Thread: 2011 Masters Snooker at Wembley Arena

The Ladbrokes Mobile Masters
January 9 to 16, 2011.
Wembley Arena, London.

The Masters is snooker's most prestigious invitation tournament.

Ever-present on the snooker calendar since 1975, the event's importance is down to the high level of prize money and the fact that is restricted to an elite field, as only the world's top 16 players qualify by right.

The tournament was staged at Wembley Conference Centre for nearly 30 years, until it moved next door to Wembley Arena in 2007.

Prize money breakdown for the 2011 Masters.
Winner: £150,000
Runner-up: £75,000
Semi-finals: £30,000
Quarter-finals: £20,000
Last 16: £15,000
High break: £15,000
Total: £500,000

The players
Mark Selby, Mark King, Shaun Murphy, Jamie Cope, Mark Williams, Ding Junhui, John Higgins, Graeme Dott, Ali Carter, Peter Ebdon, Stephen Maguire, Marco Fu, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark Allen, Neil Robertson, Stephen Hendry

Last 5 Masters winners
2006 John Higgins bt Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-9
2007 Ronnie O'Sullivan bt Ding Junhui 10-3
2008 Mark Selby bt Stephen Lee 10-3
2009 Ronnie O'Sullivan bt Mark Selby 10-8
2010 Mark Selby bt Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-9

Ding Junhui and Marco Fu to compete in historic Masters final
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 15 January 2011

• First all-Asian final in major tournament
• Television audience is set to top 100m

China's Ding Junhui plays against England's Jamie Cope in their semi final match at The Masters

China's Ding Junhui and Marco Fu of Hong Kong made history at Wembley today as they set up the first all-Asian final in the history of snooker's marquee tournaments.

When they meet in tomorrow's Masters final, a television audience likely to exceed 100m will be watching in the Far East, celebrating a landmark moment in the evolution of snooker as a world game.

Ding beat Stoke's Jamie Cope 6-3 to secure the clash with Fu, who earlier produced a sparkling mid-match surge as he came from 4-1 behind to conquer Northern Ireland's Mark Allen 6-4.

Ding has won four major ranking tournaments and played in a Masters final before, but he had an unhappy experience against Ronnie O'Sullivan four years ago when the crowd's raucous support for the home favourite verged on hostility towards the then 19-year-old Chinese player.

With no such worries this time, the 23-year-old will start the best-of-19-frames final as favourite. However Fu, almost a full 10 years his senior, has knocked out Stephen Maguire, Peter Ebdon and now Allen in a surprising run this week.

Ding is keenly looking forward to his clash with Fu, who beat him in the final of the Asian Games last November.

Asked about the prospect of an all-Asian final, Ding said: "I think it's lucky. I'm very proud. I'm going to try very hard because I saw Marco play very well today."

Looking at the progress he has made since losing to O'Sullivan in the 2007 final, Ding said: "I think I'm a better player and think differently and I enjoy the games."

Ding fired breaks of 68, 54 and 102 to seize a 3-1 lead by the mid-session interval. Cope took frame two thanks to a run of 101 but Ding came from 59-0 behind to extend his lead to 4-1. They split the next two, before Cope replied to Ding's 53 with a 73 to take frame eight.

The Chinese No1 quickly built a 69-0 lead in the next frame though, and while that was not quite enough to finish off Cope, Ding was soon back at the table putting the finishing touches to his success.

Ding Junhui beats Marco Fu 10-4 to win Masters
22:38 GMT, Sunday, 16 January 2011

An estimated 100 million people in China were following the final between Ding and Fu

Ding Junhui secured his first Masters title with a 10-4 victory over Marco Fu in a historic all-Asian final.

China's Ding started brilliantly with breaks of 120 and 74 and extended his lead to 6-2, with Fu's best break 80.

Hong Kong's Fu sparkled in the evening to pull back two frames but then lost an agonising 11th, when Ding laid a miraculous snooker, to trail 7-4.

Fu was left shell-shocked as Ding rattled in 94, 83 and 85 to win and make up for his 2007 runner-up spot.

It was revenge for the Chinese 23-year-old after losing 10-9 to Fu in the first round at the 2008 world championships and more recently at last November's Asian Games in Guangzhou.

