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The Irish Sun
18-07-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘So unpredictable' – Snooker fans baffled as ‘one of more confusing players on the tour' knocks in staggering 147 break
CHINESE snooker star Fan Zhengyi scored the first maximum break of the new 2025 season - after a disappointing year. The world No.48 shocked fans when he hit an incredible 147 at the Championship League in Leicester on Thursday. Advertisement 2 Fan Zhengyi scored an incredible 147 during the first tournament of the new season Credit: X @CLSnooker 2 It was the second maximum break of his young career Credit: X @CLSnooker Fan became only the 38th player in the modern history of the sport to compile multiple maximums, scoring his first at the English Open in 2024. The perfect break came in the second frame of the match which finished 2-2. The highlight of the 147 was a tough cutback yellow to a blind pocket on 120, as he hit the white off three cushions to come back for the green in baulk. David Hendon on commentary said: "First of the season, but we know with the quality of players, it won't be the last. Fantastic from Fan Zhengyi." Advertisement READ MORE SNOOKER But his opponent Xu did not let Fan's effort get to him, as he recovered from 2-0 behind to earn a 2-2 draw in finishing the day unbeaten. However, supporters couldn't believe Fan's achievement after the disappointing year he's had, failing to make it past the last-32 of any competition. One posted on X: "Fan is one of the more confusing players on tour. Looks unbelievable sometimes but really unpredictable. "He's not won a match yet this season, but made a 147. Also lost a frame to Highfield who needed 3 snookers. Tough to predict." Advertisement Most read in Snooker Exclusive Exclusive Exclusive CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS While another added: " Definitely in the top-10 of most confusing players!" It was the 218th 147 in professional snooker history and first of the 2025/26 season. Championship League snooker match awkwardly interrupted by Ice Cream Van But Fan, who has won just three matches this calendar year, was dumped out of the competition with a haul of just two points. Advertisement Xu Si instead topped Group 29 with a record of two wins and a draw, beating Michal Szubarczyk and Liam Highfield before securing a tie with Fan to safeguard his spot in the last 32. The Championship League runs between June 30 and July 23, with 32 groups of four producing 32 winners, who are then split into eight groups of four. Two final groups of four will determine who contests the final on July 23, with the winner earning £33,000 and a place in the Champion of Champions event in Leicester in November. Advertisement List of all-time Snooker World Champions BELOW is a list of snooker World Champions by year. The record is for the modern era, widely considered as dating from the 1968-69 season, when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) took control of the sport. The first World Championships ran from 1927 - with a break from 1941-45 because of World War II and 1958-63 because of a dispute in the sport. Joe Davis (15), Fred Davis and John Pulman (both 8) were the most successful players during that period. 1969 - John Spencer 1970 - 1971 - John Spencer 1972 - Alex Higgins 1973 - Ray Reardon (2) 1974 - Ray Reardon (3) 1975 - Ray Reardon (4) 1976 - Ray Reardon (5) 1977 - John Spencer (2) 1978 - Ray Reardon (6) 1979 - Terry Griffiths 1980 - Cliff Thorburn 1981 - 1982 - Alex Higgins (2) 1983 - Steve Davis (2) 1984 - Steve Davis (3) 1985 - 1986 - Joe Johnson 1987 - Steve Davis (4) 1988 - Steve Davis (5) 1989 - Steve Davis (6) 1990 - 1991 - John Parrott 1992 - Stephen Hendry (2) 1993 - Stephen Hendry (3) 1994 - Stephen Hendry (4) 1995 - Stephen Hendry (5) 1996 - Stephen Hendry (6) 1997 - 1998 - 1999 - Stephen Hendry (7) 2000 - 2001 - 2002 - 2003 - Mark Williams (2) 2004 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (2) 2005 - Shaun Murphy 2006 - Graeme Dott 2007 - John Higgins (2) 2008 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (3) 2009 - John Higgins (3) 2010 - Neil Robertson 2011 - John Higgins (4) 2012 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (4) 2013 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (5) 2014 - 2015 - 2016 - Mark Selby (2) 2017 - Mark Selby (3) 2018 - Mark Williams (3) 2019 - 2020 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (6) 2021 - Mark Selby (4) 2022 - Ronnie O'Sullivan (7) 2023 - 2024 - 2025 - Most World Titles (modern era) 7 - Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O'Sullivan 6 - Ray Reardon, Steve Davis 4 - John Higgins, Mark Selby 3 - John Spencer, Mark Williams 2 - Alex Higgins
