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TUESDAY 27/09/2005 15:26:49 SNOOKER: Ding crashes out to Ford Chinese teenager Ding Jun Hui failed in his bid to qualify for the final stages of the Grand Prix when he suffered a shock 5-3 defeat to Leicester's Tom Ford at Pontin's, Prestatyn.
Ding, 18, beat Stephen Hendry 9-5 in Beijing last April to win the China Open to the delight of more than 100 million TV viewers in his home country.
But because he was a wild card for the event, he did not receive any prize money or points and ended the season a disappointing 62nd in the rankings.
Ding, currently top of the Betfred Premier League, which includes Hendry and Ronnie O`Sullivan, was looking for a good start to the new ranking tournament campaign and led Ford 2-0 thanks to breaks of 76 and 130.
Ford, the world number 51, snatched the second on the black and won the fourth as well to make it 2-2 before Ding compiled a second century, 118.
But this proved to be his last decent contribution as Ford edged 4-3 ahead through runs of 60 and 50 before adding a scrappy eighth for victory.
The 22-year-old, a quarter-finalist in last season`s Malta Cup, faces Norwich professional Barry Pinches in the TV stages at Preston Guild Hall next month.
"Before the draw was made I thought the worst match I could get was Ding so when I saw I was playing him I knew it would be tough," admitted Ford.
"I didn`t feel I played that well and I only had one break over 60, but my safety was very good."
Belgian number one Bjorn Haneveer will provide the first round opposition for defending champion O`Sullivan after sweeping aside Pakistan`s Shokat Ali 5-1.
Belfast`s Joe Swail, twice a semi-finalist in the world championship, eased through with a 5-1 defeat of Chinese hopeful Jin Long.
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Former Grand Prix champion Dominic Dale came through the qualifiers at Prestatyn today (Wednesday) to set up a match with Stephen Hendry. 28 Sep 2005 15:22:00 The 33-year-old from Penarth beat James McBain 5-1 at Pontin's to qualify for the final stages of the season's first ranking tournament. He will meet seven-times world champion Hendry at the Guild Hall in Preston next month.
"I've never beaten Stephen although I faced him several times in his prime and we've had some close matches," said world No 34 Dale. "I know I can beat him because he does make mistakes and hopefully I'll get chances. But when he's at his best there's no one better.
"It will be tough for him as it's his first ranking match of the season so it's a good time to play him."
Dale beat John Higgins 9-6 in the 1997 Grand Prix final in Bournemouth for his sole major title, after starting the event a 100/1 outsider. That boosted him into the top 32 where he remained for eight years before dropping out at the end of last season.
"It's a good thing for me in a way as I'll be starting against lower ranked players now. Sometimes you have to go backwards to go forwards," added the player nicknamed the Spaceman.
"You have to treat it the right way and try to regroup rather than looking at it as a downhill slide."
Dale made a senstational start today with a break of 136 in the first frame and added the next three with runs of 46, 36 and 88. McBain pulled one back with a 52 before the Welshman sealed victory in frame six.
"I got off to a great start and played solid snooker throughout with not many mistakes. My practice form is very good," he said.
Mark Allen kept his excellent start to his debut Tour campaign going with a 5-0 defeat of James Tatton, setting up a match with David Gray at the Guild Hall.
World Amateur Champion Allen, from Antrim, showed his potential last month by reaching the quarter-finals of the Northern Ireland Trophy, beating Steve Davis and John Higgins, and now aims to make an impact on the ranking event circuit.
The 20-year-old rattled in breaks of 50, 94, 88 and 40 as he cruised into a 4-0 lead. The match then ended prematurely as Tatton arrived at the table late after the mid-session interval and was docked a frame.
"I would have rather finished the match properly," said Allen, who was watched by girlfriend Reanne Evans, the ladies world No 1. "I feel sorry for James because he's a good friend, He just made a mistake.
"Before the season started I didn't have much confidence but I got a real boost in Belfast by proving to myself that I can perform against the top players. I've got the Grand Prix to look forward to now. I'll be trying as hard as I can in every match and hoping to climb the rankings."
Stuart Pettman will join Ian McCulloch representing Preston at the event as he edged out Leo Fernandez 5-4 to earn a tie with Graeme Dott. He took the deciding frame with a nerveless break of 64.
Stoke's Dave Harold whitewashed Joe Delaney 5-0 to set up a match with Northern Ireland Trophy champion Matthew Stevens.
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Snooker: Wilson pots a Davis meeting Sep 29 2005
By The Evening Chronicle
Wallsend ace Gary Wilson has set up a dream clash with snooker legend Steve Davis by qualifying for the TV stage of the £400,000 Grand Prix.
