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Saga Insurance extend Masters Sponsorship - Wembley Arena is new home

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  • Saga Insurance extend Masters Sponsorship - Wembley Arena is new home

    http://www.worldsnooker.com/tourname...d18188)-57.htm

  • #2
    Great News!

    Especially the news on the Sponsorship.

    Not surprising Jimmy's got a wildcard
    TSF World Champion 2010
    TSF Snooker Prediction Contest Overall Champion 2006/07
    BBC Snooker Prediction Contest Overall Champion 2005/06

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    • #3
      Originally Posted by Alex0paul
      Great News!

      Especially the news on the Sponsorship.

      Not surprising Jimmy's got a wildcard
      Every other professional player also gets the chance to qualify this year too via qualifying rounds. This is a new development. This could open the door to making it a ranking tournament for the first time, if it were not for the wildcard idea ?
      "You can shove your snooker up your jacksie 'cos I aint playing no more!" Alex Higgins.

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      • #4
        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

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        • #5
          Originally Posted by Hendry the 8th
          Can someone copy and paste this article here? I don't have a login. Thanks.
          2006 Premier League Prediction Contest Winner

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          • #6
            I recommend getting a login. It's free. Worldsnooker is an invaluable source of information for even the most casual snooker fan.
            "I'll be back next year." --Jimmy White

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            • #7
              Originally Posted by Cyril
              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
              Jeez - you would need binoculars to see the tables if they were to use the arena's full capacity.
              "You can shove your snooker up your jacksie 'cos I aint playing no more!" Alex Higgins.

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              • #8
                Originally Posted by dannyd0g
                Jeez - you would need binoculars to see the tables if they were to use the arena's full capacity.
                I think they can seat over 10,000, but I 'd be surprised if they went for more than 5,000 and even that would make far more than any other snooker venue ever. Does anyone know what the Conference Centre held?

                I think I will pay a visit.

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                • #9
                  http://www.wembley.co.uk/venues/organisers/arena.htm

                  This link states they'll have 12,500 seats.
                  "I'll be back next year." --Jimmy White

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                  • #10
                    A 3rd wildcard.........COME ON ALAN!!!!!!
                    Sorry about that temporary mental moment.
                    1994 a good year
                    The Masters a great event
                    The Final a marvellous match
                    The Winner a snooker genius
                    Alan McManus The Winner
                    Stephen Hendry The Loser

                    1994 a good year....

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      FOR CAP

                      SAGA INSURANCE SIGN UNTIL 2009

                      12 Oct 2006 09:57:00

                      Following its successful sponsorship of the 2006 Masters, SAGA Insurance has decided to expand its involvement in snooker by sponsoring the famous invitation event for a further three years.

                      World Snooker is also delighted to announce that the 2007 SAGA Insurance Masters (January 14-21) will be staged at Wembley Arena. The event’s 26-year run at Wembley Conference Centre came to an end last season.

                      Jimmy White and Ding Junhui have both been awarded wild card entries to the 2007 tournament.

                      SAGA Insurance is part of the Saga Group, which is the UK’s leading provider of products and services specifically designed for people aged 50 and over. With over 2 million customers Saga provides insurance, financial services and holidays and publishes the award winning Saga Magazine.

                      The new three-year agreement, worth a seven-figure sum, was, brokered by sports marketing giant IMG, which is retained by World Snooker to sell the commercial rights for snooker’s four major BBC events.

                      With a history dating back to 1975, the SAGA Insurance Masters is an immensely popular event for snooker’s players and fans and receives extensive coverage from BBC Sport. John Higgins won the 2006 event when he beat Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-9 in a dramatic final.

                      World Snooker Chairman Sir Rodney Walker said: “We are very pleased to be extending our relationship with Saga. The Masters is a fantastic event and last year’s final was one of the most enthralling contests I have seen in snooker. Saga’s decision to renew their sponsorship underlines their satisfaction with the exposure they received.

                      “We now have major title sponsors for three of our four BBC events. This is a strong position and one which we continue to strive to improve.”

