FINAL REFEREE MAIKE MAKES HER MARK

Speaking of Maike Kesseler, having paid her dues over the years and notably on the European Tour circuit the referee looked extremely happy and proud as she waved to the 2,500 crowd doing the Tempodrom ‘walk of fame’ in the spotlight down into the main arena ahead of the two players. This was a first ranking final for Kesseler, though she has taken charge of a semi-final in Berlin and also the final of a PTC event. If the reception at this stage of the tournament sends shivers down the spine of the combatants, imagine what it must be like for the referees who are even less used to it. I think it is fair to say we will never see football referees get this sort of warm, red-carpet welcome ahead of a big match.

FAMOUS BELGIANS LIST LUCA WOULD LOVE TO JOIN

Luca Brecel is bidding either in Berlin or in the future to enter that renowned pantheon of ‘famous Belgians’. Here is Inside Snooker’s own selection on what he is up against to crack it:

Tintin (and creator Herge); fictional detective Hercule Poirot; five-time Tour de France winner Eddy Merckx; legendary singer Plastic Bertrand of ‘Ca plane pour moi’ fame; the current Belgium national football team especially Eden Hazard and Vincent Kompany but not Christian Benteke; crap film king Jean-Claude van Damme; Audrey Hepburn (are you sure?); tennis champion Kim Clijsters, and last but not least Baroque painter Rubens.

JAN'S A DESOLATE MAN

Senior official Jan Verhaas, supervising for the German Masters, was a conflicted man just moments before the big walk-ons ahead of Sunday’s Tempodrom final. His beloved Feyenoord were locked in battle with deadly rivals Ajax in Holland’s Eredivisie, but duty called and there was Maike Kesseler to support as she strode out to referee a first major final in her home event. The big Dutchman admitted “my head isn’t really here” after carrying the trophy out to the table, and about the time Rolf Kalb was winding up the preliminaries Ajax scored what proved to be the winner, leaving Verhaas desolate.

WHERE DID THE SNOOKER GO?

With only nine ranking tournaments a year, you might have expected a bit more on the BBC Sport web site about the German Masters. Incredibly on the morning of the final there had been NO stories about the event proper. Yes, a lot of box office stars tumbled out in qualifying including Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins, Neil Robertson and Ding Junhui; yes, the Berlin event was being televised on a rival broadcaster in Eurosport/Discovery. But that doesn't make a difference in other sports and to find absolutely no coverage at all was a real surprise. Back on Wednesday the world No1, the world champion, Judd Trump, Shaun Murphy and many others were still involved, and the semis threw up a guaranteed new ranking event winner. Worth a mention, surely.

WHIRLWIND STILL BLOWING STRONG

The racier elements of the snooker entourage hit the town big-style on Thursday night, ending up in top Berlin club The Pearl. Unsubstantiated rumour and wild speculation have it that ‘Whirlwind’ Jimmy White, 53 years young and taking brief time out from his Eurosport duties, ended up being shown how to drink a Jagerbomb by the graphics team. Or maybe it was the Matchroom events team (our source was hazy on this point). It was though by all accounts not an evening that finished early.

DAY GRABS BANANAS AND SPLITS

Ryan Day knew his day was not done despite securing a big last-16 win over reigning world champion Stuart Bingham at the German Masters on Friday afternoon. The format at the Tempodrom sees the quartet of afternoon winners having to go straight out again for their quarter-finals in the evening, while Thursday’s winners were able to prepare in more relaxed fashion.

After doing his interviews in the media centre the Welshman made a grab for some of the fresh fruit on the table. When challenged about this ‘theft’ in good-natured fashion, the world No18 protested that there were no energy-boosting bananas laid on in the players’ room. Kyren Wilson could probably have done with a couple too to aid his recovery. The Shanghai Masters champion’s last-16 game against Michael Holt was late in finishing, around 6.25pm, giving him just an hour and a half to get ready to play for a semi-final spot against Day. 

HANDBALL CLEANING UP IN GERMANY

Snooker has made great strides in Germany, as we know, and has a loyal following of viewers on Eurosport but it still has a long way to go to catch up with football…and handball. The recent handball European Championships in Poland saw the Germany men’s team emerge victorious and their success was watched by a staggering 15million on free-to-air television. There was then a day of celebration in Berlin last Monday, which saw 8,000 turn out just to welcome the team home and hail their achievements. Rolf Kalb, eat your heart out.

BURNS TABLE RUINED IN FLOODS

There was nationwide sympathy for victims of the recent UK flooding that devastated many parts of the country, and snooker professional Ian Burns, in action against Michael Holt in the first round in Berlin, was just one of those affected.

Burns had a table at his parents’ house in Croston, near Preston, and as the rains came down it was feared the building would once again be affected as with previous occasions that there had been a deluge and flood alerts.

The expected water level was just a few inches, but almost as an afterthought Burns’ cue, lying on top of the table, was moved upstairs for safety. This proved an invaluable intervention, as the entire table was soon submerged and ruined.

Happily the insurance company, themselves up to their eyes in claims, made sure they did their bit by providing a Star table as a replacement.

ALLEN FINDS LOSING IS JUST PANTS

An early ‘engaging with fans’ award for this week goes to Mark Allen, who might have surprisingly lost a match to Mark Joyce blowing that quarter of the draw wide open, but not his sense of humour.

Taking questions on Twitter before his flight home, the Northern Irishman was asked: “Do you ever worry that your pants might split when bending down for a shot?”

Unfazed, the two-time ranking event winner replied: “Coming from a plus-sized gentleman, it is always on my mind.”

WILSON NOW ONE OF THE BIG BOYS

Shanghai Masters champion Kyren Wilson already has a reputation for being more than capable of holding his own with the media, and there was another good example before his first-round match against Rory McLeod.

Speaking to him in the corridor, I asked him if he felt opportunity might be knocking this week with a few of the big guns not making it through qualifying, and others tumbling out in the first 24 hours of the tournament. With a big smile, Wilson replied: “I am one the big guns!” No arrogance, just humour and plenty of self-belief. That was me told.

MY KINGDOM FOR A GLASS...

The plush Crowne Plaza hotel in Berlin, adjacent to the Tempodrom venue and a favourite for players, officials and media, has changed hands since last year’s German Masters, formerly known as the Wyndham Grand.

And the new management were left in little doubt as to some serious shortcomings in the very busy bar area on opening Wednesday night.

Amazingly the 423-room hotel ran out of glasses in the bar, which must be the equivalent of the Munich Beer Festival running out of beer on the first day.

An early casualty was former world champion Shaun Murphy, who arrived having lost a decider to Ben Woollaston and was frankly in need of a drink. A suitable haranguing from World Snooker director Brandon Parker should ensure no repeat for the rest of the event.