2014 World Championship - Discussion

[HIPPY147]

The Hawk looking good

[scottley]

Ali looks livid already, destroy him now Selby!

[Odrl]

Ok, let's see what we have today...

McManus vs Doherty for a place in the quarter-finals, something I never would have predicted, especially with Doherty's form this season...

I still remember their match in the 2005 World Championship. I fully expected Doherty to win on that occasion, because he played one-visit stuff in the 1st round while McManus barely scraped through, but McManus was able to raise his game and win 13-11. He is ahead in their previous meetings, including some short-format stuff in recent times, and he also won when they met in the Wuxi Classic this season. He played very well against John Higgins in his first match, taking a couple of chances early on to take command of the match, and he did well to hold on when Higgins was coming back.

Doherty beat a completely out-of-sort Bingham, and didn't play all that well himself. He only made a couple of good breaks towards the end, when it was clear that Bingham can't put him under any pressure. He has had no really impressive results this season, while McManus has been looking good for some time. There could be some good tactical play in this match, and maybe some nervy frames decided on the colours, but ultimately I think McManus has more firepower. McManus to win 13-8.

Hawkins vs Walden also starts this morning, a repeat of their semi-final last year, Hawkins winning 17-14.

Walden has already got some revenge this season, beating Hawkins 6-5 in the Masters, in a match where Hawkins played ridiculously well early on, but struggled to put the match away and allowed the comeback. That's exactly what was happening to Walden here in the 1st round, but he somehow got over the line. Hawkins, on the other hand, seemed to grow stronger and stronger in his match against Gilbert, finishing with some one-visit scoring in the second session.

I think a match is always likely to be close when Hawkins is playing, so this one could go all the way. They are quite well matched on paper, but I think Hawkins is in slightly better form, and he seems to deal with the pressure at the Crucible pretty well these days, while Walden always looks nervous. Hawkins to win 13-11. :smile:


Of the two matches that have already started, I am looking forward to Selby and Carter in particular. I was slightly surprised that Selby was able to take command of the match early on, because Carter looked the better of the two in the 1st round. It was a very enjoyable session, a couple of centuries and a couple of close frames, so more of the same please. :smile:

I expect O'Sullivan to turn it around against Perry this afternoon. He played a pretty poor session yesterday and still got out of it only 5-3 behind, so he only needs one of those scoring purple patches to find himself in front and in command. Perry needs to take his chances well again, and not let O'Sullivan get into a scoring rhythm. But it's easier said than done...

[daffie]

Ali always acts like that! I've seen him sarcastically clap Judd when he got away with a slashed shot! Sits in his chair in disbelief like he never gets luck....

I've always been a bit neutral in my opinion of Ali Carter, but I have to say his attitude is starting to grate a little. I'm watching a rerun of his match with Selby and his reactions to his misses and runs of bad 'luck' make him look like he thinks the game owes him a living. He goes back to his chair every time his break ends, shaking his head, muttering to himself, sighing, smirking ironically at any flukes Selby gets.

If a player isn't getting results in a match, it's because he isn't playing well enough. It's nobody's 'fault' but their own.

Exactly why I do not like watching Ali. He can be far too negative (on himself). That's unfortunate because he is rather good. Maybe take some pointers from a sports psychologist. Needs to not take things so very personal. If he can get this out of his system then he might be a force to be reckoned with. (btw where's his mental coach Peter Ebdon and his veggie shakes )

I don't think Ronnie's bored, I think something's bothering him - he spent 5 minutes adjusting his trousers, tucking his shirt in three times etc, keeps getting up from the shot, grimacing a lot, making occasional sighing noises. I don't know if he's ill, distracted or has some kind of issue with his cue, but I hope he turns it round tomorrow. Perry's playing alright, but still made quite a few mistakes tonight, Ronnie just failed to capitalise.

Yeah that's my impression as well. He's wasn't his usual 'highly confident' self tonight. You can see it clearly in the things you stated about him. It's either highs or lows with Ronnie it seems, with the occasional strong-willed in-between where he can tough things out. That's when he is most dangerous. Kinda weird to watch tonight.

