The Snookerbacker Blog

January 28, 2012

The Month Ahead: February

Filed under:

— snookerbacker @ 1:44 pm

It's another non-stop month on the baize.

It’s once again time to look ahead to what is happening on the baize in the coming weeks. It is fair to say that February sees no let up in the action in a key month when it comes to World Championship places.

The action starts next Wednesday when the German Masters gets under way from Berlin. The wildcard round and a few of the first round matches kick things off and I’ll be previewing the event on Tuesday.

This was a great spectacle last season and takes on an added significance this time as it is the penultimate ranking event to decide who will be in the top 16 and qualify automatically for the Crucible in April. It will also mean a welcome return to the blog for the German girls which is always popular.

When that’s finished the Championship League returns from Crondon Park with groups five and six and while all that is going on the lower ranked players will be thrashing it out at the Academy in Sheffield in the Welsh Open qualifiers between 8th-11th. Two days later it’s off to Newport for the event itself and no doubt the dulcet tones of John Evans in the commentary box and Dom Dale in his slippers in the studio to see us through the cold winter afternoons.

The Welsh Open will decide who will and won’t be guaranteed a place at the Crucible so it is crunch time for players hovering around 16th spot, including Ronnie of course.

The seedings will be revised on the 20th before a day later the qualifiers get underway for the China Open. As if that wasn’t enough it’s then off to Haikou Island which is known locally as Coconut City in China to play the Haikou World Open, the qualifiers for which have already been held.

It’s an absolutely hectic month as it will also see the first ever Snookerbacker Classic winner crowned. We have the Dublin qualifier on Saturday 4th, Essex on Friday 10th and the Finals Day over in Gloucester on the 24th.

That’s February in a nutshell.

I think I may need a lie down at the end of the month.

FEBRUARY

1-5
German Masters
Tempodrom, Berlin

4
Snookerbacker Classic Qualifier
Crossguns, Dublin

6-9
Championship League Groups 5 and 6
Crondon Park

10
Snookerbacker Classic Qualifier
Essex

8-11
Welsh Open Qualifiers
Academy

13-19
Welsh Open
Newport Centre

SEEDING CUT OFF FOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

21-24
China Open Qualifiers
Academy

24
Snookerbacker Classic Grand Finals
SWSA, Gloucester

27 Feb to March 4
Haikou World Open
Haikou, China

Comments (4)

Line and paragraph breaks automatic, e-mail address never displayed, HTML allowed: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

4 Comments »

WELL DONE TO THE HAWK THE SHOOT OUT CHAMP OF THE WORLD

Comment by chewy wesker — January 29, 2012 @ 9:03 pm Reply
Snooker The Fine Art © Method
There’s is no need for Mark Allen or any player to pay a fine. Notice the fine is very small to annul any back lash from the player but allows Barry to exert authority and show his mussels.

Marks use of an Anglo Saxon expletive is a minimal charge compared to the Clive Everton/Terry Griffiths steal of the Joe Davis copyright coaching method.
It’s obvious that Barry…’s noble Judge and Chief of Police as board members have frightened and intimidated the professional membership.

Was Mark represented and sheltered by the players union or his own lawyer? Was the SPA present to offer mitigation against sanction?
If the Barry Hearn and his disciples are let loose without recourse from a players union there surely is a (Friendly) Hitler type of leadership.

If Barry’s choice is to co-op “Non players” to his board; the SPA should co-op strong trade union members for intimidation and amalgamate with other trade unions for guidance.

The SPA must be independent and free from the WPBSA or Matchroom Union. Mark Allen should insist on being charged immediately after the Joe Davis enquiry. Mr Hey You

Comment by Daniel Marner — January 29, 2012 @ 10:42 am Reply
so whats the deal has Ronnie entered the German masters and if not does that mean he will hav to do the qualifers to enter the world championship!! shocking as if qualiflying wasnt hard enough, imagine gettin Ronnie

Comment by gibs — January 29, 2012 @ 1:44 am Reply
On behalf of everyone I’ll try and meet up with SB during this hectic month and share a few jars, so that he’s suitably refreshed in order to keep supplying you with his often sideways, but mostly profitable views. If anyone would like to donate any funds in order that we may imbibe on only the finest beers and wines (and curry) then please send cash only in padded brown envelopes to ‘Snookerbacker Mansions, England’
Thanks in advance.

Comment by TheBlueBoy — January 28, 2012 @ 2:29 pm Reply