The answer to that question is that they removed all the seats on the ground level to make space for the snooker table, leaving the raked seating and the balcony for the audience. they then used the stage to display a giant screen showing a top-down view of the green baize.
Our compere, David Broadbent, explained the format for the night. First, John Virgo would show us some trick shots and then the two snooker celebrities would play three frames with John commentating. After a short interval, when certain pieces of signed snooker memorabilia could be purchased for £99 each, there would be a charity auction, followed by a Q&A with the three players, the questions to be submitted via a social media link.
The opening trick shot section fell flat because few of the volunteers managed to perform the shots successfully. If you're going to ask people of random ability to hit a cue ball, the tricks need to be foolproof. Even John Virgo failed to do the first trick. Only two of the five tricks worked, one being successful because the pink and black were glued together.
Once the two snooker players came to the table, the real talent showed. Jimmy opened with a winning seventy break and then easily won the second frame. The third required a rerack and was eventually taken by Ken. It was exciting to watch them play, even if it was just a demonstration match. John's commentary was mostly serious and only occasionally irreverent.
I expected John Virgo to provide the comedy, but to my surprise, Ken cracked most of the jokes, such as "The last time I got a 147, it was a bus." The predominantly male audience was rowdy, comments flying about like a Paisley Crowd Facebook post. The players didn't seem to mind, though.
The auction raised over a grand, with six signed cues selling for £160 each and two pieces of memorabilia selling for £180 each. I was barred from bidding because my wife, who is a snooker fan, wouldn't have them in the house.
The Q&A went well. All three shared warm stories about Hurricane Higgins and who they thought was the greatest player ever. They also took time to commemorate Ray Reardon and Terry Griffiths, both of whom passed away last year. They discussed who might win this year's World Championship and suggested it would be better for snooker to keep the competition at The Crucible in Sheffield—not that they had any say in the matter.
An interesting night, if a little bit different.
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| Merch £99 |
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| Auction prizes |
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| Q&A |
Ticket Price: £32.50 GBP (Standard) Price x 2 (total): 65.00 GBP, plus booking fee £2.50, total £67.50 from One Ren
Running Times:
Venue Doors and Bar open at 6:30pm
The event begins at 7:30pm
Interval (20mins): 8:30pm approx
Performance ends: Approx 9:50pm
Blurb
Join us for An Evening With ‘’The Whirlwind’’ Jimmy White as he takes on his special guest snooker commentator and 1997 world champion Ken Doherty in a thrilling exhibition masterclass between the two, who do you think will win! The evening will be hosted by the voice of snooker John Virgo!
On the night Jimmy & Ken will play a few frames and talk us through their illustrious career both on and off the table with John Virgo being his usual referee and commentator and also giving us an insight into everything from Jimmy’s 6 world championship runner up finishes, to his world seniors championship win!
The audience will then get the chance to put their questions to Jimmy, Ken and John in a live and unfiltered Q&A.
On the night Jimmy & Ken will play a few frames and talk us through their illustrious career both on and off the table with John Virgo being his usual referee and commentator and also giving us an insight into everything from Jimmy’s 6 world championship runner up finishes, to his world seniors championship win!
The audience will then get the chance to put their questions to Jimmy, Ken and John in a live and unfiltered Q&A.
