Snooker returns to terrestrial television this Monday for the first time since the World Championship, as we see the return of the invitational Champion of Champions event on ITV4.
Click below for my thoughts ahead of Ronnie O’Sullivan’s latest title defence in Coventry…
Ahead of his anticipated return to ranking event snooker, World Snooker and the WPBSA have today announced that Ali Carter’s seeding will be frozen at 13 for the remainder of the 2014/15 season, ensuring that he will qualify as of right for both the Masters and World Championship tournaments this season, as well as potentially the Champion of Champions.
Click below for my thoughts and why I think that this is on balance a positive move, in the short-term at least…
Following his fairy tale victory at the invitational General Cup tournament in Hong Kong yesterday, there has been some debate amongst snooker fans on Twitter as to whether Ali Carter should be awarded a place in next month’s invitational Champion of Champions event, set to be staged at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.
On the face of it, the argument would appear to simply be one of sentiment against the rules, however looking beyond the surface there is perhaps another argument to be had, one already discussed here at PSB last month…
Congratulations to Ali Carter, who has this weekend completed a fairytale return to professional action by defeating Shaun Murphy 7-6 to win the 2014 General Cup International in Hong Kong…
Although this week will not see the return of ranking event snooker following the postponement of the Indian Open, there will be action for a few of the professionals at least, as the General Cup is staged in Hong Kong for the sixth time.
While there is a strong line-up across the board, clearly the main talking point is that of the return of Ali Carter, who will play his first professional match since the World Championship on Monday morning against Marco Fu.
I’m sure that I speak for all of us here in the snooker community of fans and players alike that it is brilliant to see him back in action after his treatment for cancer and hopefully we will soon see him on our TV screens at events such as the UK Championship before the end of the year.
You can view all of the latest scores and group standings, as ever, here at snookerorg.
General Cup format and line up for those interested @ProSnookerBlog @CueTracker_Ron pic.twitter.com/gARBBhxc6r
— Deco800 (@Deco800_) September 25, 2014
When Ali Carter announced earlier this summer that he had been diagnosed with lung cancer and would therefore be away from snooker while he received treatment, the WPBSA were quick to announce that his ranking would be frozen, a decision that received almost unanimous support from those within the game.
What was not explained however is quite how this would work on a practical level, the official ranking list stating that ‘Ali Carter’s ranking position will be dealt with retrospectively upon his return to competition.’
Thankfully, Ali’s return to professional competition is now fast approaching in Bulgaria at the start of October for ET3 and sooner rather than later, we can expect an announcement from the governing body as to just how this will be dealt with.
Click below for my thoughts and theories as to what might happen…
