The Snookerbacker Blog

Interview with Ronnie about all things baizey this morning on Talk Sport. Power Snooker, Future Stars, Ray Reardon thinking thirty shots ahead, the differences between the players of the past and the future, Bazza, playing left handed – nothing escapes Ronnie’s scattergun chatter.

He also proves once again that Rob Walker was right and that he is his own harshest critic. Listen to Ron babbling on here and if you want a bit more click here. You just can’t shut him up when he gets started.

Anyone can slip up in a Best of Five

Today sees the final day of qualifying for this quickfire event with a lot of familiar faces starting the banana skin trail to the televised stages.

Talking of bananas, apparently the TV executives at the BBC have come up with a cunning plan to ensure viewing figures hit record heights when Barry’s new big initiative hits our screens.

Yes, according to Dave Hendon they have decided that the first televised match involves none other than the King of Greengrocers himself Dave Harold, who will take on Shaun Murphy in an encounter eagerly anticipated by those of us that recall their near on 2 hour frame in the 2008 China Open (make that Shanghai, thanks Kim).

It’s common knowledge that the BBC have fallen out of love with snooker and Barry had to fight tooth and nail to get them to televise this event, perhaps by showing what will probably be one of the most boring matches of the first round early on they are hoping to present a cast iron case for not renewing the contract next season.

I urge all snooker fans to turn on your TV when this match is on, even if you go shopping and tidy the house, just make sure your TV is on as it will count towards the viewing figures, the dog might want to watch it if he’s finished licking his bollocks.

Anyway, back to betting and yesterday marked a turning point in that after my long rant about lotteries and unpredictability I managed to turn a losing week into a profitable one with four out of five correct including a winning treble and a Sinuca exhibition by Igor who hammered Dave Gilbert 3-0 to justify the 5/4 odds recommended.

A word of warning today in that some of the firms have not realised that a number of these matches are being carried over to be played in Glasgow, so any bets you have on them today will likely do the same, tying up cash that could be wasted on a couple of events beforehand.

Of today’s crop I like Anthony McGill at Evens with Paddy Power to beat fellow Scot Alan ‘Crap Cue’ McManus, I think Marcus Campbell (4/7 Sportingbet) can be relied upon to beat Simon Bedford, I’ll take Matthew Couch (Evens Paddy Power) to beat Paul Davies and the Crafty Darling of Dublin Ken Doherty (21/20 Sportingbet) to upset Joe Perry.

I’ll recommend 1 point win on each of these and a 1 point accumulator on all four of them which pays just on 10/1 at Boylesports.

Igor becomes the first Brasilian German ever to face Mark Williams in the televised stages of the first ever World Open.

Round 3:

65 Judd Trump 3-0 Thanawat Tirapaipongboon

66 Marco Fu 3-2 (99) Alfie Burden

67 Shaun Murphy v Dave Harold (held over to Glasgow)

68 Matt Selt 0-3 Martin Gould

69 Paul Davison v Jimmy White (held over to Glasgow)

70 Fergal O’Brien 3-1 Dominic Dale

71 Ricky Walden (103, 85) 3-1 Andy Hicks

72 Darren Morgan (68) 2-3 Matthew Stevens

73 Andrew Higginson (85) 3-1 Liang Wenbo

74 Ding Junhui v Adrian Gunnell (held over to Glasgow)

75 Allister Carter v Thepchaiya Un Nooh (held over to Glasgow)

76 Gerard Greene 2-3 Joe Jogia

77 Steve Davis v Peter Ebdon (held over to Glasgow)

78 Marcus Campbell 3-1 Simon Bedford

79 Liu Song (104) 3-1 Michael Holt

Angles: Crap Cue, Good Result, Top break of 34.

80 Alan McManus 3-0 Anthony McGill

81 Neil Robertson v Graeme Dott (held over to Glasgow)

82 James Wattana 2-3 Jimmy Michie

83 Stephen Hendry v Bjorn Haneveer (held over to Glasgow)

84 Rory McLeod 1-3 Nigel Bond

85 Stephen Maguire v Stuart Pettman (held over to Glasgow)

86 Mark King v Ronnie O’Sullivan (held over to Glasgow)

87 Mark Davis (122) 3-0 Jamie Jones

88 Stephen Lee (93) 3-1 Tony Drago

89 Mike Dunn 3-1 Ryan Day

90 Mark Selby v Barry Hawkins (held over to Glasgow)

91 David Morris (51,67) 3-0 Ben Woollaston

92 Mark Allen (108) 2-3 (113) James McBain

93 Matthew Couch (72) 3-0 Paul Davies

94 Ken Doherty 3-2 Joe Perry

95 Stuart Bingham 2-3 (105) Jamie Cope

96 Mark Williams v Igor Figueiredo (held over to Glasgow)

It's Groundhog Day

The curse of the final frame decider struck again last night with the final match of the night again going against the punt on Liam Highfield, he was beaten late on by Fergal O’Brien who obviously managed to dictate the way the match went.

