2014 World Championship - Discussion

[montoya10]

What's Barry's highest break in this match?

96, wasn't it?

Edit: Got beaten to it!

[zombieman]

What's Barry's highest break in this match?

He made a 96 in frame two.

[wemba]

What's Barry's highest break in this match?

[wake_up_bomb]

I think your point is true to an extent. If they were just playing that way against Ronnie then that's fair enough, but Robertson was playing like that against Trump and I don't think many people would claim Trump was a better player. When I think back to how Robertson was playing when he won his World Title he was much more positive.

I'm not sure that's a fair criticism because he came from behind to beat Trump, and he's made 101 centuries this season. Honestly, I really don't have much sympathy for people who are put off by slow play unless it's ridiculously slow because a few seconds extra per shot here and there shouldn't make any difference to you. If it does then it's just a sign of mental weakness.

It's this fear that is always their ultimate undoing, Ronnie has lost his fear, that's the difference between him and the rest. Murphy was playing great until he met Ronnie, then it all went pear shaped and he found his excuse to lose when he got a couple of kicks and started to play expecting them. Ronnie gets a kick and just plays on, Ronnie goes in off and just plays on, Ronnie gets a fluke against him and just plays on and then when all these things reverse and go for him rather than against him he is in the right frame of mind to also simply play on.

I would agree with a lot of what you've said, and there's no doubt that working with Peters has had a massively positive impact on him. It certainly looked as if Murphy has laid down and died when he played Ronnie, but remember he knows that Ronnie has beaten him virtually every time and is much better than him. Ronnie always has the advantage of knowing that if he plays his game he will win. I don't think there is any player that he has a losing head-to-head record against. Others are less certain of their ability to outplay anyone. We saw with Hendry that once the wheels came off for him, he barely won a title ever again. It was impossible for him to get his confidence back. You might think that there is no reason for Robertson to lack confidence, but this is an incredibly fragile component of any sportsman. He clearly wasn't playing his best against Trump and did what was required to win.

[scottley]

Poor Baz, this is gonna be a spare session.

[zombieman]

The way Ronnie casually potted that red after Barry missed it twice and would've been in all sorts of trouble for his third shot really shows how he approaches the game. Can't think of any other player who is that positive in these situations.

[cyberheater]

I'm just watching a bit of it now. Ronnie has cracked Barry like a nut. Poor Barry.

[dino]

The whole apologising thing after a fluke is actually just ridiculously dishonest isn't it? There isn't a professional player who is genuinely sorry after fluking a ball, if they were then they would play a safety rather than carry on with a break. It just seems like faux sportsmanship to me.

Of course you are not sorry, you are actually more than happy to get a fluke, but it's your way of saying, this is not what I went for, I know you are not happy but I have to play on and there's nothing you can do about it

[vilkrang]

The whole apologising thing after a fluke is actually just ridiculously dishonest isn't it? There isn't a professional player who is genuinely sorry after fluking a ball, if they were then they would play a safety rather than carry on with a break. It just seems like faux sportsmanship to me.

[cebs]

Knew Barry was in trouble as soon as saw Ronnie in black, shaven and hair done. That's the I am up for it today look imo.

Barry looked gone in the corridor before the match, looked liked he had no sleep and now after those easy misses to the same pocket this looks all over.

Feel sorry for folks with a ticket for tomorrow's session.

[vilkrang]

I think I'd stand a chance against Barry the way he is playing!

[PatBlock]

Vmax4steve : regarding ROS...couldn't have put it any better...spot on.

Meanwhile Barry already choking on the fear/pressure it seems. I'm wondering how long this match will continue...will it end with a session to spare? I'm pretty sure it will

Easily, probably a session and a half.

-

[Stormwatch]

Ronnie no longer thinks about his opponent, that's the big difference in his mental approach. His work with Dr. Peters has finally convinced him that he really is that good and he needs to fear no one. The odd bad shot is now taken to be a temporary blip and not the forewarning of doom like it used to be with him.

Selby and Robertson on the other hand think an awful lot about their opponent and tailor their approach to matches according to who they are playing. They both use gamesmanship to affect the concentration of their opponent, especially those they know have a weakness for losing focus when certain elements are thrown against them.
This shows a lack of belief in their own talent to truly stand toe to toe with anyone, despite evidence to the contrary when playing freely themselves, finding their A game and playing as well as anyone else. Robertson is a great long potter, but he reigns it in when playing someone of equal ability like Trump, and Selby is of the same ilk, both have this underlying fear of the flair players despite having an abundance of flair themselves.
It's this fear that is always their ultimate undoing, Ronnie has lost his fear, that's the difference between him and the rest. Murphy was playing great until he met Ronnie, then it all went pear shaped and he found his excuse to lose when he got a couple of kicks and started to play expecting them. Ronnie gets a kick and just plays on, Ronnie goes in off and just plays on, Ronnie gets a fluke against him and just plays on and then when all these things reverse and go for him rather than against him he is in the right frame of mind to also simply play on.

Bull's eye! Totally agree...

[daffie]

a black shirt and clean shaven ros today. good times ahead :tongue:

:tongue: Yup...fearing the worst.

[alphabetagaga]

a black shirt and clean shaven ros today. good times ahead :tongue: