World Open (snooker)
The World Open was a professional ranking snooker tournament. It had previously known as the Professional Players Tournament, the LG Cup. During 2006 and 2007, it was played in a unique format, more similar to association football. The knock-out format returned in 2008 with an FA Cup-style draw, the random draw was abandoned after the 2010 edition. The last champion was Ali Carter, the tournament was created in 1982 as the Professional Players Tournament by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association, in order to provide another ranking event. Ray Reardon beat Jimmy White by 10 frames to 5 in the final to win the first prize of £5,000, in 1984 Rothmans started sponsoring the tournament, changing its name to the Grand Prix, and moved its venue to the Hexagon Theatre in Reading. The tournament has had various sponsors and venues since, previous sponsors include LG Electronics, who took over in 2001 and changed the tournaments name to the LG Cup. After LG withdrew their sponsorship, the Grand Prix name was revived for 2004 and was sponsored by totesport, between 2006 and 2008 the event was sponsored by Royal London Watches.
The tournament was played at the Guild hall in 1998, at the start of the snooker season, prize money for 2005 totalled £400,000, with the winner receiving £60,000. In its original form, the tournament had a flatter structure than most tournaments, with the top 32 players all coming in at the last 64 stage. These facts made it common to see surprise results than in most other tournaments, with players such as Dominic Dale, Marco Fu, Euan Henderson. A player from outside the top 16 has reached the final roughly half the times the contest has been played, few of those have become consistent stars, although Stephen Hendry and John Higgins took their first ranking titles in the event. In addition, over the years, many top 16 players were eliminated in the stages of the contest. The event moved to Scotland at the A. E. C. C. in Aberdeen for 2006, Players were split into groups and played every other player in their group once. The top 2 players progressed, the last 16 and onwards were played as a straight knock-out and this resulted in several surprise results.
The format was tweaked for 2007, after complaints that the system was too random. Matches increased in length from best-of-5 to best-of-7, to give the player more chance to win. The main tie-breaker for players level on wins was changed, with frame difference now taking precedence over results between the players who are level on points
Pound sterling
It is subdivided into 100 pence. A number of nations that do not use sterling have called the pound. At various times, the sterling was commodity money or bank notes backed by silver or gold. The pound sterling is the worlds oldest currency still in use, the British Crown dependencies of Guernsey and Jersey produce their own local issues of sterling, the Guernsey pound and the Jersey pound. The pound sterling is used in the Isle of Man, the Bank of England is the central bank for the pound sterling, issuing its own coins and banknotes, and regulating issuance of banknotes by private banks in Scotland and Northern Ireland. Sterling is the fourth most-traded currency in the exchange market, after the United States dollar, the euro. Together with those three currencies it forms the basket of currencies which calculate the value of IMF special drawing rights, Sterling is the third most-held reserve currency in global reserves. The full, official name, pound sterling, is used mainly in formal contexts, otherwise the term pound is normally used.
The abbreviations ster. or stg. are sometimes used, the term British pound is commonly used in less formal contexts, although it is not an official name of the currency. The pound sterling is referred to as cable amongst forex traders, the origins of this term are attributed to the fact that in the 1800s, the dollar/pound sterling exchange rate was transmitted via transatlantic cable. Forex brokers are sometimes referred to as cable dealers, as another established source notes, the compound expression was derived, silver coins known as sterlings were issued in the Saxon kingdoms,240 of them being minted from a pound of silver. Hence, large payments came to be reckoned in pounds of sterlings, in 1260, Henry III granted them a charter of protection. And because the Leagues money was not frequently debased like that of England, English traders stipulated to be paid in pounds of the Easterlings, and land for their Kontor, the Steelyard of London, which by the 1340s was called Easterlings Hall, or Esterlingeshalle.
