Neil Robertson won snooker’s first ranking event of the 2016/17 season by beating Michael Holt 5-2 in the final of the Kaspersky Riga Masters. World number five Robertson came from 2-1 down to win the last four frames of the final in the Latvian capital to get his season off to a flying start. By […]
via Robertson Wins Kaspersky Riga Snooker Masters — newfanzoneblog
Mark Selby was snooker’s highest earner during the 2015/16 season, winning £510,909 in prize money. On a list which takes into account money earned in every sanctioned tournament (not just ranking events) as well as high break prizes and 147 bonuses, world number one Selby was the only player to top the half million mark. […]
Kyren Wilson is determined to continue his rapid rise up snooker’s ranking list and gain a top 16 place in time for the World Championship.
Wilson started the season 56th in the world but has now climbed to 19th, having captured his first ranking title at the Shanghai Masters in September.
And he is 18th on the projected list which will come into effect when the World Championship seeding axe falls after the China Open, which finishes on April 3rd. The top 16 will then get an automatic spot at the Crucible, with all other players needing to win three matches in the qualifying rounds at Ponds Forge in Sheffield.
“It’s very close between me and the two players just ahead of me, Stephen Maguire and Liang Wenbo, there is less than £1,000 between us,” said Kettering’s 24-year-old Wilson, nicknamed The Warrior. “It looks like it’s going to be a very close race and there are three big events left now. Anyone behind who wins one of those events can jump ahead into the top 16.”
Next week in Llandudno, Wilson will be competing in the Ladbrokes World Grand Prix and faces Jamie Jones in his opening match on Wednesday evening.
He has also qualified for the Ladbrokes Players Championship in Manchester later in March, thanks to a run to the semi-finals of the last qualifying event in Poland last weekend.
“That was so important for me because I’m guaranteed another £4,000 for the Players Championship and it means I’ve got three events left before the World Championship, rather than two,” said Wilson. “Stephen Maguire hasn’t made it to Manchester so it will be chance for me to catch him.
“I don’t want it to go down to one match at the China Open. If I can win a tournament before then I won’t have to worry about it. If I did have to qualify it would be very tough and I think it would be hard for someone to win three best of 19 matches and then do well at the Crucible, because it takes a lot out of you.
“Last year I lost in the first round against Thanawat Tirapongpaiboon. There is so much strength in depth on the tour now that nearly every draw is tough. It’s our biggest event and everyone wants to get to the Crucible so it’s very intense. The year before that I made it to the Crucible and having got a taste of it I would love to be back this time.
“A year ago I was on the borderline of the top 64 and in danger of losing my tour card. That brought a lot more pressure than being on the fringes of the top 16 so I am not as worried now. This season has been a whirlwind for me in terms of the progress I have made. I feel my game has always been there, it was a case of proving it. Only three years ago I was off the tour so if I could get into the top 16 in that short space of time it would be a great achievement.”
The Ladbrokes World Grand Prix runs from March 8 to 13 at Venue Cymru in Llanduno. Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, John Higgins, Shaun Murphy and Stuart Bingham will be among the top stars competing for the £100,000 top prize.
Tickets for the tournament are STILL ON SALE and fans are advised to book fast as sessions will sell out now that the draw and format have been released. Tickets start at just £10, for details visit http://www.worldsnooker.com/tickets
Ronnie O’Sullivan, Judd Trump, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy, Stuart Bingham and John Higgins are among the leading snooker stars who have entered next month’s Ladbrokes World Grand Prix in Llandudno.
The tournament at Venue Cymru runs from March 8 to 13 and it will be a world ranking event for the first time this year.
O’Sullivan had to win last week’s Welsh Open in order to climb into the top 32 on the World Grand Prix ranking list and qualify for the event, and he did just that, beating Robertson 9-5 in the final in Cardiff on Sunday.
The Rocket then had to rearrange an exhibition in Casablanca in order to clear his diary, and he confirmed today that he will be in Llandudno. It will be his last televised tournament before the World Championship in April.
O’Sullivan reached the final last year, though he was denied the £100,000 top prize by potting sensation Trump, who came from 7-4 down to win the final 10-7.