The Irish Sun
16-06-2025
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
‘I wasn't sure I'd play again' – Snooker star Sam Craigie reveals year-long battle with horror neck injury
SNOOKER star Sam Craigie has revealed his year-long battle with a horror neck injury, admitting: 'I wasn't sure I'd play again.' Craigie, 31, is one of snooker's top players after turning professional in 2011. Advertisement 6 Sam Craigie admits he almost gave up snooker after a major health battle Credit: Getty 6 The ace has spent almost a year recovering from a slipped disc in his neck Credit: Instagram @samcraigie_147 6 He was forced to undergo surgery after suffering serious shoulder pain Credit: Instagram @samcraigie_147 He boasts 101 century breaks after recording a best ranking finish of third at the 2021 WST Pro Series. But Craigie is currently listed at just 84th in the world after playing his last match in September 2024. The ace vanished from sight following his English Open qualifying defeat to Michael Holt, leading to questions from fans over his future. However, Craigie has now posted a lengthy statement online revealing that he has been dealing with serious health issues. Advertisement READ MORE IN SNOOKER Posting several pictures of himself in hospital with scarring around his neck, the ace revealed that intense shoulder pain and a slipped disc left him unable to play. Craigie admits the setback was so bad that he even considered giving up snooker. However, he is well on the road to recovery and even got his tour card confirmed earlier this month. Craigie is now in line to compete at the Wuhan Open qualifiers on June 23 against Aaron Hill. Advertisement Most read in Snooker And he is also scheduled for a British Open qualifier just days later against Yao Pengcheng. Cragie told fans on Instagram: 'Some of you might have been wondering where I have been on the World Snooker Tour. 'Not fit for purpose' - Barry Hearn slams Crucible with World Snooker Championship tipped to 'travel around world' 6 Craigie shared his X-rays on social media Credit: Instagram @samcraigie_147 6 The disc in his neck left the star in agony Credit: Instagram @samcraigie_147 Advertisement 6 He has now got his tour card back and is set to return to snooker later this month Credit: Instagram @samcraigie_147 'Well, it's been a bit of a tough time of late. For around a year, I had been in & out of the GP for shoulder pain. In June 2024, I was sent for an x-ray & MRI where I found I had a tear. 'From around then the pain became almost permanent, I nearly had to withdraw from most tournaments during that time but somehow had my best result in getting to the Semi finals of the German Masters despite the pain I was in. 'Once the season finished, I decided to see a orthopaedic surgeon who informed me the pain in my shoulder was most likely coming from my neck, which was confirmed by an MRI, showing I had a slipped disc. Advertisement 'I then decided to go forward with the surgery (C5/6 anterior cervical disc replacement) in July as the pain was unbearable. Thankfully, all went well, and I was discharged the following day, thinking I would be back to full health a few weeks after the surgery. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. 'The first few tournaments were only a week or 2 away at the time, but I simply couldn't get down to play a shot when I tried. I informed world snooker about the situation after withdrawing from multiple events. 'The following months, I couldn't do much at all. I wasn't sure if I'd even play snooker again. Around January 2025, I started thinking about snooker seriously again and slowly started having a few hours of practice. 'It was hard to commit to it due to still being in some pain while playing. A couple of months ago I started taking it seriously again. On Friday 6th June 2025 my tour card was confirmed so now I can get my head down and look forward to what the future holds.' Advertisement Fans were quick to praise Craigie, with one saying: 'It's great you're back in the game.' Another declared: 'Wish you the best.' One noted: 'Speedy recovery brother.' Another added: 'Glad you're back on your feet.' Advertisement
