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Post by bluetornados on Mar 23, 2023 22:34:48 GMT
Ronnie O'Sullivan: Seven-time world champion 'damaging' snooker with 'misguided' comments, says WST chief..ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/1675/production/_129094750_gettyimages-1240404329.jpgichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/C6E7/production/_129091905_gettyimages-1246262659.jpgWorld Snooker Tour chairman Steve Dawson (left) presented Judd Trump with the Masters trophy at this year's tournamentRonnie O'Sullivan is "damaging" snooker with "misguided" criticisms and should aim to be "a true ambassador" for his sport like Rory McIlroy and Roger Federer, the sport's chief has claimed. O'Sullivan said this week that snooker is in "the worst place it's ever been" in an interview with The Sportsman. He also labelled the sport "cheap" and said players are afraid to speak out. "Snooker is bigger than any player," World Snooker Tour chair Steve Dawson said in a statement on the WST website. "Ronnie is a fantastic player and a legend of our sport, but sometimes his misguided comments go too far. "He often compares snooker to golf and tennis, but I would challenge him as to whether for his part he elevates the sport and acts as a role model like a McIlroy or Federer." ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/480/cpsprodpb/15F67/production/_129095998_gettyimages-1457474302.jpgSnooker 'bang in trouble', says Rocket
In a wide-ranging interview, O'Sullivan, who will bid to claim a record-breaking eighth world title at the Crucible Theatre next month, launched a disparaging attack on those running the game. He said snooker, which has also been engulfed by a match-fixing scandal in recent months, is in "a bad place" and "beyond a crisis" - and went as far as suggesting those in charge should step aside. O'Sullivan criticised the reduction in the number of professional tournaments and prize money on offer and even advocated the idea of a player strike in order to effect serious change. The 47-year-old claimed the people managing the game are "not the brightest sparks" and that snooker had "lost its charm" and become "like a pub sport". "If they can be honest enough with themselves, maybe the people that run the game need to say 'we have taken it as far as we can'," O'Sullivan said. "If they really have the love of the sport they would hand it over to somebody else that had higher ambitions. This needs at least another £50m a year just to make it a proper tour. "When you look at £10million prize money for 25 events across the year for 128 players, it's never going to be good. It needs at least to triple that to make it work. "I can't do more. I have carried the sport pretty much for the last 20-30 years. It's not one player. It's the sport, it's not a massive sport. "At Wimbledon it is probably £50m for the one event. You look at golf, minimum first prize of £1.2m and the top players don't even turn up for that. "We are playing for the winner gets £80,000 most weeks and the runner-up gets £35,000. It's bang in trouble. There are a lot of players I know who are really unhappy and frightened to speak out because they will get fined." 'Comments damaging and unfounded' - Dawson
However, Dawson - who took over as the WST's head figure after Barry Hearn stood down in 2021 - accused 'The Rocket' of failing to speak with the game's leadership on the issues raised in his interview. "Ronnie has never attended a players' meeting or engaged with us to discuss his opinions," Dawson added. "There are three formal levels where he can provide feedback: through the WST Board, the WPBSA Players' board or through players' meetings, and he has not engaged through any of these channels." On the subject of players' earnings, Dawson added: "Prize money reached £15m before the pandemic and is currently at £11m. "The dip since 2019 has been principally caused by the inability to stage tournaments in China while the country was in an unprecedented lockdown. "There are many individual sports where the levels of prize money are significantly lower than snooker. For now, we are more than holding our own for the nature and size of the sport. "This season we have provided every player with a £20,000 income guarantee to help them pay expenses and develop their careers. "We are striving to take snooker to a higher level, but we need the players to be ambassadors in public, and to communicate any concerns they have through the right channels. "Comments like those from Ronnie this week are damaging to us as a sport - and they're unfounded. "If Ronnie took advantage of his own massive global popularity to be a true ambassador for snooker then he could work with us to drive the sport forward for his benefit and for the sport as a whole."
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Post by bluetornados on Mar 23, 2023 22:43:44 GMT
Jimmy White stuns Judd Trump to reach World Snooker Tour Classic last 16..ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/122C3/production/_129053447_gettyimages-1441072994.jpgVeteran Jimmy White shocked world number five Judd Trump to reach the last 16 of the World Snooker Tour Classic. 'The Whirlwind', 60, raced into a 3-0 lead and survived a rally from the former world champion to prevail 4-2. At the German Masters last month, White became the first player aged 60 or over to reach the last 16 of a ranking event for 31 years. "It's a big win for me," the six-time World Championship runner-up said. "If you are not a fan of Judd Trump you are not a fan of snooker. The last five times I have played him he's beaten me and I've played better than I have today and lost. "It was a fantastic win today but if I'm going to win the tournament I've got to play a bit better than that." White, who also reached the last 32 of the UK Championship in November, will face China's Pang Junxu for a place in the quarter-finals in Leicester. The result also means Trump cannot now qualify for next week's elite eight-man Tour Championship in Hull.
