Bahrain Snooker Championship 2008 A

O'SULLIVAN PULLS OUT OF BAHRAIN

http://snookerscene.blogspot.com
Dave H
3 November 2008

Ronnie O'Sullivan has withdrawn from the Bahrain Championship.

This is his statement:

"With a great deal of regret I have decided to pull out of the Bahrain tournament.

"I have been very run down recently due to my hectic playing and promotional schedule, and my doctor has advised me to rest for a couple of weeks.

"I realise it is not good for me or the tournament if I am way below my best and don’t want to run the risk of exacerbating the problem and making myself more ill, potentially jeopardising the rest of the season, so I think it is right for me to take my doctor’s advice in the circumstances.

"I am very sorry not to be competing in Bahrain as I am sure the tournament will be a great success and I look forward to taking part in competitions there in the future."

I'm afraid this new tournament has turned into something of a farce.

You'll recall that Mark Selby, John Higgins and Ding Junhui were unable to enter because of the clash of dates with the Premier League, which they had already signed contracts to play in.

What does Steve Davis do now? He has a walkover into the last 16 but if he wins that match he will have to withdraw to play in the League.

How does anyone explain any of this to the folks in Bahrain?

THREE GO MISSING FROM BAHRAIN

http://snookerscene.blogspot.com
Dave H.
4 October 2008

John Higgins, Mark Selby and Ding Junhui have not entered the Bahrain Championship following the clash of dates with the Partypoker.com Premier League.

They had little choice. They signed contracts to play in the Premier League months ago but their absence is obviously bad news for the new ranking event and will harm their ranking positions.

However, it’s good news for Matthew Stevens, Jamie Cope and Ken Doherty as they are seeded through to the venue.

Drawsheet - Global Snooker Centre

Format of play - main stage

www.worldsnooker.com
The tournament will be staged at the Bahrain International Exhibition Centre in Manama.

Below is the format for the tournament.

All times local (GMT +3 hours)

Saturday, 8 November

10.30
WC1- Rob Milkins x Ahmed Saif - 5-1
WC2 - Barry Pinches x Ahmed Ghuloom - 5-1

3.00
WC3 - Mike Dunn x Ahmed Aseeri - 5-0
WC4 - Marcus Campbell x Ahmed Al Khusaibi - 5-0

8.00
WC5 - Rod Lawler x Isa Ali Al Hashmi - 5-1
WC6 - Mark Davis x Habib Subah - 5-0

Sunday, 9 November
10.30
Match 6
Jamie Cope v Michael Holt - 3-5
Match 1
Steve Davis x Ronnie O'Sullivan - Ronnie has withdrawn due to health problems

3.00
Match 9
Shaun Murphy v Mike Dunn - 4-5
Match 10
Ken Doherty v Barry Hawkins - 3-5

8.00
Match 2
Marco Fu v Dominic Dale - 3-5
Match 7
Graeme Dott v Barry Pinches - 3-5

Monday, 10 November
10.30
Match 4
Ryan Day v Dave Harold - 5-2
Match 3
Matthew Stevens v Stuart Bingham - 5-0

3.00
Match 5
Peter Ebdon v Rob Milkins - 3-5
Match 13
Neil Robertson v Marcus Campbell - 5-4

8.00
Match 8
Stephen Hendry v Ricky Walden - 5-3
Match 15
Joe Perry v Rod Lawler - 5-1

Tuesday, 11 November
10.30
Match 12
Ali Carter v Michael Judge - 3-5
Match 11
Mark Allen v Judd Trump - 5-1

3.00
Match 16
Stephen Maguire v Mark Davis - 5-3
Match 14
Mark King v Stephen Lee - 3-5

8.00
Match 17 - Steve Davis x Dominic Dale - Davis has withdrawn due to healt problems
Match 18 - Ryan Day x Matthew Stevens - 4-5

Wednesday, 12 November
10.30
Match 22 - Mark Allen x Michael Judge - 5-2
Match 24 - Joe Perry x Stephen Maguire - 0-5

3.00
Match 19 - Rob Milkins x Michael Holt - 5-4
Match 20 - Barry Pinches x Stephen Hendry - 1-5

8.00
Match 21 - Mike Dunn x Barry Hawkins - 4-5
Match 23 - Neil Robertson x Stephen Lee - 5-2

Thursday, 13 November
3.00
QF1 - Dominic Dale x Matthew Stevens - 2-5
QF2 - Rob Milkins x Stephen Hendry - 2-5

8.00
QF 3 - Barry Hawkins x Mark Allen - 2-5
QF 4 - Neil Robertson x Stephen Maguire - 5-2

Friday, 14 November
3.00
SF1 - Matthew Stevens x Stephen Hendry - 6-4

8.00
SF2 - Mark Allen x Neil Robertson - 4-6

Saturday, 15 November
3.00
Final - Matthew Stevens x Neil Robertson - 3-4

8.00
Final - Matthew Stevens x Neil Robertson - 7-9

The six lowest ranked qualifiers will play the six wild cards.

