So this is Christmas ...

14:39:00 Ramona Dragomir 0 Comments

... and what have you dooooone. Another year over, a new one just begun" or so said John Lennon. However, since this is my blog and not his, I have thoughts of my own. Isn't that something?!

First of all I wish to thank all of you, yeah you and you and you and you there reading this in your pajamas with a cup of tea in your hands and you sir with that beautiful hangover and you madam with your fluffy pink slippers.

So where was I? Yes, I want to send a big and heartfelt "Thank you"to all of you, my readers, the mighty snooker fans who have found this blog a place to return to this last year and the years before that.
"Snooker, my love" is approaching its 4thyear of life and I'm proud and honored to say that all this is happening because of you.

Second of all, I would like to share a few little secrets with you: the blog will be changing a bit. I have bold projects of "re-dressing" it a bit and adding new sections and get more interviews for you.

Many of you know that I had a crappy job who took most of my time and so I had little time to spend with you through my blog and watch what was happening on the green baize. Thank God, that is over! Now I have a new job ... that's taken over my life!!! Only joking.

Actually I have a lot of work, but it's something I like doing so this leaves me with much more energy to carry on with my special and beloved project of blogging about snooker.

All that being said I do have to share with you that even if in 2014 I won't get to see the marvellous World Championship at Sheffield (I'm short on money I'm afraid), I have a plan of coming over for the UK Championship. It might be on winter time and I might just pass out on the plane (since I hate flying and more than that, flying on bad weather), but I'm making it one of my missions.

"I am a woman, on a mission Oho Whoo" - a bit of Gabriela Cilmi there, for les connoisseurs (uuu, getting a bit French, must stop that)

So, that being said ... what else I can add? Oh, yeah I have a little present for you.

Got a few thoughts from some very special people that love snooker and are part of the snooker history and asked them to share with you a few of their experience with snooker over the last year.

So would you please put your hands up as I invite: Michaela Tabb, Martin Gould, Marcilio Cavalcanti and Hannah Jones to enter the stage!!!!!!!!!!! *cue for applause





 "The highlight of my year was going to the first ranking in India! I loved being a part if the history with such amazing people... A great honour... Merry Christmas everyone!!"

- Michaela Tabb - snooker ref





"All my friends who live in the world of snooker know that despite the televised snooker and physical growth in much of the world, is due to growth in Asia (China) and in some European countries. Snooker is still boring for many viewers, because the rules were not appropriate for television. 

I hope that in 2014 the missing rule be abolished giving way to free ball. 25 seconds are more than required for each shot and up to 3 extensions 25 seconds for each frame. I cannot agree with PTC's wearing all players, for they are unprofitable and distant. I still think the top 16 or 8 should be guaranteed in major tournaments."

- Marcilio Cavalcanti - Chairman of Brazil Association of Professional Snooker

"Well, 2013 was a good start as I won the Sky Shoot Out. The atmosphere was electric and they kept singing my name nonstop which was great so it made me change my walk on music as a thank you to my fans. Then I won the Championship League which is only top 25 players in the world that filled me with a lot of confidence. 

But the rest of 2013 has been mixture of good and bad for me. 2014 is another big year and it's time to get my hands on some more trophies. Also, I joined SightRight Cues which has helped me 100%. It's the best thing I ever did.

I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a very happy new year! Much love Martin (Gouldyballs (twitter name) Gould xx "

- Martin Gould - snooker player

"My 2013 has been Brilliant. I am proud that I passed all of my exams at school and I am happy to be doing what I love. Playing snooker full time is hard work, and it has its ups and downs, but I am enjoying it.

I am grateful for the support team I have around me who are helping me to become a better player and a better person. I thank everyone for their continued support. I don't really have a "best moment" of the year, I have just enjoyed every second of it, playing the best I can and getting through the good and bad times, improving my game and doing what I love. 

I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and I wish you all a fantastic New Year! "

- Hannah Jones - snooker player 

And with your permission, here's something from me too:


I wish you all a very happy Christmas! May you all get your wishes to come true, may you all be happy, surrounded by friends, family and your dear ones.