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Post by bluetornados on Mar 23, 2023 22:45:02 GMT
Jimmy White confident of World Championship return despite defeat at WST Classic..ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/11434/production/_129080707_gettyimages-1475069035.jpgSix-time runner-up Jimmy White says he is "playing too well" not to qualify for next month's World Championship. 'The Whirlwind', 60, was beaten 4-1 by China's Pang Junxu at World Snooker Tour Classic in Leicester after a fine run that included a third-round win over world number five Judd Trump. White has not reached the final stages of the World Championship since 2006. Qualifying starts on 3 April and White said: "I'll be getting to the Crucible." White, winner of 38 titles during a decorated career, won the opening frame against Pang to raise hopes of a quarter-final place, but Pang won the next four. "I am playing OK, I just ran out of steam" added White, who became the first player aged 60 or over to reach the last 16 of a ranking event for 31 years at the German Masters last month. "Pang is one of my favourite Chinese players and I wish him all the best because he's a hard worker. "But to beat the three players I have beaten this week, and then not produce, is a disappointment." With the final three rounds played across one day, Pang went on to reach his first ranking event final on Wednesday but was beaten 6-2 by an impressive Mark Selby. Selby, whose victory sealed a second ranking event win of the season, began with century breaks in the first two frames and reeled off another in the fifth in a commanding win. The World Championship takes place from 15th April - 1st May at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.
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Post by bluetornados on Mar 23, 2023 22:47:01 GMT
Ronnie O'Sullivan withdraws from World Snooker Tour Classic with elbow injury..ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/DD4D/production/_129035665_whatsubject.jpgSeven-time winner Ronnie O'Sullivan has sustained an elbow injury less than four weeks before the start of the World Snooker Championship. The 47-year-old withdrew from the World Snooker Tour Classic on Sunday, just hours before he was due to face David Grace in the second round in Leicester. O'Sullivan defeated Egypt's Mohamed Ibrahim 4-2 in the first round. He wrote on Twitter: "Really disappointed but have had to pull out because of an elbow injury." O'Sullivan added he hopes "to be back asap". The World Championship takes place from 15th April-1st May at the Crucible in Sheffield. O'Sullivan won his seventh title in 2022, beating Judd Trump 18-13 in the final to equal Stephen Hendry's modern-era record and become the tournament's oldest winner.
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Post by bluetornados on Apr 17, 2023 19:37:21 GMT
World Snooker Championship 2023: Play stopped by protesters at the Crucible..ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/E389/production/_129394285_screenshot2023-04-17193312.pngPlay was suspended at the World Championship after a protester vandalised table one and a second person tried to attach themselves to table two. Robert Milkins and Joe Perry were playing their first-round match at the time of the incident. A man climbed on to their table and covered it in an orange powder. Northern Ireland's Mark Allen and China's Fan Zhengyi were also in action and escorted from the arena. Referee Olivier Marteel helped prevent a female protester from getting on table one and they were removed from the auditorium by security staff. Play resumed in the Allen v Fan match after a 40-minute delay, with the other game expected to resume later on Monday evening. Master of ceremonies Rob Walker was seen hoovering the table in a bid to get play back under way as quickly as possible. Speaking on the BBC Red Button, seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry said: "I have never seen that before at a snooker event. It's a first. "It is scary. Wow! You just hope the cloth can be recovered from that. It caught us all by surprise and then this happens. "For me, straight away as a snooker player I am thinking: 'Is the table recoverable?' We don't know what that is on the table." ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/240/cpsprodpb/17CA9/production/_129394479_f2427f0234541974c1ae1ab3e463cefbddd80288-1.jpg
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Post by bluetornados on Apr 17, 2023 19:40:24 GMT
World Snooker Championship 2023 results: Mark Williams beats Jimmy Robertson..ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/E144/production/_129386675_3110859499b6b8954a6fff570024be6f909dc14c.jpgThree-time champion Mark Williams produced a classy display to beat Jimmy Robertson 10-5 in the first round of the World Championship. Trailing 5-4 overnight, the 48-year-old Welshman compiled four half centuries as he reeled off six frames in a row to seal his victory. It was a tough afternoon for England's Robertson, 36, who is yet to win a match at the Crucible in five attempts. Williams will face Belgium's Luca Brecel in the second round. ...................................................................................................................................................................................................... World Snooker Championship 2023: Hossein Vafaei wants 'revenge' against Ronnie O'Sullivan..ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/240/cpsprodpb/1DF4/production/_129386670_81b353ab8b8f570f6807509a02dca924ff3a8e7b.jpgHossein Vafaei says he has the "opportunity for revenge" against defending champion Ronnie O'Sullivan in the World Championship second round. Vafaei made breaks of 117, 122, 68, 57 and 89 to convert a 5-4 overnight deficit into a 10-6 win over Ding Junhui in Sheffield on Monday. The Iranian last year called on seven-time champion O'Sullivan to retire, saying he was "not good for the game". Englishman O'Sullivan recently said Vafaei had "learned to be quiet". World number 23 Vafaei said on Monday: "He is a legend of the sport but he is such a nice person when he's asleep. "He disrespected me before and God has given me an opportunity for revenge, so it depends on me. I have to stand up in front of him if I want to be world champion. "Get your popcorn, everyone." Their best-of-25 contest at the Crucible starts at 14:30 BST on Friday.
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Post by bluetornados on Apr 17, 2023 19:44:57 GMT
Snooker legend Ray Reardon at 90: 'Proud for Wales, proud for myself'..ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/1180A/production/_91409617_gettyimages-120223992.jpgAs he celebrates his 90th birthday, former World Champion Ray Reardon says he is "proud" for Wales and himself as he reflects on an illustrious snooker career. Reardon won the World Championship six times in the 1970s and was the first player to be world number one when rankings were introduced in 1976. "That's why I turned professional, to be number one," he says. In the same year he was the Masters champion and among his other titles he won BBC's Pot Black twice, in 1969 and 1979. Born on 8 October, 1932 in the coal mining community of Tredegar, Reardon left school at 14 and followed his father Ben down the mine at Ty Trist Colliery. After pit closures in south Wales the family moved to North Staffordshire in 1956 and a year later Reardon had a terrifying experience at Florence Colliery in Stoke-on-Trent. While he was working underground the roof collapsed and he was trapped for three hours. Reardon was hugely relieved his hands weren't damaged as he was rescued. "When they came to rescue me they started shovelling and I thought if a shovel comes in it's going to hit my fingers and cut my fingers off," he recalls. "I was very worried about that, so as soon as I felt some freedom I wiggled my fingers, just to let them know I'm still alive because they didn't know." Reardon gave up mining and joined the police in 1960 before becoming a professional snooker player in 1967. Three years later he won the World Championship for the first time and he secured another five World titles in six years: 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1978, when he beat Perrie Mans in the final. That was the only title he won at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield after the sport's biggest tournament moved there in 1977. In 1982 he lost against Alex Higgins in the final at the Crucible. He was awarded the MBE in 1985 and Reardon retired in 1991, but in 2004 he helped Ronnie O'Sullivan to win his second World title, acting as O'Sullivan's coach and mentor. "When I saw him at the table on the first day I was picking the balls up for him, it was something special, without doubt the best player I'd ever seen," says Reardon. O'Sullivan celebrated by wearing a pair of false teeth as a light-hearted tribute to Reardon who was nicknamed 'Dracula' because of his prominent teeth and dark 'widow's peak' hairline. The two are still in touch and Reardon describes their relationship as "pure friendship". He is also in no doubt that the current World champion, who equalled Stephen Hendry's record of seven World titles in the modern era this year, can beat that record. In 2016 the Welsh Open trophy was renamed the Ray Reardon Trophy in his honour and he presented it to Stuart Bingham in Cardiff the following year. Also in 2017 Reardon returned to the Crucible to take part in a parade of players who had won the World Championship there for a ceremony marking 40 years of the event being held in Sheffield. "It was wonderful, heart-warming," says Reardon. "It's easy to respond to that when you get such a warm welcome. I loved it." Reardon still plays snooker - "very badly," he jokes - and, with the same smile that captured the hearts of millions of people who watched him dominate the sport in the 1970s, he feels very fortunate to be in such good health at the age of 90. "I had a hip operation recently. I've got a bit of a limp, but other than that I feel fine. How lucky is that?" ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/463A/production/_114087971_pjimage-4.jpgRay Reardon coached Ronnie O'Sullivan for two years from 2004
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Post by bluetornados on Apr 20, 2023 14:24:59 GMT
World Snooker Championship 2023: Kyren Wilson makes 147 maximum break in 10-5 first-round victory..Kyren Wilson completed a memorable 147 maximum break in his comfortable 10-5 first-round win against Ryan Day at the World Championship in Sheffield. Englishman Wilson potted 15 reds, 15 blacks and all the colours for the 13th total clearance in Crucible history. If the world number seven's break is not equalled at this year's tournament, he stands to earn £55,000 in additional prize money. There is £40,000 on offer for a 147, and £15,000 for the highest break. In achieving the feat, the beaten world finalist from 2020 also became only the ninth player to make a maximum at the Crucible. "I'm absolutely buzzing. I'm so happy with that," said Wilson. "I've said for a long time I want to leave a legacy - that's something my kids can watch back again. It's been on my bucket list. "There's no pressure like it. I actually got a little bit distracted and when I got down for the [final] pink [ball] I couldn't feel my right arm. That will live long in the memory." ...................................................................................................................................................................... WATCH THE 147 BREAK IN FULL BELOW..www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/snooker/65325322
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Post by bluetornados on Apr 26, 2023 16:17:57 GMT
World Snooker Championship 2023 results: Ronnie O'Sullivan's hopes ended by Luca Brecel in last eight.. ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/DE42/production/_129489865_9e8c2a2d6f8d7596c66c0707f0907680c3f4a8ad.jpgRonnie O'Sullivan's hopes of an eighth World Championship title came to an end in the quarter-finals as Luca Brecel staged a superb fightback to win 13-10. O'Sullivan, who equalled Stephen Hendry's record of seven Crucible crowns last year, had led 6-2 and 10-6. But he failed to win a single frame in the final session in Sheffield as Brecel reeled off seven on the trot. The Belgian compiled breaks of 112, 64, 72, 61, 78 and 63 to seal a memorable victory and a place in the last four. Brecel, 28, meets Anthony McGill or Si Jiahui in the semi-finals, with their match finely balanced at 8-8 heading into the final session at 19:00 BST. Brecel's victory came in a remarkable finale that saw 39-time ranking-event winner O'Sullivan fail to win a frame in a session at the Crucible for the first time since his 17-11 loss to Graeme Dott in the 2006 semi-final. ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/927D/production/_129510573_7fb640cd06147b756f58198f49f879120169cd51.jpg"He played unbelievable. He is such a good player and I love watching him. He is such a dynamic player and he is full a talent," O'Sullivan told BBC Sport. "Probably the most talented snooker player I have ever seen. I would love to go and see him win it just for snooker because that is how the game should be played. "If I'd have put up a bit more resistance maybe he wouldn't have played as well but you still have to pot the balls. I just wasn't playing well enough to have an impact on the game. "If it was a boxing match they'd have stopped it very early because I was pinching frames and hanging on and it catches up with you at some point." ichef.bbci.co.uk/live-experience/cps/624/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2023/4/25/cf9981a5-e4f2-4233-ad59-b71f1f116c99.jpg |
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Post by bluetornados on Jun 6, 2023 20:15:18 GMT
Snooker match-fixing scandal: Liang Wenbo and Li Hang handed lifetime bans..