Wales Online
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Snooker ace who played in World Championship was handed lifetime ban from the sport
Snooker ace who played in World Championship was handed lifetime ban from the sport Liang Wenbo's career was poised to reach great heights after he made a surprise run to the quarter-finals of the 2008 World Championship, but it was cut short after he was found guilty of match-fixing Liang Wenbo was banished from snooker for match-fixing (Image: Getty Images ) Despite a once promising future, Liang Wenbo was permanently expelled from snooker after being convicted of multiple match-fixing offences. The 38-year-old was suspended in 2022 alongside nine other Chinese players in what is considered snooker's most significant corruption scandal. Other players who received bans include Yan Bingtao, Chen Zifan, Zhang Jiankang, Bai Langning, Li Hang, Zhao Jianbo, Chang Bingyu, and 2025 World Championship finalist Zhao Xintong. The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) issued suspensions ranging from 20 months to five years and four months to eight players. However, the harshest penalties were given to Liang and Li, who received lifetime bans from snooker. Liang first made waves in 2008 when he unexpectedly reached the quarter-finals of the World Championships, where he lost 13-7 to Ronnie O'Sullivan. He secured one ranking title during his career at the English Open in 2016, defeating Judd Trump. However, his career was abruptly ended due to allegations of fixing or involvement in fixing five snooker matches between July and September 2022, charges for which he was later found guilty. He was also discovered to have encouraged fellow players to fix nine matches and violated additional rules by placing bets on matches. Liang, who reached a career-best world ranking of No. 11 in 2016, was ranked No. 72 when his ban came into effect. It was also revealed that he had threatened another player and failed to cooperate with the investigation by the ranking body, even going as far as deleting messages from his phone. Article continues below WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson commented on the case, saying: "This has been a very complex case. It has been heartbreaking to see some young talented players fall foul of the WPBSA conduct regulations through pressure exerted by two senior players. Liang achieved a career high ranking of No. 11 in 2016 (Image: Getty Images ) "This behaviour has been recognised as wholly unacceptable by the imposition of two lifetime bans from participating in recognised snooker in any way. "Those who try to corrupt sport are constantly trying to find new ways to avoid our monitoring processes and this outcome must be taken as a lesson to those who think they can avoid detection. "If any player is involved in fixing a snooker match, they will be caught and will face severe penalties. I am pleased that the commission found that they did not see from the present case 'any evidence of a wider culture of wrongdoing in snooker'. Zhao is now competing in his first World Snooker Championship final Article continues below "The WPBSA will continue its strong stance against those who try to manipulate sport and today's outcome sends out a clear message that match fixing will not be tolerated in snooker." Zhao, who is currently leading Mark Williams in the Crucible final, made a return to snooker in September 2024 after serving a 20-month sentence. Although the Chinese star was not convicted of match-fixing himself, he pled guilty to being involved while another player fixed two matches and personally betting on games. In addition to his sentence, Zhao was also ordered to pay £7,500 in costs. He secured his first ranking title and Triple Crown at the 2021 UK Championship, defeating Belgian star Luca Brecel 10-5 in the final. His second triumph came at the 2022 German Masters where he defeated compatriot Yan.