The World Grand Prix ranking list runs from the start of the season until the final qualifying event in Poland, the Gdynia Open, which finishes this Sunday. The top 32 on the list are then eligible for the ITV4-televised tournament at Venue Cymru.
Stephen Maguire currently lies in 32nd place on the list and will be hoping to win matches in Gdynia to fend off the chasing pack.
World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “I’m delighted to see such a strong field for the Ladbrokes World Grand Prix, it will be a fantastic tournament.
“Ronnie is the man in form having won the Masters and Welsh Open in recent weeks. The fact that he has earned a place in Llandudno with victory in Cardiff shows that success is rewarded. The opportunities are there for everyone to win big prizes and jump up the ranking lists.
“It will be fascinating to follow the action in Gdynia from Friday and see if anyone currently outside the top 32 can grab a spot.
“Anyone who hasn’t booked their tickets yet for Llandudno needs to do so fast, as with such a strong line-up many sessions will be selling out soon.”
The final line up for the Ladbrokes World Grand Prix as well as the draw and format will be announced on Monday.
Tickets are available and start at just £10, for details call 01492 872 000 or visit http://www.worldsnooker.com/tickets
Current top 32 on World Grand Prix ranking list, ahead of the Gdynia Open.
1 John Higgins
2 Neil Robertson
3 Kyren Wilson
4 Martin Gould
5 Liang Wenbo
6 Mark Allen
7 Mark Selby
8 David Gilbert
9 Judd Trump
10 Marco Fu
11 Ronnie O’Sullivan
12 Luca Brecel
13 Joe Perry
14 Shaun Murphy
15 Matthew Selt
16 Ryan Day
17 Ben Woollaston
18 Ali Carter
19 Ding Junhui
20 Michael White
21 Michael Holt
22 Mark Williams
23 Thepchaiya Un-Nooh
24 Stuart Bingham
25 Barry Hawkins
26 David Grace
27 Graeme Dott
28 Jamie Jones
29 Tom Ford
30 Tian Pengfei
31 Peter Ebdon
32 Stephen Maguire
World number one Mark Selby says he is pleased to see Ronnie O’Sullivan among the field for next week’s BetVictor Welsh Open in Cardiff as winning the title would mean more.
The world ranking event runs from February 15 to 21 at the Motorpoint Arena with 128 players battling for the trophy. The draw was made yesterday and O’Sullivan will face Barry Pinches in the first round next Monday while Selby will take on Welshman Duane Jones.
It could be the only tournament O’Sullivan will play before the World Championship in April and Leicester’s Selby is looking forward to the challenge.
“It makes it more special to win a tournament when he is in the field,” said Selby, who beat O’Sullivan in the 2008 Welsh Open final. “Even if you don’t end up playing him, you still know at the back of your mind that you’ve won an event when he was in it. He is always the man to beat when he turns up to a tournament in the right frame of mind.
“Any time Ronnie plays in a tournament it helps give it an extra buzz and I’m sure it makes a difference to the TV figures and live crowds. Cardiff is a great venue and I really enjoyed playing there last year.”
O’Sullivan missed the first few months of this season before making a triumphant return to the limelight at the Masters last month, thrashing Barry Hawkins 10-1 in the final.
Selby added: “I wasn’t surprised by how well he played at the Masters because everyone knows how good he is. The frustrating thing was that the best he played all week was against me in the quarter-finals. Perhaps he tries that little bit harder against me.
“Barry Hawkins would have been disappointed by the way he played in the final, he under-performed. The Masters is Ronnie’s home tournament and the crowd there can be intimidating for his opponents. Barry was a bit overawed by the occasion.
“When I beat Ronnie in the World Championship final in Sheffield two years ago, most of the crowd were behind him but they were very respectful. At the Masters when I played him this year there were people shouting things out when I was down on a shot. That wasn’t the difference between me winning and losing, it’s just the way it is in London.”