But apart from that and a complete no-show from Jamie Burnett the day went OK. Three from the five flagged up yesterday won and I went in a bit later on Jimmy White, whose price of Evens seemed too good to miss against Michael Judge, don’t know how I managed to leave that one out of the preview.

These short matches are now becoming a bit tedious from a betting point of view. Recent winners of PTC events Barry Pinches and Tom Ford both bowed out yesterday in their first matches, though the defeat for Ford was not totally unexpected as it was at the hands of Alfie Burden who appears to be relishing his return to the professional ranks.

But all I seem to be doing is risking the profit made last season on what essentially is a lottery. Any of them can beat any of the others at any given time of the day, making these events a punter trap. I’m all for a bit of variety, but at this early point of the season with the exception of the Shanghai Qualifiers we are yet to see a match of greater than best of 7 and when I say see, I mean witness in text.

Live internet streaming is the only way that this type of event will capture the fans imagination, at the moment it is risking becoming just what Barry didn’t want; a bit boring. Every meaningful event so far has been held at the same venue with no audience, how is that giving everything it’s own distinct feel?

Anyway, as this is a snooker and betting blog I’ll take a chance on a few of today’s matches in the hope that all of them have their potting boots on.

In the 10 o’clock starts Jamie Jones (4/6 Sportingbet) should be taken to beat young Sam Baird, while later on young Jack Lisowski (5/6 Paddy Power) has the game to beat Andy Hicks. Favourites Marcus Campbell (8/11 Paddy Power) and Rory McLeod (4/7 Sportingbet) are expected to come through unscathed and later on it may be worth taking a chance on odds against shot Igor Figueredo (5/4 Stan James) to beat Dave Gilbert.

I’ll recommend 1 point win on each and a 1 point treble on Jones, Campbell and McLeod which pays 3.25 at Sportingbet.

I’ll update the matches at regular intervals during the day:

Jamie Jones: Easy Victory.

Round Two:

49 Jimmy Michie 3-2 (82) Mark Joyce

50 Jamie Jones (42,90,46,45) 3-0 Sam Baird

51 Darren Morgan (98c) 3-2 Xiao Guodong

52 Tony Drago (81) 3-1 Joel Walker

53 Joe Delaney 2-3 Thanawat Tirapongpaiboon

54 Chris Norbury 1-3 Alan McManus

55 Stuart Pettman (68,55) 3-0 Kyren Wilson

56 Matthew Selt 3-1 Lasse Munstermann

57 Rod Lawler 2-3 Nigel Bond

58 Marcus Campbell 3-0 Daniel Wells

59 Jack Lisowski 1-3 Andy Hicks

60 Rory McLeod 3-1 Kuldesh Johal

61 Igor Figueiredo (88) 3-0 David Gilbert

62 Robert Milkins 1-3 (101) David Morris

63 Paddy Wallace 1-3 Joe Jogia

64 Craig MacGillivary 0-3  (86) James Wattana

There's no point being a bad loser

The rather disappointing punting run continued yesterday when yet another final frame decider scuppered hopes of collecting. Ginger German Patrick Einsle sending the recommended accumulator down the toilet after the other three coasted to victories by losing the final frame of yesterday’s play against Dermot McGlinchey, who won only his fourth professional match in as many years.

But I refuse to be drawn in to the concept that this is the beginning of a bad run as four from the six flagged up yesterday did win easily. So I will continue unabated today to try and collect something from these best of five frame lotteries.

I do have to say though that I am really looking forward to a good old fashioned best of 9 match and I am dreaming of the day the UK Championship begins with the glorious best of 17′s. I can only take these short formats for so long before getting a bit bored, they ain’t punter friendly that’s for sure.

