International Championship 2013 - Discussion

[streamer45]

Well done Fu, a little unlucky Mark but next time you'll win!

[cueman]

Selby against Fu hasn't been as fluent as I'd expected, but Selby has now taken control of the match. Needs one more to reach the semi-finals. If he goes on to win the tournament he will hold three of the four biggest titles in the game. :wink:

Hardly surprising in a Selby game to find a lack of fluency. Fu deserved to win this match because he tried to win, Selby reverted to type when ahead and tried to make frames a bit scrappy and tactical, a sign of him under pressure IMO.
Fu could and should have been 4-0 in front at the interval, he gifted two frames at the start to Selby and I feared for him after that.

Held himself together to level at the interval but then it got a bit scrappy. From 5-3 down I didn't fancy his chances but Selby's bottle went. Fu held his nerve and will be a strong favourite now to reach the final.

[Odrl]

If he looses this I wonder if he'll regret not taking that tricky red along the black cushion.

Probably does regret it now. But there was nothing safe, so that would have had to go in. He was probably thinking he had more chance of winning the safety exchange, since he had the first good chance to lay a snooker. :smile:

Anyway, not a good decider from Selby this time, he was all over the place with his safety. And a nice break from Fu to complete the comeback. Another appearance at the business end of a major tournament, they're becoming very common for him now. :smile:

[Neil Taperell]

Well done Marco .....playing some decent snooker this season .

And one of the nicest chaps you are ever likely to meet as well .

[hotpot]

Glad Fu won , just like his temperament , his no nonsense play and he seems a likeable guy , hope he wins it .

[robertmac]

World Snooker link isnt working here. Anyone have a link please?

[SouthPaw]

I really despise Selby's negativity at times, he's far better when he plays the game more positively...

Ding looks a cert for the final, though you never know in snooker, strange things happen...

[Odrl]

Good win for Graeme Dott. Nice to see him in another major semi-final, he should be tough to crack in a two-session match. I thought he might punish Liang's mistakes more than O'Sullivan and Davis did, and he didn't disappoint. :wink:

[fred.england]

I'm hoping that Eurosport don't switch to bloody weightlifting of cycling!!! Ebdon and Ding looks likely to last till tomorrow!!!!

[Odrl]

I'm hoping that Eurosport don't switch to bloody weightlifting of cycling!!! Ebdon and Ding looks likely to last till tomorrow!!!!

It's 11pm local time I think, so a midnight finish is certainly on. Could be 2am if Ebdon has his way. :smile:

[sberry]

Gone midnight local time now and Neal Foulds is firmly off the fence saying it's about time World Snooker barred comfort breaks after each frame and that players like Ebdon are deliberately taking too long on shots to disrupt the game and the opponent and that maybe it's about time shot clock was bought in for everything.

It's good to see players like Ebdon and Liang get some success but it's better for the game if they get knocked out early as you can't sell that game to sponsors, TV companies or audiences. Watched a tennis match other day and the commentators were saying they did not have a single comfort break ever in their matches even if they were 3 hours or more long - if Tennis can do it so can snooker.

[Valiullin]

Ding looks a cert for the final, though you never know in snooker, strange things happen...

Ding will have to work hard to keep his series going. Dott has played well in this tournament, the best he has played for two years maybe. Expect him to throw everything at Ding. I wouldn't be surprised if he pulls a shocker This is the semifinal to watch anyway

[fred.england]

From a spectators point of view, Ebdon is surely bad for the game. Ebdon was at the table with ONLY ONE possible shot. A thin clip off the side of the pack!! He took over 1 1/2 minutes to play the shot!! Ridiculous!! The man just winds me up. I believe he doesn't play the game in the right spirit. How can our glorious game fluorish with the likes of Ebdon and his childish tactics!!!
I'm sure that not all will agree with me and it's just his style but I just think he spoils any match he is involved in!!!

Rant over!!!

[SouthPaw]

From a spectators point of view, Ebdon is surely bad for the game. Ebdon was at the table with ONLY ONE possible shot. A thin clip off the side of the pack!! He took over 1 1/2 minutes to play the shot!! Ridiculous!! The man just winds me up. I believe he doesn't play the game in the right spirit. How can our glorious game fluorish with the likes of Ebdon and his childish tactics!!!
I'm sure that not all will agree with me and it's just his style but I just think he spoils any match he is involved in!!!

Rant over!!!

Your right mate, and i feel the referee's should be given more power to stop slow play, by threatening then awarding the frame to their opponent if they spend too long on a shot that is relatively easy!

[Odrl]

It's good to see players like Ebdon and Liang get some success but it's better for the game if they get knocked out early as you can't sell that game to sponsors, TV companies or audiences.

I'm pretty sure Liang getting through makes it much easier to sell to sponsors and TV companies. Or at least it would, if games were "sold" like that on an individual basis. :wink:

He is a bit on the slow side, particularly for a player of his age and style, but I think you are probably in a small minority of people who don't find him entertaining. :wink: