2009 European Play offs and European Champs

[Forman]

I'am pretty sure that Brecel will be on the Main Tour next year

do you know somthing we don't?

[April madness]

how strict are world snooker on the gotta be over 16 rule? have they ever made an exception for someone under 16 in the past?

I think anyone who manages to qualify for the main tour while their under 16 should automaticly be awarded a wildcard once they turn 16, i seems unfair that they would be made to qualify again once their over 16.

Well if my memory serves right, Michael White was not allowed to play in a qualification for tournament just a couple of weeks before his 16th birthday (he would be 16 if he had qualified for the final rounds of that tournament). He did play at the rest of tournaments in that season, but unfortunately at his young age he couldn't make an impact. And probably that's why he struggled with his snooker for a while, and good to see him back on Main tour!

[Sigm@]

do you know somthing we don't?

Well, why doesn't he take part of the International Open - Duffel Belgium 2009 in Belgium a fews day before the European champs...?
I think he couldn't of the EBSA because he has already a ticket for the main tour

[Monique]

Well, why doesn't he take part of the International Open - Duffel Belgium 2009 in Belgium a fews day before the European champs...?
I think he couldn't of the EBSA because he has already a ticket for the main tour

Luca earned a ticket for the main tour by winning the Under 21 champ in St Petersbourg a few weeks ago. However as he is only 14 he's too young to compete on the main tour and he still will be at the end of next season. I don't see how WPBSA could possibily do such an exception after having prevented Michael White to participate to qualifs to the Shanghai Masters two years ago while it was only a matter of a couple of weeks for him to turn 16. So Luca will NOT be on the main tour next year, and not even the year after that.

[Sigm@]

Luca earned a ticket for the main tour by winning the Under 21 champ in St Petersbourg a few weeks ago. However as he is only 14 he's too young to compete on the main tour and he still will be at the end of next season. I don't see how WPBSA could possibily do such an exception after having prevented Michael White to participate to qualifs to the Shanghai Masters two years ago while it was only a matter of a couple of weeks for him to turn 16. So Luca will NOT be on the main tour next year, and not even the year after that.

It was the under 19 champ in St Petersbourg
You're maby right but I realy find it strange that he didn't take part of the International Open that was in Belgium...

[Monique]

It was the under 19 champ in St Petersbourg
You're maby right but I realy find it strange that he didn't take part of the International Open that was in Belgium...

You are right it was under 19, I didn't check. But it's not important in the context. He is now participating in the EBSA European Championship (Men) and there is also a MT tix to be gained. Jimmy Robertson, Bjorn Hanneveer and Tony Drago are there also. They all have earned their place already. So I don't see the relationship.
Maybe we should check the access conditions to the International Open. There were Ladies and Masters participating in that event as well as a lot of "low ranked" amateurs. On the other hand, Shacher Ruberg, the young 14 yo Israeli, participated in the EBSA Euro Champ but also not in the International Open.

[rivercard]

I don't see how WPBSA could possibily do such an exception after having prevented Michael White to participate to qualifs to the Shanghai Masters two years ago while it was only a matter of a couple of weeks for him to turn 16.

Well, it might be unfair but it wouldn't hurt anyones rights (he earned the place). I think the WSA made a mistake when they did that to Michael White so why make that mistake again just to be consistent?

[Monique]

Well, it might be unfair but it wouldn't hurt anyones rights (he earned the place). I think the WSA made a mistake when they did that to Michael White so why make that mistake again just to be consistent?

The boy is only 14. I personally find it already extremely young to embark as an MT pro at 16 ... and many can't keep their place. When they return and have matured at 18-20, it's a totally different story. At 14 I think he is too young to make such decision and if WBBSA starts making exceptions I see a high risk of some kids being "pushed" relentlesly by parents or ambitious coaches at the risk of ruining their lifes ... as it happens in some other sports (feminine gymnastics comes to my mind here)

[rivercard]

The boy is only 14. I personally find it already extremely young to embark as an MT pro at 16 ... and many can't keep their place. When they return and have matured at 18-20, it's a totally different story. At 14 I think he is too young to make such decision and if WBBSA starts making exceptions I see a high risk of some kids being "pushed" relentlesly by parents or ambitious coaches at the risk of ruining their lifes ... as it happens in some other sports (feminine gymnastics comes to my mind here)

Yes, perhaps 14 is too young, but I meant next year. He would be something like 15 and a half and as I said before if he can qualify again like this year it would make sense to make an exception. Neil Robertson fell off the Tour after 1 season when he first qualified but he was able to come back stronger. Today he might even say that the experience helped him when he qualified for the second time. Anyway I see your point and it's a fair one but I hope the Michael White decision won't be used as a precedent in the future.

