Masters Wildcard Poll

[1lawyer]

I dont think there is an easy answer Jimmy White....Masters without White///Eggs without Bacon.......but he's had his share of wildcards perhaps....would be nice to give Tony Drago a send off....but I think Mark Williams or Davis or even Dave Harold should get it......the wildcard should not go to a young up and coming player all the time...It used to be always Ding....

[wildJONESEYE]

Wild, what did Wenbo ever do to deserve invitation to Masters? Going out consistently in second round of every tournament is not enough for most important invitational tournament of the year, and if it is - then why Wenbo and not Cope or Bingham?

yes but christ sake lets face it hes lost to Ronnie the NIT Champion and Shanghai Runner Up......John Higgins the Grand Prix Champion and Ryan Day The Grand Prix Runner up ...hardly lost to nobodies has he.

but i take youre point but how has Judd Trump got 18 votes on a performance of 1 semi final when he has hardly qualified to any tournaments really......and jimmy white ??????????????

[darrus]

Wild, Trump got one semifinal and lost to future champion and Wenbo got one quarterfinal, albeit too losing to the champion - so Trump has advantage here. I still don't understand how Wenbo's and Trump's names came to be discussed in relation with Masters. When they prove they are good players - then yes, but right now?

[The Boss]

yes but christ sake lets face it hes lost to Ronnie the NIT Champion and Shanghai Runner Up......John Higgins the Grand Prix Champion and Ryan Day The Grand Prix Runner up ...hardly lost to nobodies has he.

but i take youre point but how has Judd Trump got 18 votes on a performance of 1 semi final when he has hardly qualified to any tournaments really......and jimmy white ??????????????

Isn't there usually two wild cards for the Masters? They should go to Jimmy and Tony. It could be the last time we ever see either of them on TV again. The Boss will be dropping off the main tour soon. The crowd love those two more than Walden or Trump :snooker:

[João]

I thought Tony wasn't playing professional snooker anymore.

[rivercard]

Tony Drago has already dropped off the Tour, so it would be most unusual to give him a wildcard, although theoretically it is possible I guess. I hope there will be a tournament in Malta in the future, Tony would surely get a wildcard there (and still would be the best Maltese) so we could see him at least once more.

Anyway I think Walden does deserve a wildcard.

[jw147]

James Warren White should get it..im sure the sport would benefit from a packed house on the first day..(probably more people in the arena than the final)........ instead of a first round with a house full of empty seats like last year when fu got it...... and of course there would be a thousand times more viewers tuning in to watch jimmy playing on the bbc than someone like ricky walden. And im 99% sure he would also go on to win the title too Go On Jimmy:snooker:

[rich45]

Please, anyone but Dave Harold!

[Migtsf]

What is the criterion to pick the wildcard?

If they are looking for the most successful qualifier this season, so far, the choice is obvious: Walden. He’s got my vote.

If it’s the record that counts than the obvious choice would have to be Steve Davis. He is the one outside the top 16 with more Masters won, 3. Plus, regardless of his age, he’s still not old news, after all only last season he was still in the top 16.

When will the wildcard be announced?

Does the chosen one have to play the qualifiers as well, like they did in the Championship League last season?

[wildJONESEYE]

What is the criterion to pick the wildcard?

If they are looking for the most successful qualifier this season, so far, the choice is obvious: Walden. He’s got my vote.

If it’s the record that counts than the obvious choice would have to be Steve Davis. He is the one outside the top 16 with more Masters won, 3. Plus, regardless of his age, he’s still not old news, after all only last season he was still in the top 16.

When will the wildcard be announced?

Does the chosen one have to play the qualifiers as well, like they did in the Championship League last season?

if they are going on Record of players outside the Top 16 and someone that has done the buisness there twice and twice also at the crucible in the last 10 years then theres only 1 candidate Mark J Williams the dominating force in the game only 5 years ago..

so in my opinion theres no room for Steve Davis or Jimmy White unless they do a Walden and win a Tournament...

[Migtsf]

if they are going on Record of players outside the Top 16 and someone that has done the buisness there twice and twice also at the crucible in the last 10 years then theres only 1 candidate Mark J Williams the dominating force in the game only 5 years ago..

so in my opinion theres no room for Steve Davis or Jimmy White unless they do a Walden and win a Tournament...

Well, if they are going for overall record, Davis beats Williams easily.

Yes, Williams is more recent as a dominant force, but given the fact that Steve Davis is being more successful than Mark Williams this season, Steve can be regarded as being more up to date than Williams, so again, Davis wins in this department as well.

[wildJONESEYE]

Well, if they are going for overall record, Davis beats Williams easily.

Yes, Williams is more recent as a dominant force, but given the fact that Steve Davis is being more successful than Mark Williams this season, Steve can be regarded as being more up to date than Williams, so again, Davis wins in this department as well.

yes but point is if Wild Cards are awarded for popularity or succesfull what message is that putting out to young players

"TO RECIEVE A WILD CARD PLAY FOR 20 YEARS WIN MANY TOURNAMEMNTS AND BE LOVED BY THE PUBLIC"

on that principle the likes of Hendry and Davis will recieve wild cards for ever and turn up playing with a Zimerframes lol

no wild cards got to be rewarded for current achievemants not on somethings that happened in the past.....

for me it has to be as current as the last 1 to 2 years and that even rules out Mark Williams....

[darrus]

As long as Hendry, Davis, Williams etc perform better in tournaments than Wenbo or Trump - then they should receive wildcards. It's a very simple logic.
And then if we talk about *Masters* - past achievements should be taken into account too.
Right now Walden is the obvious choice. But if say Ken Doherty goes on to win in Bahrain - then IMHO it should be Doherty over Walden.
I will understand the logic if they go with Steve Davis though - unless Steve plays abysmal both in Bahrain and in UK.

[Migtsf]

yes but point is if Wild Cards are awarded for popularity or succesfull what message is that putting out to young players

The message is: work hard to get to the top 16 and don't expect shortcuts or favours.

I understand your point of view, but then again it's 'The Masters'. You think you'd have to have proven yourself before putting a foot there.

[Templeton Peck]

You simply shouldn't get a Masters wildcard unless you've won a tournament (unless you win the play-off). I personally think if there is a current champion outside of the top 16 they should get it so all title holders are present. Other than Walden, I think there are three valid choices: Steve Davis for overall record, Mark Williams for recent record, and Jimmy White as a crowd puller. Anyone who votes for Wenbo and Trump dishonours the sport.