Snooker

[The Hare]

Some sad news as well, 2 great Welsh players gone this year.

Former world snooker champion Terry Griffiths has died aged 77, after a long battle with dementia, his family has confirmed.

The Welshman won the 1979 World Championship as a qualifier, beating Dennis Taylor 24-16 in the final.

Griffiths also won the Masters in 1980 and the UK Championship in 1982 to complete snooker's 'Triple Crown'.

He also reached a career-high third in the world rankings, and in 2007 was made an OBE for his services to the sport.

His son Wayne wrote on Facebook: "To our friends and snooker followers in general, we are deeply saddened to share the news of our loss.

"Terry Griffiths OBE passed away peacefully on 1st December, after a lengthy battle with dementia. He was surrounded by his family in his beloved hometown in South Wales.

"A proud Welshman, Terry was born in Llanelli, brought pride to Llanelli and now he has found peace in Llanelli. He would not have had it any other way."

 

[Delboy99]

Some sad news as well, 2 great Welsh players gone this year.

Former world snooker champion Terry Griffiths has died aged 77, after a long battle with dementia, his family has confirmed.

The Welshman won the 1979 World Championship as a qualifier, beating Dennis Taylor 24-16 in the final.

Griffiths also won the Masters in 1980 and the UK Championship in 1982 to complete snooker's 'Triple Crown'.

He also reached a career-high third in the world rankings, and in 2007 was made an OBE for his services to the sport.

His son Wayne wrote on Facebook: "To our friends and snooker followers in general, we are deeply saddened to share the news of our loss.

"Terry Griffiths OBE passed away peacefully on 1st December, after a lengthy battle with dementia. He was surrounded by his family in his beloved hometown in South Wales.

"A proud Welshman, Terry was born in Llanelli, brought pride to Llanelli and now he has found peace in Llanelli. He would not have had it any other way."

..... wow! It seems like only yesterday that I was watching him in his playing hayday. Mind you he was not my favourite type of player as he used to square himself up for his shot then get up and down from his chosen cue position over and over again prior to playing an actual shot. Definitely Mr. Slowcoach but very sorry to see him depart in this awful manner. R.I.P Terry Griffiths.

 

[Delboy99]

Irish 14-year-old Joe Shannon set to live out snooker dream . ​

Irish teenager Joe Shannon is relishing the prospect of his first match on the World Snooker Tour as he prepares to take on world number 23 Robert Milkins in the Snooker Shoot Out in Leicester on Wednesday.


The recently turned 14-year-old will become the youngest Irish player to ever compete in a tour event when he takes part in the first session of the opening round of the quickfire tournament, scheduled for 1.40pm.


Shannon is the current Irish Under-16 champion and is being coached by former player Fergal O'Brien.


All Shoot Out matches are played over a maximum of ten minutes, with a shot clock of 15 seconds for the first five minutes and ten seconds for the last five.


It will provide Shannon with the first experience of a senior match, as well as a television debut on Eurosport.


Speaking to RTÉ Sport, he said: "I can't wait. I got the news a few weeks ago, I'm buzzing to get over and get playing with the professional players. I won the U14 and U16 National Championships so that earned a wild card.


"It’s a great opener to what I want to do [as a career]. It's all a great experience. There's no pressure, so I can't wait for it. I just want to get over there, to know what it's like to be there with the best of the best, but it's all just experience really.


"I'm more excited now, but I presume when I get over there I'll be a bit nervous. But once I get playing, I'll be fine. I'm nervous at every competition, but once I get playing, I'm alright."

Shannon credits his coach O'Brien for an improvement in his fledgling career as well as his parents who bring him from his home in Longford to the likes of Carlow and Kildare for tournaments and practice.


He has a high-quality table at home in Longford but working with O’Brien is proving crucial to his development.


At the moment he practices three hours a day and competes in tournaments on a near-weekly basis in Ireland.
"I've been playing probably about five years now, but maybe the last year or two I started to kick on and started winning a lot more," Shannon added.