Incidentally, for regular readers I will be continuing the Prediction Order of Merit next week with the Paul Hunter Classic but I am waiting for confirmation of the prizes from Betfred. Andy, if you are reading this, give me a bell my good chap as I need the full details.

Stan James and Paddy Power have joined Sportingbet this morning in pricing these up, no doubt conscious that getting involved in these events will boost the annual profits for the Board of Directors Christmas Party, when Janice from accounts gets a bit tipsy and usually ends up with one of them in the broom cupboard.

I think the only way to play this is to stick to singles and there are five of these I like from the prices on offer so far today so here goes:

If you are going to avail yourself of one odds on shot today I would look no further than Anthony McGill (8/15 Stan James) to beat Ian ‘The Fine Art Method (copyright to mr hey you)’ Glover. OK, Ian has been doing well recently in the Players Tours events including a win over Mark Williams, but I have a feeling about the young Scot McGill. As I’ve said on numerous occasions I will stay faithful to him this year in the hope that he wins more than he loses.

Hey You! Janice always has one too many.

The second one is an old favourite of the blog Jamie Burnett (4/6 Sportingbet) who lines up against Telford’s Adrian Gunnell, I firmly believe that Burnett is in a different league to Gunnell and as long as he turns up he’ll win.

I’ll take a chance with Belgium’s Bjorn Haneveer (6/4 Stan James) to beat Joe Swail, mainly because of the price. If they were playing this match last season Bjorn would be odds on in my book as Joe could not buy a win, but he’s started this season brighter by easily qualifying for Shanghai so it’s not the banker that it would have been a few months ago, still a good price though.

Pinner Potter Martin Gould (11/20 Sportingbet) should also be relied upon to see off the challenge of Noppon Saengkham. The Thai player beat Luca Brecel yesterday, now I know Luca is only a youngster so it would be very harsh and petty of me to point out that he’s incredibly lucky to have been chosen to play in the Power Snooker event in October ahead of the likes of Jack Lisowski, Anthony McGill and a whole host of top 32 players, oops.

Finally I’ll stick with another promising youngster in Liam Highfield (6/5 Stan James), who takes on Fergal ‘The Snail’ O’Brien. Now watching Fergal play might be less appealing than watching grass grow but he does turn in the results, the hope for Liam here is that he gets in first and pots the Irishman off the table.

So recommended 1 point singles on each of these. For anyone interested in the accumulator it pays just over 16/1 at Sportingbet, but I’ll not recommend it as Rome wasn’t built in a day and I’m fully expecting at least one of these to lose given the unpredictable nature of the format. I’ll stick to what I think are the best two in a 1 point double on McGill and Burnett (6/4 Sportingbet)

Good Luck to anyone having a go on these and remember Gary AKA Schalke04 takes to the baize this morning.

McGill: Safely through.

25. Gary Thomson 0-3 (40) Lasse Munstermann

26. Anthony McGill (108) 3-1 (58) Ian Glover

27. Mario Geudens (40) 3-2 (46) Jason Devaney

28. Anita Rizzuti 0-3 (68,47) Alfie Burden

29. Allan Morgan (50) 0-3 (62,49,55) Liu Song

30. Marc Davis 0-3 (63) Matthew Couch

31 Wendy Jans 1-3 Simon Bedford

32. Jamie Edwards 1-3 Craig MacGillivary

Round Two

33 Jamie Burnett 0-3 (59) Adrian Gunnell

34 Dominic Dale 3-1 Sam Harvey

35 Justin Astley 0-3 Ben Woollaston

36 Liu Song (91) 3-1 (57) Barry Pinches

37 Anthony Hamilton 1-3 James McBain

Is Jimmy a steal at Evens against Judge?

38 Jimmy White 3-0 Michael Judge

39 Dermot McGlinchey 1-3 Paul Davison

40 Mario Geudens 1-3 Anthony McGill

41 Tom Ford 1-3 Alfie Burden

42 Paul Davies 3-2 James McGouran

43 Bjorn Haneveer 3-2 Joe Swail

44 Thepchaiya Un Nooh (54) 3-0 Peter Lines

45 Simon Bedford 3-2 Jimmy Robertson

46 Liam Highfield 2-3 Fergal O’Brien

47 Noppon Saengkham 0-3 (65) Martin Gould

48 Mattthew Couch 3-0 Ian McCulloch

Darren still keeps his eye in.

