While the Under-17-year-olds are toiling in the heat of the Junior Open, several players are gearing up for the main event: The WSF Open.
A number of amateurs and former professionals are in Malta looking to become the second WSF champion after Luo Honghao in 2018. These players have travelled far and wide. Some players have come from Australia, Czech Republic, Egypt, Isle of Man, Italy, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Mauritius, Morocco, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. It’s amazing what globalisation does to the sport.
Draw and Format
The field is expected to be slightly more competitive since the WSF Seniors Championship was discarded. There are 156 players in this tournament and they are divided into 39 groups of 4. For those who need reminding, you can find the draw by clicking here. The format from the World Snooker Federation website:
The format for the Open competition is as follows:
- All group matches will be the best of 5 frames.
- The top two players in each group will progress to the knockout rounds
- All knockout rounds up to and including the last 16 will be the best of 5 frames
- The quarter-finals and semi-finals will be the best of 7 frames.
- The final will be the best of 9 frames.
In my opinion, it is a bit of a shame that many of these matches are so short. In 2018, the group matches were BO5 matches, but all of the knockout rounds were at least a BO7. This time, just the quarter-finals and the semi-finals are a BO7 and the final is a BO9. Considering Luo Honghao whitewashed Adam Stefanów 6-0 in the 2018 final, it’s sad to reduce the frames in the event.
The reasons are understandable. There are a huge 156 players participating in the event. 39 groups is too many. They should cap the number of entrants where there will be fairer groups of five players each. Regardless, it’s clear that there is more work to be done in this tournament. It would need to be as prestigious and competitive as the European Billiards and Snooker Association (EBSA) and to compete against rivals the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF).
The Players
The Hot Prospects
I talked about some of the hot prospects in my preview of the WSF Junior Open. However, very few decided to participate in the main event too. I have briefly talked about Sean Maddocks, Wu Yize, Ben Mertens, Iulian Boiko and must mention additionally 15-year-old Yan Gao. At the time of writing, they are all in the knockout rounds. You can find out the draw of the WSF Junior Open by clicking here.
Let’s not forget that the Junior event was for Under-17s only, so there are a few more talented youngsters in our midst!
Some Older Kids On The Block
Here is just a snapshot of youngsters that will be playing in the main tournament:
- 2019 English Under-21 Champion and 2019 English Open wildcard: Mark Lloyd
- Five-time Russian National Snooker Champion: Ivan Kakovskiy
- 2017 EBSA Snooker Championship Runner-Up: Andres Petrov
- 2016 EBSA Under-18 Snooker Champion and 2018 Under-21 EBSA Runner-Up: Tyler Rees
There are a number of amateur players who regulars in the international amateur circuit. Frenchman Brian Ochoiski, Finn Patrik Tiihonen, Northern Irishman Fergal Quinn and Pole Mateusz Baranowski are the familiar faces who are bashing the door down to become a professional.
The Former Professionals
You would expect there to be a number of former professionals looking to compete at highest level again and you right, there are. There are at least fifteen former pros who are willing to give the main tour another crack, many of whom dropped out last season. They include Robin Hull, Zhang Yong and Lukas Kleckers. Many others are currently participating in The Challenge Tour, including Leo Fernandez, Sean O’Sullivan, Rory McLeod, Allan Taylor, Ross Muir and Andrew Pagett.
But there are two players in particular I want to talk about a little more.
Tornado Is Back To Do Some Damage
If you have not heard of Tony Drago, then you need a good word with yourself. Drago is one of the most colourful and popular characters in the snooker world. The 1988 World Championship quarter-finalist reached to No. 10 in the world despite not having won a ranking event and recorded the fastest century in professional competition. The Maltese Falcon made a century break in just three minutes and thirty-one seconds in the 1996 UK Championship.
Since being relegated from the tour in 2016, he recovered from heart failure and participates in the Seniors Tour, most recently in the 2019 World Senior Snookers Championships, reaching the Last 16.
Welsh Warrior Is Now Ready For Combat
If there’s anyone on the road to redemption, it is Jamie Jones. Once the youngest person to make a maximum break at 14 years of age, Jones had a moderately successful career. He qualified for the World Championships three times, most famously in 2012, where he reached the quarter-finals. He made one professional 147 and reached two ranking semi-finals.
But all went pear-shaped in 2018 when Jones was suspended pending a match fixing investigation. Though it was found that he didn’t fix any matches at all, he “admitted failing to report a corrupt approach” involving then-professional David John. Jones had finished his suspension in October last year, but lost his tour card in the process. Thankfully, Jones revealed that “I can finally put the worst year of my life behind me.” After regaining his confidence through getting a job and recently having a son, he will definitely look to get back where he belongs. Jones is a brilliant player who reached the Top 32 in the world and it be brilliant to see him as a pro again.
Jamie Jones has a tricky and familiar opponent in Rory McLeod in his group. McLeod, the 3-time World Championship qualifier and 2015 Ruhr Open champion, was relegated from the tour last season.
The Underdogs
WSF President Jason Ferguson proudly proclaimed that the WSF Open is open to men and women, as well as individuals with disabilities. Female professionals Reanne Evans, Rebecca Kenna and Nutcharut Wongharuthai attended the 2018 WSF Championships but all aren’t participating this year. There is one holding the flag for the women. Romanian Corina Maracine reached the Last 32 of the 2019 World Women’s 6-Red Championship and also attended a few tournaments on the Women’s Tour from 2016.
Over the last decade we have seen a lot of firsts, including the first Swiss, Qatari and Pole to become a professional snooker player. It would also be incredible to see the first Japanese professional snooker player. Keishin Kamihashi is 19 years-old and impressed at Q School in 2019, winning five matches in three events. We also have Anton Kazakov, who at the age of 14, won the 2019 Ukrainian National Snooker Championship for the first time.
The WSF (World Snooker Federation) Open will commence at 10-17 January. The winner of the tournament will win a two-year card to compete in the professional snooker season starting 2020/21.
I agree. The format is no good. I don’t think any serious tournament can have knockout matches decided by a best-of-5. Group matches might be different, because an accidental loss is recoverable.
In the Junior event, they allowed 33 out of the 54 players to progress to the knockouts, making many of the group matches unimportant – also something to be avoided in a serious tournament. I also think that it should have been U21, not U18. I’d cast doubt whether Gao is old enough to be able to compete professionally in June, as he only turns 16 on 5th September. But then WSF will withhold prizemoney if he asks for a deferrment. In some countries, education is compulsory until 18. Depending on their birthday, many 17-year olds wouldn’t turn 18 until many months after the season has started. I hope WSF (and WST) have a strategy to cope with the shortfall.
Very analytical – I like it!
And the ideal opportunity for the top women players to compete for a tour card, but… none of them have entered!
With all the recent hoo-ha regarding women being on the tour, I can’t understand why they don’t grab every opportunity to prove that they are every bit as good as the male players.