[Sigm@]

You are right it was under 19, I didn't check. But it's not important in the context. He is now participating in the EBSA European Championship (Men) and there is also a MT tix to be gained. Jimmy Robertson, Bjorn Hanneveer and Tony Drago are there also. They all have earned their place already. So I don't see the relationship.
Maybe we should check the access conditions to the International Open. There were Ladies and Masters participating in that event as well as a lot of "low ranked" amateurs. On the other hand, Shacher Ruberg, the young 14 yo Israeli, participated in the EBSA Euro Champ but also not in the International Open.

I think they are a difference. Bjorn Hanneveer and Jimmy Robertson wasn't at the International Open too because they alreaday have a ticket for the MT. They want that someone else who hasn't a ticket won the tournament. So Tony Drago won the international open and also have his ticket.
But the European champ is something different for me than an International open. That's why some persons who already have a ticket for the MT can take part of the European champ.

PS: Sorry for my poor enlgish

[AntMac147]

The International Open is a main tour qualifying event for everyone except UK and Ireland players. Thats why Luca didn't play in it, because he wouldn't have been able to take up the place, being only 14. He is in the Euro Champs because first and foremost its the European Amateur Championships, and the main tour place is an added bonus if you like. Same with the U19s.

[madman]

Luca, though a fantastic prodigy, is going to be a quality player. But, lets not get carried away here. He has the attributes to make a big impact on the main professional tour, when the time is right.

I have seen many a young player, as good if not better than Luca over the years, and when they have had a chance on the main tour at 16, things were completely different. A majority of them came straight off again. There are the exceptions of course, Shaun Murphy, Mark Selby and Judd Trump are 3 players i can recall at 15/16 on the main professional tour. All of them have lived up to their junior reputation. (By the way, Shaun was one of a very rare few who were allowed onto the main professional tour, 2 weeks before his 16th birthday. I also think Mark Selby may of been 15 as well, by a week or 2 short of his 16th.)

These players were the exception, and Luca may well be another. But even these top quality juniors struggled for the first couple of season's before they eventually settled down. Out of the 3 of them, i think Judd Trump will be the best player to come through though. He has steadily climbed the rankings over the 3 seasons he has been on there, up to number 30 in the world rankings, he is not 19 until August, and i fully expect him to be in the top 16 next season and for the next 10 to 20 years.

Going back to Michael White being the youngest ever winner of the World Amateurs at 15, he was allowed onto the main professional tour, but had to miss the first event as he was still 15, then thay let him play in the remainder 6 ranking events when he was 16. Now Michael is a top quality player, like Luca and co, and he is another one who struggled in his first season and was relegated after that year. So history is about evens for the 16 year olds.

I think personally, the best thing Luca can do, is carry on doing what he is doing, then when he is eligible at 15 years old, to play on the PIOS tour at Pontins and get as much quality match/tournament play as he can, on these professional tables, against quality opposition, then we will be able to see over a season what he really is capable of mentally as well as the talent the lad posesses.

At the end of the day, if Luca is in this for the long term, proving himself on the pios is a great apprenticeship and feeder circuit for the professional tour, so this will only strengthen his game and let him know what he has to be prepared for. Because, beating the odd great player here and there is a great confidence booster, and some great players he has beat, but so have many juniors, especially in the Uk, and though he is a complete bit of fresh air from Europe, which will only enhance the game eventually, Luca has time on his hands. Don't rush him, because the pressure will get to him eventually now.

[Goldspark]

Brecel is 3-0 down to Sascha Lippe in the last 16, while Drago's good form continues with a 5-0 victory over Mario Guedens.

[rivercard]

Brecel is 3-0 down to Sascha Lippe in the last 16, while Drago's good form continues with a 5-0 victory over Mario Guedens.

Yes, his match was over before the 3rd frame has been finished in any of the other 7 matches.. He also made a 127 in the last frame.

[Goldspark]

Yeah, I thought it was rather quick. Wonder how it would compare to the record he holds for a best-of-9.