The next four days sees another feast of snooker when the final qualifying section of the replacement to the Grand Prix, the World Open gets underway.

There are a few familiar names and faces competing over the shorter best of five frames format and Sportingbet have actually taken the plunge and priced a few of the matches up and I have to say I am tempted to have a small bet on what I think are a few little tempters.

The draw can be viewed here.

There are clear favourites in some of the matches and backing heavy favourites over short formats to decent stakes is not something I would encourage.

However, this is a snooker and a betting blog all rolled into one little package so it would be rude of me not to share my thoughts on the ones I think are the least likely to go pair shaped and they are:

Thepchaiya Un-nooh who faces lady professional Reanne Evans. It’s fair to say that Reanne is struggling to find her feet in the male dominated world at the moment and there is no reason why the Thai who has mixed with and beaten much better players than her won’t do the same here.

Darren ‘Hi Babe’ Morgan is one of the ‘veteran’ wildcards, but make no mistake this guy can still play a bit. Ex-pro Habib Subah has a dreadful record and I would not be at all surprised to see Darren make light work of this.

Jamie Jones plays the other veteran wildcard, Bolton Stud Tony Knowles. Jamie won’t be phased by the odd pair of knickers from discount stores all over the UK being thrown onto the table when Tony goes for his own TK Maxx and you would think on current form he’ll be far too strong for the one time Top Shagger of the Baize.

Patrick's been taking tips from Knowsley

Patrick Einsle the German Ginger player is looking like he’s taken to professional life this time a little better than in the past, recent victories over Peter Ebdon and Jimmy Robertson in PTC Events may give him enough confidence to get past Dermot McGlinchey, who doesn’t win very often.

So I would say a recommended bet would be a roll up on the four of them at a shade over 4/1 with Sportingbet.

Blog Flag Bearer Gary Thomson is 5/6 in his match and judging from the interview below is in confident mood so the best of luck to him. I also like the odds against Liam Highfield (11/10) to beat Michael White in the battle of the hotshots and I also like the 5/4 about Adam Witcheard to beat James McBain. You could do worse than a trixie on these three as two out of three will cover your stake but I’ll stop short of recommending it.

What I will recommend however is a 2points win on Witcheard to beat McBain at 5/4.

If you decide to have a bet, the best of luck. I will update on here at regular intervals and again, best of luck to Gary Thomson.

Incidentally, you will be able to see the latest musical duel between myself and my nemesis Tom Petty again this week here in what again I feel is a winning week for all things Mozza though I think the witty gambling blogster updates it tomorrow. Mrs Snookerbacker will doubtless scoop the prize again with the gems she plucks from obscurity.

But in the meantime in the spirit of gentlemanly competition I will direct you to this gem, from the blog of the Tom Petty man, I have to say when he isn’t too obsessed with Petty he does unearth some buried treasure.

Latest Scores:

1 Jamie Jones 3-0 Tony Knowles (Knowles docked first frame, late at table, tripped on knickers in foyer)

2. Matt Williams 1-3 Paul Davison

3. John Whitty 0-3 (77) Thanawat Tirapaipongboon

4. Noppon Saengkham 3-1 (52) Luca Brecel

5 Igor Figueiredo 3-2 Liu Chuang

6 Liam Highfield 3-1 Michael White

7. Justin Astley 3-2 (47,46) Michael Wasley

8. Chris Norbury 3-0 Richard Beckham

9. Adam Wicheard 2-3 James McBain

10 Daniel Wells 3-1 Jamie O’Neill

11. Jak Jones (43) 1-3 (47) Joe Jogia

12. Patrick Wallace 3-0 Kurt Maflin

13. Jack Lisowski 3-1 Ryan Causton

14. Xiao Guodong 3-0 James Loft

15. Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (115) 3-1 Reanne Evans

16. Julian Logue (72) 1-3 Joel Walker

17. Mike Finn 0-3 Kyren Wilson

18. Habib Subah 1-3 Darren Morgan

19. Mitchell Mann 0-3 Ben Woollaston

20. Andrew Pagett 2-3 Kuldesh Johal

21. Anish Gokool 0-3 Sam Harvey

22. Patrick Einsle 2-3 Dermot McGlinchey

23. Issara Kachaiwong (45) 2-3 (66,91,64) James McGouran

24. Sam Baird 3-2 Anda Zhang

Schalke, I mean Gary: Ready for Battle.

