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Austrian Open 2012 - Trump, Higgins, Williams Live Stream

Postby roy142857

The Austrian Open was last won by Judd Trump (in 2010 I think).

In 2012 it will be held from 16th - 20th May with a combination of amateur entrants and invited pros by the looks of it, starting with a round robin stage. Tickets are now on sale for it, though they're hazy about what players are competing, although John Higgins clearly is.

website (in case anyone fancies a snooker watching holiday!):

http://www.snooker-wels.at/index_en.html

Re: Austrian Open 2012

Postby roy142857

Tournament starts from Wednesday, Pro's enter fromThursday. Winners gets 6000 Euros, the Players Party on the 19th includes a performance by Tenor Mario Veltmann.

More details of the players now, those entered include:

Judd Trump (defending champion)
Mark Williams
John Higgins
Stephen Lee
Stuart Bingham
Mark King (winner in 2005)
Ken Doherty
Matthew Couch (winner in 2006)
Lee Richardson (winner in 1999)

Edit 13May - According to the Kurier newspaper, Peter Ebdon is also entered.

Re: Austrian Open 2012 - Trump, Higgins, Williams et al

Postby roy142857

More details released this afternoon.

Trump and Higgins have been given wild cards to the knock-out stages, other pros will play in the round robin tournament.

In addition to those named above, players include Alfie Burden, David Grace, Craig Steadman, Jimmy Michie, Mark Joyce, Barry Pinches, Belgium's Hans Blackaert, the young Swiss Champion Alexander Ursenbacher, and Joris Maas from the Netherlands.

Most of the top Austrian players too, including Alexander Gauss, plus 5 Romanian players are making the trip to Austria, interesting to see how they fair against this level of opposition.

Re: Austrian Open 2012 - Trump, Higgins, Williams et al

Postby Monique

Witz78 wrote:why doesnt this event become a PTC and be held later in the year?


Why the hell do you want every pro-am to turn into a PTC?

Ranking events cost a lot more to organise and don't allow the same kind of relaxed atmosphere and interaction with the public as those events do. Exhibition snooker is important to promote the game IN PARTICULAR in countries where it's not part of the culture and tradition. Those summer events in mainland Europe have a right mix of good snooker and fun. Leave it alone, it works just fine.

Re: Austrian Open 2012 - Trump, Higgins, Williams et al

Postby Witz78

Monique wrote:
Witz78 wrote:why doesnt this event become a PTC and be held later in the year?


Why the hell do you want every pro-am to turn into a PTC?

Ranking events cost a lot more to organise and don't allow the same kind of relaxed atmosphere and interaction with the public as those events do. Exhibition snooker is important to promote the game IN PARTICULAR in countries where it's not part of the culture and tradition. Those summer events in mainland Europe have a right mix of good snooker and fun. Leave it alone, it works just fine.


calm down dear <cool>

i just think it makes a mockery for so many players to complain of burn out after a long season and / or complain about the busy calendar then be heading off to play in minor events like this.

Also a bit hypocritical of Ronnie to be saying hes taking 6 months off cos hes knackered and for the sake of his family then FOUR days after his world title, hes on the road again playing in Legends events.

Re: Austrian Open 2012 - Trump, Higgins, Williams et al

Postby roy142857

Sonny wrote:Money talks


That's at least part of it, I think both for the players and for the organisers ...

I think from the point of view of Austrian Snooker, quite a number of their players all get a chance to play a pro because of the round robin group format (and pay to enter of course). And they do quite well selling tickets to the event as it stands (32 Euros for the Saturday, 38 Euros for the Sunday. 70 Euros gets you a five day ticket).

re PTC, as they clearly can organise a tournament of this nature, it would be good to offer them a chance to arrange a PTC too.

Re: Austrian Open 2012 - Trump, Higgins, Williams et al

Postby Monique

Sonny wrote:Money talks



Contracted to do that months ago. It's by no means a last minute commitment, the tickets went on sale in October 2011.

He can't win can he? If he plays in it he's hypocrite, if he had pulled out he's got no respect for the fans.

Re: Austrian Open 2012 - Trump, Higgins, Williams et al

Postby Andre147

Monique wrote:
Sonny wrote:Money talks



Contracted to do that months ago. It's by no means a last minute commitment, the tickets went on sale in October 2011.

