The Chalk - Issue 1 - April 2020 by The Chalk

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ALEX HIGGINS

TEN YEARS ON

GEORGE TIERNEY EXCLUSIVE

COACH BARRY STARK

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TEN YEARS ON

BLACK BALL POOL RULES

GEORGE ‘TRN1’ TIERNEY

COACH BARRY STARK

RODNEY REMEMBERS

WHEN STAN PLAYED RONNIE

NEWS FROM THE BAIZE

WELCOME TO

SNOOKER BACKER

ello and welcome to the first edition of The Chalk - your brand new e-magazine that aims to cover cue sports from around the world. Thank you for taking the time to subscribe, download, open and flick through the digital pages of the sport’s newest, brightest, freshest publication. Every month we aim to bring you insight into cue sports. The magazine is also interactive, so you can watch videos by clicking on the images that have the play button on. We are delighted to have ‘TRN1’ George Tierney as our first interview. He tells us why he is called TRN1 and opens up about his family and tells us who was his cue sports idol. We are also pleased to say that Barry Stark has agreed to be our resident coach. We will be featuring coaching clips from Barry’s popular YouTube Channel. Rodney Goggins will be joining us each month to remember famous snooker matches. Rodney is joined by popular blogger Snooker Backer, who will be writing a column each month to keep you all entertained. You can support us online by liking us on Facebook (facebook.com/TheChalkMag and by following us on Twitter @_TheChalk. Instagram more your thing? Give _TheChalk a follow. Our thanks also to our advertisers who have advertised despite not having seen an edition. Your support is really appreciated.. If you would like to advertise please get in touch by emailing us at info@thechalk.co.uk. If you have any feedback, then please email us - info@thechalk.co.uk. Happy reading and we hope you like!

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TEN YEARS ON >> REMEMBERING ALEX HIGGINS <<

This chapter is taken from the book Snooker Legends written by Jason Francis and published by Bonnier Books. It recounts the night he took Alex back to the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield for what was to be his last ever snooker match.

o the day had finally come. Months of planning and preparation and now we actually had to do this show. All the players had agreed to have a chat with the BBC during the afternoon, everyone except Alex of course! These interviews formed a series of mid-session special features during the main 2010 World Championships. It was tremendous free promotion for the brand. The feature they did on Alex involved older footage with a few shots of him playing on the night and some sound bytes from the other players. The irony is I think the BBC would have paid him for an interview, but for once he never even asked. As part of my notion of recreating the iconic moments from past victories, Alex had agreed to wear a bottle green shirt and come on wearing his fedora hat, just as he had in 1982. We had arranged a photo call at 5.30pm, with the VIP reception due to start at 6. The day had flown by. It was the first time we had set up the event and we were finding our feet. At 5pm we had finished the set-up. I was pretty proud of how it looked. We had transformed the Crucible and taken it back thirty years to the Embassy era of red carpets and gold trim. Kevin showed up in his tuxedo having done fuck all, all day. Copromoter my arse! Jimmy had already arrived and was having a knock on the table, soaking up the venue that had been the scene of such emotions for him. Kevin had bad news: Alex

wanted his money now and he wanted an extra £500 on top. I was fuming. He had me over a barrel and the truth is, I would have paid it. Jimmy stepped in and said, “If you do it this time, you’ll have this every time we play – tell him to fuck off and that you’re calling Doherty to come and replace him.” It was not his business to get involved but I think he genuinely felt sorry that Higgins was trying to screw me over at this late stage. I relayed the message to Kevin who was sent scuttling back to the Jury’s Inn in his evening suit to pass on the news. Jimmy reassured me Alex would play; I had the one thing no one had ever been able to offer him since 1994: a chance to play in the Crucible. He was right. 5.30pm came and we all assembled at the table for the photo, all except Alex who was still in his dressing room. Like a lap dog I went to get him after being told he wasn’t ready. I opened the door, and he was sat fully dressed with his feet up, looking at the Racing Post – of course he was ready, but it was their place to wait for him. The green shirt didn’t fit but Alex didn’t want to roll up his cuffs – once again I’d soon realize why, clever bugger. Photos were done. Little did I know how many times that image would be used over the coming months globally. It was April 8th 2010, and in just nine weeks Alex Higgins would be dead. The format for the evening pitched two players into semi-finals in the first half,

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with John Virgo doing some trick shots and impressions. The second half would be a fun doubles with two members of the audience partnering the losing semi-finalists, before the final of the event itself to decide who would win the Legends Cup. The initial match-ups were easy; Jimmy and John Parrott would recreate their 1991 final as a warm up to the main event, a rematch between sworn enemies Thorburn and Higgins from 1980.

In the 1980 World Championships the top eight seeds didn’t play in round one, Thorburn was seeded three and defeated Doug Mountjoy, Jim Wych and David Taylor to get to his second final, the first having been a 1977 loss to John Spencer. Alex had to play from the first round and had beat Tony Meo, Perrie Mans, arch rival Steve Davis, and Kirk Stevens. It was a final between two bitter rivals but Alex thought it was destined to be his year and started showboating, playing extravagant shots; he led 9-5 overnight. Apparently that evening Alex placed an order for a celebration cake, to be inscribed “Alex Higgins 1980 World Champion”. Day 2 and Thorburn came out firing; he tightened up his game and clawed back the deficit. During the final session these two gladiators went blow for blow, but unbeknown to them, a few hundred miles down the road in London real hand grenades were being thrown and people’s lives were being lost. As famously reported, the coverage of the 1980 snooker final was interrupted by reports of a siege in London. The BBC took the snooker off the air to bring live coverage of the SAS storming the Iranian Embassy in Kensington. A group of six armed men had stormed it a few days earlier and taken twenty-six people hostage. The hostage-takers demanded the release of Arab prisoners from jails in Khūzestān and their own safe passage out of the United Kingdom. The British government were not going to give into their demands, and after one of the hostages was murdered, the SAS were sent in to resolve the situation. This was a worldwide act of terrorism but as soon as the BBC switched off the snooker to start reporting it, they got bombarded by the public demanding Alex and Cliff be put back on! Can you imagine that nowadays? “Sorry, we have to leave coverage of the London Bombings because Mark Selby and Shaun Murphy are into a decider”? A compromise was reached, with the coverage switching between the two events. It’s even been reported, although not verified as far as I know, that Margaret Thatcher had a TV set on following the snooker as well! In 1980 Thorburn was the underdog, Higgins the people’s champion. By 2010 not even the most fanatic of Alex disciples would have bet on him to beat Cliff. What was amazing was when Alex got his moment, walking into a packed arena on the back of a huge build-up from John Virgo. Nine hundred and ninety seven people stood up and applauded, thanking Alex for what he had done for the game of snooker. He was back home for the first time since 1994. What followed was largely irrelevant – they had seen their man, as we now know they were affectively saying goodbye. Alex was playing with the hybrid cue, top half Jimmy Mansfield’s and bottom half from God knows where. He had cut the thumb from some bright yellow marigold gloves and stretched it over the butt of the cue to give him some sort of tactile grip – it was very bizarre. The cuffs were now rolled up. Why? Well, because on his right wrist, in full view of the cameras was Alex’s hospital admission

