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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."
что за манера у людей чё попало грить- проиграл - потерял форму, через четыре дня выиграл - знач опять уже в форме
JaneDoe
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Отправлено: 23.10.05 14:33. Заголовок: Re:
From the Daily Record:
"HENDRY RAGE OVER PALTRY PRIZE CASH
STEPHEN HENDRY last night slammed the World Snooker Association for sanctioning a first prize of just Ј11,000 for a ranking event.
Hendry is furious that the winner of next year's Malta Cup will receive the lowest sum ever for such a tournament.
The 36-year-old Scot said: "I'm disgusted. To offer that kind of money is an embarrassment.
"There were five ranking tournaments scheduled for this season but now the Malta Cup has been added.
"What they didn't tell us at the weekend, when they were so full of themselves,is that first prize is Ј11,000. They kept that quiet.
"World Snooker would have saved more face if they had kept the tour to just five ranking events. I don't see the point of adding one with an Ј11,000winning cheque. It devalues the sport."
Hendry has won around Ј8million in career prize money during a golden period - more than any other player.
But his sport is suffering seriously from a lack of sponsorship, which was made worse when Embassy, sponsors of the World Championship at Sheffield since 1976, were forced to bow out due to the government's ban on tobacco advertising.
Hendry said: "I have earned a lot of money out of the game and some people will look at me and ask how can I complain.
"But that's not the point. I believe the sport is as good as any sport out there in terms of skill, excitement, in terms of anything. It's just a real shame the way things have gone.""
Для тех, кто не любит искать статьи в темах игроков, вешаю сюда не самые свежие, но интересные (особенно если их между собой сравнить), блиц-интервью Дэвиса, МакКалоха и О`Салливана
«Pot Black Cup» смотрели более двух миллионов человек 9 ноября 2005 / NoFence / Новости снукера
Возвращение «Pot Black» на телевизионные экраны не осталось незамеченным — более двух миллионов человек наблюдали за перипетиями турнира в минувшую субботу.
В этом необычном однодневном соревновании, которое проводилось в лондонском Royal Automobile Club принимали участие восемь лучших снукеристов мира. В финале валлиец Мэтью Стивенс победил чемпиона мира Шона Мерфи.
«Pot Black» уже проводился ранее — с 1969 по 1986 гг. — и был одним из ключевых факторов роста популярности снукера в Британии. Цифры телеаудитории, озвученные BBC, означают, что снукер все так же популярен на туманном Альбионе, как и прежде. Средняя аудитория составила 1,8 млн. человек, а пиковая аудитория — 2,1 млн. Доля телезрителей (процент телезрителей, которые смотрели снукер, из всего количества людей, смотревших телевизор в тот временной отрезок) составила 19%. Заметим, что в подсчете не учитывались телезрители, смотревшие «Pot Black» на канале Eurosport.
Ники Фуллер, коммерческий директор World Snooker, сказал: «„Pot Black“ предлагает зрителям нечто отличное от других турниров благодаря своей дружественной атмосфере. Это шанс для игроков развлечься, выразить свою индивидуальность, и зрителям это по-настоящему нравится».
Прошу прощения за то, что статья целиком, а не ссылка, иначе с Ворлдснукера не выкладывается
Michael Holt's weekly diary.... 14 Nov 2005 17:23:00
Each week, the 27-year-old from Nottingham, nicknamed the Hitman, will be giving you and insight into his life on and off the snooker table. The world No 24 began last week preparing for the Malta Cup qualifiers:
Monday I’ve been practising hard today on my game - and I’ll be doing the same tomorrow. I’ve got a tough match against Joe Swail at Pontin’s in Prestatyn on Thursday to qualify for the Malta Cup.
Tuesday More practice and been getting myself mentally geared up for the match with Joe. I’m looking forward to it. He’s a good player and it would be great to play at an overseas tournament this season.