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Li Hang (pictured) and Liang Wenbo have to pay £43,000 costs each as well as their lifetime bansichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/5557/production/_125274812_gettyimages-1312970006.jpg Liang WenboChinese players Liang Wenbo and Li Hang have been handed lifetime bans for their involvement in snooker's biggest match-fixing scandal. Eight other players, all from China, have received bans ranging from 20 months to five years and four months from the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA). The allegations include manipulating games, approaching players to cheat, betting on snooker and fixing matches. Yan Bingtao, the 2021 Masters champion, has been banned until December 2027, while former UK Championship winner Zhao Xintong must serve a suspension that ends in September 2024. All 10 players have until 20 June to appeal against the decisions. WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson said: "This has been a very complex case. It has been heart-breaking to see some young talented players fall foul of the WPBSA Conduct Regulations through pressure exerted by two senior players. "This behaviour has been recognised as wholly unacceptable by the imposition of two lifetime bans from participating in recognised snooker in any way. "I am pleased that the commission found that they did not see from the present case any evidence of a wider culture of wrongdoing in snooker. "The WPBSA will continue its strong stance against those who try to manipulate sport and today's outcome sends out a clear message that match-fixing will not be tolerated in snooker." What were the verdicts and punishments?ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/716D/production/_129773092_bbc-sport-index-imagery-2-split-images-gradient-f8869e59-70b1-4e87-bfec-2f59ae9d6002.pngZhao Zintong and Yan Bingtao were the two highest-ranked players charged with match-fixingLiang Wenbo Age: 36 Ranking: 72. Finalist in 2015 UK Championship Given a lifetime ban and ordered to pay £43,000 in costs. He was found guilty of fixing or being a party to fixing five matches, trying to get other players to fix nine matches, betting on snooker matches, threatening another player, deleting messages and asking other players to, failing to cooperate with the enquiry. Li Hang Age: 32 Ranking: 71 Given a lifetime ban and ordered to pay £43,000 in costs. He was found guilty of fixing or being a party to fixing five matches, trying to get other players to fix seven matches, betting on snooker matches, deleting messages and asking other players to. Lu Ning Age: 29 Ranking: 65. Semi-finalist at the 2020 UK Championship Given a ban of five years and four months, reduced from eight years after his early admissions and guilty plea. He has to pay £7,500 in costs. He was not found guilty of inducing others to fix matches. He accepted charges of fixing four snooker matches he played in, betting on matches and deleting messages. Yan Bingtao Age: 22 Ranking: 23. First player born in 2000 to turn professional, won 2021 Masters Given a ban of five years, reduced from seven and a half years after his early admissions and guilty plea. He has to pay £7,500 in costs. He accepted charges of fixing four snooker matches he played in and betting on matches. Zhao Xintong Age: 25 Ranking: 11. Won 2021 UK Championship and 2022 German Masters Given a ban of one year and eight months, reduced from two and a half years after his early admissions and guilty plea. He has to pay £7,500 in costs. He accepted charges of being a party to another player fixing two matches and betting on matches himself. Zhang Jiankang Age: 24. Ranking: 93 Given a ban of two years and 11 months, reduced from four years and five months after his early admissions and guilty plea. He has to pay £7,500 in costs. He accepted charges of fixing a snooker match he played in, betting on matches and not giving the WPBSA information. Chen Zifan Age: 27. Ranking: 104 Given a ban of five years, reduced from seven and a half years after his early admissions and guilty plea. He has to pay £7,500 in costs. He accepted charges of fixing or contrived, or being a party to an effort to fix or contrive the result or score of three snooker matches that he played in. Chang Bingyu Age: 20 Ranking: 88 Given a ban of two years, reduced from three years after his early admissions and guilty plea. He has to pay £7,500 in costs. He accepted charges of fixing a snooker match he played in. Zhao Jianbo Age: 19 Ranking: Amateur Given a ban of two years and eight months, reduced from three and a half years after his early admissions and guilty plea. He has to pay £7,500 in costs. He accepted charges of fixing a snooker match he played in - and betting on that match. Bai Langning Age: 20. Ranking: 130 Given a ban of two years and four months, reduced from four years after his early admissions and guilty plea. He has to pay £7,500 in costs. He accepted charges of fixing a snooker match he played in.