band – he never missed a trick! Over the years I’ve been criticized for allowing Alex to play that night. Some said the whole thing was a freak show and I was exploiting him just for ticket sales. If you had never met, or been around, Alex then maybe I could understand you having that opinion. If on the other hand you had ever had anything on any level to do with him then you would know that no one told Alex what to do. He checked himself out of hospital, travelled to Sheffield and played that night because he wanted to do it. Could I have stopped him? I could have tried, but who was I to deny a man who had done so much to get to the venue the chance to play in it? More recently I’ve got to know Lauren Higgins, his only daughter. She’s lived her life being ‘that baby in his arms’ during the trophy celebrations. Now in her late thirties she’s carved her own career, finally emerging from her father’s shadow. She only rarely gives interviews about him despite being constantly asked. She did agree to present the first ever Alex Higgins trophy in Belfast in 2016, it was a nice touch and appreciated by the eventual winner Mark King. We also now welcome the most famous Northern Irish Snooker name ever name back to the legends family, Lauren joining us in Goffs for the Irish Masters in January 2018. Hendry, Davis, White, Taylor and Higgins all together again at the venue where Alex first took Laurens mum Lynne. Alex Higgins was a trailblazer to many subsequent professional s n o o k e r p l a y e r s , including Ken Doherty, Jimmy White and Ronnie O’Sullivan. Ronnie is on record as saying

that “Alex was an inspiration to thousands of snooker players all over the country, including me. The way he played at his best is the way I believe the game should be played. It was on the edge, keeping the crowd entertained and glued to the action.” He’d made the effort to get to Sheffield and he wanted to play. I’d mentioned to John Virgo about not just doing performing his trick shots but also giving some live commentary during the frames. I was always aware that we had to set ourselves apart from tournament snooker. We couldn’t compete with the standard being dished out by O’Sullivan, Robertson and Selby, but we also didn’t have the restrictions that tournament snooker brings. Amid the deathly silence of match place one rogue cough in the crowd on a player’s backswing can cost them a title and a good few quid. JV wasn’t immediately sold on the idea but agreed to give it a go. When you have natural entertainers like Parrott, Taylor and Davis playing, then they fill in the gaps, with a joke here, and a story there. My issue was that if Jimmy wasn’t potting balls and making big breaks, or Cliff was struggling and having an off night – as they all do from time to time – then the show could become at best awkward but at worst embarrassing. John provided the glue to hold it all together. What he did was perfect; it worked far better than I could ever imagine and has become a feature of all our Legends shows. John Virgo knows when to speak, and more importantly knows when to keep quiet. If a frame goes messy he will be out at the table offering advice on a ‘plant’ or certain shots they should

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play. If O’Sullivan is on nine reds and nine blacks, with a maximum looming, you won’t hear JV telling you about when Ray Reardon found a talking frog! In his recently published autobiography, ‘Say Goodnight JV’, I was humbled to receive a personal acknowledgement from him. He thanked me for ‘giving him another lease of life touring with Snooker legends and the laughs along the way’. Who knew this first night, one of the most stressful ever, would be the start of something that would change the direction of my life forever. In my players contracts, in all honesty mainly because of Alex’s reputation, I had inserted a clause banning alcohol from backstage. All these Legends, save JP, had a penchant for enjoying a small libation and I was terrified they would get pissed and make a fool of themselves, and more importantly the event itself. The clause was ignored; Green room fridges were filled with Budweiser and Guinness and even The Grinder Cliff was demanding “Two fingers of vodka and some tonic”. (I soon learned that ‘two fingers’ was the measure taken from the bottom of the glass.)

By sitting there chatting, he was devaluing every VIP package I had sold which gave the people who paid top money their time with the players. You could argue why would you pay for a VIP package if one of the main stars was going to sit by his own ‘shop’ in the interval? It was pure greed. I wasn’t happy, and even though I didn’t know Jimmy or Kevin that well, I let them both know it was unacceptable. It never happened again! I was struggling to make Jimmy see that this was not a two-bit exhibition in some back-arse club where you try and nick a few quid. It didn’t take Jimmy long to buy into the Legends notion or ethos and its one he now defends fiercely. Ironic really. The rest of the evening went well; Michaela Tabb, the lady referee, had been a delight and was so good with the public. It still annoys me now when players are signing a piece of merchandise for a fan whilst looking the other way or having a third party conversation. Jimmy can still be guilty of this whereas Michaela makes everyone she meets feel like a million dollars. Alex remained fairly well-behaved. People queued for ages to meet him afterwards,

“I WANT MORE MONEY NEXT TIME AND I’M ONLY PLAYING JIMMY. I WANT THE MONEY UP FRONT AND I WANT SOMEONE WITH ME AT ALL TIMES TO LOOK AFTER ME.” Barry had sent a few ‘guests’ along, I think they were friendly spies. Mike Ganley, his tournament director, spends his whole life running the snooker tournaments, why on earth he’d want to spend a day off sat in the very seats he manages for 17 days every year was baffling… unless of course he was reporting back! The first half of the show went well. JP defeated Jimmy, another loss for Jimmy in the Crucible, and Cliff easily defeated Alex 2-0. I always thought JP and Jimmy was even money but I wasn’t surprised to see Cliff beat a very fragile Hurricane. I think a fit and healthy Alex would have been a bit embarrassed at how he played, barely putting up a fight, the outcome was to be the same as 1980 but nowhere near as close a battle. During the twenty minute interval I was doing the rounds. The atmosphere was good, the show was working, but Jimmy was nowhere to be found... unless you were in the queue in the foyer lining up to buy his merchandise. I was fuming. Snooker Legends had our own merchandise, including Jimmy photos he would be contractually required to sign.

and he shook every hand and signed every photo. The plan was to go back to the Jury’s Inn for a little reception and I thought I could finally relax. Alex was still on about his 600 cash for the doctor; I knew I’d have to pay it from the merchandise sales. As with all these things I got caught up at the venue for a while, sorting ‘stuff’ as you do and didn’t get back to the hotel for forty-five minutes. Higgins had gone off to bed screaming that he hadn’t been paid and had been ripped off; no one else seemed to get caught up in his theatricals. I went up to the room with my colleague Nick to find a note punched across the door handle. It started with the words “Dear Jason” but after that the pleasantries ended, the version I can publish roughly translated into the fact he felt let down and ripped off. I knocked on the door and was summoned in. Alex was in bed with what seemed like his life’s possessions strewn over the bed, all within arms reach. “Where’s my money?” he rasped, venom in his eyes. “It’s here, Alex,” I said and went to give him the envelope with £600 in. “Put it on the bed, I’ll be checking it.”