"The last two years have probably been my biggest years.


"It's also been two years with Fergal now, so he's really brought me to the next level. I can't wait to see what is going to happen next.


"There's no club where I'm from, so I needed a table, and I was lucky enough to get one of the best tables, so I was very lucky.


"I couldn't do anything without my parents. They bring me down every weekend, and on a Wednesday evening I come up to Kildare with Dad, so they're a big help as well."


Shannon remains in school in St Mel’s College in Longford but admits snooker is "everything" to him as he chases a future career in the sport.

 

[Delboy99]

Hazel Irvine says World Snooker Championship leaving Sheffield Crucible like St Andrews losing Open.​

Sports broadcaster Hazel Irvine has weighed in on the ongoing debate about moving the World Snooker Championship from its iconic home at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, saying it could be like golfers missing the chance to win the Open at St Andrews.


Speaking with The Courier ahead of receiving an honorary degree at St Andrews University, St Andrews-born Hazel, 59, emphasised the deep emotional connection snooker players have to the Crucible, a venue that has become synonymous with snooker’s greatest event.


Asked to comment on recent debate surrounding whether the World Snooker Championship could move from the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield to a more commercially viable international venue, the BBC snooker presenter said: “There’s been talk about this for years and years and years.
“Ever since I started doing the snooker actually, there’s been a sort of ‘shall we move, shall we stay’.


“I think there’s something about being part of that building, that city, and that place when you win.


“I still am in awe of how one little theatre can produce chapters and chapters and chapters of ever-changing history in sport.”

Ongoing debate about World Snooker Championship future​

Hazel recalled how when the possibility of a move was mooted recently, with China and Saudi Arabia mentioned as possible alternative hosts, multiple winner John Higgins emphasised the significance of winning at the Crucible, and what could be lost.


“He said he can foresee a time when it may move,” said Hazel.


“When that’s going to be we don’t know.


“But actually, he sort of felt sorry for the boys who may never win it at the Crucible, because there’s something – a bit like being in St Andrews and winning the Open there – that you are part of that building and that city and that place when you do.
“I think that’s a feeling that money can’t buy.”
Currently, Sheffield is contracted to host the World Snooker Championship through to 2027, marking both the 50th anniversary of the Crucible as the event’s home and the 100th anniversary of professional snooker.
While discussions about relocating the championship are ongoing, Hazel believes negotiations to determine its future are likely to unfold over the next year.

Hazel Irvine pays tribute to snooker legend and ‘wonderful gentleman’ Terry Griffiths​

Meanwhile, in a separate tribute to the snooker world, Hazel has reflected on the passing of 1979 World Champion Terry Griffiths, calling his death “a terrible shame” and describing him as a “wonderful gentleman” beloved by all who knew him.
“We only got the news just after we come off air (at the UK Snooker Championships on Sunday night), she told The Courier. “We knew he’d been unwell.


“But it’s still terrible, a terrible shame, and we’ll really miss him.



“We absolutely love Terry. He was such a wonderful gentleman.”
Describing Terry as “funny, wry, quick, and kind”, Hazel said it was no surprise that many players felt like they’d lost a member of their family.


“He was genuinely a lovely man,” she added.


“A lovely guy, with lovely memories. You can still hear his voice in your head, just such a special man.”


Griffiths, world champion in 1979, was a beloved figure in snooker.


News broke of his death shortly after a thrilling conclusion to the 2024 UK Snooker Championship, anchored by Hazel Irvine on Sunday evening.

