2014 World Championship - Discussion

[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!

-

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

----

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.

[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...

[scottley]

Ali looks livid already, destroy him now Selby!

[HIPPY147]

The Hawk looking good

[daffie]

The Hawk looking good

Walden coming back though...looks like it's going to be 2-3.

[luke-h]

Tbf the Carter Selby match should be a little more even Selby just craps luck also when Carter failed to clear and Selby countered saying Selby deserved the frame...as if What are they watching?

[rich45]

I wish I could like Selby, but for some reason that I am not entirely sure of, I can't stand the guy. I think it is because he has no personality whatsoever, despite his Jester nickname. Also in terms of his snooker, I get no enjoyment from watching him, even when he is knocking in centuries. No style, no flair, nothing. Like I said, nothing against him but watching him just leaves me feeling like the big guy on the front row at the far end......sleepy.

[cueman]

People who were moaning about Carter yesterday really fail to understand the bad run of the ball he gets and how Selby seems to get away with things and doesn't experience much in the way of bad run himself.

Add into the fact that the table is playing pretty poorly what with big bounces and some heavy contacts which again have cost Carter more than Selby and its quite understandable why he would show such frustration.

[Jonathanhk]

Ali carter is a big moaner.He can't control his temperament properly,even Maguire is more mature than him. This is a disgrace when comparing with Neil, Shaun etc

[scottley]

This frame has really hurt Carter, especially losing it because of that kick, time to turn the screw and take these last 2 frames!

[scottley]

People who were moaning about Carter yesterday really fail to understand the bad run of the ball he gets and how Selby seems to get away with things and doesn't experience much in the way of bad run himself.

Add into the fact that the table is playing pretty poorly what with big bounces and some heavy contacts which again have cost Carter more than Selby and its quite understandable why he would show such frustration.

A bad run of the ball will even itself out over time, Ali is a mardy arse!

[rich45]

The cue ball was off the table before and as it made contact with the blue there, because of all the top spin and the power. Is that still deemed a kick?

But yeah, Selby has had the run of the ball in the match so far at crucial times.

[cueman]

A bad run of the ball will even itself out over time, Ali is a mardy arse!

Over time of what though, his career, the tournament, a frame, a match? I don't believe this saying, its like its a given that everyone has a limited amount of luck in themselves and that it always evens itself out eventually. Luck is exactly what it is, it comes in two forms, good and bad and I've yet to witness any player have more luck than Selby on the current tour.

[scottley]

It really annoys when the red button just switches matches with no warning, looks like its Eurosport for me then.

[daffie]

Ali...you are doing yourself a major disservice! Just play your natural game and stop beating yourself up about a bad run of the ball. You know the old saying...bad luck will even itself out over a periode of time. Keep rolling your eyes, giving your ironic smirk and it will keep biting you in the @ss

Edit : forgot it is first to 13 this round...still a chance for Ali to turn his bad luck around. Come on Selby! An 11-5 scoreline would be nice.