Review of the Snooker Year 2009

2009 was a vintage year.

Pick out your favourite memory as Global Snooker takes you back over the past twelve months.

January

The snooker year broke off (as always) with the Wembley Masters. Mark Selby began the defence of his title with a tough 6-5 win over wildcard, Ricky Walden. He went on to win two more matches and set up an enthralling final against home favourite, Ronnie O'Sullivan.

The Rocket spoiled Selby's party as he won the Maters for the fourth time.

February

The new global-snooker.com website is launched!

Reanne Evans regained her world number one spot, beating Emma Bonney in the final of the South Coast Classic.

Matthew Stevens launched the Welsh Open in Newport but failed to delight the home fans on the table.

By the end of day three there was not one single welshman remaining in the tournament.

Allister Carter won his maiden ranking title with a hard-fought win over the popular Irishman, Joe Swail.

Tony Knowles rolled back the years in the first stage of world championship qualifying by winning three matches to reach stage two.

March

Steve Davis was featured in 'Root Ginger', an art exhibition in London, celebrating redheads.

Tour rookie, Daniel Wells made it safely through stage two of the world championship qualifying and move within one match of a Crucible debut.

The EBSA European Team Championships took place in St. Petersburg in Russia and Global Snooker were there...

Belgium's teenage sensation, Luca Brecel became the youngest ever European Under 19 Champion.

A Welsh double in the Team events as they win both the Mens and Masters.

Judd Trump joined the Premier League after winning the Matchroom promoted Championship League at Crondon Park in Essex.

April

Global Snooker goes East and reports live from Beijing.

Peter Ebdon rescues his top-16 place by beating John Higgins in the final of the China Open.

Reanne Evans wins a record fifth world championship and threatens to cross the Atlantic and take on the US Pool circuit.

Michael Holt and Reanne Evans win the world mixed doubles championship in Cambridge.

Betfred sign new deal to sponsor the World Championship.

Michaela Tabb confirmed as the first woman to officiate a world final.

World Snooker announce new 6 Reds series.

Andha Zhang wins the Asian Under-21 title.

Mark Allen sends The Rocket crashing out in Sheffield.

Stephen Hendry makes his ninth competitive maximum 147 break.

May

John Higgins is crowned 2009 Btfred World Champion, and makes an assault on Ronnie's top spot in the world rankings.

James Wattana regains a place on the Main Professional Tour for 2009/10 with victory in the Asian Championship.

Former Tour Professional, Alfie Burden makes a maximum 147 break on his way to winning the sixth Pro-Ticket event.

Jimmy Robertson wins the English Amateur title.

June

Global Snooker is saddened to learn of the sudden death of leading coach and former professional, Steve Prest.

Tony Drago wins the European Play-Off and gains a place on the Main Tour 2009/10.

Mark Selby joins the maximum club with a 147 in China.

David Hogan wins an all-Irish final in the European Championship in Belgium and a place on the Main Tour.

Not So Wildcards announced for the 2009/10 Main Professional Tour.

Liam Highfield wins Businessland Under-21 series in Prestatyn.

World Snooker announce new table deal with Star.

Jack Lisowski beats Liam Highfield in the final of PIOS 1.

July

Liang Wenbo wins the BTV Beijing Challenge beating Stephen Maguire in the final.

Sindhu Pulsirivong promotes the second Sangsom 6-Red International in Bangkok, and Jimmy White returns to the winner's circle, beating Barry Hawkins in the final.

Alex Higgins appears on BBC TV's, "The Weakest Link".

Matthew Stevens ties the knot with fiancee, Clare.

Nigel Bond wins the gold medal at the 2009 World Games in Taiwan.

Stuart Bingham wins the Paul Hunter English Open.

Stephen Maguire beat fellow Scot Alan McManus 5-2 in the final of the first of the World Snooker Pro Challenge events in Leeds.

