Time for Bahrain

So here we go, Bahrain.

The first tournament in Bahrain ever, starts today but, in my opinion, it has failure written all over it.

Okay, so tickets are selling well and all the players are loving it but there are problems.

1. It's in Bahrain, hardly the most Snooker crazy country on Earth.

2. The Wildcards, it's obvious they're not going anywhere.

3. But most importantly. Where are the top players? Ronnie, Selby, Ding, Higgins and it looks like Steve Davis is going to pull out, all because of the Premier League clashing! Who makes up the dates? OK, so we might have a surprise winner. Day, Cope and Trump spring to mind but seriously? It can't go without the last two World Champions.

It looks like Eurosport aren't starting there coverage until Monday (?) So unfortunately we won't get to watch those talented Bahrainians (if you put it like that) get whitewashed 5-0.

What a shame.