 

[Delboy99]

Jimmy White architect of own downfall as veteran suffers Snooker Shoot Out exit.​

Jimmy White suffered costly fouls to crash out of the Snooker Shoot Out to former champion Thepchaiya Un-Nooh.
The 62-year-old White inadvertently knocked the blue into the middle pocket as he tried to play a safety shot back to baulk.
White escaped harm that time and was 30-19 ahead in the single frame contest played over 10 minutes when he touched the cue ball sizing up a straightforward red.
Un-Nooh, the Thai who won the 2019 Shoot Out for his only ranking title, took full advantage to triumph 75-30 at Leicester's Mattioli Arena.
Defending champion Mark Allen breezed past Ross Muir 68-0 as 2022 winner Hossein Vafaei fought back to beat former finalist Julien Leclercq 46-34.
Sophie Nix and Reanne Evans, two of the five women competing in the event, made first-round exits with respective defeats to Anthony McGill and Gary Wilson.
McGill, the 2017 champion, gave few scoring openings to fellow Scot Nix in his 40-7 victory, while world number 11 Wilson produced a 56 break in his 79-8 success over Evans.

World number 23 Robert Milkins had to call on his experience to see off Irish youngster Joe Shannon, at 14 the youngest player in the tournament.

Shannon showed his rich promise to lead 42-1, but a missed black allowed Milkins to step in and make decisive 44 break.

Home favourite Louis Heathcote progressed at the expense of American Ahmed Elsayed and was joined in the last 64 by fellow Englishmen Paul Deaville and David Gilbert.

Ryan Day edged out Matthew Selt 46-33 and Aaron Hill won a cagey frame against Joel Connolly 39-12.
There were also wins for Chinese quartet Fan Zhengyi, Gong Chenzhi, Lyu Haotian and Wu Yize, Austria's Florian Nuessle and Antoni Kowalski, from Poland.

 

[Delboy99]

Obituary: Terry Griffiths, former bus conductor who became popular world champion.​

Terry Griffiths, who has died from complications of dementia aged 77, was the rank outsider who in 1979 pulled off one of the biggest shocks in snooker history when he snatched the World Championship from under the nose of Dennis Taylor; he went on to become one of only 11 players to win all of the major triple-crown events.
The Welsh-born Griffiths, a former postman and bus conductor, was a qualifier when he beat Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins 13-12 in a thrilling quarter-final at The Crucible. In the semi-final, he beat Eddie Charlton by 19-17. “I’m in the final now, you know,” the disbelieving victor told the BBC’s David Vine, before clinching the title with a 24-16 victory over Taylor. It was only his second professional tournament.
The dapper Griffiths went on to become one of snooker’s most recognisable players in the 1980s and early 1990s, winning the Masters in 1980 and defeating Higgins 16-15 to take the UK Championship (and Triple Crown) in 1982.
Renowned for his elegant, slow and methodical play, Griffiths reached at least the quarter-finals of the World Championship for nine consecutive years between 1984 and 1992, reaching the final for a second time in 1988 when he lost 18-11 to Steve Davis.
A modest, cheerful man, Griffiths might not have generated the sort of excitement that surrounded more flamboyant rivals such as Higgins or Jimmy White. Nor did he keep the tabloids busy with his antics away from the green baize. A devoted family man, he never liked spending too much time away from home, and fellow players had countless stories of his small kindnesses.
Joe Johnson has recalled how when he came from 12-9 down to beat Griffiths 13-12 in the 1986 World Championship quarter-final, Griffiths followed him into his dressing room to wish him good luck and advise him about handing the attention and media should he win the title.

In later years Griffiths, a self-confessed “amateur psychologist”, became a BBC snooker commentator and a much sought-after coach, inspiring the likes of Stephen Hendry, Ding Junhui, Mark Allen and fellow Welshman Mark Williams with his down-to-earth wisdom.

The youngest of three children of a metal worker, Terence Martin Griffiths was born in Llanelli on October 16, 1947. He won a place at the local grammar school but, missing his childhood friends who went to the nearby secondary modern, he played truant to such a degree that he was expelled – and was able to join them.

Griffiths began playing snooker at a local club when he was 14 and became the youngest winner of the Llanelli and District snooker championship aged 16. After leaving school, he worked briefly in a coalmine before becoming a bus conductor. He later worked as a postman and then as an insurance salesman.

