The Snooker Thread (Part 1)

Sport
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Helix to host international snooker event

Top-flight snooker will return to Ireland after a six-year gap after it was confirmed today that the €236,000 Players Tour Championship Grand Finals will take place at the Helix Theatre in Dublin from March 16th to 20th next year.

The event, which has a first prize of €71,000, will feature 24 of the best players on the planet and will carry world ranking points.

World Snooker’s last event in Dublin was the 2005 Irish Masters. A spokesman said: “We are absolutely delighted to bring top snooker back to Ireland, where the popularity of the sport is very strong and we know we will be well supported.

“The Helix is a fantastic arena and will generate a sizzling atmosphere when the top players take the stage. The Players Tour Championship is a cornerstone of the exciting new era for snooker which we are building, and Dublin will provide a fitting stage for its conclusion.”

Masters champion Mark Selby said: “It’s been quite a few years since we’ve had an event in Dublin but I know how much the fans love snooker in Ireland and all the players will really be looking forward to it.

“The new PTC series has been very successful as it’s kept us playing snooker week-in, week-out, which is what we’ve always wanted. I’m keen to finish top of the Order of Merit and then go on to do well in the final event in March.”

The Players Tour Championship is a new series of 12 short events, with an Order of Merit ranking players according to how much money they have won, with the top 24 to qualify for the Grand Finals.

The 12 short events have already been played, with former world and UK champion Shaun Murphy topping the Order of Merit, with the likes of twice world champion Mark Williams, Masters champion Mark Selby, former UK champion Stephen Maguire, former UK and Masters champion Matthew Stevens and rising star Judd Trump also among the qualifiers.

Players qualified
Shaun Murphy, Mark Selby, Barry Pinches, Marcus Campbell, Judd Trump, Mark Williams, Dominic Dale, Stephen Lee, Tom Ford, Stephen Maguire, Michael Holt, Liang Wenbo, Martin Gould, Marco Fu, Ricky Walden, Anthony Hamilton, Stuart Bingham, Jack Lisowski, Jamie Jones, Andrew Higginson, Mark Davis, Matthew Stevens, Gerard Greene, Joe Jogia.

282

Stephen Hendry beat Jimmy White 9-8 in the UK Championship. While it’s good to see Jimmy back playing well those scars did not, I repeat not, need reopening like this.

283

Uber cunt John Higgins within two sets of winning the UK Open here, Mark Williams on the other hand without one set.

Come on Williams…

284

dunph the tin of roses must be nearly gone. this is great entertainment

285

Great entertainment this.

286

If Higgins wins this i’ll get sick.*

*Also if Williams wins.

287

Brilliant stuff

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Epic finale here.

289

Some shot to win it.

290

Sickened.

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http://cdn1.gamepro.com/global/radar/blog_images/82033-1.jpg

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John Bhoy, you legend.:clap:

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Fuck John Higgins.

294

Cheat cheat cheat cheat…

295

That was sensational stuff.

Delighted for the Wizard. Some ballsy pot on the brown although he prob wouldn’t have tried it if the pink wasn’t on the cushion.

He’s had a nightmare year. Great way for it to end.

296

That was some match. Bloody hell. Snooker is class when played like that.

297

Ah no, I totally forgot about this. I’m gutted to have missed what sounds like one of John Higgins’s greatest ever victories. I blame the fact that BBC2 is tucked away on Channel 142 where I usually forget to flick through. Old TV was so much much simpler.

Anyway, well done John and fuck you Barry Hearn. :clap:

298

Higgins and Dott level at 4-4 here on BBC 2, recorded

299

Ronnie O’Sullivan beaten by Mark Allen 6-4

300

ronnie gone off the boil altogether lately.