Wikipedia

2022 Tour Championship

The 2022 Tour Championship (officially the 2022 Cazoo Tour Championship) was a professional snooker tournament that took place from 28 March to 3 April 2022 at Venue Cymru in Llandudno, Wales. Organised by the World Snooker Tour, it comprised the top eight players on the one-year ranking list. It was the fourth edition of the Tour Championship, first held in 2019, and the 15th and penultimate ranking event of the 2021–22 snooker season, following the Gibraltar Open and preceding the World Championship. It was the third and final event of the season's Cazoo Series, following the Players Championship and the World Grand Prix. Broadcast by ITV4 in the United Kingdom, the event featured a prize fund of £370,000, of which the winner received £150,000.

2022 Cazoo Tour Championship
Tournament information
Dates28 March – 3 April 2022 (2022-03-28 – 2022-04-03)
VenueVenue Cymru
CityLlandudno
CountryWales
OrganisationWorld Snooker Tour
FormatRanking event
Total prize fund£370,000
Winner's share£150,000
Highest break Judd Trump (ENG) (140)
Final
Champion Neil Robertson (AUS)
Runner-up John Higgins (SCO)
Score10–9
← 2021
2023 →

The defending champion was Neil Robertson, who had defeated Ronnie O'Sullivan 10–4 in the 2021 final. Robertson retained his title, coming from 4–9 behind in the final to defeat John Higgins 10–9 and win his 23rd ranking tournament, putting him level with Judd Trump at sixth place on the all-time list of ranking event winners. Robertson also won the season's Cazoo Cup, while Higgins lost his fifth final of the season.

The event produced 33 century breaks, the highest being a 140 by Trump. O'Sullivan made five century breaks in both his quarter-final and semi-final matches, becoming the first player to make five centuries in each of two consecutive matches.

Format

edit

The 2022 Tour Championship (officially the 2022 Cazoo Tour Championship) was the third and final event in the 2021–22 Cazoo Cup series, first introduced in the 2018–19 snooker season; the other events in the series were the World Grand Prix and the Players Championship.[1][2][3] Organised by the World Snooker Tour, it was the 15th and penultimate ranking event of the 2021–22 snooker season, following the Gibraltar Open and preceding the World Championship.[4][5] The Tour Championship featured the top eight players from the one-year ranking list taking part in a single-elimination tournament.[2] All matches were played as the best of 19 frames.[6]

The event took place at Venue Cymru in Llandudno, Wales, between 28 March and 3 April 2022.[6] Broadcast by ITV4 in the United Kingdom,[7] it was sponsored by car retailer Cazoo.[2][8][9] The defending champion was Neil Robertson, who won the 2021 event, defeating Ronnie O'Sullivan 10–4 in the final.[10]

Qualification

edit

The participants were determined by the points won in the ranking tournaments preceding the Tour Championship,[2] from the 2021 Championship League to the Gibraltar Open.[11][12]

Seed Player Total Points
1   Zhao Xintong (CHN) £311,500
2   Neil Robertson (AUS) £261,000
3   Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) £232,500
4   Judd Trump (ENG) £216,000
5   Luca Brecel (BEL) £205,500
6   Mark Williams (WAL) £166,500
7   Mark Allen (NIR) £160,000
8   John Higgins (SCO) £147,500

Prize fund

edit

The total prize fund for the event was £370,000, the winner receiving £150,000. A breakdown of the prize money for the event is shown below:[13][14]

  • Winner: £150,000
  • Runner-up: £60,000
  • Semi-final: £40,000
  • Quarter-final: £20,000
  • Highest break: £10,000
  • Total: £370,000

Summary

edit

Quarter-finals

edit
 
Mark Williams (pictured in 2014) lost 9–10 to Ronnie O'Sullivan, the match praised for its quality by players and pundits.

