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.

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.