CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR WITH TV TABLES

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.

CARTER'S WINNING 'OUTS' DOWN TO FIVE

Ali Carter was certainly being made to sweat on his place at the Champion of Champions as the International Championship reached the last-16 stage, with a host of big names and already-qualified players crashing out early on.

These possible winners included Neil Robertson, Judd Trump, Shaun Murphy, Barry Hawkins, John Higgins, Stephen Maguire and Dominic Dale. At the third-round stage Carter could still look to the winner of the Stuart Bingham/Mark Allen match, Ronnie O’Sullivan, Marco Fu and Ricky Walden.

Any of those lifting the trophy would see him make it to Coventry, with any other winner bar those five potentially snatching the 16th and final place at the Ricoh Arena.

PANDA POWER STILL GOING STRONG

The whole panda thing is never knowingly undersold by Chengdu and the Sichuan province. There was no organised trip to see them this year, and Ronnie O’Sullivan insisted he might go “another time” when asked if he planned to use his early day off to visit one of the nearby reserves, opting instead for a hard day’s practice.

But there was little escape from images of the endangered species around the complex, with cuddly toys strewn over every desk. And coverage of the tournament on CCTV5 featured trailers after every advert break featuring a grinning John Higgins and Shaun Murphy waving a black and white soft toy as big as 10-year-old child at the camera.

GREEN FOR GO AT OPENING CEREMONY

The traditional opening ceremony was almost low-key by China standards, and lacking the horse-drawn carriage ride for pairs of players that were a prominent feature last time the International Championship was staged at the Sichuan Tennis Center two years ago.

The traditional red carpet was swapped for a green one, and players had to sit through a series of speeches from bigwigs flanked by two giant alabaster-looking giant pandas and three more in mascot costume in the post-match press conference room at the venue, before retiring to the adjacent hotel for dinner on the Saturday.

This tournament has led a slightly nomadic existence in its brief history with already two switches of venue, now back at the original site. And the table-fitters were given extra time to prepare this year, enabling them to bed the tables in properly and make some of the ‘moving ground’ issues that dogged the operation in 2012 less likely to impact on the conditions.

ABSENT BIG GUNS LEAVE DRAW OPENINGS

The absences of world champion and world No1 Mark Selby, and defending champion and home favourite Ding Junhui, led to a slightly lop-sided looking draw at the International Championship. At first glance likely beneficiaries appeared to be Stuart Bingham and Shaun Murphy, who would have had Ding and Selby in their respective quarters. But after negotiating their first-round matches in Chengdu to reach the last 32 both were sensibly refusing to get carried away over their prospects with a very long way still to go.

TABLE TENNIS STILL RULES ROCKET IN CHINA

Ronnie O’Sullivan might be snooker’s big cheese, but even the Rocket had to play second fiddle to China’s table tennis superstar Zhang Jike over the weekend on sports TV channel CCTV5.

The broadcaster show hundreds of hours of snooker each season, and coverage of the big home tournaments is always comprehensive and generally live.

But the five-time world champion’s first-round match in Chengdu against Ben Woollaston had to wait for live airtime until the conclusion of a World Cup match in Dusseldorf between Zhang and Germany’s Timo Boll.

Winner of an Olympic gold medal at London 2012, Zhang is a brilliant but controversial figure in the world of table tennis. He went to pick up another gold medal in Germany on Sunday but was docked prize money for a wild celebration that saw him destroy parts of the surrounding arena.

Maybe that’s the post-victory celebration snooker is missing…

MAH JONG USED AS MOTIVATION

The posters and other promotional literature used at the International Championship tournament featured as well as players involved the prominent legend ‘Fight To The End’.

In fact this was more than just a cheesy slogan, but a nod to Mah Jong – the Chinese game using tiles to make sets and played at lightning pace - think bridge on speed - on many street corners in Chengdu, where the pastime has a particularly strong following.

Mah Jong in the Chengdu region is played by different rules – meaning the hand is not over when the first player wins and goes out, but the rest scrap it out for second, third and fourth.

According to the ever-reliable World Snooker press officer Tai Chengzhe, China are still reeling from coming 34th in the team event of their traditional game at an international tournament staged recently in Europe.

You can only imagine that the real pros, the hustlers creating a deafening clacking of bamboo and ivory pieces out on the street, were not involved.

CHENGDU RELAXED AND READY

Chengdu is regarded by the rest of China as a city that knows how to enjoy itself – from the culinary delicacies of the region, usually with extra chillies, to visiting the nearby mountains and making the most of a temperate climate and some cooler air.

