This scandal arose and somewhat went away again in the final months of the season but, following an internal investigation by the WPBSA Disciplinary Committee, the evidence has been found to be substantial enough to warrant a temporary suspension.

A hearing will take place in Bristol on July 25th, ensuring that Jogia will miss a substantial start to the opening section of the 2012/13 campaign.

The Englishman will definitely miss the Wuxi Classic and Australian Open, as well two PTC events, and could also be absent for the Shanghai Masters as the qualifying section for the China tournament commences the day before his hearing begins.

This is a serious matter and is the latest in quite a long list of betting irregularity scandals that have hit snooker in the past.

Many names have been implicated, some of which have turned into more long-term suspensions – and indeed many that have turned out to have been false rumours.

However, the fact that World Snooker has taken the decision to expel Jogia before his hearing is a strong indication that they have a major case against the world no. 47.

At the time of the incident in Blackpool, when a large number of bets were allegedly placed on Jogia to lose, the 36 year-old strongly protested his innocence. In the end, he withdrew from the event with a knee injury.

So last season ended with in a barrage of controversy and high-profile news headlines and it seems the new campaign is following suit.

Amazing really, and long gone are the days where players and fans had to wait four or five months until the first event of a new campaign.

Next week, quite unbelievably, is when the pro season commences with the Wuxi Classic qualifiers – upgraded to a fully fledged ranking event after four successful years as an invitational tournament.

And after two and a half weeks of gruelling wall-to-wall action in Sheffield, twelve hopefuls will be in the first qualifying round draw having come through the gruelling Q-School.

Here’s a speedy run down of the dozen who have all emerged successfully and now have earned that coveted two-year exemption onto a Main Tour worth over £7million per year.

Martin O’Donnell (England)

O’Donnell suffered heartache last season when he lost at the final hurdle in Q-School to Kurt Maflin but he made no such mistake this time around – safeguarding his progress in the very first event. The Snookerbacker Classic champion, O’Donnell didn’t even have to pay a dime to enter. Was very successful on the amateur season in the last 12 months.

Sam Baird (England)

In all honesty, Baird was quite unlucky to have dropped off the Tour last season in the first place. After a slow start, the Englishman qualified for back-to-back tournaments at the World and Welsh Opens – almost upsetting World No1 Mark Selby in the latter. This was compounded by a frames win-loss record of 20-0 in Q-School. Still only 23, he’s definitely a player to look out for.

Ian Burns (England)

One of the lesser-known players to come through, at 27 Burns has taken his chance superbly in giving the professional world a shot. Played in a lot of the PTC events last season and did quite well in them too – James Wattana and Rory McLeod were two of his more notable scalps.

Chen Zhe (China)

A sometime practice partner of Ronnie O’Sullivan, Chen is another player who produced good performances in the PTCs as an amateur in 2011, reaching the third round twice. At 19, Chen is continuing the growing trend of young Chinese players emerging onto the scene.

Daniel Wells (Wales)

Wells endured a disastrous twelve months on the Main tour after topping the Welsh amateur rankings and lifting the European Championship trophy in June of last year. At 23, Wells has already mustered a lot of experience but it’s time to put that, and his obvious talent, to some use.

Jamie O’Neill (England)

O’Neill is another player with some professional experience but never really settled in his previous attempt. Duane Jones, Gary Wilson and rising Scot Scott Donaldson were all good victories, though, in Q-School Event 2. Perhaps not one of the players fancied at the outset, O’Neill could be somebody coming in under the radar.

Sean O’Sullivan (England)

A Twitter favourite, Sean has no family connections with namesake Ronnie but he’s heading in the right direction if he has aspirations of equalling some of the world champion’s major accomplishments. The teenager served his apprenticeship during the PTC events and has quickly developed into a competent player, earning his maiden ticket onto the Main Tour.

Paul Davison (England)

Despite bettering his deepest run in a tournament at the 2012 German Masters by reaching the last 32, Davison could not do enough to break into the Top 64 in the world rankings. No problem, the 40 year-old proved that it isn’t only the young hot-shots who come through the winner-takes-all battle and schooled some of them with his experience to land another crack at the elite.

Rod Lawler (England)

Almost a case of read above again for Lawler. Another 40 year-old, Lawler’s best days are well and truly behind him but the Liverpudlian is not ready to pack away his cue just yet and whitewashed another veteran in Irishman Joe Delaney to seal his progress. Known for his dogged, slow play, Lawler’s inclusion ensures many a further late night in the qualifying rounds this season.

Michael Wasley (England)

Wasley had already lost to Daniel Wells in the final round of Q-School Event 2 so to bounce back and reach the rubber game again was a testament to his temperament. And having been beaten in a decider to Wells, Wasley turned around the tables and inflicted a 4-3 defeat on Scotland’s Fraser Patrick, who himself has now lost at the last hurdle in two consecutive years.

Joel Walker (England)

John Sutton won’t thank me for reminding him but, in the penultimate match, he was 3-0 up to Walker but somehow grabbed defeat from the jaws of victory. Walker made the most of it, winning his deciding match 4-0 and, a Sheffield lad, will now have his eyes on an eventual run to the Crucible. At 16, Walker won the 2010 Rileys Future Stars competition, leading Ronnie O’Sullivan to tip him as a future world champion.