Reigning world under-21 champion Wilson, 20, defeated Sussex professional Mark Davis 5-3 at Pontin's in Prestatyn, North Wales.
That ensured he started the new season in encouraging fashion - and secured a meeting with one of the game's all time greats at Preston's Guildhall. Wilson said: "Steve is a legend but when you play against anyone you just think about the balls on the table, not their reputation.
"It has been one of my ambitions to play on television so that will be great and I hope I can put up a decent show."
Wilson's best breaks were efforts of 67 and 93 and he admitted to being surprised at having won without hitting top gear.
He said: "I am amazed really because I thought I played awful.
"I have played better than that and been heavily beaten.
"Maybe we were both rusty because it was the start of the season but luckily for me Mark did not play well himself.
"I need to find some form from somewhere. Hopefully I will discover it before I play Steve at Preston.
"I have been practising hard during the summer, for four or five days a week but I have to start producing the goods in matches."
Wilson started the new season 79th in the rankings, having made his debut on the circuit last year.
He narrowly avoided relegation after a late run of victories following a dreadful start to the campaign.
Wilson faces 48-year-old Davis on Sunday, October 9, in the BBC-televised tournament, worth £60,000 to the eventual winner.
Meanwhile, Mark Allen, the surprise package of last month's Northern Ireland Trophy, maintained his excellent early-season form to qualify for the televised phase of the Grand Prix, needing only 46 minutes to whitewash James Tatton 5-0.
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Maltese ref for Grand Prix
Snooker referee Terry Camilleri (left) carrying out his duties during the Malta Cup.
Apart from Tony Drago playing in the first round of the opening ranking tournament of the WSA season - the Grand Prix - Malta will also be represented by referee Terry Camilleri in Preston.
Camilleri has accepted the invitation by governing body World Snooker to control matches at the Guild Hall.
The tournament will be played between October 8 and 16.
The 2005 Grand Prix will not be Camilleri's first experience at professional level on the Main Tour. This is the fifth year since he qualified as top grade referee.
Ronnie O'Sullivan won the Grand Prix title last year, the first in his glittering career. In the final he beat Ian McCulloch 9-5.
O'Sullivan, the world no.1, will face tough competition this season, not least from the new world champion Shaun Murphy who dazzled opponents with his magnificent display at The Crucible, in Sheffield, in May.
Also gunning for the top prize will be the likes of Stephen Hendry, John Higgins, Stephen Maguire, Matthew Stevens and Mark Williams as well as traditional favourites Jimmy White, Steve Davis and John Parrott. Drago's first match is against Barry Hawkins.
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2 October 2005 POT BLACK IS BACK AS SNOOKER BREAKS OFF SNOOKER bosses are reviving the game's most well-known tournament Pot Black.
The new ranking event campaign breaks off on Saturday when 64 players contest the £400,000 Grand Prix at Preston but green baize fans will be delighted that Pot Black is back on their screens for the first time in nearly two decades.
Eight of the sport's top stars, including world champion Shaun Murphy, will compete in the event later this month to be broadcast by the BBC.
Former world champ Stephen Hendry is also expected to feature but he only has thoughts on ending Ronnie O'Sullivan's reign as Grand Prix title holder and world no 1.
He said: "There is an outside chance I can get back."
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Paul Hunter made a welcome return to competitive snooker at the betandwin.de German Open in Fuerth at the weekend.
03 Oct 2005 10:17:00
The 26-year-old from Leeds was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year but is winning his battle against the disease following five cycles of chemotherapy.
Hunter, the defending champion, received a standing ovation from hundreds of German fans before winning both of his group matches to reach the knock out stages.
Neil Robertson's cue went missing in transit but the Northern Ireland Trophy semi-finalist still progressed through the group phase. The Australian hopes to have his cue back in time for the Grand Prix, which starts on Saturday.
Most of the star names competing are through to the knock out rounds, including Matthew Stevens, Ian McCulloch and Jimmy White.
The biggest shock was UK semi-finalist David Gray's 3-2 defeat against Germany's Olaf Thode. Barry Hawkins has the highest break so far with a 136.
Gerard Greene missed the 15th black on 113 when on for a possible 147 then lost the match 3-1 to Matthew Couch.
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O'Sullivan to make announcement Tuesday, 04 October 2005 4:04
Regarded as the best natural talent the sport has seen, Ronnie O'Sullivan's weakness lies in the mental side of the game
Ronnie O'Sullivan's future in snooker should be made clear tomorrow when the world number one reveals what comes next in his career.