Good start for Joe, but Ronnie did seem quite subdued and I don't expect that to last for three sessions. I was a bit surprised he didn't try for the one needed snooker at the end of the 3rd frame, yellow and green seemed to be a nice target to get in behind, could've made a big difference that. We're bound to see a better performance from Ronnie tomorrow, but a lead is a lead, and I'm sure Joe will take confidence from this evening's result.

C'mon GJ!

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Here here! I'm all for Joe getting past ROS through to the next round. Imo it's for the better for the tournament. Players are better poised against eachother, instead of a ROS who runs away with each frame

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In the meantime I'm really looking forward to the McManus vs Doherty match...a real blast from the past! Two great likeable guys and ambassadors for the sport, plus tactically pretty good.

[stephenm2682]

Ali always acts like that! I've seen him sarcastically clap Judd when he got away with a slashed shot! Sits in his chair in disbelief like he never gets luck....

[scottley]

No excuse for it really, sometimes you have to take your hat off when your opponent plays a great shot, i'd never noticed any unsportsman like behaviour from Ali before tonight, but he made himself look a little bit spoilt earlier i thought.

[Billy]

Yeah, i'm watching it too, why he shook his head when Mark did that great double i don't know?

That's exactly the type of thing I mean. Perhaps he thought Selby hadn't played it, but it was always a half chance. Either way he still shouldn't behave like he has some kind of given right or entitlement to win a frame of snooker.

[Odrl]

Ronnie always plays the aggressive shot. When he gets them it looks great and he wins matches, when he doesn't it looks wreckless.

There's only one way to play snooker I'm afraid: like you don't give a crap. Ronnie knows that, and that's what separates him from everybody else.

Waiting for chances, keeping it tight, refusing anything half difficult. Nope sorry, doesn't work.

Well, there was that one time when Perry hit the middle knuckle and left the white near the blue spot. O'Sullivan had the mid-range red and refused it.

[scottley]

Yeah, i'm watching it too, why he shook his head when Mark did that great double i don't know?

[Billy]

I've always been a bit neutral in my opinion of Ali Carter, but I have to say his attitude is starting to grate a little. I'm watching a rerun of his match with Selby and his reactions to his misses and runs of bad 'luck' make him look like he thinks the game owes him a living. He goes back to his chair every time his break ends, shaking his head, muttering to himself, sighing, smirking ironically at any flukes Selby gets.

If a player isn't getting results in a match, it's because he isn't playing well enough. It's nobody's 'fault' but their own.

[tedisbill]

Ronnie always plays the aggressive shot. When he gets them it looks great and he wins matches, when he doesn't it looks wreckless.

There's only one way to play snooker I'm afraid: like you don't give a crap. Ronnie knows that, and that's what separates him from everybody else.

Waiting for chances, keeping it tight, refusing anything half difficult. Nope sorry, doesn't work.

[scottley]

Fair play to Perry, a few people thought this would be a walkover, but Joe is showing he's no mug, looking forward to the next 2 sessions, should be intersting.

[gavpowell]

I don't think Ronnie's bored, I think something's bothering him - he spent 5 minutes adjusting his trousers, tucking his shirt in three times etc, keeps getting up from the shot, grimacing a lot, making occasional sighing noises. I don't know if he's ill, distracted or has some kind of issue with his cue, but I hope he turns it round tomorrow. Perry's playing alright, but still made quite a few mistakes tonight, Ronnie just failed to capitalise.

[wake_up_bomb]

Yeah when he pots them, fans would say "he's a genius". When he misses them, they would say "he didn't want to win."

Ronnie's mannerisms can make himself look really good, or look like he's not bothered.

This is completely true. When he took the red on down the cushion, I was thinking "he'll miss this, he's not playing well enough to make this, he should play safe." But that's just not his game. If he knows he can pot something, he takes it on, and that's it. As you say, that can make him look cavalier, but the amount of matches and titles he's won would suggest that the percentages are in his favour.

[ShellH]

why is Ron so stupid ... I mean why did he even attempt that impossible last red? ...

Well it was far from impossible lol

Yep, Ron has potted "impossible" shots in the past.