Robbie Williams (England)

The headlines this season are going to be fantastic. A run down of the titles of some of Robbie Williams’ songs and you can see why. “Better Man”, “Come Undone”, “No Regrets”, “Sexed Up”….Okay maybe not the last one. No this is not the pop star but Robbie Williams will be hoping to Take That opportunity given to him having come through Q-School. Anywayyyyy, a very capable player, Williams starred as an amateur in the early PTC events last season.

So there you have it. Twelve players comprising ten from England, one Welsh and one Chinese.

It’s disappointing not to have an Irish player come through with Delaney coming the closest in the final event and Sutton ruing his missed opportunity in the same tournament, although there was some consolation with 16 year-old Josh Boileau’s strong efforts giving the youngster essential experience for the future.

The fact there are ten English players doesn’t exactly highlight the mission statement of becoming a global sport.

Perhaps next season the Q-School events should be spread out with one in Asia and one in mainland Europe so to attract a wider influx of entrants.

This is highly probably given the fact that the Tour increases to 128 players for the 2013/14 campaign.

Regardless, these twelve have done what they had to and have been rewarded with two years to launch themselves into the big-time, as the sport itself simultaneously attempts to do likewise.

In doing so, the Galway potter equals the record of most Irish Championships, joining his final opponent McCrudden and Davy Morris on a hat-trick of victories.

The first four frames of the final were shared in just over 40 minutes with neither player interested in hanging around and a break of over 50 in each.

However, Muldoon took control with a succession of close-frame wins to reel off five in a row to lead 7-2, and from there simply nursed his advantage to lift the coveted trophy.

The last eight had consisted of a variety of top class performers, ensuring a dramatic climax to a long season.

Ranked no.1 Rodney Goggins went in as the pre-event favourite and continued his streak of having reached the semi-finals or better in all of the Senior events on the calendar during this campaign, but fell at the last four hurdle to McCrudden 6-3.

Meanwhile, friend of the blog Johnny Williams ended the season on a high with a run to the semis only to be beaten 6-2 by club-mate Muldoon in a high-quality affair.

The ‘Sniper’ was on-hand again to give his assessment of the weekend’s play, as well as his thoughts on what has been a successful season for him personally.

“For once I can say I was very happy about my game. I played Brendan O’Donoghue in the quarter-final and I was by far the underdog but I love that feeling. I started off well by going 2-0 up but within a few minutes it was 2-2 – when Brendan gets going he is really hard to stop. Before I knew it, he was 4-2 up. I had a great chance to go 3-0 up and I played a poor position shot from the last black to yellow, it played on my mind and I struggled a bit. At 4-2 down I had nothing to lose and said to myself that I was going for everything as the pockets were generous.”

“I had a 65 and a 87 from what I can remember to level at 4-4, then Brendan got in early in the decider and made 60. The game was over in my head but he missed frame ball on two or three occasions after that and left me with an easy starter. I just had to keep my head and I did very well, clearing up to the yellow and laying a lucky, yet effective, snooker on the green, which he missed and gave me a free ball. I took the blue and cleared the table from there. It was such a relief, not just to play well, but to play well under the circumstances – I know I have good bottle now.

“Against Vinnie I felt very confident going into the game. But before I knew it, he knocks in a 116, a 60 odd and 80 odd and I’m 3-0 down and in shock. He was in again in the fourth and had another 60 break but missed and I cleared with 70 to get back in it, then I took a scrappy next to make it 3-2. After Vinnie went two clear again, the next frame was big from both our perspectives.

“I had a lead of 30 points with the last red on the table, colours near all cushions and I felt in control, but he pulled out a mystical clearance to win on the black and after that my head was gone. He played fantastic, I even played really well myself, I only made one mistake per frame and that was enough for him to capitalise. No other player really does that to me on the circuit, I usually get a few chances.

“In the final Vinnie played well indeed, he did what he had to do but in all fairness it was made quite easy for him at times. Martin’s long potting on the day was the best I had seen all season but, by his own admission, he was making too many silly mistakes. Martin started off for me the better of both players and Vinnie was lucky to get in even at the interval. But at 2-2 it all went pear-shaped for McCrudden.

“The story of the match in my eyes was that Martin would get in first, make a 60 break, miss an easy ball or go for a very difficult shot and Muldoon would come in and do his usual hoover tactics and clear the table. Vinnie won three or four frames on the black ball. I was gobsmacked that he went 7-2 ahead because at best he should have been 5-4 down! McCrudden, though, didn’t change his aggressive tactics and that proved to be his downfall. Vinnie is too good without gifting him frames. It was a great standard of final with break after break and Vinnie was just the better player on the day. 

“Martin didn’t lose the head and won three in a row to get back to 7-5 down but, 40 up in the next, he missed a very easy red and Vinnie cleared for 8-5. If it had went to 7-6 then game-on but Vinnie was able to control the last two frames comfortably for a well-deserved third Championship. 

