2014 World Championship - Discussion

[luke-h]

What rubbish. Have you ever played snooker? Went for every shot? If every shot was a double get down wonder round the table and lay a snooker then maybe yes.

+1 Selby will happily snooker an opponent even if he has a shot on, it's awful to watch at least O'Sullivan will attack the game.

There is a definite trend here O'Sullivan breaks off and get's it safe, Selby has the option to play off the pack in to baulk again but chooses the ball of the side rail dump shot, starting the tactical frame that he love's.

[wake_up_bomb]

I still think Ronnie will win. I can't believe that Selby can continue to win frames playing negative, containing snooker as the finish line gets closer, and I can't believe the balls will continue to run against Ronnie when he gets in. At some point surely Selby will have to win some frames in one visit, and he missed a fair few against Roberson when this was required.

[stephenm2682]

you make your own luck, and ronnie has done nothing to help himself! plays crap safeties and all tournament his breaking the pack open on a break isn't working out for him

so he's trying to play aggressive off the pack safeties but it's now playing into selby's hands to mop up the balls

[Le Ball Sack]

Jesus Christ Irvine asks some stupid questions. Shut up women.

[cebs]

Could tell Ronnie is feeling it now, that black was too rash imo but I do think Selby had a shot on the red before that but played safe.

Think Selby will take most of the next mini session but think Ronnie will stage a comeback tonight, 17-17 all and then too close to call.

Might cash in and put a frame score on now.

[RaveDave]

'The torturor' is an apt nickname for Selby.

[montoya10]

Could tell Ronnie is feeling it now, that black was too rash imo but I do think Selby had a shot on the red before that but played safe.

Think Selby will take most of the next mini session but think Ronnie will stage a comeback tonight, 17-17 all and then too close to call.

Might cash in and put a frame score on now.

If this is the way the frames will keep developing, please no. I'd prefer a quicker and less painful exit.

[zombieman]

Ronnie needs to draw the next mini session at least. I can't see him getting back from 3 (or 5) frames behind in the evening.

[Censor]

Steve peters has his work cut out in the mid session interval. If he can't find a way for Ronnie to turn the match around I can see Ronnie going back to the guy of old and possibly walking away from the game for good.

He won't want to endure more matches against a guy who plays like this and is not good for the game. Its almost impossible to play against someone who plays like Selby does unless they employ exactly the same tactics. I'd hoped that playing open attacking snooker would prevail against a negative safety player but this match has proved that the negative approach will always come out on top, especially so in longer matches when they keep their opponent in their seat.

Unfortunately for snooker other players will now see the success of Selby's style and will realise its easy enough to copy, you just need patience, and lots of it, and it helps if you can pull a stupid face and pretend you are funny and have a personality and you will do well.
Neil Robertson is proof of this who went from a very attacking player into a match player in the style of Selby. If he can turn down his entertaining style in preference to that of Selby, who is to say other attack minded players like Trump and Ding won't decide to go down the same route.

We could literally have a clone of Selby style players in the next few years, no style at all, just substance. Lots of safety, tactics and boring breakbuilding. I'd love to see what Hearn does to combat it, shot clock anyone?!!!!

Pish posh.

1. 'Negative' snooker does not always prevail against 'attacking' snooker. That's not a law of physics or anything like that. Selby is playing better than O'Sullivan at the moment.

2. Selby has plenty of verve. You may find his game boring, but other people don't. I, for one, enjoy it immensely.

3. It is actually very difficult to play like Selby does. You think other players have never seen him claw his way to victory against an awe-inspiring opponent? He didn't burst onto the scene yesterday. If people wanted to imitate him, they would have tried by now. The truth is that every player has his (or her) strengths and Selby's strength is in tactical play. It is 'very easy' for him to play like he does because that's how he's always played and that's the style his skill set and temperament demand. Most snooker players are not stupid enough to think that 1. the reason he wins so much is his style of play (it's actually his ability), or 2. they can achieve the same success if they adopt the same style. They know themselves well enough to seek the style most appropriate to *their* skills and character.

[jrc750]

That piece on the referee was good

[Ronnie's tip]

First shot and already a mistake.

[wemba]

I am glued to my chair here. Nothing better than a close match.

[Masterdoctorgenius]

selby gets eveyrtime the luck he needs

[jrc750]

selby gets eveyrtime the luck he needs

Ronnie played a terrible safety, get over it

[richo]

Well here we go, break of 30-45 then a snooker. Ughhhh.