The Snooker Thread

[Ali TT]

He was absolutely nowhere near his best this week and was undoubtedly battling his inner demons. His interviews were a mess and he was talking utter rubbish half the time. The first session of the Final he looked like he couldn't give a ****, but he turned up in the evening and blew Carter away (who fell apart under the pressure). He clearly hates Carter too and stuck the knife in post match as well.

If he wins the World Championship in May he'll get the 8-8-8 of the Majors.

Was a bit surprised to see Carter still doing the rounds. Snooker is definitely an older man's game these days.

 

[Aidan11]

I was surprised to learn that Ray Reardon is still alive.

I must have had one of those Mandela Effect moments as I could have sworn he'd died.

Still going strong at 91 years old.

 

[Ali TT]

Brecel's defence lasted one match, dumped out by David Gilbert in the first round despite being 9-6 up.

 

[Tom Flint]

Says he didn't feel comfortable centre of attention. Will need to get used to it if he plans on being a top player

 

[Ali TT]

Ronnie breezing through but only one of the Chinese contingent getting past the first round, although that is last year's semi finalist Si, who knocked out Mark Williams.

 

[Molehill]

Ominous for everyone else with Ronnie looking dialled in.

Meanwhile, starting to look like the World Championships will be leaving Sheffield for Saudi Arabia after 2027. I hardly watch any snooker anyway, but that will pretty much finish my interest in it.

 

[Ali TT]

Ominous for everyone else with Ronnie looking dialled in.

Meanwhile, starting to look like the World Championships will be leaving Sheffield for Saudi Arabia after 2027. I hardly watch any snooker anyway, but that will pretty much finish my interest in it.

Reckon it'll end up at Wembley or another larger, multi-purpose venue. They want a bigger crowd, no? Who's going to go in Saudi?

I haven't watched snooker at the Crucible but have seen a play there and did wonder how the hell they fit two full size snooker tables in.

 

[Molehill]

Reckon it'll end up at Wembley or another larger, multi-purpose venue. They want a bigger crowd, no? Who's going to go in Saudi?

I haven't watched snooker at the Crucible but have seen a play there and did wonder how the hell they fit two full size snooker tables in.

They don't need people to attend, they'll just offer stupid amounts of money and the likes of Hearn and the players will make loads more money than they currently do.

3 sessions a day for 2 and a half weeks (mostly in the week), that's a lot of tickets to sell. You wonder how many more they could actually sell in London.

 

[Ali TT]

They don't need people to attend, they'll just offer stupid amounts of money and the likes of Hearn and the players will make loads more money than they currently do.

3 sessions a day for 2 and a half weeks (mostly in the week), that's a lot of tickets to sell. You wonder how many more they could actually sell in London.

5:1 demand to supply I read? So that's 4000 plus in a venue and reckon demand would be higher in London. Hearn likes to bully, so Saudi will be a threat, but he's also been moaning about capacity to meet ticket demand so would be odd to go to somewhere where the atmosphere will be dead.

 

[Molehill]

5:1 demand to supply I read? So that's 4000 plus in a venue and reckon demand would be higher in London. Hearn likes to bully, so Saudi will be a threat, but he's also been moaning about capacity to meet ticket demand so would be odd to go to somewhere where the atmosphere will be dead.

China is the other option, and they'd definitely fill the venue there. Although, whether they could charge the same for tickets would be questionable.

They already have the Masters in London, doesn't seem right to go there again for the World Championship.

 

[Molehill]

Feels like this tournament got the semi finalists Barry Hearn deserved.

I suspect not many will be watching over the weekend.

 

[Ali TT]

Feels like this tournament got the semi finalists Barry Hearn deserved.

I suspect not many will be watching over the weekend.

Revenge of the journeymen! Although with one previous champion and another losing finalist, the standard is still quite high.

Snooker needs a couple of young stars with a bit of personality to come through. Possibly not helped by a bunch of Chinese players being suspended I guess.

 

[Ali TT]

Kyren Wilson wins the championship after racing to a 7-0 lead over Jake Jones early on and staying comfortably ahead ever after, despite needing 5 frames to get over the line. An emotional prize-giving, especially with Wilson's youngest son running over to shake Jones's hand.

 

[Molehill]

Kyren Wilson wins the championship after racing to a 7-0 lead over Jake Jones early on and staying comfortably ahead ever after, despite needing 5 frames to get over the line. An emotional prize-giving, especially with Wilson's youngest son running over to shake Jones's hand.

Let's be honest, it was a terrible final. Jones was making breaks more by chance than skill at the end, his positional play fell apart. Wilson got the job done, but he can play better. It was a reminder how the best players make break building seem so effortless when you always put the cue ball where you want it. These two seemed incapable of it and every shot needed 30 seconds of thought time. It was a painful watch.

Interestingly, a guy I follow for golf trends did one for the snooker. He came up with two potential winners, Trump and Wilson who was 28-1 at the start. So he wasn't a totally unpredictable winner.

 

[Ali TT]

Let's be honest, it was a terrible final. Jones was making breaks more by chance than skill at the end, his positional play fell apart. Wilson got the job done, but he can play better. It was a reminder how the best players make break building seem so effortless when you always put the cue ball where you want it. These two seemed incapable of it and every shot needed 30 seconds of thought time. It was a painful watch.

Interestingly, a guy I follow for golf trends did one for the snooker. He came up with two potential winners, Trump and Wilson who was 28-1 at the start. So he wasn't a totally unpredictable winner.

Wilson has been a regular in the second week of the WC over most of the last decade. He's also a pretty good break builder but lost the plot in the last session as nerves got the better of him. Not sure about Jones, could be a fluke but there's definitely players who like the longer format (Wilson being an obvious one), so we may see him in the latter stages again.

 

[Molehill]

Wilson has been a regular in the second week of the WC over most of the last decade. He's also a pretty good break builder but lost the plot in the last session as nerves got the better of him. Not sure about Jones, could be a fluke but there's definitely players who like the longer format (Wilson being an obvious one), so we may see him in the latter stages again.

Well he made the QF's last season on his debut, so probably no fluke. At the end of the season, it often suits the grinders who have not necessarily had the best season up to that point (Wilson ticked this box perfectly) and have energy left in the tank. Selby and Higgins would be others who seem to excel when it becomes a proper long battle. The likes of Ronnie or Trump have the ability to outclass the others, but if they're not at their best, they can be outbattled over a longer format.

I suspect we'll see Jones in the latter stages again.

 

[CartyDurham]

Ray Reardon has died at 91 from cancer

one of the all time greats and such sad news

rip Ray and thanks for the entertainment

 

[CartyDurham]

Shanghai masters in play and the semi final first session saw Judd Trump 8-1 up v Ronnie O’Sullivan

just started again and Ronnie took the first 2-8 , first to 10

 

[CartyDurham]

Trump beat O’Sullivan 10-3

he plays Shaun Murphy in the final tomorrow

 

[CartyDurham]

Trump wins the Shanghai Masters by beating Murphy 11-5 in the final