Snooker Weekly (August 13, 2007)
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Welcome to the start of a new feature I proposed last week, something I hope to maintain. Some weeks will be jam packed with stuff. Others will be stuff I can throw together in five minutes, or anything vaguely snooker related I can find. Apologies in advance this week, for it does drag on somewhat.
2007/2008 Season
First things first then! You need to know the tournaments that the professionals will be attending this year.
| Event | Qualifiers | Event Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
 Shanghai Masters
| June 26-29 | August 6-12 | Shanghai Grand Stage |
 Pot Black
| October 6 | Sheffield City Hall | |
 Grand Prix
| September 17-23 | October 13-21 | Aberdeen Exhibition Centre |
 Northern Ireland Trophy
| October 23-25 | November 4-11 | The Waterfont Hall |
| UK Championship
| November 25-30 | December 3-16 | Telford International Centre |
| The Masters
| September 7-11 | January 13-20 | Wembley Arena |
 Welsh Open
| February 5-7 | February 11-17 | TBC |
| China Open
| January 22-25 | March 23-30 | Beijing University Students Gym |
| World Championship
| January 4-11 March 7-10 | April 19-May 5 | The Crucible Theatre |
Bold denotes ranking events.
The changes from last year are dramatic. The Malta Cup ceases to exist, as do the Irish Masters. However, the event in Shanghai is a new one to the Snooker calendar, and a welcome one.
The World Championship will as ever culminate on the May Day Bank Holiday. The observant amongst you will see that the Shanghai Masters took place this week. I shall come to that shortly.
The Players
Continuing the preview, here are the players that you'll be reading about most this season, should you read the articles. This list denotes the top 16 players in the world, that get automatic access into each and every ranking event.
| Rank | Player | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  John Higgins
| 19,150 | 23,100 | 42,250 |
| 2 | Graeme Dott
| 19,100 | 18,675 | 37,775 |
| 3 |  Shaun Murphy
| 16,350 | 21,350 | 37,700 |
| 4 |  Ken Doherty
| 20,250 | 15,550 | 35,800 |
| 5 | Ronnie O'Sullivan
| 12,850 | 21,650 | 34,500 |
| 6 | Peter Ebdon
| 15,550 | 18,000 | 33,550 |
| 7 |  Neil Robertson
| 12,575 | 20,550 | 33,125 |
| 8 | Stephen Hendry
| 15,100 | 17,735 | 32,835 |
| 9 |  Ding Junhui
| 14,475 | 16,325 | 30,800 |
| 10 | Stephen Maguire
| 11,000 | 19,550 | 30,550 |
| 11 | Mark Selby
| 9,125 | 18,275 | 27,400 |
| 12 |  Mark Williams
| 18,300 | 8,825 | 27,135 |
| 13 | Stephen Lee
| 13,500 | 12,650 | 26,150 |
| 14 | Allister Carter
| 9,550 | 15,750 | 25,300 |
| 15 | Steve Davis
| 13,100 | 11,850 | 24,950 |
| 16 | Ryan Day
| 10,050 | 14,450 | 24,500 |
Here is a brief run down of each player - please click the blue links for more information:
- John Higgins is the 2007 World Champion, and is World Number 1 too. He is now a double champion, his other win being in 1998. The best matchplayer, i.e. all-around player, in snooker.
- Graeme Dott is the 2006 World Champion, at a career high ranking of 2, he has been much improved in recent years.
- Shaun Murphy is the 2005 World Champion, who has also risen to a career high ranking of 3.
- Ken Doherty is the 1997 World Champion, who has been a top 16 player for well over a decade.
- Ronnie O'Sullivan is a double World Champion, that famously has temporamental problems. But he is the most naturally gifted player in the game.
- Peter Ebdon is the 2002 World Champion, surprising Hendry in the Final. Famously erratic, but a top 8 player for a decade.
- Neil Robertson won two ranking events last season, to finally break the Aussie duck that Eddie Charlton should have broken 30 years ago. Exciting left hander, he is at a career high ranking of 7.
- Stephen Hendry is a 7-time World Champion, his last win in 1999. He is probably the best player of the game ever. Probably.
- Ding Junhui is the first Chinese superstar. He is paving the way for the China boom, and is at a career high ranking of 9.
- Stephen Maguire burst on to the scene in 2004, winning 2 ranking events, but faded. Regained form by reaching the Semis of this years World Championship.
- Mark Selby came from nowhere to be a World Finalist. Selby could be one for the future.
- Mark Williams is a double World Champion (2000 and 2003), who has faded over the last four years. Could struggle to stay in the elite top 16.
- Stephen Lee is a perennial top 16 player, a place he has occupied for over a decade.
- Allister Carter is still not a full-time pro, a rarity in the top 16. Has the best record of anybody against Hendry.
- Steve Davis was considered the best player ever until Hendry came along. Davis is a 6 time World Champion, his last coming in 1989. He's ranked at 15 despite being 50 years of age next week.
