They have been questioning whether to use a cue ball with red spots on to show spin for years but this is considered too much, the idea that they would have a neon green cue ball is laughable and some kind of marketing stunt. Nonsense....... another gimmick in an endeavour to put more bums on seats no doubt. I think we can all do without a coloured ball to retain interest in this sport!
Snooker
- Thread starter The Uncouth
- Start date
The Hare
Mare
Has disappeared now so maybe was an April Fool but there clocks a day early??
The Hare
Mare
Earlier this week, World Snooker Tour announced the iconic white ball would be replaced by a neon green version for the 2026 Halo World Snooker Championship to pay homage to Midnite, the official UK betting and casino partner for the tournament.
But today snooker fans can breathe a sigh of relief – the iconic white ball is here to stay.
Looks like they did get their clocks wrong!
But today snooker fans can breathe a sigh of relief – the iconic white ball is here to stay.
Looks like they did get their clocks wrong!
Delboy99
Sire
..... pleased to see they are keeping the White ball. Nothing more odd than having to view a coloured ball travelling all over the table.
The Hare
Mare
Top 5 official rankings minus Kyren Wilson make semi finals. Some great efforts from Xintong with a load of centuries and Higgins taking the last 4 after a Selby burst of 5.
Trump v Robertson tomorrow, the other Saturday. 19 frames again. I still rate Robertson low and Higgins high compared to the bookies.
Trump v Robertson tomorrow, the other Saturday. 19 frames again. I still rate Robertson low and Higgins high compared to the bookies.
Delboy99
Sire
..... just look at those ratings, they are all top notch and looking at them they all have a chance on paper.
The Hare
Mare
Trump unchallenged by Robertson a little off his peak. Had a fairly easy season after his win in Saudi and seems Perry needs to get him a little more focused for the World Championship. Currently Xintong leads 8-0 against Higgins who has been demoralised by unmissable Zhao, 9 half centuries so far. His birthday yesterday and likely on for winning all of these select events in a row.
When complete will update ratings and prices for the final.
So this is more Monday, the start of the ultimate sports event. 144 players are up for the World Championship, the top 16 saved to The Crucible in a fortnight's time. Ding hung on to the last seeded place. Surprise non entry is Akani Songsermsawad (Sunny), he has missed a couple of events this season but I am guessing the travel in war times maybe put him off, hopefully he is ok. He needed to win a couple of games at least to retain his place on the Tour so will have to qualify some other way if he wants to keep on as a professional.
These are the top 16 with various top ups, some as next years pros, just 1 Chinese and 1 Thai and various others that I can't find out how they are chosen.
Mitchell Mann as top seed in the round gets hot Chinese wildcard Wang. Peter Lines my biggest "certainty" of the round against Mr Luz's probable last game on tour for a season at least. Game of the round(?), 15 year old Szubarczyk against Ng On Yee, the bookies for some reason decided that 15 was when we can start betting on Szubarczyk matches. He has done really well in his first season and improved every game, should win this really. Jimmy White has a tough game against Gao Yang. Robbie McGuigan has a tough game as he tries to save his tour place. Cheung Ka Wai a competitive game against new pro for next season Carty. Reanne Evans a great chance to progress though not in the same form as early season. Liam Pullen and returning pro Burden is a contender the star game of the round. As is Grace v Hugill.
Some interesting games over 19 frames. Seems UK coverage is only on HBO or TNT or Eurosport whatever it is called this year. The last 2 days have Judgement day coverage maybe on Youtube but until then maybe not easy to watch.
Will put up rankings for those trying to stay on tour.
When complete will update ratings and prices for the final.
So this is more Monday, the start of the ultimate sports event. 144 players are up for the World Championship, the top 16 saved to The Crucible in a fortnight's time. Ding hung on to the last seeded place. Surprise non entry is Akani Songsermsawad (Sunny), he has missed a couple of events this season but I am guessing the travel in war times maybe put him off, hopefully he is ok. He needed to win a couple of games at least to retain his place on the Tour so will have to qualify some other way if he wants to keep on as a professional.
These are the top 16 with various top ups, some as next years pros, just 1 Chinese and 1 Thai and various others that I can't find out how they are chosen.
Mitchell Mann as top seed in the round gets hot Chinese wildcard Wang. Peter Lines my biggest "certainty" of the round against Mr Luz's probable last game on tour for a season at least. Game of the round(?), 15 year old Szubarczyk against Ng On Yee, the bookies for some reason decided that 15 was when we can start betting on Szubarczyk matches. He has done really well in his first season and improved every game, should win this really. Jimmy White has a tough game against Gao Yang. Robbie McGuigan has a tough game as he tries to save his tour place. Cheung Ka Wai a competitive game against new pro for next season Carty. Reanne Evans a great chance to progress though not in the same form as early season. Liam Pullen and returning pro Burden is a contender the star game of the round. As is Grace v Hugill.
Some interesting games over 19 frames. Seems UK coverage is only on HBO or TNT or Eurosport whatever it is called this year. The last 2 days have Judgement day coverage maybe on Youtube but until then maybe not easy to watch.
Will put up rankings for those trying to stay on tour.
The Hare
Mare
These are the players trying to make the top 64 on rankings. 20,000 points would get you to the Crucible which guarantees a place on tour in previous years.
These are the current 1 year rankings with the top 4 receiving a card for the next 2 seasons if not already in the top 64. Again only these ashould be able to make the top 4 after the World Championship. Those marked Q would be the current qualifiers this way - Burden is guaranteed for sure.
These are the current 1 year rankings with the top 4 receiving a card for the next 2 seasons if not already in the top 64. Again only these ashould be able to make the top 4 after the World Championship. Those marked Q would be the current qualifiers this way - Burden is guaranteed for sure.
ThinkingAloud
Yearling
Judd Trump is just too good, i imagine Donald trying to claim the glory. Even when he's losing he'll tell everyone there wrong and he's actually winning.
Delboy99
Sire
...... hard one to call this one, Zhao could even come close on this one!
The Hare
Mare
Trump ended up changing his tip and never looked happy. Managed to get to 2-2 but outplayed after that. Zhao wins all 3 select events as a first. Very impressive, especially his safety but it is not easy to win 2 in a row as he tries to defend his Crucible crown in a couple of weeks. Won all 6 of his ranking event finals so far!...... hard one to call this one, Zhao could even come close on this one!
Joins the bottom of this list of winners of 6 ranking events or more, not including the ShootOut.
The Hare
Mare
My top ratings going to the Crucible, compared to World Snooker rankings. I have removed Yan Bingtao from my list as obviously not allowed to compete, he will be removed next season due to my computer memory not handling more than 3 seasons for ratings!
Main differences O'Sullivan, Selby, Carter, Chang and Jones higher on mine. Williams, Robertson, Wakelin and Si lower on mine.
Qualifiers start at 10 tomorrow. Reanne Evans odds against v Gradiani, but perhaps not in the same shape as early season, heard her say having neck issues and restricted practising but still a tempting price.
Main differences O'Sullivan, Selby, Carter, Chang and Jones higher on mine. Williams, Robertson, Wakelin and Si lower on mine.
Qualifiers start at 10 tomorrow. Reanne Evans odds against v Gradiani, but perhaps not in the same shape as early season, heard her say having neck issues and restricted practising but still a tempting price.
The Hare
Mare
The old wildcards dispatched. Jimmy White at least turned in a great performance to take a Chinese future star, Gao Yang to a decider. Ken Doherty who is now off tour unless a new wildcard taken, surely he is giving up, not been competitive last 2 years. Just 21,700 prize money in those 2 years. Said he would seriously consider whether to continue when card ends, lots of expewrt analysis for him so no point playing on really.
Biggest price winner so far, Connor Benzey at 4/1 over Haris Tahir and young Leone Crowley over Huang Jiahao.
Bai Yulu the only woman to survive and Reanne Evans clearly didn't look comfortable and tired after getting back to 7-7. A good win for young Gradiani who now has former quarter finalist Jamie Jones, who has had a terrible season but this is gift for him.
Still 3 amateurs no ratings for but Xinbo will be a tough game for Boiko after his easy win over Mann and Sykes impressed against Shoot Out finalist Liam Graham, young lad who is on Tour next season and some promise.
The Thai amateur has drawn Chang Bingyu after a walkover against Ursenbacher, could be a very tough first game in UK for him!
Final 8 first round games tomorrow, will update Thursday those.
Biggest price winner so far, Connor Benzey at 4/1 over Haris Tahir and young Leone Crowley over Huang Jiahao.
Bai Yulu the only woman to survive and Reanne Evans clearly didn't look comfortable and tired after getting back to 7-7. A good win for young Gradiani who now has former quarter finalist Jamie Jones, who has had a terrible season but this is gift for him.
Still 3 amateurs no ratings for but Xinbo will be a tough game for Boiko after his easy win over Mann and Sykes impressed against Shoot Out finalist Liam Graham, young lad who is on Tour next season and some promise.
