2022 World Championship

[JimMalone]

I don't know... Am I the only one who struggles to take Twitter, Instagram, and similar sites seriously? Not too long ago we've had heads of state sending one another to mental institutions and stuff like that, so it's clearly become the accepted forum for posting useless and offensive crap. In my opinion, it's another thing WST really shouldn't have anything to do with. I bet there are dozens of players who have done something objectionable online, if someone really wanted to look for it. For some reason, people post stuff online that they would never say to someone in person. Maybe because they know they are unlikely to face any consequences. And people who participate in all of that mostly do so willingly, and personal arguments that devolve into abuse and name-calling have become the norm. We should all just move along and watch the snooker instead. Why would I even care what Selt posts online, much less get offended by any of it?

No you are not alone. I find it informative to read some posts on Twitter, but that’s it. I agree you definitely shouldn’t take such sites and posts on it seriously.

[neuronic]

Surprisingly easy win for Stephen, I think... he improved quite a bit after his first match (which wasn't too hard considering the performance of both Maguire and Murphy), Zhao on the other hand deteriorated quite a bit and made way too many easy mistakes.

So it's all smooth sailing into the semis for Ronnie, Stephen won't be able to do any serious harm IMHO (and I'm not even sure Robertson or Higgins, if they come through, won't get in their own way against Ronnie).

[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

Other picks:

Wilson - Bingham 13:10
Trump - McGill 13:9
Robertson - Lisowski 13:8
Saengkham - Higgins 13:10

[trains]

bet365 have Lisowski at 5/1 to beat robertson , i think thats quite generous he just has to play well it isnt that big an ask.

[fkhan]

Zzzzzzzzzzz. A nice century to end the mini session.

[JimMalone]

Other picks:

Wilson - Bingham 13:10
Trump - McGill 13:9
Robertson - Lisowski 13:8
Saengkham - Higgins 13:10

A few notes. Actually I can see those four matches go all in both directions, though I give Lisowski the least chance of winning a match.
I also think Wilson is quite clear the favourite against Bingham. But when Bingham is on the roll, he is dangerous for anybody.


McGill has played some very good matches in the Crucible, most notable in 2015, when he beat Mark Selby, which to me is still his best performance in Sheffield, but also last year, when he defeated Ronnie O'Sullivan. He has the game to keep with anybody and if he is clinical in his breaks and as he should keeps the upper hand in the majority of tactical battles, then he certainly can defeat Trump.

As for Saengkham if he plays what he did first round and Higgins doesn't gain form, I actually think the Thai will win. But of course Higgins can play much bette.r

[j6uk]

Guess who’s playing tonight?
Eurosport graphics department wonders the looks of the offspring from mark and yan.

[DeanH]

^

I just caught this before it disappeared and I was thinking, that is wrong...
thanks for confirming I was not going mad

[JimMalone]

Well, at least Selby - Yan seems to be one match to be close towards the end after the first three matches were so disappointing.

[kligu]

Yan winning frames against Selby in Selby-style.

[Odrl]

That was a great finish there. The break to close the gap first of all, and then the last few pots as well.

[JimMalone]

That was a great finish there. The break to close the gap first of all, and then the last few pots as well.

Reminded me of the Masters final, where he also had some quite gutsy pots.

[JimMalone]

What a superb tactical battle this is.

[JimMalone]

What a frame this is.
And now the longest in crucible history.

[itsnoteasy]

Stop showing his Mrs after every bloody shot ffs.