The wording on the front page, “fabrica de jucători de snooker” means “snooker player factory” and the headline inside reads “Chinese snooker player factory”, although of course we have English players too!

To see a much bigger (readable) version click on the image below.

No Grove players in action in the first qualifying section, which involves World Snooker members outside the Main Tour. However, three players were in action in the first round of the second section.

Liu Song staged a remarkable comeback in beating Michael Judge 10-8 after trailing 1-6 towards the end of the first morning. However a great run of wins

Liu Chuang had a more comfortable day’s snooker, leading 7-2 at the close of play against 2003 Scottish Open winner David Grey, who now no longer plays on the Main Tour.

Sunday 6 March

Liu Chuang finished his match against David Grey, winning 10-3 and achieving breaks of 80, 67, 74 and 68 during the match.

Zhang Anda, who reached the Crucible last year before losing to Stephen Hendry, didn’t make it any further this year losing his first round match against Andrew Pagett 6-10.

Monday 7 March

Liu Song back in action against world no 53 Adrian Gunnell, ranked 15 places above him. This was a match where both players had periods of domination. After trailing 4-5 at the end of the morning session, Song won 5 frames in a row to lead 9-5. However Adrian then took the next 4 to come back to 9-9 before Song managed to win a tense deciding frame.

Jack Lisowski made his WSC qualifiers debut in the second round today against Kuldesh Johal and trails 4-5 after the first session.

Tuesday 8 March

Liu Chuang beat six-time World finalist Jimmy White 10-9 in an epic encounter which ended at 11.10pm tonight. No one player took advantage through the match and Chuang comfortably took the crucial deciding frame to set up an early morning Thursday meeting with world no 33 Tom Ford.

Jack Lisowski took 6 of the 8 frames played today to wrap up his match against Kuldesh Johal 10-8. Snooker legend Steve Davis awaits in the next round.

Wednesday 9 March

Liu Chuang enjoyed a fantastic win against Tom Ford in the third qualifying round. Tom is ranked no 33, 36 places higher than Chuang, but Chuang showed no signs of tiredness from the previous night’s marathon as he raced into a 6-3 lead at the end of the morning session, thanks to breaks of 127, 66, 56, 71 and 91.

When the players resumed at 7pm Tom stepped up a gear to level on 8-8. Chuang then came from 55-16 down to steal the next on the colours and completed his victory by winning 60-11 in frame 18.

Liu Song had an excellent start in his third round match against world no 47 Mark Joyce, racing to a 7-2 lead after the afternoon session.

Thursday 10 March

Liu Song wrapped up his third round match against Mark Joyce 10-6 and now meets Joe Perry in the final qualifying round on Saturday.

Jack Lisowski lost an epic encounter with six-time world champion Steve Davis 9-10. Jack led 6-3 after the first session but Steve benefitted from his additional 30 years of playing experience to close the match out on the deciding frame.

Matthew Selt was involved in another very close tie, finally coming thought 10-9 against Patrick Wallace.

The weekend

Judd Trump made it through to the Crucible with a 10-4 victory over David Gilbert.

It was agonisingly close for our other three players still in the mix. Liu Chuang lost to Ryan Day 7-10 and Matthew Selt and Liu Song were both defeated by Marcus Campbell and Joe Perry respectively. Bad news for these three players but a good week’s work which saw Matt retain his top 48 status for the start of next season, and both Chuang and Song stay on the Tour with a top 64 place guaranteed.

A good day for the Grove’s Chinese players with Liu Song beating Noppon Saengkham and Zhang Anda overcoming Patrick Wallace, both by a scoreline of 5-2. Liu Chuang had a tougher game against Jak Jones but came out victorious 5-3.

Friday 25 February, 2nd round:

Liu Song’s excellent form continued with a 5-0 wupping of Adrian Gunnell. Other Grove players didn’t fare so well. Jack Lisowski played his first match but lost 4-5 to Kurt Maflin – definitely the tie of the round with both players making two century breaks each. Zhang Anda lost 1-5 to Alfie Burden and Liu Chuang was beaten 3-5 by Jimmy White.

Saturday 26 February, 3rd round:

Liu Song and Matthew Selt both exit at the last 64 stage. Song had a tough game against in-form Tom Ford and after going 2-0 down managed to take the next three frames. However the higher ranked player’s form shows and Tom won 5-3. Matthew played his first match in the event against Alfie Burden and was defeated 4-5.

Sunday 27 February, 4th round:

Judd Trump was the only Grove player taking part today and he booked his seat to China and the final stages with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Ben Woollaston.

Lisowski, who is in his debut season on the professional tour, gave a fine account of himself at his first domestic venue, showing off his undoubted potting talent – though also a rawness which ultimately cost him the match.

A break of 70 gave the 19-year-old left-hander the first frame, but he missed several chances in the second and Higgins took it on the colours. Runs of 58 and 50 put Higgins 3-1 up.