Often dismissed as a ‘small’ city by the likes of Beijing and Shanghai – these things are of course relative, there are 12 million inhabitants – Chengdu’s laid-back and relaxed atmosphere even sees its people occasionally branded ‘lazy’, in dare we say it a lazy way, by other parts of China.

But that description did not fit the hive of activity around the Sichuan Tennis Center in the build-up, with the event again only confirmed at relatively short notice. The promoters and armies of workers and dedicated volunteers again pulled out all the stops to have the facility ready for the off on opening Sunday.

BINGHAM IN LINE FOR A PINT

With the prize money on offer at the Champion of Champions, Stuart Bingham could be due a drink this week from certainly John Higgins and maybe also Ali Carter.

Bingham’s win at the Haining Open guaranteed Higgins a place at the Ricoh Arena and in an exclusive field of just 16, where the minimum he will earn is £5,000 even for finishing third or fourth in the initial group.

Finishing second in Coventry will be worth £10,000, winning the group £20,000, reaching the final £50,000 and lifting the trophy £100,000.

Bingham had already qualified on more than one count, but a win for his final opponent Oliver Lines would have knocked out Carter and left Higgins at risk of not making it, dependent on results in Chengdu at the International Championship.

Higgins and Bingham will both be in south-west China this week, when the favour could be called in at the bar.

ALLEN SHEDS DISAPPOINTMENT TO WOW FANS

Mark Allen did himself a lot of credit after what must have been a difficult defeat to Stuart Bingham in the Shanghai Masters final for all sorts of reasons. First and foremost he looked flat from the start, gave himself a big mountain to climb and then missed chances to get back close to Bingham and put some real pressure on the world No11.

In addition to not playing to his best, Allen became frustrated with some worsening table conditions but made very little mention of that in his post-match press conference. And then there was losing to a player who he has not always seen eye to eye with after labelling Bingham a “bottler” and triggering something of a war of words three years ago.

But there was clear evidence in the arena afterwards and in some respectful comments that there has been a thawing of relations in that department. And while standing under such circumstances as the loser in the arena for a very long time before the presentation ceremony would test anyone, Allen made use of the time to force a smile and go round the arena signing autographs and posing for pictures with Chinese fans, with whom he retains a strong following.

Photograph by Monique Limbos

IVY AT SHANGHAI MASTERS AHEAD OF WEDDING

Referee Zhu Ying, or Ivy as she is known on the tour, drops in at the Shanghai Masters although it just for some filming in the arena before the final ahead of her forthcoming wedding rather than officiating, having been given a break by the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association. Ivy also takes the opportunity to generously hand out one a memento of her wedding to tournament office colleagues and members of the media.

Ivy, who has risen fast through the ranks of the referees, has not figured on the roster so far this season, with the list of Chinese officials being submitted by the CBSA for the events in China and elsewhere, and at this time it is not clear exactly when she will be back in top-level action. But we at Inside Snooker would like to take this opportunity to wish her all the very best for her big day.

Photograph courtesy of World Snooker

DING ACCEPTS SEMIS LOSS AFTER LONG BREAK

Ding Junhui expressed a mixture of emotions on Chinese social media site Weibo immediately following his defeat to Stuart Bingham in the Shanghai Masters semi-finals. The 27-year-old has of course for the most part dealt much better with the pressures of playing at home in the last 18 months, but he was off the pace against Bingham for most of the contest.

Ding said: “I was angry with myself during the match and tried to calm down, but it was difficult. But overall I accept the performance and what I have done at this tournament, and am not too disappointed about going out in the semi-finals. I lost, but no one died. It has been three months since I picked up a cue, I have been on holiday and done other things. It is now time to get into the season properly.”

Photograph by Monique Limbos

ALLEN PREPARES FOR FINAL WITH THE FOOTBALL

Mark Allen had Saturday night off after his superb afternoon comeback semi-final win over world champion and world No1 Mark Selby – and chose to spend it taking advantage of one of the perks of the Regal Shanghai East Asia hotel used by the players.

The 12th-floor VIP Executive lounge has floor-to-ceiling windows looking out Skybox-style over the Shanghai East Asia Stadium, and on the Saturday night the home side – in 4th place in the Chinese Super League – hosted champions and league leaders Guangzhou Evergrande, managed by former Italy and Juventus boss Marcelo Lippi.

And Allen spent a relaxing evening before Sunday’s final with a pizza in the comfortable seats enjoying a magnificent view of the proceedings.

