2022 World Championship

[Rane]

It can’t be maintained, I’m sure, but I can honestly say that in the 37 years I’ve been watching this game, I’ve not seen anyone play as well as MJW has in this session. Phenomenal stuff!

I just saw the first two frames on Youtube. That first frame is up there with O´Sullivans clearance against Carter and Higgins 69 break. The number of good pots is absurd.

[Cue crafty]

What’s brought that extreme form on for Williams? Is it about tough love? I can understand for a player at his level against a friend, if he doesn’t go hell for leather then it becomes a charity match…

[kligu]

My second round prediction:

1 Mark Selby 13-12 Yan Bingtao
2 Mark Williams 13-3 Jackson Page (7-1 atm)
3 Kyren Wilson 13-10 Stuart Bingham
4 Judd Trump 13-9 Anthony McGill

5 Neil Robertson 13-6 Jack Lisowski
6 John Higgins 13-7 Noppon Saengkham
7 Zhao Xingtong 12-13 Stephen Maguire (3-5 atm)
8 Ronnie O'Sullivan 11-13 Mark Allen

[mikee]

Stephen Maguire is playing really well again and looks solid ,playing with yet another new cue ,the old maple one in first round and new ash one in second round .

[Billy]

What’s brought that extreme form on for Williams? Is it about tough love? I can understand for a player at his level against a friend, if he doesn’t go hell for leather then it becomes a charity match…

Well, good question. One of the commentators (I think R Walker) said that in a recent interview he did with him, the last few years have really put things into perspective for Williams, and that he’s “never going to moan about having to get on a flight to China ever again” because he realises how incredibly lucky he is to have such a lifestyle.

I’m paraphrasing, but maybe he’s found some kind of Zen-like inner calm.

[Starsky]

What’s brought that extreme form on for Williams? Is it about tough love? I can understand for a player at his level against a friend, if he doesn’t go hell for leather then it becomes a charity match…

Could it be that Sight Right is starting to pay dividends for him ?.
I’ll stick my flak jacket on ..

This wouldn’t be just from a technical point of view but also for confidence in his game.

[Cue crafty]

Could it be that Sight Right is starting to pay dividends for him ?.
I’ll stick my flak jacket on ..

This wouldn’t be just from a technical point of view but also for confidence in his game.

Yeh quite possibly mate, I did note him using the sighting technique more noticeably before stepping into the shot. I know he's used it for years and it helped him win a third WC, but I think players get a little lazy with it after a while, so maybe he's had a refresher course on it and is gonna focus hard on a 4th win. Definitely possible with that form and I always think his rivalry with Higgins is a big driver for him too. John's not got the job done recently so if Mark won another WC ( huge ask I know) his career would be pretty much shoulder to shoulder with Higgins.

[Starsky]

Yeh quite possibly mate, I did note him using the sighting technique more noticeably before stepping into the shot. I know he's used it for years and it helped him win a third WC, but I think players get a little lazy with it after a while, so maybe he's had a refresher course on it and is gonna focus hard on a 4th win. Definitely possible with that form and I always think his rivalry with Higgins is a big driver for him too. John's not got the job done recently so if Mark won another WC ( huge ask I know) his career would be pretty much shoulder to shoulder with Higgins.

I hope he does win this WC as I’ve lumped on him at 25-1

[kligu]

Stephen Maguire is playing really well again and looks solid ,playing with yet another new cue ,the old maple one in first round and new ash one in second round .

Really weird. You wonder what he will come up with if he progresses to the quarters.

[fkhan]

A re-rack because there were many balls to replace. Dale said he would like to check what the rule book says.

[Cue crafty]

A re-rack because there were many balls to replace. Dale said he would like to check what the rule book says.

yes indeed, will be interesting to see what the rules state as plausible reasons for a rerack.

I think it made sense from a momentum and audience viewing perspective but was a legal decision? Olivier Martel pretty good so must have thought it within the rules.

certainly made his life easy lolz 😂!

[DeanH]

A re-rack because there were many balls to replace. Dale said he would like to check what the rule book says.

In the rules a re-rack is only considered in a stalemate situation in the opinion of the referee... this was not a stalemate situation, so what Dominic said is true.
But maybe this will come under the proviso that a referee can consider the whole situation and that neither player was disadvantaged and both were in agreement, so no issue.

[fkhan]

In the rules a re-rack is only considered in a stalemate situation in the opinion of the referee... this was not a stalemate situation, so what Dominic said is true.
But maybe this will come under the proviso that a referee can consider the whole situation and that neither player was disadvantaged and both were in agreement, so no issue.

Thanks for clarifying that.

[Nifty50]

Stephen Maguire is playing really well again and looks solid ,playing with yet another new cue ,the old maple one in first round and new ash one in second round .

Mags said he changed to ash cos he was having some eye trouble and the ash grain helped him with sighting. Bit worrying for him if his eyes are starting to play up. Think he had laser eye surgery a few years ago.

[leelee]

Love him or hate him, damn Ronnie's great to watch when's he's in this mood and form.