I welcomed him to check it and explained I had been caught up packing up, that’s why I was later getting back – not that I had set a time. It dawned on me that he wasn’t actually pissed off with me but he was now in a place where he could exert some authority and be an arsehole, so it was my turn to be the innocent victim. “I want more money next time and I’m only playing Jimmy. I want the money up front and I want someone with me at all times to look after me.” I understood the request for more money, it probably irked him to see a full house and six people on the wage bill when even I couldn’t argue he had filled most of the seats himself. He wanted more of the cake and the only person getting crumbs would be the whirlwind. I explained that Kevin was supposed to be looking after him… “Fuck that Irish c**t you can do it.” “Alex, you’ve signed a contract and agreed the money. I’m not paying you any more money, and I can’t just have you playing Jimmy.” Alex pulled back the covers and swung his legs over the side of the bed. Nick later said he thought he was going to come for me. The truth is he hardly had the strength to sit up. “You pay me more money or I’m not playing.” “Then don’t play, Alex,” I said, I think overcome by tiredness and emotion of the day, and of course his unreasonable behaviour. “Fuck off out of my room,” he said. “More money or I ain’t playing no more.” I retreated to the door and then I knew deep down that this couldn’t go on. “Alex, I need to know if you are going to play the rest of the tour. I want you to be happy but not everything can revolve around you.” The reply was genius. “Listen you c**t, everything does revolves around me… Now fuck off!” I pulled the door closed but then reopened it. “I’m sorry Alex, but I’m not prepared to work like this. I won’t be using you on the rest of this tour.” “Fuck off!” he rasped and the Sporting Life was thrown in my direction, landing well short of the door but far enough from him to ensure that he was going to have to get up to retrieve it before he could place his next bet. I returned downstairs. Nick was fully supportive, but I was in a daze. The party was in full flow, Jimmy and Cliff sharing old stories and JV into his third or fourth lager. Michaela handed me a pint. We’d only met earlier that day but already I had a strange feeling we were to become great friends. Jimmy and JV came over for a chat. “Brilliant night, Jay,” said Jimmy. “Superb,” added in JV, “and a great idea to do the live commentary.” “We can do hundreds of these,” said Jimmy. “All we gotta do is find a way to control him [meaning Alex] and get him better.” “Yeah, Alex is the key,” said JV. Little did they know I’d already sacked him, and although we’d speak again on the phone, that was the last time I’d ever see the Hurricane!

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POOL RULES >> THE RULES OF POOL <<

lackball (sometimes written black ball), also known as reds and yellows and English eight-ball, is a pool (pocket billiards) game originating in the United Kingdom and popular across Europe, as well as in some former British colonies such as Australia. In the UK and Ireland it is usually called simply “pool”. The game is played with sixteen balls (a cue ball and fifteen usually unnumbered object balls) on a small (6 ft × 3 ft or 7 ft × 3 ft 6 in) pool table with six pockets. Blackball is an internationally standardised variation of the popular bar and club game eightball pool (a.k.a. eight-ball pool or 8-ball pool), closely related to the originally American and now professionally internationalised game eight-ball. The two main sets of playing rules are those of the World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA, the International Olympic Committee-recognised governing body of pool) and its affiliate the European Blackball Association (EBA), known as “blackball rules”, and the older code of the World Eightball Pool Federation (WEPF), often referred to as “world rules” or the “eightball pool rules”. Eightball pool (and thus its standardised form, blackball), like international-style eight-ball, is derived from an earlier game invented around 1900 and first popularised in 1925 under the name B.B.C. Co. Pool by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company. Like blackball and eightball pool today, this forerunner game was played with seven yellow and seven red balls, unnumbered (in contrast to the international-style numbered stripes and solids, sometimes called American-style or kelly pool balls in Commonwealth English), a black ball (numbered “8” or unnumbered), and the white cue ball. The game had relatively simple rules compared to the modern game. The ball sets typically range from 2 inches (50.8 mm) up to 2 3⁄16 inches (56 mm), often with a slightly smaller cue ball, e.g. 1 7⁄8 inches (47.6 mm) for a 2-inch set. The most 8

common sized sets on the market are 2 inches and 21⁄8 inches (54 mm). Along with the single white cue ball, plain unnumbered red (or sometimes blue) and yellow colour balls, seven of each colour, are used in lieu of the numbered solids and stripes common to international eight-ball and other pool games. Many (especially North American) suppliers refer to the yellows-and-reds sets as “casino” balls, whether UK- or USsized, because they were formerly used in US casino-hosted, televised, modified-rules eight-ball tournaments popular in the 1970s; the coloured rather than numbered sets were selected for their distinguishability on TV. The black ball, however, still typically bears a number “8” (a holdover from kelly pool), though numberless variants are not unknown. British pool tables come in 6 × 3 foot (1.8 × 0.9 m) or 7 × 3.5 ft (2.12 × 1.06 m) varieties, with 7 feet being the regulation size for league play. The table has pockets just larger than the balls and rounded, as in the game of snooker, whereas the international-style (or “American-style”) table has pockets

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significantly wider, with pointed knuckles. Tournament rules may require the presence of more than one type of rest (mechanical bridge), as in snooker. There are two competing standards bodies that have issued international rules. The older of the two sets in the British-style pool are the World Eightball Pool Federation (WEPF) rules (often called “World Rules”). The majority of WEPF members come from the UK and Ireland, and from current and former Commonwealth of Nations countries, plus a few leagues elsewhere. A competing but very similar set of rules has been promulgated by the larger World Pool-Billiard Association (WPA), under the game name “blackball” to better distinguish it from the American-style game (for which the WPA also promulgates the worldstandardised rules). It was intended that “blackball” would unify the various existing British-style rulesets (presumably also including the WEPF rules) although this has not yet happened. The governing body for WPA blackball in Europe, with numerous national and local affiliate groups, is the European Blackball Association (EBA). WEPF World Rules The older World Eightball Pool Federation rules pre-date the WPA blackball rules, and remain popular as amateur league rules in the UK, Ireland, Australia, some other Commonwealth countries, and a few European nations. World rules are no longer played at the professional level, since the International Professional Pool Association (IPA) swapped to WPA blackball rules in 2012. Locally the WEPF rules (or minor variants thereof) are sometimes referred to as “British standard pool”, “Irish standard pool”, etc. As of 2014, WEPF leagues exist in: Australia, Belgium, China, Cyprus, France, India, Japan, Malta, Morocco, New Zealand, Ireland, Reunion Island, South Africa, and the UK (with separate leagues in the Channel Islands, England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales). The balls are racked with the black (the

