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rusel: A big break - Ìíå áûëî èíòåðåñíî ïî÷èòàòü.  ÷åñòü Õèããèíñà íàçâàëè êîííûå áåãà è çäåñü
Annika: rusel ïèøåò:  ÷åñòü Õèããèíñà íàçâàëè êîíÿ Âîò îíà, íàñòîÿùàÿ ñëàâà. Òîëüêî íå êîíÿ íàçâàëè, à ñêà÷êè.
rusel: Annika ïèøåò: Òîëüêî íå êîíÿ íàçâàëè, à ñêà÷êè Ñïàñèáî çà ïîïðàâêó.
rusel: Íà 43-ì ãîäó æèçíè âíåçàïíî ñêîí÷àëñÿ áûâøèé ïðîôåññèîíàëüíûé èãðîê è ñíóêåðíûé òðåíåð Ñòèâ Ïðåñò. http://top-snooker.com/news/336#add
rusel: Snooker's coming home to Guild Hall çäåñü
rusel: WM-Finalist Shaun Murphy über die Erfolge von Snooker außerhalb Großbritanniens und die Kritik von Ronnie O’Sullivan, der Sport würde langweilig werden. çäåñü
rusel: Sajjad, Raees to feature in 6-Red World Snooker GP çäåñü
rusel: Mark's on cue to live his Shanghai dream
rusel: Bradford is to have its own world snooker championship next summer. World Seniors Snooker Ltd – the baby of Bradford’s former world champion Joe Johnson and his business partner Dave Shipley – are organising an eight-man event on June 5 and 6 at The Clubhouse In Cue Gardens at Odsal. Joe JohnsonThree former world champions have already been confirmed as participants in the 40 and over competition – Alex Higgins, John Parrott and Johnson – and other entrants include six-times world runner-up Jimmy White, three-times semi-finalist Tony Knowles and former quarter-finalists Willie Thorne and Mike Hallett. Johnson said: “This is great news for Bradford and I know the players are looking forward to coming to the club. “We know Bradford is a snooker city as the Richard Dunn Sports Centre has been sold out for past Telegraph & Argus exhibition evenings, and that is only with two players. “It is also just before the World Cup soccer finals but not long after the World Snooker Championships so snooker will be in people’s minds.” Johnson added: “We are confident of getting a main sponsor and TV coverage.” The eighth player in the field has yet to be named but Johnson said: “Ten players will be on site in any case.” The best-of-three frame quarter-finals will be held on the Saturday afternoon, with the first semi-final to follow. The second semi-final will be held on Sunday lunchtime, with the best-of-five frame final to follow. In addition to the tournament itself – the Odsal venue will have a capacity of 400 around the match table – there will also be two sportsmans’ dinners. One will be on the Friday night and the other on the Saturday night, both with a capacity of 80, and there will be a top snooker player on each of the ten tables. It is a mystery as to why a seniors snooker tour has not come off before, as the mix of personalities would be a natural in terms of entertainment and sporting skill. Senior tours are already popular in golf, tennis and motor racing but snooker’s past attempts have either been too ambitious or too flimsy. But Shipley said: “With the backing of Johnson, who has served the sport both as a player and board member, our plans already have instant credibility.” Shipley can be contacted on 07850-734868 if companies want to sponsor the event as a whole (a five-figure sum), be a frame sponsor, an arena advertising sponsor, a sportsmans’ dinner sponsor or an accommodation sponsor. It is hoped that the inaugural event will be the forerunner of a world tour. Johnson said: “I have already had interest from Bahrain – I used to coach Sheikh Abdullah and I coached their national team in preparation for the Asian Games – Malta, China and Thailand.” çäåñü
rusel: Shehab hoping for 6-Red Grand Prix win By Duane Fonseca, Staff Reporter Published: July 02, 2009, 22:48 Dubai: Mohammad Mustafa Shehab will use next week's 2009 Sangsom 6-Red World Grand Prix to warm up for the World Games of Cue Sports, which will be held in Taiwan later this month. Shehab qualified for the Taiwan tournament and will be part of a group of 16 cueists lining up for the event, which runs between July 22 and 26 in Kaohsiong. First, though, he must wade through a 64-man field, including compatriot Mohammad Al Joker, at the Sangsom 6-Red, which will be hosted at Bangkok's Montien Riverside Hotel from July 7-12. The Bangkok tournament has roped in up to 20 players from the World Snooker Main Tour, including five former world champions, John Higgins (1998, 2007, 2009), Shaun Murphy (2005), Mark Williams (2000, 2003), Peter Ebdon (2002) and Ken Doherty (1997). Players from zones as diverse as Asia, Africa, Europe and Oceania have also confirmed and Shehab and Al Joker will have to be at their best to make the knockout stage of the invitation-only competition. "Well with some of the world's top players are lining up, it's definitely going to be tough. Players like Williams, Murphy, Ebdon and Higgins have won World Championships before, and these guys are the star cast in Bangkok. The current world No 1 will also be playing in the event, so you've got to be at your best," said UAE No1 Shehab on his way to practice at the Dubai Police Officer's Club. The pair leave for the Thai capital on Sunday and both are scheduled to play on the opening day. While Al Joker starts his campaign against local boy Phaithoon Phonbun, Shehab's meets England's Joe Perry in the first round. Despite his confidence, Shehab knows anything can happen in 6-Red, widely considered snooker's fast and furious version, and a format that is to snooker what Twenty20 means to cricket. The unpredictable nature of results means a kind of equality prevails among the players, with even the unfancied highly capable of upsetting the favourites. Shehab is banking on that truth. "It's anybody's game really. You play half-way and you have a good chance of winning [and rankings] don't really matter. We've been practising hard and hope to get it right," said Shehab, who is one of the many non-professional players at the event and who was part of the UAE team which successfully defended its Arab Snooker Championship title in Egypt last month. "I finish work and then head to the club for practice, that's the way it has been, but it's not too bad. It's going to be a tough event, but I'm really hoping to gain practice and be fully-prepared for the World Games which start two weeks later." http://www.gulfnews.com/sport/Snooker/10328098.html
rusel: Snooker ace’s gift to Burnley charity champ çäåñü
rusel: Ôîòîêîíêóðñ Top-Snooker.com Íà íàøåì ôîðóìå åñòü ìíîãî óìåëüöåâ. Äåðçàéòå!
rusel: GLOBAL SNOOKER AWARDS The popular snooker resource, global-snooker.com, have announced that they will hold an awards evening on October 13th to recognise achievements of snooker players and broadcasters and others involved in the sport. It will take place at the 5-star Celtic Manor Resort. These sort of awards evenings are usually held by the W.P.B.S.A but more recently have been held by the Snooker Writers' Association. It will be the first Global Snooker Awards evening. Hopefully the event will be a success and hopefully attract media coverage and, hopefully, be an annual event. It is possible to put your views forward in who should win the awards, just visit http://global-snooker.com/global-snooker-events-golden-global-snooker-awards-main.asp to take part in the survey. Some money will also be donated to charity, the two charities involved are the Paul Hunter Foundation and the Tenovus Cancer Charity. A golf day, hosted by Mark Williams, will take place on the same day. It is possible to register a team to compete at golf against 'snooker celebrities' at a cost of £1,200 plus VAT per team. A table of ten for the awards evening can be reserved at £1,000 or an individual ticket for just £100 plus VAT. Click on the link above for more information. http://snookerworldblog.blogspot.com/2009/07/global-snooker-awards.html
rusel: ×åðåç 17 ëåò ïîñëå âûõîäà ñòàòüè, çíàÿ, êàê âñå ñëîæèëîñü, áûëî èíòåðåñíî ïðî÷èòàòü. http://top-snooker.com/news/articles/show/438
rusel: Keynsham snooker star Trump has Premier date with Higgins çäåñü
rusel: Sunday Life: “Snooker: Ronnie’s ‘Rocket’ to rivals..Frank Brownlow talks to Ronnie O’Sullivan13 August 2006Ronnie O’Sullivan last night fired a warning blast at his rivals ahead of the Northern Ireland Trophy – ‘If I’m on form no-one can touch me!’The tournament gets under way today at the Waterfront Hall and its elevation to a ranking event cranks up the pressure on the players.And ‘The Rocket’ didn’t sit on the fence when asked who would win the prestigious opening event to the new snooker season.In an exclusive interview with Sunday Life, O’Sullivan rapped: ‘When I’m on form I’m very, very good and there are only three other players in the world who can possibly live with me.’Everyone knows the quality of John Higgins, Stephen Hendry and Mark Williams. When those three and myself are on top of our game we are better than everybody