Bahrain Championship draw

[Viktortheman]

Mark I'm gutted that he lost.

This is actually the first time in 12 years Mark Williams misses a tournament. Last time he missed one was in 1996 when he lost 5-4 to Simon Bedford in the Grand Prix qualifiers. Something to think about Mark.

[João]

I thought that was in 2008.

[darrus]

Yes, last time Mark Williams missed a tournament was in October 2008
Which is sad, really

[alexholowczak]

Something interesting, when was the last time the final of a ranking event was played on a Saturday? The Quarter Finals are on a Thursday, too. So, say if Steve's QF was at 3pm Bahrain time, then it would start at 12pm our time. The game won't go beyond 3pm if Steve gets a move on. If his PL match was scheduled for 8pm, he'd have a chance to make it in time. Next day, if they set his SF to start at 8pm, that'd be 5pm our time, so he'd have a chance of that part of the arrangement...

Most important thing here: Steve's chances of even reaching the Quarter Finals must be slim. He will probably lose in Round 1 or 2 anyway, so it won't make much difference. :-P

[matoski]

I'll say this again, Liu Chuang was a bad choice to be awarded a wildcard for this seasons main tour.

[dantuck_7]

Something interesting, when was the last time the final of a ranking event was played on a Saturday? The Quarter Finals are on a Thursday, too. So, say if Steve's QF was at 3pm Bahrain time, then it would start at 12pm our time. The game won't go beyond 3pm if Steve gets a move on.

He would need a courier on a motorcycle to take him to the airport, then have to have a private jet booked and then a mad dash at the other end. It'd be another 6-0 - not going to happen.

Anyone else seen that Ebdon plays Cope in the 2nd round possibly.

[Viktortheman]

Yes, last time Mark Williams missed a tournament was in October 2008
Which is sad, really

Oh man I've misunderstand it a lot But is says like this on worldsnooker

"Two-times World Champion Williams missed his first ranking venue in 12 years when he lost 5-4 to Simon Bedford in the Grand Prix qualifiers and must now sit out another one".

[Ekphantos]

The wildcards are: (from worldsnooker)

Ahmed Goulam
Born in 1988, Bahrain's Goulam reached the last 32 of the 2007 World Amateur Championship.

Isa Ali Al-Hashmi
Born in 1970 from the United Arab Emirates, his top break is 120.

Habib Subah Habib
This 25-year-old is Bahrain's top player, with a high break of 144. He has played on the World Snooker Tour and beat Jimmy Michie as a wild card at the 2005 China Open in Beijing.

Ahmed Saif (pictured)
From Qatar, he won an under-21 Gulf tournament in Dubai in 2004 and was a quarter-finalist in the 2006 Asian Games.

Ahmed Basheer Al-Khusaibi
The 28-year-old from Oman has a top break of 115.

Ahmed Abdulla Asiry
Born in 1977, he's ranked No 1 in Saudi Arabia with a top break of 143. A six-time Saudi champion, he reached the semi-finals of the Asian Indoor Games in Macao.