Wednesday Travelled up to Prestatyn with my manager. Settled into the hotel and went for a few hours practice to work on a few last things before the match. Had a nice tea and an early night. Should be a good game with Joe.
Thursday I’m not very happy today as I lost 5-4 to Joe and won’t be going to Malta. I’m very disappointed, but didn’t play anywhere near as well as I can. I had half a chance in the last frame to win it, but I missed a pot on the yellow I would normally get nine times out of ten and he got in and won it. It’s a bit of a shame, especially because I did so well to get from 4-1 down back to level. To be honest, I didn’t feel brilliant out there or going into the match, but I had my chance to win and all credit to him because he’s a good player. But never mind. I’ll reflect on my defeat and then be ready to come back next week because I’ve got to try and qualify for the China Open.
Friday Travelled home from Prestatyn and bought some fish and chips on the way home. Generally just chilled out.
Saturday Sulked for a bit. I’m still not pleased with my defeat to Joe. I went to see my coach Derek Hill and work on a few elements of my game.
Sunday I did some chores around the house, then went to the gym for a workout. I work out three times a week as I’m trying to get as fit as I can. Some people don’t realise that you need to be fit as a snooker player. It’s important to have stamina for matches in case they go the distance. In the evening I went to the pub with my family and friends. Next week it’s China Open qualifying on Friday, so I’ll be preparing myself for that.
Zabava
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Отправлено: 17.11.05 16:41. Заголовок: Re:
В январе на Уэмбли стартует очередной Мастерс. Ян Маккалох, шестнадцатый номер мирового рейтингa, не смог напрямую попасть в число участников турнира, так как его место занято чемпионом мира Шоном Мерфи, которого автоматически сеют под вторым номером на всех турнирах текущего сезона (Мерфи занимает 21 строчку в мировом табеле о рангах).
Однако, как и ожидалось, организаторы Мастерс пригласили Маккалоха на турнир в отдельном порядке.
«Я очень рад. На Уэмбли мечтает сыграть каждый» — сказал игрок из Престона.
«Masters» пройдет с 15 по 22 января 2006 года и будет показан на канале Евроспорт. Вторую уайлд-карт получит победитель квалификационного турнира, который состоится в снукерном центре WSA с 20 по 23 ноября.
Напомним, что в прошлом году Маккалох заслужил свое место в top-16, дойдя до финала «Grand Prix» и полуфинала Чемпионата мира.
Здесь никаких обсуждений. Нам всем ясно, откуда взята эта переведённая статья. Есть претензии к конкретному лицу - пиши Личное Сообщение, а не возбуждай ненужную дискуссию. . Модератор Riba
O'Sullivan warned in defeat By Clive Everton in York Published: 11 December 2005
Ronnie O'Sullivan suffered a shock 9-8 defeat by Mark King, the world No 20, on the first day of the Travis Perkins UK Championship at York and left himself liable to disciplinary action into the bargain.
Such an outcome looked unlikely when the world No 1 led 5-3 at lunch but he lost the first three frames of the evening, conceding the last of these when still arithmetically able to win the frame.
Alan Chamberlain, the referee, warned O'Sullivan that this contravened the tighter regulations in this regard that the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association have introduced, and spoke to him again after he had sat in the non-striker's chair with a towel over his head.
"When you see Ronnie do things like that, you know you've got under his skin," King said.
This behaviour, plus his refusal to attend the mandatory post-match press conference, renders O'Sullivan liable to disciplinary action.
O'Sullivan did level at 6-6 and again, from two down with three to play, at 8-8 but King amd a key break of 46 and was always in control of the decider.
Shaun Murphy, the world champion, led Nigel Bond 5-2 but trailed 7-6 before three strong frames carried him to a 9-7 victory.
Ronnie O'Sullivan suffered a shock 9-8 defeat by Mark King, the world No 20, on the first day of the Travis Perkins UK Championship at York and left himself liable to disciplinary action into the bargain.
