How do you see the state of snooker in RoI?

Anyone know why the Gibraltar event is played over so few days?

Everbodys entitled to their opinion, but no question these guys are being pampered anyway. Snookers a fairly brutal game mentally, as we can all agree, and while both Leone and Liam Davies are both undoubted talents, it was clear they were both mentally shot for the 16s on Friday. These guys are 15/16 years of age, it's an awful lot to ask of them at this stage.

But if the people playing 3 events had 'sensible scheduling' and time to rest, then the people playing one event would have been left hanging around with unusually long gaps between matches - it had to be one or the other this week.

I wondered at the time if it was a trial run - playing a full 128 player Best of 7 in just three days might be quite attractive for everyone (organisers/broadcasters/players) as it cuts a lot of expenses down, makes ticket sales easier, fits a broadcasting slot etc. Be interesting to see if they have similar formats next season.

I think you are right, it has always been ran off fast but I've a vague memory of it being 4 days originally.

Though the 2020 edition (mid March, so might have been the last event in the entire sports world pre-pandemic) was also done as three days. So maybe it's always been like that.

Gibraltar Open Snooker 2020 Draw, Live Scores and Tournament Schedule - livesnooker.com

And Ben Mertens,whom Leone beat in the 18s sf, has swept into the 21s final, playing great stuff and one step away from his pro tour card. Always wondered about him under pressure, but lovely player to watch and would like to see him make it today.

I mentioned Telford as an example. But pro ams are certainly irrelevant, that much is certain anyway.

And as Liam Davies wasn't the one who had a 21s match sandwiched between his sf and final, I'm not sure what he would be complaining about tbh. I mean, all I've really said here is that Leone was unfortunate in the way the schedule fell for him, whether it ultimately made any material difference or not, and maybe the circumstances of these rearranged championships had something to do with it. I don't know that. But as a general rule, I do not believe that is something that should happen at a major championship, a blue riband junior and amateur event. That's not about "pampering", it's common sense. If you were watching Leone and Davies in the 16s on Friday, you'll have seen how empty they were, both losing to vastly inferior opponents. That made a virtual mockery of that event imv. After all, the purpose of a major championship is to establish the true pecking order, not present kids with an extreme endurance test. Even with the best scheduling, competing multi events will be tough, but the way this was set up made it well nigh impossible and I sincerely hope not to see a repeat next year.

Losing to vastly inferior opponents ? They lost whether it’s inferior or superior they both lost. How many hours of practice to you think Davies and Crowley have played in the last few weeks, add to that the Q School, maybe that’s what ‘fatigued’ them ?

Absolutely! Lovely shot from pink to canon out the green.

Totally, those 5 matches Leone played over those 2 and a half weeks in Sheffield must have been a real killer. The 5 matches he played the day before the 16s event were neither here nor there.

I may be mistaken but I vaguely recall you said something along the lines that Mertens although he scored heavy he wasn’t up to grinding frames out ? I could be wrong ?

Anyway I’m looking forward to watching Mertens on the tour next season

Ah I wasn’t out to catch you out you’re normally spot on with the game and the players. All in it’s great to see some new talent emerging and hopefully will lead to some serious competition in the future to the conveyor belt of talent we’ve been seeing from the Far East over the last several seasons.

The seniors taking centre stage at the moment and good showing from the Irish crew, all 4 making the knock out stages. Alas, John O'Sullivan and John Farrell ran into each other and then O'Sullivan ran into the gloved Dazzler Morgan and was undone by probably the clear tournament favourite. Mark Tuite still standing and into the quarters so great show from him.

And good match in the mens, former pro Eden Sharav just scraping home 3-2 against the 11 year old Matvei Lagondzinschii from Ukraine. Fck, i hate to hype 11 year olds (actually looks 8) but this kid simply has me mesmerised and not ruling out him qualifying for KO stages just yet!

Robbie had his chances but Mertens was too good and has marched on to sf. Interesting coda to Mertens performances here is that, by my reckoning, the Belgian has played 23 matches during these championships and won 22 of them. The one he lost was to Leone Crowley, of course, and slightly frustrating to remember Ross Bulman was leading 3-1 in their u-21 encounter last week but just couldn't get the job done. I think they can both take some small encouragement from that.