Wuxi Classic 2011 Day 1 - Maguire (Maquire) beaten Liang to enter QF

Wuxi Classic started today! It is the first televised event in the new season; I know snooker fans cannot wait to watch! :) Because it is an invitational event, it starts from Last 16 to play!

A very poor mistake is made today during the night sessions. Related Organization spelled Stephen Maguire's name WRONG!! They wrote 'Maquire' on the scoreboard instead of Maguire LOL There was no amendments during the match, seems that they didn't know about this serious mistake! Here is the evidence:

Stephen Maquire? OF COURSE NOT!! STEPHEN MAGUIRE!!

Looks like the wrong spelling of Maguire's surname affected Maguire's performance today! Highest break of Maguire was 48 in the match. The two players did not play there standard before the mid-session, especially Liang Wenbo had missed some easy shots. Liang did not win a frame and 0-4 behind to enter mid-session. 

Why was my name spelled wrong? :P

Liang Wenbo found his form in the very important 5th frame. He hits a 60, 26 to trail 1-4 and so as the sixth frame. Maguire struggled and looked too relaxed after he led 4-0, his advantage was reduced to 2 frames only.

The seventh frame was the most exciting frame in today's match. Some high quality safeties were displayed. Liang tried to make a snooker but he fluked a final yellow and snookered at the same time. The match ended when Liang missed. Maguire won the match by 5-2, his opponent in QF will be Ding Junhui.

Former World Champion Graeme successfully came through to QF. He defeated China's Cao Yupeng with 5-2 despite losing the first frame, along with a break of 68. Cao had chances to hold a lead but he didn't take them well. Dott will face Mark Selby tomorrow for a SF spot on Saturday.

China's Yu Delu & Welshman Matthew Stevens

China's Yu Delu shocked us today. This young man beaten Matthew Stevens in the decider though Stevens forced to a decider from 2-4 down. Stevens found his way in the seventh frame to hit 96, 72 in the two frames. But the eventual winner was Yu Delu. Yu needs to fight a battle against Ali Carter tomorrow in QF.

Another World Champion Peter Ebdon completed a 5-3 victory over Rouzi Maimaiti with two centuires, 113 and 107. Ebdon now plays Shaun Murphy, the defending champion of the tournament.

Day 2 of tournament continues tomorrow on Eurosport.

Click here for tomorrow's TV/Match Scedule, Drawsheet

EXCLUSIVE Interview with Ken Doherty - 1997 World Champion

Doherty winning 1997 World Championship

Ken Doherty has an amazing career. He is the only player who have won World Amatuer 

(1989), World Under 21(1989) and of couse the World Championship (1997). He was the 

third player from outside the United Kingdom to win become 1997 world champion by 

beating Stephen Hendry 18-12 in the final.

The Irishman plays with a warped cue in his entire career. It was randomly selected from 

the cue rack in his snooker local club. The cue helped him to win 17 professional titles and 

reach 3 world finals.

However the maximum break is one of the nightmares for Ken. It was very close to be 

completed at a moment. In the 2000 Masters Ken attempted a maximum break in the final 

against Matthew Stevens. The Irish missed the easy final black off its spot at 140 - If he'd 

potted the black, he would have won the £80,000 sports car and completed his first 

maximum break in the career. Eventually Doherty even lost the final 8-10, became the 

runner-up for the second year in a row. 

Ken opened his own Academy in Dublin recently, Ken Doherty
Snooker Academy to help produce Ireland's next snooker 
champion. The Academy provides training coaching for all 
snooker players. http://www.kendoherty.ie/

I had a short section of interview with Ken recently. We talked 

about everything, including snooker, his life off the table and outlook for the new season :)

Kelly: Hi Ken, Congratulations on your newly opened snooker academy! It’s great that

your academy will offer coaching for all snooker players. Have you found a particular

player that you found he has the potential to become a snooker champion?

Ken: I have not found a potential champion just yet but we are just starting and I 

am confident that I will! :)

Kelly: Do you think your project can help the development?