Such an outcome looked unlikely when the world No 1 led 5-3 at lunch but he lost the first three frames of the evening, conceding the last of these when still arithmetically able to win the frame.
Alan Chamberlain, the referee, warned O'Sullivan that this contravened the tighter regulations in this regard that the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association have introduced, and spoke to him again after he had sat in the non-striker's chair with a towel over his head. "When you see Ronnie do things like that, you know you've got under his skin," King said.
This behaviour, plus his refusal to attend the mandatory post-match press conference, renders O'Sullivan liable to disciplinary action.
O'Sullivan did level at 6-6 and again, from two down with three to play, at 8-8 but King amd a key break of 46 and was always in control of the decider.
Shaun Murphy, the world champion, led Nigel Bond 5-2 but trailed 7-6 before three strong frames carried him to a 9-7 victory.
O'Sullivan faces censure for antagonistic frame of mind
Clive Everton in York Monday December 12, 2005 The Guardian
Ronnie O'Sullivan's frustration at a 9-8 defeat by Mark King on the first televised weekend of the UK Championship may lead to disciplinary action for offences ranging from ungentlemanly conduct to failure to attend the mandatory post-match press conference. O'Sullivan, limited to a 5-3 interval lead, fell 6-5 behind, bizarrely conceding the 11th frame when only 29 behind with 51 still on the table. As the pot that King had been left was not a certainty and the two other reds lay near cushions, this was self-destruction born of frustration.
The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association has recently tightened up its code of discipline against a player conceding a frame that he is arithmetically still able to win without the aid of a snooker. After all, snooker's ticket buyers and viewers expect to see frames played to a proper conclusion. O'Sullivan was issued with a warning by the referee, Alan Chamberlain, but flirted with the possibility of forfeiting a frame for a second offence when he took to sitting in his chair with a white towel covering his head while his opponent was at the table. Chamberlain limited himself to a discreet word rather than the imposition of a frame forfeit. "When Ronnie starts doing things like that, you know you've got under his skin," King observed.
O'Sullivan equalised at 6-6 but King went two clear with three to play with breaks of 61 and 80. While O'Sullivan continued with his questionable use of the towel, he did not throw it in as he made breaks of 105 and 56 to level at 8-8. King, though, kept a cool head and with 46 as his key contribution was always in control of the decider as he secured his fourth win over O'Sullivan in six attempts.
In escaping a frame forfeit, O'Sullivan's case was in contrast with that of Michael Holt, who was docked a frame at 7-7 before going on to beat Ricky Walden 9-8. Holt's first offence, conceding the eighth frame prematurely, was followed by an expletive when he missed a shot at 7-7. The words "fucking hell" were heard by the 21-year-old referee Patricia Murphy.
It would have taken some nerve for Chamberlain to impose a frame penalty against O'Sullivan in a high-profile televised match. However, if a new disciplinary code has been enacted, it must be applied consistently to the mighty as well as the middle rank and the minnows.
Еще одна статья о Дэвисе появилась на Вордснукере, но ни ссылка, ни адрес не получаются. Кажется, там есть кое-какие детали, которые не упоминались на BBC
EVERGREEN DAVIS STUNS CHAMP
Steve Davis, with what he described as one of his best ever performances, knocked Stephen Maguire out of the Travis Perkins UK Championship in a thriller tonight (Tuesday). 13 Dec 2005 21:05:00
The snooker legend and six-times UK champion came from 8-6 down to triumph 9-8 and set up a quarter-final tie with Ken Doherty at the Barbican Centre. Davis, 48, has found new impetus in recent seasons and is up to No 6 in the latest rankings. But this superb victory over defending champion Maguire in a long-distance match must rank as his best result for years.
He won the opening frame today with a break of 90 to reduce his deficit to 5-4. Glasgow’s Maguire then pulled away with 84 and 111. He looked set to 8-4 up but broke down on 44 in frame 12 and Davis stole it with a 93 clearance.
