The Wayback Machine - https://web.archive.org/web/20111006044919/http://www.premierleaguesnooker.com/championship/news/fu_wins_the_2010_championship_league.htm

 Thursday 6 October 2011

facebook
Championship League Snooker
HomepageNewsRulesFixturesResultsMoney WonBetting SitesLeague Tables


FU WINS THE 2010 CHAMPIONSHIP LEAGUE SNOOKER - 25/03/2010

MARCO Fu has won the Championship League Snooker and qualified for Matchroom Sport’s Premier League Snooker competition.

Fu produced a stunning recovery to fight back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 against Mark Allen, who missed a shot at the blue in the third frame that would have given him the title.

Marco Fu receives the trophy from Matchroom Sport Chairman Barry Hearn. Picture: Richard Pelham
Marco Fu receives the trophy from Matchroom Sport Chairman Barry Hearn. Picture: Richard Pelham

"Qualifying for the Premier League is a very special moment for me as everyone wants to play in the league," said Fu. "Only the top players can play in it and with it being live on television is a very prestigious competition.

"I was very lucky to win the third frame and when you're one snooker down you don't expect to win. I was lucky I got the snooker, he surprisingly missed it and I made a good pink to win the frame. That was the turning point in the whole match as Mark was a little bit disappointed. He was expected to win but he didn't play that well from then on and I made two good breaks to win the match. Sometimes you need a bit of luck and not only play well."

Allen won the opening frame by 75-31 but had some nervous moments when he missed a frame-winning pink into the centre pocket.

However, that error did not prove costly as Fu’s failure to pot the green handed the frame to the Northern Irishman. It was a similar story in the second as Allen was not punished when he potted the blue ball but then saw the cue ball vanish into a pocket. The frame ended 72-35 in Allen’s favour and he was now only one frame away from the trophy.

Allen stormed to a break of 53 in the third and was in sight of the title, but a loose shot let in Fu, who made 38 before he lost position and had to play safe.

A fine long pot on the green put Allen back in pole position but the potential match-winning pot, a slow-rolled blue, was left hanging in the jaws of the pocket.

Fu needed one snooker, which he got and he stole the frame by 64-61 to keep his hopes alive. He then made a break of 94 to take the match to 2-2 and leave a one-frame shootout for the title.

Allen again had another opportunity but was left slumped in his chair after missing a straight-forward red. He did not get back to the table as Fu’s break of 134 gave him the victory.

Mark Allen missed a shot to win the competition. Picture: Richard Pelham
Mark Allen missed a shot to win the competition. Picture: Richard Pelham

Stephen Maguire had finished top of the table but the world number 2 was dumped out in the semi-finals, losing 3-0 to Fu. Grand Prix Champion Neil Robertson also fell at the semi-final hurdle as he lost 3-2 to Allen.

Judd Trump, who won the Championship League in 2009, current World Champion John Higgins and world number 18 Jamie Cope finished in the bottom three places in the league.

The Championship League Snooker, which has been broadcast live on a number of betting websites, featured 25 of the game’s best players competing over three months.

Seven qualifying groups took place with the winners of each one advancing to the Winners’ Group.

Fu joins 2009 Premier League Champion Shaun Murphy in the 2010 PartyCasino.com Premier League Snooker competition.

Marco Fu has qualified for the Premier League, an event he won in 2003. Picture: Richard Pelham
Marco Fu has qualified for the Premier League, an event he won in 2003. Picture: Richard Pelham

The player who wins the World Championships in May will also be playing in the Premier League with four players set to be awarded wild cards.

Beginning on September 2, the Premier League takes place over ten Thursdays before the finals at the end of November with each match broadcast live on Sky Sports.

Fu, who won the Premier League in 2003, took part in the 2009 competition but only won one out of six matches.

"I seem to usually do well in the Premier League but last year I finished bottom," added Fu.

"I wasn't feeling confident and maybe the format of the shot clock put me off. But that makes me more determined to do well this year."

Visit the Premier League Snooker website here Visit the Premier League Snooker website here

Stephen Lee
[click for profile]

Martin Gould
[click for profile]

Marco Fu
[click for profile]

Andrew Higginson
[click for profile]

Matthew Stevens
[click for profile]

Liang Wenbo
[click for profile]

Mark King
[click for profile]

Featured Videos...