Spent a great weekend at a tournament at the North East Derbyshire Snooker Centre, Clay Cross. A glorious venue for snooker, with more than 20 tables spread across three rooms, and a large bar area with fantastic food served all day. Just the sort of place to lose track of time for two whole days, and with a top bunch of people too – a few from TheSnookerForum and a few more drawn from the local area. Continue reading →

Glad to say we’re getting a positive reaction wherever our iPhone app is downloaded around the world, despite not having any translations of it available. Here’s a selection which just goes to show that (i) the iPhone is ubiquitous, (ii) snooker really is starting to reach the parts it never used to reach, and (iii) it’s a bloomin’ great app!

Australia

What an app !!! – ★★★★★ by Neil147

There is only one word which can be used to describe this app…. FANTASTIC !!! I’ve always been a little sceptical about some of the Snooker apps, but this does exactly what it says and it does it very well. I used it the other evening to record a few frames in a snooker match I was playing in. It’s amazing what it reveals about your game. This will certainly be getting a workout from me in the future !!

Finland

A must-have app for any snooker player! – ★★★★★ by McGeiger

A great app! I’ve hesitated to use any snooker app before, as I’ve feared it would be a distraction to the game. But this is so easy to use that now I don’t play without it! A great way to track your progress as a player, and to share the game stats with your mates. Works like a charm, still can’t believe it’s free!

Hong Kong

Snooker players must have it – ★★★★★ by 鯉蟻鵝

It is great and easy to use for scorer. Work with the Web, I can also know my history, weakness, improvement.

Russia

Отличная программа!!! – ★★★★★ by alexoxol

Программа просто суперская! Всем советую! Особенно классно сделан аплоад матчей на сайт. Молодцы!

(Google translates this as “Excellent program! The program simply super! I advise everyone! Especially fun is made apload games on the site. Well done!” Perhaps the translation is not the best advert for Google’s translation services, but that review is certainly fine by us…)

Spain

Muy bien – ★★★★★ by luisqs

Esta bien cumple bien su función.

(Google: “Very good. It fulfills this function well.”)

UK

Great App – ★★★★★ by ejchapman

Great and easy to use app to keep track of scoring, and provides you with great statistics to keep track of your game. If you’re a statistics buff like I am, you’ll love it. And it’s great for comparing your own stats with your friends. Download now if you want to get more out of a game of snooker!

Finally, a big thank you to all those of you who take the time to review the app, and who help spread the word by showing it off to their friends. Android users, we assure you: it will be worth the wait!

Always a day to whet the appetite for the big Sheffield showdown. The draw’s been made and there’s some terrific first round matches in prospect. Neil Robertson begins his defence against Judd Trump while Martin Gould once again faces Marco Fu, with a possible further rematch in store against the Aussie who broke his heart last year. Recall how Robertson overturned an 11-5 overnight deficit as Gould stalled. Dott against King is sure to be a bruising battle of wills and, given the less convincing nature of some of Neil Robertson’s recent performances (and his travel planning), I’m sure The Captain Ali Carter will fancy his chances of progressing to the one table stage.

Stuart Bingham seems to be a man in form and I think he might have the game to stop Ebdon, but he’s up against it to emerge from an eight featuring Mark Selby, Ding Junhui and Stephen Hendry. Of the debutants, the slightly kinder first round draw comes Andrew Pagett’s way, but there’s two very strong Welshmen waiting for him if he can beat Stoke’s Jamie Cope. I’d have to back Williams to emerge from their section, but Mark Allen always enjoys the challenge of playing against the favourites.

The final section of the draw is the most eye-catching, given Ronnie O’Sullivan’s fall from top 8 grace this season. Dominic Dale certainly won’t be overawed. The question is more whether Ronnie can turn it on for this one tournament, given his number of no-shows and hardly-shows. Meanwhile, John Higgins could hardly have picked himself a tougher start with Stephen Lee returning to near his best. I expect him to be pushed, but to come through to face… Dale or Murphy. Might as well put a bold prediction out there. If Ronnie does turn on the style, well, splendid – I’m a huge fan, but it doesn’t really do to count on him…

Full draw:

1. Neil Robertson v Judd Trump
2. Marco Fu v Martin Gould
3. Graeme Dott v Mark King
4. Allister Carter v Dave Harold
5. Ding Junhui v Jamie Burnett
6. Peter Ebdon v Stuart Bingham
7. Stephen Hendry v Joe Perry
8. Mark Selby v Jimmy Robertson
9. Mark Williams v Ryan Day
10. Jamie Cope v Andrew Pagett
11. Mark Allen v Matthew Stevens
12. Stephen Maguire v Barry Hawkins
13. Shaun Murphy v Marcus Campbell
14. Ronnie O’Sullivan v Dominic Dale
15. Ricky Walden v Rory McLeod
16. John Higgins v Stephen Lee

Who’s going to win it? I’d love to see Selby do it, but I’ve got a funny feeling that it might be Murphy’s time again. I certainly think he’s the only player other than Mark Williams who could actually turn John Higgins over on recent form. I look forward to frantically rewriting these predictions as each round unfolds…

We’re delighted to welcome all our new members to the site. Perhaps, given the high levels of downloads from the App Store in Germany last week, we really ought to be saying “Willkommen”, but we would certainly like to see more of you registering on here as well – “bitte!”

