FROM LOCAL HERO TO AUDIENCE ZERO

It’s a big day at the Tempodrom in Berlin for Marcel Eckardt, a German referee taking charge of the German Masters final between Mark Selby and Shaun Murphy.

At 25, Marcel is the youngest person to referee a ranking tournament final. He now lives and works in Berlin after taking a six month break from snooker to concentrate on work, part of which involved a period of studying.

As expected, he got a rapturous reception from the 2,500 strong Tempodrom crowd but his next refereeing engagement will be a quieter affair. Early on Monday morning he flies to the UK to take charge at the Championship League, where there is no audience.

This is about as drastic a change in atmosphere as you can get but confirms Marcel as a dedicated official keen to gain as much experience as possible.

It seems likely he will be donning the white gloves at the Crucible if not this season then in the near future.

EUROSPORT PICK RIGHT DAY TO SELL SNOOKER

After deciding to make a big statement of intent at the German Masters by having a studio presence for the first time at the snooker, broadcasters Eurosport followed that up with more efforts to spread the word once safely installed at the Tempodrom.

A pan-European media day on Friday afternoon saw journalists from Germany, Italy, Hungary, Poland, Spain, Romania, the Czech Republic and Portugal invited and given the VIP treatment including tours of the venue, a masterclass on the practice tables with young German prospect Lukas Kleckers, and some wining and dining.

The practice session did raise an eyebrow from Mark Selby, working on his game on the adjacent table ahead of his evening quarter-final showdown with Judd Trump but it takes more than excited gaggle of hacks and presenters to ruffle the world champion these days.

And the invited party could not really have picked a better day to be in the Tempodrom, arguably one of the finest in recent snooker history taking all factors into consideration. There was a 147 from Trump who went on to lose, four quarter-finals going to a deciding frame, a first ranking success for Shaun Murphy over Ronnie O’Sullivan and that was just the evening.

Earlier, of course, Murphy had obtained a snooker to stay in the tournament when 4-3 down to Mark Allen in another classic last-16 encounter.

A HORROR SHOW...BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT

In what may have to be the last Film Festival-related item, enjoying a drink after play on Thursday a number of those working at the German Masters got chatting to some Northern Irish screenwriters and producers, in Berlin to try and raise investment for various movies they were hoping to make.

In what proved a fascinating insight into what can only be described as a niche area (Irish Gothic horror, apparently with occasional use of possessed leprechauns – maybe not doing everything possible to dispel some national stereotypes) writer Spence Wright and his colleagues (well, apart from the one who was asleep in the corner for the whole two hours) broke off from their pool game and offered up a spirited rendition of ‘Snooker Loopy’ in honour of the chance meeting to the general bewilderment of the bar staff.

Wright describes himself on Linked In as “a horror fan since I was knee high to a Chucky Doll, a child of the vhs video feeding frenzy - now a horror hound writing the scripts and living the nightmare”, and his credits include Red Mist (2008), Unsound (2011), the unforgettable Vampires v Leprechauns (2013) and Deadlocked (2013).

Some fairly obvious gags about snooker and horror, notably those involving slow play and early morning finishes, were all duly cracked.

Tournament director Mike Ganley appeared to know quite a bit about the genre – arguably a little too much – while the festival-goers regretted being tied up in meetings on Friday afternoon and unable to come along and cheer on compatriot Mark Allen against Shaun Murphy.

O'SULLIVAN MAKES IT INTO GERMAN 'DAILY MIRROR'

Always keen to maintain international media relations, Inside Snooker took advantage of an offer from a Berlin colleague to visit the nearby offices of Der Tagesspiegel (or ‘Daily Mirror’, if you like) and get a spot of lunch in the canteen. DT is one of the three big newspapers specifically published for the capital as opposed to some of the national titles.