The 29-year-old may announce he will be taking a year out of the game for which he has often professed disenchantment.
A quarter-final defeat to Peter Ebdon at the World Championships last season was followed by an emotional O'Sullivan questioning his future in snooker. It had been a mentally draining match for O'Sullivan, whose attacking instincts were curbed by the tunnel-vision safety-first approach of Ebdon.
He has since returned to action, but O'Sullivan may opt out of the remainder of the campaign. After exiting August's Northern Ireland Trophy to Joe Swail, in his first match, O'Sullivan declared: "I'll keep turning up and see how it goes."
But his commitment has seemed to be waning, with off-the-table business interests occupying much of his life.
O'Sullivan has won 18 ranking titles to date, including three UK Championships and two world titles.
He will give a press conference in the morning at Waltham Abbey, five and a half months since, clearly fatigued, he went out at the Crucible and revealed it might be his last visit to the World Championships for a couple of years.
"I'll probably have a year off," said O'Sullivan in April. "I've not made a final decision yet but I'm 90% positive that's what I will do. It's not an irrational decision, it's something I have been thinking about for a while. It will be good for me to have a break.
"I wouldn't lose my place in the world's top 16 but I'm just waiting on a few things from people to see if it's worth a go next year. I've not fallen out of love with the game, it's still my passion. It would break my heart to turn my back on it. But mentally the game is taking its toll on me."
A snooker career time-out for O'Sullivan might see him lay down his cue, but he has also revealed his appetite for playing pool professionally in the United States.
"I would give pool tournaments in the USA priority over those smaller events if there was a dates clash," he recently told the Daily Express. "I don't anticipate any problems with the snooker authorities. No-one can force you to play in a tournament.
"If it came to it, I'd say: 'All right then, I won't play in any of the BBC events, any of the Sky events. I'll hand in my contract and go off to America to play pool for a year.' My first pool tournament should be in Orlando in November."
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O'Sullivan to play US pool events 2005/10/05 10:31:44 GMT
I have many options and alternatives that I might like to try or explore Ronnie O'Sullivan
World number one Ronnie O'Sullivan has confirmed he will play on the American pool circuit in addition to playing on the regular snooker tour. The 29-year-old said he would continue to compete in the Grand Prix, UK and World Championships, the Masters and the Premier League.
But he said he was undecided about the China Open or Welsh Open.
"I have many options and alternatives that I might like to try or explore this season and beyond," he said.
Last month O'Sullivan said he wanted to cut down the number of events he played but that he had "commitments which require me to play in the BBC-covered events".
Meanwhile, O'Sullivan has re-joined former manager Ian Doyle's 110sport stable.
The two-times world champion famously criticised Doyle and 110sport player Stephen Hendry during the 2002 World Championship.
At the time, in May 2002, he said: "I was always second in the pecking order to Hendry.
"I have no respect for them at all. It's just one massive clique. No-one in his (Doyle's) stable will ever do well because the vibe is there.
"That's why I've done so well since I've left him. Maybe some other players would do well if they left him, but I don't think they'll have the bottle."
Australian world number 28 Neil Robertson has also joined 110sport.
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O'Sullivan Looks Across Pond To PoolWed 05 Oct, 4:10 PM
Snooker's world number Ronnie O'Sullivan has confirmed he intends to carve out a second career in America playing pool.
Advertisement The 29-year-old will still take part in the four major snooker tournaments but will choose pool over any others that clash with dates in the United States.
And his reason for deciding to spend months abroad was simple - there was not enough top-quality snooker available to keep him happy.
O'Sullivan said: "I'm a snooker player and that is all I have done all my life. I love playing snooker but I have found I'm not playing enough.
"We used to play in 14 or 15 events and there are now six. That makes it tough for everyone involved in snooker.
"So I have decided rather that sit and wait for things to happen I'm going to take the bull by the horns and go elsewhere.
"Going to America doesn't interfere with the events I want to play in on the snooker calendar but obviously there could be a clash if they put on events later on in the year and I have already committed myself to these American pool tournaments.
"If I say I am going to do something then I do it and that is my decision because it will enable me to play 12 months of the year instead of seven weeks.
"I know pool is a different game but it is a great opportunity for me to go out there and have a go."
O'Sullivan, who turned professional when he was just 16, had revealed he felt disenchanted with snooker following his World Championship exit at the quarter-final stage in April.
He had hinted he might turn his back on the game completely for a while but is convinced trying his luck in America, plus a new management deal he has signed with the 110sport company, could bring back the enjoyment into his game.
He admitted: "To be honest I get more of a buzz out of pool at the moment as I find with snooker, if things are not going too well, I'm not really that interested and if things are going really well it becomes quite boring because it is too easy.
