Snooker Season 2021/22

Also at the ding academy, tomorrow sees the start of the WSF amateur championships with the juniors first up. Aaron Smith of crossguns and Leone Crowley of Cork in the field and there's a main tour card on offer for the winner. It's Leones first outing on the international stage and will be interested to see how he fares. Has been spending a lot of quality time in England, practising in Sheffield and playing pro ams, so he's getting a good education. Hopefully can negotiate the group stages anyway.

Unfortunately Leone bumped into a decent English kid so his race is run for this week but he's in the senior event next week so good to be getting these games. It's all ahead of him.

There's a Welsh kid called Liam Davies, just 15, made tournament high break of 134 yesterday and is knocking in 60, 70 breaks for fun. Very exciting prospect and think we'll be hearing a lot about him in not too distant future.

Fergal out of European Masters with a 3-5 defeat to Wu Yize, probably just cost him a grand as he'd likely have run into Ronnie anyway, but it's enough to knock him out of the one year list qualifiers. Every £1,000 is critical from here on in!

Speaking of Ronnie, interesting the worlds No.1 and 2 are both on the baize at 2.30. Not sure selby gonna like it but no way ronnie don't get to be on match table, I'd say.

Stunning result for Leone Crowley in the WSF championships, beating experienced former tour pro Billy Castle 3-0 to reach the last 32. Looks like he'll run into Michael White in the next round which is another tough ask, but it's been a great tournament for the 15 year old who hopefully has a good future ahead of him. Last of the Irish left standing.

If you're going to draw Stephen Maguire, no better time to play than 10am on a Monday morning! But really clinical performance from Fergal, missed hardly anything and I'm confident would take Thepchaiya next round if he can reproduce that. Ken could really do with a win too, but will have it tougher against Mark Allen this pm.

Yeah, i think the rankings accurately reflect the current pecking order. Fergal just has that desire and ferocious will to compete that i think he'll be the one to retain his card for next season. I'd love to see all 3 do it, but realistically, my only confidence is in Fergal. I think Aaron's time will come, all a learning process for him, still a baby in snooker terms.

Big puff of the cheeks from Fergal as he closes it out against Theppy. Nerves of steel. Thep should have closed it out in the last but gave Fergal the chance and took it with open arms. Thats a big win in terms of his tour place and not done yet with Jimmy Robertson up next for a place in the qfs. Well within his scope in this form i would say.

Edit: today is only R32 match, not 16. Maguire match was held over, of course, so got bit ahead of myself!