Blog

Once again I find myself at an airport with some time to kill, so it’s the ideal opportunity to bring you up to speed with what’s been happening lately. I’m waiting for a flight to China to take part in the Jiangsu Classic, a great tournament which brings together some top-quality players.

It’s such a long flight, though. You feel like you should be landing soon and then you look at your watch and see you’ve got another eight hours to go!

But it’s great to be going back to China, it’s an amazing country and they love their snooker. It’s a shame this event isn’t a bit closer to the start of the season - it would act as a great launch pad for the new campaign.

A lot of players put their cues away for the summer once the World Championships finish, but there are quite a few, myself included, who like to take part in invitational tournaments like this one in China.

I’ve been practising hard all week for it. I lost a final frame decider in last year’s final to Ding Junhui, so I would like to go one better this time around, which is why I’ve been putting the work in.

I played world eight-ball pool champion Gareth Potts a couple of times during the week – he’s not too shabby on a snooker table and knocks in the odd ton. I didn’t remind him of my win against him in the 2006 pool final, though, I think he would have demanded a re-match there and then! Mind you, I did say I would help him practise before he defends his title in Blackpool which starts at the end of this month, so we should be quits!

Gareth would be more than capable of holding his own on an amateur snooker tour, and Mick Hill is another pool star who springs to mind who is a decent snooker player. There are plenty of pool players out there who perhaps don’t the credit they deserve for being very good cuemen.

While I’ve been stuck indoors, the weather has been fantastic. Typical! Vikki has been lying around in the back garden sunning herself, while I’ve been slaving away in the dark. I’ve not even had much chance to improve my golf.

I have got down to the driving range a couple of times, but I am still waiting to go out on the course for the first time. I’ve bought myself a new bag for my clubs, and I’ve got a new pair of shoes too. But I’ve drawn the line at a pair of plus-fours! Hopefully when I get back from China I can get out on the course and do some damage!

Did you see the final of Britain’s Got Talent? I was hooked last week waiting to see who would be crowned the winner. I have to say, though, I was surprised to see Diversity do it, I thought it was going to be Susan Boyle. But they were brilliant on the night and deserved it. My tip was Aidan Davis, I thought his dancing was amazing, but he didn’t quite do it on the night.

Hats off to all the contestants, they were all very talented. I wouldn’t even think about walking on that stage, I’d get buzzed straight away!

My fellow Leicester pals Kasabian played three gigs in the city at the weekend to help launch their new album. I wasn’t able to make it, but it’s about time I returned the favour after the support they have shown me at tournaments during the past couple of years. They are supporting Oasis in the summer so hopefully I’ll get along to one of those shows.

Their new album is out on June 8 - mind you, I’ve not even heard a sneak preview yet. Obviously my copy got lost in the post! But the lads are doing very well and I wish them all the best.

*More on Mark's Jiangsu Classic bid in the Latest News section