The Thai amateur has drawn Chang Bingyu after a walkover against Ursenbacher, could be a very tough first game in UK for him!
Final 8 first round games tomorrow, will update Thursday those.
Delboy99
Sire
Did Ken Doherty just play his last match as a snooker professional?
The Dubliner, who has been participating in recent years through an invitational tour card, had only infrequently played this season and needed a deep run in Sheffield to break into the top 64.Failure to do so means that the 1997 world champion will definitely finish the 2025/26 campaign outside the cut-off point for tour survival.
Doherty has been competing on the pro circuit since 1990 and reached a career high of number two in the world rankings.
The 56 year-old’s crowning achievement came when he overcame then dominant force Stephen Hendry to lift the coveted world title.
He became only the second player from outside the UK to land the sport’s blue-riband prize in the Crucible era.
Doherty triumphed six times in ranking events and had near misses in numerous other major finals, including two other World Championship title deciders, three UK Championship finals, and two Masters finals.
In 2017, 2020, 2022, and 2024, the “Darlin’ of Dublin” dropped off the main tour in similar fashion but was immediately awarded an invitational card akin to how legend Jimmy White has survived for the last number of years.
It’s unclear, however, whether this option will be available again and whether Doherty would even accept the invitation if it were.
Against Whelan, Doherty won the opening frame and also led 2-1 early on, but the amateur then seized control by taking the next four frames.
Doherty managed to stay in touch with breaks of 75 and 116 helping him to a 5-4 deficit at the end of the first session, but Whelan dominated the second session to pull away for a 10-5 win.
What the future holds for one of Ireland’s greatest sporting heroes on the green baize remains to be seen.
Doherty will participate in the World Seniors Championship at the Crucible Theatre in May, but his future on the main tour could be over.
Elsewhere, the first round at the 2026 World Snooker Championship qualifiers continued on Tuesday with several more results at the English Institute of Sport.
Former Crucible semi-finalist Marco Fu powered his way through to the next round with a 10-1 destruction of Mink Nutcharut.
There was a tough loss for another former women’s world champion, with Reanne Evans bowing out through a 10-7 reverse to Vladislav Gradinari.
Among the others to advance was Liam Pullen, who edged Snooker Shoot Out champion Alfie Burden on the final blue in their deciding frame.
There was a 10-9 victory too for Ashley Carty, who consigned Cheung Ka Wai to Q School, while Haris Tahir was similarly relegated amid a 10-6 loss to Connor Benzey.
On Wednesday, the first round of the World Championship qualifiers will conclude with Jamie Clarke, who reached the last 16 in 2020 and topped the Q Tour rankings this season, among those in action.
The second round also commences in the afternoon as familiar names Mark Davis, Michael Holt, and Scott Donaldson enter the fray.
The Hare
Mare
The first round completes and down to 112 players who can be World Champion, another 16 go today.
There are still 11 "amateurs" left in the event which is perhaps more a sign of the frailties in the entrance system to become a professional. As we know there are 4 women players of which only Bai Yulu can really compete, or Reanne Evans at her best which she was early season. Then the 2 American players are not really up to this level yet, though next season sees the return of old favourite Igor Figueiredo who is good enough, former World Senior Champion. He is 49 now and tends to lose interest with the travelling to Brazil and back plus the costs involved. Then the 2 African players have struggled so far whoever they are.
The last 8 games for the 2nd round are as follows. A great effort from Mark Lloyd to beat first year Chinese pro Liu Wenwei and Ashley Hugill, returning to tour next year beat David Grace 10-4. Effectively Grace was the 3rd highest ranked player in the round as he only had points from 1 season compared to those above him who had 2 seasons, three of those lost as well - Mann, Ajaib and Cheung Ka Wai.
Tough game for the 2 Belgians, Leclercq needs the points to retain his place on Tour, currently qualifies through the 1 year list but would be nervous times if he lost this to the impressive Hugill. Mertens is currently in the top 64 rankings and should be ok on the 1 year list if dropping out but the hardest game against another returning pro next year, Clarke - he is a top 50 player at least, just lost his way last season with business distractions.
There are still 11 "amateurs" left in the event which is perhaps more a sign of the frailties in the entrance system to become a professional. As we know there are 4 women players of which only Bai Yulu can really compete, or Reanne Evans at her best which she was early season. Then the 2 American players are not really up to this level yet, though next season sees the return of old favourite Igor Figueiredo who is good enough, former World Senior Champion. He is 49 now and tends to lose interest with the travelling to Brazil and back plus the costs involved. Then the 2 African players have struggled so far whoever they are.
