2006 Grand Prix Update - Group Stage

There has been a lot going on in Aberdeen, where the 2006 Grand Prix has been going on.

This is the first professional ranking tournament ever to have a Round Robin feature, which has led to a upsets. The normal best-of-9 frame knockout matches have been adjusted for this tournament to 8 Groups of 6, with the top 2 advancing to the knockout stage.

That has meant a reduction in match length, from 9 to 5 frames. The players complained 9 was too short! But as a one-off, unique to this tournament, I think it's fine.

Now, the group stages are over. Here is a rundown on what happened.

Group A

This was a strong group on paper. Higgins was the best player last season. Hawkins rose up the rankings into the top 16 last year. McManus dropped down out of the top 16, and looking to fight back. Wattana is always tough to beat. Dale reached the Semis in the previous tournament in Northern Ireland. And Kachaiwong won his qualifying group in inspired fashion.

Higgins won his first 4 games, with Kachaiwong winning 4 from 5 and McManus being 3-1 going into his final game, against Higgins. Higgins was through, and McManus needed to win to stay in the tournament. Higgins lost 3-1 though, and McManus advanced - and won the group.

Group B

Murphy, the 2005 World Champion started badly, losing his opening game. Conversely, Ryan Day won his opening three games. 18 year old Jamie Jones was impressive in his opening games.

It looked like being a five way tie at the top of the group, all on 3-2.

However in the evening, Day beat Judge 3-1 to qualify with a 4-1 record. Murphy needed to beat Jones and Carter to go through. He trailed 2-0 and needed snookers in frame 3 before winning 3-2. After that heroic fightback, he then lost to Carter 3-1 to be eliminated. That left Mark King going through to Round Two.

Group C

Ronnie O'Sullivan looked very impressive in his group winning all his games going 5-0, losing only 4 frames along the way.

Second place was between Holt and Cope. In the game between them, Cope won, making a 147 to win the match 3-1. That proved decisive as he went threw on 3-2 having tied with Holt.

Group D

Doherty went to 3-0 early on, with Robertson and Swail on 3-1. Robertson played Doherty and won 3-2 to guarantee his progression from the group.

In the final match of the group, Swail played Doherty, but had no chance in the shortened format. Doherty dominated to win 3-0, and qualified in second behind Robertson.

Group E

A big shock happened in Group E, as Hendry barely scraped by Mark Selby 3-2. He then lost 3-0 to Stevens, lost again to O'Brien and Hicks to be eliminated from the tournament. Hendry complained of bad playing conditions, and the 7-times World Champion, and World Number 1 went out.

On the final evening of the group, Wenbo looked like going through after beating Hendry 3-0. However results went against him, and he ended up fourth in the group, with Stevens going through after beating Hicks 3-0. Selby was second despite losing 3-0 to O'Brien. Hendry was last in the group.

Group F

Mark Williams withdrew because of injury, and all his matches were voided. Ian McCulloch played well, and was assured of qualifying going into a game with Lee. Lee needed to win to go through. He did win, 3-1, and topped the group.

Group G

Group G saw the two top 16 players fail to perform as both Ebdon and Hamilton struggled in the best of 5 format. Milkins and Gray were strong behind him.

Milkins was unbeaten in the group, and behind him, Gray needed to beat Ford to advance. He did so, 3-0, and they went through to the knockout stage. Ebdon ended up third, with Hamilton last.

Group H

Reigning World Champion Graeme Dott complained about the best of 5 format. At 2-1, it looked like he would go through from Group H. Alas, he was eliminated. It was a close run finish, with Maguire, Perry, Junhui, and Norman all in with a chance. Allen disappointed.

The Junhui v Perry match would determine who would qualify with Andrew Norman. If Perry lost 3-1 or 3-2 he would be through, if Junhui won 3-0 he was through. Perry won the first though to end what could have been an exciting game had Junhui gone 2-0 up! So Ding went out at the group stage, with Perry top after beating Junhui 3-0.

Group Summary

There were a lot of high profile casualties of the group stage:

Graeme Dott (Scotland) - 2006 World Champion
Shaun Murphy (England) - 2005 World Champion
Stephen Hendry (Scotland) - 7 times World Champion, World Number 1
Peter Ebdon (England) - 2006 World Finalist
Ding Junhui (China) - Won the 2006 Northern Ireland Trophy in August, 2005 UK Champion
Mark Williams (Wales) - Injured
Stephen Maguire (Scotland) - 2004 UK Champion

It seems these players are better in long matches.

Overall response from the group idea was mixed. Many said it would be fine if the matches were best-of-9, but 5 frames was simply too short. Others loved the idea, praising the ability to play more games.

As a one-off there is no problem with this format, but it shouldn't be extended to other championships, especially not the World Championship!

Round Two (best of 9 frames)

Alan McManus (Scotland) v Mark Selby (England)
Ryan Day (Wales) v Ian McCulloch (England)
Ronnie O'Sullivan (England) v David Gray (England)
Neil Robertson (Australia) v Andrew Norman (England)
Matthew Stevens (Wales) v John Higgins (Scotland)
Stephen Lee (England) v Mark King (England)
Robert Milkins (England) v Jamie Cope (England)
Joe Perry (England) v Ken Doherty (Ireland)

The obvious pick of the draw is the Stevens-Higgins match. Both have been in 2 World Finals, and have been ranked in the top 8 for nearly a decade. Stevens dropped to 14 in the rankings last year (and 27 provisionally), so it is a must win match for him. Coupled with the death of his best friend Paul Hunter (England) earlier in the month, it will be a tough match for Stevens. With Stephen Lee in the Quarter too, it is the strongest in the draw.

The top quarter looks open (due to its' weakness), so O'Sullivan should reach the Final if he beats Robertson of Australia in the Quarters. If Doherty beats Perry, he will be favourite to advance to the Semis, where there looks like being a good match against Higgins, Stevens or Lee.

My Picks

I predict the Final will be O'Sullivan v Higgins (a rematch of the 2005 Final), although I would like to see Stevens win the tournament due to the circumstances involving Hunter. He has the toughest draw, but he is capable of winning after getting through the group stage.

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