[DOUGLAS JARDINE]

calvin plummers socks, on 15 January 2024 - 12:03 PM, said:

One of but not the greatest.
In terms of snooker he’s not even that far ahead of Hendry! In fact behind in a few categories still….,,

^ he’s still 7 world titles behind our very own Joe Davis

What categories is he behind in ?

jack bauer, on 21 January 2024 - 11:13 PM, said:

ROS showing real champion quality in last 2 weeks, trailing in 2 finals and finding a way to win both, his performance against ding in the semi was as good as it gets but today against trump he found a different way to win.

Most talented sportsman this country has ever produced

[jack bauer]

what is this golden ball business all about then?

[Sammy Spireite]

jack bauer, on 04 March 2024 - 09:59 PM, said:

what is this golden ball business all about then?

currently an invitational tournament for the top 8 in the world (and judging by the crowds its unlikely to take off based on popularity - a but like the football money talks!!).

At the start of the frame, a golden ball is placed on the baulk cushion in line with the centre of the table. It stays on the table whilst ever a 147 is possible. (soon as its not then the ref removes the golden ball).

If you clear the table with a 147 then pot the Golden ball, its 167 and first player to do it gets $500,000.

John Higgins took 15 reds and 15 blacks the other day but lost position on the yellow and missed it.

[Blue roan lily]

The tournament that was on on Saturday with the seniors was a good watch.
Really enjoyed seeing some of the old uns I grew up watching on the tele again

[Sammy Spireite]

Sammy Spireite, on 06 March 2024 - 12:26 PM, said:

currently an invitational tournament for the top 8 in the world (and judging by the crowds its unlikely to take off based on popularity - a but like the football money talks!!).

At the start of the frame, a golden ball is placed on the baulk cushion in line with the centre of the table. It stays on the table whilst ever a 147 is possible. (soon as its not then the ref removes the golden ball).

If you clear the table with a 147 then pot the Golden ball, its 167 and first player to do it gets $500,000.

John Higgins took 15 reds and 15 blacks the other day but lost position on the yellow and missed it.

As no one managed the 167 in this tournament, the prize will be doubled to $1M for the next comp!

[Sammy Spireite]

Blue roan lily, on 06 March 2024 - 08:43 PM, said:

The tournament that was on on Saturday with the seniors was a good watch.
Really enjoyed seeing some of the old uns I grew up watching on the tele again

The seniors 900 (so called as the frames were limited to 15 minutes).

The World Seniors always follows the World Championship at the Crucible, in May this year (qualifiers are this weekend on Jersey) and is a good evening out and much cheaper than the main comp.

We got to see Jimmy White, Nigel Bond and John Parrot play a couple of years ago for about £12/each (When John lost he then announced his retirement from the seniors tour and they had a presentation laid on for him).

[jack bauer]

anyone else finding kyren wilson more than a tadd annoying? quite liked him up until he won the worlds last year, since which time he seems to have become totally arrogant in his whole approach, i like confidence in people but he seems to be just the wrong side of it to the point of being annoying, maybe it's just me...

[Johnnyspireite7]

jack bauer, on 21 March 2025 - 11:38 PM, said:

anyone else finding kyren wilson more than a tadd annoying? quite liked him up until he won the worlds last year, since which time he seems to have become totally arrogant in his whole approach, i like confidence in people but he seems to be just the wrong side of it to the point of being annoying, maybe it's just me...

Bit like Judd Trump, but he was arrogant before he won anything!

[Sammy Spireite]

Feels like this years Workds is as wide open as ever.

Will Karen break the curse?

Will Ronnie ‘turn up’ (if he does he wins it, for me) surely playing old foe Ali Carter in round one will be a motivator for him?

A couple of the Chinese qualifiers look dangerous, once Wu Yize got going against Matthew Steven’s on judgment day he started to score heavily when given the chance but also could scrap out in the messy frames too.

And I really like the look of Zhao Xintong, his demeanour around the table is first class and he made the game look so easy against Slessor, combatted and gave everything he’d got.

[jack bauer]

Sammy Spireite, on 18 April 2025 - 08:13 AM, said:

Feels like this years Workds is as wide open as ever.

Will Karen break the curse?

Will Ronnie ‘turn up’ (if he does he wins it, for me) surely playing old foe Ali Carter in round one will be a motivator for him?

A couple of the Chinese qualifiers look dangerous, once Wu Yize got going against Matthew Steven’s on judgment day he started to score heavily when given the chance but also could scrap out in the messy frames too.

And I really like the look of Zhao Xintong, his demeanour around the table is first class and he made the game look so easy against Slessor, combatted and gave everything he’d got.

crucible curse strikes again, didn't see that coming this afternoon, whose your money on now folks?

btw just need to add that O'sullivan was sneaking a peak at mandy's miss yesterday as my lad is working the crucible this year and as ROS was waiting for his pre-tourno interview he took the time to watch a bit of our game over my son's shoulder.

