2008-9 Pios

[JanieWatkins]

I am appalled by the statement that "people on here aren't interested in amateur snooker"
I'm sure that is a very isolated and rather ill judged statement.

There are 96 current professionals on the tour and probably around 96 million players around the world not on the tour.

Without the 100+ amateur governing bodies around the world, and the countless hard working "amateur" officials and referees and organiser, there would be no structure, no events, no players and no professionals.

Bjorn Haneveer, winner of PIOS event 1, is Belgium's best ever player (and yes he may well be overtaken by Luca Brecal in the future)
he's been a main tour professional for seveal years, reached the last 16 of events and has regularly been seen in televised matches - he even played Ronnie in one....

The "professional" game is a tiny tiny tiny minority of the sport, it just happens to get more attention because of the tv coverage.

Without a solid base you cannot get to the top of a pyramid.

And well done Ants on winning the big pro am today in Scotland -- sadly the professional loving fans may not have heard of you or seen you play on the tv table at the Crucible!! more fool them.

[luchtzak]

Amazing to read indeed!

150 snooker lads trying to reach the main tour and so many people don't seem to care? Well please continue with your euro 2008 and your happy birthday topics by all means!

[Alex0paul]

I try to follow the PIOS, Pro Ticket Tour and Proffesional snooker all the same. It is interesting to see how the ex pros and new kids on the block get on and I also like to follow how the guys from Plymouth get on (which isn't too well).

[dannyd0g]

TBH unless the pios players are former pros or somone local its not easy to know anything whatsoever about them, as the only coverage seems to be provided by GSC.

That doesnt mean i have no interest in the amateur game or have never heard of any of the players though.

I shouldnt think its a general opinion on here that no one cares about the amateur game.

[matoski]

Bjorn Hanaveer said in the interview for worldsnooker.com that he won the final 6-2 with brakes of 40-50 (his highest brake was 48). If the final was so poor, i wonder how poor were the other matches in this PIOS tournament?

[Monique]

Bjorn Hanaveer said in the interview for worldsnooker.com that he won the final 6-2 with brakes of 40-50 (his highest brake was 48). If the final was so poor, i wonder how poor were the other matches in this PIOS tournament?

Well that doesn't mean anything. I incidentally rewatched the final of the Scottish Regal Masters 2000 this week-end where Ronnie beat Hendry 9-6. Hendry made two centuries in that match . Ronnie made no century at all but grinded his way through tactical battles and small breaks of 30-40 "à la Davis" ... and it definitely wasn't a poor match!

Also I want to take the opportunity to highlight Janie's excellent work in informing us about amateur snooker and less well known players/events. All top players have gone through these routes... Those who look at this with comtempt should think about it.

[wildhoney28]

Bjorn Hanaveer said in the interview for worldsnooker.com that he won the final 6-2 with brakes of 40-50 (his highest brake was 48). If the final was so poor, i wonder how poor were the other matches in this PIOS tournament?

It is sad that number of breaks and tons is your determinant of the good and poor matches.
It's ridicoulous theory.
What about that match:
Steve Davis 8-10 Stuart Bingham

20-69(45), 41-71(39), 19-108(38,54), 54-34, 87(57)-0, 21-59, 66(58)-33, 0-80(58), 4-59,

11-76(67), 33-69, 105(65)-31, 100(68)-4, 81(81)-0, 84(51)-31, 91(67)-0, 60-72, 15-65(59)
Probably it was poor for you.
Bjorn's highest break in the final was 58,Atkinson's highest 73.Bjorn also made 53 and 49.
Highest break of the event was 119 (Guodong and Lee Walker)
It wasn't fantastic match but some of you should give more respect for amateur players.

[Wim]

Bjorn Hanneveer is incidentally the best Belgian player that is until Luca Brecel comes around. Kid is currently 13, made a 136 in competition and 19 maxis + a 148 in practice.

Luca's site is here http://www.brecelluca.com/index.php ... in Dutch only unfortunately

Without what you brand "amateur snooker" there would be NO pro snooker ... those are the seeds

( bout of national pride while Belgium still exists, and where is Wim when we need him?)

Good to know harmless women need me now and then True Hanneveer is a very good player but some personal problems and financial - the travelling and staying in the UK for tounaments is quite expensive - were the reason why he didn't realise his full potential.. I guess it' s too late for that anyway. Luca Brecel parents on the other hand can afford to let him travel and stay in the UK as much as required.

[SD147]

What you have to remember about the PIOS is that the players are competing for their livelihoods and dreams, so the standard isn't always going to be frame winning breaks from one chance.
There are few good players on the PIOS this year, should be a good season. I would expect Leo Fernandez, Bjorn Haneveer and Kurt Maflin to all book their return to the main tour along with a couple of new names - Michael White and Robbie Williams seems a decent enough player, has a few good results to his name.

[mister_e]

Bjorn Hanaveer said in the interview for worldsnooker.com that he won the final 6-2 with brakes of 40-50 (his highest brake was 48). If the final was so poor, i wonder how poor were the other matches in this PIOS tournament?

with the players on this tour playing to turn pro, there's going to be a lot of hard & gritty match play snooker. it's not all about pretty one visit snooker every frame. the poor state of the tables at that event explains the lack of breaks too.

[Rane]

It is sad that number of breaks and tons is your determinant of the good and poor matches.
It's ridicoulous theory.
What about that match:
Steve Davis 8-10 Stuart Bingham

20-69(45), 41-71(39), 19-108(38,54), 54-34, 87(57)-0, 21-59, 66(58)-33, 0-80(58), 4-59,

11-76(67), 33-69, 105(65)-31, 100(68)-4, 81(81)-0, 84(51)-31, 91(67)-0, 60-72, 15-65(59)
Probably it was poor for you.
Bjorn's highest break in the final was 58,Atkinson's highest 73.Bjorn also made 53 and 49.
Highest break of the event was 119 (Guodong and Lee Walker)
It wasn't fantastic match but some of you should give more respect for amateur players.

What a good example. This match and Wenbo - Swail was the most exciting matches at this years cruicible.

[dannyd0g]

I find it interesting that in PIOS event 7 we have a player ranked 110th in the final !!

Thepchaiya un-Nooh from Thailand who has only earned 20 points all season so far (and missed the last 4 events alltogether) could get near to quailfying for the main tour with one good run. He will certainly be in the top 20 if he wins this event.

Im not sure how the points are awarded on the pios. It looks like theres 300 points for winning an event. Anyone know how much the runner up gets ? And would he have earned his 20 points so far for one first round win ?

[JanieWatkins]

Thepchaiya already has a main tour place. He's the IBSF world amateur champion. he missed a load of events at the start of the season due to clashes with Thai events at home, so he and Chinnakrit have only been able to attend events 6,7,8.

[snooker warrior]

I find it interesting that in PIOS event 7 we have a player ranked 110th in the final !!

Thepchaiya un-Nooh from Thailand who has only earned 20 points all season so far (and missed the last 4 events alltogether) could get near to quailfying for the main tour with one good run. He will certainly be in the top 20 if he wins this event.

Im not sure how the points are awarded on the pios. It looks like theres 300 points for winning an event. Anyone know how much the runner up gets ? And would he have earned his 20 points so far for one first round win ?

300 for the winner ,,220 runner up ,, 110 for losing semis ,,,,,,,,,, and it looks like my mate craig steadman is certain to be on the main tour now after the results from this pios event went for him ,,

[dannyd0g]

cheers for the replies folks. I look forward to seeing how Craig Steadman does on the main tour next year.

How old is he BTW - he looks a lot younger now hes grown some hair