Oh and That's a Bad Miss… UK Snooker Arrives in York | Nouse
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Nouse Web Archives Oh and that’s a bad miss… UK Snooker arrives in York Page 1 of 3 News Comment MUSE. Politics Business Science Sport Roses Freshers Sport › News & Features Comment Varsity Roses College Cup Fantasy Football Oh and that’s a bad miss… UK Snooker arrives in York By Andrew Derlien Thursday 1 December 2011 Reigning world champion John Higgins held an open session at York’s ‘Cueball Club’ last week, inviting challengers to take him on in a frame with the promise of a drink for everyone in the room if he could be defeated. Surprisingly, I lost. It was just as well for the Scot too, as there were well over a hundred of us packed into the dingy basement snooker hall. Such is the popularity of the sport today- and with this year’s UK Championship to be held at the Barbican Centre in December, interest is surely set to grow in York, if only for a fortnight. While the presence of poster boys Willie Thorne and Steve Davis is sure to set female hearts racing, some of snooker’s younger stars will be looking to make their big break at the event, and emerge with the most prestigious trophy in the sport bar Sheffield’s World Championship. World number one Mark Selby, the Jester from Leicester, will be in with a great chance, as will China’s 24-year-old darling Ding Junhui. Judd Trump will surely be at the head of the charge for glory though. Just as he did so superbly on route to the World Championship final in April, the 22-year-old is set to bewilder fans at the Barbican with his trademark attacking style of play and bold long-pot attempts. Trump is certainly in a focused and determined mood, confidently proclaiming on his twitter account this week “Jack Daniels sauce. Delicious”. But can Trump and the other young pretenders usurp Higgins and the veterans? 36-year-old Mark Williams was last year’s runner-up, and is enjoying some of the best snooker of his career after returning to second position in the world rankings. Dropping out of the elite top sixteen in 2008 would have buried many careers on the baize, but the Welshman’s rejuvenated form means he has a fighting chance of entering 2012 as UK champion. It would also take a brave man to write off Ronnie O’Sullivan, even at 35 years old- just ask the hapless Mick Price, one of many victims to have sat slumped in his seat, watching the legend race through a maximum 147 break. Rocket Ronnie’s time on that occasion in 1997? A little over five minutes, an astonishing record that nobody has come even close to since. Price is now a student careers advisor in Kenilworth, by the way. He doesn’t normally recommend snooker. http://nouse.co.uk/2011/12/01/oh-and-thats-a-bad-miss-uk-snooker-arrives-in- Archived 11 Dec 2018 york 02:36:04 Nouse Web Archives Oh and that’s a bad miss… UK Snooker arrives in York Page 2 of 3 Whoever takes the £100,000 prize money that comes with the title would be able to buy 20,000 students tickets for first-round matches at the Barbican Centre. That’s right maths fans- student admission has been set at a bargain price of £5, in a generous bid to attract younger fans. Not interested in snooker? Put off by its tag as a ‘Dad sport’? Well put down your Panini, pour the Costa down the drain. Stuart Bingham versus Marco Fu is a much more sensible way to spend a fiver this week. Give snooker a try. Go on, I dare you. One comment JC 12 Dec ’11 at 7:23 pm A superb tournament, and whatever Mark Allen thinks the change in format was vindicated by big, enthusiastic crowds throughout the week. The tournament would never have left York were it not for the awful state that the Barbican got itself into – great to see it back in action too. And nice prediction! Report Most Read Discussed 1. Men’s Football 3s fight back to win on Derby Day 2. Premier League Round-Up: Gameweek 15 3. Zidane the greatest of all time 4. Mind over Matter: An insight into the psychology of boxing 5. Women’s sport to open and close Roses 2019 6. Premier League Round-Up: Gameweek 14 Write for Nouse Sport Get in touch with the editors Join the Facebook group More in Sport Premier League Round-Up: Gameweek 15 Premier League Round-Up: Gameweek 14 Men’s Football 3s fight back to win on Derby Day Premier League Round-Up: Gameweek 13 Netball 1s show Roses mettle in front of large crowd Netball 1s easily overcome Leeds Beckett http://nouse.co.uk/2011/12/01/oh-and-thats-a-bad-miss-uk-snooker-arrives-in- Archived 11 Dec 2018 york 02:36:04 Nouse Web Archives Oh and that’s a bad miss… UK Snooker arrives in York Page 3 of 3 About Nouse Who’s Nouse Website Credits Contact Us Advertising Archives Student Discounts Print Editions Mini-Sites Nouse on Twitter Nouse on Facebook Nouse on Google+ © 1964–2018 Nouse Policies | http://nouse.co.uk/2011/12/01/oh-and-thats-a-bad-miss-uk-snooker-arrives-in- Archived 11 Dec 2018 york 02:36:04.