After winning several amateur titles, including the Welsh Championship in 1975 and English Championships in 1977 and 1978, Griffiths turned professional aged 30 in June 1978, inspired by fellow Welshman Ray Reardon, who won six world titles.

His professional career started unpromisingly in the UK Championship that year when he led Rex Williams 8-2 but was beaten 9-8. Then came the 1979 World Championship – and fame.
While he won the Triple Crown and remained at the top level for many years, some argued that Griffiths’ efforts to get the better of Steve Davis led him to make changes in his technique which cost him his natural flair. He announced his retirement in 1996 to become the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association’s director of coaching.

Though he was never comfortable with celebrit, Griffiths merited a small footnote in the history of pop when he was one of the stable of players who sang with Chas ’n’ Dave on their 1986 single ‘Snooker Loopy’, which reached No 6 in the charts and on which Griffiths could be heard mocking his own well-coiffed appearance with the line “I’ll buy another eight hairbrushes for me barnet”.

In 1969, he married Annette, who survives him with their two sons, Wayne, a snooker coach, and Darren, a PGA golf pro.

 

[Delboy99]

Snooker Shoot Out enters its final day in Leicester.​

There are 32 players who are still in contention to win the 2024 Snooker Shoot Out trophy at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester.
But five more victories in the event on Saturday are required to land the 2024/25 snooker season’s tenth ranking title and the £50,000 top prize.
There are four members from the top 16 in the world rankings left vying for the silverware, but defending champion Mark Allen isn’t one of them.


The Pistol bowed out in the second round on Friday following a 36-8 defeat to Si Jiahui, who will face Martin O’Donnell next.


China’s Si is joined in the last 32 by pre-tournament favourite Mark Selby, Zhang Anda, and Ali Carter.


Selby, who went all the way to the final of the unpredictable tournament a few years ago, plays Jamie Jones in the third round.


Carter encounters Liam Graham while Zhang, who knocked out Bai Yulu in the last round, plays Elliot Slessor.


World number 17 Neil Robertson is also still involved in the competition after beating Jackson Page in a close affair.


The Australian, who is participating in the event for the first time since it gained ranking status, has been paired in the random draw with Liam Pullen.





A frantic three days of action has seen two rounds take place and the field whittled down from its initial lineup of 128.
Tom Ford, David Gilbert, Robert Milkins, Noppon Saengkham, and Wu Yize are among the other higher-ranked cueists hoping to extend their stays late into Saturday evening.


Zhou Yuelong, meanwhile, compiled a brilliant break of 101 during his victory over Louis Heathcote.


The 2020 runner-up next meets young Austrian Florian Nuessle, who represents one of the three amateur top-ups who have made it this far.


The others are Dylan Emery, who plays Saengkham, and 16 year-old Moldovan Vladislav Gradinari who has been drawn to face Polish main-tour rookie Antoni Kowalski.


The third round will run from 1pm UTC on Saturday with the remaining rounds to be played consecutively during the 7pm UTC session.


Live coverage for European viewers is available on discovery+ and Eurosport.

---

2024 Snooker Shoot Out draw​

Round of 32 (bo1)

Saturday, December 7th

1pm UTC

Matches played approximately every 10-15 minutes

Neil Robertson vs Liam Pullen
Dylan Emery vs Noppon Saengkham
Antoni Kowalski vs Vladislav Gradinari
Wu Yize vs Liam Davies
Zhang Anda vs Elliot Slessor
Aaron Hill vs Allan Taylor
Si Jiahui vs Martin O’Donnell
Kreishh Gurbaxani vs Ashley Carty

 

[The Hare]

So just caught up on the events of the Shoot Out. Eurosport nearly missed the final with technical problems but found it on Discovery+.