"Whereas at pool, whether things are going well or not, I know there are things I need to learn. It is a new challenge and it has rejuvenated me. I am looking forward to my snooker as well now.
"I want to be entertaining and if I have to go to America to be that then fine. I will play in someone's back yard if there is a crowd there."
There was one drawback as far as the pool playing was concerned however - O'Sullivan confidently expected to be thrashed at first.
He said: "I'm an awful pool player. It is completely different from snooker and although it looks simple it isn't unless you know how to work the system.
"That's why snooker players get thrashed by American pool players. There is an art to it and a lot more tactics to the game of pool, which I need to learn. But I have got the time to do that - I have a lot of time.
"It's a commitment but I'm not afraid of that. I know I will have to learn but that's what I did as kid, learn from people who are better than me.
"I know that given time I will be up there challenging, although I might hate it and say in about a year's time "see you later!". But there is good money in it and it is good fun - they have music playing in the background and things like that."
O'Sullivan will take part in the Grand Prix tournament in Preston this week and also in the UK championships, the Masters and the World Championships plus a number of lower-profile events.
His new deal with 110sport sees him rejoin a company he left acrimoniously four years ago when they were known as Cuemasters.
O'Sullivan admitted: "We parted company for certain reasons but a lot of that was my own fault. My own greed got the better of me. At the time I took the big chunk of dough. I made a mistake but I was just thinking of myself."
The hook-up with 110sport sees him join the same stable as Stephen Hendry and become part of a six-figure sponsorship deal with mineral water company Highland Spring which will guarantee O'Sullivan a greater return than taking part in many of the tournaments he will now miss because of his pool commitments.
Ronnie O'Sullivan's description of snooker as "a sinking ship" was "ill-informed", according to World Snooker chairman Rodney Walker. O'Sullivan said he fears for the future of the game and plans to play on the American pool circuit in addition to the regular snooker tour.
"I know that's a selfish way to look at it but I've got to look after my own interests and well-being," he said.
But Walker told Five Live: "Some of his remarks are, at best, ill-informed."
He added: "Some of it I don't blame him for because we haven't announced our results for last year, nor have I announced a new broadcast contract, nor have we announced any new sponsors.
"Two of those announcements are imminent. His timing is unfortunate at a time when the sport is about to make some very positive statements."
O'Sullivan will play in the four BBC-covered events in the coming season as well as the Betfred League, but has not committed beyond that.
"Snooker's a great game but I see a lot of things are not happening," the world number one told Five Live.
"I see a sinking ship and I don't want to be part of that. I don't want to hang around for another year, two years, and find we haven't got any tournaments."
Hann to miss Preston Grand Prix Quinten Hann has pulled out of the Grand Prix tournament in Preston, citing medical reasons. The Australian, ranked 22 in the world, is currently under investigation by the sport's governing body after alleged involvement in match-fixing.
World Snooker started disciplinary proceedings against Hann in May.
Ricky Walden, who was set to face Hann in the opening round of the season's first ranking event, will receive a bye into the second round at the Guildhall.
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Rocket primed for Preston defence
Snooker's first ranking event of the season begins in Preston on Saturday with world number one Ronnie O'Sullivan seeking to retain his Grand Prix crown. O'Sullivan faces world number 81 Bjorn Haneveer of Belgium in the opening round, while world champion Shaun Murphy is up against Mark Selby.
Paul Hunter continues his comeback from cancer against Rory McLeod on Sunday.
World number two Stephen Hendry will need to see off Welshman Dominic Dale on Monday if he is to progress.
Other interesting first-round ties see veteran Jimmy White, who has dropped out of the top 16, pitted against Cleveland's Mike Dunn.
Last year's beaten finalist Ian McCulloch, who also reached the semi-finals of the World Championship last season, faces Finland's most famous snooker export, Robin Hull.
UK champion Stephen Maguire will be looking to build on last season's success as he comes up against Irishman Michael Judge.
And six-times world champion Steve Davis will be looking to delay his BBC commentary duties by overcoming world number 77 Gary Wilson of Newcastle, who has reached the finals of a ranking event for the first time.
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O'SULLIVAN AND ROBERTSON JOIN 110SPORT
110SPORT Management Ltd - the biggest management group involved in professional snooker - are able to announce that world No.1 Ronnie O'Sullivan and top Australian player Neil Robertson have joined their ranks for the 2005/06 season.
Speaking today, O'Sullivan, who aims to combine playing snooker and pool over the coming months, said; “I think as everyone knows, I have several options and alternatives that I might like to try or explore this season and beyond.