else.’I need to be more consistent and that’s the key to it really. When I’m good I’m very, very good but when I’m poor I’m just an average player.’O'Sullivan is a real enigma and has in the past threatened to quit the game and many people – including the man himself – feel he should have more than his two World titles to show for his prodigious talent.He candidly admits: ‘I should have won more World titles by now. I could probably have doubled what I have achieved in the game but I’ve had my ups and downs.’I need to get my consistency back and when it comes back I can win more World Championships,’ says the 30-year-old Essex boy.And O’Sullivan knows a good run in the Northern Ireland Trophy can lay the foundations for a good season and another tilt at the World crown.’It’s now a world ranking event so all the top players will be going out all guns blazing to win it. Everybody will be keen to do really well.”We’ve had a long break and I’ve got a new cue so it’s a bit difficult at the moment but I’ve been working hard in practice and things are going okay,” he says.O’Sullivan will face either Alan McManus or Stuart Pettman in his opening match.But he reveals: “I don’t really look at the draws because they’re all tough matches these days. I just turn up and hope to find a bit of form. You get used to playing all the players so you know what to expect.”O’Sullivan has been playing in pool tournaments over the summer to maintain his sharpness.”I like to play a bit of pool in between snooker tournaments. If there’s a gap I’ll play in a few pool events. I don’t treat pool as a job – it’s just a bit of fun,” he says.Snooker has struggled in recent years to emulate its 1980s golden era and O’Sullivan feels the game would be boosted by greater competition for the top prizes.”When John Higgins, Stephen Hendry, Mark Williams and myself are not on top of our game there are maybe another five or six players who are very capable of winning tournaments.”Then there are maybe another four players behind them who have an outside chance of winning tournaments.”Plenty of players are capable of winning tournaments but they don’t all do so.”A lot of players say they can win tournaments and some of them have never won anything.”A lot of talking gets done but it’s the results that matter.”The fact is that there are only four people who regularly win ranking events. We are just that little bit better than everyone else.”Some people have won four or five events but that’s nothing to write home about.”Hendry has won 36 or 37, I’ve managed to win about 18 or 19 and so have Higgins and Williams. That says it all really,” he says.And O’Sullivan warns that, in snooker, talk is cheap.”A lot of players say that they are making 147s in practice. But it’s one thing doing it in practice – it’s when you get on the match table that it matters. You have to do it where it matters.”The only one of the up and coming players who seems to do it where it matters is Ding Junhui. He’s won the UK Championship which is a massive tournament and he’s also won the China Open. So he has actually won things and is a force to be reckoned with.”Other players have won maybe one tournament and got to semi-finals and quarter-finals. So that means Ding Junhui stands out from the others because he has proven himself.”I’ve been watching the European Championship athletics this week and some of the British athletes are talking about doing better next year and the year after that – but in my view there’s no time like the present. You should just get on with winning things,” he stresses.And for how long can Ronnie O’Sullivan go on winning things?After much deliberation, he says: “I would see myself staying in the game another six or seven years because hopefully I’ll still be playing top quality snooker by then.”As long as I’m playing well and enjoying it, I’ll carry on playing.”‘The Rocket’ is still aiming for the stars.”Get your own Snooker table îòñþäà
rusel: How to choose the right Snooker Cue
rusel: Gordon Burn: Pocket Money http://theasylum.wordpress.com/2009/07/30/gordon-burn-pocket-money/
rusel: Shock death of Burnley snooker star Jordan Ullah (15)
rusel: Lee on cue for Snookes
rusel: Grand Prix Snooker Short-Listed For Major Award http://mxmbilliards.com/2009/08/grand-prix-snooker-short-listed-for-major-award/
rusel: Does an expensive Snooker Cue help you play like John Higgins?
