2008 Masters Qualifying Championship

[noel]

There's an argument not to bother with them and just have ot for the top 16

That said, they don't do it any harm

I would be absolutely against making the Masters a ranking event. Its prestige comes from the fact that it is for the elite only

I agree ... those that legitimately don't qualify as true "Masters" could, like the artists of old, start their own Salon des Refusés* in a nearby pub/club.
They could call it "The Mini-Masters".

=o)

Noel

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salon_des_Refus%C3%A9s

[noel]

I agree ... those that legitimately don't qualify as true "Masters" could, like the artists of old, start their own Salon des Refusés* in a nearby pub/club.
They could call it "The Mini-Masters".

=o)

Noel

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salon_des_Refus%C3%A9s

Or.... in the case of the older, now under-qualified players... "The Has-Been Masters".


=o)


Noel

[Rane]

Still doesn’t make sense to me why they didn’t announce the wildcard before and excused him from qualifying. Unless they are waiting to see what is going to happen in UK Championship, what’s the point?

To see how the candidates are going to perform in the qualifications? If that’s the point why not set 2 spots for qualifiers, and forget the wildcard?

And aren’t previous ranking events good enough and a better way to select the wildcard than these qualifications anyway?

Let’s see if I get this right, if they end up giving the wildcard to the runner-up of the qualifications, what was the purpose of that final match?

If someone outside top 16 wins the UK championship or gets to the late stages, this player would be difficult to avoid. I think thats the reason why they don´t hand out wildcards yet.

[Monique]

To me it's logical to wait after the qualifying event before diving the wildcard. Tje choice for the wildcard is rarely clearcut. This time for instance Walden and Trump are both excellent candidates in my eyes. Both are young. Walden has won the Shaghai masters plus two "minor" events - the 6_reds in Thailand and the Belgian Open - in the last 6 months. Trump is only a teenager, has an outstanding record as a prodigy kid, and his run to the semis in GP beating Ronnie has put him until the spots. He's certainly a crowd's favourite.

If one of them, whoever, wins the qualifs ... the dilemna is solved.

[April madness]

To me it's logical to wait after the qualifying event before diving the wildcard. Tje choice for the wildcard is rarely clearcut. This time for instance Walden and Trump are both excellent candidates in my eyes. Both are young. Walden has won the Shaghai masters plus two "minor" events - the 6_reds in Thailand and the Belgian Open - in the last 6 months. Trump is only a teenager, has an outstanding record as a prodigy kid, and his run to the semis in GP beating Ronnie has put him until the spots. He's certainly a crowd's favourite.

If one of them, whoever, wins the qualifs ... the dilemna is solved.

Ah, I'll throw another young gun in... Liang Wenbo is considered a strong candidate for wildcard too Maybe a bit overrated, but many people would want to see him there. No way it will be an easy decision.

[Ekphantos]

If one of them, whoever, wins the qualifs ... the dilemna is solved.

For me this would be an even worse dilemma: one will lose a match in the qulalifiers then (not the final), and still gets rewarded the wild card even though he blew his chance. Seems a bit unfair.

I don't think there is a fair solution to this anyway, I just hope they don't give the wild card to an old player just to draw crowds.

[April madness]

For me this would be an even worse dilemma: one will lose a match in the qulalifiers then (not the final), and still gets rewarded the wild card even though he blew his chance. Seems a bit unfair.

I don't think there is a fair solution to this anyway, I just hope they don't give the wild card to an old player just to draw crowds.

Hmm, old player... Certainly with some results this season... It could be... Harold?!

[Ekphantos]

Hmm, old player... Certainly with some results this season... It could be... Harold?!

Surely that would make people storm in for tickets

[matoski]

Without any doubt, the wildcard shoul be given to Ricky Walden. Just a question, in the last years masters, did they give wildcard to Dominic Dale for winning the Shanghai Masters, or to Fu for his Grand Prix title?

[darrus]

Last year it was Fu.

[Monique]

Both Judd Trump and Dave Harold are trough easily. They are due to play each other in next round... tell me about contrasts

[Monique]

Just noticed this
Stephen Lee 2-4 Simon Bedford 38(34)-62(33), 58-18, 1-85, 1-31, 1-0, 38(38)-64(64)

What happened? or is it a mistake?

[JiangYu]

Come on Jimmmmmmmay!

[kimball144]

Masters qualification

If you reach quarterfinal you get 105£ otherwise nothing!

No rankingpoints either!

Why have that silly Q-tournament at all ?

[Ekphantos]

Why have that silly Q-tournament at all ?

For the chance of playing in front of an enthusiastic crowd in one of the traditional tournaments of the season?

(apart from the chance of getting more money in the latter stages)