FLY ME TO THE MOON

As is usually the case at the Shanghai Masters, the tournament runs over a national holiday in China, the Mid Autumn festival, which sees many Chinese returning home for a family celebration. Much of Shanghai was closed on the Monday, including the subway and more bizarrely the hotel swimming pool. In origin the festival is for lunar watching – and there may have been a fair bit of that for those suffering badly from jetlag on the trip, notably Alan McManus who branded himself ‘Dracula’ after beating Ronnie O’Sullivan for being up all night and sleeping all day. Sticking with the lunar theme and generally the ‘when in Shanghai’ activity of hailing the moon god of immortality ‘moon cakes’ are traditionally bought at often vast expense, containing the widest possible array of fillings within the pastry from sausage meat to lotus seed paste.

SWAIL AND THE MILLIONAIRES

Joe Swail tells a great story while reflecting on his narrow 5-4 first-round defeat to Shaun Murphy at the Shanghai Masters. The Northern Irishman reached two World Championship semi-finals at the Crucible in 2000 and 2001, and shortly afterwards appeared as a guest on the Kelly show, the leading chat show on Ulster Television as it then was hosted by Gerry Kelly. Swail’s fellow guests on the show were a then 11-year-old prodigy Rory McIlroy – who had already been on at least once before, now of course a four-time golf Major winner and Nike brand ambassador – and the Irish band Westlife. Swail said: “It obviously has crossed my mind in recent years that they are all millionaires many times over, while I’m trying my guts out for a couple of grand.” Yes Joe – but are they happy…

Photograph by Monique Limbos

FERGAL PASSES HIS SCHOOL EXAMINATION

FERGAL O’Brien and Martin Gould were pressed into service spreading the gospel of snooker in Shanghai on a visit to Huimin Middle School.

The educational establishment already boasted a magnificent cuesports facility with around eight full-size snooker tables and over a dozen pool tables.

And Ireland’s O’Brien, along with Gould and WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson, quickly began encouraging the youngsters to get involved with some demonstration and coaching sessions featuring many of the 1,200 students aged between 12 and 18.

O’Brien said: “It is fantastic to see the facilities here, brilliant snooker tables and pool tables as well, and to see so many boys and girls of all different ages playing and having a lot of fun is amazing. It was a like a really good snooker club but in a school.

“I played a few of the kids, and they were very good, the standard was high especially considering how young they were so I’m sure there were future champions out there somewhere.

“We can offer a bit of advice, taking your time and not cueing so fast can help as you rush sometimes when you are nervous, but the main thing at this age is just to enjoy it.”

The experience clearly inspired 'running man' O’Brien, regularly seen pounding the streets during the week despite the high humidity. He later chalked up an impressive 5-1 first-round win over Rob Milkins.

Photograph courtesy of World Snooker

TRUMP AND HIGGINS IN NEED OF PR WORK

KEN Doherty aside, Tuesday wasn’t the greatest day for press conferences at the Shanghai Masters. Apart from John Higgins deciding – not for the first time – that after a disappointing defeat he didn’t much fancy honouring his contractual obligations as a professional player, Judd Trump was almost Stephen Hendry-esque with some curt and abrupt responses that lasted a couple of minutes but only because of the sometimes tortuous translation process.

After the 5-2 first-round loss to Dominic Dale Trump refused at first to give his overall views of the match, the bland but traditional first request from the host and interpreter in China. He then blamed the conditions for both his own poor performance and unnamed other top players in the first round without specifying the nature of his gripe.

The inevitable question about whether he had watched home hero Ding Junhui’s match against good friend Jack Lisowski – annoying, especially since he had been on the other table but par for the course in a Chinese press conference – was met with the unlikely “I didn’t know they were playing.” And in the same vein for the final piece de resistance, a mildly provocative but possibly mis-translated enquiry as to whether he had given his all in the match was met with “Stupid question.”

The players all know they occasionally have to field slightly odd questions in the Far East with the translation not helping, and even in the bitter aftermath of a disappointing defeat Trump, who like many observers fancied he would have a run in this event, can do better.

Photograph by Monique Limbos

HOLT AND FU IN BAGGAGE RECLAIM

There were short-lived scares for both Michael Holt and Marco Fu in China in the monthly game of baggage Russian roulette risked by the top players on their global travels.

Nottingham’s Holt, who enjoyed a fine run to the semi-finals at the Shanghai Masters 12 months ago, arrived with his cue but not his luggage, including all his playing attire. Happily for the world No23, the missing bag turned up from Bangkok on the Sunday night, in time for being one of the first matches on table on Monday afternoon against wildcard Yuan Sijun.

And Fu, flying from London, was reunited even quicker with his luggage which arrived just a few short hours later on a flight from Heathrow.