“Thanks to the agreement I have with 110sport, I will be able to do that while making the most of the potential commercial opportunities which will arise.”
O'Sullivan intends to participate in the forthcoming Grand Prix, as well as the UK Championship, The Masters and the World Championship as well as the Betfred Premier League. However, he has yet to decide what other World Snooker events he might play in, if any.
And four years after having parted company with 110sport, the 29-year-old is happy to be part of snooker's biggest stable again.
"We parted company for certain reasons but a lot of that was my own fault,” admitted O'Sullivan at a packed press conference at the Waltham Abbey Marriott Hotel. “My own greed got the better of me. At the time I took the big chunk of dough. I made a mistake but I was just thinking of myself."
World No.28 Robertson, who climbed 40 places in the world standings last season, said: “I have been given an opportunity to be part of the biggest management team in professional snooker. I think most players have looked at 110sport and wanted to be part of it.
“Hopefully this move will allow me to concentrate totally on playing the game.”
In making the announcement, Lee Doyle, Chief Executive of 110sport said; “We are delighted to have two players of such quality come on board with 110sport.
“Neil has certainly made his mark in the last few years and is definitely a potential future champion whilst Ronnie is generally accepted as the biggest talent in the game and a proven winner.
“We have been able to attract these players on board - and keep our existing top-line stars - by the commercial opportunities we have put in place and we look forward to a successful partnership over the coming season and beyond.”
Stewart Weir, Communications Director for 110sport added: “110sport have always been seen as the Manchester United of the snooker industry - the one the top players want to be associated with - and today's announcement only goes to reaffirm that long held view.”
O'Sullivan's signing means that the Stirling-based management group - who are also involved in football, golf, rugby, tennis, skiing, motorsport, bowls and horse racing - currently look after the top three players in the world rankings - O'Sullivan, Stephen Hendry MBE and Stephen Maguire.
O'Sullivan will also join up with Hendry, Maguire, Mark Williams, Ken Doherty, Marco Fu, Anthony Hamilton and Mark King as part of Team Highland Spring, who will be one of O'Sullivan's main sponsors.
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Once again all eyes are on Ronnie O'Sullivan as we approach the first ranking tournament of the year. by By Willie Thorne, BBC snooker commentator
Ronnie's recent comments about the state of the game have created a bit of a stir, but I'm not sure we should be overly worried.
He's a great character and I think he's often a bit tongue-in-cheek when he gives interviews.
If I was in his position I think I'd travel to the States and play a bit of pool too - it makes sense and if it keeps him buzzing then why not?
As ever, any predictions ahead of the Preston Grand Prix depend on how well Ronnie is playing.
He's a bit like Tiger Woods - if he's on form then the rest of the field can forget it.
Of the main contenders Stephen Hendry is in the autumn of his career and John Higgins simply isn't the player he was.
The one player I think could challenge Ronnie is our current world champion Shaun Murphy.
I've known Shaun for the past 10 years and I always thought he had the potential to break into the top 10.
His major problem was perhaps that he rated himself too highly when he was younger, and never really had to work too hard.
Now he's sorted that part of his game out and I think he can go far - Shaun is a great lad with a huge amount of talent.
His performance at the Crucible was class - beating three former champions and then enduring a tense final against Matthew Stevens.
But the one man I'm really excited about seeing this weekend is Paul Hunter.
Paul has had a torrid year fighting cancer and he's a credit to himself and the snooker world.
I spoke to him this week and he confirmed he'll be in Preston, and results aside it'll be tremendous to see him taking part.
Snooker needs people like Paul, and on the table he's a tremendous player, as anyone who has watched his Masters wins can testify to.
He's bound to have his mind on other things over the next few months, and he'll need time to get his sharpness back, but just being out there should give him a boost.
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Rocket calls for snooker shake-up 07/10/2005 - 16:46:28
World number one Ronnie O'Sullivan has called for a complete shake-up of snooker - starting with the appointment of a ruthless "dictator".
The 29-year-old, who is to play pool in America next year along with snooker tournaments, is convinced only radical change can save the game.
O'Sullivan believes snooker needs a person in control of the sport - along with investment - as they do in Formula One.
He said: "Snooker needs a dictator - a Bernie Ecclestone. Someone to say `look, you are getting that, you are playing to these rules, you can do this and do that and you will all get loads of money, it will be fun and it will be exciting'.
"But snooker hasn't got that. Snooker has got people saying `you don't want to do this' or `you don't want to upset that'."
O'Sullivan insisted the snooker establishment had been guilty of under-achieving for a decade - despite having big-name players to rival any of the previous greats.