- Ryan Day is a newcomer to the top 16, and up and coming Welshman tipped for future stardom.
Other Players You Will Hear From
- Jimmy White is "The People's Champion", watch the snooker series if you want to find out why.
- Matthew Stevens is twice a World Finalist that inexplicably dropped out of the top 16 last season. He will be the danger man in the draws. But has to qualify.
2007 Shanghai Masters
_________
After a series of qualifiers, including a Wildcard round, these 32 players lined up for the Shanghai Masters. The main news before the competition was the withdrawal of Ronnie O'Sullivan, citing injury to his back. This was great news for Stuart Pettman, who would hence get a bye through the first round.
In the First Round, the opening day saw John Higgins start brilliantly, winning 5-2 over up and coming Jamie Cope. Peter Ebdon had a nightmare against Dave Harold, and the World Number 6 was out 5-3. Harold would play 49 year old Steve Davis in the last 16, who had a nailbiting 5-4 win over Irishman Fergal O'Brien. Stephen Lee had a narrow 5-4 win over naturalised home favourite Marco Fu. Ding Junhui came through the a unique all-China match, as he beat a Chinese wildcard 5-2, to advance to the last 16. Adrian Gunnell had a surprise win against Allister Carter, winning 5-1. Stephen Maguire also won 5-1 to go through, beating a Chinese wildcard.
On day 2, Mark Selby set up a repeat of the 2007 World Championship Final after a 5-0 win against a Chinese wildcard. Mark Williams however was knocked out, losing 5-2 to Stuart Bingham. Bingham would face Stuart Pettman in the second round. Shaun Murphy was another high profile casualty, losing 5-2 to Ian McCulloch. Graeme Dott edged out a 5-4 win over Michael Holt to set up a mouthwatering clash with Graeme Dott. The match of the round saw Matthew Stevens against Neil Robertson. Stevens was much improved from the previous season, where he won 5-0 at a canter, playing brilliantly. Stephen Hendry brushed aside Nigel Bond 5-2.
The match between Ken Doherty and Dominic Dale was a classic. Dale was playing excellently, and was 4-2 up on the World Number 4. Dale looked like winning the match in the next frame, but Doherty came back to win it. In the next frame, Dale had a 50 point lead eroded by Doherty, until at 63-65 to Dale, he finally held his nerve to pot the pink, to take the match 5-3 after three and a half hours play.
The Last 16 began on Wednesday. The first man through was Ryan Day, who had an exciting 5-3 win over Ian McCulloch in a high quality contest. Steve Davis could not benefit from a draw that was opening up nicely for him, losing 5-1 to Dave Harold. Mark Selby gained revenge of sorts after beating John Higgins, who beat him in the World Final earlier in the year, by a score of 5-3; Selby was 3-1 down. Stuart Bingham earned the right to face him in the Quarter Finals, after coming from 4-2 behind to beat Stuart Pettman 5-4.
The four other matches were played that evening. Dominic Dale was inspired, winning 5-1 against Adrian Gunnell to set up a Quarter Final with Dave Harold. Home favourite Ding Junhui took on Graeme Dott. Ding started badly, trailing 4-0, but Ding tried to come back, before being eliminated 5-1. Stephen Hendry was disappointing too. Against Stephen Lee, Hendry was in poor form, and trailed 4-1. Hendry won the next two frames, but missed multiple chances to send the match to a decider. Lee rounded out the 5-3 winner.
The classic match of the last 16 featured Stephen Maguire and Matthew Stevens. Maguire started excellently, and raced into a 4-0 lead. It looked a certain win for Maguire, but Stevens came back and stormed to a 5-4 win, making frame winning breaks all the way.
In Friday's Quarter Finals, Dominic Dale, who reached the Semi Finals of last year's season opening tournament, did the same this year, as he beat Dave Harold 5-1. Ryan Day beat Matthew Stevens in a thrilling contest 5-4. Mark Selby whitewashed Stuart Bingham 5-0, and [[Graeme Dott] came through 5-4 against Stephen Lee in a great match.
The Semi Finals were played on Saturday, with the distance now increased to 11 frames. The first one saw Dominic Dale play Mark Selby. Selby was favourite for the game, but Dale conjured up some excellent snooker to win 6-3 and advance to the Final. In the other Semi Final, Graeme Dott was beaten 6-2 by Ryan Day, to make it an all Welsh final.
Day was in his second ranking event final of the calendar year, losing to Shaun Murphy in the Malta Cup Final earlier. Dale was in his first ranking event final in 10 years, the journeyman pro won the 1997 Grand Prix Final against John Higgins.
In the Final, Day started brilliantly, making big breaks and going into a 6-2 lead. But Dale won the last of the afternoon session to go only 6-3 down, but extended his run into the evening session. Dale won eight frames in a row to win 10-6, and claim the Shanghai Masters title.
Video of the Week
Today, the match between Stephen Hendry and Jimmy White, the 1992 World Championship Final reaches the concluding session. After 24 frames, White, twice a runner up, leads 14-10 against Hendry, the 1990 champion. This is one of the most famous matches in snooker history, and most importantly, the best I could find on YouTube!