The quarter-finals were held between 28 and 31 March.[6] Zhao Xintong, who had won the UK Championship and German Masters earlier in the season, was making his first appearance at the Tour Championship. He played John Higgins, who narrowly qualified for the tournament after Ricky Walden was unable to win enough points during the Gibraltar Open.[15] Zhao won four consecutive frames, making two centuries of 108 and 124, to take a 5–2 lead, but Higgins won the last frame of the session.[16] In the second session, Zhao won three of the first four frames to move 8–4 ahead, but he scored just 53 points across the next four frames as Higgins drew level at 8–8.[16] Higgins won the 17th to take a 9–8 lead, but Zhao won the 18th to set up a decider. Higgins clinched a 10–9 victory after Zhao missed a four-ball plant. In all, Higgins won six of the last seven frames.[16] Afterward, he called coming from behind to beat Zhao "one of my best wins ever".[17][18]

In the second quarter-final, the season's English Open and Players Championship winner Robertson faced the Northern Ireland Open champion Mark Allen. Robertson took a 7–0 lead. Allen scored just 55 points in the first seven frames, but avoided a session whitewash by winning the eighth frame.[19] In the evening session, Allen won five of the first six, before Robertson produced back-to-back centuries of 121 and 130 to win the match 10–6.[20] Afterward, Robertson stated that the match had reassured him he could respond strongly against a comeback.[21]

In the third quarter-final, O'Sullivan faced Mark Williams, who had not defeated O'Sullivan in a two-session ranking match since the semi-finals of the 2000 UK Championship.[22] Williams won the 29-minute opening frame, but O'Sullivan then won three consecutive frames, making a 131 break in the fourth, to lead 3–1 at the mid-session interval. Williams won the fifth, but O'Sullivan made a 128 break to take the sixth. O'Sullivan led by 50 points in the seventh, but Williams made a 92 clearance to win the frame. O'Sullivan took the last frame of the session with an 89 break to lead 5–3.[23][24] Williams began the evening session with a 103 break, but O'Sullivan responded with a 100 in the tenth. Williams made an 89 break to win the 11th, but O'Sullivan took the 12th with a 75 to lead 7–5. Williams won two consecutive frames after the mid-session interval to level at 7–7, and then took a 24-point lead in the 15th before accidentally potting the pink ball when cannoning into the pack of red balls. O'Sullivan restored his lead at 8–7 with a 106 break. Williams leveled again at 8–8, but O'Sullivan made a 127 in the 17th frame, his fifth century of the match, to lead 9–8.[25] Williams fell 47 points behind in the penultimate frame but won it on the colours to force a decider.[22] Both players had chances, but O'Sullivan clinched the match after Williams missed a long pot on the final red.[23] The quality of the match was widely praised; media called it a "classic",[23] an "epic",[22] and a "thriller".[26] O'Sullivan stated: "It is probably the best he has ever played against me and the best I've ever played against him".[23][27][22] Williams responded that he enjoyed the quality of the match but said "I could and should have won".[26]

In the last quarter-final, Judd Trump faced Luca Brecel. Brecel was making his debut in the Tour Championship. Trump had entered the top eight on the season's money list by winning the Turkish Masters earlier that month; Brecel had been runner-up at the UK Championship and won the Scottish Open earlier in the season.[28] Brecel won six of the first eight frames, making a century and four other half-century breaks in the first session; Trump made just one break over 50.[29] The first four frames of the evening session were shared. Trump then made back-to-back centuries of 140 (the tournament's highest break) and 103, but Brecel won the next two to clinch a 10–6 win.[30] It was Brecel's first victory over Trump in a ranking event, and only his second victory over Trump in ten meetings.[31]

Semi-finals

edit
 
Ronnie O'Sullivan (pictured in 2016) became the first person to make five century breaks in consecutive matches.

The semi-finals were held on 1 and 2 April. O'Sullivan faced Robertson in a match that reprised the 2019 and 2021 finals. Robertson made a 115 break in the opening frame, but O'Sullivan won four consecutive frames with breaks of 125, 90, 106 and 128 to take a 4–1 lead.[32] Robertson won the last three frames of the session to tie the scores at 4–4.[33] O'Sullivan won the first frame of the second session, before Robertson won the next three to lead 7–5.[34] O'Sullivan won three of the next four to tie the match at 8–8.[34] O'Sullivan went ahead with a 112 break in the next frame, his fifth century of the match,[35] but Robertson won the final two frames to clinch the match 10–9,[36] guaranteeing that he would win the Cazoo Cup, regardless of the outcome of the final, having won the Players Championship and been runner-up in the World Grand Prix, the other two Cazoo Series events.[37] O'Sullivan became the first player to make five century breaks in two consecutive matches.[36] The 19-frame match had only two frames without at least a half-century break.[38] By reaching the semi-finals, O'Sullivan replaced Mark Selby as world number one after the event,[39] although O'Sullivan called Robertson "the best player in the world".[40]

In the second semi-final, Higgins played Brecel. The players had faced each other in the Scottish Open final earlier in the season, Brecel winning 9–5 on that occasion. Brecel won the first three frames, but Higgins responded with five frames in a row, ending with a century break of 108, to finish the first session with a 5–3 lead.[41] Higgins moved 7–4 ahead in the evening session before Brecel won three frames in a row to level the scores at 7–7. Higgins responded by also winning three frames in a row, taking advantage of errors by Brecel, to win the match 10–7 and reach the 55th ranking final of his professional career.[42][43]

Final

edit
 
Neil Robertson won the event, defeating John Higgins in the final 10–9, despite having trailed 4–9.

The final took place on 3 April between Robertson and Higgins, as a best-of-19-frame match played over two sessions. The players met in a ranking final for the second time that season, Robertson having defeated Higgins 9–8 in the English Open final in November 2021.[43] The first frame lasted over 50 minutes, the longest of the tournament, Higgins winning it on the final black ball.[44] Higgins then made back-to-back century breaks of 136 and 126 to lead 3–0.[44] Robertson responded with a 130 in the fourth and also won the fifth. In frame six, Robertson attempted a maximum break but missed the final blue ball. Higgins made his third century break of the match in frame seven, and also won frame eight with a break of 80 to lead 5–3.[44] The players made five century breaks in the first eight frames.[44]

In the evening session, Higgins won the first three frames to lead 8–3, before Robertson responded with a 91 to take frame 12. Higgins took the 13th with an 84 break, but Robertson came from 4–9 behind to win six consecutive frames and secure a 10–9 victory. The 23rd ranking title of Robertson's career, it put him level with Trump in sixth place on the all-time list of ranking event winners.[45] Robertson called his win "the best comeback of my career".[46] It was Higgins's fifth loss in a major final that season, following defeats at the English Open, Northern Ireland Open, Champion of Champions, and Scottish Open.[45] It was also the third time in the season that Higgins had lost a ranking final after requiring just one frame for victory. He led 8–6 in both the English and Northern Ireland Opens, only to lose 8–9 each time.[46]

Tournament draw

edit

The draw for the event is shown below. Players in bold denote match winners, with numbers to the left showing players seeding.[6]

Quarter-finals
Best of 19 frames 		Semi-finals
Best of 19 frames 		Final
Best of 19 frames
         
1   Zhao Xintong (CHN) 9
8   John Higgins (SCO) 10
8   John Higgins 10
5   Luca Brecel 7
4   Judd Trump (ENG) 6
5   Luca Brecel (BEL) 10
8   John Higgins 9
2   Neil Robertson 10
3   Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) 10
6   Mark Williams (WAL) 9
3   Ronnie O'Sullivan 9
2   Neil Robertson 10
2   Neil Robertson (AUS) 10
7   Mark Allen (NIR) 6

Final

edit

The scores from the final are shown below. Scores in brackets are breaks made by players in each frame.[6]

Final: Best of 19 frames. Referee: Brendan Moore
Venue Cymru, Llandudno, Wales, 3 April 2022
John Higgins (8)
  Scotland 		9–10 Neil Robertson (2)
  Australia
Afternoon: 78–77, 136–0 (136), 138–0 (126), 0–130 (130), 47–76, 0–129 (129), 127–0 (127), 80–0
Evening: 60–41, 101–0, 82–5, 1–91, 84–0, 37–74, 1–119 (108), 35–87, 17–91, 0–93, 10–72
136 Highest break 130
3 Century breaks 3

