Hello from the Masters

zack01

Took the week off work and got here late last night, thought we had it bad with the snow in Ireland? You should see it here! Anyway i'm all sorted with my guest pass for the week, (thanks to an old pal in the WSA) and looking forward to some great snooker. If i see or hear of anything i'll post it here.Had a pint in the hotel bar last nite and there is a great buzz amongst the officials and players who have already arrived. It seems the Hearn factor has begun to take effect. He's actually on Sky News today plugging the event and snooker in general.

omb0wyn5ehpij9

I'm very jealous! Have a great week

Gingy

Sounds class Zack, have a good week! Give us all the juicy backstage gossip!

zack01

What a great day yesterday! The buzz around here is incredible, it's like snooker has been reborn, just a pity that the standard could'nt match the atmosphere, but i'm sure as the tournament goes on the snooker will improve.The crowds have been fantastic too, nearly full yesterday morning for Selbys match and even though Ebdon v Fu was a dour affair the crowds turned up.Last night was amazing, I don't know how it came across on the tv but the reception Jimmy White got was awesome, again a pity the snooker did'nt live up to expections.

A few celebs knocking about too, Ronnie Wood as usual was here to support Jimmy, got a great photo with the two of them to put up in the club when i get home, the chef that won the jungle comp Gino was here too but i di'dnt see him afterwards, not that i was looking!!

Looking forward to this afternoons match between Murphy and Hendry, I feel Hendry will want to put in a good performance this week just to let everyone know that he's still a force in the game.

Slippin Jimmy

zack01 wrote: »

What a great day yesterday! The buzz around here is incredible, it's like snooker has been reborn, just a pity that the standard could'nt match the atmosphere, but i'm sure as the tournament goes on the snooker will improve.The crowds have been fantastic too, nearly full yesterday morning for Selbys match and even though Ebdon v Fu was a dour affair the crowds turned up.Last night was amazing, I don't know how it came across on the tv but the reception Jimmy White got was awesome, again a pity the snooker did'nt live up to expections.

A few celebs knocking about too, Ronnie Wood as usual was here to support Jimmy, got a great photo with the two of them to put up in the club when i get home, the chef that won the jungle comp Gino was here too but i di'dnt see him afterwards, not that i was looking!!

Looking forward to this afternoons match between Murphy and Hendry, I feel Hendry will want to put in a good performance this week just to let everyone know that he's still a force in the game.

Sounds like you are having a great time. Wish i was over there for the week too. Just out of curiousity how much would a ticket be for a whole event? I am thinking of maybe going to an event soon enough. i was on the WSA website and see they are only available for the masters.

zack01

I have no idea, i got my pass through the WSA, i know a few of the guys and they look after me whenever i go to a tournament.

celticfc

I'm dead jealous here aswell, have a great time.

I was hoping to get over there this week for a day or two, but i just won't happen now.

I'd imagine the place is buzzing today ahead of Ronnie's match.

Cake Man

Hey zack, are you able to go to any match or is there only certain ones you can attend? Will you be able to go to the semi's and final too?
That'd be brilliant, would love to go over!

zack01

My pass gets me to any game and anywhere, it's a WSA pass, sort of an access all areas badge, i'm watching the first couple of frames of Ronnies match in the press room today,i get on well with a few of the lads.Stuck my nose out earlier and yes the place is buzzing.

zack01

Awesome! Ronnie wins 6-4, great great match, 2 tons each

celticfc

Fantastic seeing a packed large arena, the crowd looked to have a great time.

To be fair, it's looked jam packed there all week despite the weather, unlike Glasgow at the Grand Prix.

Slippin Jimmy

zack01 wrote: »

Awesome! Ronnie wins 6-4, great great match, 2 tons each

Must say it was a great match to watch. Both players made the best of what they had, few easy misses too. Really suprised that Ronnie left that red over the pocket. Delighted he won. Looking forward to O Sullivan vs Ebdon!

Myrddin

Duffff-Man wrote: »

Must say it was a great match to watch. Both players made the best of what they had, few easy misses too. Really suprised that Ronnie left that red over the pocket. Delighted he won. Looking forward to O Sullivan vs Ebdon!

Was a really great match to watch indeed. I felt he let himself down in the interview afterwards though, Hazel was saying something about him facing Ebdon and he just throws his eyes up to heaven "Yeah should be a lot of fun, like having teeth pulled" or something to that effect. I know him and Ebdon dont get on but to me it came across very unsporting - you could visibly see how uncomfortable Steve Davis was when Ronnie was laughing & joking about Ebdon.