“For me personally, my season overall went well. My ranking improved from last season but my match play has improved the most. I’m no longer edgy about taking on the top boys and I have the game to beat each and every one of them on my day. I have beaten Martin, Vinnie, TJ (Dowling), and Brendan in ranking tournaments playing great snooker so I don’t see why I can’t go the full way in an event.

“My aim for next season is obviously to get a Q-School spot as the pro spot has been taken away from the National Governing Body. I would love to qualify for the European Senior team or the World Amateurs. If I got selected for any of the above I would consider my next season a success. Because I have been playing so well I have it in my head that if I don’t win or at least get to a final of a ranking tournament next season I think I’ll call it a day with snooker.

“I’ve been playing well for many years and the results are starting to show but I want next season to be great. I won’t accept anything less. It would take a brave man to bet against me winning a Senior ranking event next season in my opinion – I’m well capable no matter how unorthodox my technique is, so they are my goals.  I have been to five ranking semi-finals now I think, it’s only a matter of time before it clicks for me.”

Thanks, as always, to the ‘Sniper’ for his insight this week and indeed for the contributions he has made throughout the entire campaign.

Championship Weekend Results

Quarter-Finals

Rodney Goggins 5-3 Robert Murphy

Martin McCrudden 5-1 Colm Gilcreest

Vincent Muldoon 5-3 Robert Redmond

Johnny Williams 5-4 Brendan O’Donoghue

Semi-Finals

Rodney Goggins 3-6 Martin McCrudden

Vincent Muldoon 6-2 Johnny Williams

Final

Vincent Muldoon 10-5 Martin McCrudden

2012 Irish National Champion: Vincent Muldoon

Lucrative, you ask? Well, for the twelve hopefuls that emerge from the trenches in this battle of the amateurs, they will have the opportunity to compete for over £7million worth of prize money next season.

In addition, this year’s dozen will gain a two-year exemption onto the Main Tour, as opposed to the solitary season that those from last year were granted with, which means ample opportunity to survive in the cut-throat environment of the professional snooker circuit.

Q-School takes on a similar guise to that of 12 months ago with three separate best-of-seven events taking place over a three-week period.

The semi-finalists in each of the three tournaments will earn their right to mix it with the cream of the crop in the sport for the next two campaigns.

England’s Adam Duffy and David Gilbert were proof of the success of the scheme to fast-track amateurs into the pro game – both breaking into the Top 64 last season with the latter enjoying an amazing run to the last 16 of the World Championship at the Crucible.

There will be six players from the Republic of Ireland competing and, with the retraction of a nomination for the National Governing Body RIBSA, this is one of the last remaining avenues for the Irish contingent on the Main Tour to be bolstered.

As it stands, only veterans Ken Doherty and Fergal O’Brien are guaranteed to be competing next season – a paltry amount for a country that has for a long time prided itself in producing competitive talent.

Of the six, I caught up for a brief Q+A with three of the guys making the trip across the Irish Sea this weekend.

Joe Delaney had been on and off the professional circuit for 20 years before dropping off conclusively in 2011 but has enjoyed a successful campaign on the Irish scene, claiming the last ranking event of the season in Navan a few weeks ago and lies second in the rankings behind Rodney Goggins.

John Sutton was one of only two players to survive the inaugural Snookerbacker Classic – where he was runner-up to Martin O’Donnell – thus earning the £1,000 entry fee into Q-School.

16 year-old Josh Boileau is one of Ireland’s hottest young prospects. In 2011 he claimed the National Under-16s title, he is the current Under-19 National champion and has often been referred to highly by SHQ‘s Johnny Williams at RIBSA events this season.

SHQ: How has the season been so far, what have the preparations been like?

Delaney: I started the season slowly but have been playing really well lately, have a new cue and preparations are going very well.

Sutton: The season started really well for me, doing well in the first few PTC events and then getting to the final of the first points tournament in Carlow. I beat Joe Delaney, Josh Boileau, Brendan O’Donoghue and Vincent Muldoon along the way but when I stopped playing the PTCs I lost a bit of sharpness. Thankfully, it came back to me for the SB Classic, where I played really well, and recently I won a big tournament in Fairview. I’ve been practicing hard for the last couple of weeks on the pro table in Celbridge with Joe Delaney so I’m nice and ready.

Boileau: It’s been a pretty good season really. I’ve won two National Championships and other tournaments too. I also played in the European Under-21 Championship in Bulgaria which was brilliant and I was happy with how I played. I would have liked to win a few more tournaments and have been a bit more consistent but overall I’m pretty happy with it. My preparations for Q-School have been great. I’m playing three hours most days now and hopefully the hard work will pay off next week.

SHQ: How do you assess your chances of qualifying from Q-School?

Delaney: I think I’ve a good chance over there, but it’s gonna be tough. There’s a lot of ex-professionals and top amateurs so it should be good.

Sutton: If I play to the best of my abilities for just a couple of days I stand a great chance.

Boileau: I’m pretty confident with my chances of qualifying. There’s so many good players in the competition so if I do qualify I’ll be delighted but either way it’ll be a great experience for me.

SHQ: Does the format suit you?

Delaney:  The matches are short but that’s the way it is now so you have to start quickly.

Sutton: I have played in this arena at the PTC last season with the same format so I know what to expect. Same tables and first to four – just like the PTC.