The Essex man added the next but his chance seemed to have gone when he lost the 14th on the colours to go 8-6 down.
But runs of 31 and 42 got Davis back to 8-7 and levelled the tie with a fantastic 145 total clearance, equalling John Higgins' target for the £6,000 high break prize.
A poor break off from the Nugget gave Maguire the first chance of the decider, but he missed a mid-range red and Davis stepped in with a nerveless 78 to seal victory to the delight of his supporters in York.
"I didn’t expect him to play that well, but you don’t expect God to play that well!," admitted Maguire. "Good luck to him. I’d like to see him win it. He definitely can, he’s playing well enough.
"At 8-6 I potted a red into the middle, but then missed an easy black. That miss came back to haunt me. I was feeling fine and I felt like I was getting a bit of rhythm. My safety play has been the best part of my game, but he played very well.
"I’m determined not to let this defeat be a setback. I want to come back stronger for when I play again."
Davis now has the chance to become the oldest ever winning of a ranking event; Doug Mountjoy was 46 when he won this event in 1988. He said: "I’m looking forward to playing Ken. If I keep playing like that, I’ll have a good go at winning it!
"He played very well against John [Higgins] and he showed that he’s found some good form. He’s got a bit of pride back after a bad spell, so it should be a great match.
"That was a game of soldiers. I was never really that far behind, so it was a game of catch-up. That’s the best game I’ve been involved with for a very long time, if not ever, for a number of reasons.
"The standard is so much higher these days so it must rank among my best performances."
A NEW HUNTER ON THE SCENE Paul Hunter and wife Lindsey have extra reason to celebrate the festive period with the birth of a baby girl this morning. Evie Rose, the couple’s first child, was born at 5am on Boxing Day and weighed in at 8lb 2oz. The Hunters have now returned to their home near Leeds.
Three-times Masters champion Hunter is currently battling cancer and recently stated "My new baby will inspire me."
26 Dec 2005 13:50:00
Riba
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Отправлено: 28.12.05 06:07. Заголовок: Re:
27 December 2005 BABY GIRL IS CUE FOR CELEBRATION
SNOOKER star Paul Hunter and wife Lyndsey are celebrating after becoming parents.
The 27-year-old three-times Wembley Masters Champion has been battling cancer since April 2004.
And he's undergoing chemotherapy in a bid to beat the disease.
But the couple were finally given something to smile about yesterday as Lyndsey gave birth to a baby girl.
Their daughter, Evie Rose, weighed a healthy 8lb 2oz. A close friend said: "It's great news for them after what they've been through this year."
Hunter, of Leeds, played at the recent Travis Perkins UK Championship in York, beating Scotsman Jamie Burnett in his first win since starting his cancer treatment.
Alan McManus will relive memories of his epic 1994 Masters final against Stephen Hendry when they meet again at Wembley next week. 10 Jan 2006 11:40:00
The two Scots go head to head in snooker’s most prestigious invitation event on Tuesday, January 17 at 1.30pm. Hendry won the Masters on five consecutive occasions from 1989 to 1993 before his amazing run was ended by McManus a dozen years ago. The Glaswegian scored a 9-8 victory in a classic encounter. "It’s a long time ago but I still remember that match and I’m really looking forward to playing Stephen again next week. It’s always special playing the other Scots on the big stage," said world No 12 McManus. "He’s got back to the top of the provisional rankings which is a great achievement and he’s always difficult to play against. My practice is going well so it should be a great match. I’ve not had the best of starts to the season so I want to get going in the second half. "I love playing at Wembley, there’s always a good atmosphere and we tend to get good crowds. I enjoy playing on the televised tables, it brings the best out of me," added McManus, who last reached the semi-finals of the Masters in 2002. At 6pm on the same day, World Championship runner-up Matthew Stevens takes on Graeme Dott. It’s been a mixed start for the season for Welshman Stevens as he won the Northern Ireland Trophy and Pot Black Cup but suffered a first round exit in the Travis Perkins UK Championship. The 2000 Masters champion will be aiming to bounce back from that defeat but faces a tough battle against Dott. The Pocket Dynamo, runner-up at the Crucible in 2004, caused a surprise in the first round at Wembley last year when he knocked out Stephen Maguire. Tickets for both of these matches are still available. They are priced at £16 each or you can buy an all-day ticket for £22. The Masters features the world’s top 16 players, including defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan, Grand Prix champion John Higgins, world champion Shaun Murphy and London favourites Jimmy White and Steve Davis.