He can't win can he? If he plays in it he's hypocrite, if he had pulled out he's got no respect for the fans.


Yeah you're right Monique.. there's a fine line between players having long term contracts (Hendry's case of going to China just before the Worlds another good example) and players pulling out of tournaments at the last minute, where there would immediatly occur complaints from fans...

Ok it might sound a bit silly having Ronnie say he was burnt out of playing in so many tourney this season and then play just 4 days after he won the Worlds, but those are long term commitments, so he cant just pull out of them... But this is nothing new, all players do this kind of exhibitions... and yeah Monique it's good for promoting the game, especially in places outside the UK, so that snooker can establish itself in countires who show a growing interest in snooker.

Re: Austrian Open 2012 - Trump, Higgins, Williams et al

Postby Alpha

You can see why Hearn feels as though he's banging his head against a brick wall can't you. After a season long whinge about the busy schedule, when the players should be getting the family time they need, they're running off to play in these mickey mouse events instead.

Re: Austrian Open 2012 - Trump, Higgins, Williams et al

Postby Witz78

gallantrabbit wrote:Snooer players play. Do they really need 6 weeks off? Better to go to play for 6k than keep practising. Stop moaning start earning



thats debatable BUT what cant be ignored here is that the bulk of players moan and whinge during the season about playing too much, not getting enough time with the family etc, but then during the supposed "close season" when they could recharge the batteries and get this supposed holiday time they badly need, there off playing in Micky Mouse events.

Re: Austrian Open 2012 - Trump, Higgins, Williams et al

Postby Skullman

Witz78 wrote:
gallantrabbit wrote:Snooer players play. Do they really need 6 weeks off? Better to go to play for 6k than keep practising. Stop moaning start earning



thats debatable BUT what cant be ignored here is that the bulk of players moan and whinge during the season about playing too much, not getting enough time with the family etc, but then during the supposed "close season" when they could recharge the batteries and get this supposed holiday time they badly need, there off playing in Micky Mouse events.


Looking at the list of entrants, none of the moaners have entered. How many players actually moan about there being too much during the season and how many of them have entered the 'Mickey Mouse' events?

Re: Austrian Open 2012 - Trump, Higgins, Williams et al

Postby Monique

Skullman wrote:
Witz78 wrote:
gallantrabbit wrote:Snooer players play. Do they really need 6 weeks off? Better to go to play for 6k than keep practising. Stop moaning start earning



thats debatable BUT what cant be ignored here is that the bulk of players moan and whinge during the season about playing too much, not getting enough time with the family etc, but then during the supposed "close season" when they could recharge the batteries and get this supposed holiday time they badly need, there off playing in Micky Mouse events.


Looking at the list of entrants, none of the moaners have entered. How many players actually moan about there being too much during the season and how many of them have entered the 'Mickey Mouse' events?


John Higgins said at the Crucible that he won't enter the Wuxi, nor the Australian rankers. However to be fair to him, his reason for that was that he wanted to devote his holidays to his kids. His eldest kids are at school, so probably it doesn't make any difference now. But once the school holidays start, it does.

Re: Austrian Open 2012 - Trump, Higgins, Williams et al

Postby Sickpotter

Skullman wrote:
Witz78 wrote:
gallantrabbit wrote:Snooer players play. Do they really need 6 weeks off? Better to go to play for 6k than keep practising. Stop moaning start earning



thats debatable BUT what cant be ignored here is that the bulk of players moan and whinge during the season about playing too much, not getting enough time with the family etc, but then during the supposed "close season" when they could recharge the batteries and get this supposed holiday time they badly need, there off playing in Micky Mouse events.


Looking at the list of entrants, none of the moaners have entered. How many players actually moan about there being too much during the season and how many of them have entered the 'Mickey Mouse' events?


That's something I'd like to hear.

So much is being made about this new "busy" schedule and we've had ample comments about the players saying this or that but when it comes to actual quotes from players we're kind of left in the dark.

Has there been a player poll on this? Who are the complainers and who are supporting the new structure?

Re: Austrian Open 2012 - Trump, Higgins, Williams et al

Postby Sickpotter

Monique wrote:
Sonny wrote:Money talks



Contracted to do that months ago. It's by no means a last minute commitment, the tickets went on sale in October 2011.