[Sammy Spireite]

 jack bauer, on 19 April 2025 - 10:10 PM, said:

crucible curse strikes again, didn't see that coming this afternoon, whose your money on now folks?

btw just need to add that O'sullivan was sneaking a peak at mandy's miss yesterday as my lad is working the crucible this year and as ROS was waiting for his pre-tourno interview he took the time to watch a bit of our game over my son's shoulder.

Xingtong was brilliant in beating last years losing finalists Jak Jones, scoring heavily when he got chances too, and even as an amateur most have a great chance of lifting the title if he can maintain that form.

Be interesting to see which Ronnie turns up tomorrow, he’ll be motivated to beat Carter for sure but after that, I’m not convinced but only himself can stop him winning a record 8th title.

[jack bauer]

 Sammy Spireite, on 21 April 2025 - 01:08 PM, said:

Xingtong was brilliant in beating last years losing finalists Jak Jones, scoring heavily when he got chances too, and even as an amateur most have a great chance of lifting the title if he can maintain that form.

Be interesting to see which Ronnie turns up tomorrow, he’ll be motivated to beat Carter for sure but after that, I’m not convinced but only himself can stop him winning a record 8th title.

feels like a tournament that is building towards something special.
related note - hearn talking again about moving the championships after 2027, saying the crucible "no longer fit for purpose", why isn't it? all the players seem to think it's fine.

[Sammy Spireite]

 jack bauer, on 25 April 2025 - 09:14 PM, said:

feels like a tournament that is building towards something special.
related note - hearn talking again about moving the championships after 2027, saying the crucible "no longer fit for purpose", why isn't it? all the players seem to think it's fine.

It’s simply not big enough, they hiked prices as much as they dare (although they may go up again when next years tickets are released the day after this years final) but Hearn knows he could sell out double/treble the seats the crucible has.

15 years ago, tickets for a first round session were £20, now the front 3 rows are £120, £55 further back and £40+ in the gods. Then it ramps up for every round after. And that’s without knowing who you’re going to watch, and with no guarantee of more than 1 frame in some sessions.

A move to China or Middle East will also attract massive sponsorship too, something they’ve struggled with since alcohol, cigarette and betting sponsorship was banned (never heard of Halo and had to google them this year).

It would be a shame to see it leave Sheffield, but the history would still exist and I guess that for the other 50 weeks of the year the crucible is perfectly fit for purpose so I wonder if SCC simply can’t justify the investment needed to extend it (not even sure that possible space-wise) or build a new venue.

Edit: looks like a two horse race between Judd and Ronnie now unless one of the qualifiers can maintain their form and handle the pressure of the later rounds and longer matches (Wakelin or Xingtong still looking good).

This post has been edited by Sammy Spireite: 26 April 2025 - 09:43 AM

[Mr Mercury]

Sammy Spireite, on 26 April 2025 - 09:41 AM, said:

It’s simply not big enough, they hiked prices as much as they dare (although they may go up again when next years tickets are released the day after this years final) but Hearn knows he could sell out double/treble the seats the crucible has.

15 years ago, tickets for a first round session were £20, now the front 3 rows are £120, £55 further back and £40+ in the gods. Then it ramps up for every round after. And that’s without knowing who you’re going to watch, and with no guarantee of more than 1 frame in some sessions.

A move to China or Middle East will also attract massive sponsorship too, something they’ve struggled with since alcohol, cigarette and betting sponsorship was banned (never heard of Halo and had to google them this year).

It would be a shame to see it leave Sheffield, but the history would still exist and I guess that for the other 50 weeks of the year the crucible is perfectly fit for purpose so I wonder if SCC simply can’t justify the investment needed to extend it (not even sure that possible space-wise) or build a new venue.

Comparing it to darts and their ever expanding venues, slightly different audience participation of course, but whilst snooker has stayed at the Crucible for over 40 years darts, in its various guises, in the same time, has moved their World Championship from Jollies in Stoke, Circus Tavern in Purfleet to the Lakeside Frimley Green, now to Alexandra palace, which in itself may now be too small, gradually increasing capacity and revenue along the way, not to mention the premier league playing to packed out arenas, including European ones.
There’s a vast untapped financial potential for snooker in increasing capacities and with Hearn involved, and seeing how he’s transformed the darting world, I’m genuinely surprised he’s not done similar with snooker capacities.

[jack bauer]

Sammy Spireite, on 26 April 2025 - 09:41 AM, said:

It’s simply not big enough, they hiked prices as much as they dare (although they may go up again when next years tickets are released the day after this years final) but Hearn knows he could sell out double/treble the seats the crucible has.

