The qualifying rounds of the Shanghai Masters 2016 were held in Barnsley from August 30 to September 2, 2016. These are the only qualifiers still played under a true tiered system. None of the Grove players involved managed to book their place in the final stages. Neil and Judd, of course, will be in Shanghai as top 16 seeds. All the results, as always, are on cuetracker.

The Paul Hunter Classic 2016 was held in Fürth, Germany, as usual and ran from August 24 to August 29, 2016. It is now a full ranking event, but still involves amateurs and still has the same format as the former PTCs. It was a rather down-key event, as most of the top 16 players gave it a miss, including Judd and Neil, and it wasn’t on television, only on streaming. It was won by Mark Selby, but the highlight of it was probably Jimmy White reaching the QF for …

Ponds Forge, Sheffield, 6-13 April 2016.
Every player outside the top 16 had to win three matches to qualify for the television stage of the World Championship 2016. This means that, of course, Judd and Neil qualified automatically, but all other Grove players had to compete in Ponds Forge. Only Zhang Anda managed to win his three matches and will play at the Crucible as a qualifier. The players don’t know their opponents yet, the draw will be made today.

All detailed results are on cuetracker.net as usual

Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales – 15-21 February 2016
Neil made it to the final of the tournament but lost by 9-5 to Ronnie O’Sullivan. Judd and Yu Delu progressed to the last 16, losing to Joe Perry and Ronnie O’Sullivan respectively. None of the other Grove players went past the last 64.

The last 128 qualifying round for the China Open 2016 was played in Barnsley from 9 to 11 February 2016. Cao Yupeng got his last match carried over to the venue in March as he will play the World Champion. Judd, Neil, Li Hang and Yu Delu qualified for the event proper and will be in Beijing come March.
All the detailed results can be found on cuetracker.net

York Barbican, York – 24 November – 6 December, 2015.Neil won the UK Championship for the second time, beating Wenbo by 10-5. It was the first ever UK final, in 39 instalments, not featuring a UK or Irish player. Neil also made the first ever 147 in a UK Championship final in frame 6 of the match. It was the first in a triple crown final.
But Wenbo did play his part and many will have warmed to this lovely, animated boy who takes everyone along with him in his journey …

Sofia, Bulgaria – 6-8 November 2015
Only Judd made it to the Finals day; he reached the QF, losing 4-1 to Sam Baird, a devastating player on his day but sometimes inconsistent. Oliver Lines gave also a good account of himself; he got to the last 32, losing to an in-form Mark Williams.

All Grove players entered the Ruhr Open 2015, played in Mülheim, Germany, 9th-11th October 2015. It wasn’t a great success for the Grove team as Cao Yupeng, Judd and Neil lost in last 128 already. It was James Cahill who beat Neil though. No Grove player reached the final day … Liang Wenbo had to withdraw as well.

Barnsley, UK, 30 September – 3 October, 2015
All players had to win one match to qualify for the television stage of the International Championship that will be played in the Baihu Media Broadcasting Centre, Daqing, China, end October 2015. Liang Wenbo last 128 match has been held and will be played at the venue. Yu Delu, Oliver Lines, Cao Yupeng and Neil Robertson are China bound, but Judd Trump got whitewashed by Michael Wild, which was certainly the shock of the round.

Fürth, Germany – 28-30 August 2015
The Paul Hunter Classic 2015 was won by Ali Carter which is particularly fitting considering how he beat cancer twice over the last years. It was his first title since his return to the game. Very well done to him.
All Grove players made the trip to Germany, except for Neil. Judd was the only one to reach the finals day; he lost to Michael Holt in the QF.