Tag: World Snooker Tour

Ronnie O’Sullivan has warned he will quit snooker if he is restricted from playing non-tour events in China, saying his career is at a “crossroads”.

Exhibition events in East Asia are becoming increasingly lucrative but often clash with World Snooker Tour (WST) dates.

Seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan and other UK-based players are contracted to play in WST tournaments and could face sanctions if they miss events.

“If I can’t go and do what I need to do, which is play a lot in China, I won’t ever play again,” he told the BBC. “So, we’re at a kind of crossroads now.

“If that gets to the point where I’m not able to do that, I’m not allowed to do that, I probably won’t play. I’ll probably go and play Chinese 8-Ball because I still want to play snooker, I still want a cue in my hand.

“There’s just not enough here in the UK for me to justify the effort that I put in.

“If someone’s going to respect me and value me more, why would I not go there? It’s like being in an unhealthy relationship with someone. Why would you be in that?”

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Ronnie O’Sullivan, who said he wanted to play snooker for many years to come, has famously derided the standard on the WST in the past, suggesting he would need to lose a limb to drop down the rankings.

He still adopts that stance, claiming he is “revolted” by mediocrity.

“I don’t think it’s very hard to be a top-16 snooker player. I could probably get away with playing once a week for two or three hours a day,” said the 47-year-old.

“I find it hard to put myself in their shoes because I was in their shoes and I didn’t accept top 50 as OK.

“I’m not a great lover for mediocrity… I find it quite revolting in some ways, when I see people accepting that. That’s why I don’t hang around snooker people at venues because I just don’t like seeing it.

“I don’t think there’s enough good matches. I think there’s a lot of players that people don’t know, that don’t play the game in the right way.”

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SHANGHAI: The World Snooker Tour hailed the “momentous announcement” of three tournaments in China this year, including one in Wuhan, as the return of international sport to the country gathers pace.

Almost all international sports events were cancelled in China after Covid emerged in Wuhan in late 2019, and they are only just returning after travel curbs were lifted.

The World Snooker Tour will stage the first professional snooker tournament in mainland China in four years with the showpiece Shanghai Masters on September 11-17, the WST said.

That will be followed by the Wuhan Open on October 9-15 and the International Championship in November at a Chinese city yet to be confirmed.

Total prize money for three events combined will be more than £2 million ($2.5 million).

“This is a momentous announcement for our sport as we ramp up our return to staging events in Asia,” said WST chairman Steve Dawson.

“Throughout the pandemic we have maintained dialogue and relationships with the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association as well as our key partners and promoters across China.

“This has allowed us to make a fast return to staging key events now that travel restrictions have lifted.”

In a nod to snooker’s popularity in the world’s most populous country, Dawson added: “We will continue to explore opportunities to stage further events in China and beyond.”

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BRISTOL: Former Masters champion Yan Bingtao has become the latest Chinese player to be suspended from the World Snooker Tour amid an ongoing investigation into match-fixing, the sport’s governing body announced Monday.

The Chinese world number 16, has been banned from attending or competing at events with immediate effect as the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association continues to look into allegations matches were manipulated for gambling purposes.

Last week, five other Chinese players — Lu Ning, Li Hang, Zhao Jianbo, Bai Langning and Chang Bingyu — were suspended pending the outcome of the investigation, with compatriot Liang Wenbo banned in October.

“WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson has taken the decision to suspend Yan Bingtao from attending or competing on the World Snooker Tour with immediate effect,” said a statement issued Monday.

“This decision is part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of manipulating the outcome of matches for betting purposes in breach of the WPBSA conduct regulations.

“The suspension will remain in place until the conclusion of the investigation or any subsequent charges that may or may not be brought. Yan Bingtao has the right to appeal this decision.”

Yan is the highest-profile player to be suspended during the ongoing probe.

The 22-year-old produced a stunning upset to win the Masters, one of snooker’s leading tournaments, on his debut in the competition in 2021 and also has one ranking title to his name after winning the 2019 Riga Masters.

Yan was due to play in the English Open this week, but first-round opponent Ashley Hugill has been awarded a walkover.

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KARACHI: Pakistan’s professional snooker players Muhammad Asif and Asjad Iqbal have been added to the list of the World Snooker Tour (WST) players for the upcoming 2022-23 season.

The list of WST players that features 131 cueists from 11 different categories, also includes the Pakistani players Asif and Asjad, who turned pro this year.

The two cueists earned a two-year professional card following their successful outing in the recently-concluded Q School Asia-Oceania.

The full list of WST players for the 2022/23 season is now available:https://t.co/clb9Npgkbx pic.twitter.com/BQL9VS6aFw

— WST (@WeAreWST) July 6, 2022

 

Following this achievement, Asif and Asjad will now be able to compete in the WST for 2022/2023 and 2023/2024. Asif is the first Pakistan player to earn a professional card before Asjad followed him.

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