Latest news with #WorldSnookerChampionships
The Irish Sun
11-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘The tide is starting to turn' – Snooker chiefs contemplating major rule change after Shaun Murphy pleas ‘for 20 years'
SHOT CLOCKS in snooker have taken a major step to becoming a reality. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association chairman Jason Ferguson has opened the door to a conversation about implementing them in sport for the first time. 3 Murphy feels that the current rule requiring referees to step in to halt slow play places too much of a burden on the officials Credit: Alamy 3 Murphy won the World Snooker Championships in 2005 at the age of 22 Credit: PA The concept of a snooker shot clock has been championed by Shaun Murphy, who claims the the idea is growing in popularity. Murphy - a former world champion - notably While on commentary duties, Murphy noted Allen's slow pace of play and suggested it was a tactic to throw opponent Barry Hawkins off his game. After Allen's rebuttal on X, Murphy was questioned as to what the sport could do to improve the situation. READ MORE ON SNOOKER He said: 'I'd bring in a shot clock. And I've been saying this for 20 years, so I'm super-consistent on this. '30 seconds. I think a shock clock that is unemotive, unemotional. "It can't be swayed, it's not open to opinion – takes all of the pressure off the referees." Speaking on the changing attitudes towards the suggestion in the snooker world, Murphy added: "Years ago, I got widely criticised for wanting a shot clock - now the tide is starting to turn. Most read in Snooker 3 Murphy claims to have advocated for the change for two decades amid opposition to the idea from the snooker community Credit: Getty CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS "I think, in years to come, we will see it become a thing.' Now WPBSA chief Ferguson has opened the door to a conversation on the topic. Shaun Murphy reveals one of darkest moments of his career before bouncing back to win Masters Speaking on "One thing I'd like to see is perhaps a more open look at shot times." While Murphy might view the admission as a step in the right direction, the statement had an air of compromise to it, as Ferguson would go on to caveat his opinion. He said: "The major events I don't think you need to muck around with. "The World Championship should always be the hardest test. Stamina, skill, bottle, everything. "Now the tide is starting to turn, not in totality, but it is starting to turn and I think, in years to come, we'll see it become a thing.' List of all-time Snooker World Champions BELOW is a list of snooker World Champions by year. The record is for the modern era, widely considered as dating from the 1968-69 season, when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) took control of the sport. The first World Championships ran from 1927 - with a break from 1941-45 because of World War II and 1958-63 because of a dispute in the sport. Joe Davis (15), Fred Davis and John Pulman (both 8) were the most successful players during that period. 1969 - John Spencer 1970 - 1971 - John Spencer 1972 - Alex Higgins 1973 - Ray Reardon (2) 1974 - Ray Reardon (3) 1975 - Ray Reardon (4) 1976 - Ray Reardon (5) 1977 - John Spencer (2) 1978 - Ray Reardon (6) 1979 - Terry Griffiths 1980 - Cliff Thorburn 1981 - 1982 - Alex Higgins (2) 1983 - Steve Davis (2) 1984 - Steve Davis (3) 1985 - 1986 - Joe Johnson 1987 - Steve Davis (4) 1988 - Steve Davis (5) 1989 - Steve Davis (6) 1990 - 1991 - John Parrott 1992 - Stephen Hendry (2) 1993 - Stephen Hendry (3) 1994 - Stephen Hendry (4) 1995 - Stephen Hendry (5) 1996 - Stephen Hendry (6) 1997 - 1998 - 1999 - Stephen Hendry (7) 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - Mark Williams (2) 2004 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (2) 2005 - Shaun Murphy 2006 - Graeme Dott 2007 - John Higgins (2) 2008 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (3) 2009 - John Higgins (3) 2010 - Neil Robertson 2011 - John Higgins (4) 2012 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) 2013 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (5) 2014 - 2015 - 2016 - Mark Selby (2) 2017 - Mark Selby (3) 2018 - Mark Williams (3) 2019 - 2020 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (6) 2021 - Mark Selby (4) 2022 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (7) 2023 - 2024 - 2025 - Most World Titles (modern era) 7 - Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O'Sullivan 6 - Ray Reardon, Steve Davis 4 - John Higgins, Mark Selby 3 - John Spencer, Mark Williams 2 - Alex Higgins
The Hindu