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Post by bluetornados on Jun 6, 2023 20:20:08 GMT
Women's world number one Reanne Evans regains two-year professional World Snooker Tour card..
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Evans is the most successful female snooker player of all time with 12 World Championship titles and 11 UK Championship crownsWomen's world number one Reanne Evans has regained her place on the World Snooker Tour for the next two years despite defeat in the British Open final. Evans was beaten 4-3 by China's Bai Yulu at the tournament in Walsall, but her nearest rival, Hong Kong's Ng On Yee, was eliminated at the quarter-final stage. That meant Evans, 37, regained her status at the top of the World Women's Snooker Tour. She was awarded a two-year card to play on the main WST circuit. In 2021, Evans and Ng turned professional following two-year long invitational tour cards, which have just expired. There were two WST spots up for grabs this season, with Thailand's Baipat Siripaporn having been awarded the first of those for winning the World Women's Championship in March.
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Post by bluetornados on Oct 16, 2023 15:00:12 GMT
Wuhan Open: Judd Trump beat Ali Carter to seal back-to-back titles..
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Judd Trump claimed his 25th ranking title with victory in the Wuhan OpenJudd Trump completed back-to-back tournament wins with a 10-7 victory over fellow Englishman Ali Carter in the final of the Wuhan Open. World number four Trump, 34, arrived late in China after winning the English Open the previous weekend. He had to play two matches on Wednesday to catch up, but maintained his form to seal the £140,000 winner's prize. The Masters champion went into the evening session trailing 5-4 but hit two centuries to turn it around. Carter, 44, was aiming for his second title of the year after winning the German Masters in February, and did well to halt Trump's early charge, battling back from 4-1 down to lead after the first session. But 2019 world champion Trump levelled the match with a break of 116 and opened a two-frame cushion with further runs of 56 and 71. The two players shared the next four frames before Trump sealed his 25th ranking title with a break of 105. "It was a very tough final," Trump told Eurosport. "Ali made it very difficult, even though he didn't play his best. "I struggled a little bit, but towards the end I just had a few good splits and scored heavier - that was the difference." As well as finishing runner-up, Carter also took home a £5,000 prize for the tournament's highest break of 145.
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Post by bluetornados on Nov 22, 2023 16:36:17 GMT
Ronnie O'Sullivan: Seven-time world champion says he could quit over row with governing body..By Nicola Pearson & Steve Sutcliffe, BBC Sport.
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Ronnie O'Sullivan pulled out of the Northern Ireland Open because of medical reasonsRonnie O'Sullivan says he is at a "crossroads" with snooker's governing body and could quit the sport if he has to reduce the time he spends in China. The seven-time world champion, 47, is facing disciplinary action for publicly criticising the World Snooker Tour. His comments related to five players being threatened with punishment for playing in an exhibition event in Macau instead of the Northern Ireland Open. "I know that they're going to throw the book at me," O'Sullivan told the BBC. "I can't speak out. I've accepted that. So that's the situation that I'm in. I'm under disciplinary," he said in an extensive interview for BBC Two. Disciplinary action against the five players - world champion Luca Brecel, four-time world champion John Higgins and Mark Selby, Thepchaiya Un-Nooh and Ali Carter - was averted when the event in Macau, a special administrative region of China, was moved to December, with World Snooker Tour (WST) permission. O'Sullivan backed the players in their dispute with WST in October. Specially organised events in East Asia are a lucrative proposition for stars like O'Sullivan, who can attract large crowds whenever they play. "I have no option now," O'Sullivan added. "If I can't go out and do what I need to do - which is play a lot in China - then I won't ever play again. "We are at a sort of crossroads now. "There's not enough here for me in the UK to justify the effort that I put in. When I go to China I play in great venues, great crowds, great prize money. And I love it. "If that gets to the point where I'm not able to do that or I'm not allowed to do that, then I probably won't play. I'll probably go and play Chinese 8 ball (pool) because I still want to play snooker. I still want a cue in my hand." ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/1008xn/p0fprv2f.jpgIn response, WST said: "While we are delighted for Ronnie to build his profile in China, and to play in his private exhibition events, our priority is to protect the interests of all players." The main snooker circuit also confirmed that prize money in the sport was now at pre-Covid levels - worth around £14m over this season - having dropped post-pandemic to around £10-11m with the loss of several, now reinstated, events in China. In September, O'Sullivan collected a winner's cheque of £210,000 for triumphing in the Shanghai Masters. However, the three largest prizes for winners remain the Triple Crown events hosted in the UK - the World Championship (£500,000), UK Championship (£250,000) and the Masters (£250,000). The largest winner's cheque for an overseas ranking event is £175,000 at the International Championship, which was held in northern China in November. Top players not 'appreciated'World number four Mark Allen apologised last month for comments he made criticising the WST, in which he said the game is in "disarray". O'Sullivan, who is no stranger to making critical remarks about the state of the sport or threatening to quit, said there needs to be more appreciation shown to those at the top of the world rankings. "I'm an individual and I have to go where is best for me," he added. "I don't get appreciated on the snooker circuit. None of the top players do in my opinion. "I'd love to be able to keep playing snooker for the next five, six, seven, eight years. "But if I'm going to be forced into a situation where that isn't possible then I'm not going to accept what the other 130 players do, which is play tournament after tournament. "For the last eight to 10 years I've had a great life. I've enjoyed doing my own events. It's never been a problem for the last eight years, but now it seems to be a problem. "Now I'm going to China a lot more and [the WST] want a piece of the cake and I don't feel like I need to give them a piece of the cake. They don't want to give me a piece of their cake. I'm not doing anything wrong. "I don't think they like I'm doing something for myself, that I'm enjoying it. I just don't think it sits well." This term O'Sullivan has missed several events having not entered the Championship League. He also withdrew from the European Masters, British Open and Northern Ireland Open and elected to miss the recent Champion of Champions to look after his mental health.
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Post by bluetornados on Dec 4, 2023 4:50:10 GMT
UK Championship 2023: Ronnie O'Sullivan claims record-extending 8th title..By Steve Sutcliffe, BBC Sport at York Barbican.ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2023/12/3/d192f944-2d8f-4eff-af24-f4b90e2f8135.jpgRonnie O'Sullivan became the oldest-ever UK champion with a 10-7 victory over Ding Junhui as he claimed a record-extending eighth title in York. O'Sullivan's triumph has come two days before he turns 48 and three decades on from being the youngest player to win the UK Championship, aged 17. The match was delicately poised at 4-4 heading into Sunday's final session. But O'Sullivan pulled clear with four half-centuries and two centuries to secure the £250,000 top prize. O'Sullivan's remarkable longevity at the top of the game means he eclipses Doug Mountjoy's long-standing mark from 1988, when he won his second UK title, aged 46, against Stephen Hendry. "Each tournament I win and play in, I take great pleasure from," O'Sullivan told BBC Sport. "I had to come out and have a good head. There was a big crowd and I wanted to leave blood, sweat and tears on the table. I came out and gave it my all and I love competing. "I always keep beating myself up because of the age thing. I keep thinking at some point you have to stop winning but I am doing all right and I will keep on going until the wheels fall off." O'Sullivan's latest landmark moment continues his remarkable success in snooker's prestigious Triple Crown events, with his tally of trophies across the Masters, UK and World Championship's now at 22, four clear of Scotland's Hendry. The seven-time world champion, who holds almost every other major record in the game, has been selective about his appearances on the world tour this term, having won the non-ranking Shanghai Masters event in September. However, his performances against Hossein Vafaei, Zhou Yuelong, Robert Milkins and Anthony McGill earlier in the tournament underlined his ability to deliver on the big occasion. In Sunday's finale against Ding, he went from strength to strength to add a 40th ranking title to his collection, sealing the outcome with a sublime break of 129. ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2023/12/3/1fbf6205-8070-46e4-8670-e237c26f3e10.jpgDing displays fighting spiritIt is the second successive year that China's Ding has lost in the final by a three-frame margin, albeit this contest was markedly different to his painful defeat by Mark Allen 12 months ago, when he let a 6-1 lead slip. The three-time winner, who says he loves playing at the Yorkshire venue, delivered a superb response to falling 3-0 down on Sunday afternoon with breaks of 89, a sublime 114 and 70 to draw level. Those fighting qualities were initially on show in the evening, with Ding who had to come through qualifying after slipping just outside of the world's top 16 ranked players, punishing O'Sullivan's miss on a blue to the top-left pocket to get back to 5-5 with a break of 56 after the Englishman took the first frame of the evening with an 89. A contribution of 52 and a fine 104 break, his second century of the contest, allowed him to restore parity again after O'Sullivan went 7-5 ahead with runs of 87 and 79. But in the end he simply had no answer as O'Sullivan raced to the line with a 100, a 74 and the highest break of the final. "It's been a very good week starting from the first match," said Ding. "I know it was going to be very tough against Ronnie. I like myself playing like this. It is very cool." ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2023/12/3/56528512-9dca-46cb-8072-c56d4fd7d085.jpg