RED CARPETS AND ROUSING SPEECHES

The official opening ceremony for the Bank of Communications Shanghai Masters, featuring the traditional red-carpet treatment for the players and welcome banquet, was the usual lavish affair. Ding Junhui, Ronnie O’Sullivan and the rest were presented to the fans like film stars and handed out gifts as well as signing photos and programmes.

Then it was inside for speeches and a meal, where John Higgins was probably the busiest – called on to stage three times (for one of those a tournament official had to fetch him from the toilet, with the roving camera focusing on an empty chair) plus a TV appearance on the big screen where the four-time world champion showed a natural flair for the Chinese language.

WPBSA chairman Jason Ferguson issued a rousing address, including a pointed reference to hoping to see future events in Shanghai given this week’s renewal negotiations.

And the players showed off their official gift, believed to be worth around £1,000, of two pieces of polished and treated wood that when burnt produce incense with ‘calming properties’. The kind of thing for which customs occasionally need a clear explanation.

Tournament director Mike Ganley was also in receipt of a present, in his case some chopsticks and a silver noodle spoon. Expect to see him proudly showing these off at a tournament near you soon.

McMANUS BRACED FOR SCOTLAND'S RYDER CUP

Alan McManus admits he cannot wait for golf’s Ryder Cup at the end of September – all the more so as someone who has played the Gleneagles PGA Centenary Course.

After snooker golf is the Scot’s greatest sporting love, and the biennial contest between Europe and the United States will be staged in Perthshire later in the month.

Glasgow’s McManus is one of several snooker players past and current with some real golfing pedigree, playing off a handicap as low as five.

Speaking in Shanghai ahead of his match against Ronnie O'Sullivan he said: “When I first played the Centenary Course that will be used it was still called the Monarch’s course. It is a cracking course, though there have been some changes since last time I was there. I know the 18th is harder now for the longer hitters.

“I used to really like the first hole, but we will all be familiar with these holes in a couple of weeks. I can’t wait for it to start, and luckily we [players] are at home, which is a bonus. It is one of the best sporting events to watch for me.

“If I went I certainly would be out on the course rather than in a tent, but to start with there are only the four matches at a time, and then the singles there is so much going on simultaneously so I will happily be watching it on TV.

“I was really pleased Stephen Gallacher got in for his debut, he fully deserved his place having only just missed out and no one is saying it is for political reasons – but it will give it an extra edge having a Scot in the team. There would have been disappointment if he had missed out, as the crowd want a home guy to cheer.

“I have played Stephen Hendry at Gleneagles though on the other courses, but he will have played the Centenary Course a hundred times as a member there for ages. They closed the course a couple of weeks ago, so it should be all set up beautifully.”

The 43-year-old also revealed there were early moves afoot to try and stage a Ryder Cup style contest among snooker’s golfers.

He added: “We have been talking about maybe doing something like that, going to Spain or Portugal and doing an eight v eight for a bit of fun. I reckon Barry Hearn would enjoy seeing that. It might have to be England v the Rest to make it work on the numbers.”

Photograph by Monique Limbos

IS THE PRICE RIGHT IN CHINA?

One aspect of the ranking tournaments in China to come under scrutiny in recent years has been the actual number of bums on seats in the various arenas – and the cost of tickets is often advanced as the main or even sole reason for this.

There is no doubt a) that the players enjoy playing in front of a packed house more, and b) it looks miles better on TV if it’s full.

Snooker is by no means the only sport to wrestle with this issue, there have been task forces set up in football to examine the potential damage to the televised spectacle for sale if prices are too high and there are lots of empty spaces.

To put some of this in context, there is a burgeoning average salary and standard of living among a mushrooming middle class in China, and this group rightly or wrongly appear to be the target market for snooker over here. The sport is branded as aspirational in Shanghai and the other big cities in a way that it simply isn’t in the UK, and players are treated accordingly.

The stars being filmed signing autographs for screaming fans on a red carpet very much fits in with that image. But the fact is that currently there are not the numbers of those type of fans at some of the prices to fill up the venues. Demand does not equal supply at £40 a pop upwards – though in fairness to Shanghai, there are lower-cost options this week.

With the usual three table set-ups for the fitters to cope with, there are a total of 13 price bands over the seven days in the various areas.

The cheapest is 50 RMB/Yuan (around £5) for the first three days nearer the back of the main arena, behind the exclusive VIP area as you look at the table on the TV, with an option at 180 and the best available seats on the side next to the table at 280. For the quarters those prices rise to 100, 280 and 380 – and for the semis they are 100, 380 and 480.

The cheapest ticket for the final for an event won by home hero Ding Junhui 12 months ago, is 150, with then further seats available at 580 and a whopping 1680 (£168, all other prices also in RMB).

The only other option on Days 1-3 is seats at 100 RMB table-side for Tables 3 and 4 out of the main arena, which given you could see Mark Allen, Mark Williams, Stephen Maguire and Ken Doherty isn’t such a bad alternative.

Photograph by Monique Limbos