Snooker latest news 2006

[imported_Stripes]

Neil Robertson assured himself a place in this year's World Championships and a place in next season's top-16 rankings after beating Gerard Greene 10-6 in Prestatyn.
The Australian raced into a 7-1 lead before a run of 117 put him 9-3 ahead but he had to wait to seal the victory as Greene fought back to 9-6.

Last year Robertson led Mark King 7-2 before edging home 10-9 and he admitted afterwards that the late rally had weighed on his mind.

"The match last year was on my mind and I was playing for a top 16 place as well so I was very relieved to get over the line," said the 24-year-old.

"To be 9-3 up is a big lead but the match is never over until you pot the final ball. The other player becomes more relaxed and starts to go for everything."

Elsewhere Michael Holt crushed Stuart Pettman 10-2 and he will get the chance to banish the memory of the comeback by Steve Davis when the six-times champion rallied from 8-2 down to triumph 13-10.

"I've got bitter-sweet memories of the Crucible last year but I loved the experience and I'm glad to be going back," Holt said.

Andy Hicks also progressed, winning the last six frames, to record a 10-7 success over former world amateur champion Mark Allen.

England's David Gray was taken to a decider against countryman Mark Davis and Joe Swail had to dig deep to overcome Barry Pinches 10-8.

Thailand's James Wattana had things a little easier as he defeated Dave Gilbert 10-7 to advance into the televised stages of the tournament as did Anthony Hamilton who beat fellow Englishman Rod Lawler 10-8.

16.3.06

[imported_Stripes]

Chinese youngster Ding Jun Hui will miss out on contesting this year's World Championship after failing to progress beyond the qualifying stages.
The 18-year-old, who won the UK Championship last December, was beaten 10-6 by Barry Hawkins in Prestatyn.

Trailing 6-3, Ding won three successive frames to level the best-of-19 match.

But he lost the next four frames to miss out on a place at Sheffield's Crucible Theatre, where the Championship's latter stages begin next month.

Ding's defeat means that this year's World Championship will be the first in which the reigning UK champion does not feature.

Earlier Gloucester's Robert Milkins knocked in the first maximum break in the history of the qualifying rounds of the World Championship.

Milkins enjoyed a large slice of luck when he fluked the yellow across the baulk cushion in frame eight of his clash with Mark Selby in Prestatyn before going on to clear up for a prize of £5,000.

The break is only the seventh maximum in the 79-year history of the tournament with the other six coming at The Crucible.

But, despite his feat, the 30-year-old still failed to progress after eventually going down 10-4 to Selby.

Meanwhile, John Parrott scored a final-frame 10-9 win against Lee Spick, the 1991 world champion potting the final pink to seal his 22nd Crucible appearance.

And 1995 finalist Nigel Bond advanced to his 12th appearance in Sheffield after Mike Dunn withdrew with a back injury when trailing 6-0.

16.3.06

[imported_Stripes]

Stephen Lee's fifth ranking title success gave him a huge boost in the world rankings, as it virtually assures him of a top 16 place for a further season.
The Trowbridge potter is one of the most talented players on the circuit but he has failed to build on the early promise he showed, and was sliding down the rankings this season.

31-year-old Lee had dropped to a provisional 17th place in the world rankings, but his 9-4 victory over Shaun Murphy at the Welsh Open saw him jump back up to ninth.

“I've been trying not to think about the rankings but I have been under a lot of pressure,” said Lee.

”I'm over the moon. To win any tournament these days is a great achievement because the standard is so high.”

Lee was delighted to have shown enough consistency to land the prize in Newport, as he says it is now harder to maintain your form with less snooker being played.

"To win five matches on the spin these days is very difficult," Lee said.

"Everyone has been struggling because of the delays between tournaments. There's no consistency in anyone's game.

“Having breaks between tournaments means that if you lose your first match you have something like four weeks until your next match. You don't feel like going to the club to practise so long before a tournament.

”I was lacking a bit of belief and struggling to hold my concentration but it all came together this week.

”That's what you have to do in this game - hold yourself together and keep on believing. We can all do it on the practice table but to have to do it when it counts is what's tough.”

World champion Murphy was playing his first final since his shock Crucible last year, and he has moved up another two places to number five in the provisional world rankings.

Stephen Hendry remains the provision world number one despite going out in the first round of the Welsh Open, while Ronnie O'Sullivan has lost second spot to John Higgins.

Barry Hawkins kept up his good run by reaching the semi-finals in Newport, and is rewarded by climbing to eighth, while fellow semi-finalist Anthony Hamilton enters the top 16 in 15th.