Century breaks

edit

There were 33 century breaks made during the tournament.[47]

Cazoo Series

edit

The Cazoo Series features three events: the World Grand Prix, the Players Championship, and the Tour Championship. For all three events, qualification is based on players' rankings on the one-year ranking list.[48] The top ten players in the Cazoo Cup series are shown below. Prizes in bold denote an event win.[48]

Player Total
  Neil Robertson (AUS) £315,000
  Ronnie O'Sullivan (ENG) £155,000
  John Higgins (SCO) £80,000
  Luca Brecel (BEL) £57,500
  Barry Hawkins (ENG) £55,000
  Jimmy Robertson (ENG) £42,500
  Mark Williams (WAL) £40,000
  Mark Allen (NIR) £37,500
  Judd Trump (ENG) £37,500
  Zhao Xintong (CHN) £35,000

References

edit
  1. ^ "The Coral Series – Everything You Need to Know". WPBSA. 22 November 2018. Archived from the original on 22 November 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d "Cazoo Tour Championship". World Snooker Tour. Archived from the original on 20 February 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  3. ^ "Tour Championship snooker 2022 – Latest results, scores, schedule, order of play, Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump". Eurosport. 3 April 2022. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023. Retrieved 20 October 2022.
  4. ^ Ardalen, Hermund. "Calendar 2021/2022". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 27 April 2023. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  5. ^ "Calendar 2021/2022 (Provisional)" (PDF). World Snooker Tour. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  6. ^ a b c d e "Cazoo Tour Championship (2022)". snooker.org. Archived from the original on 27 March 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  7. ^ "How To Watch The Cazoo Tour Championship". World Snooker Tour. 26 March 2022. Archived from the original on 27 March 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  8. ^ "Cazoo launches partnership with World Snooker Tour". Cazoo. 2 February 2021. Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Cazoo And Matchroom Expand Partnership Deal". World Snooker Tour. 17 June 2021. Archived from the original on 17 June 2021. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  10. ^ "Robertson beats O'Sullivan to win title". BBC Sport. 28 March 2021. Archived from the original on 29 March 2021. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  11. ^ "Calendar 2021/2022" (PDF). World Snooker Tour. 18 August 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  12. ^ "1 Year Ranking List". World Snooker Tour. Archived from the original on 25 March 2022. Retrieved 25 March 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  13. ^ "Tournament Prize Money". livescores.worldsnookerdata.com. Archived from the original on 28 March 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  14. ^ "Where the money went". Snooker Scene. May 2022. p. 19.
  15. ^ "I'm A Lucky Man – Higgins". World Snooker Tour. 27 March 2022. Archived from the original on 29 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  16. ^ a b c Netherton, Alexander (28 March 2022). "John Higgins pulls off huge comeback win over Zhao to claim 10–9 lead at Cazoo Tour Championship quarter final". Eurosport. Archived from the original on 28 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  17. ^ "Tour Championship 2022 – John Higgins in disbelief after one of 'best wins ever' in fightback against Zhao Xintong". Eurosport. 29 March 2022. Archived from the original on 29 March 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  18. ^ "Tour Championship: John Higgins 'best ever win' beats Zhao in quarter-final". BBC Sport. 29 March 2022. Archived from the original on 29 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  19. ^ Hinks, Michael (29 March 2022). "Tour Championship 2022: Neil Robertson Withstands Courageous Mark Allen Fightback To Reach Semi-Finals". Eurosport UK. Archived from the original on 1 April 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  20. ^ "Snooker results: Neil Robertson beats Mark Allen 10–6 in Cazoo Tour Championship quarter-final". Sporting Life. UK. 30 March 2022. Archived from the original on 1 April 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  21. ^ "Robertson Survives Pistol Fightback". World Snooker Tour. 29 March 2022. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  22. ^ a b c d "O'Sullivan Wins Clash Of 92". World Snooker Tour. 30 March 2022. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  23. ^ a b c d Mason, Lewis (30 March 2022). "Ronnie O'Sullivan beats Mark Williams in a classic to book a semi-final place at snooker's Tour Championship". Eurosport. Archived from the original on 1 April 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  24. ^ "Rocket Opens Up Llandudno Lead". World Snooker Tour. 30 March 2022. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  25. ^ "Match Result". livescores.worldsnookerdata.com. Archived from the original on 1 April 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  26. ^ a b "O'Sullivan beats old rival Williams in thriller". BBC Sport. 31 March 2022. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  27. ^ "O'Sullivan needs five centuries to squeak past Williams". Raidió Teilifís Éireann. 31 March 2022. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  28. ^ Harris, Daniel (31 March 2022). "Tour Championship snooker 2022 Live – Judd Trump bids to join Ronnie O'Sullivan, John Higgins in semi-finals". Eurosport. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  29. ^ "Tour Championship 2022: Judd Trump trailing as Luca Brecel holds four-frame lead heading into evening session". Eurosport UK. 31 March 2022. Archived from the original on 1 April 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  30. ^ "Tour Championship 2022: Luca Brecel tames Judd Trump to book semi-final meeting with John Higgins". Eurosport UK. 31 March 2022. Archived from the original on 1 April 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  31. ^ "Belgian Bullet Halts Juddernaut". World Snooker Tour. 31 March 2022. Archived from the original on 31 March 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  32. ^ "Robertson and O'Sullivan Locked Level". World Snooker Tour. 1 April 2022. Archived from the original on 1 April 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  33. ^ Quarrell, Dan (1 April 2022). "Ronnie O'Sullivan and Neil Robertson level after session of outrageous class in Tour Championship semi-final". Eurosport. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  34. ^ a b Livie, Alex (1 April 2022). "Neil Robertson wins final-frame decider to beat Ronnie O'Sullivan and reach Tour Championship final". Eurosport. Archived from the original on 28 July 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  35. ^ "Neil Robertson beats Ronnie O'Sullivan to reach Tour Championship final". Sporting Life. 1 April 2022. Archived from the original on 1 April 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  36. ^ a b Kane, Desmond; Jones, Matt (1 April 2022). "Tour Championship 2022 as it happened – Neil Robertson beats Ronnie O'Sullivan in final frame to reach final". Eurosport. Archived from the original on 1 April 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  37. ^ "Thunder Strikes Down Rocket". World Snooker Tour. 1 April 2022. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  38. ^ "Robertson overcomes O'Sullivan to reach Tour final". BBC Sport. 2 April 2022. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  39. ^ Livie, Alex (27 March 2022). "Ronnie O'Sullivan to return to world No. 1 spot as World Championship top 16 confirmed". Eurosport. Archived from the original on 1 April 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  40. ^ Livie, Ales (2 April 2022). "'The best player in the world' – Ronnie O'Sullivan lauds Neil Robertson after epic Tour Championship clash". Eurosport UK. Archived from the original on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  41. ^ "Higgins Blitzes To Lead Brecel". World Snooker Tour. 2 April 2022. Archived from the original on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  42. ^ "Higgins Sets Up Robertson Showdown". World Snooker Tour. 2 April 2022. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  43. ^ a b "Tour Championship: John Higgins to face Neil Robertson in Llandudno final". BBC Sport. 3 April 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  44. ^ a b c d Livie, Alex (3 April 2022). "Tour Championship 2033 – Neil Robertson produces amazing fightback to stun John Higgins and claim title". Eurosport UK. Archived from the original on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  45. ^ a b "Robertson Recovery Stuns Higgins". World Snooker Tour. 3 April 2022. Archived from the original on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  46. ^ a b "Robertson beats Higgins to win Tour final". BBC Sport. 4 April 2022. Archived from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
  47. ^ "Cazoo Tour Championship 2022 | Centuries". livescores.worldsnookerdata.com. Archived from the original on 18 April 2022. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
  48. ^ a b "2021–2022 Cazoo Series". World Snooker Tour. Archived from the original on 7 April 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=2022_Tour_Championship&oldid=1212153770"