rusel: Alan McManus, the former UK snooker champion, has voiced his fears that the game in Scotland is dying at grassroots level, because of the failure of the governing body to devise a proper business plan or address numerous issues over the past decade. âñÿ ñòàòüÿ Äæîí ðàçäåëÿåò åãî ìíåíèå.
rusel: À âîò è ïåðåâîä http://www.top-snooker.com/news/476
rusel: Dearth of sponsors has snooker in a back spin Clive Everton: Lack of funds has snooker in a back spin Tournaments and prize money are drying up while players are getting restive çäåñü è çäåñü
rusel: Newmarket-based Tattersalls sales company are to break new ground by hosting a charity snooker evening featuring Ronnie "The Rocket" O'Sullivan at their sales arena in November. The tournament, which is in aid of the Paul Hunter Foundation. is also set to feature Steve Davis and Sean Murphy and will include appearances by two as yet unnamed faces from the racing world. The evening, which is on November 9 and costs £20 a head, comes in the middle of a busy period for the bloodstock auctioneers who host their showcase sale, the Tattersalls October Sales (Book 1), on October 6. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/racing/article-1214403/THE-CAPTAINS-LOG-Madame-Lemaire-stands-man-Longchamp-boo-boys-win-day.html#ixzz0RSOg2hWj http://www.newmarketjournal.co.uk/sport/Rocket-Ronnie-to-blaze-charity.5657912.jp Snooker for young people Published Date: 18 September 2009 A NEW snooker project for vulnerable young people has been launched at Abbeydale Picture House in Sheffield. The 'Get Cued In' initiative was launched with the help of the Paul Hunter Foundation, set up in memory of snooker pro Paul who died in 2006, aged 27, from cancer. The weekly sessions, held every Tuesday between 7pm and 9pm, offer coaching as well ADVERTISEMENTas a chance to play a few frames. Clive Jaques, vice chairman of the Abbeydale Picture House Trust, said: "Our target age group is 11 to 16-year-olds so we are trying to create a different atmosphere to your usual snooker hall – it's a very relaxed affair. "We are trying to get kids off the street and playing snooker." http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Snooker-for-young-people.5659234.jp
rusel: Tributes to snooker ace John Dunning FAMILY and friends of John Dunning, Gildersome's former world and UK championship snooker quarter-finalist, have said farewell at his funeral this week. Mr Dunning passed away at his home on Scott Green Drive on September 11. click here
rusel: Local backing can spur me on to victory in snooker Grand Prix, says John Higgins Sep 27 2009 WORLD CHAMPION John Higgins is hoping snooker's Tartan Army can help roar him on to a record fifth Grand Prix title. Higgins and fellow Scot Stephen Hendry are the only players to have won the showpiece event four times and the Wishaw wizard has set his sights on going one better at the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow. The 34-year-old, who is defending the title he won in the city last year, believes the home support are worth their weight in gold. Higgins said: "The Scottish fans are special because they really get behind you. They drive you on and give you that wee lift when you need it. It's a bit like the Tartan Army with the Scotland football team. "They always turn up in numbers, they are passionate about their snooker and it's a good feeling to have them in your corner." Higgins is the first to admit the Grand Prix holds special memories for him. He was just 19 and a new kid on the block when he first won the tournament in 1994, beating Dave Harold 9-6 in Derby. He made it two titles in 1999 with a 9-8 win over Mark Williams in Preston. John completed the hat-trick six years later at the same venue by hammering Ronnie O'Sullivan 9-2 in a stunning display that included four successive centuries. Higgins did the business for a fourth time last year by beating Ryan Day 9-7 and is desperate to defend his title. He said: "Every title is special but to win a fifth Grand Prix would be amazing." http://www.sundaymail.co.uk/sport-news/other-sport/2009/09/27/local-backing-can-spur-me-on-to-victory-in-snooker-grand-prix-says-john-higgins-78057-21704378/
GorgonaJS: Snooker is caught behind the black ball and must adapt or die http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/other-sports-news/snooker-is-caught-behind-the-black-ball-and-must-adapt-or-die-1.924823
rusel: Îòêðûòûé ×åìïèîíàò Ìèðà ïî ïîêåðó - 2009 http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/international-poker-open-2009-outright-betting-market-open-at-boylesportscom-62557677.html Äæîí è Êåí ïðèìóò ó÷àñòèå.