8 ball) on the foot spot (or “black spot”), in contrast with US-style eight-ball, nineball and most other pool games, in which the apex ball is placed on the foot spot. A “fair break” is one in which an object ball is potted, and/or at least 4 object balls contact the cushion. If the black is potted, the game is restarted with a re-rack, broken by the original breaker. If the cue ball is potted on an otherwise fair break, it is a “non-standard” fault (foul) that simply ends the breaker’s turn, with no further penalties. If it is a foul (non-fair) break, the incoming player gets two visits as with other “standard fouls”, and gets to break, after a re-rack, without the option to instead play the balls as they lie. Openness of the table (unlike in the American-style game) does not last long, in that if the breaker pots a ball on the break from one group, and elects to continue shooting that group, then that group are his/her balls-on, even if the postbreak follow-up shot is missed, while if the group chosen did not have any balls potted on the break, the table remains open until a ball is legally potted. If no balls were potted on the break, the table remains open. The shooter must nominate what group they are shooting for on the shot following the break if they had potted a ball off the break. A legal (non-break) shot is one where the cue ball first hits a “ball-on” (one of the balls in the player’s own group), and does not pot the cue ball, the black or any of the balls in the opponent’s group, and either

one of the shooter’s balls-on is pocketed, or a (any) ball contacts a cushion after the cue ball contacts the (first) ball-on. I.e., it is the same as in American-style, but with the additional requirement that one not sink an opponent’s ball (doing so is a fault), and lacking the requirement that ball and pocket have to be called (i.e. slop shots are perfectly valid, even on the black.) There are other forms of fault, generally the same as in other pool games, such as potting the cue ball (except on the break, as noted above), knocking balls off the table, moving balls accidentally, double-hits and pushes (though the standards are weaker than in American-style rules[citation needed]), unsportsmanlike conduct, etc. There are also other unique fouls such as the requirement (borrowed from snooker) to shoot away from any ball that the cue ball is frozen to, without moving it; however if the frozen ball is the shooter’s own, it counts as contacting a ball-on, and only a (any) ball must reach a rail for it to be a legal shot. As in informal American bar pool, but not WPA/BCA/IPT standardised Americanstyle rules, players are sometimes required to take certain shots (besides the break shot) from baulk or “the kitchen”, i.e. from behind the baulk line (head string). Also, all deliberate jump shots that result in missing an intervening ball are faults. After a fault, the offending player will effectively miss a turn and give the opponent two visits. These free shots must be taken

from where the cue ball finished after their opponents foul, with two exceptions: the cue ball was potted, in which case the incoming player must take their shot from baulk; or the incoming player has been left in a foul snooker, in which case they may nominate a free ball, move the cue ball to baulk and play from there or indeed carry on as normal (i.e. shoot at one of their own balls). WPA Blackball World Standardised RuleS: Blackball rules are somewhat similar in gameplay to (though worded differently from) the WEPF World Rules. Notable differences are: Unlike in World Rules, deliberate fouls are illegal in Blackball. ‘The skill shot’. Blackball Rules enable an opponent’s ball be potted legally at any time during the frame - provided one of your own colours is also potted during the same shot, this is called a skill shot and is illegal in World Rules. After a foul in Blackball Rules, the incoming player has one free shot (they may accept the cue ball in-position as it lies on the table, or take cue ball in-hand, and place it in baulk) where they may legally play any ball. Following the free shot, the player will have one visit remaining regardless of the free shot outcome. This is unlike World Rules whereby, following a foul the incoming player will have 2 visits that carry and can only move the cueball in the case of a foul snooker. Source: wikipedia.

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GEORGE ‘TRN1’ TIERNEY >> GEORGE ‘TRN1’ TIERNEY – EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW FOR THE CHALK! <<

Before we were all put on lockdown The Chalk sat down with George Tierney for this exclusive chat.

f you browse the internet and study 8 Ball Pool there is one name that always seems to pop up, one that divides opinion amongst people like no other, George Tierney. To some he is a Messiah, the greatest money match pool player cueing up today, almost god like… to others he is an overrated average league player

o George where were you born and do you remember the first time you saw snooker or pool on TV? I was born in Dublin, first saw snooker on Tv around 1984, the World Championship that Steve Davis beat Jimmy White. I was 4 years old, straight away I said to me Dad I wanted to be a professional snooker player, I couldn’t wait to watch it. Who was your Idol growing up in cue sports? First one was Stephen Hendry without a doubt, late eighties early nineties he was the player I respected so much. His long potting under pressure was something else, never turned down a long ball and said you will always miss a shot you didn’t take. It’s something I think I’ve taken into my attitude when I play. He inspired me.

who simply thrives on publicity, good or bad, and doesn’t care who he upsets. The self-proclaimed Real Number 1 is always controversial and famed for his live videos where no quarter is given, but there is also no doubt he is not afraid to put it all on the line playing matches for huge sums of money-

many coming down to final frames and having to have nerves of steel to hold himself together when many of us would crumble. So what is it about The Real Number 1 that fascinates Pool players globally? We at The Chalk got the chance to sit down with him for his first ever exclusive interview.

You say he was the first one, anyone else? Ronnie of course, just when you thought it couldn’t get any better he took it up a level. Left and right-handed, no difference. I can’t pot one ball righthanded – I can’t understand how he can do it. It takes a lot for me to rate people. When I played snooker I could put it up to most players, but with him and Hendry I happily stand back and say wow!

playing pool, get your lunch, and still come home with money in my pocket. It was my Dad who got me into snooker, and he got me coached by Shay Ward. I owe that fella so much, taught me everything and had unbelievable knowledge, still does. I didn’t really take pool seriously until I was 32.

Snooker or pool? Well, it was pool first, I played winner stays on at a local community centre, 30p a pop – my first money matches at 8 years of age. I could literally stay on all day, me Mam used to say you must be good if you can go out the house in the morning with 30p, have a good day

How good were you at snooker, did you win anything? I played for Ireland in the Junior Internationals in 1995, we were, and still, are the only ever team to win that event for Ireland. Me, TJ Dowling, Robert Murphy and Martin McCrudden. I remember we beat England on the way to the final and they had Shaun Murphy, Barry Hawkins and Lee Spick playing for them.

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So why do you think two of those English Junior players went on to win multiple professional events and yet that Irish Team who beat them didn’t really break through? I don’t think we got enough backing at a crucial time after that, we were better than them at Junior level but then they kicked on and in Murphy’s case he won the worlds only 10 years later. Any other famous teammates? No, not really but I did play Ronnie in an exhibition in Dublin when I was 21 and made an 84 break to beat him so that was a nice memory. 1-0 v Ronnie. When did you first come back to pool again? I played last competitive snooker match in about 2012 and moved into pool. I still have the odd frame now and again for fun but I’ve lost my cue power now. Do you remember the first time you played a pool match for money, who against and for how much? Where was it? Yeah, it all started because I started slagging off pool players on social media, I was fed up them saying the game was so hard so decided to show them how easy it was compared to snooker. A load of players starting having a pop back and challenging me so I took on a fella called Tiny Doherty in Ballyfermot Social Club for a few quid. We played for 2600 Euro, all my own money. I went 12-9 down but then created ‘destroy mode’ and won 15-12. There were about 100 people watching and 99 of them were there for him, it was some buzz and it made me think I wouldn’t mind a bit more of this and I made a few handy quid. Where did The Real Number 1 nickname come from? I’m not 100% sure, I think I once said “My best beats anybody, so I look at myself as the real Number 1” The fans online went crazy for it and it stuck. We’ve seen so many of your matches streamed online and people will remember different ones for different reasons but for you what has been the best match of your career? Well the biggest money match I’ve played was for