Among the other star names competing in Cardiff will be Judd Trump, defending champion John Higgins, Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy, Stuart Bingham, Jimmy White and home favourites Mark Williams and Matthew Stevens. For the full draw and format see http://www.worldsnooker.com
Tickets are on sale now and start at just £8, tremendous value to see the world’s top players live. Certain sessions are selling out so fans are urged to book fast. For details visit http://www.worldsnooker.com/tickets
World Snooker is delighted to announce that BetVictor will be title sponsor of the Welsh Open world ranking event for the fourth consecutive year in 2016.
The BetVictor Welsh Open will run from February 15 to 21 at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff. John Higgins won the title last year, against a strong field including the likes of Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson, Judd Trump, Stuart Bingham and home favourites Mark Williams and Matthew Stevens.
All 128 players will be competing at the Cardiff venue and starting in the same round. And with 12 tables in the arena in the early stages, fans have the chance to see many top players in a single session. The event is televised by BBC Wales with a total prize fund of £324,000.
World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “BetVictor sponsored the Welsh Open for the first time in 2013 and we are delighted that they have kept their support going for four consecutive years. Snooker’s global television footprint has grown dramatically in recent years so this event will provide BetVictor with exposure to many millions of fans worldwide.
“The Welsh Open is one of our longest running ranking events, ever-present on the calendar since 1992. The support for snooker among the people of Wales is fantastic and we look forward to seeing a packed arena. We moved the tournament to Cardiff last year, it proved a great success and I’m sure it will continue to grow in the coming years.”
Charlie McCann, Head of Communications at BetVictor, added: “We are delighted to once again sponsor the Welsh Open snooker tournament next month, won so memorably by John Higgins for a record fourth time last year. The switch to Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena was a great success last year and we are very much looking forward to more of the same this year. Snooker’s TV exposure is a terrific vehicle for BetVictor as a global brand and it is a week that we all look forward to; it is a big year for Welsh sport with Euro 2016 and the Six Nations to come and we bet 14/1 there is a home winner for the first time since Mark Williams won the second of his two titles back in 1999.”
Tickets for the tournament are ON SALE NOW and fans are strongly advised to book early as many sessions are expected to sell out quickly. For full details call 02920 22 44 88 or visit http://www.worldsnooker.com/tickets
The draw and format will be available after the entry deadline in early February.
Following high demand for tickets for next month’s Dafabet Masters, extra seats will be added to the arena at Alexandra Palace.
The tournament runs from January 10 to 17 in North London and the final on Sunday 17th had sold out, prompting the decision to add extra seating to the sides of the arena. This brings the capacity to a maximum possible of 1958 seats which is the biggest it has ever been for the Masters at this venue.
However sessions are still selling rapidly so fans are strongly urged to BOOK IMMEDIATELY to make sure of seeing the world’s leading players competing for the famous trophy.
And with three days to go until Christmas, if you’re stuck for gift ideas then you’ve found the perfect present for anyone who enjoys live sport.
For ticket visit http://www.worldsnooker.com/tickets
A spokesman for World Snooker said: “We have had unprecedented demand this year which is why we have decided to increase the capacity of the arena. This shows how the tournament has grown since we moved to Ally Pally in 2012.
“It’s always a sizzling atmosphere at the Masters and with an even bigger arena it’s going to be an incredible experience to be there live. Make sure you and your friends have something to look forward to in January by booking now.”
Shaun Murphy will be defending the title he won for the first time last year and he takes part in the opening match against Mark Allen on Sunday January 10th at 1pm. The other green baize kings in contention include Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins, Mark Selby, Judd Trump, Neil Robertson and Stuart Bingham.
The full draw is:
First round:
Shaun Murphy v Mark Allen – Sunday January 10 at 1pm
Barry Hawkins v Joe Perry – Monday January 11 at 7pm
Judd Trump v Stephen Maguire – Monday January 11 at 1pm
Neil Robertson v Marco Fu – Wednesday January 13 at 7pm
Mark Selby v Ricky Walden – Tuesday January 12 at 7pm
Ronnie O’Sullivan v Mark Williams- Tuesday January 12 at 1pm
John Higgins v Liang Wenbo – Wednesday January 13 at 1pm
Stuart Bingham v Ding Junhui – Sunday January 10 at 7pm
Quarter-finals:
Thursday January 14 at 1pm: Selby / Walden v O’Sullivan / Williams
Thursday January 14 at 7pm: Murphy / Allen v Hawkins / Perry
Friday January 15 at 1pm: Trump / Maguire v Robertson / Fu
Friday January 15 at 7pm: Higgins / Liang v Bingham / Ding
Semi-finals:
Saturday January 16 at 1pm: Semi final 1 (top half of draw)
Saturday January 16 at 7pm: Semi final 2 (bottom half of draw)
Final
Sunday January 17 at 1pm and 7pm
World Snooker is delighted to announce that 918.com will be title sponsor of the German Masters for the first time.
