China Open 2009 - Predicsussion!

[bongo]

With just over a week until the start of the China Open, I feel I should start this thread.

3...2...1...discuss!

I can't wait, and it will be interesting to see who's playing well for the World Championship, a good run up to the big one.

bongo

[Monique]

I'm not sure you can derive anything from the form that players will display or not in China.

First there is the jetlag effect. The way they get over it or not will be decisive in first rounds. And most of those who travel a lot will agree that there isn't any "magic trick", sometimes you cope very well, sometimes not. Bit of luck there.
Then there might be a lot of promotional hidden work for some big names.
Finally for those going the distance it's a big effort - very tiring - only 13 days before the WC. Maybe not the best of scenarios.

Also there is something I find definitely unfair: it's the posponing of the Liang Wenbo qualifiers matches to the venue. Oh, i DO understand the commercial; logic of it. But Liang will probably be fresh while Milkins (and Swail) will not. I very much doubt Milkins can afford to come there well in advance. I also wonder what will be the outcome for him would he lose his match: I wouldn't be surprised if it was a financial loss. You will tell me Liang plays in UK all season. Right and therefore he has a base there, in Sheffield, and his life is organised around his season. Not so for Milkins in China. And Same is true for Swail probably.

[bongo]

Yes, but it will still be interesting to see it as the tournament before the WC.

[Odrl]

Well, if Liang has a base in the UK, he has to travel to China as well doesn't he? I think the fairest thing would be, if the qualifiers for the Chinese events were held in China altogether. The wild card round could then be held before the first qualifying round. I realize of course, why this can't be done, and I accept it.

I don't think it's really an issue for whomever has to play his qualifiers at the venue. Surely a chance to play a local favourite on TV, in front of a full arena, is more important than that slight competitive disadvantage. Robert Milkins had to play an extra match in Bahrain and later got to the QF for the first time in almost three years.

I agree that this tournament can be misleading if you take it as a show of form before the WC. There's the traveling factor, the specific Chinese atmosphere, and of course the shorter format. And no one wants to be at their very best two weeks before the WC of course.

Having said all that, this tournament is great in its own right and I'm quite excited about it. Snooker in the morning is great for those that can watch it. And I like the Chinese' willingness to show all four tables (I hope that's the case, it was in the Shanghai Masters).

[Monique]

Yes Liang will have to travel to there aswell, and with a hindsight as he plays in CLS this week he will not be able to settle much neither in fact ( I didn't think of that writing the first post, so I thought he might go there earlier and have time to rest and to get used to local conditions aswell maybe)

Yes I'm not critisizing the tournament per se but it's a pity that with such big gaps in the calendar this one has to be less than 2 weeks before the WC.

[Forman]

Also there is something I find definitely unfair: it's the posponing of the Liang Wenbo qualifiers matches to the venue. Oh, i DO understand the commercial; logic of it. But Liang will probably be fresh while Milkins (and Swail) will not. I very much doubt Milkins can afford to come there well in advance. I also wonder what will be the outcome for him would he lose his match: I wouldn't be surprised if it was a financial loss. You will tell me Liang plays in UK all season. Right and therefore he has a base there, in Sheffield, and his life is organised around his season. Not so for Milkins in China. And Same is true for Swail probably.

do world snooker pay the travel and accomadation costs of the players who have had their qualifying matches held over till the venue?

surely if they want to reap the commercial benefits of doing this then they should be the ones to pay the extra costs accociated with the decision not the players.

[RocketRoy1983]

Well presumably they wont travel over the night before a match so jetlag shouldnt come into it as theyll travel a good few days prior...some may be over there now.

[Monique]

Well presumably they wont travel over the night before a match so jetlag shouldnt come into it as theyll travel a good few days prior...some may be over there now.

Jetlag takes much more than a day to subside especially when traveling east (don't ask me why but that's the way it is) and I very much doubt the lower ranked players will travel much in advance. If it's on their own expense they probably can't afford it, if WPBSA contributes I doubt they do it more than the strict minimum. A few years ago Mark Selby was so jetlagged on the day he had to play in the China Open that he went to the venue ... at 2 in the morning instead of 2 in afternoon

[wildJONESEYE]

do world snooker pay the travel and accomadation costs of the players who have had their qualifying matches held over till the venue?

surely if they want to reap the commercial benefits of doing this then they should be the ones to pay the extra costs accociated with the decision not the players.

no mate ......

i suspect the point of playing qualifying is to go over to the venue.....

if that means you don't have to play a match to qualify and you're already at the venue that's to the players advantage of playing somewhere other than prestatyn.

[Monique]

no mate ......

i suspect the point of playing qualifying is to go over to the venue.....

if that means you don't have to play a match to qualify and you're already at the venue that's to the players advantage of playing somewhere other than prestatyn.

That's true Wild, although for a player like Milkins who is used to play in Prestatyn since so many years I very much doubt there is any advantage at all. It means being more tired, having more expenses and because he's playing Liang it's unlikely he will get much support from the audience.
All advantages are clearly on one side in this case.

[Forman]

no mate ......
i suspect the point of playing qualifying is to go over to the venue.....

surely the point of playing qualifying is to qualify for the tournament, earn ranking points and earn prize money rather than just "go over to the venue"

if that means you don't have to play a match to qualify and you're already at the venue that's to the players advantage of playing somewhere other than prestatyn.

they still have to play a match to qualify they just play their qualifer at the venue.

i see your point the players get the bonus of playing at the venue in front of a crowd and on tv but there is a massive difference in the costs imposed on the players in order for them to play there qualifyer in china.
If world snooker gives the players in question the option of playing their qualifyer at prestatyn or in china then im fine with the players baring the extra cost but if its not up to them then i think world snooker should pay the extra cost.

[RocketRoy1983]

Jetlag takes much more than a day to subside especially when traveling east (don't ask me why but that's the way it is) and I very much doubt the lower ranked players will travel much in advance. If it's on their own expense they probably can't afford it, if WPBSA contributes I doubt they do it more than the strict minimum. A few years ago Mark Selby was so jetlagged on the day he had to play in the China Open that he went to the venue ... at 2 in the morning instead of 2 in afternoon

True although id expect most of them, Championship League aside, to be over there now in preparation. I know I would be and if I was coaching id insist.

[Monique]

True although id expect most of them, Championship League aside, to be over there now in preparation. I know I would be and if I was coaching id insist.

How much would it cost to stay there in China for a full week before the event? How much do players like Milkins or even Swail, Walden, Hamilton make over a year? I'm not speaking of the top names or the ones who have chinese sponsors but the others?
As a coach ... would you pay for it?

[RocketRoy1983]

How much would it cost to stay there in China for a full week before the event? How much do players like Milkins or even Swail, Walden, Hamilton make over a year? I'm not speaking of the top names or the ones who have chinese sponsors but the others?
As a coach ... would you pay for it?

Ive visited China and it wouldnt break the bank to live like a King there for a week. As a coach maybe not but as a manager, with such a clear advantage over opponents who may arrive later, I surely would.

[The Boss]

I would like to see a King v Perry final. It's a bit boring watching the regulars win every event. Those two are due a title, so there will be a lot at stake