Not only did John Higgins’ World Championship triumph secure him a place among the snooker greats (if he did not have one already that is), but it has also ensured that he will be competing in the Premier League next season for a third successive campaign…
Click here to read the article on the Matchroom Sport website.
John said:
“It would have been disappointing if I hadn’t got to play in this year’s Premier League,”
“It’s the type of tournament where you always play in front of packed houses and the way the snooker season is with it not being full it is great to get into the Premier League. You know you’re playing top-class players in top class venues.
“It’s an important tournament for every player, Ronnie O’Sullivan has won the last few years but it just gives you so much exposure and is a very well-run event.”
“Championship League Snooker was fantastic, I really enjoyed it,”
“It gives you tremendous match practice and I want to be down there playing in it next year. It is perfect for the likes of me and I definitely want to play in it again.”
As the article says therefore, we now know the names of three of the seven players who will be competing in this year’s Premier League, but who will join Ronnie O’Sullivan, John Higgins and Judd Trump in the competition?
Personally I would expect Ding Junhui, Stephen Hendry and Mark Selby to be confirmed due to their ability and status in the game, but the final spot I am less sure about. Could it be Ali Carter who has just completed a very consistent season and won his frst ranking event title? Or perhaps world finalist Shaun Murphy or world number two Stephen Maguire?
Steve Davis can also not be ruled out due to his status in the game and connections with event promoter Barry Hearn but given his performances in the competition last season, I suspect that this may be one season too far for him.
One other player who may just have played his way into contention is Mark Allen who having made the World Championship semi-finals as he did recently, appears to have the playing style and personality that would fit in perfectly with the Premier League competition.
It will be very interesting to see who they go with…
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5 comments
JOhnH says:
May 13, 2009 at 3:53 pm (UTC 0 )
Hendry(on his record) and Murphy (as uk champion and world finalist) deserve places- Fu should be above Ding due to his achievements this season. The remaining place should go to Carter as Welsh Open champion and world number 5- although I expect the place to be given to Selby as last years finalist Selby has failed to win a title this year which in my book should exclude him.
dannyboy says:
May 13, 2009 at 6:22 pm (UTC 0 )
It could simply be the top 6 plus the WC or top 7 if the WC is inside that mark. THat would save a lot of fuss. However if you want personalities and contrasts for TV then the debate is a lot tougher and no one clear route. Trump is a great addition with Ronnie as fast potting, attacking players. Higgins and Selby are more tactical, potting machines. Hendry and Murphy are similar all out attacking but with less made for TV charisma than Judd and ROS. That leaves a space for Ding for far east tv. You could drop Murphy or Hendry for Davis if you wanted a third tactical player but not much logic in that. To be honest if they set the Championship up better with more TV coverage there could be a better promotion/relegation where all the group matches had some meaning. Steve did beat Judd easily and may have beat him again purely because his style of play. However once he lost to Walden the rematch didnt happen. A playoff between the 7th player from the Premier league against the winner of the championship would make the rankings idea void but add some spice. IF the league is here to stay and financially it becomes so lucrative then maybe anyone should be able to enter the lowest league and earn a possible place in the top league by the end.
bongo@TSF.com (The Snooker Forum) says:
May 14, 2009 at 7:44 am (UTC 0 )
There are plenty of players that could be picked, it would be a difficult decision. We will just have to wait.
George McCauley says:
May 14, 2009 at 12:36 pm (UTC 0 )
it’s fantastic that John is playing in it again this year. I followed the championship league very closely i saw that so many centuries were being made, the standard was very high and i also didn’t realise that the world champion gets a place in the league i was thinking Higgins was out after his winners group loss. You would have to make him one of the favourites to win it. The premier leahue is a fantastic event for snooker.
Does anyone know when it starts like the first fixture?
matt2745 says:
May 14, 2009 at 2:10 pm (UTC 0 )
Sep 3rd, I’ve updated my calendar page with the full schedule.