The goalkeepers at Shanghai East Asia are coached by former England, Spurs and Leicester keeper Ian Walker, and in the first half his charge was all that stood between Guangzhou and a cricket score. But the club with by far away the biggest budget in China kicked clear in the second half and the match finished 3-0 to Evergrande.

Photograph by Monique Limbos

HIGGINS ANGRY ABOUT...SOMETHING OR OTHER

John Higgins, the four-time world champion, signs off from the Shanghai Masters with a spectacular meltdown before heading off to get his flight home.

You probably know you’ve arrived as a news outlet when someone ‘bans’ you so Inside Snooker can say it appears to have lost its cherry after an extraordinary outburst from Higgins. It is only disappointing this milestone was reached over such an imagined sleight and not some Watergate-style expose that rocked the establishment.

As previously noted on Inside Snooker Higgins left TV crews and media hanging after losing to Ryan Day, and may face a fine. And he has done this to reporters before overseas after a loss without any comeback. It seems fairly clear where the blame for any sanction would lie on this matter – with the player himself. Let’s be honest, it isn’t the biggest crime in the world, but all players should be treated the same. Most are excellent at fulfilling their media commitments, indeed many go way beyond the call of duty to promote the sport.

However  Higgins, after a day left to his own devices mulling a costly defeat, decided to scream at a member of the media (as it happens, this one) threatening that they “never, ever slag me off again for anything – I’m never going to speak to you again”. This was met with a blank look, we’re good at those here, which seemed only to further enrage Higgins.

We won’t think twice about criticising Higgins or anyone else if they do something wrong but have not knowingly ‘slagged him off’ recently if ever. Noting the above facts was not exactly a stinging personal attack. In fact I’ve heard bigger slaggings on the Alan Titchmarsh Show.

Instead of throwing his weight around in diva-style fashion in front of some bemused hotel guests and a grinning Graeme Dott and Andrew Higginson, believing he is beyond reproach and blaming the media for something that was entirely his fault, Higgins would probably have been better advised to take whatever might be coming on the chin with a bit of humility.

It is scary to think what might have happened if anyone HAD actually slagged him off. Spontaneous combustion springs to mind. And Higgins does of course have a bit of form in this area, refusing to speak to Scottish radio reporter Phil Goodlad over coverage of his tribunal, and slaughtering Joe Johnson over a pretty inoffensive article.

A lot of this goes in the bucket marked ‘all the fun of the fair, and going with the territory’ but some sober reflection may see Higgins realise he did himself no favours on this occasion and probably embarked on a misguided course of action. He should feel a little embarrassed.

However such things are part of the reporter’s life. Word reaches us that a sensitive flower in football TV punditry recently spent up to 45 minutes on the phone haranguing a journalist about an unfavourable review of his efforts – extreme as that sounds at least he HAD been criticised. Not trying to give anyone any ideas, obviously...

Photograph by Monique Limbos

DING AND LIANG SUN IT IN THE SEYCHELLES

When Liang Wenbo first looked as if he might mount a serious challenge to Ding Junhui as China’s No1, there was the odd story floating around that the main man’s nose had been put out of joint by the new threat, and that there was some tension between the pair.

This notion peaked with a ‘Great War of China’ headline in a red-top newspaper – but the truth was that the rivalry, though real, was very much of a sporting kind only, and off table the pair were good friends and enjoyed each other’s company.

If any further confirmation of that were needed there were plenty of OK-style photo spreads in a couple of the Chinese snooker magazines in Shanghai of Liang, Ding, their wives and other family and friends on holiday together in August on the paradise island of Mahe in the Seychelles.

Photograph by Monique Limbos

ALL ROADS LEAD TO DING

It is only really possible to understand the extent to which Ding Junhui dominates the agenda in China once you have witnessed it for yourself at first hand.

The players all know this, and for the most part tolerate the situation with a raised eyebrow and good humour. After all, it can be similar back home with Ronnie O’Sullivan.

The phenomenon often manifests itself in awkward exchanges in press conferences, particularly when a disappointed player has lost and is therefore less keen to shoot the breeze about Ding then they might be had they won.

Judd Trump was asked earlier in the week what he had made of Ding’s match against Jack Lisowski, when had been playing in his own match at the same time. And all Shaun Murphy’s ambassadorial qualities were tested on Thursday following his defeat to Graeme Dott in the post-match exchanges.