Ken: I think I can help, any club with a really good enviroment and good table 

conditions that also offers coaching can only encourage new talent to emerge.

Kelly: What is your child memory of playing snooker? When did you first fall into love 

with it?

Ken: I first started to play on the full size tables when i was 8 years old. I loved 

watching Pot Black and the World Championship every year. I mostly watched 

with my dad, he was a Ray Reardon fan, Alex Higgins was mine. ;)

Kelly: I am really interested in your cue. I heard that it only cost you £2 and you 

randomly selected from the cue rank in your local snooker club. Tell me more about 

your cue!

Ken: I still play with my £2 cue i picked up in Jasons 30 years ago. Somebody had 

left it behind them and never returned, the £2 was for the manager as a pay off 

to keep quiet.

Kelly: Have you had any funny moments while working on the snooker, either on or 

off camera?

Ken: I first started to play on the full size tables when I was 8 years but needed a 

biscuit tin to stand on. Funny thing was when I started to beat guys much older 

than me, the biscuit tin went missing! 

Kelly: Please share with us what other stuffs you love to do off the table. I heard that 

you like playing poker, do you play it with other players?

Ken: I also love other sports and still play soccer 
every Monday. When I am home, I poker, golf 
and watching Manchester United.

Kelly: Just now we had a 2-month season break before 
the new season start. What did you do in these two months? 

Ken: I spent my time with the family, I miss my home life when I am away so I try 

and make it up when I am back.

Kelly: I know that you are are going to Thailand to play world cup for Ireland next 

month, partner with Fergal O'Brien. It must be great to play for your home country! 

Do you guys practice together to prepare for the doubles? It’s been a while to play doubles, isn’t it?

Ken: Looking forward to the World Cup in July, hardly ever play doubles now but 

would love to see a doubles tournament on TV again. I think Fergal and I will be a 

good partnership.

Kelly: Please share with us the title you are most proud of (Except the World Championship :D)

 Ken: Apart from winning the World Championship in 1997, my proudest other victory came in Malta 2006. I beaten John Higgins from 8-5 down in the final and 

    winning 9-8. (It was the first title he won in 5 years)

Kelly：Ken you did a brilliant job on PTC Grand Final in Ireland, I really enjoy your 

presentation. Any more chance to be a presenter in the future?

Ken: PTC final in Dublin was great and a new experience for me being the MC, I 

really enjoyed it. I hope it's on again there next year but with me playing this 

time!

Kelly: I know you may found this question tough to answer. Do you prefer being a 

player or commentator, or both? How’s it feel in the commentary box?

Ken: Commentary is fun and I have a great time with 
all the other pundits, it doesn't feel like work at all.

Kelly: Okay here are some questions about the current 
snooker development. Barry Hearn did plenty reform in the game. How do you think 
about the new ranking systems and the new overseas tournaments? 

Ken: Barry Hearn has done a great job so far, more tournaments, a better ranking 

system that promotes current form and developing new horizons overseas 

including Australia and Brazil.

Kelly: Did you enter the coming PTC events? Are you excited with the new season? 

Ken: The PTCs have been a revelation so far as the keep all the players playing all 

year round. We really feel like full time professionals now.

Kelly: At last I have some short questions for you. Let’s do them quickly. What kind of 

atmosphere you enjoy playing in?

Ken: Goffs was my favorite tournament for atmosphere however nothing beats the 

Crucible for tension and drama and excitement.

Kelly: What`s your favourite animal? Do you keep any pets at your home?

Ken: Siberian Tiger. We have two King Charles Spaniels,Toffee n Fudge.

Kelly: Your favourite actor/actresss?

Ken: De Niro, Pacino, Jack Nicholson. Angelina Jolie and Cate Blanchett

Kelly: Your favourite country in the world?

Ken: Australia

Kelly: Do you have any inspiration quotations?


Ken: Dream as if you will live forever, 
live as if you will die tomorrow. - James Dean

Kelly: The craziest thing you have done?

