This weekend’s focus will primarily be on the conclusion of the Champion of Champions event but let’s first briefly review the last week in the sport.
Trump Towers Above the Rest
Judd Trump’s victory in the World Open in Yushan meant that the Bristol potter has now won five titles in an impressive 2019.
The Englishman wasn’t at his glittering best but showed his developing battling qualities to come through a hat-trick of tests that lasted the distance, including in the semi-finals when he edged John Higgins.
Trump’s 10-5 defeat of Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in the final was a relatively routine outing but the job still had to be done, and the world number one didn’t let the opportunity slip.
It adds to his previous ranking successes this year in the World Championship, International Championship, and World Grand Prix, not forgetting his initial glory in the prestigious Masters in January.
Trump, who is currently in the semi-finals of the Champion of Champions event in Coventry, has raced clear at the top of the standings on the world rankings list and it appears as though he’ll be in that position for quite a lot of time to come.
The 30 year-old will be looking to make it a clean sweep in Triple Crown majors in December when he takes part in the UK Championship, and he can be backed at 60/21 if you place a bet at Novibet.
Leak Dampens Challenge Tour
The fifth event on the Challenge Tour ran into serious difficulties last week that led to its unfortunate postponement.
Play had already begun at the Castle Snooker and Sports Bar when heavy rain resulted in a leaky roof.
For health and safety reasons, the decision was made to reschedule the event, which could pose a problem for a significant number of the amateurs taking part.
It’s already expensive enough competing on the tour with the likes of travel and hotel expenses to consider.
Whether or not the full field will be able to assemble again for its conclusion, set for next Friday, remains to be seen.
The venue issued a statement afterwards, saying: “We have tried so hard to make this one of the best (clubs) around in the five years we have had it and felt that World Snooker hosting an event here vindicated those efforts.”
“As such we are devastated about what happened and are fully sympathetic to the players’ frustrations yesterday.”
Eight Remain in IBSF World Championship
One other notable international tournament taking place this week is the IBSF World Championship.
Once a blue riband amateur competition that led to a coveted place on the Main Tour, the IBSF World Championship has lost quite a lot of its appeal in the last few years following a public fallout with the WPBSA.
That led to the formation of the World Snooker Federation, which now stages its own rival global amateur championship.
The amateur scene can often be a complicated commotion of misguided whispers and rumours, fronted by suits akin to how an old man’s club might run.
Still, esteemed players like Jimmy White, Ken Doherty, Stuart Bingham, and Mark Allen have etched their names onto the IBSF trophy in the past so it’s a title that will always hold a certain degree of merit.
The quarter-finals and semi-finals take place today, Friday, with the final set for Saturday in Turkey.
What’s Coming?
As well as the end of the IBSF World Championship, all eyes will be on the climax in Coventry this weekend.
The Champion of Champions event is at the semi-final stage and boasts a couple of exciting ties with Ronnie O’Sullivan taking on Neil Robertson on Friday and Mark Allen challenging Judd Trump on Saturday, before the title decider on Sunday.
On Monday, the second tournament in the Home Nations series kicks off in Belfast with the Northern Ireland Open.