The last 8 games for the 2nd round are as follows. A great effort from Mark Lloyd to beat first year Chinese pro Liu Wenwei and Ashley Hugill, returning to tour next year beat David Grace 10-4. Effectively Grace was the 3rd highest ranked player in the round as he only had points from 1 season compared to those above him who had 2 seasons, three of those lost as well - Mann, Ajaib and Cheung Ka Wai.
Tough game for the 2 Belgians, Leclercq needs the points to retain his place on Tour, currently qualifies through the 1 year list but would be nervous times if he lost this to the impressive Hugill. Mertens is currently in the top 64 rankings and should be ok on the 1 year list if dropping out but the hardest game against another returning pro next year, Clarke - he is a top 50 player at least, just lost his way last season with business distractions.
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The Hare
Mare
On an interesting note for other Belgian players. I was told by
O
Outlander that Luca Brecel was the only player not to make a century this season. He is currently 45th on official rankings with only 34,000 ranking points this season. He has missed a lot of events through illnesses and the likes.
I found an interview with him on youtube yesterday with master coach or psychologist Chris Henry. Henry worked with him in the past in his younger days and reports towards the end of the interview that he has taken him on again as he is a wasted talent!
Now the interview is a little long and not overly interesting, kind of a mix of Brecel's issues after winning the World Championship and a promotion of Henry's methods on brain influencing.
I would say the main parts are Brecel is taking it seriously again, having Henry as coach is a big step up. He is going to practice in what seems his managers office. He obviously got seriously diverted with all the side issues of winning the World Championship, neing wanted for exxhibitions, interviews, media and being recognised in he streets.
Seems to have had medical issues this year which are hopefully resolved now but perhaps the most intersting part was when he says hehas removed people from his life who didn't help him with his game and mindset. Can draw own conclusions from that but probably got mentioned somewhere earlier in the thread.
So this has to be the biggest challenge of Chris Henry's working method and he doesn't fail on many occasions!
If you want to listen to the interview
I found an interview with him on youtube yesterday with master coach or psychologist Chris Henry. Henry worked with him in the past in his younger days and reports towards the end of the interview that he has taken him on again as he is a wasted talent!
Now the interview is a little long and not overly interesting, kind of a mix of Brecel's issues after winning the World Championship and a promotion of Henry's methods on brain influencing.
I would say the main parts are Brecel is taking it seriously again, having Henry as coach is a big step up. He is going to practice in what seems his managers office. He obviously got seriously diverted with all the side issues of winning the World Championship, neing wanted for exxhibitions, interviews, media and being recognised in he streets.
Seems to have had medical issues this year which are hopefully resolved now but perhaps the most intersting part was when he says hehas removed people from his life who didn't help him with his game and mindset. Can draw own conclusions from that but probably got mentioned somewhere earlier in the thread.
So this has to be the biggest challenge of Chris Henry's working method and he doesn't fail on many occasions!
If you want to listen to the interview
The Hare
Mare
A few shocks today but most notable the exit of veterans Mark Davis and Roert Milkins who lose their tour cards unless they are offered wildcards or re-qualify through Q School. Milkins has won 2 ranking events in the past so possible he could get a wildcard. Well beaten by surprise packet Patrick Whelan, an amateur who at 28 has never been on Tour. At 5/1 he is the second biggest winner so far after Leone Crowley who has more than doubled his years ranking points with a good win over Duane Jones, another returning to Qualifying School to get back on Tour. Still only 19 so maybe the break from playing has improved his game a little.
Another amateur success was Peter Lines who is still trying to regain his card, playing well to beat a below par Scott Donaldson who hasn't had a competitive game for 2 months! The craziness of Professional snooker. Now Matthew Stevens or him.
Wang Xinbo a regular Chinese wildcard had an excellent win over Iulian Boiko and now goes up against former champion, Stuart Bingham. The players still need to win 2 games to get a Tour card though I suspect in Wang's case he may be getting on through the China TOur, though don't know for sure.
Will put next round games after tomorrow matches.
Another amateur success was Peter Lines who is still trying to regain his card, playing well to beat a below par Scott Donaldson who hasn't had a competitive game for 2 months! The craziness of Professional snooker. Now Matthew Stevens or him.
Wang Xinbo a regular Chinese wildcard had an excellent win over Iulian Boiko and now goes up against former champion, Stuart Bingham. The players still need to win 2 games to get a Tour card though I suspect in Wang's case he may be getting on through the China TOur, though don't know for sure.
Will put next round games after tomorrow matches.