Daily Mirror
05-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Ex-World Snooker Championship quarter-finalist received life ban after scandal
Liang Wenbo was one of 10 Chinese snooker players suspended in 2022 as part of the sport's biggest corruption scandal, with two of them receiving lifetime bans Liang Wenbo, once a promising snooker player, was permanently expelled from the sport after being convicted of multiple match-fixing offences. The 38-year-old former star was suspended in 2022 as part of the biggest corruption scandal in snooker history, which also involved nine other Chinese players. Yan Bingtao, Chen Zifan, Zhang Jiankang, Bai Langning, Li Hang, Zhao Jianbo and Chang Bingyu were among the other players banned, including 2025 World Championship finalist Zhao Xintong. The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) issued suspensions ranging from 20 months to five years and four months to eight players. But the harshest penalties were reserved for Liang and Li, who received lifetime bans from snooker. Liang first burst onto the scene in 2008 when he made an unexpected run to the quarter-finals of the World Championships, where he lost 13-7 to Ronnie O'Sullivan. He won one ranking title during his career, which came at the English Open in 2016 when he defeated Judd Trump. However, his career was abruptly ended due to allegations of fixing or involvement in fixing five snooker matches between July and September 2022, for which he was later found guilty. He was also discovered to have encouraged fellow players to fix nine matches and violated additional rules by placing bets on matches. Liang, who reached a career-best world ranking of No. 11 in 2016, was ranked No. 72 when his ban was enforced. It was later revealed that he had threatened another player and failed to cooperate with the ranking body's investigation, while also deleting messages from his phone, reports the Express. "This has been a very complex case," said WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson. "It has been heartbreaking to see some young talented players fall foul of the WPBSA conduct regulations through pressure exerted by two senior players. "This behaviour has been recognised as wholly unacceptable by the imposition of two lifetime bans from participating in recognised snooker in any way. Those who try to corrupt sport are constantly trying to find new ways to avoid our monitoring processes and this outcome must be taken as a lesson to those who think they can avoid detection. "If any player is involved in fixing a snooker match, they will be caught and will face severe penalties. I am pleased that the commission found that they did not see from the present case 'any evidence of a wider culture of wrongdoing in snooker'. "The WPBSA will continue its strong stance against those who attempt to manipulate sport and today's outcome sends out a clear message that match fixing will not be tolerated in snooker." Zhao, who is currently ahead of Mark Williams in the Crucible finale, was able to make a comeback to snooker in September 2024 after serving a 20-month sentence. Although the Chinese star wasn't found guilty of directly fixing a match, he admitted to being involved in another player's match-fixing while placing personal bets on games. He was also slapped with a £7,500 fine for costs. Zhao bagged his first ranking title and first Triple Crown title at the 2021 UK Championship when he beat Luca Brecel 10-5 in the final. His second victory came at the 2022 German Masters when he defeated fellow Chinese player Yan Bingtao.
Arab News
29-03-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
On Ramadan nights, Islamabad residents are all cued up and ready to win
ISLAMABAD: Usman Sartaj reaches for the chalk on the edge of the snooker table and rotates it over his tip in a smooth, circular motion. Then he strikes the cue ball hard into the pack of reds, sending them around the table. The popularity of snooker often increases during Ramadan, with many people visiting their local club after breaking their fast. Things are no different in Islamabad where players like 25-year-old car dealer Sartaj spend their nights before the pre-dawn sahoor meal. 'There is a lot of buzz in snooker clubs during Ramadan,' he told Arab News at the Snooker 13 club in the city's G-13 area where he was playing after offering his Tarawih prayers. 'Snooker is a great game. It eliminates a person's tension and stress. Tournaments are held and players come from different places,' he said. Abdul Hadi, the club supervisor, said that the number of visitors rose from about 500 a day to 1,500 or 1,600 during the hours between the iftar and suhoor meals. He said it was an affordable way to spend the time. 'It's around Rs150-200 (50-70 cents) for a frame,' he said. 'So everyone can afford it, even the students.' Muhammad Shahbaz, 27, who works in Dubai but was in Pakistan to spend Ramadan and Eid with his family, said his favorite player was seven-time world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan. 'We admire Ronnie's game and love to watch and follow him,' Shahbaz said. 'We try to follow his tricks and his shots.' Pakistan also has its snooker heroes. Muhammad Asif is a three-time world amateur champion and made the last 32 of the English Open in 2023. 'There is a lot of snooker talent in Pakistan and if we want to promote it, the government has to support it,' Shahbaz said. Shavez Ahmed, a 30-year-old realtor, said there was no doubt snooker was one of the most popular games during Ramadan. 'Other games are impressive — we play cricket and badminton as well — but the craze for snooker in Ramadan never ends.'
