2022 World Championship

[Billy]

Was amazed at ding conceding the match, no chance Selby or Higgins give up that table.

I didn’t make it to the end. I was beaten by a combination of tiredness and, at 9-8 down (and 60+ behind), the knowledge that Ding had thrown another match away. I know Ding’s temperament too well now, and that he was always going to miss the pink to take it to a decider. I get the same kind of dread and feeling of inevitability watching Ding, as I did watching JW in all those finals. With both these players it’s not a case of if they miss, just when. It’s tenterhooks watching every single pot.

All that added to the fact Kryten bores me senseless (and irritates me immensely) made for a very disappointing finish to the match.

[Cue crafty]

Think there's going to be a bit of beef between ROS & Allen possibly in their match, maybe even a shoulder barge?!

[fkhan]

Think there's going to be a bit of beef between ROS & Allen possibly in their match, maybe even a shoulder barge?!

Looking forward to this match.

[JimMalone]

Was amazed at ding conceding the match, no chance Selby or Higgins give up that table.

Me too. To be fair the last red was makeable for Wilson and would have sealed the win, but certainly in this situation you let your opponent play that shot.

But then this exactly seems to me the thing about Ding and the main reason why he lost this match. He isn't willing to fight as hard as other players. Over the last years he has developped kind of a laissez faire attitude and he showed far less determination and grit than Wilson.

Of course another factor was that bitter loss of the 17th frame, where he ran to far on a simple brown and lost position on blue. Later in the frame going in-off from the pink to gift Wilson the frame.
I also had the impression that Ding overall was a bit unlucky in that match, as Wilson missed some shots pretty wild, but rarely left an easy chance for Ding.

[vmax]

Ding is one of those players that doesn't get a fair run of the balls at crucial times in frames or matches, Mathew Stevens is another and both are resigned to this in their attitude towards the end of close matches.

[JimMalone]

I dont' know, shall we have a own thread for each round? It's not necessary

Let's have a quick preview for the 2nd round, at least for the earlier matches.

Mark Williams - Jackson Page
The Master meets his apprentice. A quite interesting duel of course, since Page has always been Williams' protege. That's gone as far, that they have practiced with each other here in Sheffield yesterday. Can't remember this between two opponents in their next match. I can imagine that it will help Page facing a familiar person at the World Championship to forget where he is playing, but then his first round performance suggests that he has no confidence problems anyway.
I think Williams will have fun playing against Page and if he doesn't get to careless then this could bring out a great performance of him. He seemed pretty comfortable in the first round and I expect him to win this.

Pick: Williams wins 13:7

Mark Selby - Yan Bingtao

I think this has the potential to be close towards the end. Yan Bingtao is somebody, who is not unlike Selby, as he is quite complete, very patient and mentally quite strong. Though obviously Yan is still weaker in most departments with scoring being the biggest difference. Actually you could say Yan is a bit like Selby on his B-Game, which is no offense to Yan I think, as we know how strong Selby even on his weaker days is.
But in this whole season Selby definitely is only on his B-level at best so as I said I could expect quite a close game. Yan overall progresses in little steps and he lost in the second round the last two years in the crucible. So it would fit very well to his career I think that he will make the quarterfinals for the first time this year. On the other hand Selby is traditional more vulnerable in the early rounds.

Pick: Yan wins 13:11

Zhao Xintong - Stephen Maguire
Both are players, who rely heavily on their offense and don't care much about safeties. So this will probably come down, who makes most of their chances and who makes less mistakes. I think right now Zhao is way better in both terms.

Pick: Zhao wins 13:6

Ronnie O'Sullivan - Mark Allen

I wouldn't include Mark Allen in the highest group of elite players, but when he is playing well and on confidence, he can beat anybody. So he also defeated O'Sullivan in their lone World Championship meeting and actually has a 4-4 Head-to-Head against O'Sullivan in matches of at least Best-of-9-length.
I'm not so sure if Allen will play at his best here though. I didn't like his body language recently and he didn't impress me too much in the first round. And if that's the case he tends to miss a difficult pot in his break and gifts his opponent a chance - and this is absolutely the worst thing you can do against O'Sullivan. Ronnie has just a pretty high ground level, not unlike Selby and you have to be patient against him. I'm not sure if Allen will be it this time with his off table issues.

Pick: O'Sullivan wins 13:9

[DeanH]

COME ON Eurosport - get you act together!

both streams showing Brecel match!, event he one denoted a Williams Page!



ah ha someone put the plug back in!

[trains]

its currently 10 to 1 with bet365 that mark williams wins this match 13 - 0 .

[Billy]

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!

[JimMalone]

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!

When he is playing like this he is just unplayable. Reminds me of his WC run in 2003, where he had spells like this as well. He pots just anything.

[trains]

COME ON Eurosport - get you act together!

both streams showing Brecel match!, event he one denoted a Williams Page!



ah ha someone put the plug back in!

any production team that employs david hendon as a commentator for a quarter century is cutting edge in my opinion !

[Billy]

When he is playing like this he is just unplayable. Reminds me of his WC run in 2003, where he had spells like this as well. He pots just anything.

Well I’ve been a fan for as long as he’s been playing, but I’ve never seen that quality before.

[Mr Snooker]

Last 16 Predictions

1 Mark Selby 13 Yan Bingtao 9
2 Mark Williams 13 Jackson Page 8
3 Kyren Wilson 13 Stuart Bingham 11
4 Judd Trump 13 Anthony McGill 10

5 Neil Robertson 13 Jack Lisowski 7
6 John Higgins 13 Noppon Saengkham 9
7 Zhao Xingtong 13 Stephen Maguire 8
8 Ronnie O'Sullivan 13 Mark Allen 10

[Mr Snooker]

Anyone going to the crucible?
Would these t-shirts be for sale there?

Can you buy these anyway on line and how much are they each

[Delphi]

Been looking but can't find them, and i don't know anyone personally that is going to sheffield