Boileau: The format suits me just fine. Best-of-sevens are quite short matches so if you don’t start well you’re making life difficult for yourself. I’m just gonna give it my best shot and see what happens.

SHQ: Are there any players competing that you would hope to avoid?

Delaney: You have to be ready to beat any player so there’s no player to avoid. There’s no easy draws – you need to play solid in all matches and have a little luck as well.

Sutton: Any of the Irish lads – it’d be a shame to draw each other.

Boileau: Not at all, I don’t mind who I play. The standard is high and every match will be difficult no matter what so hopefully I can just play well and see how I do really.

SHQ: What would it mean to you to gain a two-year tour card?

Delaney: It would be good to get back on for couple of seasons because you wouldn’t have the pressure of falling off with the two-year card. You could enjoy it and pick and choose the competitions you want to enter.

Sutton: Well I have wanted this for so long now so it would mean the world and it’s for two years this time instead of just one so I would have time to adjust to life as a pro.

Boileau: It would mean a lot . Ever since I started playing snooker I’ve dreamt of being a professional. One year on the tour would be brilliant but two years means you can relax, enjoy it and gain a lot of experience playing the top pros.

Good luck to the three lads as they begin their quest to join the professional ranks, and also the best of luck to the rest of the Irish contingent over in Sheffield: Jason Devaney, Kevin O’Leary and Dessie Sheehan.

The full draw for Event 1 of Q-School can be viewed here. 

To add to the fun, I have enlisted two of the website’s regular and loyal contributors in club owner Fin Ruane and Irish player Johnny ‘Sniper’ Williams.

Before we see who has won what, a quick thank you to both of these guys for their efforts throughout the campaign in helping to make this a more interesting and informative place for snooker fans to come and visit. Their help is very much appreciated.

There are no awards being brandished this year for blogs, forums, tweeters, etc.

At this stage, you all will know what the best ones are and rather than get into trouble for forgetting somebody I will just say that the ones I hold in the highest regard are linked on the left. (Anybody who isn’t linked and thinks they should be don’t hunt me down and beat me up; send me an email and we’ll sort it out pronto for next season.)

However, one specific shout-out does go out to the Snookerbacker Blog, whose Snookerbacker Classic was one of the highlights of the year. A fantastic initiative for amateur players across both the UK and Ireland.

And finally a big thank you to everybody who visits the site. Bringing the sport to a wider community is what makes it all worthwhile.

But now the fun bit and the 2012 SHQ Awards…..

Player of the Season

Nominees: Ronnie O’Sullivan, Stephen Lee, Judd Trump, Neil Robertson, Stephen Maguire

Fin: My Player of the Season has to be Ronnie O’Sullivan, the new world champion has defied the critics and along with his victory in the German Masters has shown everyone what a snooker talent he is. I’ve been impressed with his professionalism both on and off the table this season, he’s enjoying snooker again and even though he has hinted at missing several months of the new season, a fit and content with life O’Sullivan can only be good for the game.

Sniper: Player of the Season for me would be Judd Trump. I have to say, even though I despise his attitude and the way he plays sometimes, he has been very consistent, jumped up in the rankings and rankings say it all for me.

SHQ: It can only really be Ronnie O’Sullivan, can’t it? He won the first and last events of a long campaign and added a further three in between. His performance in the World Championship was on a par with the best of his career and when he is on top form there is simply nobody better.

Comeback Player of the Season

Nominees: Stephen Lee, Peter Ebdon, Ali Carter, Ryan Day, David Gilbert

Fin: Two contenders here, Peter Ebdon won the China Open from basically nowhere but didn’t really kick on from that and was very dissappointing. But for me the comeback player of the season has to be Stephen Lee. He has reignited his snooker career from nowhere and his victory in the PTC Grand Finals which followed his runner-up spot at the World Open has propelled him back into the top 8 ranked players in the world.

Sniper: My Comeback Player of the Season was very close to being my player of the season and that is Stephen Lee. He had a terrific run of ranking event semi-finals and then the PTC Grand Finals triumph win this season. The reason he was not my player of the season was that he just didn’t perform on the big stage when he needed to.

SHQ: Semi-final in Germany, quarter-final in Wales (when he was robbed by an ill-timed mobile phone ringing), final of the World Open, winner of PTC Grand Finals, semi-final in China. This one is a no-brainer – Stephen Lee.

Breakthrough Player of the Season

Nominees: Mark Allen (breaking his semi-final duck, winning ranker), Jamie Jones (reaching World Champs last 8), Stuart Bingham (winning in Australia)

Fin: Only one winner for me here and that’s Jamie Jones. He enjoyed a great run in the PTC Grand Finals and followed that up with a fantastic run in the World Championship to reach the quarter-finals only to lose to runner-up Ali Carter. He’s a very high scorer amongst the balls, with an equally good safety game, there is no question he has the temperament for the big occasion and I can see him pushing for a top 16 place next season.

Sniper: Jamie Jones. He showed terrific character and bottle in the world champs, has had a very good season overall and is climbing the rankings very fast, not to mention his unorthodox way of cueing makes me even more impressed with this lad. Mark Allen has done well winning a ranking event but for me this should have been done many times by now for his talent and how good he “thinks” he is sometimes.

