Latest news with #WorldSnookerChampionship
Wales Online
3 days ago
- Wales Online
Undercover operation foils Just Stop Oil's plot to disrupt Manchester Airport
Undercover operation foils Just Stop Oil's plot to disrupt Manchester Airport Four members of the Just Stop Oil (JSO) movement were stopped by police before they could carry out their plan to cause 'chaos' during the busy summer period Indigo Rumbelow pictured on bodyworn footage when she was arrested (Image: GMP ) On an early August morning, a group of four set off for Manchester Airport. This is a familiar scene for many families heading off on their holiday, hopping into a taxi before sunrise to maximise their day at the final destination. But this group of four weren't looking forward to an afternoon by the pool or a dip in the sea. Their pre-dawn taxi ride was actually a covert operation by police officers who had been tipped off about the Just Stop Oil (JSO) scheme to target the airport and were swooping in just in time. The airport now estimates that the environmental activism group's plan would have impacted 'tens of thousands' of passengers. Had they not been intercepted on a Gatley street before reaching Ringway, the four protestors intended to breach the perimeter fence and glue themselves to the taxiway, reports the Manchester Evening News . For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here A plot by Just Stop Oil activists to disrupt flights at Manchester Airport could have caused 'chaos,' a judge said, potentially leaving families stranded in departure lounges at the height of the summer holidays. But the group's intention, the court heard, was to create widespread disruption and draw media attention to their cause. The attempt to target the airport marked a notable escalation in JSO's ongoing campaign of direct action, which the group recently announced would come to an end. Over the past three years, JSO protests have focused on demanding an end to new fossil fuel licensing, using civil resistance tactics that included blocking major roads, interrupting sporting events, and demonstrations at cultural landmarks. Some of those convicted had taken part in earlier protests. Daniel Knorr was one of two activists who entered the pitch during the 2023 Ashes test at Lord's, and was later convicted of aggravated trespass. Margaret Reid attempted to disrupt the World Snooker Championship the same year and was convicted of attempting to cause criminal damage. In the summer of 2023, airports across the UK were placed on high alert amid concerns over potential disruption. The following month, plans to target Manchester Airport came to light. Knorr and Reid, along with Indigo Rumbelow and Leonorah Ward, were intercepted by police in the early hours of August 5. They had travelled from the Midlands and were staying at an Airbnb in Gatley. Officers in unmarked vehicles stopped the group as they walked near the property at around 4:25am. Tools including wire cutters, angle grinders, and industrial superglue were recovered - items the prosecution said were intended for use in a planned protest on the airport taxiway. Police also seized mobile phones that were allegedly to be used to film and broadcast the demonstration. The protest did not go ahead, and all four were arrested. The group denied conspiring to cause a public nuisance but were found guilty following a trial. Sentencing them at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court, Judge Jason MacAdam told the defendants: 'This was a highly organised, planned and determined conspiracy. If it had been successfully executed, the evidence, which was either unchallenged or tested without success, demonstrated it would have for some time resulted in chaos not just at Manchester Airport, but to infrastructure around the airport and would have had a consequential effect on other airports.' He continued: 'The principle of deterrence when sentencing cases which are as serious as this is of particular relevance and importance… to prevent social unrest arising from the type of escalating illegal activity that all of you, affiliating yourselves with a cause, had become involved with.' Judge MacAdam also noted that their actions differed from those who engage in civil disobedience while accepting responsibility and legal consequences: 'The stance taken by you distinguishes you all from others who have chosen to follow the long and honourable tradition of civil disobedience on conscientious grounds.' Daniel Knorr, 22, and Leonorah Ward, 22, both of Second Avenue, Birmingham; Indigo Rumbelow, 30, of Anthill Road, Haringey; and Margaret Reid, 54, of Low Fellside, Kendal; were all convicted of conspiracy to intentionally cause a public nuisance following a trial. Rumbelow was jailed for two-and-a-half years, Knorr for two years, and Reid and Ward were both sentenced to 18 months. Following the sentencing, Assistant Chief Constable Chris Sykes of Greater Manchester Police said: 'This result is testament to all the hard-working officers across the force… we will always use the full resources of Greater Manchester Police to protect the public, prevent disruptions, and ensure people are brought to justice.' Detective Chief Inspector Tony Platten, the senior investigating officer, added: 'We know this disruption was deliberately planned to coincide with the height of the summer holidays… The group's actions demonstrated a complete disregard for the impact on the lives of those travelling via Greater Manchester, and I welcome the sentences handed down today.' Nicola Wells, Senior Crown Prosecutor for CPS North West, said: 'This was a targeted attack, at the height of summer, against one of the country's busiest airports… Whenever the right to protest crosses into criminality… we will not hesitate to prosecute these cases.' Article continues below Rad Taylor, director of Aerodrome Operations at Manchester Airport, said: 'What these individuals were planning would not only have caused significant disruption… but also a significant safety risk. The potential consequences of that do not bear thinking about.'