This weekend sees the start of the final qualifiers for the new World Open, one of Bazza’s big ideas to revitalise snooker. It’s the event in which hopefuls try and achieve their dreams of playing the big boys on camera.

One of those hoping to mix it up a bit is former professional Gary Thomson who competes in Match 25 here. Now Gary is better known to regulars on Betfair as Schalke04 and I don’t think he’ll mind me saying that he has been known to place the odd bet or two. So I thought he’d be the perfect player to place the blog chips on.

I also thought that it would be good to get the perspective of someone who is actually involved from a ‘hopefuls’ point of view to answer a few questions on the blog and Gary kindly agreed.

His fee included a bag of pickled onion Monster Munch, a six pack of Dr Pepper and an old copy of Cue World which included a centre spread of Perrie Mans. It’s fair to say he drives a hard bargain.

So Gary, tell us a bit more about your past achievements in the game.

Well, I was a late starter in the game, I first took the game up just before my 16th birthday. My dad took me to a pro-am as he was well into snooker and I decided to give it a go, I was off an 80 handicap and in my first event I played Alan McManus, he thrashed me but that was the night I got the bug for the game. Within 12 months of starting the game I turned professional, it was harder than I thought it would be and then for 7 long years I remained on the B-Tour. It was in 2001 that it all turned round for me, I got an awesome sponsor (Parklands Country Club) who paid for all my entries, gave me wages and bought me a brand new match table. It made a difference and in my first year of the sponsorship I won the 2001 Scottish Championship and finished No.1 in Scotland. I made my first competative 147 in the EASB Tour in Leicester, that was a great experience as not everyone can say they have done that. I won a further 4 Scottish ranking events that year. I played well in the B-Tour and qualified for the main tour in 2003. I had a good year beating players such as Billy Snaddon, Rory McLeod, Alfie Burden, Marcus Campbell, Paul Davies, Luke Fisher (World Amateur Champion) twice and my best result was beating Shaun Murphy. I finished No.87 in my first year on but due to money troubles in the game World Snooker cut the tour and I lost out. That was the end of my career and within 12 months I ended up chucking the game. I did put a lot into it and I know I was better than a ranking of 87, just didn’t get to prove it.

So why did you decide to return to the baize?

I saw the advert for the World Open and thought “why not” so I entered it as it was free and had nothing to lose. I was actually surprised at how I played but I still have the belief that I am better than most players in Scotland and better than some on the main tour so I was well chuffed when I won the regional event.

So what kind of breaks are you knocking in these days?

I’m not scoring as high as I used to be, still yet to hit any centuries since starting again although I am hitting in 60′s and 70′s but I am sure the higher breaks will come the more I get back into the game. I’ve never been a really high scorer but many frames I win are usually through grit and determination, a bit like how Dott used to be.

Not everyone on Betfair is a bum.

You are quite, shall we say, well known by another name on Betfair, are you surprised at the level of well-wishers there are for you for your comeback?

Yes and no, yeah I am well known on the Betfair forum to many hundreds of people but most of them are really decent guys and most of the talk is just banter on the site.

As this is the snooker and betting blog, I have to ask do you still like a bet on the snooker?

No, I don’t bet at all anymore, I enjoyed it while I did but my betting days are over.

What are your personal hopes for the World Open? Do you think it’s a good idea and do you know much about your first opponent?

My expectations are quite high for the event. I want to qualify and I will try my best to, I have got a great draw and I will possibly play 3 players I have never lost to (Munstermann, Gould and Murphy). My first opponent is Lasse Munstermann and yeah I know a lot about him. He is a decent player but has underachieved and I feel I am a better player. I have played him once before and won comfortably, 4-1 I think it was a few years ago …. I think the format for the World Open is an excellent idea and I really think they should hold more events like this, it gives the whole snooker world a chance to play in events without the cut throat conditions such as a b-tour. So I hope World Snooker continue with the way they are going.

How about a bit of juicy snooker gossip for the gasbags amongst us?

A juicy bit of gossip. Hmm, I have heard Hendry is playing awful and cueing awful. I know he is a fantastic player but players are saying his cue action has gone. I hope he turns it round as he is one of the players I admired while growing up. I have also heard Higgins will be back on the table soon, unable to confirm though. Also heard quite a few players are making a comeback to the game because of the amount of events that world snooker are staging, here is hoping the game gets big again.

So is this the beginning of your return? Will you be entering more events?

