Whether you’re sat on a thrumming starting grid, moments away from making a move into Turn One, or breaking off at the snooker table in nerve-shredding silence, every sport demands certain attributes to succeed at the highest level.

But what are the key ingredients for success that apply across the sporting spectrum?

Ahead of the return of the Chinese Grand Prix this weekend, Aston Martin F1 are teaming up with China’s sporting heroes to connect cultures through sport and one of them is snooker sensation and 14-time major ranking winner Ding Junhui.

We delve inside the mind of the former world number one, widely regarded as the greatest Asian player in the history of the sport, and Aston Martin Aramco Driver Ambassador Jessica Hawkins, who is no stranger to competing for top honours in everything from single-seaters to touring cars, to discover the essential attributes needed regardless of whether you’re in a race or at the baize.

Over a game of snooker, Jessica and Ding reveal all…

1 | Precision

Jessica Hawkins: Precision is paramount in racing. You might only have one chance to set a fast lap in Qualifying to set yourself up for a good result in the race. You need to hit every apex, be millimetre perfect on your exits, and use all the track without exceeding the limit because every millimetre counts.

It’s not enough to do this just for one lap, though. You need to be precise every single lap of the race, making sure the car is where it needs to be – you need to be super consistent.

Ding Junhui: The same applies to snooker. You need to be millimetre perfect – if you’re not, it can be the difference between success and failure.

Cue ball control is so important – to succeed, you have to master this aspect of the game. Losing position with the cue ball makes your next shot harder and can lead to mistakes – allowing your opponent to come to the table and seize the initiative.

Precision is also key when potting balls and making safety shots. You need to be accurate and get your angles right to pot the balls, and safety shots are crucial as they can be what decide tight frames and even matches.

2 | Handling pressure

DJ: Snooker is mentally taxing and dealing with pressure is a skill every top player needs. I think about just one shot at a time to manage it. You have to think ahead and plan some shots in advance, but when it comes to executing each shot, you must focus solely on that.

When you manage pressure well, you play well and that’s when you can turn the pressure onto your opponent. If you can’t handle the pressure, your opponent will take advantage.

JH: There’s pressure all the time in racing. In Qualifying, you might have one lap to get it right. There’s a lot of pressure on that lap, and it’s all about how you deal with it. Or you might be going into a race that the championship depends on, and you have to beat your opponents to win. You need to handle pressure whenever it arrives, or you’ll not perform.

3 | Teamwork and performing alone

DJ: When I’m playing a match it’s all on me but in the days before, I work hard with my coaches and friends. They offer advice to help me improve or stay in form. You do all your work with your team before tournaments so when you’re out there alone in a match you’re fully prepared.

I’m the only one that can make the shots and win the match, but I need a team behind me to give me the best chance of winning.

JH: Although a driver is the only person in an F1 car, you can’t make it to the grid without the team of people in the garage and back home. Motorsport is both an individual sport and a team sport. Much of the spotlight is on the driver but success comes down to what you do as a team.

4 | Practice

JH: You have to put in the hours before competing. Without practice and training, you won’t be able to take the opportunities when they present themselves.

In motorsport, you try to prepare as much as you can in the simulator. You also spend lots of time in the gym to ensure you’re in peak physical condition. If your body is not ready for the physical demands, you will never maximise your performance.

You can be as fit as you want in the gym, but being race fit is a different proposition that you only achieve by driving in the heat of competition. It’s the same as any sport, you need match practice, you need game time. There is no substitute for competition.

DJ: Practice really does make perfect. I play by myself for about four or five hours most days. In addition, I might play against someone in a best-of-seven or -nine game just to try to replicate a match scenario.

As Jessica points out, you want that match practice. Nothing compares to a competitive environment, but you can still recreate it as best you can. When alone, I devise games to put some form of pressure on myself to replicate a match scenario. It’s all about staying sharp and being ready.

5 | Endurance

DJ: You normally practice for longer periods of time than you face in a match so that helps build endurance. In snooker, each session takes around four hours so that’s the minimum training you do each time and that helps you prepare.

In terms of the World Snooker Championship, the longest tournament, you take it session by session. If you just focus on each session, you know that you’ve trained for longer than it will last so you feel as though you can handle it.