Back came World No 58 Lisowski with 32 and 47 to win frame five, and he edged an error-strewn sixth after Higgins missed a long final green. Lisowski had an early chance in the decider but could only make 15 before missing a risky red to a centre pocket. That proved his last shot as Higgins knocked in 59 for victory.

“Jack’s a great young talent,” said World No 1 Higgins, who faces Dave Harold in the last 16. “He’s got a great way around the table and he’s got a bright future in the game. I’ve only seen clips of the young Jimmy White on Youtube but Jack reminds me of him.” (From worldsnooker.com)

Qualifying:

Jack Lisowski continued his great run of form which saw him reach the last 32 of the German Masters last month. Taking part in the second qualifying round for the first time due to his recent elevation to the top 64, he first beat Liam Highfield 4-1, then defeated Fergal O’Brien 4-0 and finished off with an excellent victory against World Open quarter-finalist Martin Gould 4-3. Jack’s reward is a first meeting against world No 1 John Higgins in Newport on Monday.

Three Grove players were involved in two first round matches – Liu Chuang and Zhang Anda were drawn against each other, with Chuang finishing up 4-2 winner. However Liu Song saw a good run of form end with a 0-4 defeat against Ben Woollaston.

Chaung and Matthew Selt joined Jack in round three with two wins, Chaung enjoying a close 4-3 victory over Anthony McGill, and Matt overcoming Jamie O’Neill by the same scoreline. However neither player was able to progress any further, with Chaung losing 1-4 to Dominic Dale and Matt losing 2-4 to Tony Drago. Judd Trump was unlucky not to progress to the final stages after losing 1-4 to Rod Lawler in round four.

Mark Williams held off a strong Mark Selby comeback in Berlin to claim his 18th ranking title with a 9-7 victory.

Williams led the Leicester man 7-4 in the evening session but Selby rallied strongly to level at 7-7. A tense 15th frame swung back and forth in front of the sell-out crowd in the Tempodrom, but crucially Williams pinched it and a break of 82 saw the world number two claim the title and the €50,000 winner’s cheque. Mark also beat Marco Fu, Joe Perry and Anthony McGill on his way to the title.

Mixed fortunes for our other players; Jack Lisowski and Liu Song, having made the final 32, were required to take part in a wildcard stage at this event.

Jack beat Belgian wonderkid Luca Brecel 5-2, but Song was defeated by Welsh amateur Daniel Wells by the same scoreline. It was a very tough draw as Daniel has had an excellent season is probably the best player outside the Main Tour at the moment.

5-2 turned out to be an unlucky combination for Jack and also for Judd Trump as they then lost their next matches by this scoreline, to Ricky Walden and Stephen Hendry respectively. The Grove can reflect on an excellent tournament for its young players who will consolidate their positions in the rankings with the victories earned to date.

Qualifying Event – 14-17 December 2010, Sheffield

A great qualifying tournament for the Grove’s players with three players making it through to the final televised stages for the first time.

Jack Lisowski was one of two players to win all three qualifying matches played, beating James McBain (who beat Jack in the Shanghai Masters qualifiers earlier in the season) 5-2, and then qorld no 35 Mike Dunn and world no 31 Marcus Campbell, both by scorelines of 5-3. Jack was delighted with his performance, telling us it was an “early Christmas present to himself”!

Liu Song also celebrated his return to the professional tour with three qualifying wins. Song beat Bjorn Haneveer 5-3, Jamie Burnett 5-4 and former world champion and world no 28 Ken Doherty, also by 5 games to 4.

Judd Trump, currently ranked 26 in the world, only had one qualifying match but overcame a tricky opponent in Jimmy Robertson 5-3, after falling 0-3 behind at one stage.

Matthew Selt had two wins in the first two qualifying rounds against Ben Woollaston and David Gilbert, both by 5-3, but then unfortunately lost 2-5 to Stephen Lee.

Zhang Anda lost 2-5 to Alfie Burden in the first round and Liu Chuang lost by the same scoreline in the same round to Jamie Jones.

All Main Tour players ranked 33-96 took part in the first and second rounds in qualifying this time, giving one less match to play for some of the Grove players, although qualifying matches are now the best of 9 instead of 7.

Liu Chuang and Jack Lisowski were both in round one and successfully negotiated their first-round opponents. Chuang beat Brazil’s Igor Figueiredo 9-4 and Jack won by the same scoreline – unfortunately at the expense of another Grove player, Zhang Anda.

Chuang then met Jimmy Michie, ranked 12 places above him at no 61 in the world, and won through 9-5.

Jack Lisowski met Matthew Selt in round two for another “Battle Of The Grove” and this was a close match until Matt pulled away to lead 8-5. Jack then won the next three frames but wasn’t able to snatch victory, Matt finishing the winner 9-8 late on Friday night.

