WIGAN HOPING TO SEE O'SULLIVAN CENTURY RECORD

Robin Park, Wigan cannot boast the snooker tradition of a Crucible, a Barbican Centre, a Wembley Conference Centre or the nearby Preston Guildhall. But as the Coral UK Championship moved to a conclusion the likelihood that it might just bear witness to a piece of history were increasing.

With Ronnie O’Sullivan homing in on Stephen Hendry’s all-time career centuries record and having entered the German Masters, the qualifiers with up to two matches for the Rocket trying to reach the Tempodrom in Berlin are to be played at the Sports Arena over December 17-19.

In terms of the publicity attracted snooker was lucky that Neil Robertson’s 100th century of the season last term came at the Crucible, and in many ways the Masters – one of O’Sullivan’s favourite tournaments, and where Hendry would be commentating – might be a suitably grand setting for equalling or beating the record.

However that will not be the view in Wigan, where fans turning up to watch free of charge may get very good value indeed.

SELT TIED UP IN KNOTS OVER DRESS CODE

There have been a couple of strong late contenders for snooker quote of the year at the Coral UK Championship.

Ronnie O’Sullivan, furious at himself for sustaining a bad ankle injury out running days before a major snooker tournament, reminded himself after hobbling round the table to beat Daniel Wells: “I’m a snooker player, not a f*****g runner.”

Then after dumping out BBC pundits Steve Davis and Ken Doherty, Ricky Walden came out with: “I seem to be getting drawn against all the BBC commentators, maybe it will be Hazel Irvine in the next round.”

But surely top of the pile was Matt Selt, hearing after his 6-0 whitewash at the hands of Ronnie O’Sullivan including a 147 maximum break, that he might be contacted by the WPBSA disciplinary bosses for the scruffy state of his bow tie in that match.

Selt joked: “It was a bit scruffy. But the WPBSA represent me – they should be giving me some free counselling after that drubbing from the Rocket on national TV, not fining me over my tie.”

POOL TRADITION CONTINUES AT THE EDINBURGH ARMS

The annual Dave Coleshill Cup pool tournament in the Edinburgh Arms pub across the road from the Barbican Centre got under way on the Friday night after the snooker quarter-finals in York.

This was the fourth staging of the event named in memory of the long-time lighting technician and drew the usual large number of entries. Unfortunately this correspondent was unable to take his place in the draw, but apparently dodged a bullet after passing on the entry to BBC Radio Five Live and Television presenter George Riley.

Snooker and rugby league aficionado Riley, over in York for the evening catching up with former colleagues and friends, ran into Ukrainian Tanya Volovelska, pictured, in the first round and was sent packing by the talented amateur snooker player, who has played in PTCs in Eastern Europe.

Riley left licking his wounds on a late train back across the Pennines. The action was due to continue late on Saturday night.

Tournament director Mike Ganley has had to put up with plenty of (reasonably) good natured banter after a past rules controversy in the final saw him claim victory over radio broadcaster Jonny Bryan.

RONNIE HAS HIS CAKE...BUT NO ONE'S EATING IT

Ronnie O’Sullivan was in no mood for an extravagant birthday celebration on Friday, despite beating Anthony McGill to reach Saturday’s Coral UK Championship semi-finals. In ‘Bah, humbug’ style he insisted he didn’t like birthdays, or the giving and receiving of cards or cakes, and in all likelihood would spend the evening having a quick Thai meal and watching ‘I’m A Celebrity..Get Me Out Of Here’ on the television.

The cake that the BBC handed him in the studio was proving hard to shift. Not only did O’Sullivan immediately pass it on to the written press, but 19 hours later on Saturday lunchtime it was still standing untouched in the media centre.

TRUMP ENDS THE WILLIAMSON JINX

There were one or two grimaces from the cameramen in the arena on Thursday when they saw the name of Pete Williamson down as marker for the Judd Trump v Rod Lawler match in the afternoon.

Up to that point every match the Liverpool official had been involved in either as referee or marker had gone to a deciding frame, and the television crew, like the referees spending long hours on their feet, feared he was starting to jinx the proceedings.

At one stage with Lawler digging in and 4-3 adrift with a chance to level things up at 4-4 another nailbiter looked on the cards – but Trump eased clear for a 6-3 win to end the Williamson hoodoo.

X-FACTOR STAR RICE SWEEPING ALL BEFORE HIM

One face around the Barbican Centre in York was teenager Michael Rice, doing temporary work as a cleaner – but the 16-year-old’s life may be about to get a bit more glamorous.

Formerly a chip shop worker from Hartlepool, Rice appeared on the recent series of X-Factor and has earned some kind of recording contract from his efforts on the show, which saw him get to the Boot Camp stage.

The appeal of clearing up the crisp bags and plastic cups after snooker fans and theatre-goers may soon start to ebb away for the youngster, seen here belting out some Whitney...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ef3E70IHHWI