2014 World Championship - Discussion

[montoya10]

Sometimes, the player double checks or triple checks the pack to spot those, but even with that, it's impossible to foresee it clearly.

[statto]

I'm sick of all the excuses they're making for Barry. If it's not a kick then it's the "unlucky" plant or the weird bounce off the cushion. Stop making excuses!

[scottley]

Dennis, Willie and Ken think you could never have predicted it so i'm clearly wrong.

[montoya10]

That plant always had a chance of going off that red.

It looked on at hindsight, but still, it was very unlucky.

[statto]

I think Hawkins queuing might be a factor. Never seen one player get so many kicks.

I definitely think there's something to this theory. His cueing certainly isn't as smooth as Ronnie's, and they're both playing with the same balls and on the same table.

Of course, Barry is betraying a lot with his body language when he gets a kick whereas Ronnie just shrugs them off, so maybe Ronnie is getting more than the commentators are noticing (there was a jump of the cue ball when he potted the first black into the green pocket).

[scottley]

That plant always had a chance of going off that red.

[Odrl]

This is becoming ridiculous. Every time Hawkins has a chance something like this happens...

[Dani]

Ronnie struggling.

Unlucky Barry.

[richo]

I think Hawkins queuing might be a factor. Never seen one player get so many kicks.

[zombieman]

Congratulations to Eurosport for missing the start.

[Ronnie's tip]

Excited for this!

I'm expecting Hawkins to win the session. By what score I dunno, but he looked really sharp, winning 3 of the last 4.

[vilkrang]

Has anybody been watching the perfect player bits where they choose a player and he says who he thinks is best at various disciplines of the game. I noticed a few of the players including Mark Selby hardly mentioned Ronnie, him preferring to say Ding was a better positional player. Is there a bit of jealousy of Ronnie with the other players?

This semi I fancy will go right to the wire.

I don't think it's a big stretch to say Ding is the best positional player out there. He might end up beating all break building records.

[robertmac]

Come on Robertson. Bring your A game next session and
you will take it.
Hopefully Hawkins will bring his A game as well.

[scottley]

You do realise you can just go straight to channel 301 rather than pressing the red button and waiting for it to load?

Not on my box you can't, i'm on Virgin.

[brusque]

Good thing for Selby is that was the last frame of the day or the floodgates could easily have started ... Everyone knows that Selby can't match Neil's potting .. its his much superior tactical side that could get him a win but missing blacks off the spot at such important junctures does not help one bit