Wales Online
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
World Snooker Championship star opens up about ‘horrendous' experience before Crucible
World Snooker Championship star opens up about 'horrendous' experience before Crucible Former World Snooker Champions Neil Robertson and Stephen Hendry have both had to go through the Judgement Day qualifying round in their careers Neil Robertson detailed his "horrific" experience on Judgement Day (Image: Tai Chengzhe/VCG via Getty Images ) Neil Robertson revealed his "horrendous" experience at attempting to qualify for the World Snooker Championship with fellow snooker icon Stephen Hendry. The Australian provided a behind-the-scenes look into the gruelling final qualifying round, known as Judgement Day, where 32 players compete for a coveted spot in the main draw against one of the 16 seeded players. To reach this stage, snooker stars must endure three initial rounds, culminating in the high-stakes Judgement Day, just days before the main tournament commences. After slipping out of the top 16 in the world rankings in 2024 following a semi-final loss at the World Open, Robertson faced the daunting task of navigating the qualifying rounds for the first time since 2006. His Judgement Day encounter ended in heartbreak, as he suffered a 10-9 defeat to Jamie Jones, marking his first absence from the major tournament draw in 20 years. During an appearance on Hendry's Cue Tips YouTube channel, Robertson reflected on the growing popularity of Judgement Day, which Hendry noted had "become quite a big thing". Article continues below The 43-year-old said: "It was horrendous to be a part of last year, as much as I was trying to talk it down and just be like, 'Oh yeah it's [fine].' Robertson discussed the concept of Judgement Day with Stephen Hendry (Image: @stephenhendryscuetips/YOUTUBE ) "It's just absolutely horrific because the players there, you can just sense their desperation, of everyone around you, and when I was there last year, all the players were just looking at me like, 'Oh my god, what are you even doing here.'" Hendry shared his own experience of Judgement Day from when he first retired in 2012, noting that the final qualifying round "wasn't built up like it is now". The Scotsman triumphed over Yu Delu 10-6 in the fourth round that year, but declared his first retirement from snooker after a loss to Stephen Maguire in the quarter-finals. Robertson did commend the organisation of Judgement Day for its professionalism, suggesting that it provides a good warm-up for the main event. Neil Robertson opened up about his experience on Judgement Day (Image:) He added: "In fairness, they've actually done a great job, they've set it up like basically almost like a venue. I don't know if you've seen it? "It's set up open, like a main venue now so tables one and two at the qualifiers for the World Championships, you actually feel as though you are playing at a venue – obviously just without the live TV cameras." Article continues below By the time of the 2025 World Championship, Robertson had climbed back into the top 16 of the overall rankings, allowing him to bypass Judgement Day. However, the former world No. 1 was knocked out early by Chris Wakelin, who beat him 10-8 in the first round. Zhao Xintong triumphed over Mark Williams in the final, making him the first World Champion from China, while Robertson didn't make it past the second round of the major tournament for the fourth consecutive year.