World Snooker chairman Sir Rodney Walker has revealed new sponsorship deals are imminent and a sport that suddenly lost Ј3million when tobacco sponsorship was banned made a Ј1million profit last year.
But for O'Sullivan that was not enough.
He said: "When you have a board and people who are trying to keep everyone happy from 128 to number one in the world you are not going to get anywhere.
"Snooker is trapped without anyone saying what needs doing."
O'Sullivan, who will play in the major snooker tournaments, expects to begin his pool career in America with a January tournament in Orlando, Florida.World number one Ronnie O'Sullivan has called for a complete shake-up of snooker - starting with the appointment of a ruthless "dictator".
The 29-year-old, who is to play pool in America next year along with snooker tournaments, is convinced only radical change can save the game.
O'Sullivan believes snooker needs a person in control of the sport - along with investment - as they do in Formula One.
He said: "Snooker needs a dictator - a Bernie Ecclestone. Someone to say `look, you are getting that, you are playing to these rules, you can do this and do that and you will all get loads of money, it will be fun and it will be exciting'.
"But snooker hasn't got that. Snooker has got people saying `you don't want to do this' or `you don't want to upset that'."
O'Sullivan believes pool in America has just such a forward-thinking figure in the shape of Kevin Trudeau, the media mogul behind the International Pool Tour.
O'Sullivan, the former world champion, is one of 150 players from across the globe who will be chasing a USD1million prize pot next year.
He said: "He wants to make pool like the Superbowl and I couldn't help but get excited about it. I spoke to a tour director who said they wanted to make pool exciting.
"He said they had noticed in sports that don't go anywhere from top to bottom everyone gets a fair cut and in the sports that are successful the top ones get all the dough and the ones who aren't making it get nothing. And I thought `there is a different mentality from snooker to pool'.
"Snooker wants to keep 128 players all happy and they want the top players to carry dead meat. In America, if you are a loser and can't cut it you get out of it. Whether that is right or not I don't know but it makes sense."
O'Sullivan insisted the snooker establishment had been guilty of under-achieving for a decade - despite having big-name players to rival any of the previous greats.
He said: "In the last 10 years they haven't made a success of taking the game on to where it could be. Look at darts - darts is starting to overtake snooker.
"I'm a great darts fan but snooker is the greatest sport on earth. The game needs restructuring. We need to ask publicists and business people what is so unattractive about snooker."
World Snooker chairman Sir Rodney Walker has revealed new sponsorship deals are imminent and a sport that suddenly lost Ј3million when tobacco sponsorship was banned made a Ј1million profit last year.
But for O'Sullivan that was not enough.
He said: "When you have a board and people who are trying to keep everyone happy from 128 to number one in the world you are not going to get anywhere.
"Snooker is trapped without anyone saying what needs doing."
O'Sullivan, who will play in the major snooker tournaments, expects to begin his pool career in America with a January tournament in
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Hendry - Murphy Is Here To Stay Fri 07 Oct, 2:11 PM
Stephen Henry believes Shaun Murphy will have a long career at the top of his sport following the youngster's unlikely win at the Crucible.
Advertisement Hendry dismissed suggestions of Murphy, who defied odds of 150-1 to win the Embassy World Championship in May, could become a one-hit wonder.
"Obviously Shaun was a big outsider but I don't think you'll see a Joe Johnson type of situation with him," said Hendry, referring to the 1986 world champion who emerged from obscurity but never again hit such heights.
"What Shaun did at Sheffield, to come through qualifying and then go all the way was phenomenal. It's obvious he's a tremendous player, he's young and he's not going away."
On Saturday Murphy takes part in his first world ranking tournament since beating Matthew Stevens in a dramatic final and pocketing Ј250,000 at the Crucible a little over five months ago.
The 23-year-old tackles Leicester's Mark Selby in the opening round of the Grand Prix at Preston Guild Hall convinced his new-found celebrity does not create an extra burden.
Murphy said: "It doesn't mean there will be any more pressure on me than before and I won't change anything about my approach to matches. Other people might try to put pressure on me but I'll just enjoy the status of being world champion.
"What's happened has added a whole new dimension to my life. Before, the man in the street didn't know who I was, now I get asked for autographs everywhere I go, even the supermarket.
"I've no doubt that a lot of players will be out to beat me and will give that bit extra against me. If the roles were reversed I would be absolutely determined to win as well.
"But I've always tried to have fun while I am playing snooker. So far that's worked for me so I want to keep it the same."
Despite relinquishing the world title to Murphy, Ronnie O'Sullivan finds himself in the accustomed position of being the bookmakers' favourite for the Ј60,000 first prize at the Grand Prix.