Liam Highfield beat three players named Jones, including Neal Jones in the final, to win the second PIOS event of the season

August

The Rocket, Ronnie O'Sullivan was faster than ever when he swapped his cue for a 130mph racing saloon at Silverstone.

World number 15, Mark Williams, made a disastrous start to the season almost before it began, by breaking his right wrist.

Noppon Saengkham defeats Soheil Vahedi in the deciding frame to win the IBSF world under 21 title in Iran.

Shaun Murphy is the first player to successfully defended his title at the Paul Hunter Classic in Fürth, Germany.

Stephen Maguire, the world number two and fellow Glaswegian, Jamie Burnett, were detained but later released without charge by Strathclyde Police

September

Ken Doherty won WSA Pro Challenge Event 2, The Super 6s, beating Martin Gould in the final.

Stephen Maguire withdraws from The Roewe Shanghai Masters with a shoulder injury.

Home-favourite, Liang Wenbo reaches the final of the Shanghai Masters but cannot deny Ronnie the opening ranking title of the new season.

October

Riley's sign Ronnie O'Sullivan in a six-figure deal to front a twelve-month promotional campaign.

Australian, Neil Robertson wins his fourth ranking event title in as many years with a stunning victory at the Kelvin Hall in Glasgow.

David Gray, after the former Scottish Open champion was found unconscious in the street during a holiday in Thailand.

ONEFORSEVEN, an excititng new snooker tournament format is launched with Andrew Pagett lifting the title and setting the world record in the process.

Liverpool’s Allan Taylor won the first Level 2 ONEFORSEVEN satellite event at The Q Bar in Chester beating the current world record by 12 points.

Jimmy White wins his second title overseas this season by adding the World Series of Snooker Prague title to his Sangsom 6-Red International that he won in Thailand.

Reanne Evans extends her remarkable unbeaten run on the women’s snooker circuit to 46 matches.

Leicester’s Ben Woollaston holds on for an impressive win in the first ONEFORSEVEN satellite event in Chester, despite a late surge from Judd Trump in the final round.

November

World Snooker announces Pukka Pies as the new title sponsor of the UK Championship.

Robert Milkins described Pro Challenge Three as the best tournament he has won after beating Joe Jogia 5-3 in the final in Leicester.

Stoke’s Dave Harold books his place at the ONEFORSEVEN WALES 2009 Final Tables by winning the second Satellite Event in Chester, smashing the world record in the process.

Ricky Walden finishes the New York marathon in a time of four hours and 17 minutes before setting his sights firmly on the bright lights of Telford and the Pukka Pies UK Championship.

Mark King added his name to the list of players’ competing for the first ever ONEFORSEVEN Wales title by winning a Satellite event in Essex.

Brazillian sensation, Igor Figueiredo became the first player from South America to reach the semi-finals of The IBSF World Championship in Hyderabad, India. However, it was England's Alfie Burden who had the last laugh, beating him 7-4 to land the title.

Darren Morgan reclaimed the IBSF World Masters title that he'd previously won in 2007, beating defending champion Dene O'Kane of New Zealand in a one sided final. -

Jimmy White withdraws from the UK Championship and takes part in ITV's, I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here.

December

Ding Junhui, wins his fourth ranking title, with a hard fought win over world champion, John Higgins.

Sir Rodney Walker removed as Chairman of World Snooker, along with Jim McMahon and Mike Dunn from the board of directors.

Anthony McGill wins PIOS 5 and moves into fourth place on the PIOS rankings.

Jimmy White gets the Masters wildcard and will make a welcome return to Wembley in the new year.

Barry Hearn is elected Chairman of World Snooker and Steve Davis is co-opted to the board.

Mark Davis beats Mark Williams to win the first ever 6-Reds World Championship in Killarney, Ireland.

The first ever ONEFORSEVEN event was staged by Global Snooker in Cardiff and Ryan Day finally claimed a title with a late surge to win this accumulative points format event.

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