Highs and Lows at 2006 IBSF World Snooker Team Cup Championships

Highs and Lows at 2006 IBSF World Snooker Team Cup ChampionshipsIt’s the fourth day of the 2006 IBSF World Snooker Team Cup Championships, and things are heating up. Many century breaks are happenin’, the crowds are getting larger (if still pathetic) and the boys are battling it out for the quarterfinals. In happy news, the American ‘C’ team just won an important game 5 matches to 4, bringing them closer to the quarterfinals. And I’m finding it less necessary to handhold spectators through their viewing pleasure, as most at least have a passing knowledge.Yesterday I talked a little about century runs. Well, when they happen, the frames end quickly, the action exciting. Even when the match is even and it comes down to the final black, snooker is wonderful to watch.
But as I sit here day after day, I have to admit: sometimes it’s not so fun for the spectator, and probably even less so for the player. When that first break goes wrong and you pot the cue ball. When you just can’t make a shot to save your life. When your opponent can’t, either. That kept happening today, in many a match that will remain nameless. I was bored, and I kept hearing the various viewers yawning and asking each other how long this would continue. Frustrating for the viewer, indeed. But imagine if you are one of the two players! Naturally, your average snooker player knows how it feels to pot a red ball and then miss a subsequent colored ball. Or to miss a red ball shot completely. Or, hell, to miss a bloody ball completely! Admit it, you do it all the time. But somehow we forget that even the pros can do it, especially when they are playing against one another. Yet, I must say, today had its high and lows, and of all the action over this first week of championship play, perhaps had the most lulls. Surely the guys are probably exhausted after intense rounds of play this week; most are certainly looking forward to their off day tomorrow to go play in San Francisco. And they really deserve it.Oh, and by the way: excitement from the Seniors, as Dene O’Kane had a 105 break for New Zealand in their match against India today.ABOUT THE 2006 1BSF WORLD SNOOKER TEAM CUP CHAMPIONSHIPS:The DoubleTree Hotel in San Jose hosts to this international snooker competition, whose competition began today. Matches run at 10 am, 2 pm and 6 pm; admission is $5 for the regular matches, $8 for the semi-finals on the 25th and $10 for the finals on the 26th. For more information or to make reservations for the matches, please call Diana Slampyak, Press Officer, at 650.773.9633 or email her at dslampyak@comcast.net.

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