His position is entirely understandable because last season, before his Crucible challenge was undermined in the quarter-finals by a Peter Ebdon go-slow, O'Sullivan captured four titles and added the Premier League silverware after his Sheffield setback.
O'Sullivan, who became a stablemate of Hendry's when he signed a new management deal with 110sport earlier this week, has compiled two 147s at the Guild Hall, won his first ranking event there - the 1993 UK Championship - and lifted the Grand Prix trophy last year.
Belgium's number one Bjorn Haneveer, the world number 71, is O'Sullivan's first-round opponent while UK champion Stephen Maguire, second in the betting, launches his campaign against Dubliner Michael Judge.
Hendry, winner of a record four Grand Prix titles although none for 10 years, is targeting a return to top spot in the world rankings as his main objective for the 2005-06 campaign.
Currently second on the world list and with O'Sullivan in striking distance, Hendry is motivated by the prospect of becoming only the fourth player to lose his top spot - he did so in 1998 - and claim it back.
Should Hendry, 36, succeed in this ambition he would emulate the achievement of Ray Reardon, Mark Williams and O'Sullivan.
"You've got to set your goals high. I know getting back to number one will be tough but I believe I've got a chance of doing it," he said after beating Steve Davis 4-2 in a high quality contest at Aberdeen last night to retain his unbeaten record in this season's Betfred Premier League.
The seven-times world champion breaks off against Welshman Dominic Dale while Hendry's fellow Scot, who has constructed a 147 on each of his two most recent visits to the Preston event, plays Dale's compatriot Paul Davies in the first round.
Предлагаю дальше давать линки (если есть фото, то фото вставлять в пост), а то тема закроется быстро.
White has pot shot at ruling body after victory By Phil Yates
JIMMY WHITE has never been a political animal but the present shrinkage in prizemoney, lack of tournaments and chronic shortage of sponsors yesterday prompted snooker’s most popular figure to describe those running the sport as “muppets”. White made his feelings clear after beating Ricky Walden 5-2 to reach the last 16 of the Grand Prix at Preston Guild Hall. When White won the event in 1992 he collected £80,000. Should he lift the trophy on Sunday the 43-year-old will receive £60,000. “My objective is to stay in the top 16 and hopefully the sport will get organised in time for next season,” White said, before outlining an intention to play on the International Pool Tour in the United States during snooker’s down time.
Even so, White is realistic. He is sure that rising to the apex of 8-ball pool is beyond him, or indeed any other snooker veteran, and will continue to channel the main thrust of his efforts into the pursuit for which he has a genuine passion that transcends monetary gain.
“Snooker itself is alive and buzzing. I’m playing more exhibitions these days than ever and there’s so much talent out there,” White said before the “muppet” line that will not be warmly greeted by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, the sport’s governing body.
On a day when John Spencer, the three-times world champion, launched his autobiography, Out of the Blue and into the Black, Andrew Norman moved into the black financially by guaranteeing his best world ranking tournament finish in five years.
Norman, who has been delivering newspapers four nights a week to make ends meet, beat Michael Judge 5-1 to secure at least £7,000, more than double his prize-money from last season.
Judge was powerless as Norman compiled breaks of 70, 69, 61 and 48 to pull away. “Having a job has taken some pressure off. I know I’ve not got to win to find my next meal,” Norman said.
With combined career prize-money in excess of £16 million, Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis and John Higgins have no such concerns but their hunger for success remains.
Hendry beat Mark King 5-3, Steve Davis, 48, defeated Nigel Bond 5-2 and will play John Higgins, who earned a 5-2 win over Ian McCulloch, last year’s beaten finalist.
THE ROLE of seasoned veteran, prepared to fall back on tactical guile when needs must, does not fit Ronnie O’Sullivan’s image. All the more surprising, then, that the world No 1 was prepared to slug it out in defeating Barry Pinches 5-2 in the quarter-finals of the Grand Prix at Preston Guild Hall yesterday.
O’Sullivan bided his time, compiled breaks of 53, 63, 83 and 69, but the win owed more to sage shot selection than outlandish potting. Even a bogged-down, re-racked first frame did not weaken the favourite’s often fragile discipline.
“I’ve realised you can’t pot balls all the time,” he said. “You can’t keep knocking balls in off the lampshades. You’ve got to have all-round strategy.”
The odds on O’Sullivan defending his title were trimmed further after the defeat of Shaun Murphy, the world champion, by Stuart Bingham, a qualifier, in the last 16. O’Sullivan was not shocked. “To win a trophy is one thing but to be a prolific winner is entirely different,” he said.