You need mental endurance and discipline to maintain maximum focus on every shot. Without endurance, you’re going to burn out quickly in a two-week tournament like the World Snooker Championship.

JH: It’s crucial to be as fast on the last lap as it is on lap one and your body has to be prepared for that. You need to make sure you have the stamina and have put the preparation in. You need to be hydrated, to have eaten the right things, and to be physically ready.

You need to have endurance and be hyper-focused for the entire race. If you can’t last the distance, then you’re going to go backwards before the flag.

6 | Staying one step ahead

JH: Although you have to be present and in the moment, you need to be able to think one or even several steps ahead.

Finding and following the perfect racing line is key to a fast lap. The exit of one corner determines your speed down a straight so you’re always thinking about what’s coming next and making sure you’re not going to compromise your speed through the next part of the track. If your racing line is wrong or you make a mistake, you’re slow.

DJ: It’s the same in snooker. Thinking ahead is so important because one error can compromise you for several shots to come and even end your break. When the opportunity arrives to start potting and scoring you want to win the frame and that’s when you start thinking ahead.

When I play a red, I’m also thinking about the colour I want to be on after that and then the next red, so you need to put the cue ball in the right place and follow the route you have in mind. You have to be flexible and you’re always thinking strategically about how best to clear the table.

7 | Balancing attack and defence

JH: You’re constantly calculating when to go for an overtake or whether it’s time to be a bit more conservative and maybe look after the tyres or defend.

It’s about finding that balance. In racing, things happen quickly; if a driver you’re following makes a mistake, you have to attack. Ideally, you want to be on the front foot and not concentrate too much on defending – you want to be dictating things on the track as much as possible. At the start of a race, you should always be focusing more on attacking those in front. The best form of defence is attack.

DJ: Deciding how much to attack or defend can depend on how I feel and how my opponent is playing – we have a bit more time to think about it than racing drivers but it’s still a judgement call. If my opponent seems to be feeling the same as me, I’ll attack at first. But if the scores are still level a while after that, I might start to play more defensively to take the feeling away from them.

Table time is very important in snooker so if I can disrupt my opponent with defensive play or keep them sat down by attacking and scoring, that’s going to benefit me. I have to assess the best way I can make that happen and getting that calculation right can be the difference in a match.

Article and images originally posted by Aston Martin F1.

Noppon Saengkham hammered home the second maximum break of his career at Cazoo World Championship qualifying in Sheffield.

Saengkham crafted the run in the tenth frame of his third round clash with Andy Hicks. That moved him 7-3 ahead in a match he eventually won 10-5, setting up a Judgement Day clash with Jackson Page.

The Thai number one now moves just one further 147 break away from a bumper £147,000 bonus payout. That is on offer for any player who makes two maximums across this season’s Triple Crown events. Mark Allen and Ding Junhui are the other two players currently in the running for that payout, having both made perfect breaks at the Masters in January.

The break already puts Saengkham in line for a £25,000 prize. There is a £10,000 bonus in place for maximums in qualifying and he is catapulted into pole position for the £15,000 high break prize, which covers the entire event.

It is the 202nd official 147 in snooker history and the 13th to be made this season.

Following Martin Gould’s withdrawal from the 2024 Cazoo World Snooker Championship, the WPBSA has considered the position in relation to his tour place.

This is following an application for a medical exemption which was lodged with the WPBSA earlier in the season, at a time Martin was forced to withdraw from several major ranking events, due to injury.

Having considered the all of the facts, the WPBSA, in consultation with WST, has now offered Martin a 12-month extension to his tour place. Martin will retain his current earned prize money points and this decision will not affect other current tour players.

The WPBSA, WPBSA Players and WST wish Martin all the best and look forward to seeing him back competing next season.

Mark Williams scored one of the greatest victories of his 32-year career as he came from 5-3 down to beat Ronnie O’Sullivan 10-5 in the final of the Johnstone’s Paint Tour Championship.

Book tickets for 2025 in Manchester from Monday.

Outside of his titles in the Triple Crown events, this ranks as one of Williams’ most significant triumphs as he has beaten the three best players in the world this week in Manchester – Judd Trump was dismissed 10-4 in the quarter-finals, Mark Allen 10-5 in the semis and then all-time greatest O’Sullivan in the final. At the age of 49, Williams played the best snooker he has produced since his third Crucible crown in 2018.