Well, yeah I can say it is. This has given me a lot of confidence that I can still beat people even when I’m not practising. As a result of getting through the World Open I have decided to play in PTC 5 + 6 and I have also confirmed my entry for the 2010/11 Scottish Tour which begins on 5th September.

Finally, if you make the TV and get interviewed, will you give me and the blog a blatant plug?

Yes, of course ….. here is hoping I make it to the TV

So good luck to Gary and thanks for the interview, for anyone that hasn’t seen Gary in action before click here.

Should have kept them crossed Chez. What could possibly go wrong?

So Mark Selby has finally popped the question to Vikki in Venice, the romantic fool.

Thousands of female Jesterettes will be distraught obviously but they must think of the wider picture, a bit of stability might be the making of him.

Just like Mrs SB, Vikki seems like a right little cracker and we now surely have snooker’s very own Posh and Becks. Read Mark’s thoughts on the matter here.

Having recently made an honest woman of said Mrs Snookerbacker (though she was always far more honest than me anyway so that’s a slight contradiction)  I can heartily recommend it, well at least for the first few months, I’ll get back to you after Sheffield.

Speaking of romance and love, I see that well known girl magnet from the Eighties and all round Bolton Stud Tony Knowles has been awarded a veteran wildcard for the World Open this year, along with Darren Morgan of Wales.

Now Tony’s credentials as a superlover are well known, who can forget the headlines ‘I Shagged Tony Knowles’, but the first time I saw Darren in the flesh he was driving around in a red sports car with the registration ‘H1 BA8E’ (classy) so he clearly has a touch of Shabba Ranks about him too.

It must be something in the air. In fact I almost feel some romantic music coming on, it’s the sentimental fool in me you see.

To celebrate Mark and Vikki we surely must look no further than John Paul Young here, to celebrate the return of Tony and Dazza we should surely hardcore things up with this and if it all falls flat on it’s arse there’s always The Smiths.

Tiddlywinks was controversially introduced recently at the Winter Olympics

That old chestnut of is this or that a sport or a game has risen it’s head again in the Guardian newspaper today and as this topic is usually focused in one way or another on the sacred art of Snok I thought I’d ask your opinions on the matter so as we can form a cast iron opinion on this crucial life or death dilemma.

Illustrious names from the chattering classes such as David Parlett from London SW16,  Roger Backhouse, vice-chair, Seven Kings and Goodmayes Allotment Society, Ilford, Joanne Sheppard and her boyfriend from Salford, Peter Lowthian from Marlow in Buckinghamshire and Alan Saunders from Yattendon, West Berkshire (yes, that’s THE Alan Saunders) have voiced their opinions so I feel it’s only right to open this topic up to the higher intelligence on this blog.

The opinions of the people named above can be found here with some a little more thoughtful than others, Peter Lowthian’s theory for instance is something you’d hear down at your local boozer and would probably lead to Peter and Big Eric who loves his Darts ‘going outside’ to settle the matter.

This is in stark contrast to the high standards of the Seven Kings and Goodmayes Allotment Society which shine through in the wisdom of Roger Backhouse, who will surely be receiving his nod from the Queen soon for his contribution to this heated debate and general services to allotment husbandry.

But what do you think? I think Snooker started out as a game and has since evolved into a sport. I used to class darts as a game but I think it has now become a sport too. I’d say sport involves a degree of professionalism and I think both these disciplines require this of the people at the top and the people aspiring to get to the top. The jury is still out on Power Snooker though.

So are you more a Backhouse or a Lowthian? I’m slightly concerned that such a deep philosophical debate is classed as being of the same importance as the far more trivial matter of ‘Will the human race ever evolve beyond religion?’ further down the article, which quite rightly only receives minimal coverage in relation to the real issues that matter.

Wildcard Tian beat Ronnie in China. Fair and Square, it was all there in black and white...

Next month sees the first ‘proper’ ranking event get under way in the shape of the annual season curtain raiser the Roewe Shanghai Masters.

Despite the widespread assumption that Ronnie O’Sullivan doesn’t like playing over in China this is actually the last event, ranking or otherwise that he managed to win, when he defeated Liang Wenbo last year in the final.

Regular readers on here will know that for an age now I have been moaning and whingeing about the Chinese habit of introducing wildcards into ranking events that are held on home soil, after the qualifiers have taken place. Non professionals who tend to steal the TV limelight from frankly, better and more entertaining players by virtue of their nationality.