Tom Ford, on home ground, rescued his season with his first "ranking event" win. As he said in his interview it is really not a ranking event and he has won 2 minor events in the past - in the early days of Hearn the weekend tournaments around Europe for minor money, or in the pre Hearn days there were some small events the top players didn't bother with. So though they gained ranking points in those there weren;t as many as major ranking events. I class the Shoot Out in the same class, (or lower), so these are the top performers in these events: Ford and Holt the overperformers.

An emotional victory for Ford, whose long time supporter had his funeral on the first day of the event. Perhaps explains his poor season and new motivation. For runner up Liam Graham, his second year on tour at 20years old, previous prize money £19,000 so another £20,000 for this gives him a chance of retaining his tour card, puts him up to 5th on the 1 year tour rankings for those players outside the top 64. Missed a great chance to win it though, which would have sealed his place on tour next 2 seasons. Hopefully give him some confidence.

 

[The Hare]

These the top 32 on the 1 year ratings, chasing the entry in the World Grand Prix next year. Still 4 events before then so some decent earnings in snooker now after the recovery from Covid. £60,000 earnings to make the top 32 is a lot higher than it has ever been at this stage.

Those in pink current top 16, yellow 17-32 and blue 33-48 on current 2 year rankings. As can be seen For had just 10,ooo points before yesterday.

 

[The Hare]

These the 1 year points for those outside the top 64 on the 2nd year on tour. If they don't make it into the 64 at the end of season the top 4 gain a 2 year card from this way. Others could drop out of the top 64 and get on this way as well.

 

[The Hare]

So only a day's rest and the players head off to Edinburgh tomorrow for the Scottish Open. Gary Wilson attempts to win the event for a third year in a row, something very rare in snooker, especially modern times. Have no records on this, something to do when I get time!

Trump and Mark Williams have pulled out so only 30 games. Ishpreet Singh Chadha and David Lilley get the byes to the last 32 frpm their withdrawals. The tables above don't include the points for this event so Ishpreet already has 5,400 to add to those totals.

Some interesting games over 7 frames.

 

[Delboy99]

These the top 32 on the 1 year ratings, chasing the entry in the World Grand Prix next year. Still 4 events before then so some decent earnings in snooker now after the recovery from Covid. £60,000 earnings to make the top 32 is a lot higher than it has ever been at this stage.

Those in pink current top 16, yellow 17-32 and blue 33-48 on current 2 year rankings. As can be seen For had just 10,ooo points before yesterday.


View attachment 152746

...... my what a difference it makes with Ronnie choosing to opt out of so many tournaments these days. Unbelievable how the mighty have fallen. Just proves a point you have to be in it to win it!

 

[Delboy99]

Mark Allen issues brutal four-word response to BBC commentator who slammed him for slow play - after snooker star took FIVE HOURS to complete semi-final against Barry Hawkins.​

• The Northern Irishman took an average of 31.5 seconds per shot in lengthy game
• Shaun Murphy criticised Allen for his slowness, branding it an 'old school tactic'
• Allen's opponent Hawkins went on to lose 10-8 to Judd Trump in a tight final

Mark Allen has hit back at Shaun Murphy after the BBC commentator criticised him for playing too slowly in his marathon five-hour UK Championship semi-final versus Barry Hawkins.

The Northern Irishman took an average of 31.5 seconds to complete his shots during the clash on Saturday night which ended 6-5 to the Englishman on its conclusion at 1am.

Hawkins eventually went on to lose 10-8 to Judd Trump in a tense final to narrowly miss out on his first Triple Crown honour at the York Barbican.

While the time Allen took might have been considered quick a matter of years ago, most players these days deliberate over their next shot for between 20 and 30 seconds.

And Murphy, who won the event in 2008, lashed out at the 38-year-old, slamming his pondering as an 'old school tactic' following the match.

Now Allen has issued a savage reply to the commentator as the feud continues to brew.
Asked by Eurosport presenter Rachel Casey about his lengthy shot time, the star said: 'Even that shot time means nothing to me because I try my best. I'll never, ever apologise for giving 100 per cent.
'If that's 32 seconds on one day or 22 on another day, I don't actually care.