We hope you’re all enjoying the app and the site. We invite you to also follow us on our Facebook page and to put forward your thoughts and suggestions. We know our iPhone app is well-polished, but we’re also aware that our website is not yet the finished article. Come and help us to make it better!

Very exciting times here at MySnookerStats.Com. Our iPhone app has been approved by Apple’s review panel and is now available for you to download on to your iPod touch, iPhone or iPad. Get it now and take advantage of our special introductory price (free!)

We really hope you’ll love using the app and this site and will want to recommend us to all your snookering friends.

There’s just no stopping Robertson. He’s really made a step up in the last season and there can be no arguments about his record in finals – that’s a stunning six out of six. They know a thing or two about winning, these Aussies…

He dispatched O’Sullivan with a minimum of fuss to claim this prize and to round off a tournament that has really been a breath of fresh air for the snooker-watching world. Let’s hope the Beeb realise that they’ve hit on a winning format because I think it’s been an absolute treat: short matches, tension, all on one table, and plenty of ranking points at stake – what a recipe.

This was also the first time that a tournament I entered has been televised in its final stages! It’s just a shame for me that I also exited it at the same preliminary stage I entered – getting a thumping from promising England youngster Jordan Rimmer at the brand new South West Snooker Academy in Gloucester. Despite the brevity of my match, it was clear that the facilities are top draw, and I’d be interested in a return trip to get some coaching and a bit of practice at some point.

And in another first, Tony Drago entertained us by losing control of his sausage roll in the canteen. I’m pretty sure they don’t normally get away from him… ;-) Only kidding, Tony – I hope you don’t mind!

Martin Gould was on the crest of a wave, playing some blinding snooker and opening up a handsome 11-5 lead. He was almost through to the quarter finals. Almost.

And then the second session ended and now all he could do was try to settle himself down, get some sleep, and prepare for the final session of the match the following afternoon.

Neil Robertson presumably slept soundly that night – far from happy with his efforts, I’m sure, but without the burden of expectation. So much so that he apparently checked out of his apartment ahead of the final session, fully expecting to be returning to Cambridge after the match.

And Gould was in first in the opener before missing a routine black to let Robertson in to steal the vital first blood. And as Robertson compiled a century in the next, Gould would have had plenty of time to reflect on the ever-increasing possibility of the comeback.

Suddenly that comfortable lead was under serious threat and everyone knew it. As the previous day had shown, snooker is so often a game of momentum and as players we’ve all experienced it. It’s magic on a day when you’re flowing, in the zone, and you’re just not missing – impossible when you can’t get the simplest balls and your opponent is flying. And it’s hard not to start writing the script yourself as you succumb to that powerlessness you feel, away from the table, as you watch your opponent piling on the agony.

Even a short interval can make a big change in a match, but an overnight wait – that’s almost like an entirely new match. It’s just too bad that Gould couldn’t bring the same spark and originality to this one. On the first day, his play was a joy to watch. “Fearless” Clive Everton called him, and it was like a breath of fresh air for the tournament.

Let’s hope his appetite for the game is not diminished by that nagging sense of what he nearly achieved. Losing 13-12 to the provisional World number 4 is still a phenomenal effort. It might turn out to be the highlight of his snooker career, but let’s hope that it does not.

For a much fuller spectator’s eye-view on the match, check out Matt’s ProSnookerBlog entry – Robertson Stuns Gould.

Your rating in MySnookerStats is based on your positional success in your last five uploaded matches. Here’s what your rating says about you.

If your long term MySnookerStats positional success is in excess of 90%, then congratulations – you are destined for the World’s Top 16. For everybody else, please find your band above… If your rating is between zero and 30, you are in the Beginner band; if you lie between 80 and 85 then you are “In with a chance” of making it at the highest level.

Obviously, this is intended as a fun way to visualize your level and there are some key disclaimers required. The better you get at this game, the harder and harder it becomes to step up to that next band. Occasional performances at a higher band are great for your confidence, but you need great consistency to succeed. And even when you’ve shown you’re capable of achieving great performances regularly, there remains the question of whether you have the mental strength to win against others whose motivation incorporates a need to put food on their family’s table.

The standard of this game has risen over the years and it’s now more demanding than ever. Maybe that is sometimes to the detriment of the spectacle for audiences, but anyone who plays knows the game has lost none of its magic.

So we’re launching a new advertising campaign with LeagueSnooker.co.uk, a site which we’re glad to see suggests that the amateur game is still going strong up and down the country.

Currently, MySnookerStats is made up of a small number of isolated mini-communities. We’re obviously eager to attract some of the keen players who already devote time to playing in their local leagues. If you’re reading this as a first time visitor from UK League Snooker, then here’s a big welcome to you.

Why not try us out at no risk and see if we can add an extra dimension of enjoyment or awareness to your game? Get your friends in on the action too to enjoy the full competitive element. Who is the best player in your team (or school / college / office)? If it’s you, here’s your chance to prove it! If it’s not you, then just how far are you off the pace?