OK, in recent tournaments they have extended these free rides to Thai and Indian players, but let’s make no mistake, this is about Chinese wildcards and to me, it is totally unfair and always has been. But in a country not exactly known for it’s squeaky clean strive for fairness and equality this is hardly surprising. Oooo a bit of politics there.

Players scrap it out in the qualifiers in the hope of moving up the rankings only to be met with the news that they must qualify again against someone who is acclimatised and used to the different way of things in Chinese snooker arenas. Let them enter the qualifiers by all means, but not at this late stage when players much more deserving of their place have worked hard to get here.

Luck of the Draw? Crucible hotshot Gould faces a wildcard.

These guys are no pushovers either, Tian Pengfei in particular is a very dangerous opponent and I do wonder how or indeed why he isn’t a professional now anyway. He is drawn to take on Jamie Burnett in the first match of this year’s event and will doubtless give old Jay Bee a bit of a game and he’s only trying to make a living here. Other players affected by this include Ken Doherty, Rob Milkins and Martin Gould.

The other wildcards are  Li Yan, Yu Delu, Li Hang, Jin Long, Rouzi Maimaiti (who World Snooker describe as Chinese, but with that name I can’t confirm that) and Mei Xiwen. The eighth wild card is to be announced shortly but if he is also Chinese and Rouzi is too, then this time they aren’t even giving the Thai or Indian guys a chance.

I know the sport has a market there, but tell me, who are the audiences turning up to watch? Neil Robertson or Li Hang? Ding and Liang are there anyhow, by all means let them take centre stage but why or why let this continue?

The draw for the event is here.

If you are tired of my moaning about the wildcards, listen to the all together more jovial thoughts of the Jester, Mark Selby here. At least someone’s happy….

You never know which Ronnie is going to turn up.

Congratulations are due this morning to a true workhorse, an example of what a professional should be. Yes, a dazzling display of skill, consistency and fearless bottle ensured that Steve K won the inaugural PTC Prediction Contest. Truly a new sporting great is now born. Oh and Barry Pinches won the PTC4 if you hadn’t heard.

The Prediction Contest went right to the wire with unfortunate runner-up Godspeed being pipped in the end by 73 frames to 69, in a marathon match reminiscent of the days of old Joe Davis and year long finals, which went right down to the very last match. This is a far cry from the relative quickfire action that Ronnie O’Sullivan displayed right up to the semi-finals yesterday.

It looked to the majority that after battering Judd Trump and Marco Fu 4-0 each in no time, the field ahead would surely bow to the Rocket, but after just beating a resurgent Dominic Dale, Ronnie then somehow managed to squander a 3-1 lead against Barry and snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. A tale of Two Ronnies yet again.

But you have to hand it to Pinches who was runner-up to Mark Selby in the PTC2 after holding a similar lead in the Final, he now holds an unlikely top spot on the Order of Merit after four events.

I’m thinking of sorting out our own Prediction Order of Merit, very much based on the new ranking system in that you will only be as good as your last three events. Mrs SB is going to be playing with spreadsheets to make this a pretty painless task so I’ll update later in the week. The plan is to have an overarching Order of Merit winners prize and hopefully one of the kind people reading this will be forthcoming with some goodies. The end of the season obviously will be the World Championship.

Back to the Two Ronnies, as there is a famous sketch of theirs that is based on the TV quiz series ‘Mastermind’ when Ronnie Corbett’s chosen specialist subject is ‘answering the question before last’ (this is it here). Well, that’s a bit like how I’m beginning to feel on the punting front for the PTC’s.

Firstly, former Team SB member Tom Ford went and won PTC3 at a three figure price and now Barry, who I mentioned in the PTC3 preview as a 100/1 chance goes and wins this one. Maybe if I keep the same team next time I might revert back to the good fortune of the first two events. But Marco put up a good show and it was always going to be tough against Ronnie, though he does have a good record against the Rocket, but it wasn’t to be and I missed out on the 10/1 place money by one round. Oh well.

I think that’s it for now, both Steve K and Godspeed should be emailing me with postal addresses today so anyone that thinks I might have made any mistake with their score (i.e. you scored more than 69), has until close of play tonight to launch an official Stewards Enquiry.

Steve’s team was: Pinches 28, Williams 21, Maguire 16 and Selby 8 = 73 frames won.