For further discussion of the etymology of sterling, see sterling silver, the currency sign for the pound sign is £, which is usually written with a single cross-bar, though a version with a double cross-bar is sometimes seen. The ISO4217 currency code is GBP, the abbreviation UKP is used but this is non-standard because the ISO3166 country code for the United Kingdom is GB. The Crown dependencies use their own codes, GGP, JEP, stocks are often traded in pence, so traders may refer to pence sterling, GBX, when listing stock prices. A common slang term for the pound sterling or pound is quid, since decimalisation in 1971, the pound has been divided into 100 pence. The symbol for the penny is p, hence an amount such as 50p properly pronounced fifty pence is more colloquially, quite often, pronounced fifty pee /fɪfti, pi and this helped to distinguish between new and old pence amounts during the changeover to the decimal system
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west, the Irish Sea lies northwest of England and the Celtic Sea lies to the southwest. England is separated from continental Europe by the North Sea to the east, the country covers five-eighths of the island of Great Britain in its centre and south, and includes over 100 smaller islands such as the Isles of Scilly, and the Isle of Wight. England became a state in the 10th century, and since the Age of Discovery. The Industrial Revolution began in 18th-century England, transforming its society into the worlds first industrialised nation, Englands terrain mostly comprises low hills and plains, especially in central and southern England. However, there are uplands in the north and in the southwest, the capital is London, which is the largest metropolitan area in both the United Kingdom and the European Union. In 1801, Great Britain was united with the Kingdom of Ireland through another Act of Union to become the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.
In 1922 the Irish Free State seceded from the United Kingdom, leading to the latter being renamed the United Kingdom of Great Britain, the name England is derived from the Old English name Englaland, which means land of the Angles. The Angles were one of the Germanic tribes that settled in Great Britain during the Early Middle Ages, the Angles came from the Angeln peninsula in the Bay of Kiel area of the Baltic Sea. The earliest recorded use of the term, as Engla londe, is in the ninth century translation into Old English of Bedes Ecclesiastical History of the English People. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, its spelling was first used in 1538. The earliest attested reference to the Angles occurs in the 1st-century work by Tacitus, the etymology of the tribal name itself is disputed by scholars, it has been suggested that it derives from the shape of the Angeln peninsula, an angular shape. An alternative name for England is Albion, the name Albion originally referred to the entire island of Great Britain.
The nominally earliest record of the name appears in the Aristotelian Corpus, specifically the 4th century BC De Mundo, in it are two very large islands called Britannia, these are Albion and Ierne. But modern scholarly consensus ascribes De Mundo not to Aristotle but to Pseudo-Aristotle, the word Albion or insula Albionum has two possible origins. Albion is now applied to England in a poetic capacity. Another romantic name for England is Loegria, related to the Welsh word for England, the earliest known evidence of human presence in the area now known as England was that of Homo antecessor, dating to approximately 780,000 years ago. The oldest proto-human bones discovered in England date from 500,000 years ago, Modern humans are known to have inhabited the area during the Upper Paleolithic period, though permanent settlements were only established within the last 6,000 years
Sean O'Sullivan (snooker player)
Sean Francis OSullivan is an English professional snooker player. OSullivan turned professional in 2012 after qualifying via Event 2 of the Q School and gained a two-year tour card for the 2012/13 and 2013/14 snooker seasons. In the event, he beat Christopher Keogan 4–1, Nick Dyson 4–0, Mohammed Al Shaikh from Bahrain 4–1 and Michael Wild 4–3, before seeing off Ryan Causton 4–1 in the quarter-finals. OSullivan lost his first nine matches as a professional, picking up his first victory in the minor-ranking European Tour Event 3 by beating David Gilbert 4–3, before losing 4–2 to Jimmy Robertson. The tournament formed part of the Players Tour Championship events, with OSullivan playing in all ten tournaments and his best run of results came in qualifying for the China Open, where he defeated Craig Steadman and Alfie Burden, but lost 5–3 to Rory McLeod. OSullivans season ended when he was beaten 10–6 by Michael Wasley in the first round of World Championship Qualifying and he finished his first year on tour ranked world number 91.
