Masters starts next Monday!!

zack01

One of the best tournamnets of the season albeit non ranking starts next Monday, as usual the BBC and Eurosport will provide coverage. This is the first tournament taking place since Barry Hearn became chairman of the World Snooker Association and one of the first of hopefully many changes to the sports image will be the players being introduced to the crowd with music playing, hey it worked for the darts and Hearns Premiere Snooker League so why not? Mind you the London audience never really need much to get them involved.

A couple of great early matches see Mark King play Jimmy White, two local boys (King from nearby Essex) that game should have a great atmosphere.Other matches see Mark Selby play Ding Junhui and world champion John Higgins play Mark Allen. But without doubt the match of the early rounds sees holder Ronnie O' Sullivan play Neil Robertson, it could be a case of blink and you'll miss it!!

Talking of Ronnie, he's been playing with a purple snooker cue recently and sporting a purple waistcoat, he won't however be using these in the Masters, this is just the colour of his new sponsor Premier Inn Hotels, as an extra they are going to give away 147 free hotel rooms if he achieves a maximum break during the tournament.:)

celticfc

It starts on Sunday surely, as always....?

zack01 wrote: »

Talking of Ronnie, he's been playing with a purple snooker cue recently and sporting a purple waistcoat, he won't however be using these in the Masters, this is just the colour of his new sponsor Premier Inn Hotels, as an extra they are going to give away 147 free hotel rooms if he achieves a maximum break during the tournament.:)

Nice Idea, although the masters is still one of the most unlikely events to get a 147, but if anyone can.....

zack01

Correction, the Masters starts on Sunday, King v White is on Sunday night

celticfc

Looks like there's a sponsor for the Masters now aswell.

From SSB:

HEARN GETS SPONSOR FOR WEMBLEY MASTERS

Barry Hearn, who has been WPBSA chairman for three weeks, has secured a one-year sponsorship deal with PokerStars, the world's largest online poker room, to back next week's Wembley Masters.

Hearn says the level of financial support being offered by the company is "acceptable" for a last minute deal and that it was "very difficult" to secure a three year arrangement so close to the event.

The online gaming industry is one of the few doing well in the current econnomic climate, so their interest in snooker is most welcome.

It also proves that Hearn has the contacts to bring some much needed money into the sport.

Omega28

thats fantastic for them to secure a deal with PokerStars, Pokerstars have been around for years, leading the online poker scene. This is excellent indeed, hopefully they might sponsor some new tourneys too or get involved in some way.

White vs King, brilliant! I know what im doing on Sunday night:D it'll be great to see the Whirlwind back where he belongs, he's a true entertainer and its what the game needs more of, it would be nice to see him to get through this encounter.

But I'm going for Ronnie to win, It would also be nice to see Hendry to do well, I feel the man needs a BIG confidence boost, he's done very little in recent years, and you can see how frustrating its getting him, the man is a natural born winning machine. So come on lads!!!

Gingy

Just looking at the early stages of the draw, O'Sullivan v Robertson should be a cracker. Can't wait for the tournament to start, real snooker weather outside!