The 918.com German Masters will run from February 3 to 7 in Berlin and it will be the first world ranking event of 2016. It is staged at the famous 2,500-seater Tempodrom, widely recognised as one of the best venues on the snooker circuit. The event will receive extensive live television coverage from Eurosport and throughout the Middle East and Asia.
The qualifying rounds will run from December 17 to 20 in Wigan, with 128 players each needing to win two matches to make it to the final stages in Berlin. Ronnie O’Sullivan, Neil Robertson, John Higgins and defending champion Mark Selby will be among the top stars in action.
World Snooker Chairman Barry Hearn said: “We are thrilled to welcome 918.com to the snooker family. Our sport is tremendously popular in the Asian markets and they will get some fantastic exposure for their brand.
“The German Masters has become one of the highlights of the calendar as the fans in Berlin have taken snooker to their hearts and the event always generates a wonderful atmosphere at the Tempodrom. We look forward to working with the 918.com team on another top class event.”
Chloe Tseng, Commercial Director of the sponsor, added: “This is the first time the 918 Group will be on the stage of World Snooker. We are so excited and more than happy to be connecting with the world’s most gentle and beautiful sport! The German Masters is a wonderful event with so many snooker talents.
“We believe all snooker fans will enjoy a great time. And this is simply the start of our involvement with snooker. The 918 Group will work closely with the snooker world to present more excellence in the sport in the near future.”
Tickets for the final stages in Berlin are on sale now but sessions are selling out so fans must book fast – for details see http://www.snookerstars.de
For the qualifying rounds at Robin Park sports centre in Wigan, access for fans is free.
Ronnie O’Sullivan will face Mark Williams when he plays his first televised match of the season at the Masters next month.
O’Sullivan is yet to compete on the World Snooker tour so far this season but he’ll be back on the major stage at Alexandra Palace in January. The Rocket has won the Masters five times but he’ll face a tough task in the opening round this time having been drawn against two-time World Champion Williams. That match will take place on Tuesday January 12 at 1pm.
Shaun Murphy won the Masters – snooker’s most prestigious invitation event – for the first time last year and he has been drawn against Mark Allen, with that match to launch the tournament on Sunday January 10 at 1pm.
Newly crowned UK Champion Neil Robertson takes on Marco Fu while World Champion Stuart Bingham faces China’s Ding Junhui. UK Championship finalist Liang Wenbo will make his Masters debut against John Higgins.
The full draw and format is below.
Shaun Murphy v Mark Allen – Sunday January 10 at 1pm
Barry Hawkins v Joe Perry – Monday January 11 at 7pm
Judd Trump v Stephen Maguire – Monday January 11 at 1pm
Neil Robertson v Marco Fu – Wednesday January 13 at 7pm
Mark Selby v Ricky Walden – Tuesday January 12 at 7pm
Ronnie O’Sullivan v Mark Williams- Tuesday January 12 at 1pm
John Higgins v Liang Wenbo – Wednesday January 13 at 1pm
Stuart Bingham v Ding Junhui – Sunday January 10 at 7pm
The BBC-televised tournament runs from January 10 to 17 with tickets ON SALE NOW and fans must book fast because certain sessions are selling out rapidly. For details call 0871 620 7052 (calls cost 10p per minute from a BT landline plus network charges) or visit http://www.worldsnooker.com/tickets
Neil Robertson is targeting success at the Betway UK Championship in York following his victory at last week’s Champion of Champions.
The world number three from Australia won his first title of the season in Coventry by beating Mark Allen 10-5 in the final. And the 33-year-old now heads to the York Barbican for the first Triple Crown event of the 2015/16 campaign.