Wales Online
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Zhao Xintong shows his true character despite still being banned from snooker in China
Zhao Xintong shows his true character despite still being banned from snooker in China Zhao Xintong became the first Asian player to win the World Snooker Championship earlier this month - but he is still banned from competing in his native China Zhao Xintong has big plans this year (Image: undefined via Getty Images ) Zhao Xintong is currently unable to pursue his dream of winning a tournament in China due to an ongoing snooker ban. The 28-year-old made history earlier this month by becoming the first Asian player to win the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible thanks to an 18-12 win over Mark Williams. However, he remains barred from competing in his home country. The world championship was only Zhao's second professional tournament since returning from a suspension related to a match-fixing investigation involving 10 players, which dates back to January 2023. The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) reduced his initial 30-month ban to 20 months after it was established that, while he had knowingly placed bets on fixed games, he had not personally fixed any matches. Despite being permitted to compete globally, the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association (CBSA) has upheld the original ban, meaning Zhao is still prohibited from competing in China until 1 July 2025. Since his triumph at the World Snooker Championship, Zhao has spent time in his homeland and expressed his determination to build on his success next season. As a former UK Open winner, Zhao is now just a Masters win away from achieving the coveted Triple Crown, and he is also eager to lift a trophy on Chinese soil. Setting his sights on becoming the first Chinese or Asian player to win a snooker title on home soil, he told the South China Morning Post: "No Chinese or Asian player has been able to embroider that little crown on their waistcoat so far. Article continues below "So I think this is one of my goals. I will do my best to play well in every match and tournament, but I want to hoist a trophy in China – this is something I have yet to do. I am also looking forward to playing in the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong next year. I want to achieve good results here, preferably winning it, and I'd be very happy." With his suspension ending before the new snooker season, Zhao could potentially realise his dream at the Shanghai Masters, scheduled from July 28 to August 3, reports the Express. Since relocating to England in 2016, Zhao, known as 'The Cyclone', has acknowledged the positive impact Sheffield has had on his career. World snooker champion Zhao Xintong is banned from competing in China (Image: (Image: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images) ) Article continues below He also believes his world title victory could significantly influence snooker's growth in China. Reflecting on his World Championship triumph and its implications, Zhao said: "I haven't quite thought about what's different for me as a player after winning the World Championship. "Everything is just starting and I am convinced that there is more to come, and I have to do more and bring glory to China. The win was also a breakthrough for snooker in China – because this had not been done before by any Chinese player, I think the younger generation will now be more confident and motivated." Just a few weeks following the Shanghai Masters, snooker fans can look forward to more action from China with the Wuhan Open set for August 24-30. Zhao also shared his anticipation for next year's World Grand Prix, scheduled to take place in Hong Kong from February 3-8.
Daily Mirror
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Zhao Xintong shows true colours as he shares ambition once snooker ban ends
Zhao Xintong became the first Asian player to win the World Snooker Championship earlier this month, but is still unable to compete in his homeland of China Newly crowned world snooker champion Zhao Xintong is currently unable to realise his dream of winning a tournament in China due to an ongoing ban. The 28-year-old made history earlier this month by becoming the first Asian player to clinch the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible, but he remains barred from competing in his home country. The world championship was only Zhao's second professional tournament since returning from a suspension linked to a match-fixing investigation involving 10 players, which dates back to January 2023. His initial 30-month ban was reduced to 20 months by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) after it was established that, while he had knowingly placed bets on fixed games, he hadn't personally rigged any matches. Despite being cleared to compete globally, the Chinese Billiards and Snooker Association (CBSA) has upheld the original ban, meaning Zhao is still not permitted to compete in China until 1 July 2025. Since his triumphant win at the World Snooker Championship, Zhao has spent time in his homeland and expressed his determination to build on his success next season, reports the Express. As a former UK Open winner, Zhao is just a Masters win away from securing the coveted Triple Crown, and he's also eager to lift a trophy on Chinese soil. On his ambitions, he told the South China Morning Post: "No Chinese or Asian player has been able to embroider that little crown on their waistcoat so far. "So I think this is one of my goals. I will do my best to play well in every match and tournament, but I want to hoist a trophy in China – this is something I have yet to do. "I am also looking forward to playing in the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong next year. I want to achieve good results here, preferably winning it, and I'd be very happy." Zhao won't have to wait long to chase his dreams, as his suspension lifts with the new season's dawn, possibly making the Shanghai Masters (July 28-August 3) his ticket to triumph. Since settling in England back in 2016 and embracing Sheffield's impact on his career, 'The Cyclone' muses over his World Championship victory's ripple effect, lifting the aspirations of China's budding snooker talents. He said: "I haven't quite thought about what's different for me as a player after winning the World Championship. Everything is just starting and I am convinced that there is more to come, and I have to do more and bring glory to China. "The win was also a breakthrough for snooker in China – because this had not been done before by any Chinese player, I think the younger generation will now be more confident and motivated." Just a few weeks following the Shanghai Masters, snooker fans can look forward to more action from China with the Wuhan Open set for August 24-30. Zhao also expressed his anticipation for next year's World Grand Prix, scheduled to take place in Hong Kong from February 3-8.