On a day when a full page of the broadsheet in the news section was devoted to the crisis enveloping Bundesliga stragglers Hertha Berlin, who this week sacked their manager with the team plummeting towards the foot of the table, there was still room in the sports section for an excellent page-lead piece on Ronnie O’Sullivan from journalist Joerg Leopold headlined ‘The quest for perfection’.

http://www.tagesspiegel.de/sport/snooker-german-masters-in-berlin-ronnie-osullivan-und-die-suche-nach-perfektion/11335270.html

With the Film Festival in full swing the Rocket, in action against Joe Perry in their last-16 clash, had to share space in Friday’s paper with French actress Audrey Tautou, a member of the jury deciding the festival’s best film and pictured out and about on gala opening night.

BURDEN'S SPLENDID ISOLATION

Alfie Burden was fired up for his first visit to the latter stages of the German Masters, having always previously fallen in the qualifiers and never made it to the Tempodrom in Berlin.

Affordable hotel rooms were very scarce in Berlin the week of the tournament, with the International Film Festival and several major trade fairs also taking place in the city.

But world No38 Burden was delighted to have finally secured one very close to what he thought was the venue. Having arrived and checked in he ventured to the Velodrom with his cue for a practice only for the first suspicions to dawn that something was amiss.

Bemused staff at the cycling venue were unable to help and after a couple of phone calls Burden realised that he was in fact out in the eastern suburbs and a good 45-minute taxi ride from the Tempodrom just south of the centre of Berlin.

A couple of very costly taxi fares drove Burden to check out the far more reasonable rates available on the public transport system and the U-Bahn. And though a first-round win over Michael Georgiou made him consider relocating, he stayed put ahead of a stint on the Eurosport studio panel during the Neil Robertson v Xiao Guodong last-16 match.

POOL SHARK SELBY MAKES IT BACK WITH TIME TO SPARE

A few people had expressed concerns about Mark Selby’s schedule and travel plans to Berlin for the German Masters after losing a tight final of the Chinese Eight-ball Pool World Championship to Darren Appleton on Monday night.

But after a narrow 21-19 defeat the snooker world champion certainly looked cheery enough after jetting in to Germany on Tuesday night, in plenty of time for his opening match on the main TV table against Anthony McGill on Wednesday afternoon.

Selby, with a strong pool pedigree before making it big in the 15-reds game, thoroughly enjoyed the experience and picked up £30,000 for his efforts in the Far East, playing with his trusted snooker cue.

And it was certainly no disgrace losing to Appleton, a former pool world champion and world No1.  Selby had beaten Appleton 11-7 in the eight-ball pool world championship final nine years previously.

WHICH WORLD CHAMPIONS WILL WE SEE AT PONDS FORGE?

There is plenty of intrigue over which of the former world champions no longer on the tour will take advantage of Barry Hearn’s offer and assume their place in qualifying for this year’s World Championship at the Crucible.

Joe Johnson was cagey on the question on the eve of the German Masters, but we here at Inside Snooker are still putting him down as a probable, along with Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor. For the last two mentioned that would have extra poignancy (and hopefully column inches) given it is the 30th anniversary of their epic final battle.

Cliff Thorburn remains a possibility, John Parrott an outside chance and Terry Griffiths a likely non-starter.

Much of the focus will be on Stephen Hendry’s intentions, but the Scot, a record seven-time winner in Sheffield, continues to tease the snooker public – dropping the odd hint that he misses the competition, but also insisting that he has nothing to prove and will not be making a comeback as a mere PR stunt and prelude to a big and embarrassing defeat.

There is also some speculation that contractual issues with his current paymasters at a rival Chinese table manufacturer might make it difficult to play in a Star tables tournament, but presumably even if true those could be negotiated if the will was there.

ACTOR FIRTH SEES RED IN BERLIN

THE German Masters took place a week later this year – meaning the tournament clashed full on with the start of the 2015 Berlin International Film Festival (or Berlinale), one of the more prestigious world cinematic gatherings.

So it was perhaps not altogether surprising, though still unexpected, to virtually walk in to Colin Firth milking it on the red carpet at the nearby eight-screen IMAX complex off the Potsdamerplatz,  just 15 minutes’ walk from the Tempodrom on the eve of the event.

