Saga Insurance extend Masters Sponsorship - Wembley Arena is new home

[dannyd0g]

A 3rd wildcard.........COME ON ALAN!!!!!!
Sorry about that temporary mental moment.

Heh heh Dont know whats more unlikely - for Mcmanus to get given a wildcard - or for him to be the one player that gets through all the qualifying rounds on merit ;-)

Sorry mate, but it was too hard to resist.

Only kidding though. Good luck to the old Glaswegian.

[dannyd0g]

Well, it's not actually a new development. There has been a qualifying event since 1991 (except 2005).

There have been two wildcards since 1990. In 1990 and 2005 they were both the sponsor's invitee, but between 1991 and 2004, plus 2006, there was one sponsor's invitee and the other wildcard was the winner of the qualifying event.

The qualifying event was known as the Benson & Hedges Championship until the outlawing of tobacco advertising in 2003.

Here are the wildcards:

Year	Qualifier	Invitee(s)
1990	—	Alex Higgins, James Wattana
1991	Alan McManus	Gary Wilkinson
1992	Ken Doherty	James Wattana
1993	Chris Small	Ken Doherty
1994	Ronnie O'Sullivan	Peter Ebdon
1995	Mark J. Williams	John Higgins
1996	Matthew Stevens	Andy Hicks
1997	Brian Morgan	Paul Hunter
1998	Andy Hicks	Jimmy White
1999	David Gray	Jimmy White
2000	Ali Carter	Marco Fu
2001	Shaun Murphy	Jimmy White
2002	Ryan Day	Steve Davis
2003	Mark Davis	Steve Davis
2004	Neil Robertson	Ding Junhui
2005	—	Ding Junhui, Stephen Maguire
2006	Stuart Bingham	Ian McCulloch

During previous seasons I have never noticed any large scale qualifiers for this event. I know there had been wildcards running for a few years - but as far as I know this is the fist time that every single pro has had the chance to qualify through from the last 96 stage qualifiers.

It has always been an invitational event with just a handful of qualifiers /wilcards (3-5 people rather than all 96 players )competing for a spot in the final rounds ?

[The Statman]

Yes, that's pretty much how it works. The B&H Championship was open to anyone outside the top 16. Not sure how many it attracted, but it would have been pretty high.

The prize fund always looked odd because the runner-up got about £5,000 but the winner got nothing! – instead being guaranteed the minimum prize at Wembley.

Stuart Bingham made a 147 in this year's Masters qualifying event, as have a number before him I seem to recall.

[hegeland]

Maybe I've said this before, but I think it's wrong to keep inviting Jimmy White to these tournamnents. It would be much better for snooker of they promoted some hotshot on his way up. Or even give Stephen Hendry a direct place in the second round!

[Alex0paul]

Maybe I've said this before, but I think it's wrong to keep inviting Jimmy White to these tournamnents. It would be much better for snooker of they promoted some hotshot on his way up. Or even give Stephen Hendry a direct place in the second round!

Technically Hendry is in the second round.

Also only a 3rd of the arena is to be used

[DartsMadJohn]

A 3rd wildcard.........COME ON ALAN!!!!!!
Sorry about that temporary mental moment.

It could be worse...you could always pick Roy Stolk to win the qualifying tournament.

Is there a real risk of McManus losing his place on Tour this season, or will he just about hang on for next season (i.e. 63rd or 64th) if he has a bad run this year?

[elvaago]

Invite Jimmy: Get twice as many people watching. No matter how badly he plays. That's why they invite him.

[elvaago]

My co-worker played Roy Stolk once. My co-worker beat him. :-)

It could be worse...you could always pick Roy Stolk to win the qualifying tournament.

Is there a real risk of McManus losing his place on Tour this season, or will he just about hang on for next season (i.e. 63rd or 64th) if he has a bad run this year?

.

[DartsMadJohn]

...and now your co-worker sees Roy Stolk on the World Snooker Tour and wonders what might have been?

[elvaago]

No, he hurt his back. Had to retire.

[Cessy143]

Great news, especially as Jimmy has received a wild card.

[..KiD DyNaMiTe..]

http://www.wembley.co.uk/venues/organisers/arena.htm

This link states they'll have 12,500 seats.

I'll definatley get a ticket then

[chasmmi]

It's still kind of justifiable from a financial viewpoint to invite Jimmy. He draws a big crowd thus more gate money and viewers thus higher charge to tournament sponsers.

You never know they may start twisting the masters name part like crazy and start inviting Alex Higgins and Dennis Taylor next.

[PaulTheSoave]

Its great news its kept in London.

[PaulTheSoave]

Blimey! you need a telescope there to see any balls! And the seats dont look as comfy as in the Conference Centre!

Wonder what the seating capacity will be? Wembley Arena is HUGE, compared with the Conference Centre.
http://www.wembley.co.uk/venues/gall...seatingBig.jpg