Snooker

[FrankMunro-371]

It's a shame that the title is going to go to someone who hasn't particularly been in good form and has spent 90% of the tournament playing attritional, grating snooker.

Fair play to him, there's more than one way to skin a cat. Just a shame it's been such a dull watch.

You don't like Mark Selby, do you...??

 

[Parkins left foot]

Another 1 back for Ding, so game still on

 

[FrankMunro-371]

Another 1 back for Ding, so game still on

But every time time Ding looks like he is getting back into it, Selby finds another gear.

 

[Parkins left foot]

Another one for Ding with a superb 100 break

Only 2 down now - has some momentum now so not over yet

 

[The Bear]

You don't like Mark Selby, do you...??

Yes. He is a great player. Unfortunately his current incarnation us more like Ebdon than anyone else. Who I don't like.

 

[North West Wanderer]

I prefer the gritty frames,
Rather than the breaks.

 

[Parkins left foot]

I prefer the gritty frames,
Rather than the breaks.

Got one this time then

 

[The Bear]

Well done Mark.

In all seriousness, genuinely great achievement to win it more than once.

 

[Parkins left foot]

Unfortunately Ding always playing 'catch up' - Selby ground his way to that win & fair play to him for doing so

 

[The Bear]

I've just watched John Higgins knock in a 147 at the Northern Ireland Open to win his second round match. Brilliant break which included a double on the last red.

Higgins is in the form of his life at the minute, having won the last two tournaments on the circuit (Chinese Open and Champion Of Champions in Coventry). He's rolling back the years at the age of 41 and playing some of the best snooker of his life. It wouldn't surprise me to see him win three tournaments in a row, he's playing that well.

It's currently on Eurosport and Quest channels btw.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

I'm sure I posted something a few months ago, it's unprecedented to have this many players aged 30+ in the top 16/32. Better dedication from veterans or not enough youngsters living up to their promise, who knows.

 

[The Bear]

Only £10k for the maximum, plus £2k for the highest break. Ronnie would have missed on purpose!

The amount of older players in the top 16 is all down to the raising of the overall standard in the last few years. It's as high as I've ever seen it. With so many tournaments on the schedule the older players are playing more tournaments than they used to, and not having to practice so much away from matches. That's getting them in a regular groove. Couple that with their matchplay experience and it's no wonder they are doing well in the rankings.

Players are now having to pick and choose tournaments rather than just enter everything nowadays. John Higgins was thought to be having this week off after winning the last two, but he's not surprisingly entering everything at the minute.

 

[The Bear]

P.S. The match of the second round starts just now at 7pm - Ronnie O Sullivan v Jimmy White. Should be pretty one sided really but it's Jimmy v Ronnie!

 

[The Bear]

Ronnie wins 4-1. Jimmy won the first frame but it was like Ronnie gave it him as he played loads of poor shots. Almost like he didn't want to 4-0 him and let him have one!

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Neil Robertson hasn't made the TV stages of the UK Championship, knocked out by Peter Lines.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Ron in some trouble in his Masters opener, 5-4 down to Liang, first to 6.

 

[The Bear]

Liang misses the black for the match and sticks it up.

Unbelievable Jeff.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Wow, what a miss. Wasn't an absolute gimme but a 9/10 chance.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

121 break for Ronnie and he takes the match. Lucky boy.

 

[The Bear]

Welsh Open currently on, and Robertson out to 40 year old Lee Walker. I watched it and Robertson went 3-1 up after making two 130+ breaks. Walker fluked the final black in the middle off four cushions to make it 3-2 and then ground it out after that, though made a century himself in the final frame. Robertson will be gutted to lose a match like that.

As an aside, the lower down camera view really bugs me in these non BBC tournaments. It shouldn't but it just does!