He dropped off the tour at the end of the season as he was ranked world number 102, OSullivan entered Q School in a bid to win his place back, but lost in the last 32 in both events. OSullivan dropped just two frames in reaching the last 16 of the Paul Hunter Classic where he lost 4–0 to Michael Holt and he would ultimately finish 38th on the European Order of Merit. In the main ranking events he qualified for the International Championship courtesy of a 6–3 win over Robin Hull, OSullivan made five breaks of 50 or above to eliminate Kurt Maflin 6–3 in the first round of the UK Championship, before being defeated 6–4 by Matthew Selt. He could only win one match after this and lost 10–5 to Ross Muir in the first round of World Championship qualifying. Official Website Pro Snooker Blog profile
Anthony Hamilton (snooker player)
Anthony Stephen Hamilton is an English professional snooker player noted for his strong break-building technique and distinctive appearance. He has spent five seasons ranked among the games top 16, known as a prolific break builder, Hamilton has compiled more than 250 competitive century breaks during his career. Having long been considered by many as the best player to never win a tournament, Hamilton won his first title in 2017. Hamilton turned professional in 1991, entering the worlds top 32 in 1995/1996, Hamilton has reached two ranking tournament finals. In the British Open in 1999, where he lost to Fergal OBrien, the other was the 2001 China Open. Mark Williams beat him 9–8, despite Hamilton having led 8–5 and he made the first of his four World Championship quarter-finals in 2000, losing 3–13 to John Higgins. He reached the quarter-finals of the World Championship on three occasions, but without reaching the semi-final stage. In 2002, he lost 6–13 to eventual winner Peter Ebdon, in 2004, he made two consecutive century breaks to come from 0–2 down to level at 2–2 in his quarter-final against eventual champion Ronnie OSullivan, but eventually lost the match by 3–13.
Hamiltons 438 points scored in this match are a low for a World Championship Quarter-final. He has the highest ever total in a first-round match at the Crucible,1271 against Chris Small in 1999. In 1997 he reached the round, facing John Parrott at this stage he scored 414 unanswered points in frames 1–5. Hamilton did not fare well in the 2006 World Championship, losing 1–10 in the round to Mark Williams. However, a two seasons ensured that he reclaimed a top 16 place. Hamilton began the 2006/2007 season at the Northern Ireland Trophy, losing 3–5 against Ding Junhui, at the Grand Prix Hamilton lost all five of his group stage matches, and didnt advance to the knockout stage. Hamilton lost 7–9 against Rod Lawler in the first round of the UK Championship, 3–6 in the round of the Masters. Hamilton than lose in the first round of the China Open 4–5 against Mark Selby, Hamilton reached his fourth World Championship quarter-final, pulling off a surprise 10–3 victory over Marco Fu in round 1, and a 13–8 second round win over Ian McCulloch.
However, he couldnt advance to the stage, losing 7–13 to Stephen Maguire. As a result, he did not retain his top sixteen place, Hamilton began the 2007/2008 season at the Shanghai Masters, where he lost 4–5 against Adrian Gunnell in the last qualifying round
Liverpool
Liverpool is a major city and metropolitan borough in North West England.24 million people in 2011. Liverpool historically lay within the ancient hundred of West Derby in the south west of the county of Lancashire and it became a borough from 1207 and a city from 1880. In 1889 it became a county borough independent of Lancashire, Liverpool sits on the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary and its growth as a major port is paralleled by the expansion of the city throughout the Industrial Revolution. Along with general cargo, raw materials such as coal and cotton, the city was directly involved in the Atlantic slave trade. Liverpool was home to both the Cunard and White Star Line, and was the port of registry of the ocean liner RMS Titanic and others such as the RMS Lusitania, Queen Mary, and Olympic. The city celebrated its 800th anniversary in 2007, and it held the European Capital of Culture title together with Stavanger, several areas of Liverpool city centre were granted World Heritage Site status by UNESCO in 2004.