Ken: I am crafty Ken I don't do crazy!!!! LOL

    Ken is a really nice guy. I love his character very much. This interview is done before the Australian Open Qualifying started. And now Ken is qualified for the Australian Open which will be held in the next month. Ken will be going to his favourite place in the world! Best of luck to Ken for the new coming season! :)

    Ken has a last word for his fans: A big hello and thank you for all your support over the years! Hope you will keep following me for the next few years, see you at the next tournament. :)

Australian Goldfields Open Qualifying Day 4 - Who're Ready to Go Down Under?

Today is the last day of qualifying and we will know who will be going to Australia this July! :)


Matthew Selt whitewashed 2008 Shanghai Masters Champion Ricky Walden with 114, 53 and 54, to set up a clash against the current World Champion John Higgins. 

Stephen Hendry will be playing Martin Gould at the venue. Gould came through a exciting match against Mark Joyce, winning 5-3. Gould made breaks of 83, 75, 66 and 53 while Joyce made 126 and 54. 'Had a great match this morning with Mark Joyce. Both of us scored very heavy! thankfully I got thru to Australia with 5-3 victory now to book some flights :-)' Gould wrote on Facebook after the match.


Yu Delu's hope to Australia was stopped by Ryan Day. Day enjoyed a 5-0 victory with 84, 62 and 60. Mark Allen will be his opponent in the Last 32 at the venue.

Stuart Bingham will want to have a revenge on Ding Junhui - He came through the qualifying to play Ding in the next round. He booked his seat by victory of 5-2 over Michael Holt. Bingham wrote on Twitter after the match: "Strewth. Glad to get that out of the way. A solid 5-2 win over Holty. Got Ding Down Under. Revenge time me thinks!" 

Another Chinese Player stopped at the last round of qualifying. Tian Pengfei lost in the decider against Mark Davis though Tian knocked out 85, 110 in the match. Mark Davis will play Judd Trump at the venue.

Finally Liang Wenbo entered the Last 32 of a ranking event. Liang has not done well for a while. I hope his 5-3 victory over Ben Woolaston will help hime do better in the new season.

David Gilbert had an impressive whitewash against Mark King. Gilbert will play Graeme Dott at the venue.

Full Result of Australian Goldfields Open Qualifying Day 4, Thursday June 30

10am

51. Ricky Walden 0  v 5 Matthew Selt (Winner to play John Higgins at venue*)
52. Martin Gould 5 v 3 Mark Joyce (Winner to play Stephen Hendry at venue*)
53. Robert Milkins 2 v 5 Rory McLeod (Winner to play Peter Ebdon at venue*)
54. Andrew Higginson 5 v 4 Jamie Burnett (Winner to play Shaun Murphy at venue*)
55. Marcus Campbell 5 v 4 Mike Dunn (Winner to play Ali Carter at venue*)
56. Ryan Day 5 v 0 Yu Delu (Winner to play Mark Allen at venue*)

2.30pm

57. Gerard Greene  2 v 5 Tom Ford (Winner to play Jamie Cope at venue*)
58. Stuart Bingham 5 v 2 Michael Holt (Winner to play Ding Junhui at venue*)
59. Joe Perry 5 v  2 Fergal O'Brien (Winner to play Mark Selby at venue*)
60. Mark Davis 5 v 4 Tian Pengfei (Winner to play Judd Trump at venue*)

7pm

61. Liang Wenbo 5  v 3 Ben Woolaston (Winner to play Matthew Stevens at venue*)
62. Ken Doherty 5 v 2 Scott MacKenzie (Winner to play Stephen Maguire at venue*)
63. Barry Hawkins 4  v  5 Nigel Bond (Winner to play Neil Robertson at venue*)
64. Dominic Dale 5 v 2 Liam Highfield (Winner to play Ronnie O'Sullivan at venue*)
65. Mark King 0 v  5 Dave Gilbert (Winner to play Graeme Dott at venue*)
66. Stephen Lee 3 v 5 Barry Pinches (Winner to play Mark Williams at venue*)

* The two lowest seeded qualifiers will have to play a wild card.