So, today's video is the continuation of that series. Articles will be posted over the forthcoming days and weeks to advance this series.
So far
- Hendry made a 105 break to lead 1-0.
- White made breaks of 70 and 47 to level the match at 1-1.
- The closest frame of the match as Hendry won a black ball game after both players missed chances. He lead 2-1.
- White made a 100 break to level at 2-2.
- A tight frame that took over half an hour with a lot of safety exchanges. Foul and a Miss rule came into play before White went into a 3-2 lead.
- Hendry touched the black and called a foul on himself, but White missed his chance and Hendry won the frame to level at 3-3.
- A close frame that White won on the pink to lead 4-3.
- Poor play from Hendry - nervous misses from him handed the frame to White, who led 5-3.
- Good start from Hendry. White fought back, but Hendry closed the frame out, to trail 5-4.
- Another win for White, a break of 43 took him over the line, to go into a 6-4 lead.
- Hendry was behind all the way, but an error from White at the end gave Hendry a chance, that he took, to be only 6-5 down at the mid-session interval.
- Hendry was winning the frame, until White fluked the yellow and position on the green. It won him the frame and gave him a 7-5 lead.
- White dominated the frame after bad play from Hendry to lead 8-5.
- White made two 30 breaks to extend his lead to four frames at 9-5.
- Hendry took advantage of a mistake from White to reduce his deficit to 9-6.
- A strong break from White who won to extend his lead to 4, and a 10-6 lead.
- A 40 break from White to start, and then a consolidation break of 50, to give himself a 5 frame lead at 11-6.
- A 134 break from White gave him a 6 frame advantage to lead 12-6.
- Hendry fights back with an 86 break, to reduce his deficit to 12-7.
- Another frame won by Hendry, and he is back within four at 12-8.
- White won the frame comfortably to extend his lead to 5 at 13-8.
- A great long red paved the way for White to go 6 ahead at 14-8, and move to within four frames of victory.
- Chances for White, but Hendry responded to pinch the frame, and move only 5 frames behind.
- White looked certain to win the frame and lead 15-9, but Hendry cleared magnificantly with a 64 break, after White missed an easy red. So 14-10 into the evening session.
Frame 25
The start of the final session, again you get a bit of intro. Remember that it is best of 35 frames, so first to 18 wins.
Commentry from Jack Karnehm and Eddie Charlton.
Here followed a lengthy safety exchange, which I only exclude because for some reason it has on YouTube too. But you miss no points being scored.
Other News
PIOS Open Series Event 2
The leading amateur tour in the World, the Pontins International Open Series saw 140 players competing in Prestatyn, Wales for more ranking points to progress onto the Main Tour for 2008/2009.
Kuldesh Johal won the event, beating Andrew Pagett 6-4 in the Final on Friday.
Australian National Championship
The national championship of Australia took place over the weekend. Veteran Robby Foldvari was favourite with Neil Robertson absent in Shanghai, and but he was beaten by Shawn Budd in a strong Semi Final. Budd was favourite to win the title, but he was up against Glen Wilkinson over 11 frames. It went to the final frame, but Wilkinson won it to win the title, and be the 2007 Australian Championship. Aaron Mahoney made the highest break of the tournament, a 128 break.
Other "Odds and Sods"
Steve Davis offered free holiday
Sponsors of The Masters, Saga, specialise in holidays for the over 50s. Should Davis win a ranking event this season, he will be given a free holiday. The 6 time champion celebrates his 50th birthday on August 22.
Hendry's new cue
Stephen Hendry claims that his new cue is "perfect", and he has many "private aims", the most fundamental of which is to win his first ranking event since 2005. He also believes he can add to his 7 World Championship titles, and said he "wouldn't be playing if he didn't think he could."
Snooker Stars take to the Track
Mark Selby led a cohort of snooker players who went to the Shanghai Grand Prix circuit, and were driven around the track - not at racing speeds - but fast enough to get a sight of the circuit in all its glory.
Trump voted best prospect
Judd Trump has been voted the best prospect for the future in a poll on the World Snooker website. Trump secured 84% of the votes. All players voted for had to be outside of the top 32 in the world, and under 25 years of age. Trump, 19, has only been on the professional circuit for two seasons, and has already risen to 41 in the rankings.
Murphy's House Flooded
Murphy's mind was naturally elsewhere during this week's Shanghai Masters, as his home was flooded in the recent bad weather in England. He has £40,000 worth of damage to replace - although insurance will help foot the bill.
This week
- The Irish Classic will feature a mix of Irish professionals and amateurs, from both the North and the Republic. Fergal O'Brien is considered favourite for the 8 player event, to be played next weekend.
- The English Open is an amateur open event, named after the late Paul Hunter. It will feature more than 50 players, including one professional. The Final is on Saturday.
All shall be reported next week.
So that concludes this somewhat marathon weekly recap - it will be back next week.