O’Sullivan, winner of five titles this season, looked in control when he won four frames in a row with three centuries to lead 5-3, but it was Williams who took charge in the evening session, winning seven consecutive frames to capture the trophy and £150,000 top prize. It’s the 26th ranking title of his career and second of the season having landed the Cazoo British Open in September. Up to number six in the rankings, Williams heads to Sheffield in two weeks at the top of his game and brimming with confidence.

Over the past two decades, Williams had a poor record against his fellow ‘Class of 92′ member O’Sullivan, losing 22 of their previous 24 meetings. But, watched by wife Joanne and sons Connor, Kian and Joel, he rose to the occasion in their first ranking final since the 2000 China Open.

O’Sullivan missed out on a 42nd career ranking title and the chance to win six titles in a single season for the first time since 2000/01. He remains world number one and his record prize money tally for the season moves on to £1,215,500.

The opening frame tonight came down to the last red, and Williams converted an excellent pot to a centre pocket, playing with swerve, and cleared to halve his deficit to 5-4. Soon he was level thanks to a brilliant run of 104. He began to look the stronger player as he came from 42-6 down to take frame 11 with an excellent 54, then compiled a run of 99 to lead 7-5.

After the interval, O’Sullivan had a scoring chance in frame 13 but made just 23 before missing a red to a top corner, and again his opponent punished him with a 112 clearance, his sixth century of the tournament. A run of 78 extended Williams’ advantage to 9-5.

In frame 15, he made 35 before running out of position, but that lead proved handy as the balls drifted into awkward positions and O’Sullivan was not able to claw his way back into it. Leading 47-19, Williams doubled the last red to a centre pocket, and when he later potted the yellow, the handshake came.

“He was unbelievable to go 5-3 up,” said Williams. “The interval came at the right time for me because if he had carried on like that there was no stopping him. Tonight I put pressure on him, I won seven frames in a row and there’s not many people who do that against Ronnie. He started missing and getting frustrated towards the end. He didn’t play well but I think that was because of the breaks I was making. I had to take it to him and go for my shots. I have been going for ridiculous shots all week. I said to (coach) Lee Walker, if I lose I am going out my way, going for crazy shots. That’s how I enjoy it.

“In the first round against Tom Ford, at 9-9 he was 54 in front and missed an easy red, and I made the best clearance I have ever made as a professional. So often you see someone who should go out in the first round, go on to win the title.”

Looking ahead to the Crucible, Williams added: “I am going there with a chance, this win gives me more confidence. I wouldn’t say I am one of the favourites, but I might be a decent outside bet.”

O’Sullivan said: “Mark has been so consistent over the last five years, he hits the ball so well and very rarely plays a bad match. He’s an amazing player and I think he’s better than he has ever been. I tried everything I could to stay in the match, but he was so strong. If he dedicated his life to it he could probably be number one in the world, but he doesn’t – he likes to chill out, play golf and enjoy his life! He is a deserving winner tonight.

“The fans here have really got behind the players and supported the tournament unbelievably well. It’s a great venue, a great place, I have loved coming here and hopefully the event stays in Manchester.”

The English Institute of Sport in Sheffield hosts the qualifying rounds of snooker’s biggest tournament from Monday, running from April 8-17.

All players outside the top 16 will be striving for the 16 coveted Crucible spots. It’s the strongest ever field for the qualifying event, with the likes of Neil Robertson, Jack Lisowski, Stuart Bingham, Stephen Maguire, Si Jiahui, Anthony McGill, Ryan Day and Hossein Vafaei in action.  For the match schedule click here.

Tickets are on sale for just £12 per day – for details click here.

You can watch from the first morning on:

Europe (including UK and Ireland)
discovery+

China
Huya.com

All other territories
matchroom.live

The final round will be on April 16th and 17th. Our Judgement Day production, presented by Rob Walker, Ken Doherty and David Hendon, will be streamed live and free on WST’s YouTube and Facebook channels.

This year marks 25 years since Stephen Hendry made history by becoming the first player to win the Cazoo World Snooker Championship on seven occasions and today we reflect on the tournament and much more with the return of the WPBSA Snooker Podcast!

