matter.
This comes with another highly-paid unofficial event featuring O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Mark Williams, Jack Lisowski and Ding Junhui looming even sooner this month in Shanghai.
The Shanghai exhibition takes place during the Northern Ireland Open qualifying event. Top-16 players involved could still appear at the final stages given their opening rounds are held over.
But WST were also unhappy with big names playing this event – believing it will leave the qualifiers in the shade. They originally banned the players from taking part – before softening their stance.
And they issued similarly threatening letters to players insisting they keep all involvement in Shanghai quiet demanding a social media and news blackout – and participation in Belfast, for which only Williams is confirmed.
The player-power situation presents a huge challenge for the governing body going forward, with big-name stars openly flouting their authority – and lawyers no doubt licking their lips.
With Chinese tournaments back in the calendar this season after three years following the Covid pandemic, WST had been hoping for a smoother ride in 2023-24.
But after those years of reduced earnings new opportunities are opening up in the Far and Middle East. Players want to cash in – leading to the current row.
And events of the week have highlighted a chasm between the best players and the game’s rulers. There has even been hushed talk of a boycott of January’s prestigious Masters.
O’Sullivan has been among those fiercely critical of some aspects of the way the tour is organised, the venues used in the UK, and the treatment of the players outside Asia.
He has even in the past suggested the possibility of a breakaway tour – which today sounds less fanciful than it did.
WST were accused earlier this year of attempting to gag players and bar them speaking to the media about a large meeting discussing the future of the sport.
But on this occasion it appears any similar attempts have backfired, with the players involved calling WST’s bluff over both Macau and Shanghai.
O’Sullivan, the sport’s biggest draw, has led calls for players to be able to maximise their earnings.
On the Shanghai exhibition, he said: ‘There is absolutely no reason to try and stop me and other players going to Shanghai during the Northern Ireland qualifiers.
‘That is a small event, we are not involved, and we could still play in the final stages with our matches being held over.
‘Players are just trying to earn money, it is their choice. And they are realising their value. They are trying to restrict us. Those involved in Shanghai were sent letters advising them not to play.
‘I know for the tournament in Macau players were also sent even stronger threatening letters telling them it was in breach of their contract.
‘That with an opportunity to play in an official tournament they were turning it down and choosing to go somewhere else, and it was damaging for the sport.
‘It is b*ll*cks, trying to scare players like that. It’s wrong and I am glad they have taken a strong stance.
‘This is about players being able to earn what they can, and choose how and when they play. They can enter a tournament – but they don’t have to.
‘They used to try and tell me what to say, until I got a really good lawyer who kicked back at them. If they want to play silly games, we can all play silly games.’
WST were asked a number of pertinent questions, and given the opportunity to respond to the story. A spokesperson would say only: ‘WST does not publicly discuss private conversations with the players, or share contractual information.’
I’m not sure why this is seen as a “mutiny”. My understanding was always that players are not obliged to enter any event, and can play in what they want in their “free” time provided that it is not televised or streamed, unless they get permission from WST. After all they are essentially self-employed, although the guaranteed 20000 pounds may have changed that situation slightly. But, as far as I know, the players don’t get anything from WST/WPBSA, when they retire, so they need to secure their financial future whilst they still can. Higgins, Selby and Carter are all over 40 and in the last part of their professional career.
The streaming/television restriction was applied with sometimes ridiculous rigour in the past, notably when Paul Mount was forced to stop streaming the Pink Ribbon, a big charity pro-am, raising funds to support breast cancer research and care, that was happening in the middle of the summer when nothing else was on or even close to happen. But this is much higher profile and it does clash with a WST event.
What has changed of course in recent years is that, even if promoters do not stream or televise events, fans are now taking and sharing a lot of images and videos over social media providing huge exposure totally out of the control of the governing body.
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