He can't win can he? If he plays in it he's hypocrite, if he had pulled out he's got no respect for the fans.


Monique, please get a grip, a statement like "money talks" is not an attack on the player or a derogatory comment in any way <doh>

Better question IMO is why is Ronnie contracted to play in the Legends? I thought there was an age requirement of 40+ :shrug:

No matter, glad he's going to play, definitely going to be good for the Legends tour. <ok>

Re: Austrian Open 2012 - Trump, Higgins, Williams et al

Postby roy142857

Stephen Lee and Alfie Burden were 'no shows' today.

All the seeds unbeaten so far, closest call was Lee Richardson, who won a decider to beat German player Moritz Thomas. Alexander Gauss is also unbeaten in the same group.

Germany's Jürgen Kesseler, whose matches were all scheduled early, has already won his group as he has played all his matches, only dropped 1 frame in the process.

Re: Austrian Open 2012 - Trump, Higgins, Williams et al

Postby roy142857

Group stage has finished, first & second in each as below:

A Mark Williams (Wales), Georg Schlager (Austria)
B Daniel Bontea (Romania), Kevin Helbig (Germany)
C Stuart Bingham (England), Daniel Schneider (Germany)
D Peter Ebdon (England), Ede Dunai (Hungary)
E Mark King (England), Maximilian Thurr (Austria)
F Maximilian Pfleger (Austria), Bernhard Grosschupfer (Austria)
G Mark Joyce (England), Alexander Ursenbacher (Switzerland)
H Barry Pinches (England), Dominik Scherubl (Austria)
I Patricj Jeiter (Austria), Alexander Ethner (Germany)
J David Grace (England), Hans Nirnburger (Austria)
K Matthew Couch (England), Thomas Cesal (Germany)
L Craig Steadman (England), Markus Sallaberger (Austria)
M Jimmy Michie (England), Sanjin Kusan (Croatia)
N Lee Richardson (England), Alexander Gauss (Austria)
O Jurgen Kesseler (Germany), Nick Tielemans (Netherlands)
P Joris Maas (Netherlands), Hans Blanckaert (Belgium)

Most of the UK players has easy rides in their matches, David Grace was taken to a decider by Hans Nirnberger though, and Lee Richardson came through two deciders against Alexander Gauss and Germany's Moritz Thomas.

Re: Austrian Open 2012 - Trump, Higgins, Williams et al

Postby roy142857

A near-complete lack of surprises in the last 64 round, exception being top Austrian Alexander Gauss crashing out 2-3 against Nick Tielemans of the Netherlands.

Last 32 (not in draw order)

Alexander Troster (Austria) 3 - 1 Daniel Bontea (Romania)
Judd Trump 3 - 0 Nick Tielemans (Netherlands)
Mark Williams 3 - 0 Markus Sallaberger (Austria)
John Higgins 3 - 0 Hans Blanckaert (Belgium)
Stuart Bingham 3 - 0 Hans Nirnberger (Austria)
Peter Ebdon 3 - 0 Alexander Ethner (Germany)
Mark King 3 - 0 Dominik Scherubl (Austria)
Alexander Ursenbacher (Switzerland) 3 - 0 Maximilian Pfleger (Austria)
Mark Joyce 3 - 2 Lukas Krenek (Czechia)
Barry Pinches 3 - 0 Maximilian Thurr (Austria)
Ede Dunai (Hungary) 3 - 1 Vladislav Arion (Austria)
David Grace 3 - 0 Daniel Schneider (Germany)
Matthew Couch 3 - 0 Kevin Helbig (Germany)
Craig Steadman 3 - 0 Georg Schlager (Austria)
Jimmy Michie 3 - 1 Joris Maas (Netherlands)
Lee Richardson 3 - 0 Sebastian Hainzl (Austria)

Last 16 (so far, in draw order)
Judd Trump 3 - 1 Lee Richardson
Alexander Ursenbacher v Mark Joyce
Stuart Bingham v David Grace
Alexander Troster v Matthew Couch
Mark Williams 3 - 1 Craig Steadman
Peter Ebdon v Ede Dunai
Barry Pinches 3 - 2 Mark King
John Higgins 3 - 0 Jimmy Michie