2010: A look back... part one

The year is nearly drawing to a close.

On the baize, it's been one to remember. OnCue takes a trip down memory lane with a month-by-month review of the stand-out moments from a cracking year.

Here's the first in a two-part blog looking back...




January - Selby sinks O'Sullivan in Masters classic

Every so often, snooker produces the kind of final that fans will remember forever. We have Mark Selby to thank for making the 2010 showpiece one of the greatest in Masters history.

O'Sullivan beat the Jester from Leicester 10-8 in the 2009 final, and it looked like this one was going the same way as he raced into a 4-1 lead, including two centuries.

Selby battled with all his might to get back to 7-6, but with breaks of 89 and 91 in the next two, Ronnie looked home and dry at 9-7.

That was until Mark decided he wanted this title more than his opponent. He won the next four frames on the spin through solid graft. In true Ronnie fashion, he slowly lost the heart for a battle, but this wonderful comeback underlined just why Selby has become one of the sport's top players in recent seasons. It was never-say-die at its very best, as this epic went on past midnight.

John Higgins kept up his power surge beating Ali Carter 9-4 in Welsh Open final . This was the Wizard of Wishaw's fourth final in the last six ranking events, proving exactly why he was world number one.

February - Lee arrested for match fixing

Sadly February will be remembered most as the month, then four-time ranking event winner Stephen Lee, was arrested on suspicion of cheating.


The allegations took everyone in snooker by surprise, and saw the sport hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

With little in the way of riveting snooker hitting the baize this month, it isn't worth dwelling on.

March - Whirlwind stays on tour

Jimmy White went into this year's Crucible qualifiers knowing it could spell the end of his place on the professional tour.

 He didn't make it all the way to the venue, but a 10-8 win over Mark Boyle did salvage his status.

This month also saw snooker legend Steve Davis book his return to the event he's won six times. A 10-4 victory against Adrian Gunnell made sure he'd be playing at the Crucible for a 30th time.

Ken Doherty also ensured his return with a 10-1 demolition of Joe Swail, and 18-year-old Anda Zhang beat Ricky Walden 10-8 to earn debut.

Later this month, he was drawn to play the tournament's most successful player, Stephen Hendry, in the first round.

Finally, Marco Fu scooped silverware this month, beating Mark Allen 3-2 in the Championship League final.

April - Williams wins China Open and Crucible kick-off

Two time world-champion Mark Williams has always been a popular figure among snooker fans.

The Welshman is loved for his attacking style of play and fantastic single-ball potting ability.

That's why his demise down the rankings, dropping as low as world number 47 provisionally, was greeted with disappointment by many of the game's avid followers.

The start of the 2009/10 season saw the start of
 a climb back to the top, where he now sits ranked third in the world.

A crucial milestone in his revival was in the China Cup, where he beat the home hope Ding Junhui 10-6 in the final to announce his return. He also beat the likes of Jamie Cope, John Higgins, Marco Fu and Ali Carter in a memorable run.

This was the moment Williams was really back.

The end of the month wasn't bad either with the Crucible hitting our television screens once more.

This year we enjoyed some sensational matches.

Steve Davis knocked out reigning champion John Higgins 13-12, Martin Gould played like Ronnie to open up an 11-5 lead over Neil Robertson, then chucked it away, and O'Sullivan beat Williams 13-10 in a second round thriller before losing out in the last eight to a familiar fighting Selby.

May - Robertson conquers the world while Higgins is suspended

The 2010 Crucible final won't be remembered as one of the classics.

The snooker between Robertson and Graeme Dott was hardly vintage, but the final result will go down in history.

The Thunder from Down Under became the first Australian ever to lift the biggest prize in snooker.

It was disappointing for Robertson, a player who usually has such a fluid game, that he won this match by war of attrition.
Trust me, he wasn't grumbling though.

Unfortunately for the game, this match was somewhat overshadowed by a story the News of the World broke on the morning of the final.

The red-top tabloid released video footage of world number one Higgins, that seemed to be showing him agree to take bungs to throw frames. Higgins was immediately suspended from the sport, and a messy court case was set to follow, but he was eventually cleared later in the year.



June - Hearn takes charge and new season begins

It had long been known that Barry Hearn was  to take control of snooker, but in June, it was confirmed as he won the vote at the EGM.

This, in my opinion, was a great moment for the sport.

And even though Hearn has only been in power a matter of six months, he has already shown he can do to our sport, what he did with darts.

Immediately after winning the vote, we saw radical changes to the snooker calendar. Just as the players had wished for, they now have a full-time job.

The swift introduction of the PTC

I'm sure there are even more changes to come from Hearn. He may make mistakes, but he will put snooker back on the map.


June also saw the start of the new season. A certain Mr Williams got his name on the first PTC event and Shaun Murphy was crowned champion of the  Rundili Wuxi Classic.

Balls were back being hit, and with more rankings points as well as pounds up for grabs, the game felt good again.