Matthew Stevens was also in multiple Crucible finals without winning it.

Any sporting event in Saudi Arabia is held in alignment with the regime. World Snooker is now working with a regime that outlaws homosexuality, murders dissenters, tortures criminals and treats women as second class citizens. It is hugely depressing how many sports are cosying up to the depraved regime.

The complaints should start by working with a corrupt and barbaric regime. This is different to just holding an event in a country with a questionable human rights record.

Does more money make an event of greater prestige? Tennis and golf have had or currently that are bigger money events than Grand Slams and majors but nobody suggests these events are more prestigious.

The only other two were Doug Mountjoy and David Taylor in the 1978 final

Ding had already reached the UK final as a qualifier in 2005.

O’Sullivan does sometimes play semi-finals in the BBC events during the evening. They have a programme on BBC Two for the Saturday evening semi-final and he’s occasionally involved in that slot. He beat Marco Fu in a UK semi on a Saturday night and Stuart Bingham in a Masters semi. Those are the examples I can remember.

Totally agree about the dress code being a dull topic.

I always felt Coventry had bigger crowds in the early days.

Crowds good yesterday but the first three days there were some empty seats.

Another argument against it is working with a barbaric regime. This deal would involve direct involvement with a regime that has carried out a catalogue of human rights violations including the murder of Jamal Khashoggi. The way so many sports are ignoring this is hugely unedifying.

Worst possible final ever..hypocrite robot Selby Vs Tory boy Murphy..rather watch paint dry

Worst semi line up ever..only hope Bingham or Wilson win it all, can't have the robot Selby or Tory boy Murphy winning it..

Snooker enthusiasts will enjoy this entertainingly informative podcast

Thanks for the podcast dave. Us hardcore's appreciate it

Excellent podcast. Thanks