Championship League snooker Archives

In snooker…

A century or maximum only wins you one frame.

But in this format of the Championship League snooker, which has returned with a bang this week, a ton or maximum can actually win you the group or push your position further up in the group.

This break from Joe O’Connor is as good as you can get, considering many of the players have not had a lot of practice and no competition over the last two-and-a-half months.

O’Connor, 24, a former World ranking semi-finalist, who is only on the second year of his tour career, made an impressive 143 break in the Championship League, his highest break in his short but improving pro career and managed to end up second in the group from the likes of Mark Selby, Liang Wenbo and Lee Walker.

O’Connor said after on Facebook: “Ended finishing second in my group. Played pretty solid all day, apart from that one red.”

He added: “Onwards and upwards.”

This break against his fellow Leicester tour player, the three-time World Champion Mark Selby was as good as you will get.

Watch it below now…

China’s no 2 Liang Wenbo topped the group defeating Mark Selby in the last match, but for SnookerZone, the night belonged to the 2018 English Amateur Championship winner Joe O’Connor for this fantastic break.

Winner of Group 5 Wenbo told WST after: “I enjoyed today.”

He added: “Sometimes you have to enjoy the game and your game will come, snooker is like this, when you’re happy you play well. If I play like this, I will have a chance to win the tournament. I practiced for seven or eight days before coming here, after two and a half months off.”

The action continues on ITV 4 at 4PM as Ronnie O’Sullivan will enter the fray in Group 10 today.

Back in the day…

World number one and current World Champion Judd Trump was nicknamed Mr Haircut 100.

How time has gone. 78 days since Trump won in Gibraltar and snooker is back in a new normal. Behind closed doors.

It was an emotional return for all on the World Snooker Tour yesterday as snooker became the first sport to hit fans’ TV screens at nearly 3PM in the afternoon on partial lockdown Monday.

In a historic 78 days since Judd Trump lifted the Gibraltar Open trophy, his record-breaking sixth ranking title in a season, the World number one graced the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes with a slightly scruffy longer haircut and beard, and a bit of initial rustiness to his game.

But it wasn’t long before the 30-year-old Ace in the Pack was back to winning ways as he and David Grace from Leeds, were the first to appear on TV screens.

Trump went on to win his group and cement his leader board status in the 2020 Championship League. He’ll be back later on in the event.

He told WST: “It was a bit of a struggle and I didn’t really get going all day,” said Trump after completing proceedings with a 3-1 win over Daniel Wells. “I am happy to get through but it was a bit of a struggle and things weren’t quite happening today.”

ITV 4 Cast Emotional from Start…

The ITV4 Cast of snooker working remotely in the “new normal”.

It was also an emotional return for the team at ITV 4, presented by Jill Douglas, who welcomed viewers with a charming smile and said from her home: “Hello, and welcome to the new normal.”

She and the team of Stephen Hendry and Neal Foulds were hosting the show remotely from their homes as the commentary team of David Hendon and co were at the Arena.

Hendry had been bored…

Seven times World Champion Stephen Hendry and former World number three Neal Foulds, also reiterated it was good to have snooker back on our screens again, as Hendry jokily admitted he had been a bit bored during the FULL lockdown and had immersed himself in some box sets.

The World Champion Trump added: “Everyone involved has done an amazing job to get us underway, snooker is leading in that aspect. I felt it was important to set an example to come here, turn up and show my support for everyone who has tried to get this event on and everyone who has been involved behind the scenes. It would have been easy to sit back and made excuses and let other sports take the initiative but everyone behind the scenes has done an amazing job and put us at the forefront of sport at the moment.”

The Championship League runs from June 1st to the 11th, with the early stages having round robins as players battle to get as many points as possible and to top the groups. They are the best of four frames.

All the players and staff were tested for Covid-19 and the results came back negative, as there are strict rules in force at the venue.

No one is to leave the arena, and there are strict cleaning rules for the tables. Players have to use two sets of equipment in the back as rests etc are not allowed under the table. Social distancing measures are in place at all times.