shual007
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Ronnie O'Sullivan reaffirmed his love for snooker at a pre-Masters press conference this morning. 13 Jan 2006 13:32:00 "I’ll never quit playing snooker, it’s what I love. It’s given me so much joy and I hope the way I play snooker has given others a lot of joy," said the Rocket.
The I Love Snooker t-shirt sported by the world No 1 will be available from the World Snooker merchandise stand during the Masters at Wembley Conference Centre next week.
Two-times world champion O’Sullivan begins the defence of his Masters crown on Monday afternoon against Joe Perry or Ian McCulloch.
"It’s one of our biggest tournaments and I would love to win it again," said the 30-year-old, who beat John Higgins 10-3 with an outstanding performance in last year’s final.
"It’s an elite tournament and Wembley is a great stage for the best players, I really enjoy the one-table set-up. Sometimes the atmosphere makes the players feel like we are gladiators, it makes your hair stand on end."
O’Sullivan has admitted in recent months that he has thought about taking a season away from snooker and has also considered heading to America to play in eight-ball pool tournaments.
"I will never swap snooker for pool," he added. "First and foremost I am a snooker player. Sometimes I get frustated and I say things on the spur of the moment.
"After I lost to Mark King in the (Travis Perkins) UK Championship I went home and didn’t want to do anything. But Jimmy White called me a couple of days later and convinced me to go to Ireland and play some exhibitions.
"Once I was there I loved it. The crowds were great and we were both playing great snooker and it was amazing, I loved that feeling. I get disappointed in myself when I can’t reproduce that.
"Sometimes the game feels ridiculously easy and when it’s not there I get frustrated. I remember recently making a 147 in practice and ripping the tip off my cue afterwards because I still wasn’t happy with how I was hitting the ball.
"The only was I would quit snooker is if I was forced out by better players, but I can’t see that happening for a long time. The younger players coming through are attacking and exciting and that keeps you on your toes. I’m sure I’ll be around for another 10 or 15 years."
Вставить ссылку не удалось , поэтому выкладываю интересную статью про Вайта: He may now be 43 and hardly a favourite to win this week's Masters, but Jimmy White remains the nation's favourite snooker player. Lionel Shriver meets the man whose failure has been as endearing as his success
Thursday January 19, 2006 The Guardian
At the first of four abortive appointments (each one rescheduled more apologetically than the last), I met snooker's world no 21 on Pall Mall in London. Within 60 seconds, a passing lorry driver had leaned out of his window and shouted, "Jimmeeee!" "That must happen to you a lot," I say. "Working-class hero," replies Jimmy. And it has to be "Jimmy". It's impossible to imagine this tousled, jaunty Jack-the-lad as Mr White. "I detect a note of sardonicism there," I say. No pick-up. For Jimmy White is a working-class hero, the real McCoy. If the role is ever a burden, part of the burden is never admitting as much. Having improbably maintained himself as one of the greats of the game for 25 years, Jimmy recognises that the only alternative to fame - obscurity - is fearfully easy to arrange. We finally have a proper conversation at the grand prix tournament in Preston. With the atmosphere of an urban comprehensive low down in the league tables, Preston's Guild Hall is one more drably contemporary, cheaply built snooker venue that, like the Crucible in Sheffield, sounds so much grander than it looks. Then again, the thin carpet, dull neon glare, and reek of cigarette smoke seem apt. Snooker was initially a gritty sport, born from hole-in-the-wall clubs in down-market neighbourhoods such as Tooting, where Jimmy grew up. I'm relieved I've worn the usual dirty black jeans and T-shirt, the better to match Jimmy's crumpled sweatshirt and roguish baseball cap; I'd have felt a fool in a dress. (In these back rooms reserved for players and their guests I will not spot a single other woman.)