£54,000 against Lee Shepherd, people remember that one for the money we played for but for me the best match was against Wayne Neeson. No one thought I could win it, I had 2000 Euro of my own money on myself, huge pressure and I played brilliantly to beat him 21-14 What’s been your biggest disappointment in pool? Losing to Lee Washbrook, that really sticks in my throat. I was playing him for so much money and I was playing so well at the time I didn’t think there was any way I could lose. I didn’t prepare properly and took him too lightly. Played wrong shots, some horrible shots. I won the Rematch in Dublin but it doesn’t make up for that first one really. What motivates you to take on these matches? Money, pool is a job for me, its incomehow I pay me bills and look after my partner and family. People say it’s about fame, that’s rubbish, it’s not about fame, it’s the players who play me who want to cash in on my fame. They are nothing in pool until they can attach themselves to a pool match against me. Family means everything to me, when I’m out there I am playing for me backers but also for my family. Are money matches good for pool? Yeah, I think so. Most tournament pool is dead, the only people there are the players and people running it. At least when I play a money match the pub is full, with me it draws a crowd. That’s good as players get an atmosphere to play in, the pub gets a payday behind the bar, streaming figures go through the roof. If you’re not playing for money no one is interested, the streaming figures don’t lie just compare how many watch my matches compared to the final of any other 8 ball world

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pool championships. Why do you think there is hardly any pool on tv? That’s an easy one, Sky Sports made a huge mistake when they tried pool out,

“SKY SPORTS MADE A HUGE MISTAKE WHEN THEY TRIED POOL OUT, THEY TELEVISED WORLD RULES – IT’S BORING.” they televised world rules – it’s boring. They didn’t do proper research. If Sky had adopted blackball rules I think the sport could have been as big as a darts. Is it too late? Well, World rules went quiet for a while but now they are trying to re-emerge. pool needs one set of rules, maybe the answer is to tweak the black ball rules which is fast and exciting and made for Tv but do it enough to make the World Rules players happy? If you were in charge how would you change the rules? Well if they were lucky enough to get me to take charge I would keep the majority of the black ball rules with the exception of only giving 1 shot if you go in off the break and also make a rule to say any combination shots planned should be nominated. The problem is most of the top players now play Blackball but World Rules get players because it’s an easy route to play for your country. Best

example is Scotland, a lot of Scotland World Rules Internationals wouldn’t get a game for Craggy Island. Does pool have a drug problem? Yes definitely. It’s far too normalised like it’s a laugh and a joke. It’s a disgrace that players are not drug tested as quite a few would fail. How can you say you are a top sport when you know some of the players you are competing against in these events are on the sniff? Drugs destroy lives. So would you support drug testing in competitions? 100%, zero tolerance. The first promoter who brings this in will have my full backing. You see when a player plays me for example, I have the fear factor I get into their heads, if they are on the sniff it can help them lose that fear and be more relaxed. It gives them an unfair advantage. Do you think you have ever lost a money match because your opponent was on drugs? Yes absolutely, and on more than one occasion. It’s something moving forward I am going to try and stamp out. If you are not prepared to take a drugs test and prove you are clean before you play me then it’s off. I’m a role model and I am fed up having junkies trying to associate themselves with me in this way. Moving back to some of the historic money matches you have played what do you think is the best shot you’ve ever played? I floated a red in down the cushion against Ken Martin that would be hard to beat. 14-14, white glued to the cushion and red just past the middle on that cushion. If I missed the game was over, simple. It was only 500 Euro a man I think but at that time it was 500 Euro I couldn’t afford to lose. One you’ve missed, or had potted against you that hurts? Recently actually, 24-24 against Shaun Sharkey. I’ve got him bang in trouble with a snooker, the perfect snooker. He got out of the snooker and fluked the ball, won the frame and match. Sickening. Do you think you are miss understood?

Yes definitely, some people think I’m just Social Media George, that’s nothing like the human George. It’s a persona, people don’t get it. It’s my job to promote a match, they are all only watching because of me, some want me to win and some want me to lose, it’s all about me, they don’t give a sh*t most of the time about my opponent. The headline is always George won or George lost, it’s never about the cabbage who got lucky once in a while beating me. The problem comes when people

that one with the trilogy. The TRN1 range of cue sports accessories is really exciting and is part of my plan for when I’m not playing pool anymore. I’ve released tips, cue oils, gels and finishing waxes – all top grade and personally tested and used by me How long do you think you’ll continue playing pool for money? At least another 10 years, my cue power’s gone but my eyesight is now back bang on. I’ve started wearing these

Wayne Neeson and George Tierney

think everything away from the table is a joke a well. Personal insults are hurtful, especially when it concerns my partner or children. You don’t see Joshua’s family getting abused because he has said things in a fight build-up about his opponent. Have a pop at me but not my family. I have to shield my partner from a lot of it and I’ve had to tell my son not to get too involved. He sees his dad, this big name in pool and he wants to be just like me. I may be a pool player but I’m a father too and I need to protect them where I can. So what are your future plans for the sport and is there a match you want to get on to settle scores? The second part of that question is easy, Seb Web, unfinished business, in Dublin. I’ve played him twice in England and its 1-1, 25-17 both times, I think. So yes once he gets his personal problems sorted and back playing we need to sort

blue barons from snookerspex.com (nice plug there). I’m still getting better and learning from my mistakes, I’ve got so much experience now and no one plays better under pressure than me. So the big question is, after you who is the next TRN1? The next TRN1, wow tough one, it could be and I say could be because he is a long way off yet… a lad called Kian Monaghan. I like his approach to the table, very well set up almost like a snooker player which you don’t see much, very steady player, good technique. He needs to lose a bit of cockiness but he should grow out of that. George it’s been great talking to you, maybe we can get you back on a regular basis to share your thoughts on the pool scene? You’ll have to speak to the manager! George Tierney may not be The Real Number 1 pool player in many people’s eyes but he is undoubtedly one of the best self-promoting cue sports players you will ever meet, probably a little bit misunderstood but also a proven player on the baize. It’s clear he loves his family, it’s also clear he is not afraid to confront and talk about tough issues both him and his family have faced. While many would run and hide, George puts himself up for judgement and not many people do that. Is he good for pool? That’s not for me to judge but one thing I know for sure is the world of pool will be a sadder place when he puts his cue away for the last time… long live TRN1.

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COACH BARRY STARK >> www.patreon.com/barrystarksnookercoach <<

RESIDENT COACH BARRY STARK GIVES HIS MONTHLY ADVICE TO THE CHALK READERS Here at The Chalk we are delighted to have Barry Stark as our resident coach. Every month we will feature two videos from Barryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s YouTube page to help you improve your snooker game. To watch the videos just click the images below.

Barry is a senior World Snooker coach to amateurs and professionals. Here he introduces his series of short tutorial videos to help players of all abilities improve their game.