SHQ: Tough one for me – they all have a strong case to win this one and I’m a big admirer of Jamie Jones and what he has achieved this year. However, the award goes to Mark Allen. The Northern Irishman may have already been established as a top pro but his struggles to get beyond the last four in tournaments had been well documented. Reaching the final of the UK and grabbing his maiden silverware at the World Open confirmed his emergence into the big-time.

Controversy of the Season

Nominees: Mark Allen (UK Championship rant), Mark Allen (Twittergate: dead cats, Chinese are ignorant), Mark Allen (Chinese players are cheats), Eirian Williams (red or pink Shanghai Masters final), Mark Williams (Crucible’s a s***hole).

Fin: Again only one winner here and that’s Mark Allen for his Chinese players are cheats accusation. He’s a fantastic talent and this season a ranking event winner but he needs to take a long hard look at himself and act more professional than what he has done. Not only were his comments idiotic but they were without foundation and I fully expect the WPBSA to hand out some sort of punishment in relation to the comments he made in Sheffield.

Sniper: No surprises for who will win my vote for biggest controversy. Indeed it is Mark Allen, for his comments he made about Chinese people being ignorant, the dead cats and the smell of China and hygiene, etc. Hearing he is hated over there and might not be able to attend certain events because of his foul mouth speaks for itself – silly, silly comments. Don’t bit off the hand that feeds you.

SHQ: Eirian Williams. No, only joking. This is a tie for me between Mark Allen and, erm, Mark Allen. Both of his comments regarding China, its people, its snooker players and its cats would be almost laughable if it just wasn’t so serious.

Best Rookie

Nominees: Luca Brecel, Adam Duffy, Cao Yupeng, Sam Craigie

Fin: Simply because of his run to reach the Crucible it has to be Luca Brecel. The 17 year-old beat four experienced match players and tour regulars in Ian McCulloch, Barry Pinches, Michael Holt and Mark King to reach the final stages.  His run eventually ended at the hands of Stephen Maguire but that disappointment was soon turned to happiness when it was announced he will receive a wild card invite on to the Main Tour next season.

Sniper:  It has to be Luca Brecel for me. He didn’t have the greatest season before the Worlds, but he showed true grit and determination in some of his qualifiers. At times he came from behind, had some great wins including an excellent deciding frame thriller over Michael Holt.  Nothing seems to faze him. If anything he is just a little careless (careless?) and maybe too quick at times but for me he is very natural and has the most potential. One for the future.

SHQ: Adam Duffy would have been an absolute shoo-in for this gong if it wasn’t for Luca Brecel‘s late gallop towards the final hurdle. The Belgian came from nowhere to prove his worth as one of the hottest prospects in town by becoming the youngest player ever to compete at the Crucible.

Match of the Season

Nominees: Trump vs Allen UK final, Trump vs O’Sullivan PTC Antwerp final, Lee vs Robertson World Open Last 16 (5 centuries in 7 frames), O’Sullivan vs Maguire German Masters final, Carter vs Trump World Championshiop Last 16

Fin: Lots of great matches but Trump v O’Sullivan in the PTC Final in Antwerp was without doubt the finest exhibition of snooker I have seen in many a season. I sat transfixed to the tv that Sunday evening watching that final of pure class which saw Trump edge out O’Sullivan. The only complaint I had was that it was only the best of seven!

Sniper: Match of the season for me has to be Trump and O’Sullivan in the PTC 9 final. I remember putting up a status saying I’ve never witnessed anything like it, one visit frames, both players showing no fear, precision break building of the highest quality.

SHQ: Trump vs Allen in the UK Championship final. While Trump and O’Sullivan was an exhibition of epic proportions, the fact remains that it was only a best of 7. It still would have won this category only for the fact that Trump and Allen served up an equally barnstorming affair of attacking snooker in York – this time over the course of a best of 19 format that ended in Trump claiming his first major title 10-8.

Best Tournament

Nominees: World Championship, UK Championship, German Masters, Shanghai Masters

Fin: Every event has provided great snooker but for me it has to he the World Championship. The first few days alone provided more drama both on and off the table which set the tone for the following two weeks.

Sniper: Unfortunately, I have to go with the German Masters on this occasion. I say unfortunately because the atmosphere in Sheffield was just not there for me. Last year was amazing with Trump-Higgins, but this one was always gonna be one-sided for me, Ronnie was clear favourite and had his fans but for atmosphere it wasn’t the best. The German Masters on the other hand was new, refreshing, and the crowds were amazing. It’s very popular in Germany.

SHQ: The World Championship. The drama tailed off somewhat as the fortnight progressed but the opening week was one of the most dramatic in memory. Shocks, a 147, a high-profile retirement, umpteen cases of controversy and a worthy champion. It had it all.

Moment of the Season

Fin: Lots to choose from but for me there is only one moment and that was the legend Stephen Hendry’s maximum in the World Championship. A break of pure excellence not only because he had several tough balls to pot throughout the break but the emotion he showed when he potted the final black  showed what it had meant to him as unbeknown to us at the time he knew this was his final year playing in the Crucible.