'I didn't go into that match trying to slow it down, absolutely not.

'I try and pot every ball I see and clear the table every chance I get.

Casey then pointed out Allen had won the Shootout tournament, which uses a timer, implying he was capable of playing with more speed.

The Antrim-born player responded: 'I still don't think this should be a ranking event, but it is what it is.

'I still come here and try to enjoy it. I love the event, it changed my season last year.

'It can make or break a lot of seasons - but it's just a lottery.'
Murphy had expressed his disapproval of Allen's slow play in the aftermath of a long-drawn-out encounter in the semi-final.

The Englishman said: 'It's completely within the rules, he's not doing anything wrong. But at what stage do we question whether the amount of time Mark Allen is taking over simple decisions is a tactic to annoy his opponent?

'I think we are witnessing an extremely clever, well thought out match from Mark Allen to try and beat the man.

​

'It's an old school tactic. It's from a playbook my generation and Mark's generation are from. And it's perfectly within the rules.

'But I can't see any reason, other than that for why he's taking so long. As you look at Barry in his chair, you might say it was working.'

 

[The Hare]

Put together a list of European amateur junior event winners after the performance of Liam Graham in the comedy snooker last week. Not been a great breeding ground for future stars but improved recently. Most notably Brecel, Allen, Jak Jones and McGill though a few more recent players look promising.

 

[Delboy99]

So only a day's rest and the players head off to Edinburgh tomorrow for the Scottish Open. Gary Wilson attempts to win the event for a third year in a row, something very rare in snooker, especially modern times. Have no records on this, something to do when I get time!

Trump and Mark Williams have pulled out so only 30 games. Ishpreet Singh Chadha and David Lilley get the byes to the last 32 frpm their withdrawals. The tables above don't include the points for this event so Ishpreet already has 5,400 to add to those totals.

Some interesting games over 7 frames.

View attachment 152753

...... I am surprised that Ronnie is still in this as I would have thought that there is not enough money on show to make it worthwhile.He seems to pick and choose at will and gets away with it, must be a bit of a headache for the organizers, Wonder if he thinks he has a chance with Trump missing!

 

[The Hare]

...... I am surprised that Ronnie is still in this as I would have thought that there is not enough money on show to make it worthwhile.He seems to pick and choose at will and gets away with it, must be a bit of a headache for the organizers, Wonder if he thinks he has a chance with Trump missing!

Ha Delboy99 you were correct. He pulled out, the last one to do so as ever. Dave Gilbert also pulled out. his love for the game in April seems to have gone as well.

Next week is the big money for the top 10 in Saudi so Ronnie obviously focused on that.

Not too many shocks otherwise, Gary Wilson out so his treble hopes gone. Maguire and Dean Young join Higgins in defending Scottish hopes. Alan McManus had an interesting interview with Selby after his win when they discussed the pockets and that they are all cut by hand rather than using a machine which probably explains why some are like buckets and others very tight. You would think, as Selby said , in this day and age they would use a machine but there you go.

Robertson has a good chance in the top quarter and today's game between Higgins and Hawkins stands out in the 3rd quarter. The other 2 quarters of the draw look tough.

 

[The Hare]

...... I am surprised that Ronnie is still in this as I would have thought that there is not enough money on show to make it worthwhile.He seems to pick and choose at will and gets away with it, must be a bit of a headache for the organizers, Wonder if he thinks he has a chance with Trump missing!

Ha Delboy99 you were correct. He pulled out, the last one to do so as ever. Dave Gilbert also pulled out. his love for the game in April seems to have gone as well.

Next week is the big money for the top 10 in Saudi so Ronnie obviously focused on that.

Not too many shocks otherwise, Gary Wilson out so his treble hopes gone. Maguire and Dean Young join Higgins in defending Scottish hopes. Alan McManus had an interesting interview with Selby after his win when they discussed the pockets and that they are all cut by hand rather than using a machine which probably explains why some are like buckets and others very tight. You would think, as Selby said , in this day and age they would use a machine but there you go.

