About the PTCs...

Surely news from PTC entries is positive though. Just the fact that Hendry and Ronnie are in the first is hugely positive.
I'm sure that BH has plans to move from Sheffield more and more, but he needs to leave the game on a firmer footing yet.

Last season 6 of the 12 PTCs were played without any audience. It wouldn't have harmed anything if some top players had been missing some of them. This season it will still be the case for 4 of them.
Also it's absurd that the PTCs played in mainland Europe, the ones that are most important for the development of the game, the ones that have an audience, and the ones that cost more to the players, are the ones with the poorest conditions and a lower prize money. THAT should be taken care of in priority. For me the solution is to make those event more attractive for the players themselves so that they are really motivated to play in them, not just forced to do it. I've said it already but I've witnessed quite a few things there that were defo not on. Even if that means to reduce the PTCs to 8 events instead of 12 but with higher quality. I think that would be better promotion for the game than some of the things I've seen.

gallantrabbit wrote:Surely news from PTC entries is positive though. Just the fact that Hendry and Ronnie are in the first is hugely positive.
I'm sure that BH has plans to move from Sheffield more and more, but he needs to leave the game on a firmer footing yet.

Hello mate. Not sure if you've been following the comp out in Sofia, but Frank made the 1/4's.
Anyway, back on topic..
Stephen Hendry has entered only because there is ranking points available. It's in his interest to do so.
The way the game is set up today, is if you don't enter, very quickly, you'll fall of Snooker's radar. Take the ranking points away from the PTC’s, you won't attract sponsors & they'll very quickly become Pro-Am's.
Qualifying for the Masters is a ‘scorching’ light of that, a burning example. Just qualifying for that comp & your guaranteed at least £10k. Throw in the automatic qualification for the Crucible, maybe we’ll end up seeing players picking & choosing what they play in & enter all the PTC’s in the first place & pending on where they are in the rankings, not turn up because they don’t need too?
The change's BH has put in place need to be given a chance. One season isn't enough. I understand it's about poke, but ambition needs to be seen too.
If the Top boy’s stop playing in them, well......?

gallantrabbit wrote:Surely news from PTC entries is positive though. Just the fact that Hendry and Ronnie are in the first is hugely positive.
I'm sure that BH has plans to move from Sheffield more and more, but he needs to leave the game on a firmer footing yet.

yes thats entirely my point there will be a time where the PTC will evolve get bigger and with it more cash but its only 12 months and 12 events in to a lifetime we need to really give this a chance to bed down properly and players has to commit to it to make that become a reality.

Monique wrote:Last season 6 of the 12 PTCs were played without any audience. It wouldn't have harmed anything if some top players had been missing some of them. This season it will still be the case for 4 of them.
Also it's absurd that the PTCs played in mainland Europe, the ones that are most important for the development of the game, the ones that have an audience, and the ones that cost more to the players, are the ones with the poorest conditions and a lower prize money. THAT should be taken care of in priority. For me the solution is to make those event more attractive for the players themselves so that they are really motivated to play in them, not just forced to do it. I've said it already but I've witnessed quite a few things there that were defo not on. Even if that means to reduce the PTCs to 8 events instead of 12 but with higher quality. I think that would be better promotion for the game than some of the things I've seen.

mon you want to run before you can walk....

Barry Hearn does not want any played at the Academy but hes lumbered with it and trying to use it best he can.

and if the players are that snobby that they cant put up with poor conditions while the rebuilding is happening then that says more about them than the tournaments......what was the alternative before ...a spot of gardening,michael holt and Dave Gilbert even had other jobs...they weren't playing professionally now they are if they want to.

just say only 3 event out of 6 count towards a Ranking in europe

Daniel Wells Starting out he plays

EPTC 1=Last 32
EPTC 2=Last 64
EPTC 3=Last 32
EPTC 4=quarter Final
EPTC 5=Last 128
EPTC 6= Semi Final

what if he gave EPTC 3,4 and 6 a miss he gets 920 points instead of 2,840 points for his best 3 results.

more events you play better chance of making the best 3 result count more..

No wild, that's not it. I appreciate what Barry Hearn has done, but that won't stop me to see the shortcomings of it. There isn't any improvement if there isn't a critical look at things.
As for the poor conditions, I'm afraid that you have no idea what I'm talking about. It's not about being snobbish. One particular incident I have in mind, and it was reported to an extent in snooker scene, featured Mark Selby and Mark Williams. Both of them where hugely frustrated because they really wanted to give the audience a treat, play their best snooker and the conditions were so poor that they had the feeling that they had played like bad amateurs. It's about professional pride.

Wild wrote:just say only 3 event out of 6 count towards a Ranking in europe

Daniel Wells Starting out he plays

EPTC 1=Last 32
EPTC 2=Last 64
EPTC 3=Last 32
EPTC 4=quarter Final
EPTC 5=Last 128
EPTC 6= Semi Final

what if he gave EPTC 3,4 and 6 a miss he gets 920 points instead of 2,840 points for his best 3 results.

more events you play better chance of making the best 3 result count more..

Indeed and that's partly why the constraints are not necessary.

Monique wrote:No wild, that's not it. I appreciate what Barry Hearn has done, but that won't stop me to see the shortcomings of it. There isn't any improvement if there isn't a critical look at things.
As for the poor conditions, I'm afraid that you have no idea what I'm talking about. It's not about being snobbish. One particular incident I have in mind, and it was reported to an extent in snooker scene, featured Mark Selby and Mark Williams. Both of them where hugely frustrated because they really wanted to give the audience a treat, play their best snooker and the conditions were so poor that they had the feeling that they had played like bad amateurs. It's about professional pride.

well without thoes events they wouldnt give anyone any treat apart from the flowers in the garden...

players has to get over themselves that is totally crap monique ive not herd anything so stupid in all my life.

Wild wrote:

Monique wrote:No wild, that's not it. I appreciate what Barry Hearn has done, but that won't stop me to see the shortcomings of it. There isn't any improvement if there isn't a critical look at things.
As for the poor conditions, I'm afraid that you have no idea what I'm talking about. It's not about being snobbish. One particular incident I have in mind, and it was reported to an extent in snooker scene, featured Mark Selby and Mark Williams. Both of them where hugely frustrated because they really wanted to give the audience a treat, play their best snooker and the conditions were so poor that they had the feeling that they had played like bad amateurs. It's about professional pride.

well without thoes events they wouldnt give anyone any treat apart from the flowers in the garden...

players has to get over themselves that is totally crap monique ive not herd anything so stupid in all my life.

Thank you Wild. I see it's absolutely no point to try to debate on this board.

monique

i said they were stupid not you for telling us how stupid and pathetic they were....

It's not that Monique. I didn't know about the table conditions to be honest, which must always be the priority.
And you're right, we should always look with a critical eye in order to improve. It's just that most people look now at a bulging calendar and think back 2 years to ....nothing. The game was dying not even on its feet and now we have renewed hope to the extent where even Ronnie looks chipper. In the main BH has done an INCREDIBLE job, I don't even have time to list his credits. And I'm sure that Wild is right. He'd rather not use Sheffield, but he has to somehow make this White Elephant he inherited pay for itself, as Paul Mount does for his wonderful centre.
It's incredible how blase people can become, (not you by the way), but I can well remember the state of play before BH came in and all in all with Mr Hearn we are 99% to the positive side, PTCs included. When Hearn comes out to Brazil in September I will certainly be looking to talk to the man

look monique playing conditions will not be perfect every time they play that was a PTC Event has it come to the point where players cant play on poor tables or conditions....you got to adapt best you can and win the match or tournament and move on to next event where condition could be better.