Following the pilot episode launched earlier this year which covered the 2001 Masters won by Paul Hunter, today’s all-new episode marks the first of a six-week run which will comprise the debut season of the podcast, with episodes to be released every Monday.

Michael McMullan is at the helm once more and is joined by fellow snooker broadcaster David Hendon who was working on the 1999 World Championship for the WPBSA at the time, as well as two-time ranking event winner Joe Perry, to recall his own memories of a tournament which saw him stun six-time Crucible champion Steve Davis in the opening round.

As well at the tournament itself, the trio discuss the build-up to the tournament, as a new generation began to firmly establish themselves upon the sport following Hendry’s dominance in prior years, the early development of snooker in China and much more.

The WPBSA Snooker Podcast is available now via Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and YouTube.

We would love to hear your feedback via our official social media platforms including X, Facebook and Instagram!

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) is the world governing body for all disciplines of snooker and English billiards across the world. The WPBSA is looking to appoint a dynamic Sport Development Officer to work as part of its Sport Development Team.

The WPBSA Group (WPBSA, subsidiary companies and key partners) is committed to the development of snooker and billiards from grassroots to professional level. It has developed and implemented a wide range of projects that underpin the sport globally. The Sport Development Officer will be UK-based and drive WPBSA worldwide development projects.

Applicants will have an ability to work independently and flexibly, shifting focus between international, national and local priorities and be able to develop effective working relationships with both professional and volunteer staff.

• Head Office in Bristol
• Flexible/Home working available in UK subject to agreement. Needs to be available to work some weekends and evenings.
• Full-time salary £28,000 – £30,000 plus benefits (dependent on experience) 35 hours per week
• Private Healthcare Benefits
• Holiday entitlement: 20 Days excluding bank holidays
  
• Application Closing Date: 26^th April 2024

The main duties of the role will include but are not exclusive to:

Project management:

• Working closely with and utilising feedback/input from key stakeholders such as WPBSA Board, Chief Operating Officer, WPBSA Sport Development Team, WPBSA Group organisations, Regional/National Federations to develop key sport development plans working with the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer ensuring key WPBSA strategy is fulfilled.
• Manage and implement action plans for a portfolio of sport development projects.
• Create reports and presentations to demonstrate the effectiveness of projects managed.
• Maintain key relationships with external partners for example but not exclusive to Sport for Confidence, World Abilitysport and Sense. Developing projects and competition structures through joint working with such partners to assist with enabling an inclusive sport for all.
• Research and source funding opportunities for snooker and billiards related projects to support delivery of WPBSA strategy.

Leading support for clubs/academies and playing facilities:

• Be the key contact within organisation for club/facilities support.
• Oversee and guide the administration of the 147 Club scheme that includes:

• • Establishing initial contact with snooker clubs/facilities, engaging them in the 147 Club scheme and demonstrating the benefits from being a member facility.
  • Review and further develop key resources that assist with carrying out assessments of snooker facilities, key guidance documents for clubs and templates to assist clubs produce their own development plans.
  • Source key suppliers for the industrial benefits for the 147 Club. Developing and maintain relationships with key suppliers of industry benefits to enable smooth completion of delivery of those benefits to accredited facilities.
  • Conduct site visits of the club/facilities carrying out a detailed assessment of which level the club fits within the 147 Club scheme and understand sport development opportunities.
  • Maintain and develop key communication processes for clubs to publicise their sport development activity through the WPBSA Media Team including monthly Mailchimp newsletters.

Competition/operations support:

• Utilising partnerships with club facilities to assist WPBSA Group organisations and key partners to develop event opportunities.
• Where required support with the delivery of WPBSA Group events.

To apply please email [email protected] with your CV and covering letter.

The deadline for applications is 26^th April 2024.

The WPBSA is committed to best practice in safeguarding and as such this post will be subject to a Criminal Records Bureau check. The child protection policy can be found on the WPBSA website at http://www.wpbsa.com/coaching/child-protection-policies/

World Billiards is delighted to announce that the 2024 World Billiards Championship will be returning to Landywood Snooker Club in October.

This will be held as a double-header with the English Open, a level 3 World Ranking Event, on 26-27th October, with the timed format World Championship following on from 28-31st October.

