BBC Home

Explore the BBC

New visitors: Create your membership
Returning members: Sign in
Browse: Snooker

13 comments

user rating: 2 star

The Masters: In need of restructuring?

by thetubberlad (U14115508) 05 November 2009
comment on the article

Since Benson & Hedges sponsorship of the Masters ended in 2003, this event, in my opinion, just hasn't been the same. The Masters is definitely one of the top three snooker tournaments, but in recent years, despite some great matches, has fallen behind the World Championship and UK Championship.

My main problem is that the event only gives invitations to the official top 16, a qualifier, and one wild card. More often than not, the official rankings are not the best guide to form by mid-season, so why so much emphasis is placed on them for an 'elite' tournament mystifies me.

So here's how I think the Masters invitations should be handed out:
1. The defending Masters Champion
2. World Champion
3. UK Champion
4. World Number One
5. World Number Two
6. World Number Three
7. World number Four
8. World Number Five
9. Provisional World Number One
10. Provisional World Number Two
11. Provisional World Number Three
12. Provisional World Number Four
13. Highest Points earner in current season
14. Wildcard
15. Wildcard
16. Winner of qualifying tournament

Obviously, some players will hold more than one postition. The space they vacate should be given to the highest provisionally ranked player.

How about a random draw system too? Draw randomly for the first round and then Winner of game 1 v Winner game 2 etc.... I think random draw for every round would be too like the Grand Prix.

Keep the best of 11 for the opening rounds and a best of 19 final, but I'd like best of 17 semi-finals.

The Masters should be based on quality and entertainment. In many ways it's supposed to be a players and fans favourite, and a little bit less serious than the 'big two'. But with a quality system in place, it will be a very unique major, which is no more than this fine tournament deserves.

For real snooker debate, visit www.snookerfanatic.com/forum...

comment on this article | alert a moderator | send to a friend

Latest 10 comments

view all 13 comments

Read members' comments or add your own
comment by oneball2 (U3877544)

posted 3 Weeks Ago

classic first reply laughlaughlaugh

add comment | complain about this comment

comment by snookerowl (U10974200)

posted 2 Weeks Ago

Restructuring? The only difference we'd see this year is Barry Hawkins would probably get a game....that's sure to bring the fans flooding back!

Try a night out, tubber.

add comment | complain about this comment

comment by sickpotter (U2438179)

posted 2 Weeks Ago

Not that it's likely with the current crop but in the past, positions 1 to 4 have been all held at the same time by the same player. What do you do in that situation?

The provisional rankings don't necessarily have to differ from the current rankings so we could get overlap there as well.

add comment | complain about this comment

comment by Monique (U10786976)

posted 2 Weeks Ago

Personally I think it's well the way it is, except that I don't like the wilcards.

add comment | complain about this comment

comment by Monique (U10786976)

posted 2 Weeks Ago

Also only last season positions 2,3,4 and 9 were all the same person... so not so unlikely sickpotter.

add comment | complain about this comment

comment by John From London Town MBE (U5511667)

posted 2 Weeks Ago

The Masters is one of our great competitions, which isn't broke so.......

The current wild card gives 2 individuals a fabulous opportunity to play there (like I did whistle). One as we know goes to the winner of the Masters qualifying & the other, well.....That's where I'd like the newly formed SPA given some clout & let them vote in who they believe should be the 18th person as I'm unsure what the current criteria used is?

add comment | complain about this comment

comment by Monique (U10786976)

posted 2 Weeks Ago

That's where I have a problem John. What criteria and when it's decided. It's supposed to me "on merits" which is rather vague. This year everyone seems convinced it will be Liang. And Liang hasn't been bothered to compete in the qualif ... Is the decision made already? Do he know it? And what if the winner of the UK is a surprise package?

add comment | complain about this comment

comment by Steveo77 (U9884310)

posted 2 Weeks Ago

I would have the top 14 players and then invite all the previous winners as well (as they do for the Masters in golf)
There could be a pre Masters play off on the Friday and Saturday and the 2 best players could go into the last 16 draw.

You could therefore have Steve Davis v Alex Higgins and Dennis Taylor v Jimmy White playing before capacity crowds to generate a real interest at the start of the tournament

add comment | complain about this comment

comment by John From London Town MBE (U5511667)

posted 2 Weeks Ago

I've heard worse Steveo as your idea would help promote the legends series they are trying to get off the ground too. Not a bad idea at all. ok

add comment | complain about this comment

comment by when you are the moon... (U9945323)

posted 2 Weeks Ago

Fair enough, but what about Man-E-Faces? Where does he fit in?

add comment | complain about this comment

view all 13 comments | back to the top

Comment on this article


Sign in if you want to comment

RATE THIS ARTICLE

Rate Breakdown

  • 5 33.33%
    1 votes
  • 4
    0 votes
  • 3
    0 votes
  • 2
    0 votes
  • 1 66.67%
    2 votes

average rating:
2.33 from 3 votes

Sign in if you want to vote