I know players dont always see eye to eye in any sport - but to publically make fun out of another player is the height of disrespec. I was delighted to see Ronnie win, but after the interview it should have been Robertson winning. My conversion from a ronnie fan to a critic is now complete :pac:

Slippin Jimmy

EnterNow wrote: »

Was a really great match to watch indeed. I felt he let himself down in the interview afterwards though, Hazel was saying something about him facing Ebdon and he just throws his eyes up to heaven "Yeah should be a lot of fun, like having teeth pulled" or something to that effect. I know him and Ebdon dont get on but to me it came across very unsporting - you could visibly see how uncomfortable Steve Davis was when Ronnie was laughing & joking about Ebdon.

I know players dont always see eye to eye in any sport - but to publically make fun out of another player is the height of disrespec. I was delighted to see Ronnie win, but after the interview it should have been Robertson winning. My conversion from a ronnie fan to a critic is now complete :pac:

I missed the interview myself. I didn't expect him to say anything like that. I don't know what to say.

zack01

Watched it in the press room, Ronnie was just being sarcastic, Davis was'nt embarrassed, it was jurt a bit of banter between Ronnie and Ken, i don't think there was any offence in what Ronnie said or did, in fact i think it was good fun, the rest of the interview was typical Ronnie, he plays super snooker to beat Robertson yet he still was'nt happy.One thing he did mention was when he first turned pro he was playing the best snooker he ever played, i remember watching Ronnie play when all the ranking events used to be held throughout the summer in the qualifying school in Blackpool, that summer was Ronnies debut as a pro and he won 52 out of 55 matches! He was awesome.

Monkeybonkers

I suppose it depends on whether you are a Ronnie fan or not. If not you probably percieved him as taking the piss out of Ebdon. These things are all about perception.
Good win for Ronnie. Hope he goes all the way.

Myrddin

Very well could have been just banter, but there is an underlying dislike there between the two players, so Im not sure. Id be interested to hear Ebdons point of view.

Yeah that comment was interesting from Ronnie, he felt he hasnt played to his own standard for the last 16/17 years....how old was he when he knocked in the maximum in 5 mins?

zack01

Good question, i think he had the 5 minute max in the world c'ship in '97, so 12 years ago. I think the problem between these two came to the surface in the quater finals of the worlds a few years back when Ebdon beat Ronnie, Ebdon really slowed the match down, he slowed it down to the point he took nearly 15 mins to make a 35 break, now we know it's the referee who should have stepped in to speak to Ebdon and warn him about his slow play but Ronnie let it get to him, he lost his composure and eventually the match. On one hand you can't really blame Ebdon for using these tactics but on the other he is a former world champion, he used to be a member of the board so he should'nt have been as slow as he was that night. Ronnie i guess does'nt like playing him because of the pace of his play, but he is a 3 time world champion and should just concentrate on his own game and not Ebdons. It should be fun watching it though.

zack01

Barry Hearn has been here every day this week chatting to almost everybody,(including me!) i met him years ago when he was Steve Davis's manager, (think he still is) the man is so eager to reinvent the game, he is asking everyone their opinions, do they have any ideas or suggestions to help develope the game.

Apparently the calendar for next season will be released soon and will include at least an extra three ranking events, Germany will hold one and the plan is to get a few more on mainland Europe where the growth in snooker has been incredible.I asked Hearn would the WSA look at holding one in Ireland and he mentioned that he has spoken to Ken Doherty at length about this and had enquired how Ken's recent six red event had been recieved.

So as i said earlier in this thread snooker seems to have a new found lease of life, the crowds have been great here this week bar one or two matches and taking into account the weather it's a positive sign. I think the walk on music has been great too, i thought Mark KIng dancing out was great, the crowd loved it and it helps them see a person behind the player.

Four players left, apart from the obvious favourite O' Sullivan, Selby seems to be almost back to his best form so if those two can win their semi's tomorrows final should be a classic, Ronnie might even enjoy it!!!:)

blueyedson

Good stuff Zack!

It's the best I've seen williams play in years. Against murphy he didnt look like missing any easy balls and made a great long shot in last frame to get in.

I think he will beat ronnie if he gets the chance.He is 11/4 with boyle sports.

The question is will ronnie raise his game if he needs to.