Since reopening following significant refurbishment in 2021, the Midlands venue quickly gained a reputation for high quality playing conditions in an environment fitting for national and international tournaments.

After hosting our English Open and World Championship last October the feedback was unanimous from players and spectators alike on the quality of the venue and the warm welcome received.

We are extremely grateful for the generosity of Paul Lloyd and his team in agreeing to host this year’s event and their enthusiasm for Landywood to be an ongoing venue partner for the World Billiards circuit moving forward. We look forward to returning for our blue riband event once again, where a high-quality international field will do battle for the prestigious John Roberts Trophy which dates back to the first World Championship in 1870.

Jason Colebrook, Managing Director of World Billiards, said: “We are delighted to be back at Landywood again this year for the 2024 World Billiards Championship. Last year the playing conditions were excellent, and the hospitality from Paul and his team was greatly appreciated by all players and officials”.

Paul Lloyd, owner of Landywood Snooker Club, said: “Myself and all the staff at Landywood Snooker Club are very proud to be hosting the prestigious World Billiards Championship again this year. Last year’s championship was a milestone for our club, and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back in October”.

More details will be announced in due course.

Reanne Evans and Luca Brecel combined to capture the World Mixed Doubles title, beating Mark Selby and Rebecca Kenna 4-2 in the final at Manchester Central.

The duo were this year’s most decorated pair, with Evans having 12 Women’s World Championship titles to her name and Brecel being the current World Champion. However, they only clinched their place in the final courtesy of taking the final frame this afternoon, when they lost 3-1 to Selby and Kenna.

It’s second time lucky for Evans, who was paired with seven-time Crucible king Ronnie O’Sullivan in 2022. On that occasion they missed out on a place in the final by a single frame.

Brecel’s hit and miss season thus far has seen him miss out on next week’s Players Series finale, the Johnstone’s Paint Tour Championship. However, his first piece of silverware of the season will act as a welcome boost heading into the defence of his World Championship title.

Selby and Kenna suffer defeat in the final for a second consecutive season. They were runners-up to Neil Robertson and Mink Nutcharut last time around.

It was Brecel who got this evening’s final up and running with a break of 57 to take the opener. They then added the second to lead 2-0.

Selby had an opportunity to take the third and reduce their arrears, but missed a straightforward final blue. Eventually, he was given another chance and did make it 2-1. That was followed up by a run of 67 by the Leicester cueman to restore parity.

Brecel and Evans moved 3-2 ahead by taking the fifth, before a contribution of 59 from the Belgian in the sixth gave them the title.

Evans said “It’s taken 22 years to win a final on television. I know Luca carried me a little bit, but I’ve been playing a long time and it is fantastic to lift a trophy and play in a final like this, alongside all of these great players. The crowd have been fantastic and I’ve really enjoyed myself.”

Evans added: “Playing in these sort of events and getting the recognition that the women deserve and the support from these top players is only going to help the women and help the game. Hopefully there is a lot more to come. Bigger and better and always hoping and believing in the future.”

Brecel said: “It was a special occasion to play in this tournament. I was looking forward to it as soon as I knew I was in it. I always felt we had a good chance to win it because we are a really strong team. If we played a bit closer to our normal standards we could have made it a bit easier for ourselves.”

The 2024 Cazoo World Snooker Championship is almost upon us as this season’s battle for tour survival reaches its conclusion in Sheffield.

Follow our live blog which track the key movements on the provisional one-year and two-year ranking lists as the tournament progresses.

Live Standings

The full two year breakdown can be found here, however below you can see only the players fighting for their main tour status, which will be updated with players being ‘struck out’ as the tournament progresses to show the current live position.