Wales Online
24-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Mark Williams left in the shade as former professional snooker star banks over £500,000
Mark Williams left in the shade as former professional snooker star banks over £500,000 Mark WIlliams came second best to Zhao Xintong at the World Snooker Championship this year, but his earnings from the tournament pale compared to one ex-pro's recent payday Mark Williams finished as a runner-up at the World Snooker Championship (Image: undefined via Getty Images ) Mark William's £200,000 prize pot for finishing as a runner up at the World Snooker Championship has been outshone by a former professional's recent payday. The Class of '92 star battled it out with Zhao Xintong until the end in the tournament's grand finale earlier this month, but ultimately couldn't match the Chinese sensation - who won 18-12 to clinch his first world title. And while Williams will have been wounded not to have only missed out on a fourth World Championship but also the £500,000 cash prize that accompanies it, the payday pales compared to the one Niu Zhuang just landed. The 30-year-old - who competed professionally between 2017 and 2019 thanks to his emphatic performances on the Chinese tour - has turned to Heyball since his exit from the world stage, recently clinching the JOY Heyball Masters in Chengdu and the £518,000 prize that comes with it. The Chinese star emerged victorious through a field of more than 600 competitors, playing for the full 22-day duration of the tournament en-route to a 23-11 win over fellow countryman Zhang Taiyi in the final. Heyball, a hybrid cue sport played in an eight-ball format on a smaller snooker table, has seen a surge in popularity in recent years. Article continues below Several renowned snooker stars have participated in JOY events, with Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry even spotted alongside some of the sport's top players recently. Niu Zhuang won £518,000 at the JOY Heyball Masters (Image: (Image: Getty) ) While Niu's financial gain from the Heyball Masters surpassed Zhao's earnings from his World Championship win, the same can't be said for the runner-up, Zhang. The Chinese star reportedly received a £151,000 runners' up prize to Williams' £200k for his efforts in Sheffield, reports the Express. Zhao's victory in the World Snooker Championship in May, as an amateur, defied all odds. The 28-year-old triumphed over seasoned players like Chris Wakelin and O'Sullivan, winning a staggering 111 frames across nine matches over 29 days to clinch the title with a win over Williams. Zhao Xintong won the World Snooker Championship earlier this month (Image: (Image: Getty) ) Article continues below However, his victory stirred controversy among snooker fans. Despite serving a suspension from the sport until last September, Zhao is expected to rise to 11th in the world rankings when the professional tour resumes later this year. In January 2023, Zhao was among several players suspended following a match-fixing investigation. Although he didn't fix any matches himself, he confessed to betting on games, resulting in a 20-month ban. On the other hand, Niu didn't meet expectations during his two-year professional career in the sport, leading to his relegation from the tour in 2019. His best result as a professional came with a final 32 place at the German Masters in 2018.