16-year-old prodigy Judd Trump and world junior champion Liang Wenbo both look to have sealed their place on the professional circuit next year after they both qualified for the Welsh Open.
16.3.06

[imported_Stripes]

Dudley’s Reanne Evans is set to defend the title she won at the same venue last April when she beat Lynette Horsburgh 6-4 in the final.

This time there are five World events, including mixed pairs.

Maria Catalano, also from Dudley in the West Midlands, is the player in form, especially after her recent Connie Gough National success over Evans.

And Catalano could even help Ronnie O’Sullivan lift a world title before he heads to the Crucible, if he accepts her offer to partner her in the mixed pairs.

Entries are now being accepted for the five competitions. Deadline is March 25.

The tournaments are: Ladies World Champs, World Mixed Pairs, World Ladies Billiards, World Ladies Doubles and World Ladies Seniors.

The Ladies Singles World final will take place on April 5 along with the Doubles.

The Mixed Pairs is on the final day of play on April 6. The tournament begins on April 1.
16.3.06

[imported_Stripes]

The tournament will now be called the 2006 Star Dragon Woods Villa Cup China Open,
Chinese sensation Ding Junhui will defend the title after his victory over Stephen Hendry in last year’s final, watched by some 110 million people on host channel CCTV.

The tournament will be staged at the Beijing Students University Gymnasium and runs from March 20 to 26. The world’s leading players including Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins, Shaun Murphy and Hendry are all set for the trip east.

Star Group, known in China as the Xing Pai Ji Tuan, was founded in 1987. It now has 11 branch companies, 6000 employees and a value of over one billion Yuan. As well as the sports industry and real estate, it also has interests in furniture manufacturing, hotel management and golf entertainment.

Dragon Woods Villa is the leading luxury complex in Beijing, featuring a villa complex spanning 42,000 square metres, and an 18-hole championship standard golf course.

Simon Leach, World Snooker’s chief representative at its office in Beijing, said: "Star is one of the leading brands in China so we are excited to have them on board as title sponsor. Aligning ourselves more closely with local Chinese partners is key to future success.

"The popularity of snooker in Beijing and across China is growing so rapidly and this is an important step in converting that popularity into commercial success."

World Snooker chairman Sir Rodney Walker added: "This agreement with Star Group continues our commercial progress, following the major broadcast and sponsorship deals we have recently signed.

"China is such a key growth area for snooker and we are delighted to have capitalised on the great success of last year’s tournament in Beijing."

16.3.06

[imported_Stripes]

Defending champion Shaun Murphy has been drawn against James Wattana in the opening round of the 888.com World Snooker Championship.
The second-youngest winner of snooker's biggest prize has not got an easy start to his campaign as he takes on the man from Thailand.

Wattana is no stranger to the Crucible having reached the semi-finals at the venue in 1993 and 1997 and he will be looking to cause an upset against the Rotherham-born potter.

Elsewhere in the draw, two-time winner Ronnie O'Sullivan will be looking for a tenth straight victory over Dave Harold when they meet in the opening round.

Steven Hendry has been paired with Nigel Bond in a repeat of the 1995 final.

On that occasion the Scot came out on top 18-9 and he will be hoping for a similar result when he starts his bid for an eighth title.

Matthew Stevens, who lost in last year's final, will face Joe Swail, while fellow Welshman Mark Williams takes on Anthony Hamilton.

Six-time winner Steve Davis meets Andy Hicks, while Jimmy White's quest for a first ever world championship begins with a match against David Gray.
The tournament, which takes place in Sheffield, begins on April 15.


First round draw
Shaun Murphy v James Wattana
Steve Davis v Andy Hicks
Jimmy White v David Gray
Peter Ebdon v Michael Holt
Matthew Stevens v Joe Swail
Ken Doherty v Barry Hawkins
Alan McManus v Marco Fu
Stephen Maguire v Mark King
Stephen Hendry v Nigel Bond
Graeme Dott v John Parrott
Stephen Lee v Ali Carter
Paul Hunter v Neil Robertson
John Higgins v Mark Selby
Mark Williams v Anthony Hamilton
Joe Perry v Ryan Day
Ronnie O'Sullivan v Dave Harold
20.3.06

[imported_Stripes]

The Wizard of Wishaw did not hit top gear at the Beijing Student Gym but won the key frames against Dubliner Doherty to set up a showpiece match against local hero Ding Junhui or Welshman Mark Williams tomorrow.

Higgins has already won the Grand Prix and SAGA Insurance Masters this season and was also runner-up in the Malta Cup - his defeat of Doherty today was some measure of revenge for that narrow 9-8 reverse.

"To reach four finals in seven tournaments is a very good acheivement," said 31-year-old Higgins. "This has been my best season for a long time. The conditions here have been first class and the tables are gorgeous so that has helped.