• Players in dark green are currently inside the top 64 provisionally and as it stands will remain on tour
• Players in blue are currently set to qualify through the one-year list
• Players in red are currently set to be relegated from the tour
• Players in purple are on the first-year of a two-year card
• Players in pink have qualified for the Crucible and gained a tour card
• Players with their names struck through are out of the Cazoo World Championship

Latest in-running two-year list:

57th – Graeme Dott – 75,500 (r112)

58th – Michael White – 75,000 (r112)

59th – Jamie Clarke – 72,500 (r112)

60th – Aaron Hill – 70,500 (r112)

61st – David Grace – 70,500 (r112)

62nd – Sanderson Lam – 70,000 (r112)

63rd – Mark Davis – 69,500 (r112)

64th – David Lilley – 68,000 (r112)

————————————

65th – Julien Leclercq – 65,500 (r112)

66th – Oliver Lines – 64,000 (r112)

67th – Mark Joyce – 58,500 (r112)

68th – Ashley Hugill – 58,000 (r112)

69th – Dylan Emery – 58,000 (r112)

70th – Daniel Wells – 55,000 (r112)

71st – He Guoqiang – 53,000 (r112)

72nd – Zak Surety – 53,000 (r112)

73rd – Ben Mertens – 51,500 (r112)

74th – Andy Hicks – 50,000 (r112)

75th – James Cahill – 48,000 (r112)

76th – Lukas Kleckers – 46,500 (r112)

77th – Ken Doherty – 44,000 (r112)

78th – John Astley – 43,000 (r112)

80th – Liam Highfield – 41,000 (r112)

81st – Martin Gould – 40,000 (r144)

84th – Allan Taylor – 29,000 (r144)

85th – Sean O’Sullivan – 27,000 (r144)

87th – Rod Lawler – 26,500 (r144)

91st – Oliver Brown – 25,000 (r144)

93rd – Adam Duffy – 24,000 (r144)

95th – Peng Yisong – 22,000 (r144)

97th – Andy Lee – 20,500 (r144)

98th – Mohammad Asif – 20,000 (r144)

103rd – Mark King – 17,500 (N/A)

104th – Jenson Kendrick – 16,000 (r144)

107th – Fergal O’Brien – 15,500 (r144)

109th – Andrews Petrov – 15,000 (r144)

112th – Mohamed Ibrahim – 12,000 (r144)

113th – Asjad Iqbal – 11,000 (r144)

114th – Ryan Thomerson – 9,500 (r144)

115th – Anton Kazakov – 8,000 (r144)

119th – Mink Nutcharut – 5,500 (r144)

120th – Himanshu Jain – 5,000 (r144)

124th – Victor Sarkis – 1,000 (r144)

126th – Stephen Hendry – 0 (r144)

127th – Rebecca Kenna – 0 (r144)

Latest in-running one-year list:

1 – Oliver Lines – 37,000

2 – Zak Surety – 34,500

3 – Dylan Emery – 33,500

4 – Julien Leclercq – 32,000

————————————

5 – Ben Mertens – 25,500

6 – Mark Joyce – 25,000

7 – Ashley Hugill – 24,500

8 – Lukas Kleckers – 23,000

9 – James Cahill – 21,000

10 – Ken Doherty – 20,500

11 – Oliver Brown – 19,500

12 – Andy Hicks – 17,000

13 – Rod Lawler – 16,000

14 – Adam Duffy – 15,500

16 – Jenson Kendrick – 15,000

17 – Allan Taylor – 15,000

18 – Martin Gould – 15,000

19 – Liam Highfield – 15,000

20 – Iulian Boiko (A) – 12,500

21 – Sean O’Sullivan – 12,000

22 – Peng Yisong – 12,000

23 – Fergal O’Brien – 12,000

24 – John Astley – 10,000

25 – Muhammad Asif – 8,500

26 – Craig Steadman – 8,500

27 – Gong Chenzhi (A) – 8,000

28 – Mohamed Ibrahim – 6,500

31 – Andy Lee – 5,000

32 – Andres Petrov – 4,500

33 – Haydon Pinhey (A) – 3,000

34 – Anton Kazakov – 3,000

35 – Oliver Sykes (A) – 3,000

36 – Mink Nutcharut – 2,500

37 – Ryan Thomerson – 2,500

38 – Gao Yang (A) – 2,500

39 – Sydney Wilson (A) – 1,000

40 – Peter Lines (A) – 1,000

41 – Mostafa Dorgham – 500

42 – Victor Sarkis – 500

43 – Ahmed Aly-Elsayed – 0

44 – Baipat Siripaporn – 0

45 – Rebecca Kenna – 0

46 – Himanshu Jain – 0

List includes selected amateur players and excludes players who have already earned a two-year Tour card.

Follow @prosnookerblog on Twitter for all of the latest updates as the tournament unfolds.