2025 World Championships

Jesus lads Jimmy looks ropey

If there isn't even a frame, think they might be on the hook for a refund in that case.

Don't think an exhibition can be considered a substitute. But they probably put one on for anyone who travels.

No refund or ticket exchange for the Saturday afternoon session.

Dennis and Steve will do their 1985 final frame exhibition instead.

Would be an expensive exhibition, imagine having the Century club hospitality ticket for that slot. Hearns still earn.

Judd trump snookered himself in frame 20 just now. He missed a cannon on the reds.

How come there is no backlash around Xintong being banned for matchfixing?

Surely that'd be a fairly big black mark on any future success he has

I dunno, look at Ivan Toney. On the cusp of a move to a bigger club (Arsenal, United alone could do with him), got suspended for betting and no club will touch him now. Plying his trade in Saudi Arabia.

He served his time too.

Doping is a more extreme form of cheating, and the worst of the worst, but match-fixing is still cheating.

Personally will be vouching for Williams/Trump in the final, even when Xintong was sensational getting there.

Judd deserved a bit of luck with position, but he's going for it now.

Great break from Judd

Thought WST had Kirk Stephens over this weekend, but it turns out it was Jim Wych that was over from Canada.

Reached quarter final in 1980, when Cliff won and Kirk reached the semi final. Burst on to the scene then and was still competing in the late 80s. One of the Canadian two piece cue players who specialised in plants, power shots and doubles back then.

Confusingly some commentators called him Jimmy Wych when he came along first, but it had to change to Jim to avoid the confusion with Jimmy White emerging at the time.

Personally I think the ban Xintong received was fair and it had to be harsh. Because snooker would be a sport easy to fix not just on match wins but other variables at the bookies etc. Given snookers fine margins it would become a farce otherwise .

Bingham was banned for 6 months just for betting on snooker his own matches, high breaks and winning etc . No players are allowed to bet on their matches or any snooker matches now.

Which is as it should be means no grey areas no messing. Precedents have been clearly set.

Not like years before that. Where it was the done thing. I seem to remember Murphy cleaned up when he backed himself to win it outright in 2005 for example.

I think far more embarrassing for world snooker is the Graham Dott situation. How do they deal with that? It is the anniversary he won it next year. His name is on the trophy forever.

Also this year I still have not noticed the name “Dott” on the “wall” logo design/dividing wall listing former world champions names with that red background different font/colour.I noticed there are even two “Higgins” in different colour and font. For Alex and John

But no “Dott” has to have been deliberate? Bingham is there even albeit not the more prominent all black or all white font.
Hendry, Davis, Taylor, Griffiths, Reardon, all very prominent on the wall design. No sign of Dott!?

He was cleared of match fixing.

Judd lives in DubaI now. Ebdon moved there before he retired.

It's probably an attractive base if you are into that sort of thing. Halfway between China and the UK.

Speaking of match fixing, remember Stephen Lee? He was given a 12 year ban, I think a match against John Higgins was prominent in his downfall. He too was a member of "the class of 92". 🙄

When he was given the ban of 12 years, it was effectively meant as a lifetime ban. Nobody thought he'd be around to play at 50. His ban lifted last year, he was free to try and qualify for this year's World Championship, but he's no interest. Besides, he still owes the snooker authorities over £100K in legal fees, so that would be a major obstacle too.

Have they stopped referring to Xintong as an amateur? While technically correct, calling him that out of the context he became amateur is misleading.

Anyway, I haven't heard him being described as an amateur in 3 or 4 days. Probably avoiding any mention of his status.

I say all this as somwone who is in support of him being back, he was stupid, he served his time, it was proportionate imho, and I admire how he has come back so motivated; but we shouldn't pretend he is an amateur.