rusel: Åùå îäíà íîâàÿ øîòëàíäñêàÿ íàäåæäà. Stonehouse snooker ace Rhys tipped for a top career Oct 15 2009 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser A YOUNG Stonehouse snooker ace has been tipped for the top... by one of the country’s best coaches. Jim Donnelly, who operates from Glasgow’s famous Q Club, rates 15-year-old Rhys Clark in the same bracket as Alan McManus, Jamie Burnett and Drew Hendry òóò íå ïîíÿëà– and believes he can be as good as world champ John Higgins. Jim reckons his young student will be the nation’s next top cue ace and said: “Rhys is doing very well and I’ll be looking for a lot from him over the next couple of years. “He has great temperament and his mannerisms when going round the table are exceptional. He’s really good; he looks the part, plays the part, and is a quick learner. While a lot of players take on what I tell them, Rhys will ask lots of questions, and he picks things up very quickly as well. “I think Rhys is the next player in Scotland who could make it big and he’s on the same road as John Higgins, Alan McManus and Drew Hendry.” Jim added: “Rhys comes to the club to train and does so alongside some of the biggest names in the sport. I want him to get comfortable playing alongside these guys. “It’s almost a ‘familiarity breeds contempt’ situation where I don’t want him to be fazed if he comes up against these guys in competitions, and I want them to get a fright – that this young guy can play as well as they can and could even beat them. “It remains to be seen if Rhys will carry this through, and only time will tell, but if he does then he can be a top player.” Rhys recently won the under-16 championship and, after reaching the final of a senior open event at the Q Club, is also ranked second in the under-19 charts. Last month the Hamilton College student was also given his first Scotland cap at a home international in Wales. Although his three wins from five games couldn’t inspire an historic triumph, the buzz from the event was all about the lad from Hazeldean Farm. Proud mum Jane (48) said: “Everybody was talking about Rhys’ performances. “Rhys has been playing snooker for two-and-a-half years since a friend of mine took him to a snooker and pool club in East Kilbride. “We’ve always had a pool table in the house and Rhys has always been good at it but he wanted to try snooker and really took to it – he’s progressed steadily ever since.” Jane added: “He does have ideas about turning professional. “This isn’t just your usual teenager trying something and getting bored of it, Rhys wants to make it to the top.” http://www.hamiltonadvertiser.co.uk/hamilton-lanarkshire-sport/other-sport/2009/10/15/stonehouse-snooker-ace-rhys-tipped-for-a-top-career-51525-24932565/
rusel: John Higgins -v- Ken Doherty: Snooker Exhibition in DCU this Wednesday 21 oct. DCUSU are proud to present a snooker exhibition with John Higgins and Ken Doherty. On 21st October John Higgins and Ken Doherty will take part in a snooker exhibition in the Venue, in the DCU student centre. Here is a round up of what will happen on the night Both pros will play 2 amateurs each. John Higgins to play an extra frame which will be auctioned on the night. Ken Doherty will play an extra frame which will be done by a draw. So both will play three amateurs each. After a 15min interval there will be a best of 7 match between the John and Ken. It is sure to be a great night so don’t miss out. This is the only time this will happen in Dublin this year. http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=62586561
