The focus of the majority of snooker fans will be on the Crucible Theatre this weekend and the conclusion of the World Championship. However, also taking place is the start of the Irish Senior National Championship at the Ivy Rooms in Carlow. The flagship end-of-season tournament on the domestic scene in[Read More…]
Features
The latest feature articles, opinion pieces, and other commentary related to ongoing snooker news and headlines from the professional and amateur game.
It’s There! Taxi for Steve Davis
By Free Ball A few gremlins have affected television transmission at times throughout The Championship. There were the technical difficulties on First Friday morning, accompanied by the BBC’s continuity announcer continuously insisting the snooker was in York. There was the surprisingly calm sound of Rob Walker prepping a morning crowd rather than the[Read More…]
Preview: World Championship Semi-Finals
It’s down to the final four in the 2017 World Championship at the Crucible Theatre. After three weeks of qualifying action followed by the opening three rounds of the main event in Sheffield, the cream of the crop have certainly risen to the top. The quartet of remaining contenders all[Read More…]
It’s There! Red + Blue = In the Pink
By Free Ball I’m lucky. I’m self-employed; and although it comes with its problems, I try my best to push it hard at times, to make the time for, more often than not, the snooker time. It’s true that occasionally during a right slog of a match, I wonder what[Read More…]
It’s There! Vegan Power?
By Free Ball Come on now. Who was crazy enough to sacrifice live snooker – and what snooker – to watch “40 Golden Years” on BBC Two on Second Sunday evening? Yes, no doubt it’s a beautifully put together piece, reflecting on moments both joyous and torturous at the Crucible[Read More…]
It’s There! Free Ball’s Crucible Curse
By Free Ball On Friday morning I woke up feeling suitably groggy after another day’s heady mix of snooker and refreshments. Like a bear with a sore head, I went to put the morning porridge on only to find the cooker wasn’t working. I tried to turn the TV on,[Read More…]
World Championship: Second Round Preview
The World Championship is almost a week old and the first round is coming to its conclusion at the Crucible. There are still two encounters from the last 32 to be completed on Thursday but the second round also simultaneously gets under way on the sixth day of action in[Read More…]
It’s There! Swear’s the Commentator Going?
By Free Ball Where’s he going? Nowhere apparently. The first session of this year’s World Championship was not so much naughty snooker, more naughty commentary. What was surprising, to most watching, was that the culprit was back in the box during the afternoon. The stalwart Leicester City supporter is not the[Read More…]
It’s There! The A to Z of the Crucible
By Free Ball A is for Appearances. Steve Davis has appeared at the Crucible more than any other player. Competing 30 times, he is three up on Stephen Hendry. This year will be Ronnie O’Sullivan’s 25th showing, and it will be interesting to see if he hangs around long enough[Read More…]
QUIZ! World Championship Players at the Crucible
It’s the morning we’ve all been waiting for – Happy opening day of the World Snooker Championship! After a long, hectic campaign it’s come down to 32 players at the greatest stage of them all, the Crucible Theatre, with global glory within reach. Yesterday evening in Sheffield was a celebration[Read More…]