The last time Ding was in a Masters final was an emotional 10-3 demolition by Ronnie O'Sullivan four years ago and he did his best to banish those memories by flying out of the blocks in front of a noisy Wembley crowd on Sunday.

There were no sign of nerves, considering the reported 100 million people watching in China, with the man who made his Masters debut in 2004 with a wildcard entry as a teenager storming ahead thanks to knocks of 120 and 74 to open up a two-frame advantage.

Having been the youngest player to perform at this tournament in 2004, Ding will revel in being Masters champion, but his conquered adversary can also reflect proudly on a stunning effort this week as China's passionate fans back home cheered on their two superstars.

2011 World Championships

O'Sullivan into 2nd round at Crucible snooker event
Published: 20/04/2011 at 05:31 AM

Former champion Ronnie O'Sullivan, pictured in 2010

Former champion Ronnie O'Sullivan completed an impressive first round performance at the World Championships on Tuesday by defeating Dominic Dale of Wales 10-2.

The 35-year-old Englishman twice threatened maximum breaks on Monday, and did secure his 100th career Crucible century in frame eight, as Dale's early challenge faded.

Victory was O'Sullivan's first in a ranking tournament match since September, when he reached the World Open final, and halts a run of four straight first-round defeats in major events.

In other action, Marco Fu was well on course to exact revenge on England's Martin Gould for a defeat in last year's first round. The Hong Kong star opened up a 6-3 lead in the re-match, dominating the opening session of their first-round match as the pair battled it out for the right to meet Judd Trump next.

Englishman Trump ousted defending champion Neil Robertson of Australia in the opening match of the championships.

Fu, who was runner-up to China's Ding Junhui at the Masters in January and is 21st in the world rankings, had breaks of 70, 97, 81, 63, 115 and 56 as he surged ahead.

Ding won through to the second round by completing a 10-2 win over Jamie Burnett of Scotland late Monday.

Former champion Graeme Dott got off to a good start, opening up a 6-3 lead over Mark King in his first-round match.

In Tuesday's evening sessions, 2002 champion Peter Ebdon was being pushed hard by fellow Englishman Stuart Bingham who held a 9-8 lead, while Northern Ireland's Mark Allen was trailing 4-5 to Matthew Stevens of Wales.

2011 Betfred.com World Snooker Championships: Day 5 - Update
21 April 2011

The fifth day of the 2011 Betfred.com World Snooker Championships at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield England, saw an unexpected exit of Marco Fu of Hong Kong. Marco Fu, the world number 21, suffered a defeat from the Englishman Martin Gould in the match on Wednesday, April 20, 2011.

This is the second consecutive year that Gould had beaten Fu out from the first round at the Crucible. Next he will be facing his compatriot, Judd Trump, in the best-of-twenty-five frames second round.

In the other game for Wednesday night show-down, the Scottish Ace, Graeme Dott, felt the Crucible vibe to aid his progress into the last-16. The Larkhall cueist moved a step closer to his second world title after moving past Mark King of England with a 10-7 score-line.

“It’s fair to say John Higgins is the favourite just because of the way he’s playing,” said Dott. “But, if you take John out of the equation, you’ve got Mark Williams, who is playing fantastic, and a lot of other players who are serious contenders. The tournament’s wide open."

***********

World Snooker: John Higgins beats Lee to make last 16
21 April 2011 22:46 UK



Three-time champion John Higgins booked his place in the second round of the World Snooker Championship with a 10-5 win over Stephen Lee.

Earlier, world number three Mark Selby beat Jimmy Robertson 10-1.

The Leicester player will now face seven-time winner Stephen Hendry.

Selby made light work of Crucible debutant Robertson, who qualified for the World Championship after beating 1997 champion Ken Doherty.

Meanwhile, two-time world champion Mark Williams made an exceptional start to his second-round encounter against Jamie Cope, as he surged into a 7-1 lead following the first session of the best-of-25 match.

Bristol's Judd Trump, who beat world champion Neil Robertson in the first round, takes a 5-3 lead into the second session of his second-round encounter against Martin Gould.