Firth was in town as part of a whistlestop European tour to promote knockabout spy flick Kingsman: The Secret Service, in which he plays a veteran secret agent.

The actor, now 54 but who still makes ladies of a certain age swoon for his wet-blouse antics in the BBC television adaptation of Pride and Prejudice 20 years ago, hammed up the quintessential English gent like an old pro for the adoring German public both outside and then inside when introducing a debut screening of the film in the country.

Firth then slipped out of a side door where a convoy of black limousines were waiting to whisk him away, along with a few die-hard photographers camped out in the light snow and some selfie-seekers who were left disappointed after the star declined all such invitations.

He then sped off just before anyone could ask if he was hanging around for the Xiao Guodong/Liam Highfield clash the following day.

MC WALKER CUTS IT FINE AFTER CAR TROUBLE

MC Rob Walker cut it very fine to take up his usual arena position ahead of the showpiece Masters semi-final between Neil Robertson and Ronnie O’Sullivan.

Making the short trip from home down the A40 and round the North Circular to Alexandra Palace Walker saw his cherished second-hand BMW start to cough, splutter and finally start to emit clouds of steam from the bonnet while stuck in gridlock coming up the last hill to park at the venue.

Pushed for time, he had to call the RAC, dash into the building and enlist the help of World Snooker’s digital media officer Lewis Ward to go out and deal with the recovery organisation while he attended to a sell-out crowd that in all truth did not need too much warming up for such a clash.

The man from the RAC claimed to have fixed the problem – a faulty pipe – but more issues the next day left Walker ruefully contemplating having to shell out for a replacement vehicle.

CRUCIBLE NEWS EMBARGO FAILS TO HOLD

When is an embargo not an embargo…

The announcement that the World Championship is to stay at its spiritual home of the Crucible Theatre was greeted with delight from most quarters outside China – and probably even some from within that country who have sampled the atmosphere first hand.

A press release with a strict 7pm Sunday night embargo had been prepared in advance with quotes from World Snooker chairman Barry Hearn and Sheffield City Council leader Julie Dore proclaiming the decision to extend the deal by two years to 2017, the year that marks the 40th anniversary of the first staging.

A formal press conference was planned for 7pm at Alexandra Palace but the information surfaced on the ITV web site, presumably leaked from the Sheffield end, and that prompted Hearn to then go on the BBC mid-afternoon to confirm the news.

With journalists having also elicited the views of notable greats such as Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis, by the evening, there wasn’t much new information to be had.

RIGOUR CLIMB INTO POLE POSITION

Those watching the snooker on television will have noticed a change in the provider of the on-screen technology used to plot the positions of the balls.

Chinese company Rigour, a technology partner at the Beijing Academy supporting the WPBSA and CBSA, were brought in for the first time outside China instead of the originally British firm Hawk-Eye - bought in 2011 by Japanese giants Sony and also used in tennis and cricket as well as snooker.

The new system, which saw the angle of shots and pots periodically displayed on screen, offered a more effective solution to restoring the table to how it was in those most awkward situations for officials when the balls are moved around on a foul. It may be imagined that the deal also represented value for money compared to the previous technology.

Rigour, who enjoyed a fact-finding trip in York at the UK Championship, spent time with editors and directors at Alexandra Palace trying to ensure smooth implementation and the best use of their service – but there was one minor hiccup.

One of the Chinese team, perhaps unaware of the somewhat more stringent health and safety regime in the UK, scrambled up on to the lighting rig hanging high above the arena to try and rectify some issue. A pointed intervention from tournament director Mike Ganley saw him descend in a hurry.

TAYLOR GETS HELPING HAND FOR BIRTHDAY DINNER

Masters week often coincides with Dennis Taylor’s birthday, an event that sees the 1985 world champion being taken out for a meal by his fellow commentators and pundits.

This year Northern Ireland’s Taylor was actually due to turn 66 on the Monday following the final, so fellow former Crucible king and BBC stalwart Ken Doherty took it on himself to make the arrangements for the Friday night when the pair were off duty.