The order of play and table numbers for all matches up to the semi-finals will be determined by the Tournament Director.

All matches up to and including the Quarter Finals will be best of 9 frames, Semi Finals will be best of 11 frames and the Final will be best of 17 frames (7/10).

Drawsheet of qualifying

Format of play

www.worldsnooker.com
The qualifiers for the Bahrain Snooker Championship will be staged at Pontin's, Prestatyn, from October 27-30, 2008.

Monday 27 October 2008
10am
James McBain v Atthasit Mahitthi - 0-5
Supoj Saenla v Andrew Pagett - 4-5
David Grace v Robert Stephen - 2-5
Rodney Goggins v Michael Georgiou - 5-1
Chris McBreen v Stefan Mazrocis - 2-5
Paul Davison v Aditya Mehta - 5-1

4pm
Simon Bedford v Stephen Craigie - 1-5
Matthew Selt v Liu Chuang - 5-4
Kuldesh Johal v Vincent Muldoon - 4-5
Matthew Couch v Andy Lee - 5-3
Patrick Wallace v Jin Long - 2-5
Li Hang v Wayne Cooper - 5-2

Tuesday 28 October 2008
10am
Lee Spick x Atthasit Mahitthi - 2-5
Liu Song x Daniel Wells - 2-5
Jimmy White x Peter Lines - 2-5
Mark Joyce x Andrew Paggett - 5-4
Andrew Norman x Robert Stephen - 3-5
David Morris x Rodney Goggins - 5-1
David Roe x Stefan Mazrocis - 2-5
Stuart Pettman x Paul Davison - 5-4

4pm
Joe Delaney v Stephen Craigie - 5-2
Paul Davies v Matthew Selt - 5-4
Scott MacKenzie v Vincent Muldoon - 2-5
Martin Gould v Jamie Jones - 5-4
Ian Preece v Matthew Couch - 4-5
Andy Hicks v Jin Long - 5-3
Rod Lawler v Lewis Roberts - 5-1
Mark Davis v Li Hang - 5-2

Wednesday 29 October 2008
10am
David Gray x Atthasit Mahitthi - 0-5
John Parrott x Daniel Wells - 5-3
Alan McManus x Peter Lines - 1-5
Rory McLeod x Mark Joyce - 5-3
Robert Milkins x Robert Stephen - 5-3
Adrian Gunnell x David Morris - 4-5
Barry Pinches x Stefan Mazrocis - 5-1
Jimmie Michie x Stuart Pettman - 5-2

4pm
Mike Dunn v Joe Delaney - 5-2
Jamie Burnett v Paul Davies - 1-5
Judd Trump v Vincent Muldoon - 5-4
Liang Wenbo v Martin Gould - 5-1
Marcus Campbell v Matthew Couch - 5-2
Tom Ford v Andy Hicks - 1-5
David Gilbert v Rod Lawler - 2-5
Andrew Higginson v Mark Davis - 3-5

Thursday 30 October 2008
10am
Steve Davis x Atthasit Mahitthi - 5-4
Dominic Dale x John Parrott - 5-0
Stuart Bingham x Peter Lines - 5-2
Dave Harold x Rory McLeod - 5-4
Joe Swail x Robert Milkins - 1-5
Michael Holt x David Morris - 5-0
Fergal O’Brien x Barry Pinches - 4-5
Ricky Walden x Jimmy Michie - 5-2

4pm
Gerard Greene v Mike Dunn - 1-5
Barry Hawkins v Paul Davies - 5-4
Mark Williams v Judd Trump - 2-5
Michael Judge v Liang Wenbo - 5-2
Nigel Bond v Marcus Campbell - 4-5
Stephen Lee v Andy Hicks - 5-1
Ian McCulloch v Rod Lawler - 3-5
Anthony Hamilton v Mark Davis - 2-5

Drawsheet of the tournament