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Post by bluetornados on Dec 4, 2023 4:54:13 GMT
ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/0b5e/live/77417f80-61ff-11ee-8c41-6b45927f204c.jpgJoseph Hadfield: No other snooker player plays the game like him. Magnificent. Martin Warren: The greatest sportsman in my lifetime… immense and superb snooker by Rocket Ronnie O'Sullivan tonight in the UK Championship final, simply awesome. Jonny Twiss: He’s the goat of all sports. Ronnie O’Sullivan. 30 years at the top. Youngest UK Championship winner. Oldest UK Championship winner. Simply incredible. Lonely Goalpost: Ronnie O'Sullivan winning the UK Championship final, 30 years after first winning it. For me, the finest British sportsman of all time. Love him. Martin Dwyer: Ronnie does it again - simply the best - eight UK titles, seven Worlds, over 1,000 centuries, keeps breaking records. Good to see Ding back in some sort of form, hopefully it keeps up. David: Remarkable! Is there any other sportsman to dominate in this way for so long?! Unique talent! Callum Thompson: Ronnie O'Sullivan is the Messi or Ronaldo of snooker isn't he? The natural talent and longevity of which we may never see his like again. A genius who has been and remains a joy to watch. James Pearce: There is just no-one quite like Ronnie O'Sullivan. Ding Junhui played really well (after a shaky start) but as soon as he stepped up and started hitting centuries, Ronnie found another gear. Incredible. Eight UK Championships! Parm: Ronnie is an absolute genius. Could never get bored of watching him. Don’t know how he just keeps doing this year after year. Surely there cannot be many in other sports who have been as good for this long! Hope he just carries on as long as possible! Voice of the Mysterons: Just as well really that Ronnie O'Sullivan is as erratic as he is, otherwise it's entirely possible that he could have single-handedly *killed* the game of snooker about 20 years ago. George Cheetham: Ronnie is incredible. How he's still THAT good after all these years is crazy. You can tell he loves it more than he sometimes would like us to believe.
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Post by bluetornados on Dec 23, 2023 17:35:45 GMT
Jimmy White: I'm only just starting, I've got unfinished business with the game..by Phil Haigh.i2-prod.dailyrecord.co.uk/incoming/article30002406.ece/ALTERNATES/s810/0_Snooker-2023-WST-Classic-21-Mar-2023.jpgJimmy White says he is only just getting started with snooker at 61 years old, planning to take care of ‘unfinished business’ in the game. The six-time World Championship finalist is still competing on the professional tour, reaching the last 32 of the Scottish Open earlier this month, despite being more than four decades older than some of his fellow pros. After being eliminated in Edinburgh the Whirlwind mentioned that he was coming to the end of his career, but asked if he is thinking about retiring, the legendary Londoner was clear that he is nowhere near hanging his cue up just yet. ‘No, no, no, I was joking,’ White told Metro.co.uk. ‘I’m only just starting! ‘What you’ve got to remember is that I was stoned for 20 years. To win the titles what I did, and to get to all those finals, it’s a miracle! ‘I’ve still got unfinished business with the game. I can still play.’ The Whirlwind is busy over Christmas, playing an exhibition in Macau and then he will be starring in the new Mr Vegas Snooker 900, taking on fellow legends Stephen Hendry and Dennis Taylor in his group stage on 29 December at Epsom Racecourse, live on Channel 5. The event, which also features Ken Doherty, Tony Knowles and Joe Johnson, sees White kick off his day against Hendry, his old foe who beat him in four Crucible finals. Asked if he still has added motivation when taking on the Scot, White said: ‘Of course! Whenever I can beat him it’s nice. ‘We have a great rivalry. I had a great rivalry with Steve Davis and then Stephen Hendry and people love to see that match. ‘But there’s never been any animosity whatsoever. When he was a young lad me and Alex Higgins took him under our wing a bit and I was very proud of Stephen for going to Alex Higgins’ funeral. ‘I’ve got the utmost respect for Stephen. He’s a good lad, a great champion, always had a great mindset for the game. I’ve got no problem with Stephen whatsoever.’ White was Hendry’s hero when the Scot took up the game, but the Englishman admits the Scot chose the right path in taking a more pragmatic approach to the sport. ‘I think he liked how I could play all the flair shots but he went down the Davis route because he wanted to win,’ said White. ‘I get that and he made the right decision, obviously.’ The Mr Vegas Snooker will see the legends play under The 900 rules of 15 minute frames under a shot clock and with modified rules such as ball-in-hand for a foul. ‘It looks good fun, exciting,’ said the Whirlwind. ‘It’s very quick, which suits me. Little bit of a lottery but I’m looking forward to it.’ And one thing you can rely on White for at this stage of his career is that he will be taking it very seriously. ‘Listen I’m going there to win,’ he said. ‘Make no mistake.’