My first question is the main question, really: Is he sick of constantly having it touted about that he has lost the world final six times?
"Not at all. I'm proud to get there six times. And I still believe I can win it. So the answer to that question is, I'm definitely not pissed off with it."
So for him that's a positive statistic? "Yeah, of course."
Now, this is typical Jimmy. If I had earned £5m over a lifetime of distinguishing myself at a fantastically difficult sport, I would get mightily pissed off with everyone intoning all the titles I hadn't won every time I played. But Jimmy Jimmy acts his part (working-class hero) with consummate professionalism.
By contrast, his good friend Ronnie O'Sullivan - whose fast, fluid attacking style and born-to-the-game genius make him Jimmy's most obvious heir - is often petulant. If O'Sullivan is ever to fully assume Jimmy's mantle, he will have to tear a few pages from his forerunner's playbook: Be grateful, ever emphasising your fabulous good fortune (asked once for three adjectives that described himself, Jimmy chose lucky, lucky and lucky). Remain warmly disposed towards fans and generous to your opponents. Take full personal responsibility for your losses - never blame the table, the baize, or the cue. Maintain a fiercely positive outlook, at least in public.
In private, there may well be another side to Jimmy White. Maybe he does get pissed off with having his nose rubbed in what he hasn't won. Maybe he does get impatient with fans dogging him in the street for autographs. (He claims to be "completely, like, enamelled to it"- meaning inured to, but the malapropism is sweet.) Maybe his confidence that he will one day take the game's top title sometimes evaporates. Maybe he gets irked by his bête noire, Stephen Hendry, a swot of whom the renowned carouser says, "He just wants to win. He doesn't want to do anything else but play and win." Yet if there's any enmity or disdain there, Jimmy is too much of a pro to express it. "Hendry's fine," he recites. "I've got a lot of respect for him." If Jimmy is ever sick of admirers or bleak about his prospects, he will never allow as much in an interview. Being a celebrity is a job, and part of that job is to present a cohesive mannequin of yourself to the madding crowd.
Irena
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Отправлено: 20.01.06 15:43. Заголовок: Re:
Продолжение: Jimmy is surely more famous, and more beloved of his fans, for not winning six world finals than he would have been had he won them. Hendry, the most accomplished break-builder in snooker history, has taken that trophy home not six but seven times. He does command regard, but nowhere near the same degree of adoration. Granted, Hendry's public persona - pleasant, courteous, but strangely blank - would likely not attract the same loyalty as Jimmy, but his flawless performances were exasperating too. He would go for such sustained periods of robotic perfection that he was boring to watch. You didn't feel concerned for him, worried if a ball would go in. It would go in, all right, but who cared? For what makes any sport compelling is the possibility of failure - even flukish failure, when victory seemed all but in the bag. Furthermore, perfection is alien. Most of us don't have the problem of being drearily perfect, especially under enormous pressure in the public eye. So when we watch a snooker player who just can't miss, we admire the man, but rarely identify with him.
Like O'Sullivan, Jimmy may be acknowledged as one of the great snooker naturals even if at 43 he has slipped once more out of the top 16. Still, you never completely relax watching the guy play. Jimmy is mortal. That is the secret of his popular success. (Introduced to her idol at a recent exhibition match, an elderly woman simply burst into tears and for several minutes could not stop crying.)