03-07-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
On records in sports
Daily Quiz | On records in sports Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit YOUR SCORE 0 /5 RETAKE THE QUIZ 1 / 5 | This gentleman, who was born on July 3, 1851, played in the first-ever Test cricket innings and scored a century. In doing so, he set a record for the highest individual share of runs in a completed team innings that remains unbroken to this day. Name him and his country. DID YOU KNOW THE ANSWER? YES NO Answer : Charles Bannerman, Australia SHOW ANSWER 2 / 5 | Name this Czechoslovakian athlete who set a world record in the women's 800-meter race in 1983. Her phenomenal time has held for over four decades, making it the longest-standing individual world record in athletics. DID YOU KNOW THE ANSWER? YES NO Answer : Jarmila Kratochvílová (800 m in 1min, 53.28 seconds) SHOW ANSWER 3 / 5 | This behemoth basketball player, nicknamed 'The Stilt,' scored an unbelievable 100 points in a single game for the Philadelphia Warriors on March 2, 1962. In the modern era, the late Kobe Bryant came closest to this mark in 2006. Name the record-holder and the number of points Kobe Bryant scored. DID YOU KNOW THE ANSWER? YES NO Answer : Wilt Chamberlain, 81 SHOW ANSWER 4 / 5 | This English cueist was the undisputed king of early snooker, winning the first 15 World Snooker Championships held from 1927 to 1946. He was undefeated in the tournament before his retirement from the event. Name him. DID YOU KNOW THE ANSWER? YES NO Answer : Joe Davis SHOW ANSWER
The Irish Sun
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Diogo Jota dead – Robbie Keane and Katie McCabe lead Irish tributes after Liverpool star's tragic passing
ROBBIE Keane and Katie McCabe have led Irish tributes after the tragic death of Liverpool star Diogo Jota. The Portugese forward and his fellow footballer brother Andre Advertisement 7 He helped Portugal win the Nations League only last month Credit: Getty 7 Snooker legend Ken Doherty also expressed his shock upon hearing the news Credit: Getty 7 Ireland captain McCabe called Jota's death 'heartbreaking' 7 Doherty shared this photo of Jota visiting the Crucible Credit: @kendoherty1997 Ken Doherty shared an image of the tragic ace visiting the home of the World Snooker Championships in Sheffield. Meanwhile McCabe conveyed her shock by reposting a black and white photo of the 28-year-old, adding the caption "Heartbreaking". The crash occurred on the A52, near the municipality of Palacios de Sanabria at around 12:40am. The dad-of-three star was in a Lamborghini with his brother when the vehicle went off the road and caught fire. Advertisement Read More On Diogo Jota Cops said they believe one of the supercar's tyres burst. Both men were found dead at the scene, according to the Zamora Provincial Council. Liverpool FC Advertisement Most read in Football Breaking Breaking Breaking Live Blog They added that everyone at the club is still coming to terms with the "unimaginable loss". The Portuguese national football team have said they are 'devastated' by the Diogo Jota's tragic final post revealed just hours before dying in car crash They added that he 'was not only a fantastic player with almost 50 caps for the national team, but also an extraordinary person who was respected by all his teammates and opponents'. Jota had got married just 10 days ago to his longterm partner Rute Cardoso and the couple have three children, Dinis, Durate, and a daughter who was born in 2024. Advertisement The couple shared pictures of themselves in front of the altar with their kids on their big day. In the caption, they said: 'June 22, 2025. Yes to forever.' The Instagram post received over 190,000 likes and over 1,000 comments. 7 McCabe called this morning's news 'heartbreaking' Credit: @katie_mccabe11 7 Robbie Keane labelled it 'devastating' Credit: @robbiekeane Advertisement 7 Keane is currently managing Hungarian side Ferencváros Credit: Getty Tributes have been flooding in for the star, with ex-player and pundit Gary Neville saying: "That is heartbreaking news on Diogo Jota and his brother. All my love and best wishes to his family." TV presenter Piers Morgan wrote: "He only got married two weeks ago. Heartbreaking." FC Advertisement "It is with shock and deep regret that we send our most sincere condolences to the family and friends of Diogo Jota and his brother André Silva, who was also our youth player. May they rest in peace." Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher posted on Instagram: 'Absolutely devastated by the sad news about Diogo Jota. Thoughts are with his wife Rute and their three kids.'
