after the Champion of Champions
Features, Snooker Headlines, Snooker News

Three Things Learned after the Champion of Champions

After each big tournament this season we’ll be reflecting on the latest action, so let’s take a look at a few things learned after the Champion of Champions.

Trump and Robertson Are Century Machines

This isn’t exactly a new revelation but how relentless are Judd Trump and Neil Robertson at compiling century breaks?

The pair teamed up to tally a combined eight tons during their frenetic final on Sunday that ended 10-9 in favour of the Australian.

While Ronnie O’Sullivan deservedly gains a lot of the headlines in this department following his successful quest to reach the thousand centuries career milestone last season, Trump and Robertson’s exploits should not be overlooked.

With more than 600 each, it is conceivable that both could end up with more than the “Rocket” come the time to hang up cues.

In fact, in Trump’s case, it’s probably more like “when” as the 30 year-old continues his prowess in this department at a frightening pace.

The world champion has accumulated 34 so far this season and could be on course to rival Robertson’s famous century of centuries feat from the 2013/14 campaign if he can prolong his current run of form.

Whatever happens, both Trump and Robertson, who served up one of the most entertaining showdowns ever in Coventry, will go down as all-time break building legends.

Jimmy White’s Last Hurrah

Will we see Jimmy White on the centre stage of a Main Tour event like this one again?

It’s unlikely, and what a shame it was that the “Whirlwind” wasn’t able to compose himself when the winning line was within sight against old pal Ronnie O’Sullivan.

The defending champion fought back from a slow start, retrieving a 3-0 deficit to eventually deny White in a decider.

In truth, it was a lot closer than what many people had predicted it was going to be and White, who gained an invitation courtesy of his World Seniors Championship success, at least somewhat silenced those who suggested that he had no right being there in the first place.

But what an opportunity he had and the 57 year-old will be left to rue the kick on the black in the penultimate frame followed by a rush of blood to the head when nicely in amongst the balls in the last.

Unfortunately, it’s the kind of result that Jimmy’s faithful fans know all too well.

White will have plenty of more opportunities for glories on the World Seniors Tour but this outing could well be the ten-time ranking event winner’s last in a prestigious pro event.

Of course, the close defeat will have done nothing to tarnish his reputation after the Champion of Champions, especially with those loyal supporters.

So Long, Coventry

There was disappointing news for a lot of fans last week as it was revealed that after the Champion of Champions this season the prestigious invitational would be leaving Coventry.

The tournament has been staged at the Ricoh Arena in every edition since its launch in 2013 and served as an excellent host throughout that period.

Attendances were always high and there was an appreciative atmosphere that a lot of the other venues lack.

It has been reported that the venue had already booked another event for next year on the usual dates in which the Champion of Champions occurs.

A Ricoh Arena spokesperson said: “Unfortunately next year’s Champion of Champions tournament is unable to take place inside the Ericsson Indoor Arena due to a clash with another event booked at the Ricoh Arena.”

“We are, however, in discussions with the event organisers about the tournament returning to the Ricoh Arena in the future.”

The Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes has been chosen as the new destination for 2020.

Robertson and Trump’s outstanding battle at the very least served as a fitting climax to Coventry’s tenure.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.