With Jimmy, you never know if suddenly the bottom will drop out. Even when he's on a roll, you can't be 100% sure that the next ball will go in, and the uncertainty injects a nervy tension that is electrifying. Away from the table, he has also worn his foibles on his sleeve, intensifying the appealing impression that the Whirlwind (who has admittedly slowed down to a steady breeze) is just like us. His weakness for drink is legendary and he has had to get it under control. Inebriated all-nighters were hampering his game. "About 10 years ago I started to realise I couldn't win and still do it. It takes me now two or three days to get over it, so I just don't do it. Maybe once a month I'll go out and have a few drinks, but nothing like I did before."
He has quit smoking - twice, of course - but has only had 12 fags in the past seven months. (Again, 12 is more endearing than none.) Trying to avoid the greasy, starchy food that is often all that is to be had in a profession whose work concludes at 11pm, he has dropped nearly a stone in weight.
As for those famous benders, likewise his nice-guy demeanour, one detects a dark side. Boisterous booze-ups always sound better in the telling, when the attendant violence, abuse and sloppy incoherence can be deftly re-rendered as cute. Researching his autobiography, Behind the White Ball (one of the best-written, most enjoyable of the snooker biographies), ghost-writer Rosemary Kingsland spent her entire advance in six weeks on well-oiled evenings with her subject and his cronies. She financed the following several months of liquid homework out of her own pocket.
Jimmy's running buddy, Kevin Kelly, submits that Behind the White Ball is sanitised, telling Jimmy's history with a level of veracity that makes it acceptable to fans. An unexpurgated version, says Kelly, "would be a best-seller", though it might not serve well the mythology that Jimmy was merely, as he says of himself, "a naughty boy!"
Irena
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Jimmy's other pernicious weakness has been gambling. He may have made a packet betting on himself, but dogs and horses have been less kind. Between drink, those uncooperative animals, and the, ah, largesse of divorce, the better part of his £5m has melted away. With flutters largely a vice of the past, Jimmy is confident that a property venture has secured his financial future. Nevertheless, it is hardly surprising that his attractive ex-wife, Maureen, finally had enough three years ago (in fact, it is truly surprising that she stuck him for 22 years).
Adhering to his crafted image as a gracious, unpretentious bloke who is just chuffed to keep playing a game he loves, Jimmy may edit his answers a tad. Yet he's no fraud. He reckons he may have about five more years on the circuit, and whether or not he had any choice in the matter he seems to have embraced the fans' obsession as his own: finally winning that world championship. When I ask if he isn't obliged to give the silver trophy back when the year is up, he says, "Allegedly." Allegedly? "I'd get it copied, and they'd never know it."
Will Jimmy ever win in Sheffield?"A lot of people don't," he says. "But I still believe I can. Once that sort of emotion goes, then I think it'll be time to stop playing."
He is putting in the practice and making a stab at clean living, so who is to say? Meanwhile, Jimmy White will be the best approximation we are likely to find of a proper working-class hero - the ultimate near-miss, an emblem not only of our triumphs but of our shortcomings, a stand-in for the millions who go to bed mumbling, "I coulda been a contender." One thing's for sure: if Jimmy ever does take that title, the Crucible will explode and no poncy ref in white gloves will be able to keep the roof on.
Simon Hattenstone Wednesday January 25, 2006 The Guardian
"Well?" Mum says, apropos of nothing. I love that tone in her voice. It can mean only one thing - Ronnie's won. The more upbeat the tone, the bigger the victory. The opposite to "well?" is a thoroughly miserable "oh well", followed by "it's only a game" or "he did well to get this far" or nothing. Nothing is the worst.
Mum and I have an intense relationship with Ronnie O'Sullivan. We take it personally when he loses, we feel let down when he says he's bored with the game, embarrassed when he wears a white flannel over his head and gives the camera the eyes, worried when he shaves his head lobotomy-style, relieved when he wears an I love snooker logo. It's exhausting, our thing with Ronnie.