This video is Part 1 about cueing in a straight line. Barry teaches you how to establish fixed points in your cueing action and what you should do to establish a good follow through action. This will help you strike the cue ball correctly. BECAUSE EVERY CUE SPORTS PLAYER NEED IT // www.thechalk.co.uk

RODNEY REMEMBERS >> www.thechalk.co.uk <<

RODNEY GOGGINS LOOKS BACK AT A MATCH THAT PULLED HIM INTO SNOOKER

hen second seed and People’s Champion, Jimmy White, twenty five years of age, took on new snooker sensation, the 19 year old from Scotland, Stephen Hendry, in the second round of the 1988 Embassy World Championships held at The Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, there was a lot of hands being rubbed by the snooker public in expectation of a great match, and both players didn’t disappoint. Hendry not only started the season as twenty third in the world, also sporting a new spiked hair style, but was as high as provisionally third when this match took place. This was maybe the second ever classic match where both players with a similar style, potting and team-building, that would bounce of each other, with the first being four years previous, to White’s encounter with Canadian’s Kirk Stevens in the semi finals of the Benson and Hedges Masters. There was a lot of great matches in the 1980’s, but these two matches connect to the modern game we know today, going for the jugular, with the masses following suit with their attacking play and break building and possibly merging the Steve Davis blue print for their technique. I could have chosen a lot of matches, classic finals, but this was the match that pulled me into snooker. I remember this match because of two things, it was over twenty five frames of three days (a Thursday, a Friday and a Saturday morning) and for ten years of age that’s a lot of concentration on television. Also my late father had White backed to the hilt in this match, with me shaking my ten year olds head in disapproval. The season had not been a successful one for White, not having won a ranking tournament for 14 months, whereas two men dominated and shared the ranking tournaments for the 1987/88 season, though he did narrowly lose out to four time World Champion at the time, Steve Davis in a classic match on the UK Championship final the previous in December held in the Guildhall, Preston, losing 16-14. Hendry winning two out of the five ranking point tournaments played so far, winning the Rothmans Grand Prix and the Britannia British Open. Steve Davis winning the other three, Fidelity Unit Trusts International, Tennetts UK Championships and the Mercantile Credit Classic. The bookies 16

were predicting a Davis vs Hendry final for the sixth and final ranking tournament of the season, the big one the Embassy World Championships. On Thursday afternoon in the opening eight frames, there were eight and a half centuries, Hendry opening up with a break of 78 to take the opening frame, usually this would have been a good settler, but it had the opposite effect on the usually cool and calm Scot, nick named as the Golden Bairn, spurring easy chances

out of the session at only 5 3 down. In the next day’s session, White opened up a 6-3 lead, courtesy of a 59 break. For the next hour White watched an inspired Hendry, as he entered into a break building blitz of six frames, conjured up breaks of 52, 35, 79, 125, 50, 50, 101, that transported him to a 9-6 lead with one frame to play for the day, the Londoner using all of his experience knew how important the last frame was for the next days play, he won the 16th frame with two visit’s,

“I REMEMBER THIS MATCH BECAUSE OF TWO THINGS, IT WAS OVER TWENTY FIVE FRAMES OF THREE DAYS (A THURSDAY, A FRIDAY AND A SATURDAY MORNING) AND FOR TEN YEARS OF AGE THAT’S A LOT OF CONCENTRATION ON TELEVISION” in the next few frames. White, who was experiencing his eight campaign at the Crucible took the initiative to go 3-1 up and 4-2 up, a 57 helped him for a 5-2 lead but a relieved Hendry getting

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breaks of 31 and 47 to only keep the arrears two frames down at 9-7. The final session on the middle Saturday morning of the 17 day marathon, started at half ten, Hendry

needing four and White six for the match, still along way out, there was plenty of snooker to play before that figure thirteen was to be reached. In a tight and edgy 17th frame, with White ahead 67-42 with 25 left on the table, Hendry had White in a tight snooker behind the brown, White got out of the snooker perfectly hitting four cushions and touching the green, but White very sportingly called a foul on himself to

break that morning being a mere 24, he couldn’t get to the practice table quick enough to find some rhythm. Fast approaching was an inevitable decision the BBC had to make, keep with the live snooker coverage or go to midday’s news, the snooker viewers got their wish, the news got put back for a later time. The twenty first frame, White went for a look pot in his first shot of the frame

“THE EXCITEMENT OF WATCHING THESE TWO PLAYERS GOING BACK AND FORTH, BLOW FOR BLOW, DRAGGED ME IN AND I WANTED TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THIS GAME” the referee, John Street, just brushing the invading brown with his cue. Hendry cleared from green to pink, but missed a semi blind black into the black green pocket, Jimmy overcutting a three quarter ball pot on the black badly. A relieved Hendry had another chance, stretching for an awkward black and striking it in to lead 10 frames to 7. Nerves were evident looking back, both players needed that extra chance to kill the frame. Not for the first time in his career, White was in a titanic struggle in a long distance match, but there was a psychological difference, this was someone younger than him that he had in front of him. This would prove pivotal in what was to follow. White, snooker’s Artful Dodger with an amnesia mind when it comes to temperament and a soldier loving a battle, could get himself in and out of trouble with greatest of ease, but he had lost seven of the last eight frames, he started to punch back and started to hit the ball with authority, winning three consecutive frames with breaks of 62, 50, 78 to level at 10 all, with the Scot not capitalising on his chances in the three frames, with his highest

but missed wildly and left Hendry straight in but he could only score 12, a composed break of 71 from the Whirlwind taking his fourth consecutive frame and led for the first time since the eleventh frame at 11-10. Hendry, whose steely resolve was in its infancy was starting to stir, responded with a century, 108, in the 22nd frame to make it 11 apiece. White coming back for the next frame with a 64 break, with his first shot being stuck on the baulk cushion from the Hendry break, to make it 12-11. What stands out now as I look back at this match, White’s safety and match play was more in tune than his younger opponent’s, proving all the half dozen year battles with Davis, Higgins and Thorburn had got him sharper at the tactical side of the game. The twenty fourth frame he looked good as he marched to a 43 break, until he inexcusably missed a routine red, trying to push through a small pack, he got another two chances but only scoring one and missing a stun around yellow with the rest but a determined Hendry responded with a gutsy 48, potting an incredible brown ball but missing the blue, White missed

his chance with blue up to the yellow pocket and Hendry rolling a blue across the table into the yellow ball black pocket and then punching a pink of the spot made the match go into the decider. The final frame, the twenty fifth one, started hesitantly with chances on each side with the baulk colours getting pushed down to the black end, White got in by potting a long red coming around the black and proceeded to a 14 by potting a low three quarter ball spotted black and going into the pack and not quite catching them thick enough, with the white running deep up to the baulk end, White not appearing to see a safety shot, took on a long straight red on the left hand side of the table, all or nothing, he cued it in like a dream and topped the white in for position for the blue ball in the middle. “That’s colossal” echoed BBC’s commentator Jack Karnehm. From there he made a match winning 86 break. Karnehm further added a statement in the middle of the match winning break, “for three days these two men have tried to break each other, neither have succeeded, whoever’s wins”. I was disappointed for the 19 year old Hendry as he walked out of the arena, my father delighted picking up his money on White’s win, I thought maybe this could have been Hendry’s year, and to smash Alex Higgins’ World Championship win youngest record back in 1972, when he was 22 years and 11 months, this eventually got eclipsed by Hendry in 1990, when he won his first World title at a tender age of 21 years and 3 months. But going back to the classic match, the excitement of watching these two players going back and forth, blow for blow, dragged me in and I wanted to know more about this game. It wouldnt be the last time that these two players would share centre stage. For me all alliances shifted to White for the second week of the Crucible in 1988, but it wasn’t to be, Terry Griffiths beating him 16-11 in the semi finals, with Steve Davis adding to his World title collection to make it five, defeating the Welshman 18-11. As a postscript eight months after, on a Christmas Eve afternoon on the BBC, they showed highlights of this match again, claiming it as match of the year. 21 breaks over 50, 26 breaks over 40, including three centuries from Hendry, White’s highest break 86, the match lasted four hours 33 minutes for 25 frames, averaging 11 minutes a frame. In 2015, the BBC went through classic matches played at the Crucible for the duration of the championships late at night, in two hour slots, and this is one of the matches they picked.

