The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) announced on Thursday two new partnerships, which will see support offered to current main tour snooker players who are struggling with mental health issues. A signatory to the Mental Health Charter for Sport and Recreation, launched by The Sport and Recreation Alliance,[Read More…]
Author: David Caulfield
Marco Fu Taken by Akani
Former runner-up Marco Fu crashed out of the International Championship in qualifying at the Guild Hall on Wednesday. The world number six became the highest profile casualty of the preliminaries so far in Preston as he succumbed to a 6-4 defeat to Thailand’s Akani Songsersmawad. The 39 year-old led 3-1[Read More…]
International Championship Qualifiers Get Under Way
Tuesday saw the players return to Preston for the start of the International Championship qualifiers at the Guild Hall. This is the sixth edition of the International Championship, which was once heralded as a possible fourth major as China’s growth in the game exploded. It’s still a very important tournament,[Read More…]
Michael Judge Wins Barracks Classic
Michael Judge began the new Irish season by capturing the Barracks Classic at the weekend in Carlow. The Dubliner, twice a ranking event winner during the last campaign, overcame young talent Stephen Bateman 4-2 in the final. Bateman, still only 19 but with plenty of international experience representing Ireland in[Read More…]
Dominant Ding Junhui Wins World Open
Ding Junhui has won the 2017 World Open after a comfortable 10-3 victory over Kyren Wilson on Sunday in China. The 30 year-old dominated the contest to capture his 13th ranking event crown as he moves up to second in the world rankings list behind Mark Selby. It was a[Read More…]
World Open Final: Ding Junhui vs Kyren Wilson
The final of the 2017 World Open will be contested between Ding Junhui and Kyren Wilson after both emerged from tight semi-final encounters on Saturday in Yushan. Wilson just about got the better of twice former champion Mark Allen in a dramatic clash that went the distance. Ding, meanwhile, delighted[Read More…]
Barracks Classic Launches 2017/18 Irish Season
The first senior ranking event of the Irish snooker season takes place this weekend at the Ivy Rooms in Carlow. A total of 62 players have entered the Barracks Classic, with Brendan O’Donoghue the top seed as both the defending champion and the reigning national champion. O’Donoghue is one of[Read More…]
World Open: Semi-Final Preview
The final four contenders remain in the hunt for World Open glory this weekend as the tournament enters the single table set-up on Saturday. There was a lengthy sequence over the course of the last couple of seasons that saw all ranking event semi-finals feature at least one player aged[Read More…]
World Open: Quarter-Final Preview
David Gilbert produced a terrific display to beat John Higgins 5-2 and reach the quarter-finals of the World Open in China. It marked the first time the Englishman had beaten Higgins in a tournament carrying ranking points after four previous failed attempts against the world number two. With breaks of[Read More…]
Ding Junhui Gathers Momentum with Whitewash Win
Ding Junhui secured his place in the last 16 of the World Open with a convincing 5-0 victory over Xiao Guodong on Wednesday. The Chinese number one wasn’t at his absolute best but was clinical enough to take the chances that were presented to him by his countryman. Ding, who[Read More…]