Sniper: My moment of the Pro Season was Ronnie lifting the World trophy for the fourth time. He has been battling his demons for the last few years, had people writing him off, talking about quitting , and people saying he is an underachiever.  Not to mention his amazing 92 break against Carter. My favourite moment of the amateur season has to be the final between TJ Dowling and Vincent Muldoon in Carlow. Two players playing out of their skin, not missing, amazing break building, just an amazing final, and me with front row seats.

SHQ: Ronnie’s 92, Ronnie lifting the World title and Allen’s duct-tape press conference are all in with a shout. But the moment of the season was Stephen Hendry’s press conference when he announced his retirement from the professional game. A monumental moment in the sport but to be there and witness it was a monumental moment for myself.

Irish Amateur of the Season

Nominees: Rodney Goggins, Brendan O’Donoghue, Joe Delaney, Vincent Muldoon

Fin: A tough one but I’m going to go for Joe Delaney. He’s currently number two on the rankings behind Rodney Goggins after his recent ranking event win in Navan. This season Joe has combined playing in the PTCs with playing on the amateur circuit in Ireland to try to win his tour card back. Although now that the main tour place has been taken from Ireland Joe has entered Q-School and will battle hard to regain his place on the Main Tour.

Sniper: Irish Amateur of the Season for me is Rodney Goggins. He has been clearly the most consistent, is number 1 in the rankings by a long way, and the only person I havent been able to beat on the Irish circuit the past few years – an achievement in itself for Rodney. Rodney never loses to players who are not on the top of their game and even when he himself isn’t playing great he still manages to win.

SHQ: Having not seen much first-hand this season it is difficult to accurately judge this one but the stats speak for themselves. Four semi-finals, a runner-up and two victories in the seven ranking events this season. The inaugural winner of this award is Rodney Goggins.

And so concludes a memorable, thrilling and exhausting 2011/12 campaign.

In years gone by I would be saying farewell until September. Now, I bid you farewell until the start of the next season…this weekend!

It’s the second time that the English pair have met with snooker’s holy grail at stake and, while Carter enjoyed claiming three more frames than in 2008, the result was always inevitably going to be the same.

O’Sullivan has produced arguably the best snooker of his career in the last fortnight and it is unlikely that any player would have been able to stop him.

In fact, his route to glory of Peter Ebdon, Mark Williams, Neil Robertson, Matthew Stevens and Carter is probably the most impressive sequence of results ever to become the champion at the Crucible.

The fact of the matter remains, despite competition from the likes of John Higgins, Neil Robertson and Judd Trump, when the ‘Rocket’ is at the peak of his powers there is nobody on the planet that is able to live with him.

O’Sullivan might have been slightly better in amongst the balls when he won his first title and one could debate whether or not he boasted a greater tactical awareness for his second hurrah in 2004, but rarely, if ever, has he mixed the two most important aspects of the game together with such poise and panache as he has done in the last 17 days.

Indeed, the temperament displayed by O’Sullivan throughout this tournament has never been equalled as he appears content both in himself as a player, a man and a father.

While never concise regarding the inevitable retirement chatter that surrounds him, O’Sullivan at least hinted that we would get to see him grace the baize again in the future – but perhaps not until after a well-deserved long break.

Many sceptics will be quick to chastise the 36 year-old, becoming the oldest player since Dennis Taylor in 1985 to win the Worlds, for his continuing threats and retractions on quitting but I stand by what I said in my previous post that this one was substantially more genuine and possible.

And I’ll follow that up by saying that it is great news he has ultimately decided to carry on.

Snooker would be fine as a sport, an entertainment and a business without Ronnie O’Sullivan but it would certainly miss his charisma, his enigma and his talent.

Anyone who challenges that is either a liar or an idiot…or simply doesn’t understand the importance of someone like Ronnie to any sport.

With a lot more tournaments being played overseas in the coming seasons, it is likely that the former world no1 will never return to that position in the rankings – at least until the money list order of merit comes into effect – and that is shame.

However, if that is the sacrifice that has to be made then so be it. He will still travel to events in Europe and China, but just not all of them. His choice, let him make it.

Anyone watching the scenes following his victory tonight will realise that his family is of the utmost importance to him and therefore it is simply inconceivable to spend 50 weeks at tournaments during a campaign like the journey some of his younger peers will be embarking on in June.

Let’s assume, tentatively, that Ronnie stays around for a while longer then, in short stints. Can he equal the now retired Stephen Hendry’s record of seven world crowns?

In short, no. It will be very difficult to produce this high standard at the right time every year but I’d say he’ll be looking for at least one more to really separate himself from the chasing pack – along with Higgins of course.

A word on Ali Carter. After such a dismal season it was a superb effort to reach his second world final and his comeback against Judd Trump in the second round will live long in the memory.

He shouldn’t feel too despondent. Nobody would have beaten Ronnie O’Sullivan in this year’s championship.

Ronnie O’Sullivan grafted a three-frame overnight cushion over Ali Carter following yesterday’s intriguing battle to lead 10-7.

Neither player were at their imperial best but both scrapped well when it was needed in their own respective cases.

I say that neither player performed at their peak but, for two frames at least, O’Sullivan orchestrated snooker from the gods.