Into round three and Chuang continued his winning ways with an excellent 9-5 victory against Alan McManus, ranked 26 places above him. Matt lost 6-9 though, to Dominic Dale.

Round four and Judd Trump secures his final place in the UK Championships proper up with a 9-7 win against Xiao Guodong. However Chuang’s excellent run comes to an end after losing a close match 9-8 against Ricky Walden.

Jack had a couple of narrow wins 4-3, firstly against Sam Harvey and then a great victory against world no 10 Graeme Dott. However, Jack lost in the third round by the same scoreline to another highly-ranked player, world no 18 Matthew Stevens.

Chuang received a walkover to round two where he beat world no 28 Joe Perry 4-2 but then was narrowly beaten 4-3 by world no 23 Barry Hawkins.

Liu Song also received a walkover to round two but then lost 3-4 to Jamie Cope. Cope then beat Anda in the third round 4-1. Anda had received a walkover to round two and then beaten Brazil’s Igor Figueiredo 4-2.

Judd Trump lost in round one to Adam Wicheard, 2-4 and Chinese amatuer player Chen Zhe managed to take one frame off world no 6 Stephen Maguire before losing 1-4. Matthew Selt beat Kurt Maflin 4-2 in the first round but then lost 1-4 to Stuart Bingham in the second.

Jack Lisowski and Zhang Anda also made it through to the last 32 with Judd. Jack enjoyed two 4-0 wins against Oliver Brown and Jurgen Kesseler but was then defeated 2-4 by Marcus Campbell. Anda had a great 4-2 win against world no 15 Jamie Cope and followed this up with a 4-0 win against Bjorn Haneveer but then lost 1-4 to Paul Davison.

Matthew Selt received a bye to round two after his first opponent, Kevin van Hove, withdrew but then lost 0-4 to Stephen Lee. Liu Chuang and Liu Song both made it through to round two as well after beating Jak Jones 4-2 and Maurice Le Duc 4-0 respectively. Chaung was then beaten 2-4 by Alfie Burden and Song lost 1-4 to Kurt Maflin. Chen Zhe was defeated in the first round by Rory McLeod 2-4.

A great performance from the Grove’s Liu Chuang who reached the last 16 after three good wins on Saturday, first beating Joe Swail 4-0 and then defeating world no 25 Andrew Higginson and world no 27 Ryan Day, both by a scoreline of 4-2. Chaung then followed this up with a great 4-2 win against world no 6 Shaun Murphy but then lost to Joe Jogia 2-4 for a place in the semi-finals.

A great first day also for Jack Lisowski who won all three games to reach the last 16. Jack beat Simon Bedford 4-1, Dave Gilbert 4-1 and Mark Joyce 4-2. However Jack’s next opponent was world no 7 Stephen Maguire who ran out the winner 4-2.

Judd Trump once again made it through to the last 32 by beating Les Dodd 4-1 and Thanawat Thiraponga 4-1 but then lost to an in-form Shaun Murhpy 0-4.

Liu Song followed up a 4-3 first round win against Sam Baird with a fantastic victory against world no 1 and world champion Neil Robertson, 4-2. Sadly Song wasn’t able to keep the momentum going and lost in the third round 2-4 to world no 20 Stephen Lee.

Matthew Selt was another Grove player who enjoyed a good start, beating Kurt Maflin 4-0 and then defeating six-times world champion Steve Davis 4-3. However his next opponent was world no 9 Mark Selby; Matt was defeated 2-4.

Zhang Anda lost his first round match against Ben Woollaston 1-4 and amateur Chen Zhe also lost at the same stage, to Mark Joyce 2-4.

Judd won all three of his Friday games to reach the last 16, beating Noppon Saengkham and David Morris each by 4 frames to 1, and then James Wattana 4-2. Judd then beat Stuart Bingham 4-2 to reach the last eight but lost 4-1 to the eventual winner, world no 32 Marcus Campbell.

There were exactly 128 entrants this time so no qualifying round, everyone went into round one.

Liu Chuang overcame another amateur, Robert Drahn, 4-0 in the first round and then had a great 4-0 win against world no 32 and the winner of last week’s PTC6, Dominic Dale to make it through to the last 32. However Chuang lost a close match 3-4 to Gerard Greene.

Liu Song edged a tight game against Adam Wicheard 4-3 but then lost to the in-form Martin Gould 1-4.

Zhang Anda had a great 4-2 win against world no 18 Mark Davis but then lost by the same scoreline to another tough opponent, world no 30 Ken Doherty.

Matthew Selt won his first round game against Martin O’Donnell 4-2 but then lost to Jak Jones 3-4. Jack Lisowski was defeated in the first round by Jamie Walker 1-4.

Grove amateur Chen Zhe lost his first match 2-4 to eventual finalist and world no 21 Liang Wenbo but Zhe is improving all the time and put in a great performance.