Robertson has a good chance in the top quarter and today's game between Higgins and Hawkins stands out in the 3rd quarter. The other 2 quarters of the draw look tough.

View attachment 152822

 

[Delboy99]

Ha @

Delboy99 you were correct. He pulled out, the last one to do so as ever. Dave Gilbert also pulled out. his love for the game in April seems to have gone as well.

...... I thought as much. Not enough cash floating around for Ronnie and he aint gonna bother his bum too much in going for something that is hardly worth his while. As you say he is probably saving himself for the Arabs as they can offer more on the table than a mere Scottish championship with peanuts for dessert. Not worth getting out of bed for!

 

[The Hare]

The effect of the big money in Saudi saw a few of the big hitters go under yesterday and some of the out of form lower ranked players returning to their best. The top 10 go to Saudi for the 3 day money bonanza next week and yesterday:

Kyren Wilson outplayed by Stephen Maguire who made up for his shocker in York. Now being coached by Chris Small and seems more interested for now at least.
Zhang Anda, number 10 beaten by Chris Wakelin
Neil Robertson though not in Saudi well beaten by Tom Ford, revitalised after last week's success. Robertson's early season form has disappeared as he seems to have reverted to over thinking, he didn't seem so happy in the Shoot Out last week, a Christmas rest may be needed.
Mark Selby beaten by under performing Noppon, though to be fair Noppon looked back to his very best and a previous finalist in this event could well go close on that performance.
Shaun Murphy beaten by Lei Peifan. Lei has started to improve significantly this season and becomes the first of the new professionals to reach 50,000 ranking points. His 4 previous seasons on tour he only got to 81 on the official rankings, but missed last season and seems a much better player now. Didn't see the game but Murphy another who is not in top form, too bust commentating and arguing with Mark Allen on social media!
Ali Carter came back from 3-1 down and seems more up for this smaller event than he has been recently.

Last 16 today, Brecel and Lisowski are others showing better form than of late. Only Allen, Brecel and Ding remain of the Saudi bounty hunters.

 

[Delboy99]

The effect of the big money in Saudi saw a few of the big hitters go under yesterday and some of the out of form lower ranked players returning to their best. The top 10 go to Saudi for the 3 day money bonanza next week and yesterday:

Kyren Wilson outplayed by Stephen Maguire who made up for his shocker in York. Now being coached by Chris Small and seems more interested for now at least.
Zhang Anda, number 10 beaten by Chris Wakelin
Neil Robertson though not in Saudi well beaten by Tom Ford, revitalised after last week's success. Robertson's early season form has disappeared as he seems to have reverted to over thinking, he didn't seem so happy in the Shoot Out last week, a Christmas rest may be needed.
Mark Selby beaten by under performing Noppon, though to be fair Noppon looked back to his very best and a previous finalist in this event could well go close on that performance.
Shaun Murphy beaten by Lei Peifan. Lei has started to improve significantly this season and becomes the first of the new professionals to reach 50,000 ranking points. His 4 previous seasons on tour he only got to 81 on the official rankings, but missed last season and seems a much better player now. Didn't see the game but Murphy another who is not in top form, too bust commentating and arguing with Mark Allen on social media!
Ali Carter came back from 3-1 down and seems more up for this smaller event than he has been recently.

Last 16 today, Brecel and Lisowski are others showing better form than of late. Only Allen, Brecel and Ding remain of the Saudi bounty hunters.

View attachment 152831

...... wow! What a cracking result to see Stephen Maguire getting the better of Kyren A sight to behold indeed as I always thought that Maguire on good day is a cracking player. Nice to see Lisowski up there again, he is another more than capable but really has to steady the ship to make some noteable headway. Never rated Shaun Murphy too much and always think he is a bit of a flash in the pan. Still some decent stuff left in there yet!