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Post by bluetornados on Jan 8, 2024 15:47:53 GMT
Ronnie O'Sullivan pays tribute to 'the David Beckham of snooker'..by Lewis Winter.ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/16D82/production/_131907539_gettyimages-1826579308.jpgRonnie O'Sullivan has paid tribute to Paul Hunter two decades after the late snooker star's last Masters triumph. The Rocket has labelled Hunter the 'David Beckham of snooker' and claims he will never be forgotten by those who played against him. Hunter died of stomach cancer in October 2006 at the age of 27. He had been battling the illness for over 18 months but continued playing at a professional level until April of the year he passed away. The Huddersfield-born star was widely tipped to become one of the faces of snooker. He earned comparisons to Beckham due to his long blonde locks and boyish good looks. Hunter won the first of his Masters titles in 2001 at the age of 22 and won the tournament again in 2002 and 2004. O'Sullivan has made a touching tribute to Hunter, 20 years after he was beaten by him in the final in Wembley. The 48-year-old said: "Paul was an unbelievable talent. "He definitely had that star power and transcended the game. "He was the Beckham of the snooker, wasn’t he. He was a good-looking boy. "He always had a smile on his face and was a good lad. "He was brilliant for the game, he was a lovely lad and had a lovely family. "I had some good times and some good memories with Paul. "He will never be forgotten, all the players loved him. "He will always be in the hearts of the snooker players and everybody who knew him." ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/3A4B/production/_89332941_hunter2.jpgPaul Hunter won the Masters title in 2001, 2002 and 2004O'Sullivan, who has won the Masters a record seven times, begins his campaign against China's Ding Junhui on Monday. He claims the early noughties provided the best era in snooker. And he reckons Hunter was firmly a part of that. O'Sullivan added: "I've always said that snooker enjoyed a golden era when Hendry, Higgins, Williams, Stevens, the great Paul Hunter and myself were battling it out. "I truly believe that was the best top six ever." Former Scottish player Alan McManus has also paid tribute to Hunter. McManus, who won the Masters in 1994, would love a reunion with former champions but admits it would be sad that Hunter would not be there. He said: "I remember one year there was an evening for all the former winners and they invited Kirk Stevens because he made the first ever Masters 147. "It was amazing to be among those players. Because you have to be a special player to win the Masters. "I wasn’t, but the rest were all special players. It would be great if they did another one. "But one regret I would have would be that Paul Hunter wouldn’t be there. "He's an icon of the game. He was some player. He would be there in spirit with the trophy. "These things are important to snooker people if the game’s inside you like it is for me."
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Post by bluetornados on Jan 11, 2024 22:33:49 GMT
The Masters is one of snooker's 'Triple Crown' events alongside the World Championship and the UK Championship.
All matches are the best of 11 frames except for the final, which is played over 19 frames and two sessions.
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Thursday 11th January - Q/F Results:1..Shaun Murphy 6 Jack Lisowski 3 2..Ronnie O'Sullivan 6 Barry Hawkins 3 Friday 12th January Q/F Fixtures3..Judd Trump v Ali Carter 4..Mark Allen v Mark Selby Saturday 13th January S/F Fixtures1..Ronnie O'Sullivan v Shaun Murphy 2..TBC Sunday 14th January - Final (Best of 19)TBC v TBC
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Post by bluetornados on Jan 14, 2024 22:11:58 GMT
The Masters is one of snooker's 'Triple Crown' events alongside the World Championship and the UK Championship.
All matches are the best of 11 frames except for the final, which is played over 19 frames and two sessions.
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Thursday 11th January - Q/F Results:1..Shaun Murphy 6 Jack Lisowski 3 2..Ronnie O'Sullivan 6 Barry Hawkins 3 Friday 12th January Q/F Fixtures3..Judd Trump 5 Ali Carter 6 4..Mark Allen 6 Mark Selby 5 Saturday 13th January S/F Fixtures1..Ronnie O'Sullivan 6 Shaun Murphy 2 2..Ali Carter 6 Mark Allen 3 Sunday 14th January - Final (Best of 19)Ronnie O'Sullivan v Ali Carter |
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Post by bluetornados on Jan 14, 2024 22:16:45 GMT
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Sunday 14th January - Final (Best of 19)
Ronnie O'Sullivan 10 Ali Carter 7
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RONNIE O'SULLIVAN WINS THE MASTERS FOR AN 8TH TIME - O'Sullivan 10-7 Carter
Ronnie O'Sullivan wins the Masters for an 8th time. He had to fight back from 6-3 down, but is the champion.
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Runner-up Ali Carter, speaking to Rob Walker immediately after the final, says: "He's beginning to annoy me. Obviously I'm gutted I lost. The final, it's all about winning. "Before I rocked up here I would've taken the final but I've got good things to come for me and I'm heading in the right direction. "Ronnie played very well, he missed a few at the end and the crowd got excited. When you play Ronnie you have to play the crowd, you have to accept it. I did my best but it just wasn't good enough." ichef.bbci.co.uk/live-experience/cps/624/cpsprodpb/vivo/live/images/2024/1/14/c6cb4a19-4ee6-4517-bd52-610dbd9a4db3.jpgEight-time Masters champion Ronnie O'Sullivan said: "I don't know how I won this tournament. I've just dug deep, tried to play with a bit of freedom tonight and just tried to keep Ali honest. "If he was to win, he would've had to scrape me off the table. I just wanted to see if he had it at the end and could he get over the line, that was my mindset coming into the evening session. "Ali didn't play great this evening, he played better this afternoon and he let me off the hook tonight. He didn't take on some balls I thought he would and that gave me belief. I just tried to take the most from it."
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