The BBC-televised tournament runs from November 24 to December 6, with 128 players chasing the coveted trophy and a top prize of £150,000.
Robertson won the title in 2013, beating Mark Selby 10-7 in the final, to become the first overseas player to complete the Triple Crown, having won the World Championship in 2010 and the Masters in 2012.
“I will always have great memories of that moment,” said Robertson, who faces amateur Alex Taubman in the first round this time. “I love York because it’s a great venue and we always get great crowds. I’ll be preparing really well for it this time and trying to get the trophy back.”
Robertson made a slow start to the current season, losing his opening match at his first three events. But he has since built momentum, reaching the quarter-finals of October’s International Championship and then going all the way to the title in Coventry.
“I decided to spend five weeks in Australia over the summer which is something I haven’t done since moving to the UK 12 years ago,” he said. “It’s harder for overseas players like myself and Ding Junhui because we have to make that sacrifice.
“I took my son Alexander and partner Mille to Melbourne and spent a lot of time with family and friends. I didn’t play snooker at all and missed a few tournaments and I knew it would take me time to find my form again. But I’m very happy with the decision. And now I’ve got a big title under my belt it gives me a lot of confidence for the rest of the season.”
Sponsors Betway make Robertson the 11/2 second favourite in a wide open betting market. Judd Trump edges favouritism at 5/1.
Among the other star names battling for the crown in York will be Mark Selby, Judd Trump, Shaun Murphy, John Higgins and Stuart Bingham.
For the full draw and format see http://www.worldsnooker.com
Tickets for the final session on December 6 have already sold out, and other sessions are selling fast so fans are urged to BOOK SEATS NOW. Tickets start at just £6, for more information visit http://www.worldsnooker.com/tickets
With the penultimate qualifying event – the International Championship – concluding this weekend in China, Matchroom Sport can announce that the final seeded player for the Champion of Champion will be Scotland’s John Higgins.
The current World No. 12 is the highest ranked player already qualified and will take his place in Group One alongside Joe Perry. Currently Ding Junhui is the 16th and final player in the Champion of Champions but that could all change if Thepchaiya Un-Nooh or David Gilbert were to win the International. Failing that eventuality, a new winner at next week’s Bulgarian Open could sneak in ahead of Ding.
The 2015 Champion of Champions takes place at the Ricoh Arena, Coventry from 10th to 15th November and features previous winners of World Snooker-sanctioned events over the previous 12 months.
The eight seeded players are Stuart Bingham, Judd Trump, John Higgins, Joe Perry, Neil Robertson, Shaun Murphy, Mark Selby and Barry Hawkins. The unseeded players are Michael White, Stephen Maguire, Kyren Wilson, Zhou Yuelong, Yan Bingtao, Ali Carter and Rory McLeod. They will be joined by Ding Junhui provided there is not a new winner at the International or Bulgarian Open.
Each seeded player will play an unseeded opponent in a best-of-seven group match in the afternoon session with the two winners clashing over 11 frames in the evening. The four group winners will proceed to the best-of-11 semi-finals on Saturday, November 14 before Sunday, November 15 sees a two-session final played over 19 frames.
Group Fixtures
Tuesday November 10, Group 3 (first match at 1pm)
Stuart Bingham (3) v To Be Drawn
Judd Trump (6) v To Be Drawn
Wednesday, November 11, Group 1 (first match at 1pm)
John Higgins v To Be Drawn
Joe Perry (8) v To Be Drawn
Thursday, November 12, Group 4 (first match at 1pm)
Neil Robertson (4) v To Be Drawn
Shaun Murphy (5) v To Be Drawn
Friday, November 13, Group 2 (first match at 1pm)
Mark Selby (2) v To Be Drawn
Barry Hawkins (7) v To Be Drawn
Tickets for this year’s Champion of Champions are now on sale at The Ticket Factory from just £10. Standard priced tickets for the weekend sessions are now sold out, but in anticipation of extra seats being released a waiting list has been set up at http://www.championofchampionssnooker.co.uk/tickets/.
The participation of all players is subject to contract.
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