In his semi-final, O’Sullivan will play Barry Hawkins, a 26-year-old from Sydenham, Kent, who defeated Michael Holt 5-1. Hawkins will collect at least £15,000, his biggest payday in ten seasons.
Hawkins beat Stephen Hendry in the United Kingdom Championship last season, reached the semi-finals of the Welsh Open two months later and this week has proved too strong for Tony Drago and Peter Ebdon. A late developer, he gives the impression that a breakthrough is imminent.
There is a group of talented, relatively unknown players who have been inspired by Murphy’s unexpected heroics in the World Championship and Stephen Maguire’s UK Championship win last season. Hawkins, a heavy-scoring left-hander, is among them.
The front-runner for the £4,000 highest break prize following his 141 total clearance against Ebdon, he overwhelmed Holt with runs of 57, 60, 82, 94 and 53. From midway through the opening frame until early in the fifth, Hawkins amassed 335 points without reply.
“With only five ranking tournaments this season it’s a relief to get off to such a good start,” he said, unaware of the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association’s announcement that a sixth — the Malta Cup — will take place from January 30 to February 5. O’Sullivan will not take part because the event clashes with his first venture on the International Pool Tour in Orlando.
“I’ve already signed a contract to play in America and, to be honest, I’m looking forward to that more than snooker,” O’Sullivan said.
However, given his desire to remain top of the world rankings, it appears likely that O’Sullivan will compete in the re-scheduled China Open in Beijing in March.
Hendry eased through with a 5-1 win over David Gray, highlighted by two century breaks. His semi-final opponent will be John Higgins, who saw off Bingham by the same score.
The draw for the 2005 Pot Black Cup will be screened live on BBC Sport during the Grand Prix final on Sunday.
14 Oct 2005 13:13:00 It is scheduled to take place during the mid-session interval of the final on Sunday evening. The eight competing players will be drawn at random into the quarter-finals by BBC presenters Steve Davis and John Parrott.
The eight players are Ronnie O'Sullivan, Stephen Hendry, Stephen Maguire, Matthew Stevens, Paul Hunter, John Higgins, Jimmy White and Shaun Murphy.
The tournament will take place at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall, London, on October 29 and will be televised on BBC Grandstand.
HIGGINS - I WAS IN THE ZONE John Higgins entered a 'zone' known only to a select band of sporting greats as he crushed Ronnie O'Sullivan in tonight's Grand Prix final.
16 Oct 2005 22:48:00 It is a phenoneman experienced by the likes of Pete Sampras, Tiger Woods and O’Sullivan himself, where intensity of focus becomes so extreme that external factors are forgotten.
Higgins even neglected to shake O’Sullivan’s hand at the end of the first session, en route to a 9-2 victory.
“I just felt I was as though I wasn’t going to miss," said the Scot. "It just reminded me of how I used to play a few years ago.
"I just knew I was going to clean up at 4-2. It wasn't until afterwards I realised I forgot to shake Ronnie's hand at the end of the session. I was just so focussed. I went into his dressing room afterwards and apologised, he was fine about it.
“I feel 100 times better within myself than I did this time last year. I didn’t even know I’d made four centuries in a row. It’s a great record.
"Ronnie in my mind is the best player who's ever played the game, so I knew I would have to play well to beat him. I'll have to keep on producing that if I'm going to maintain the pace at the top of the game.
Higgins added that he'd won the tournament "for my boys"...sons Pierce and Oliver.
Beaten finalist O'Sullivan paid tribute to his opponent and called him "an artist" after his heaviest ever final defeat.
“That was fantastic snooker. It really was unbelievable. I’ve never seen anything like that before,” said O’Sullivan.
“He just destroyed me. You’ve just got to take your hat off to him. He was amazing. It's good to see him back playing that type of snooker. It's good for snooker, good for his family and great for everyone.
"I felt so lonely out there, especially once the third century went in tonight. I just felt out of place out there, but I'm not disappointed at all.
"I'd have liked to have given him a better match, but my heart's not really in it. Hopefully one day it will come back. I've lost the desire, but the game is great. I'll keep plugging away."
O'Sullivan also shrugged off boos he received from a section of the Guild Hall crowd.
"I'm happy with my life off the table - and that's all that matters," said O'Sullivan. "People probably feel I've been a bit of a spoilt brat, but I'm big enough and ugly enough to deal with that.
"I've taken worse [criticism] than that before, but I was a bit surprised with the boos. Everyone's entitled to their opinion.
"I don't take things too personally. It doesn't stop me from having a smile on my face. I'm pleased it's done and dusted."
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