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TALE OF THE TAPE

O’SULLIVAN vs MOODY AGE 13

HOMETOWN CHIGWELL, ESSEX

HALIFAX, YORKSHIRE

TITLES 5 TIMES WORLD CHAMPION 7 TIMES UK CHAMPION

EPSB ENGLISH UNDER 14 CHAMPION YORKSHIRE UNDER 16 CHAMPION

NICKNAME THE ROCKET

THE ACTION

HIGHEST BREAK 147

133

WHEN STAN PLAYED RONNIE

Before the national lockdown, Ronnie O’Sullivan played 13-year-old Stan Moody in a one frame shootout at Levels in Huddersfield. Stan went 60 ahead with some fantastic play, did The Rocket manage to win the frame? To find out how the match ended and to watch the full video click the picture below.

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SNOOKER BACKER >> www.twitter.com/snookerbacker <<

POPULAR SNOOKER BLOGGER @SNOOKERBACKER PENS HIS FIRST COLUMN

hen the big boss of The Chalk contacted me to see if I’d be interested in writing a diary type feature, I thought, sure why not, but what will I write about? So in this age of social media and everyone wanting a say in everything I thought it wise to ask the general public, I mean what could go wrong there? So I set about garnering the wisdom of my following on Twitter, in an attempt to formulate something that you’d all still be reading by the time you got to about here. The response as I expected was mixed, from the quite predictable and topical ones about whether the World

O’Sullivan, Williams, Higgins and Selby despite winning numerous times have all failed, so can Judd do it? Well he’s older than they were so that’s in his favour, but there are so many things to consider, so much more than 500 words could convey. Another wanted me to scrutinise waistcoat sponsorship, just how does it benefit a local greengrocers or tiling shop paying for a logo on a lower ranked player who gets his grid on the box every blue moon, but I’d never get 500 words or quid out of that. On the subject of lower ranked players, plenty wanted me to look deeper into their finances to get to the

POSSIBLY MY FAVOURITE SUGGESTION WAS THE PLIGHT OF WASPS IN MAJOR BBC AND ITV EVENTS. THEY SEEM TO POP UP AT VERY UNSEASONAL TIMES WHEN THE SNOOKER IS ON AND THE REFEREES DON’T SHOW MUCH COMPASSION TOWARDS THEM Championship will go ahead this year and if so, in what format, to the more serious ‘discussion of the miss rule’. Both I thought were far too big a topic for a debutant in this project. So, it was time to delve deeper into the responses, understandably there were a lot calling for a thorough analysis of the infamous Crucible Curse. Could Judd Trum¬p do what the goliaths of the game have all failed to do before him? Davis, Hendry,

truth of how they can possibly survive on the tour or eat for two years without winning regularly, as some of them do. Perhaps that might be one for a more forensic column in the future. Some for reasons best known to themselves wanted to know about various snooker players I’ve met in public toilets, not sure what that’s all about. One wanted ‘anything as long as Doug Mountjoy gets a mention’ so at least I have one satisfied customer.

There were so many suggestions it’s difficult for me to choose one. The Shootout was a popular response, from how it impacts the sport as a whole in terms of getting new people into it, to how best to deal with the audience when they step out of line, but I’ve been told to watch my language in Issue 1. Then we had the real anoraks who want to know how long a player practices safety compared to potting, tips on putting a tip on, the benefits of new equipment and tables over the days of old and stuff like that, I’m nodding off just writing it. Possibly my favourite suggestion was the plight of wasps in major BBC and ITV events. They seem to pop up at very unseasonal times when the snooker is on and the referees don’t show much compassion towards them, but really that’s all I’d be able to write on the matter. A late gambit called for a piece on which player has been fined the most for various transgressions, but again I feel this would require some pretty indepth research. So instead, I’ve finally plumped for a suggestion from @Trouserlord who wants me to divulge anonymous player opinions on Barry Hearn, so I think I’ll go with that….what do you mean that’s over 500 words?

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NEWS FROM THE BAIZE >> BY TOM MOORCROFT <<

WORLD SNOOKER TOUR RESPONDS TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

ith sporting events across the world being massively affected by the Coronavirus pandemic, it was only a matter of time before the biggest snooker event in the world, the ‘World Snooker Championship’, would be postponed. The event was scheduled to be taking place from 18 April to 4 May, and would see ‘The Ace in the Pack’ Judd Trump defending his world title. It seems that, for the first time in 43 years, the Crucible will remain empty at the final ranking event of the season. I was personally anticipating my presence at an event this month at Genting Casino, which would see Dennis Taylor, John Virgo and Ken Doherty host a Q&A, perform a ‘trickshot’ demo, and a single frame 1v1. However, amid all this tension, the event has been cancelled. Whilst many snooker fans will be aware of the severity of the situation, and understanding of Barry Hearn’s reasons to postpone the event, many will be upset at the lack of the event this year. Whilst Hearn has stated that negotiations are in play to rearrange the event, snooker fans across the globe will have to twiddle their thumbs in anticipation. In a tweet regarding the nature of the event, ‘World Snooker Tour’ suggested that they “intend to host the final stages of the Crucible on rescheduled dates in July or August”. Kyren Wilson furthered this statement, saying he’s “Gutted to be reading this, but health comes first”. Hearn issued further worries towards the cancellation, stating “Snooker players are self-employed. They need opportunities to earn prize money so we have a responsibility to them”. In an effort to combat any financial dismay over the cancellation of the World 20

Tour, the WPBSA (World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association) have supported it’s members with financial, travel and practical health. This was in the form of an email, issued to all current main tour players. Their chairman, Jason Ferguson, writes “All of us at the WPBSA care about our players and will do everything in our power to help everybody through this difficult time”.

We need to understand the severity of the situation and, through government protocol and the amazing dedication of the NHS and other services, we will come through this. In the last few weeks, as a result of increasing tensions in the UK, a variety of snooker players have issued their support online. Ronnie O’Sullivan issued his support of China’s handling of the virus, praising the “fantastic job

SADLY, AS IS THE CURRENT CLIMATE, FANS WILL SIMPLY HAVE TO BE PATIENT AND WAIT WHILST THE WORLD ADAPTS TO THIS SIGNIFICANT CHANGE. Sadly, as is the current climate, fans will simply have to be patient and wait whilst the world adapts to this significant change. Many fans would’ve been ready for the event, tickets booked months in advance, ready to see the best in the business battle it out at one of the most important venues in Snooker history. The venue which saw that notorious ‘black-ball final’ in 1985, the venue which saw Alex Higgins win the title in 1982, and the venue which, in early 2020, will remain closed. As someone who’s been passionate about this sport for a good time, it pains me that we won’t see it on screens this spring.