Irish Independent
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Snooker legend Jimmy White coming to Kerry village this Bank Holiday weekend
Widely regarded as one of the best players of his generation, 63-year-old White, who was nicknamed 'The Whirlwind' in his heyday, will be taking part in an exhibition match on the night as well as a meet and greet with fans before a BBQ and a Q & A session afterward. While he enjoyed a remarkable career, winning two of snooker's Triple Crown events, the 1984 Masters and the 1992 UK Championship, he is still regarded as one of the greatest players never to win the coveted World Snooker Championships in which he reached six finals over the course of his career, finishing runner up on each of the occasions. The night is being organised by Mike Parker and all funds raised from the night will go towards the Kilflynn Community Together group. 'We've had Denis Taylor and Ken Doherty here at the pub before so it was only right that Jimmy be the next big name that we get. Ticket sales are starting to pick now so hopefully we'll have a good crowd there on the night to raise funds for the group,' Mike Parker of Parker's Pub told The Kerryman. Mike Brady meanwhile is the Chairperson of the Kilflynn Community Together Group and he also spoke to The Kerryman to let people know what work the volunteer-led group gets up to in the community. 'We're just a small community-based organisation who are responsible for the general upkeep of the village. We try to take on small projects around the place, too. We look after Halloween here, St Patrick's Day, the Christmas tree and lights, all that sort of stuff. We are completely dependent on donations. We're delighted that Mike is doing this for us, we got a few bob from when he had Ken Doherty there as well so anything we can get at all is a big help,' said Mike. V.I.P tickets for the event will cost €20 and the doors will open on the night at 7pm with the first frame set for 8.15pm. Standard tickets meanwhile will cost €10. They can be bought from Parker's Pub itself or from the pub's website.
The Guardian
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Zhao Xintong v Mark Williams: World Snooker Championship final
We say this every year, but it bears annual repetition. In life, there are few things – or people – or divinities – on which we can rely never, ever to disappoint us. But the World Snooker Championships are one such, and the last fortnight has bestowed upon us another jazzer. That's not to say it's the same vibe every year, far from it. Once upon a time, this tournament confirmed the identity of the best player in the world – Steve Davis through the 80s, Stephen Hendry the 90s – but now, though Judd Trump has dominated the last few years, he's won this trophy only once because he standard is so high anyone in the field can beat anyone else in the field. As such, we've had six different world champions in the last seven years, three of them first-time winners. It's unlikely many, if any of us, expected to spend the bank holiday weekend obsessed with Zhao Xintong v Mark J Williams. Which is to say that nowadays, our tournament does still confirms the identity of the best player in the world, but only during these last two weeks. In theory, this is a lesser outcome – our players come and go, so don't represent our family heritage in the way our teams do – but in practice, even individual sport isn't solely about facts, rather about people and their stories, which exist in thrillingly inexhaustible supply. In any case, it doesn't really make sense to say Mark J Williams comes and goes, given he first contested a final in 1999, then picked up the pot in 2000. Except it also kind of does, given he was set to quit the game in 2018, disgusted by the waning of his considerable powers. But his wife, Jo, persuaded him to continue, he miraculously, affirmingly, snaffled the title for the third time, and since then has re-established himself as part of the elite, a one-off technician with a unique snooker brain, and one of the greatest big-match temperaments we've ever seen – in any sport. Already an indisputable great of the game, a fourth biggun would take him level with John Higgins and Mark Selby in the all-time list; what an honour that'd be. Standing in his way, though, is a redemption tale of mythological proportions. Zhao Xintong exploded into our consciousness in 2021-22, winning the UK Championships followed by the German Masters six weeks later. His long-to-mid-range potting was barely believable in the ferocity of its accuracy, so too his coruscating calm … and then, in 2023, he was suspended pending a match-fixing investigation, eventually receiving a 20-month ban for being party to another player fixing two matches and betting on matches himself. No, it wasn't pretty; yes, he was young. Since returning to the game, Zhao has devastated almost everything in his path – most recently Ronnie O'Sullivan – and arrives at this final in sensational form. But Mark J has made a career out of extinguishing exactly that, so turn on the telly, draw the curtains, and for the next two days, shut out everything that isn't this. You'll not regret it. Start: 1pm BST Share