Record-breaking Selby close to victory

Sunday, 24 April 2011 23:33 UK



Mark Selby set two records as he moved within one frame of victory at 12-5 against Stephen Hendry in their World Championship second-round match.

He became the first player to record six centuries in a 25-frame match and took his tally for the season to 54, beating the record held by Hendry.

World number one John Higgins won the last five frames of the day to lead Rory McLeod 10-5.

Stuart Bingham built a 9-7 advantage over world number four Ding Junhui.

The 1987 final was probably the most exciting sporting event I've ever watched...apart from England V Germany in 1990..

Originally Posted by genghis61

Record-breaking Selby close to victory

Sunday, 24 April 2011 23:33 UK



Mark Selby set two records as he moved within one frame of victory at 12-5 against Stephen Hendry in their World Championship second-round match.

He became the first player to record six centuries in a 25-frame match and took his tally for the season to 54, beating the record held by Hendry.

World number one John Higgins won the last five frames of the day to lead Rory McLeod 10-5.

Stuart Bingham built a 9-7 advantage over world number four Ding Junhui.

Selby's flying! Hendry isn't playing bad at all but Selby is just relentless.

The final frame of the first session yesterday when he needed 4 snookers to win the frame, got them and then cleared up was different class.

Down to the final eight

Quarter-finals

Judd Trump (Eng) v Graeme Dott (Sco)
Ding Junhui (Chi) v Mark Selby (Eng)
Mark Williams (Wal) v Mark Allen (NI)
Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng) v John Higgins (Sco)

Hendry: I don't enjoy playing snooker
25th April 2011



Stephen Hendry has admitted he no longer enjoys playing snooker.

Seven-time World Champion Hendry believes he may have played his last match after he fell to a 13-4 defeat against Mark Selby in the last 16 of the Betfred.com World Snooker Championship.

"In the first two sessions I was taken apart and Mark was awesome - every time he got in I just put my cue to the side as he never looked like missing," said Hendry.

"I will decide my future in the summer and I'm not going to decide straight away.

"I still have the game but I don't have the self-belief to compete with these guys.

...

Hendry is on the verge of falling out of the world top 16 for the first time in 23 years and will do so if Stuart Bingham, who leads 9-7, beats Ding Junhui on Monday evening.,

A refusal to play in many of the Players Tour Championship events has hurt Hendry's ranking and he revealed he has to decide whether he has a playing future.

full story here

Chalking up Stephen Hendry's snooker achievements
By Phil Goodlad
BBC Scotland at The Crucible
Monday, 25 April 2011

You would have thought he'd just won an eighth world title and not merely walked into the arena to face England's Mark Selby at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

The reception afforded to Stephen Hendry told its own story. Snooker fans, like those who follow golf, can sense when history is on the cards.

And just like Tom Watson's stroll up the 18th at last year's Open in St Andrews, Hendry's walk to the table was not to be missed, because it could be his last.

Before his crushing 13-4 defeat by Selby, he said as much himself.

"I have a decision to make," revealed the seven-time champion.

"I've been in danger of dropping out of the top 16 all season.

"I won't play the PTC events next season so I will get punished in the rankings."

I still have the game but not the belief. It's very difficult to keep coming here when you don't think you can win
Stephen Hendry
Seven-time world champion

In snooker, dropping out the top 16 is akin to relegation; make it in and you're guaranteed automatic entry into the big tournaments.

Drop out and you then have to qualify by playing in small venues in front of small crowds.

It's not for Hendry - nor is the travelling involved in snooker these days.

New ranking events in Thailand, China and Brazil mean huge air miles just to protect that all-important top 16 spot.

"That's a young man's game," Hendry, the 42-year-old father-of-two declared.

Despite those claims, Hendry perhaps disclosed the real reason retirement could come in the next few weeks, adding: "I still have the game but not the belief.

"It's very difficult to keep coming here when you don't think you can win."

After dominating his sport by winning seven world titles, 36 ranking events and staying world number one for eight consecutive years in the 1990s, not believing he can win is torture for Hendry. He is the ultimate winner.

"He's one of the reasons I got into snooker," Selby announced after perhaps retiring his former hero.

Fellow Scot John Higgins echoed those sentiments after his win over Rory McLeod, and many of today's players will concur.

