The choice of which matches make it on to the TV tables is often a subject for heated debate – not least from the players, who have been known to query why their encounter is not rated as a more desirable proposition than some other.
Such decisions are usually made by some combination of the broadcaster, promoter and tournament director. And on the Tuesday evening in Chengdu it was Stuart Bingham asking the question as to why his Wednesday night match against Mark Allen – a repeat of the previous month’s Shanghai Masters final – was not down as one of the two matches to be televised.
At that stage the Ronnie O’Sullivan/Li Hang game had been put on No1 table the following evening, with the winner of Judd Trump/Jamie Burnett v Peter Ebdon slotted in on No2.
As it turned out Trump suffered a shock defeat to the Scot, prompting a rethink and Bingham got his wish of a televised table after all. Unfortunately for the world No10, what went out to the watching millions was a 6-4 defeat to Allen, who gained a measure of revenge for Shanghai.