The trophy for snooker’s new Scottish Open has been named after Stephen Hendry, the sport’s most successful ever player. Hendry dominated snooker throughout the 1990s, winning the World Championship a record seven times, and landed 36 ranking titles before retiring in 2012. The Scottish Open will run from December 12 to 18 at the Emirates […]
via Scottish Snooker Open Trophy Named After Stephen Hendry — newfanzoneblog
Snooker ace Kyren Wilson described his record-breaking match with Anthony Hamilton as “phenomenal” after they made six consecutive centuries between them on Wednesday evening.
Wilson won the China Open qualifying match in Barnsley 5-3 after he made four centuries and Hamilton two. They eclipsed the previous record of five in a row set by Ronnie O’Sullivan and Stephen Hendry during the 2003 British Open final as well as Stephen Maguire and Neil Robertson in the quarter-finals of the 2009 Masters.
The heavy scoring started in the second frame when Wilson compiled breaks of 103 and 108 to lead 2-1. Hamilton levelled with 137, Wilson replied with 125 then Hamilton’s 123 made it 3-3. It was Kettering’s 24-year-old Wilson who made the record sixth ton with 100 in frame seven. He then won the match in the next with a run of 68.
“It’s the best match I’ve ever played by far,” said world number 20 Wilson, who won his first ranking title at the Shanghai Masters earlier this season. “It was good open snooker and the table was very reactive which made the conditions perfect for high scoring.
“Once a frame was won we were willing each other on to make centuries, although I didn’t realise that six in a row was a record until after the match. I was actually gutted that I missed the last red in the final frame when I could have made it seven.
“Even if I had lost I still would have enjoyed it. Anthony was very gracious afterwards, he wished me luck and we agreed that it had just been a phenomenal match.”
Wilson reached the semi-finals of the German Masters last week and he’s now looking forward to the Coral Shoot Out in Reading this weekend, having also got to the last four in that event last year.
“I really enjoy the Shoot Out, it’s great fun and I want to go even further this time,” said the player nicknamed The Warrior. “I love it when the crowd gets behind me although I was probably guilty of playing to them last year when I had a chance to reach the final.
“Although I got to the semis in Berlin last week I didn’t feel I played that well and I was straight back on the practice table when I got home. I made a small technical change and obviously that was working last night.”
The Coral Shoot Out will be staged at The Hexagon in Reading for the first time, featuring 64 of the world’s best players battling for the trophy and £32,000 top prize. Judd Trump, John Higgins, Shaun Murphy and World Champion Stuart Bingham are among the top stars in action.
All matches last a maximum of ten minutes, with a shot clock of 15 seconds for the first five minutes, then dropping to ten seconds.
Televised by ITV4, the event runs from Friday to Sunday. Tickets are still available and start at just £15. For details call 0118 960 6060 or visit http://www.worldsnooker.com/tickets
newfanzone 