So what will Hendry do if his cue is packed away for good?

"I'll stay in snooker, it's all I know," said Hendry, who will join the BBC television team on Thursday when the semi-finals get under way.

A permanent seat in the commentary box is one option but whatever he decides to do in future, one debate is now in full swing: is he the greatest sportsman that Scotland has ever produced?

A strong case can be made for Hendry, given his achievements in the sport. His legacy adds weight to the argument.

Sir Jackie Stewart also created a legacy that lives on in motorsport, while Sir Chris Hoy is aiming for yet more Olympic golds in London next year, a phenomenal achievement.

But seven world titles, prize money at nearly £9m and a near-decade-long domination of a sport.

It's quite an argument in his favour.

If it is the end, then so long Stephen Hendry. And thanks for the memories.

Just watching Selby v Ding now and have to say Ding is looking good so far but got a feeling ths match could go all the way.

Ding currently 7 - 5 up and Selby needing a snooker in the 13th.

Final four:
Judd Trump v Ding Junhui
Mark Williams v John Higgins



Judd Trump thrashed Graeme Dott to reach the last four at the World Championship in Sheffield.

China Open winner Trump won the first two frames on Wednesday to seal a 13-5 victory and will now meet Ding Junhui.

The Chinese star saw Mark Selby recover from 10-6 down to make it 10-10 before Ding won a tense frame on the black and took the next two for a 13-10 victory.

Mark Williams beat Mark Allen 13-5 to book a semi-final against John Higgins, who overcame Ronnie O'Sullivan 13-10.

The winner of Trump/Ding wins this and I fancy the China man to do it.

Mark Williams finished the opening session of the World Championship semi-final two frames ahead of John Higgins (pictured).

Williams took a nervy first frame before Scotland's Higgins responded with a superb break of 135.
The Welshman soon led 3-1 but was pegged back to 3-3, with Higgins recording his second century break.
But Williams responded in style, producing efforts of 74 and 54 to hold a slender 5-3 overnight advantage at The Crucible in Sheffield.


Judd Trump secured a 5-3 advantage over world number four Ding Junhui after an enthralling opening session of their World Championship semi-final.

Ding began the best of 33-frame match in style with a 102 but Trump levelled with a magnificent 110 in the next.

Mark Williams will take a 9-7 lead over John Higgins into the final day of their Crucible semi-final but will rue not making the most of his dominance.

The two-time champion led 5-3 going into Friday's set of eight frames and then went 7-5 ahead at the mid-session interval, scoring 115 along the way.




Judd Trump and Ding Junhui were locked at 12-12 after the penultimate session of their World Championship semi-final.

Bristolian Trump led 5-3 overnight then moved to 7-4 before his Chinese opponent won six frames in succession.

Trump, who beat Neil Robertson and Graeme Dott en route to the last four, won five of the next six, edging ahead after successive century breaks.

But world number four Ding won the last frame of a high-quality session to set up Saturday's finale from 1430 BST.

Ding got Trumped! Just caught the end of the final frame and Trump took it with a century to become the 2nd youngest person to make the final.

Judd Trump beats Ding in classic semi



Judd Trump became the second youngest player to reach the World Championship final with a breathtaking 17-15 win over Ding Junhui at The Crucible.

China's Ding produced three centuries and led 10-7, but the fireworks of the 21-year-old qualifier proved too much.

Resuming at 12-12, Trump went ahead with breaks of 74 and 89, but the world number four fired in a 138 and 119.

Ding kept battling but the spiky-haired Bristolian won three successive frames, a 105 break sealing a famous victory.

It was a match that thoroughly deserved its standing ovation, but it was the Trump family, who have watched and nurtured this young talent over the last 14 years, who were punching the air with delight inside a raucous Crucible theatre.

Seven-time world champion Stephen Hendry is the only player younger than Trump to have reached the final [the Scot was 21 and four months in 1990, while Trump is 21 and nine months].


John Higgins beats Mark Williams in semi



John Higgins produced a gritty display to beat Mark Williams 17-14 and set up a mouth-watering World Championship final with Judd Trump.

Williams dominated for much of the match with three centuries but too many errors cost him dear.

