Snooker bosses have been criticised for 'unacceptable' conditions at the Wuhan Open qualifiers, but not everyone agrees with the complaints. The new snooker season is underway, with qualifiers for the China Open and Wuhan Open held at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester. Summer is not the obvious season for snooker, but the professional calendar is nearly year-round, meaning important matches are played in the hottest months.
Players Feel the Heat
On Wednesday in Leicester, players struggled with high temperatures. World number 43 Matt Selt posted a picture of himself with a cloth on his head, captioning it: 'Got the W yesterday, but the biggest achievement was managing not to pass out.' Metro has been told it was 'boiling' in the arena, and a player confirmed he had a 'right dab on.'
Coach Stephen Feeney's Outburst
Coach Stephen Feeney, who has worked with Mark Williams, Ronnie O'Sullivan, and Stephen Hendry, hit out at the temperatures, calling them 'unacceptable for professional events.' On Facebook, he wrote: 'Once again players have had to play Ranking Event Qualifying Matches in unacceptable furnace-like conditions. Some players are visibly soaked with sweat within five minutes of entering their match cubicle. And don't forget the referees – it's the same for them too. Something has to be done!' He criticised the floor-to-ceiling black 'blankets' fencing in the match tables, saying they trap hot air and prevent cool air from entering, while table lights and heaters turn the arena into a 'cauldron.'
Michael Holt Disagrees
Michael Holt, who made the first 147 of his career at the China Open qualifiers, did not see the heat as an issue. 'It was warm, but if anyone's blaming conditions then it's just excuses,' Holt told Metro. 'If anyone's practice table was as good as that they'd be making hundred after hundred. If you hit the ball properly you'll play well.'
WST Response
World Snooker Tour issued a statement: 'The temperature outside is very warm and inevitably impacts the temperature in the arena. We are doing all we can to moderate this, using air conditioning at its highest level. As always we aim to provide the best possible playing conditions in the circumstances.'