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they did” in getting the disease “under control”. We’ve also seen the ‘NHS Blue Ball Challenge’, which encourages players who have a table at home to record themselves doing various tricky pots in exchange for donations, being endorsed by the likes of Ali Carter, currently sitting on £175 donated. One can only hope that in this period both fans and players alike remain safe, following government procedure, whilst we wait out this confusing time of our lives. So for now, goodbye World Championships. We hope to see you sooner, rather than later.

NEWS FROM THE BAIZE >> www.thehchalk.co.uk <<

STARS RAISING MONEY THE NHS AND HSE

uring Lockdown Snooker stars with tables at home have been raising money the NHS and HSE with a Blue Ball Challenge Some of the world’s finest snooker players and some former professionals are helping raise money for the NHS and HSE Ireland during the coronavirus crisis, and providing a bit of live sport to enjoy with the Blue Ball Challenge. The likes of 2015 world champion Stuart Bingham, last year’s German Masters champ Kyren Wilson and world number 17 Joe Perry have all taken part as they look to help the NHS during this trying time. The players take on 10 long blues off the spot and viewers on Facebook Live can predict how many they will pot, while donating to the cause at the same time. Former World Championship finalist Ali Carter also had a go, while a string of former professionals, people involved in snooker and celebrities have also been getting involved. Top scorer on the live challenge so far has been former professional Gary Filtness from Ilford, here is how he got the perfect 10! Jason Francis, the chairman of World Seniors Snooker, came up with the idea and is keen to see it continue after an impressive start, raising thousands of pounds in a short space of time. ‘It started as a bit of fun but its gone viral now with players all over the world having a go and raising money for their National Health Service,’ said Francis. ‘This last week alone we’ve had Stuart,

Emma Parker sinks a blue

Stuart Bingham gets ready to take on the Blue Ball Challenge

Joe Perry, Kyren Wilson have a go and our regular Facebook Live videos have proved very popular with the snooker community. We’ve got challenges going on in Canada, Hong Kong and China, its been incredible really” The challenge has also seen the World Under 21 Women’s Champion

Emma Parker take it on, see how she got on here - bit.ly/EmmaP-Blueball All the challenges can be seen here bit.ly/WorldSeniorsSnooker At time of writing the appeal had raised over £8000, the aim being £10470, a number relating to a 147 Maximum break.

TO DONATE VISIT

WWW.JUSTGIVING.COM/WORLDSENIORSSNOOKER2

Joe Perry prepares to take on the challenge

Mario Veltman pots a blue into the bottom pocket

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NEWS FROM THE BAIZE >> LEARN.SPORTENGLANDCLUBMATTERS.COM <<

KEEPING YOUR CLUB AND ORGANISATION RUNNING DURING THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN

lubs and organisations all over the country are experiencing lots of challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic. Club Matters is here to help by giving you some tips, tools and ideas to help keep your club functioning and working with your members and customers. Club Matters are working hard to get documents ready so please keep checking the website (learn.sportenglandclubmatters.com) for the most up to date resources.

Also let Club Matters know anything else that might be useful via email clubmatters@sportengland.org. From physical infrastructure, to making sure your committee is still functioning, there are lots of things that can be done during this time to ensure that your club can keep running or keep it in the best position possible. Club Matters have produced a series of resources and toolkits to guide you through what you may need to do.

UNDERSTANDING THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT AVAILABLE TO YOUR CLUB

n these unprecedented and worrying times, it is natural that your thoughts will turn to the financial impact that this period will have on your club/ organisation. During times of enforced closure, income is likely to significantly reduce while costs may continue to exist. Clubs that own, lease or licence their facilities and those that employ staff/ coaches and pay taxes are likely to face added overheads. Over the past few days, the Government has released details of the various support packages they have made available to try and reduce the negative financial impact

on clubs, organisations, business and the self employed. To date, a number of schemes have been released, they include: * A 12-month business rates holiday for retail, hospitality, leisure and nursery businesses. * Small business grant funding of £10,000 for all businesses in receipt of small business rate relief or rural rate relief. * Grant funding of £25,000 for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses with property with a rateable value of between £15,000 - £51,000. * A business interruption loan scheme for SME’s of up to £5million via

the British Business Bank. * A new lending facility from the Bank of England to help support liquidity among larger businesses, helping them bridge coronavirus disruption to their cash flows through loans. * A Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. * Deferring VAT and Income Tax payments. * The HMRC ‘Time to Pay’ scheme. * A self-employment income support scheme. * A statutory sick pay relief package for small and medium sized businesses (SMEs). www.sportengland.org.

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NEWS FROM THE BAIZE >> WWW.WPBSA.COM <<

SNOOKER PLAYERS GIVEN SPORTING CHANCE

he World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) has partnered with Sporting Chance, one of the world’s most innovative centres for the treatment of emotional and mental health problems among professional and former professional sportsmen and women. The partnership will offer responsive, confidential support to help World Snooker Tour (WST) players deal with the challenges of competing at the pinnacle of professional sport. Sporting Chance was set up by Tony Adams, MBE, to address the difficulties he experienced as a player in accessing professional, confidential support for his problems. Twenty years later, the charity – which functions exclusively to support both current and retired professional sportspeople – is working with more sports than ever. Football, rugby league, cricket, horse racing, darts and squash all benefit from the tailored services developed by the clinical team at Sporting Chance over Sporting Chance founder Tony Adams.

the course of two decades and now, through a new agreement with the WPBSA, its services are available to all WST players. Adams said, “I think the reason we’ve been able to celebrate our twentieth year as a charity is because Sporting Chance was set up, not just on the basis of my own experience but the experience of lots of men and women I’ve spoken with over the years who had come to realise the same thing; that competitive sport comes with its own set of problems and pressures. If we’re making a living – or maybe one day want to make a living – from competitive sport, it can be a difficult environment in which to open up about how these problems and pressures affect us. “I really hope our work with the WPBSA can have a significant impact on the emotional wellbeing of as many professional snooker players as possible. There are still people out there, maybe because of my own story, who think Sporting Chance is just a clinic, that it’s just about addiction. Sporting Chance is there for sportspeople with any issue around their t h o u g h t s and feelings, whatever is causing them difficulties, we’re here to get them the right help when they need it and crucially, get help sooner rather than later before it causes them more pain than it needs to.” In practical

terms, the partnership will see the creation of a dedicated 24-Hour Helpline through which the WPBSA’s players are able to access support through an initial triage service and a network of over 200 therapists across the UK. As the WST continues to grow internationally, which has seen the number of players from outside the UK increase significantly, support will be available to players in various languages including Mandarin. The current situation around Covid-19 means that physical face-toface therapy has been suspended but in order to provide support to players during these extremely challenging times continued support will be available via phone, email and videomessaging. Jason Ferguson, Chairman of the WPBSA said, “We are delighted to be working alongside Sporting Chance to provide our players with a level of support which has been developed over the past 20 years. Snooker is a tough mentally challenging sport, and as the sport’s world governing body, the WPBSA takes the welfare of its players very seriously. As an already strong supporter of the Mental Health Charter, we are very pleased to be able to take this next step through this excellent partnership with Sporting Chance.”

BECAUSE EVERY CUE SPORTS PLAYER NEED IT // www.thechalk.co.uk