                      Andrew Goodsell, Chief Executive, Saga said: “The SAGA Insurance Masters attracts millions of viewers on BBC Sport and our sponsorship enables us to raise awareness of how people over 50 can make a significant saving on their insurance by choosing Saga.

                      “Last year’s tournament was a thrilling event and we look forward to more snooker of the highest calibre and to building on our good relationship with World Snooker.”

                      The Masters lost its traditional home at Wembley Conference Centre last year as the venue was knocked down, but the event now makes the short journey to Wembley Arena.

                      The Arena has recently completed a £35million refurbishment and is sure to provide a superb setting for one of the highlights of the sporting calendar.

                      Peter Tudor, the Arena’s General Manager, said: "It's very exciting for Wembley Arena to be staging a major snooker tournament for the first time. The Masters is a superb event and we are delighted that it is staying in Wembley. We're sure that the special atmosphere of the Masters will find a fitting home in the newly refurbished Arena."

                      For the first time, three wild cards will be awarded for the event rather than the usual two.

                      Whirlwind White retains a vast popular appeal and attracts huge crowds at Wembley year after year.

                      “I’m absolutely delighted to be awarded a wild card,” said 1984 Masters champion White. “It’s my favourite event other than the World Championship. I’m sure I’ll get great support again at Wembley, my fans there are fantastic.”

                      Ding, the 19-year-old Chinese prodigy, was considered to have an equally strong case having won the China Open, UK Championship and Northern Ireland Trophy within the past 20 months.

                      "This will be my third appearance in the Masters and it's such a great event to play in,” said Ding. “There's a unique atmosphere and there's so much history to the tournament. I am always confident of rising to the big occasion so I hope I can achieve success this time."

                      The final wild card will be awarded to the winner of a qualifying tournament, to be staged from November 4 to 9, giving all other players on the professional Tour the opportunity to earn a place at Wembley.

                      The world’s top 16 players qualify automatically, including the likes of Higgins, O’Sullivan, Stephen Hendry, Ken Doherty, Steve Davis and World Champion Graeme Dott.

                      The ticket box office for the SAGA Insurance Masters will be opened on October 30.
                      1994 a good year
                      The Masters a great event
                      The Final a marvellous match
                      The Winner a snooker genius
                      Alan McManus The Winner
                      Stephen Hendry The Loser

                      1994 a good year....

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally Posted by elvaago
                        I recommend getting a login. It's free. Worldsnooker is an invaluable source of information for even the most casual snooker fan.
                        Yeah, but they ask for my address, tel no., my pets name, etc. which in my view is totally unnecessary. The site is not secure and everything is transimtted in clear. What's wrong with just email and password registration? I could give them a dummy address, but I'm too honest .
                        2006 Premier League Prediction Contest Winner

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                        • #13
                          Thanks, mcmanusrules.
                          2006 Premier League Prediction Contest Winner

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                          • #14
                            Originally Posted by dannyd0g
                            Every other professional player also gets the chance to qualify this year too via qualifying rounds. This is a new development. This could open the door to making it a ranking tournament for the first time, if it were not for the wildcard idea ?
                            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:

                            YearQualifierInvitee(s)
                            1990Alex Higgins, James Wattana
                            1991Alan McManusGary Wilkinson
                            1992Ken DohertyJames Wattana
                            1993Chris SmallKen Doherty
                            1994Ronnie O'SullivanPeter Ebdon
                            1995Mark J. WilliamsJohn Higgins
                            1996Matthew StevensAndy Hicks
                            1997Brian MorganPaul Hunter
                            1998Andy HicksJimmy White
                            1999David GrayJimmy White
                            2000Ali CarterMarco Fu
                            2001Shaun MurphyJimmy White
                            2002Ryan DaySteve Davis
                            2003Mark DavisSteve Davis
                            2004Neil RobertsonDing Junhui
                            2005Ding Junhui, Stephen Maguire
                            2006Stuart BinghamIan McCulloch

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                            • #15
                              Oh crikey that didn't work, did it!

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