His 92 clearance to go one clear in the seventh frame was simply out of this world and up there with one of the most remarkable dishes ever – if you see where the balls were situated when he approached the table you will understand why.

In the following frame, the three-time champion compiled a magnificent 141 total clearance, the highest ever break in a World Championship final, as his most devastating fluidity around the baize sprung into motion.

Ronnie probably wished he could have stayed out in the arena at that point but the second session was a more dogged affair with prolonged safety battles in most of the session’s nine frames.

Maintaining a two or three frame lead at all times, O’Sullivan did well to hold off his opponent when he did manage to get to within touching distance.

Likewise, though, Carter knuckled down valiantly as soon as he fell four behind for the first time at 9-5 and it looked for all money as if his frustrations were going to get the better of him.

Claiming two of the last three frames was as timely a feat as they come and Carter will well realise that winning this afternoon’s session will put him right in the mix.

That said, it is likely that two things are needed to happen in order for Carter to realistically still have any chance of upsetting the odds on Bank Holiday Monday.

The first is that the ‘Captain’ simply has to be more attacking in amongst the balls – his safety has been competitive but his break-building has been, well, woeful so far.

While it is possible for Carter to find some inspiration, the second stipulation is less likely.

I don’t think anyone can argue that this is the calmest and most focussed Ronnie O’Sullivan in many years, probably since he overcame Carter to win the 2008 title.

A zen like Ronnie, patient and content to win at any cost, and not just by producing sublime snooker, is an ominous entity in this sport – there is no-one quite like him in this mood and Carter will be desperate for a mini-collapse from O’Sullivan to offer him a helping hand.

Today is the final chapter of what has been an enthralling book of a campaign. The question is will it be opening a new page in the ‘Rocket’s’ life?

Carter hinted at retirement for the first time before Christmas as he battled with Crohn’s disease and a lack of form but I don’t think anyone expects him to follow through with that now following such an impressive run to the final.

On the other hand, O’Sullivan has threatened quitting the game ever since he emerged as a teenager in the mid-90s and once again brought up the prospect following his semi-final defeat of Matthew Stevens – suggesting that there would be no better way to go out than at the top.

Many will brush his statements off with scepticism and perhaps rightly so. But, in my opinion, there was more sincerity on this occasion.

For the first time in an age, and in truth he has exuded this front all year, O’Sullivan does not appear hindered or influenced by the extremity of varying emotions inside his own head.

His statements were made more peacefully and almost with a resigned sentiment of inevitability.

It is for this reason that I wouldn’t be surprised to see him announce his leave of absence tonight, win or lose, but, of course, neither would I be shocked to see him back on the Tour next season slogging it out like the rest of them – or for both to even occur.

As always, we will have to just wait and see.

That could well be or not be the dominating story in tomorrow’s news but either way today is about one thing only – the quest for snooker’s holy grail and the reward for an arduous 17 days of combat.

Many have their own personal view and a lot of these have been shared on other blogs, Twitter and Facebook over the course of the last 24 hours so I thought I may as well weigh in with my two cents.

First and foremost, I’m neither a full-blown traditionalist nor a radical but one thing is for certain, I don’t want the blue riband event in Sheffield to be torn apart with changes – particularly ones that shorten the majority or all of the rounds.

So it was welcoming in a way to hear World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn deflect attention from that at the outset of the tournament by assuring that he has no intention of shortening the Worlds so long as he remains alive – welcoming, but I don’t believe a word of it!

While the first round should never, ever go below the best of 19 set-up and the final’s best of 35 frames is now an institution it would be a travesty to see that glorious and historic career-defining number of 18 go by the wayside, there is scope to suggest an alteration made for the round of the last four.

As it stands, a player needs to win 36 frames to reach the semis and a further 35 to lift the trophy thereafter – the key difference being that they have considerably less time to achieve the latter with only a handful of days remaining.

The 17 days at the Crucible is referred to as the ‘Marathon of the Mind’ and that’s the way it should be – the complete and ultimate test of a snooker player’s ability to be the last man standing – but when stamina plays such a key part that the entertainment value of the business end of the tournament comes into question the reasons for an alteration becomes apparent.

Of course, last year’s semi-finals were barnstorming affairs, as was the final, but too often in the recent past has the excitement of the third weekend resulted in an anti-climatic conclusion.

Yesterday’s day is without question the most boring day of the championship every year when both semis begin their first session of four, settling the score for the first eight frames in each.

Not just because the quality was relatively poor but mainly because nobody would be interested even if there had been a flurry of century breaks, I didn’t bother writing a report.

If the semi-finals were refined to a three-session affair played across two days – like the quarter-finals – the second Thursday each year could be used as a rest day, refreshing and rejuvenating for all concerned.

The one-table arrangement could still be initiated and the encounters could still be longer than best of 25 to differentiate from the previous two rounds.

A best of 27 format played in an 8,8, 11 manner would still be long enough to test all aspects of a player’s game, as well as allowing time for the ample twists and turns that can make enduring matches so exciting.

In an ideal world, this is what I would be in favour of. But, in saying all that I would probably still vote against making any changes at all, if my vote mattered that is.