I feel privileged to have spent with you yet another year and get to share with all of you my passion for snooker. Here's for the future!

Take care everyone and don't forget to dream, for dreams tend to come true ... if you believe in them ;-)

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2014 Masters Draw

14:36:00 Ramona Dragomir 0 Comments

Last evening, while the UK Championship final was underway, the draw of next year Masters tournament due to take place in January (between 12 and 19) at the usual Alexandra Palace, was made.

The result can be seen bellow ;-)


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Robertson signs his name on UK Championship trophy

01:32:00 Ramona Dragomir 0 Comments


Robertson kissing the UK Championship trophy
A tremendous cues-crossing ended tonight in York, with Neil Robertson beating the reigning champion Mark Selby by 10-7, in order to win a tournament that wasn't marked in his CV - the UK Championship.

And what an achievement this is for the Aussie, as Neil has previously won the 2010 World Championship and the 2012 Masters, the only thing missing to complete the marvellous trio being the UK Championship.

But mind you that it was no bed of roses for "The Thunder from DownUnder" whose mum flew all the way from ... well Down Under …. to watch his lad play against a very dangerous opponent.

The final, refereed by Brendan Moore, started with a wonderfully cued 130 (total clearance) break signed by Selby, to which Neil responded with a simple but efficient 63. It was one apiece.

The great Mark Selby
Considering the start the prospects looked good for both players, but what do you know? It wasn't to be like that. Selby stormed in and hit in breaks of 49, 39, 35, 57 and 35 to go all the way to 5-1. He was on fire!

It looked ominous for the Australian seemed doomed to be kept in his seat and when he was at the table, he was clearly in no position to capitalise.

But something happened and by the end of the first session, Robertson managed to pull back two frames with a bit of help from runs of 54 and 123. 

The scoreline froze temporarily at 5-3.

Packed house in York
A lot of mysterious smoke and the lads were re-entering into the arena a couple of hours later. This was it, the final battle. Let's play snooker!

The first in was, as in the first frame, Selby whose breaks of 41 and 25 were putting enough pressure on his opponent, as he was now just four frames away from getting his hands on that shiny trophy that he so proudly won last year.

But Robertson had other things in mind. More focused than before and with a confidence that was nowhere to be found during the previous session, the Australian started his comeback.

Breaks of 56 and 122 and a brilliant 132 total clearance were re-establishing a balance of six apiece on the scoreboard, while runs of 26, 20 and 47 were helping Robertson to put his nose in front, for the very first time since the beginning of the final, at 8-6.

True sportsmanship
A re-racked 15th frame was carefully won by a revived Selby with a top break of 42, while the next one ... well, let's just say it was pitch-black!

It was a very scrappy frame that ended on the colours after Robbo missed frame-ball (pink) and it continued on the black. It was enough hard work to clear the colours, but to be left with a tricky black seemed a bit too much, even for Selby.

Still, he kept himself composed until the very last second when he missed to pot the black by a tiny fraction (JV should be so happy that I used one of his catchlines). No-one could believe it, not Selby, not the audience, not me, not the commentators, not even Robertson who was now handed with the chance to go one-away from victory. 

After the overwhelming victory
And as the black ball sank into the pocket, we all knew it was just a matter of time before he will capitalise and close the deal. 54 points later, Robertson was the champion!

Getting a genuine hug from Selby (true sportsmanship there) and one from a very emotional mum that almost brought him into tears, Robertson seemed so overwhelmed by the moment that his entire interview with Hazel was a continuous series of "aaaa’s" and "eeermmm’s".

So the lad has done it! He's won the World Championship, he's won the Masters, the China Open, the Welsh Open, the World Open etc and now the UK Championship. This is pure class and a re-assurance of the fact that he's indeed world number 1.

No-one can argue with that.

Regarding Selby, I have only one thing to say: here comes the Masters! ;-)


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