Ssb - who should get the wembley wildcard?

[miscuehamburg]

I think too the wildcard is obsolete with the modern rankings. However if it must be handed out to somebody this year I would back up Steve.

[ferret]

I had a chat with Barry Hearn about this today, amongst all of what was said one thing stood out and I quote "No wild card for The Masters unless someone out of the top 16 wins The UK Championships" he did also continue to say that this is not set in stone and may change after talking with The BBC.

So not 100% the if a player ranked 17 or less wins the UK gets a Masters wild card but it is one scenario that could happen.

I am sure The BBC will have a huge input into this, if The BBC want Jimmy White as a wild card I am sure The BBC will have Jimmy White as the wild card after all they have been dictating playing times and the way events are run for years.

The GP had to change or The BBC was going to drop it, yeah ok it was a good change by all accounts, but would you get The BBC going to Bernie Ecclestone and saying you have to change the way Formula 1 is staged or we will not broadcast it, no is the simply answer, Bernie would tell the BBC where to go.

[beechy1212]

Glad we agree on that.

Well you took your time understanding straight forward basic English. Next time i'll put audio on it and make it a bit easier for you

[Odrl]

I had a chat with Barry Hearn about this today, amongst all of what was said one thing stood out and I quote "No wild card for The Masters unless someone out of the top 16 wins The UK Championships" he did also continue to say that this is not set in stone and may change after talking with The BBC.

Hm, that's a bit of a surprise. But I actually think it's a good idea.

I've always said that the Masters wildcard should go to the player that can contribute the most to the tournament from a competitive point. There was always a player outside of the top16 who looked like a potential tournament winner, and if the point of the Masters is to have all the best players, you had the wildcard to make things right.

But with the new ranking system, it's less likely that a top player (in terms of current ability, rather than reputation) finds himself outside of the top16. So, as Hearn says, unless the UK Championship singles out a possible contender, there is no need to award a wildcard for the Masters.

An interesting change of policy, considering the spirit last year's choice was made in, but I'm certainly not complaining.

[wildJONESEYE]

I had a chat with Barry Hearn about this today, amongst all of what was said one thing stood out and I quote "No wild card for The Masters unless someone out of the top 16 wins The UK Championships" he did also continue to say that this is not set in stone and may change after talking with The BBC.

So not 100% the if a player ranked 17 or less wins the UK gets a Masters wild card but it is one scenario that could happen.

I am sure The BBC will have a huge input into this, if The BBC want Jimmy White as a wild card I am sure The BBC will have Jimmy White as the wild card after all they have been dictating playing times and the way events are run for years.

The GP had to change or The BBC was going to drop it, yeah ok it was a good change by all accounts, but would you get The BBC going to Bernie Ecclestone and saying you have to change the way Formula 1 is staged or we will not broadcast it, no is the simply answer, Bernie would tell the BBC where to go.

If Jimmy White Gets a Wild Card after what Barry told you then thats totally a BBC Decision therefore i will know exactly who to call and give them a one hell of a lesson.

[rpreen]

To be fair the BBC do pump a hell of a lot of money into snooker so I think it's only fair that they have a say on who they want as a wildcard or whether they want one altogether.

[merlin1234]

I think they should award the wildcard in secret and have him play in disguise. Possibly with a huge cloak on to hide his cue action.

[jw147]

he should give it to quinten hann, but firstly reninstate him in the top 32, will someway to make up for his 8 year ban for basically doing the same thing that john higgins got away with.

hopefully quinten will draw higgins in round 2, and absolutely annihilate him.

but other than that, give it to the man himself, JIMMY!

[debs]

he should give it to quinten hann, but firstly reninstate him in the top 32, will someway to make up for his 8 year ban for basically doing the same thing that john higgins got away with.

hopefully quinten will draw higgins in round 2, and absolutely annihilate him.

but other than that, give it to the man himself, JIMMY!

or Gould

[jonnylovessn8ker]

actually, i did thought of quinten hann, but can he create a media buzz?

and more importantly, does he still got it after so many years?

[jw147]

good point, im sure hed get a good bit of practice in before the masters starts, and would do pretty good there i think, fingers crossed anyway that he gets it.

[debs]

Difference betweem them is Higgins had a fall guy

[miscuehamburg]

Henn-Higgins match would sure attract the bookies

In earnest I agree with Barry's thoughts and hope there will not be a reinstallment of Jimmy by the BBC this year. By all means he isn't up to it in his present form, and I don't want to see him pitifully losing again in the first round (his HB was somewhere about 30). Moreover, I think it would be wise to engage him in some administrative way, say for example as a presenter.

[steedee]

i would still say that any wildcard should be given to a youngster with bags of potential to see what they can doon the big stage.

with this in mind Brecel would be the stand out option but also the likes of Michael White, Jack Lisowski etc should also be considered. Otherwise a leading player froma country with a big fanbase, perhaps a new chinese wonderkid or a european (is snooker popular in Brazil?)

Alternatively, for some light entertainment, get one of the commentry boys involved. Willie Thorne or Virgo perhaps. Or Barry Hearn himself!

[wildJONESEYE]

i would still say that any wildcard should be given to a youngster with bags of potential to see what they can doon the big stage.

with this in mind Brecel would be the stand out option but also the likes of Michael White, Jack Lisowski etc should also be considered. Otherwise a leading player froma country with a big fanbase, perhaps a new chinese wonderkid or a european (is snooker popular in Brazil?)

Alternatively, for some light entertainment, get one of the commentry boys involved. Willie Thorne or Virgo perhaps. Or Barry Hearn himself!

yes i do not see the point of giving wild cards to Jimmy White.

all that does is tell new fans what they will be missing very soon.

we need to give young players a chance show people what they can do then they get a fanbase for the next 20 years following them the same as others being following Jimmy for years.