With Dott in the same section as Ding – who played later that evening against Martin Gould – Murphy was asked how Dott would do against Ding in the quarter-finals. “Well, Ding has to win tonight first, doesn’t he?” said the former world champion. “Do you think Martin has no chance against Ding? You’re asking will Ding beat Martin and Graeme Dott? Graeme is a former world champion and Ding is not, so even if he gets through the last-16 match he will have a very, very difficult match on his hands. But he has to win tonight first anyway.”

Photograph by Monique Limbos

FLY ME TO THE MOON

As is usually the case at the Shanghai Masters, the tournament runs over a national holiday in China, the Mid Autumn festival, which sees many Chinese returning home for a family celebration. Much of Shanghai was closed on the Monday, including the subway and more bizarrely the hotel swimming pool. In origin the festival is for lunar watching – and there may have been a fair bit of that for those suffering badly from jetlag on the trip, notably Alan McManus who branded himself ‘Dracula’ after beating Ronnie O’Sullivan for being up all night and sleeping all day. Sticking with the lunar theme and generally the ‘when in Shanghai’ activity of hailing the moon god of immortality ‘moon cakes’ are traditionally bought at often vast expense, containing the widest possible array of fillings within the pastry from sausage meat to lotus seed paste.

SWAIL AND THE MILLIONAIRES

Joe Swail tells a great story while reflecting on his narrow 5-4 first-round defeat to Shaun Murphy at the Shanghai Masters. The Northern Irishman reached two World Championship semi-finals at the Crucible in 2000 and 2001, and shortly afterwards appeared as a guest on the Kelly show, the leading chat show on Ulster Television as it then was hosted by Gerry Kelly. Swail’s fellow guests on the show were a then 11-year-old prodigy Rory McIlroy – who had already been on at least once before, now of course a four-time golf Major winner and Nike brand ambassador – and the Irish band Westlife. Swail said: “It obviously has crossed my mind in recent years that they are all millionaires many times over, while I’m trying my guts out for a couple of grand.” Yes Joe – but are they happy…

Photograph by Monique Limbos

FERGAL PASSES HIS SCHOOL EXAMINATION

FERGAL O’Brien and Martin Gould were pressed into service spreading the gospel of snooker in Shanghai on a visit to Huimin Middle School.

The educational establishment already boasted a magnificent cuesports facility with around eight full-size snooker tables and over a dozen pool tables.

And Ireland’s O’Brien, along with Gould and WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson, quickly began encouraging the youngsters to get involved with some demonstration and coaching sessions featuring many of the 1,200 students aged between 12 and 18.

O’Brien said: “It is fantastic to see the facilities here, brilliant snooker tables and pool tables as well, and to see so many boys and girls of all different ages playing and having a lot of fun is amazing. It was a like a really good snooker club but in a school.

“I played a few of the kids, and they were very good, the standard was high especially considering how young they were so I’m sure there were future champions out there somewhere.

“We can offer a bit of advice, taking your time and not cueing so fast can help as you rush sometimes when you are nervous, but the main thing at this age is just to enjoy it.”

The experience clearly inspired 'running man' O’Brien, regularly seen pounding the streets during the week despite the high humidity. He later chalked up an impressive 5-1 first-round win over Rob Milkins.

Photograph courtesy of World Snooker

TRUMP AND HIGGINS IN NEED OF PR WORK

KEN Doherty aside, Tuesday wasn’t the greatest day for press conferences at the Shanghai Masters. Apart from John Higgins deciding – not for the first time – that after a disappointing defeat he didn’t much fancy honouring his contractual obligations as a professional player, Judd Trump was almost Stephen Hendry-esque with some curt and abrupt responses that lasted a couple of minutes but only because of the sometimes tortuous translation process.

After the 5-2 first-round loss to Dominic Dale Trump refused at first to give his overall views of the match, the bland but traditional first request from the host and interpreter in China. He then blamed the conditions for both his own poor performance and unnamed other top players in the first round without specifying the nature of his gripe.

The inevitable question about whether he had watched home hero Ding Junhui’s match against good friend Jack Lisowski – annoying, especially since he had been on the other table but par for the course in a Chinese press conference – was met with the unlikely “I didn’t know they were playing.” And in the same vein for the final piece de resistance, a mildly provocative but possibly mis-translated enquiry as to whether he had given his all in the match was met with “Stupid question.”

The players all know they occasionally have to field slightly odd questions in the Far East with the translation not helping, and even in the bitter aftermath of a disappointing defeat Trump, who like many observers fancied he would have a run in this event, can do better.

Photograph by Monique Limbos