World Open: Winners and Losers

The game of snooker was a definite winner over the last week.

Because of this, so was Barry Hearn.

Switching the World Open to a best-of-five frame shoot-out competition proved an absolute matserstroke by the sport's supremo. The action on the baize gave us all the entertainment we could have wished for.

World number one Neil Robertson was obviously the biggest winner of all. But OnCue takes a look at some of the other winners and losers of the past week's play.

Winners

Martin Gould

The 29-year-old is ranked a record high world number 26 after making it through to his first ever ranking event quarter-final.

The Middlesex born potter showed the kind of form that will help him realise his ambition of breaking into the top 16.

He got on with the game, played plenty of attacking shots and crusied without even a trouble to the last eight, before coming up unstuck against a fighting fit Peter Ebdon.

On this form, he's easily the best player outside of the elite.


Peter Ebdon

The Force needed all his might in Glasgow to break back into the top 16.

After falling out of the elite last season, Ebdon grafted as much as ever before. His reward was a trip to the quarter-final which sees him rise back up to number 13 securing his qualification for the UK Championship, and invitation to the Masters.

What made his triumph even greater was that he never really hit his A-game either.

Barry Hawkins

We all know how dangerous Hawkins can be when he's in form.

But his problem for many a season has been translating his spells of good play onto a more consistent level.

Although only over a short format, the Kent based player showed why he can break the top 16 again.

His highlight came beating one of this season's star performers so far, Mark Selby.

He eventually lost to Mark Williams but ran the in form Welshman all the way.


Igor Figueiredo

It was the Brazilian's first televised appearance, and even though he went down 3-0 to Williams, he showed exactly why some people are tipping him for great things.

He has a hugely entertaining open and attacking style of play, his cue power is immense, and he isn't fazed by the attention.

If he'd played most other players, he'd have come out much better. He was just unlucky to meet such an inspired Williams.

He did enough here though to prove he has a very bright future.


Ronnie O'Sullivan

The Rocket came to Glasgow world ranked six, left at number four and with a long overdue ranking event final under his belt.

After not even travelling to Shanghai, Ronnie was desperate for the ranking points more than most.

He met an on song Robertson in the final, but before that he made the game look effortless.

Ronnie was again the talk of the torunament after throwing in a 147 for good measure. His form here shows he can challenge again.


Losers

Bjorn Haneveer

The Belgium number one didn't cover himself with any glory after going down 3-0 to Stephen Hendry.

Bjorn has shown good form over the last 12 months in qualifiers, and he's produced some great results so far in this season's PTC events.

But when the cameras were rolling, he played the occassion rather than the match. Some of his shots were mystifying.

Playing the seven-time world champion is never easy, but when he didn't question the referee over a clear free-ball, everyone could tell his mind was elsewhere. That was his chance, and he blew it.

Shaun Murphy

Early exits in both Shanghai and Glasgow will have The Magician looking over his shoulder somewhat.

After a terrific start to his Premier League defence, many people have been tipping him for success this season.

But after suffering the biggest shock of this tournament, being whitewashed 3-0 by Dave Harold, he'll have to up his game.

Ali Carter

The Captain can probably live with his last 32 exit after winning the Shanghai Masters a few weeks earlier, but after setting himself such high standards, this was bad news.

A tough draw didn't help him, but now ranked as number two, making the quarter-final is surely a minimum for him.


Paul Davison

Paul is renowned as one of the toughest players on the qualifying circuit.

He's a hard match player, and when he was presented a tie against Jimmy White, he didn't take it.

The world number 82 was tense and distinctly off colour, which cost him the chance to play O'Sullivan.

Marco Fu 

Still a player who is difficult to understand. At times, he can be unplayable.

On others, he's way off the pace.

Glasgow saw one of the latter. Defeat to Andrew Higginson in the last 32 was a poor result, and he's lucky to have clung onto his top 16 status. Matthew Stevens nearly pipped him though.

If he carries on like this, he'll be out soon enough though.