The Liverpool Maritime Mercantile City includes the Pier Head, Albert Dock, tourism forms a significant part of the citys economy. Liverpool is the home of two Premier League football clubs and Everton, matches between the two being known as the Merseyside derby, the world-famous Grand National horse race takes place annually at Aintree Racecourse on the outskirts of the city. The city is home to the oldest Black African community in the country. Natives of Liverpool are referred to as Liverpudlians and colloquially as Scousers, a reference to scouse, the word Scouse has become synonymous with the Liverpool accent and dialect. Pool is a place name element in England from the Brythonic word for a pond, inlet, or pit, cognate with the modern Welsh. The derivation of the first element remains uncertain, with the Welsh word Llif as the most plausible relative and this etymology is supported by its similarity to that of the archaic Welsh name for Liverpool Llynlleifiad. Other origins of the name have suggested, including elverpool.
The name appeared in 1190 as Liuerpul, and it may be that the place appearing as Leyrpole, in a record of 1418. King Johns letters patent of 1207 announced the foundation of the borough of Liverpool, the original street plan of Liverpool is said to have been designed by King John near the same time it was granted a royal charter, making it a borough. The original seven streets were laid out in an H shape, Bank Street, Castle Street, Chapel Street, Dale Street, Juggler Street, Moor Street, in the 17th century there was slow progress in trade and population growth. Battles for the town were waged during the English Civil War, in 1699 Liverpool was made a parish by Act of Parliament, that same year its first slave ship, Liverpool Merchant, set sail for Africa. Since Roman times, the city of Chester on the River Dee had been the regions principal port on the Irish Sea
Basildon
Basildon /ˈbæzɪldən/ is the largest town in the borough of Basildon in the county of Essex, England. It lies 32 miles east of Central London,11 miles south of the city of Chelmsford and 10 miles west of Southend-on-Sea, nearby smaller towns include Billericay to the north, Wickford northeast and South Benfleet to the east. It was created as a new town after World War II in 1948 to accommodate the London population overspill, from the conglomeration of four villages, namely Pitsea, Basildon. The new town took the name Basildon was the most central of the four. Basildon Town is one of the most densely populated areas in the county, Basildon has access to the City via road, on the A127, and A13. The first historical reference to Basildon is in records from 1086 and it is mentioned in the Domesday Book as Belesduna. The name Basildon may be derived from the Anglo-Saxon personal name Boerthal, in historical documents, this name had various forms over the centuries, including Berdlesdon and Belesduna.
A significant number of residents do commute to London. In the 1940s, Billericay Urban District Council and Essex County Council, concerned by lack of amenities in the area and by its development, Basildon was one of eight New Towns created in the South East of England after the passing of the New Towns Act. On 4 January 1949 Lewis Silkin, Minister of Town and Country Planning, Basildon Development Corporation was formed in February 1949 to transform the designated area into a modern new town. The New Town incorporated Laindon and Pitsea and was laid out around small neighbourhoods with the first house being completed in June 1951, the first tenants moved into homes in Redgrave Road in Vange. A large, illuminated town sign Basildon Town Centre Site at 3.5 feet was erected in 1956 by the railway, the first leader elected for the local government district in 1974 was Ryan ORourke. Unusually, since March 2010 Basildon has a famous white Hollywood sign, reading Basildon, at five feet tall. Opponents from all parties believe spending could have been directed toward social problems, the constituency of Basildon was considered a barometer of public opinion in general elections.