rusel: Ronnie O’Sullivan On Course For His Sixth Premier League In A Row Mercurial is the word to describe Ronnie O’Sullivan. The Essex potter is the most naturally gifted player ever to appear in snooker, with the possible exception of Alex Higgins, but he doesn’t always show it at the main events. Everyone knows that when O’Sullivan is in form no one lives with him and in snooker’s Premier League he proves that time and time again. The format of a series of round robin matches suits him because more often than not, his talent will win out. O’Sullivan may be beaten in one-off encounters but over a league system, the Rocket’s skills will usually place him at the top. He’s lifted the Premier League title five times in a row now (seven times in all) and he’s in position to make it six on the spin. After five weeks of the 2009 event the Rocket Ronnie has two wins and a draw from his three encounters, which take place over six frames. There are seven competitors and the top four in the league qualify for semi-finals. At the moment his closest pursuer is the player who came through a long qualifying competition to win his berth, the young English player Judd Trump. He lost his first match to Aussie Neil Robertson- recent victor at the Grand Prix- but came back strongly to beat the legendary Stephen Hendry and former winner Marco Fu. The seven man field is completed by World Champion John Higgins and former world title holder Shaun Murphy. Murphy is pointless after opening losses to O’Sullivan and Higgins. The Premier League has been running now since 1987. When it began snooker was at the height of its 1980s boom and the great Steve Davis won the first four events, reflecting his dominant position in the game. Stephen Hendry took over that mantle and won the crown six times. Davis, Hendry and O’Sullivan- modern snooker’s three greatest players- have taken this pot seventeen times between them. The other winners have been Ken Doherty (twice), Jimmy White and Marco Fu. World champions like Mark Williams and John Higgins have never been able to capture this prize. The pair have lost five finals between them. Given his past performances and a track record that indicates only the highest quality performers tend to win this event, O’Sullivan is inevitably a hot favourite to annex the Premier League for the eighth time. The Rocket is odds-on with all the bookmaking firms but after his efforts at the Grand Prix, Neil Roberson has attracted attention as a value alternative. Trump’s early promise has seen his odds tumble but an O’Sullivan –Higgins final would surprise no one. Whatever his frame of mind this seems to be a competition that always motivates Ronnie O’Sullivan and that has to be good for snooker as a sport, as he remains the biggest crowd-puller in the game. http://blog.partybets.com/200910193868/ronnie-o%E2%80%99sullivan-on-course-for-his-sixth-premier-league-in-a-row/
rusel: Referees Make Tour Debut Several referees have gained valauble experience by making their debuts on the World Snooker Tour at the Masters qualifiers at Pontin's, Prestatyn. Daniel Holliger from Switzerland, Dominik Haug from Germany, and Molly Newbold, Peter Bennett, Rob Wright and Steve Fletcher from England have all refereed on the professional circuit for the first time this week. Pictured left-to-right are: Eirian Williams, Molly Newbold, Jan Verhaas, Daniel Holliger, Peter Williamson, Dominik Haug, Greg Coniglio, Peter Bennett, Rob Wright and Steve Fletcher. http://www.worldsnooker.com
rusel: SNOOKER: Four snooker legends are aiming to pocket a new title at the Plymouth Pavilions next July. Jimmy White, Alex Higgins, John Parrott and Cliff Thorburn will be playing each other for a new Pavilions Legend 2010 title. The event, on Saturday, July 24, will be hosted by another superstar from the past, John Virgo. Higgins is one of the most recognizable players from the past – he won his second world championship 28 years ago. Canadian Cliff Thorburn is the only overseas winner of the world championship, while Jimmy White, who still competes on the main tour, is probably one of the most popular players the game has ever had. Parrott is a former world and UK champion. One audience member will be selected to partner one of the legends in a doubles match. Pavilions marketing officer Rob Maltby said: "This is every snooker fan's dream to have all their favourite legends in one room. "I'm sure it will be a fantastic evening." http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/sport/Legends-grace-event/article-1510348-detail/article.html
rusel: Number One
áàñê: rusel ïèøåò: Number One À ó ìåíÿ íå îòêðûâàåòñÿ....