The reason is because if one round is suddenly shortened then there is more room made available for the suggestion of the four others being diminished and, as stated at the outset, that would be somewhat of a travesty.

So that leaves us in limbo land, effectively.

Shorten the semis, open up a rest day and risk further transformations in the future, or leave it as it is? What do you think?

Of course, that year the ‘Rocket’ went on to claim his third title against Ali Carter and he is arguably in his best form since that period.

The former world no1 resumed 5-3 behind to the 2010 champion but reeled off six frames on the bounce to take a commanding foothold in the clash.

Robertson, to his credit, battled valiantly as he shouldered the chorus of Ronnie chants from the partisan crowd inside the Crucible – the pair enjoying the arena to themselves after Stephen Hendry’s premature exit last night – and the 30 year-old took the last two frames of the second session to trail by only two.

The comeback looked on when he won the opener this evening but, after missing a black off the spot, O’Sullivan immediately turned on the afterburners with a hat-trick of high breaks that included stunning back-to-back centuries to go within one frame of the last four.

Indeed, the second of those tons was compiled in just five minutes as he found the fluidity and guile that, on this form, separates him in class from just about everyone else in the sport.

Billed beforehand as effectively the final, Robertson typically didn’t go down without a fight and claimed successive frames to hint at a famous turnaround.

Yet, O’Sullivan, as relaxed and composed as any time in recent memory, was never going to wilt under the pressure and put a stop to any late heroics by wrapping up the contest with two frames to spare.

In reality, Robertson’s personal playing style is his own downfall and he admitted as much afterwards.

For some reason, the six-time ranking event champion as well as this season’s Masters victor feels the need to bog himself down in slow, protracted play that considerably affects his rhythm.

What makes it strange is that there is no creditable reason for this as when he is aggressive he exudes all the traits of being the best player in the world.

By contrast, his opponent today displayed all the characteristics of confidence and revealed that he purposely levelled up on the aggression to put Robertson under pressure.

Pundits may have been slightly hasty in labelling this encounter as the one that will decide this year’s eventual champion but it is hard to argue with the fact that O’Sullivan is now the overwhelming favourite.

Stephen Maguire looked awesome in his demolition of Hendry but he wasn’t put under any pressure and has had a reputation of struggling against O’Sullivan – indeed, losing to him in the German Masters final in February after establishing a healthy lead.

O’Sullivan’s obstacle to a fourth final in Sheffield will be Matthew Stevens after the Welshman completed his rout over countryman Ryan Day, 13-5.

Stevens was 5-2 down at one stage but rattled off eleven frames in a row as a despondent Day – you might think that’s a record at the Crucible but another Wales potter in Mark Williams once won thirteen on the trot against Quinten Hann.

Twice a runner-up, Stevens will have to up his game dramatically if he has any realistic aspirations of beating O’Sullivan as he didn’t really play all that well despite the convincing scoreline.

Finally, many will believe that Maguire will have a similarly simple route against Ali Carter, who ended debutant Jamie Jones incredible journey 13-11.

But that fails to take into account that the Scot has never been beyond the semi-finals in this championship while Carter has that important stat in his bank.

While it’s hard to bet against O’Sullivan, history, and this tournament itself, has proved to act cautiously before counting your winnings just yet.

The full draw, latest and results can be viewed by clicking here. 

Last week, the European market was discussed as well as alterations made to the format of the Welsh Open and German Masters – not to mention the confirmation that the rankings system will be devised primarily on prize money earned by 2014.

At the forefront of today’s matter was the Asian market and the revelation of a  new Players Tour Championship series in China, consisting of three events similar to those staged in the UK and continental Europe.

The best of seven tournaments, which will coincide with three ranking events already in the Far East – notably the Wuxi Classic, Shanghai Masters and the new International Championship – continues the growing efforts by World Snooker to develop the Asian scene.

Like the rest of the PTCs, the trio of tournaments will be opened up to both professional and amateur players alike, which will undoubtedly be a positive aspect for young, aspiring players trying to pave their way on the other side of the world.

However, the likelihood of established pros making the long, arduous journey halfway around the globe for events offering minimal prize money is small at best.

Those who have already qualified for Wuxi, Shanghai and the International will obviously stay on as they are already in the country but that only makes up 32 of the 99 professionals on the Tour for next season – 128 for the campaign after.

This will surely throw up some interesting connotations in the world rankings as there is no doubt that those with little or no financial backing will ultimately lose out.

In the short-term, this will simultaneously, and arguably unfairly, aid the top 16 players who are guaranteed to be playing in the three ranking events at any rate and, you would think, will hang around for satellite events while there.

That said, one incentive to make the trip is that each of the three champions of the China PTCs will gain automatic entry into the Grand Finals while the top four in a separate Order of Merit table will receive likewise in addition to receiving an invitation onto the Main Tour for the upcoming season.

This all culminated in the announcement that the Grand Finals will consist of 32 players next year as opposed to 24, but no mention was made as to the whereabouts of its location – twice held here in Ireland, of course.

Elsewhere, Hearn revealed that the UK Championship will be staged at the excellent Barbican Centre in York for a further two years after its successful return to the venue last December while the Masters will be staged at Alexandra Palace in London for the next three seasons.