The newest chapter in a collection of articles wanting again at every marketing campaign from the Crucible period.
After nearly a full season performed behind closed doorways, snooker went again on the highway to entertain followers in the course of the 2021/22 snooker season.
It will take some time, nevertheless, for the game to totally get well from the influence of the coronavirus pandemic that was nonetheless wreaking havoc with international well being and journey.
For the second successive season, there have been no tournaments in China which adopted a few of the sternest restrictions of any nation.
There have been solely three locations outdoors of the UK in the course of the 2021/22 snooker season – Germany, Turkey, and Gibraltar.
General prize cash was down, which made it even more durable for the lower-ranked gamers to maintain a dwelling on the circuit.
A whole lot of the largest occasions have been nonetheless dominated by the marquee names, and the main focus was once more on Ronnie O’Sullivan by the point the World Championship got here round in April.
The Rocket’s first try at claiming a record-equalling seventh Crucible crown was abruptly resulted in defeat to Anthony McGill in 2021.
However miked up for an Amazon-produced documentary, O’Sullivan was hardly ever challenged all through his 2022 tilt at greatness.
Following comfy victories over David Gilbert, Mark Allen, and Stephen Maguire in Sheffield, O’Sullivan beat previous foe John Higgins within the semi-finals.
A blockbuster showdown towards rival Judd Trump ensued, however the latter didn’t carry out at his finest and O’Sullivan prevailed with an 18-13 scoreline.
In matching Stephen Hendry’s modern-day report of seven world titles, 46 year-old O’Sullivan turned, in many individuals’s eyes, the undisputed biggest participant of all time.
Whereas he ended the 2021/22 snooker season on the very best of notes, it was debatable whether or not or not O’Sullivan was really the very best participant of the marketing campaign.
Simply earlier than Christmas earlier that time period, he had overwhelmed Neil Robertson 10-8 to assert the World Grand Prix and a record-extending thirty eighth rating title.
But other than that defeat, the Australian loved a exceptional run of type that noticed him seize a number of of the calendar’s most profitable occasions.
Robertson’s 9-8 victory over John Higgins to win the 2021 English Open title was an indication of the success to return.
The Melbourne man thrashed Barry Hawkins to seize the distinguished Masters in London after which overcame the identical opponent to win the Gamers Championship a month later.
In early-April, Robertson triumphed on the Tour Championship with an unbelievable comeback from 9-4 all the way down to beat Higgins in Llandudno.
Robertson headed to the World Championship because the participant in the very best type, however regardless of making a memorable 147 break, his problem in Sheffield resulted in disappointment once more.
The title-deciding defeats for Higgins, in the meantime, turned a well-known theme for the Scot all through the season.
As soon as thought to be boasting the best temperament within the recreation, Higgins started to commonly wrestle with the successful line in sight.
He squandered an 8-6 lead in defeat to Mark Allen on the Northern Eire Open – the latter delighting his residence crowd with a superb combat again in Belfast.
Higgins was additionally a runner-up on the Champion of Champions to Judd Trump and a overwhelmed finalist once more on the Scottish Open, which was bizarrely performed in Wales, though he did handle to emerge triumphantly within the invitational model of the Championship League.
Proper again at first of the marketing campaign in July and August, David Gilbert received the rating occasion version of Championship League Snooker to lastly land his maiden title at that stage.
Elsewhere, Mark Williams, Joe Perry, and Judd Trump turned champions of the British Open, Welsh Open, and the Turkish Masters respectively.
The opening ceremony in Turkey was marred by a drunken second involving Robert Milkins – a disgraceful incident that concluded with the inebriated birthday boy getting his abdomen pumped in an Antalya hospital.
It was that uncommon scenario that maybe made his glory on the Gibraltar Open a few weeks later all of the extra spectacular.
After 27 years as an expert and on the age of 46, Milkins put his latest troubles behind him to turn out to be a match winner for the primary time.
A lot of the remainder of the 2021/22 season was dominated by youthful worldwide gamers who have been making breakthroughs on the snooker scene.
China’s Fan Zhengyi surprised O’Sullivan within the remaining of the European Masters, whereas Hossein Vafaei turned the game’s first champion from Iran along with his victory within the Shoot Out.
It was the UK Championship, although, that had everybody speaking in regards to the prospect of two up-and-coming stars.
Zhao Xintong and Luca Brecel orchestrated excellent runs to the ultimate on the Barbican Centre in York, the place they showcased their prowess for attacking snooker.
The pair had been often talked about as doable poster boys for the sport with solely restricted success up till that time.
However the first Triple Crown remaining in years between two gamers of their twenties had supporters salivating.
Zhao beat Brecel 10-5 to elevate the well-known trophy aloft, however there was to be additional success for each within the months that adopted.
The Belgian Bullet beat Higgins to assert the Scottish Open title only a week later, whereas Zhao humiliated Chinese language pal Yan Bingtao 9-0 to win the German Masters in January.
A future the place each gamers have been set to commonly jostle for the foremost titles was seemingly in retailer.
However a seismic scandal that despatched shockwaves by means of the game was simply across the nook, with Zhao and Brecel’s profession arcs destined to maneuver in utterly reverse trajectories.
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Featured photograph credit score: WST