"It would be massive to play Ding in the final, I would love it. The atmosphere would be fantastic. But Mark Williams is coming back into form so that match is a toss of a coin tonight."

Dublin’s Doherty took the first frame with a break of 78 after Higgins had missed a red on 38. The Irishman missed a simple black on 56 in the next and Higgins took it with 65.

The Scot went 2-1 up then Doherty looked set to level after a 69 in the fourth but Higgins got the snooker he needed on the last red and ended up doubling the pink the length of the table and adding the black to extend his lead.

Doherty closed to 3-2 after the interval but his opponent then pulled away with 51, 67 and 55 to seal victory.

"It was a typical semi, you don’t get many great ones because we are always so keen to get to the final and we were both a bit nervous today," Higgins added. "I’ve lost my last four matches against Ken so it’s a great win for me."

Following Stephen Hendry’s exit last night, Higgins is also enjoying the opportunity to close the gap at the top of the provisional world rankings.

Doherty said: "I took my eye of black in the second frame, then what happened in the fourth frame was a real killer. The chance to win the title was there and I didn’t take it."
25.3.06

[imported_Stripes]

Mark Williams won his fifth ranking title in Asia with a 9-8 victory over John Higgins in an enthralling Star Dragon Woods Villa Cup China Open final in Beijing tonight (Sunday).
26.3.06

[imported_Stripes]

Mark Williams ended his long wait for a ranking title as he edged out John Higgins 9-8 in a tight China Open final in Beijing.
There was never more than a frame between the two men as they slugged it out in the green baize for the China Open title.

The scores were locked together at 4-4 after the first session and neither could break free in an equally tight second session that went right down to the wire.

Higgins has been in great form this season and has already bagged two tournament wins, but Welshman Williams was without a title since 2003, and that desire showed in the end as he got his nose in front right at the death to edge the contest.

The Wizard of Wishaw had hit the ground running in the opening frame as his knock of 54 saw him go 1-0 in front.

Welsh left hander Williams edged the second to level but a 66 from Higgins put him back on front, only for Williams to again edge another for 2-2.

Williams moved in front for the first time in the fifth frame with his 60 break putting him 3-2 ahead, before the Scot bounced back by taking the next two frames on the bounce.

The Grand Prix and Masters champion could have gone in 5-3 ahead but his miss-hit allowed Williams to step in and go into the final session at 4-4.

Williams took the first frame of the second session but Higgins responded to going behind twice, before taking two frames on the bounce to move 7-6 ahead with a break of 67.

Williams responded as had been in keeping with the entire match, and a knock of 69 helped draw him level, before a tight frame also went his way for 8-7.

A 64 from Higgins sent the match into the deciding frame and after yet another tense battle it was Williams who came out on top to earn his first title since landing the LG Cup in 2003.

“There was a lot of pressure in the last frame," said Williams after receiving the £30,000 first prize.

”I haven't won for a while so I'm over the moon now. Hopefully it will get me on to better things.

Higgins was overall satisfied with his display in China, which kept him hot on the heels of Stephen Hendry in the race to be world number one.

"Mark had a terrible kick when it looked as though he was on his way to winning 9-7 but he had some rubs in the last frame so it all evened out,” said Higgins.

"I should've been in front after the first session but it finished 4-4 and tonight I couldn't get away from him.

”I'm throwing in a few bad shots and that cost me but generally my game is mostly good and I'll go to the Crucible in a couple of weeks time with plenty of confidence.”

26.3.06

[imported_Stripes]

Mark Williams feels his victory at the China Open makes him a live contender for next month's World Championship.

The Welshman beat John Higgins 9-8 in Beijing to claim his first world ranking title in 29 months and has now targeted more silverware at the Crucible Theatre.

"A few months ago I didn't fancy beating anyone but I'm going to the World Championship full of confidence," said the two-time world champion.

"Now, I feel I can beat anyone, even though the bottom half of the draw is so tough that it's a joke.

"My confidence has come back. Quarter-finals were almost as good as finals for me and I could build from there."

Williams faces a first-round meeting with England's Anthony Hamilton in Sheffield, before a mouth watering potential second-round clash with Higgins.

The Scot, who has been the form player so far this season, is also confident of a good run in Sheffield.

"Most of my game is really strong and I feel good but I have got a tough draw at the Crucible," said Higgins, whose first-round opponent is Leicester's Mark Selby.

"It could be Mark [Williams] again in the second round but that's the way you want it sometimes.

“You don't always want easy games because that's how you can come unstuck, thinking you are going to get through a couple of rounds."

30.3.06