And for a brief moment earlier in the week the media centre went all ‘showbiz’ with the visiting Andy Goldstein offering a helping hand getting a Friday night reservation at the very sought-after Berners Tavern on Berners Street in the upmarket Fitzrovia district of London off Oxford Street.

One phone call from the talkSPORT, Eurosport and Sky presenter later and Taylor’s night was all sorted.

EBDON BACK FROM BUDAPEST AND IN CARTER CORNER

Peter Ebdon showed up at Alexandra Palace as a cornerman for Ali Carter alongside manager Steve Daintry for both of The Captain’s matches at the Masters this year, a role he has performed before at the Crucible and elsewhere.

Ebdon remains based in Budapest for most of the time when he is not travelling on the tour, but used his former UK home of Northamptonshire as a base while trekking down to north London to support Carter.

The former world champion knows he has his work cut out to make it back into the top 16 and avoid having to play three qualifying matches for the World Championship this year, especially with points to come off after a decent campaign in 2012-13.

However he did hint that there is a strong possibility of a first European Tour event taking place in Hungary in the near future – possibly next year.

SICK AS A PARROTT

John Parrott took advantage of the Tuesday night off shift with the BBC at the Masters to steal away to Upton Park and see his beloved Everton in an FA Cup third-round replay.

The 1991 world champion has had trouble before as a recognisable sporting celebrity and fan, notably when recently watching the Toffees win at Old Trafford. Unable to fully conceal his joy when a goal went in and at the final whistle, Parrott ended up being accosted by an elderly Mancunian lady wielding a pie who took objection to his presence in the ground.

Taking no chances in east London though, Parrott treated himself to a night in one of West Ham’s hospitality lounges and seating areas to watch the game.

He certainly got value for money, with the replay going to extra time after finishing 1-1 after 90 minutes, and then 2-2 after the extra 30, requiring a penalty shootout.

But on a dramatic night there was ultimate disappointment as Everton keeper Robles missed with his spot-kick while opposite number Adrian scored to secure a 9-8 success.

SNOOKER CELEBRITIES REVEAL THEIR 'BUCKET LIST' DESIRES

The programmes at the big UK snooker events have been of a high quality in the last couple of years, mainly down to the efforts of communications chief Ivan Hirschowitz, who is almost always working on the next publication while marshalling the media at the tournament in progress, and designers Programme Master.

This year’s Masters’ effort was no exception and among several interesting features was a ‘Bucket List’ questionnaire for various personalities in the game, featuring the traditional grilling over things they would like to do or own before leaving this mortal coil.

Former world champion Shaun Murphy revealed he would love to go into space on one of the new commercial flights, and as a pianist would most like to meet musician and songwriters Gary Barlow and Elton John. MC Rob Walker, a keen athlete, wants to run the brutal-looking ‘Marathon des Sables’ in the Sahara desert, one of the biggest endurance tests in the world.

Muhammad Ali gets a couple of votes in the ‘Person to meet’ category, as does Augusta in the ‘Sporting event to attend’ or ‘Golf course to play’. Stuart Bingham is still plucking up the courage to a sky-dive for charity, and lists the Terracotta Army in China as his place to visit, with no Far East tournament having yet been staged within striking distance.

Hong Kong’s Marco Fu skied as a child growing up in Canada and would love a go in the Swiss Alps, while top referee Jan Verhaas would love to meet Bill Clinton for a chat. The mind boggles, write your own punchlines.

Last but not least 1979 Crucible king Terry Griffiths fancies some lessons from a Tai Chi master having studied the philosophy behind the art form, while commentator John  Virgo, sad about missing the boat with Brigitte Bardot, fancies a chinwag with Al Pacino and Clint Eastwood.

WHITE TAKEN TO THE CLEANERS IN EPSOM

In more Jimmy White news, the Whirlwind found himself in the headlines of the Epsom local paper during Masters week.

Making the regular trip from one of his practice bases to Alexandra Palace, White took the opportunity to drop off some dry cleaning on Epsom High Street.

But next to a picture that appeared to show White’s car with its distinctive ‘CUE BOY’ registration plate parked on a double yellow line outside the shop was a story featuring quotes from irate pedestrian Simon Mayston who had contacted the publication.

Mr Mayston said: “Jimmy White was driving down the High Street through Epsom and then pulled over and mounted the pavement just after the traffic light crossroads at Waterloo Road.

“He proceeded slowly along that top bit of the High Street, and parked outside the dry cleaners on the double yellow.

“He got out to pick up some dry cleaning and then drove off - probably there for no more than five minutes.

“It just irritated me that he parked on the pavement, particularly as we - that is myself, my wife and my four-year-old son - were walking along that stretch of the pavement.

“My son was riding his scooter, and we had to make sure he got out of the way of the car. The number plate is recognisable. Jimmy White lives just up the road by the station. It would have irritated me whoever the driver was.”

White, characteristically, shrugged off what must have been an overwhelming temptation to brand his tormentor a busybody with a camera phone and opted instead to see the funny side of the incident. “I thought he was a fan!” he said in the media centre on Tuesday.

EXTRA SEATS JUST ADD TO THE ATMOSPHERE

Much credit should go to the crew setting up the new and larger arena for the Masters at Alexandra Palace. The extra 200 seats, bringing the capacity to around 1,700, could easily have had a ‘bolted-on’ feel with the decision having been made late in the day to cope with demand.

But the extra space was as if designed and really enhanced the amphitheatre and potential for atmosphere, helped and brought to life by the excellent crowds flocking in to watch the early drama on day one as Shaun Murphy and Mark Selby served up their classic, and Marco Fu chipped in with his magnificent maximum break.

WHIRLWIND BREEZES INTO ALLY PALLY

Jimmy White usually drops in at the Masters at least once every year, but he was an even more regular face around the Alexandra Palace venue this year as an ambassador for tournament sponsors Dafabet.

In a large advert in the official programme the Whirlwind, who won the title 31 years ago at the Wembley Conference Centre with a 9-5 victory over Terry Griffiths, shared top billing with former Portugal, Barcelona and Real Madrid football legend Luis Figo – another of the company’s sporting figureheads.

It is not the first time Figo has cropped up in a snooker context. A couple of years ago at the Shanghai Masters a Real Madrid legends XI were staying at the same hotel as the snooker players the night Ding Junhui won in 2013. Ding, on his way to the celebration dinner, was keen to shake Figo by the hand and after some prompting from a lackey the player, realising the man in front of him was being as mobbed by fans as he was but none the wise as to his identity, happily obliged.

After this season’s inaugural Lisbon Open, perhaps a few more in Portugal are up to speed on their snooker stars.

WOOLLASTON LEFT ON THE SIDELINES

Matt Selt’s win in Group Two of the Championship League after being a late call-up to plug a gap in the seven-man line-up was a heartwarming tale…except possibly for Ben Woollaston.

The Leicester player was one of those that might technically have got the call ahead of Selt on rankings position, and was left underwhelmed by being passed over.

Selt’s ultimate victory and passage into the winners’ group continued his recent good form but is unlikely to have made world No36 Woollaston feel any better about the situation.

WIGAN HOPING TO SEE O'SULLIVAN CENTURY RECORD

Robin Park, Wigan cannot boast the snooker tradition of a Crucible, a Barbican Centre, a Wembley Conference Centre or the nearby Preston Guildhall. But as the Coral UK Championship moved to a conclusion the likelihood that it might just bear witness to a piece of history were increasing.

With Ronnie O’Sullivan homing in on Stephen Hendry’s all-time career centuries record and having entered the German Masters, the qualifiers with up to two matches for the Rocket trying to reach the Tempodrom in Berlin are to be played at the Sports Arena over December 17-19.

In terms of the publicity attracted snooker was lucky that Neil Robertson’s 100th century of the season last term came at the Crucible, and in many ways the Masters – one of O’Sullivan’s favourite tournaments, and where Hendry would be commentating – might be a suitably grand setting for equalling or beating the record.

However that will not be the view in Wigan, where fans turning up to watch free of charge may get very good value indeed.