Shecat: 14 Nov 09 Number One By matt2745 Categories: Cliff Thorburn, Mark Williams, Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, World Snooker, john higgins, ronnie o'sullivan and snooker Of all of the snooker facts and stats in existence, one that always surprises me is that since the world rankings came into existence in 1976, there have been just seven different players who have held the coveted top spot. Here I take a look at both the players over the years who have come close to adding their names to the list, as well as the players best placed to become the eighth number one… As you can see from the famous faces above, the magnificent seven are: Ray Reardon (1976-81, 1982/83) Cliff Thorburn (1981/82) Steve Davis (1983-90) Stephen Hendry (1990-98, 2006/7) John Higgins (1998-2000, 2007/8) Mark J Williams (2000-2002, 2003/4) Ronnie O’Sullivan (2002/03, 2004-06, 2008-10) All world champions at some point or another, it is hard to doubt the talent of any of those seven players. It is however surprising (to me at least), when considering the likes of John Spencer, Alex Higgins, Jimmy White and the many other skilled players who have picked up a cue down the years, that none of them had at least one season at the top. Indeed I also find it incredible that of the seven who have made it, five are still playing and they are all ranked inside the world’s top 25! So who has come close to breaking their stranglehold down the years? Alex Higgins finished second on the list in both 1976/77 and 1982/3, only to be denied the top spot in the latter due to a ranking points deduction due to a disciplinary issue. Dennis Taylor and John Spencer also came close in the early days of the rankings, while Australia’s Eddie Charlton was also a consistent presence, spending five consecutive seasons ranked at number three. So near, yet so far for Jimmy White (Global Snooker) Moving into the 1990’s, Jimmy White unsurprisingly spent a couple of seasons ranked in second place, while 1991 world champion John Parrott remained there for three. Following that point though it was the ‘big four’ of Hendry, Higgins, O’Sullivan and Williams who began to dominate not only the top spot, but the top four. The likes of Ken Doherty and Peter Ebdon were always there or thereabouts, but apart from the 2006/7 and 2007/8 seasons in which Ken had a real chance to take top spot, they never really came too close. Although Hendry and Williams have now faded however, age in particular catching up with Stephen, Higgins and O’Sullivan are still going strong and having shared both the number one spot and indeed the World Championship trophy for the last few years, do not look like slowing down in a hurry. Higgins is well clear at the top of the provisional rankings and barring a dramatic loss of form, looks likely to reclaim top spot for the third time in 2010/11. The dominant duo – Higgins and O’Sullivan But they cannot go on forever and the question of who will be the next new number one is a very interesting one indeed. Will it be one of the players currently well established such as Shaun Murphy or Stephen Maguire, or will it be another young talent such as Mark Allen or Judd Trump, who both have yet to claim titles, but appear to have the natural ability to be a top player. Right now I suspect that the obvious choice is Murphy as not only has he demonstrated in the past that he can perform well on a very consistent basis, but having already won the World and UK titles he can also win the biggest tournaments. Elsewhere the in-form Neil Robertson has also shown strong form during the past year or so, while Mark Selby despite having endured a difficult 2009, is likely to return to winning ways at some point soon. Whoever the next new top dog is, they will certainly be joining an illustrious list…
áàñê: Shecat , ñïàñèáî!
rusel: Graeme Dott: snooker's great overachiever
ïîëíàÿ âåðñèÿ ñòðàíèöû