by elliott west
Prior to the Masters later this month, two of snooker’s top players travel to Hamm and Hamburg in Germany for two exhibition matches.
Judd Trump will play Kyren Wilson in matches that will be an added treat for German fans lucky enough to have tickets. Germany has become a bedrock of snooker in recent but sadly doesn’t have the clubs and tournaments that German fans crave.
The German Masters at the Tempodrom is probably one of the the best events on the tour and is adored by the players. The atmosphere and venue compliment each other and by the semi-finals, the auditorium is packed to the rafters. Germany only has one other tournament and that is the Paul Hunter Classic, sadly now not televised.
If you could pick two players to take part in this exhibition then both Judd and Kyren would be natural choices. Their youth and natural flair is clearly apparent on the green baize and always attract a large audience when either play.
Both great amateur players who have fine tuned their game for the professional tour and learnt from the hard knocks of their defeats. Wilson probably hasn’t won enough and has faded away in matches when his form floundered. Perhaps this was a natural blip, because he does have one of the best coaches in the sport, Barry Stark. Stark is a man who produces positivity in the players he takes under his wing and will be the first to find any remedial repairs to Wilson’s game.
In contrast, Judd Trump has just grown and grown. The Bristolian who could pot balls off the lampshades when he was a young child, really burst into the circuit when he played John Higgins in the final of the 2011 World Championship where he was narrowly beaten 15-18 after a late surge by the Scot. Trump had just won the China Open defeating Mark Selby, 10-8 and was starting to build up a head of steam. His best season has been this last one with multiple victories including the World Championship for the first time.
The stakes are high for both players when they play this exhibition, not because it involves monetary gain or ranking points but sets out their stall for the Masters. Here we will see if the practice has gone in or the eye has been taken off the ball for the Christmas festivities. Exhibitions are of course more relaxed than the main tour and give those taking part to have a laugh and let their hair down for once. However be in no doubt that these sportsmen want to win and these German exhibitions will be no exception!
Bringing this exhibition to Germany is a fantastic idea and really showcases the sport at its highest level. Eurosport and its German mouthpiece, the commentator and Master of Ceremonies, Rolf Kalb have been cited as the growth of interest in snooker in Germany and has led to the growth of a loyal fan base.
German audiences are the best that I have witnessed and are so knowledgeable. They know all the players, how the game works and treat their snooker heroes like rock stars. If this enthusiasm could be bottled it would sell for a fortune but sadly it can’t. So these two exhibitions will warm their hearts and quell their hunger for snooker!