It wasn't always like this. Actually it was Dad who loved the snooker. He used to sit there for hours on end, watching the balls go down, puffing away at fag after fag, burning hole after hole into the blanket over his knees. As for me, I couldn't be bothered. It seemed deadly dull - if playing snooker was a sign of a wasted youth, what was watching it?
Then I interviewed Ronnie in 2002 and fell for him - he was honest, depressive, compulsive, naive, vulnerable and had a mouth on him that couldn't help get him into trouble. A while after that I agreed to ghostwrite a book for him. One hot summer we sat in my garden talking through his life. Every few minutes we'd stop to try to beat our record at kick-ups (200 or so) or eat some more tuna (we were on a health binge), compare notes on serotonin boosts (anti-depressants or running) or watch football. I knew Ronnie had become family when he used to fall asleep in the lounge mid-conversation, snoring and dribbling on the beanbags while my younger daughter painted his face in lipstick.
That was four years ago. I don't see Ronnie often now. He's a hopeless friend, really - he only phones if you tell his mum that he's not been returning calls, then he rings out of the blue at 1am to tell you he's popping round tomorrow. Sometimes I tell him he's a tosser and I'm never going to ring him again.
But it's all talk. Because Mum and I have got it bad. We know that we'll forgive him pretty much whatever he does. Dad has more or less stopped watching - there's not much point now his sight's gone. But these days Mum is there for every shot.
She phones up midweek. "Well?" she says. Ronnie has just beaten Peter Psycho Ebdon. "D'you think Ronnie really had a stomach ache or just kept going to the loo to get his own back on Ebdon." Amazing - she knows so much about the game now. And she worries about Ronnie as if he was one of her own. Sometimes I think Ronnie means more to her than I do. Then I realise her concern for Ronnie is all about her concern for me.
He beats Stephen Lee 6-5 in the semi. "Well?" Mum says on Saturday morning, drained but exhilarated.
"Did you watch it?" I say.
"No, I couldn't. I thought I'd have a heart attack. I don't know how you bear it. Still he's done us proud, hasn't he?"
Sunday afternoon, I ring her to discuss the final .
"No, I'm not watching. Too stressful."
I tell her that Ronnie has just had amazing breaks of 139 and 138 in successive frames. "I know," she says.
"How come?"
"I keep checking on Teletext. I could do without this, though."
I tell Diane, my lady friend who has issues with sport but a soft spot for Ronnie, about his breaks. She says she's pleased for him but can't understand how sticking balls in holes makes for great sport - I look at her as if she's bonkers. Actually she seems to have defined the essence of most sport.
As it turns out the final between John Higgins and Ronnie shows exactly why it's great - thrilling safety play and bravura potting, culminating in an astonishing final frame. When Ronnie makes a sublime 60, commentator Clive Everton says it has been the greatest Masters final ever. Ronnie needs just one ball. Which he misses. Higgins had a crucial red. It rolls and rolls and stops just short of the middle pocket. That's it, says Clive, game over, the fat lady has sung - and then the ball falls in. Higgins clears up miraculously and, at just gone midnight, he punches the air once, twice, three times. He kisses his wife Denise and hugs his dad John Snr. Ronnie looks ashen.
I speak to Mum first thing Monday morning. "Ah well," she says.
Ronnie, if you are reading this give me a bell - or I'll tell your mum
А где же говорить "Спасибо" за такие хорошие материалы, если не здесь? ВСЕМ, кто заботится о рубрике - громадная благодарность...Это нужно, это не остаётся незамеченным...Ещё раз сэнкс!!! (Больше об этом не буду, но знайте, что я,к примеру, буду знакомиться со всеми материалами этой рубрики - сам такие ни за что не отыщу...).
Riba
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Higgins is a Master Скан статьи из газеты The Sun, от 23 января сего года.. извиняюсь за размер и помятость.. в щимадане ехала газета
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