The results of the elections have been the same as the overall result of general elections since 1983. Basildon was said to epitomise the working class conversion to Thatcherism during the 1980s, nor did the Conservative Party ever hold an absolute majority in the town - its success was due to the split between the SDP and the Labour Party. Basildon Man or Essex Man was coined to describe an aspirational working class voter, the current MP is Tory politician John Baron. Due to boundary changes, in the 2010 General Election the Basildon and Billericay constituency elected 1 MP and South Basildon, in terms of local politics Basildon District elects five Councillors to Essex County Council
Mark King (snooker player)
Mark King is an English professional snooker player. He has appeared in two ranking tournament finals - the 1997 Welsh Open, where he lost 2–9 to Stephen Hendry, and the 2004 Irish Masters. King has reached the last 16 of the World Championship seven times, in 1998,1999,2001,2002,2008,2009 and 2013, King turned professional in 1991 and advanced steadily through the rankings, reaching the top 48 by 1996. His 1997 Welsh Open final run lead to a top 32 place in the end of season rankings and he remained in the top 16 the following season without reaching a ranking quarter-final, but dropped out a year later. He made a return in 2000/2001, climbing to a career-high of #11. A poor 2002/2003 season ended with him dropping out of the top 16 again after defeat to Drew Henry 10–5 in the first round of the World Championship. In the post-match interview, King suggested that he had lost patience with the game, King retracted this statement and began the following season in the qualifiers. After the 2004 World Championship, King became involved in a battle with Quinten Hann after his friend Andy Hicks eliminated Hann in a controversial first-round clash.
Hann had been making provocative gestures during the match and after Hicks took victory, upset by Hanns behaviour, King challenged the Australian to a boxing match, for which King was criticised, as Hanns behaviour had already put the game into disrepute. Nevertheless, the bout went ahead and Hann controversially won the fight on a points decision, in December 2004, King beat Mark Williams, Alan McManus and John Parrott en route to the semi-finals of the UK Championship, losing 9–4 to eventual winner Stephen Maguire. At 8–3, a mobile phone went off in the crowd, prompting King to quip if thats my missus, tell her Ill be home soon. In 2005, King beat Ronnie OSullivan 9–8 at the same event, King would eventually lose 9–6 in the last 16 to Joe Perry, but made a career best 146 break at the 2006 Championships. In 2007, King went out to David Gilbert in the round for the event. In the 2008 World Championship, King beat six-times runner-up Jimmy White to qualify, shocked the previous years runner-up Mark Selby 10–8, after potting the match ball, King showed his delight by shouting Get in.
He lost to Peter Ebdon in the last 16, but his place was secure. A consistent 2008/2009 season saw King retain his top 16 spot, at the 2009 Grand Prix King needed three snookers in the deciding frame against Ricky Walden to claim a 5–4 victory. He managed to get them and won by potting the final black, in the next round he lost to Robert Milkins. At the 2010 China Open King defeated Thai player James Wattana 5–4 in the first round after trailing 2–4 and he won his second match 5–3 against Chinese player Tian Pengfei to reach his first Quarter final since the 2007 Malta Cup
Elliot Slessor
Elliot Slessor is an English professional snooker player. In May 2013, Slessor qualified for the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 professional Main Tour as one of four semi-finalists from the first Q School event, Slessor began playing snooker at the age of eight after his grandfather bought him a table for Christmas. He joined the main tour in May 2013 after he won through Qualifying School courtesy of a 4–0 victory over Chris Wakelin. His debut at the stage of a ranking event came at the Indian Open by seeing off Kurt Maflin 4–2. In New Delhi he lost 4–2 to Mark Davis, Slessor suffered first round exits at the UK Championship and Welsh Open 6–2 to Liang Wenbo and 4–1 to Stephen Maguire respectively. He finished his first season on tour ranked world number 112, Slessor automatically played in the opening rounds of the UK Championship and Welsh Open, where he was knocked out 6–4 by David Gilbert and 4–3 by Jamie Cope. He qualified for the China Open by coming back from 3–1 down against Xiao Guodong to win 5–4.
He raced into a 3–0 lead over Matthew Selt and held on to beat him 5–3, Slessor faced reigning world champion Mark Selby and was thrashed 5–0. He played in Q School to try and win his place back on the tour as he finished the season as the world number 91, Slessor played in five of the six European Tour events and reached the main draw in all of them. His only win came against Liang Wenbo 4–0 at the Gdynia Open, Slessor gained a two-year tour card starting in the 2016/2017 season after coming through qualifying from the EBSA Play-Offs at the end of the 2015/2016 season. Slessor beat Jamie Rhys Clarke 4–3 in the final round, official player profile of Elliot Slessor. World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association
England