Snooker bosses have been scolded for what some describe as 'unacceptable' conditions at the Wuhan Open qualifiers, though not everyone agrees. 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 almost year-round, leading to important games in the hottest months.
Players Feel the Heat
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.' Others described the venue as 'boiling,' and one player confirmed he had a 'right dab on.'
Coach Stephen Feeney's Criticism
Coach Stephen Feeney, who has worked with stars like Mark Williams, Ronnie O'Sullivan, and Stephen Hendry, hit out at the temperatures, calling them unacceptable. 'Once again players have had to play in unacceptable furnace-like conditions,' he wrote on Facebook. 'Some players are visibly soaked with sweat within five minutes. Something has to be done!' He pointed to floor-to-ceiling black blankets that trap heat, preventing cooling.
Mixed Reactions
Michael Holt, who made the first 147 of his career in the China Open qualifiers, disagreed. 'It was warm, but if anyone's blaming conditions there, it's just excuses,' Holt told Metro. 'If anyone's practice table was as good as that, they'd be making hundred after hundred.'
World Snooker Tour Responds
A statement from World Snooker Tour said: 'The temperature outside is very warm, and inevitably that impacts the arena. We are doing all we can to moderate this, using air conditioning at its highest level.'
