On Saturday in the German Masters, the Tempodrom presented itself in its familiar mode. Only one table left, the 2,500 capacity audience packed to the last seat, the famed earth-shaking applause complete with shouting, tramping, and every manner of noise that snooker fans are capable of making accompanying the entrances[Read More…]
Tag: Shaun Murphy
German Masters: Semi-Final Preview
Only four players remain in the hunt for the 2018 German Masters crown after a busy opening few days at the Tempodrom in Berlin. The imposing arena has come in for some criticism this week, mostly to do with the arrangement of the tables inside the venue, but it’s usually[Read More…]
Berlin’s Brief: Shaun Murphy Completes Late Night Tempodrom Drama
The third and thus the last day with the full five-table setup in the German Masters provided a nice dramaturgy, right to a late night climax finish on Friday in Berlin. The afternoon session with the second half of the last 16 saw Shaun Murphy taking pride of place at[Read More…]
Berlin’s Brief: Mark Williams Beats an Angry Matt Selt
The second day is the busiest of the tournament here in Berlin – three sessions with a total of twelve matches to play. The morning exchanges are happily missed by yours truly, who has never been an early riser, and now with the good excuse of nightly writing takes his[Read More…]
Mark Allen Qualifies for China Open
Masters champion Mark Allen returned to action for the first time since his landmark triumph in London with a hard-fought 6-4 success against Allan Taylor in qualification for the China Open on Monday. The Northern Irishman, who produced a terrific week of snooker to claim his maiden Triple Crown title[Read More…]
Mark Allen Snooker Odds for Worlds Shorten – But Will He Qualify?
There might still be a lot to play for between now and the snooker World Championship – but it’s around this time every year when players and fans begin to think about the end-of-season month in Sheffield. Whether by its association with the Triple Crown, the BBC, or something else[Read More…]
Preview: Masters Quarter-Finals
The first round of the 2018 Masters reached its conclusion on Wednesday, meaning there are now only eight players left in the hunt for glory at the Alexandra Palace in London. Before the tournament began, Ronnie O’Sullivan was the clear favourite but I suggested that it was important to see how[Read More…]
Ronnie O’Sullivan Makes Ominous Masters Statement
Can Ronnie O’Sullivan be beaten? That’s the question on everybody’s lips after his scintillating 6-0 drubbing of Marco Fu in the first round of the Masters on Tuesday. O’Sullivan, a winner of the UK Championship before Christmas along with a couple of other ranking events at the tail end of[Read More…]
Preview: The Masters
The 2018 Dafabet Masters gets under way on Sunday at the Alexandra Palace in London. Sixteen of the best snooker players on the planet will battle it out in the English capital for the right to claim the Paul Hunter Trophy, traditionally the most prestigious invitational that’s competed for every year.[Read More…]
Ali Carter Claims Championship League Winners’ Group Place
Ali Carter won Group 4 of the Championship League on Thursday with a 3-1 victory over Shaun Murphy in Coventry. The “Captain” only just squeezed into the semi-finals after finishing in fourth place after the league phase, edging Liang Wenbo into fifth place on frame difference only. In the last[Read More…]