15 years ago, tickets for a first round session were £20, now the front 3 rows are £120, £55 further back and £40+ in the gods. Then it ramps up for every round after. And that’s without knowing who you’re going to watch, and with no guarantee of more than 1 frame in some sessions.

A move to China or Middle East will also attract massive sponsorship too, something they’ve struggled with since alcohol, cigarette and betting sponsorship was banned (never heard of Halo and had to google them this year).

It would be a shame to see it leave Sheffield, but the history would still exist and I guess that for the other 50 weeks of the year the crucible is perfectly fit for purpose so I wonder if SCC simply can’t justify the investment needed to extend it (not even sure that possible space-wise) or build a new venue.

Edit: looks like a two horse race between Judd and Ronnie now unless one of the qualifiers can maintain their form and handle the pressure of the later rounds and longer matches (Wakelin or Xingtong still looking good).

the only issue i see with moving snooker to bigger venues is that as a spectator you don't get a great view, i went to a tournament last year in leicester and was miles away from the table, you could barely appreciate what was going on and end up watching it mostly on an overhead screen.

i have wondered if snooker ought to follow a similar idea to tennis as the game becomes more global and have 4 grand slams such as tennis do, with one being in the Uk, one out in china and then a couple of others, in this way you could potnetially retain the crucible for it's legacy reason without it being the ultimate tournament in the calendar... i know snooker currently has it's big 3 but all of those are based in the UK... worth a thought maybe.

[JonB]

 Mr Mercury, on 26 April 2025 - 09:50 AM, said:

Comparing it to darts and their ever expanding venues, slightly different audience participation of course, but whilst snooker has stayed at the Crucible for over 40 years darts, in its various guises, in the same time, has moved their World Championship from Jollies in Stoke, Circus Tavern in Purfleet to the Lakeside Frimley Green, now to Alexandra palace, which in itself may now be too small, gradually increasing capacity and revenue along the way, not to mention the premier league playing to packed out arenas, including European ones.
There’s a vast untapped financial potential for snooker in increasing capacities and with Hearn involved, and seeing how he’s transformed the darting world, I’m genuinely surprised he’s not done similar with snooker capacities.

Thing with darts is it seems these days the actual darts is almost a side show and with the worlds, the increasing number of events and I suspect the premier league likely to get bigger not smaller you wonder if it’s sustainable. Luke Humphrey’s said the other weeks he is struggling with the amount of playing they do and got a boat load of abuse for saying it.

I went to the lakeside a couple of times and it was very enjoyable. Been to a premier league night at Sheff and it was crap. Miles back so watching on telly anyway paying £7/£8 a pint surrounded by folk just bothered about getting trollied.

[Sammy Spireite]

Sammy Spireite, on 21 April 2025 - 01:08 PM, said:

Xingtong was brilliant in beating last years losing finalists Jak Jones, scoring heavily when he got chances too, and even as an amateur most have a great chance of lifting the title if he can maintain that form.

Wish I'd backed him when I saw him breeze the qualifiers, he was 25/1 when the first round started!

[jack bauer]

Sammy Spireite, on 02 May 2025 - 03:00 PM, said:

Wish I'd backed him when I saw him breeze the qualifiers, he was 25/1 when the first round started!

that was some performance again, playing the kind of snooker that we've seen ronnie himself play down the years, it was always going to be a big ask for ronnie to comeback and win this tournament after so long off, will he be back? other semi is forming itself into a classic.

[whittman]

Mr Mercury, on 26 April 2025 - 09:50 AM, said:

Comparing it to darts and their ever expanding venues, slightly different audience participation of course, but whilst snooker has stayed at the Crucible for over 40 years darts, in its various guises, in the same time, has moved their World Championship from Jollies in Stoke, Circus Tavern in Purfleet to the Lakeside Frimley Green, now to Alexandra palace, which in itself may now be too small, gradually increasing capacity and revenue along the way, not to mention the premier league playing to packed out arenas, including European ones.
There’s a vast untapped financial potential for snooker in increasing capacities and with Hearn involved, and seeing how he’s transformed the darting world, I’m genuinely surprised he’s not done similar with snooker capacities.

I seem to recall that after john Lowe won one of his darts world championships they looked at the possibility of holding the following years world championship at the Aquarius

It was however thought not to be a suitable venue because the ceiling was too low for the lighting required for TV coverage

[whittman]

Sammy Spireite, on 02 May 2025 - 03:00 PM, said:

Wish I'd backed him when I saw him breeze the qualifiers, he was 25/1 when the first round started!

I thought the same after watching how he started his first round match but managed to get odds of 5/1 before he thrashed OSullivan