Higgins clung to the Welshman's tails before edging ahead for the first time at 12-11 on Saturday morning.

Resuming 13-11 behind, Williams bagged a 105 and 92, but Higgins fired a 123 and edged two scrappy frames to win.

*********

The final between Trump and Higgins gets under way at 1400 on Sunday.

Originally Posted by CB79

Ding got Trumped! Just caught the end of the final frame and Trump took it with a century to become the 2nd youngest person to make the final.

didn't realise he was so young - I remember when Stephen Hendry started playing at this level - and he's 42 now.
No coverage here, unless it's been on one of the Thai sports channels, last year the ASEAN Games featured snooker as one of its events and they had coverage of the major games.

Trump takes control against Higgins

Judd Trump opened up a 10-7 frame lead against John Higgins after a pulsating opening two sessions in the World Championship final.

The 21-year-old Bristolian looked at ease and produced two centuries to leave the three-time champion reeling.

Scotland's Higgins fought back from losing the first two frames but ended the afternoon session at 4-4 after Trump hit back with a break of 102.

Trump surged on and took the last three frames to leave him eight from glory.

The best-of-35 frame match continues on Monday at 1400 BST.

The final had begun with a moving tribute to the late Ted Lowe, the former BBC commentator who died on Sunday.

The Crucible audience were then treated to a mesmerising battle between the experienced Scot, in his fifth world final, and the young pretender eyeing back-to-back ranking titles.

World Snooker: Higgins beats Trump to win fourth title
Monday, 2 May 2011

John Higgins came from behind to beat 21-year-old sensation Judd Trump 18-15 and clinch his fourth World Championship crown at The Crucible.

The 35-year-old Scot was outplayed on the first day as Trump fired in two centuries to build a 10-7 lead.

Breaks of 104 and 99 put Trump 12-9 up, but a costly missed blue saw Higgins pounce and take five straight frames.

Trump made it 14-14 and trailed 16-15 but Higgins took the next and sealed it with a doubled pink and superb black.

It was an incredible finale to a stunning feast of high-class snooker throughout the four sessions.

Higgins, 'The Wizard of Wishaw', has been far from his best during the tournament but his sheer grit and tactical nous proved enough to thwart the incredible potting talent of the spiky-haired Trump.

Twelve months ago, on the morning of the 2010 final, the Scot found himself the subject of match-fixing allegations after a tabloid newspaper sting.

After returning in November from a six-month ban for not reporting the illegal approach made to him, Higgins has won five tournaments including three ranking events - the UK Championship, the Welsh Open and now the World Championship.

"It has been amazing, an unbelievable 12 months but it has been great," said a tearful Higgins - who suffered the death of his father in February - as he embraced his wife and three children at the end.

"It was really tough match-play. I knew I had to come into the third session [on Monday afternoon] and play great, and I think I did that to get back into the match and make Judd think a little bit.

"He was the better player. He was playing a brand of snooker I have never seen before in my life. It was unbelievable the amount of long shots he was potting, it was incredible. It was great to watch - we have got the new sensation of the game."

Higgins' 24th ranking title, which earned him a winners' cheque of £250,000, added to his Crucible triumphs of 1998, 2007 and 2009.

He is out on his own on four world titles, behind Stephen Hendry (seven), Steve Davis (six) and Ray Reardon (six) in the modern era.

But if his experience proved crucial in the final analysis, there is no doubt snooker has found a new star in Trump, whose confidence after winning his first ranking title at the China Open last month took him all the way to the final.

"I came here and was not expected to do that well so to get to the final is a good achievement," said Trump, who picked up £125,000 as runner-up and has rocketed up to number nine in the world rankings.

"Obviously I would have liked to have won but John was the better player on the day and played the better snooker over the two days and I think he is a deserving winner.

It's hard to criticise Trump after his performance here but he was probably just a little too attacking here in the final when maybe a couple of times his shot selection could have been a little more conservative.

Saying that his potting is unbelievable and his name will be around for many years to come.

Great performance by the young lad but you have to hand it too Higgins who again played the perfect match play game.

Great tournament and with Hearn grabbing snooker by the balls it could be an interesting next few years for the game.

Overall a thoroughly enjoyable Masters.