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Liu Song On Standby For World Snooker Tour

Postby Monique » 12 Jul 2010 Read

http://www.worldsnooker.com/PTC2_news%2 ... tm?tid=184
Song On Standby For World Snooker Tour

China's Liu Song could be given the chance to play in the first two ranking tournaments of the season because of a new WPBSA rule about suspended players.

Former Grand Prix quarter-finalist Liu dropped off the 96-man professional circuit at the end of last season but is now on standby to play in the Shanghai Masters and World Open, and will compete in those two events if a player is suspended.

Liu, who is based in Romford during the season, finished ninth on last season's one-year ranking list, missing out on a place on the tour by one place.

The new rule states:

The Association reserves the right in its sole discretion to offer a concession to any person to play on a Tour in a Tournament where a vacant space arises as a result of the suspension of a Member who has qualified for a place on the World Snooker Tour. Any person offered such a concession will be the lowest seeding position on the Tour.

This concession right will be exercised on a Tournament by Tournament basis. It will be a condition of entry for any person offered such a concession that, should a suspended player be eligible to rejoin and resume his place on the Tour, the concession place will be withdrawn.


Now this opens a full range of questions...

Let's suppose for the sake of discussion that the John Higgins case is only resolved in December and John is reinstatiated on the MT. Let's also suppose that at the end of the season Liu would have gathered enough points during his concession time to stay on the MT... What happens?
It's a weird situation because Liu isn't actually on the MT and he could "superseed" someone who earned his/her spot there by right.

Re: Liu Song On Standby For World Snooker Tour

Postby N_Castle07 » 12 Jul 2010 Read

Seems funny this rule has been introduced and announced now. Could this be a move by the WSA because they fully expect John Higgins to be found guilty from the independent investigators judging on the evidence they submitted to them?

Re: Liu Song On Standby For World Snooker Tour

Postby Wildey » 12 Jul 2010 Read

N_Castle07 wrote:Seems funny this rule has been introduced and announced now. Could this be a move by the WSA because they fully expect John Higgins to be found guilty from the independent investigators judging on the evidence they submitted to them?

your right it does not look good that this has been brought up at all cant believe this wont be sorted out before the ranking season starts and if trying to prove what happens this hard then could be johns season is over and see how things goes for 2011/2012 ...

not good at all

Re: Liu Song On Standby For World Snooker Tour

Postby Casey » 12 Jul 2010 Read

<doh>

It looks like this won't be sorted before the new ranking season which also means John can't qualify for the final 24 of the PTC.

Count in his place loss from the PL, IF he is found not guilty the NOTW can expect a heavy law suit

Re: Liu Song On Standby For World Snooker Tour

Postby Witz78 » 12 Jul 2010 Read

A very interesting development. Doesnt sound good for John ill admit.

To be honest, ive always been of the opinion that Higgins will be found guilty of something, even just because of his admissions in the interview transcript. Ive a kinda gut feeling that he will be dealt with harshly in a symbolic move to prove that match fixing / allegations are taken seriously in a bid to deter anyone else even thinking about it.

Ultimately i feel the decision by John not to go behind Mooneys back and inform Hearn and the authorities about what had happened in Russia will be the sword upon which he falls.

Id hazard a guess we wont see John on the tour till the start of next season.
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