2014 World Championship - Discussion

[vmax4steve]

Table conditions as regards to kicks and cushion response were bad yesterday, on both tables. The ruling body really need to get this sorted for the future as it's not right that close matches can be decided by who does or doesn't get a kick or a bad bounce at crucial times.

[Cov86]

Am I the only one who feels the tables have been quite generous this tournament? So many balls of gone in off the near jaw, or off the far jaw when hit with pace.

I have to be honest the semi final line up doesn't excite me a whole lot. I can't see Hawkins challenging ROS and I find both Robertson and Selby irritating to watch.

[dcrackers147]

Right, just a couple of words about O'Sullivan vs Hawkins before it starts...

I don't think anyone will be disappointed to see this pairing in the semi-finals, after the great final they produced last year. It was the best I have ever seen Hawkins play, along with that week in Australia when he won, and O'Sullivan said about his own performance that he felt like he was at his absolute best. So, in a way, it's a credit to both players that they got the scoreline they got. This has been the pattern in most of their previous matches actually...

Hawkins won their very first meeting 12 years ago, but O'Sullivan has won the next six. Hawkins has spent most of his career somewhere in the top32 in the rankings, so it's a bit unusual that they haven't met early in tournaments on more occasions. They always seem to meet when Hawkins is playing a great tournament and runs into O'Sullivan at the business end. He pushed him close quite a few times, including a couple of deciders, but he's never had the luck to find O'Sullivan out of sorts. Their semi-final in the Welsh Open this season was their most one-sided match, 6-2 to O'Sullivan, and even here Hawkins started brilliantly, only for O'Sullivan to immediately respond and play one-visit snooker for the rest of the match.

Looking at these last two weeks, O'Sullivan has not exactly played his best tournament, and certainly doesn't look as sharp as last year or the year before. But the main thing is that he has survived the early rounds, survived his scare against Perry, and now has four sessions to find the kind of snooker he needs to win this title. Obviously his main strength has always been his excellent breakbuilding, winning lots of frames in one visit, but I think the thing that has made the most difference recently is his willingness and ability to compete in the scrappy frames. He always seems determined to find a good safety at crucial times, he is keeping his patience, and he is making the right decisions. That makes him tough to beat as it is, but he has a habit of going into "scoring mode" at some point in the long matches as well, so the score can suddenly get very one-sided...

But one thing Hawkins usually doesn't do is play one-sided matches, win or lose. :wink: It's amazing how someone can completely outplay their opponent and take an 11-5 lead, but then can't put anything together until the match is close again. He stood up to the pressure though, with two excellent breaks in the last two frames, even though the black was not available. As I said yesterday, it will be interesting to see whether that match with Dale will give him some doubts today, or maybe some extra confidence. He knows that O'Sullivan was giving Murphy plenty of chances, and he knows it's up to him to take them, if indeed they come again. Before the tournament started I compared his position in the game to Graeme Dott's in 2006, in regards to him possibly winning the title, and I guess the comparison applies to this semi-final as well. He knows what it takes to compete with O'Sullivan over four sessions now, he knows he has the game to make it close again, and he has the luxury of not being expected to win, while all the pressure is on his opponent. Dott won 17-11 in 2006, can Hawkins do something similar?

Maybe, but it's not going to be easy. O'Sullivan has never lost a World final, but semi-finals are basically the same length, and he has lost a couple. More than a couple in fact, he has only won five out of ten, so he only has a 50% record at this stage. But as I said, Hawkins seems to bring out the best in him for some reason, and if Hawkins plays his best I expect O'Sullivan to respond. Their World final last year finished 18-12, which means O'Sullivan won three frames for every two of Hawkins', and I wouldn't be surprised if it's a similar ratio here. O'Sullivan to win 17-12. :wink:

Should be a great match in any case, and I'm very much looking forward to it. :smile:

Ran out of time unfortunately, so I will leave Selby and Robertson for later. :smile:

Strange overview IMO.... ROS has produced when it matters so far in this years world championship he proved this agaisnt Joe Perry. He has won a match with a session to spare agaisnt one of the in form players coming into the championship and people still question his peformance!! I do feel sorry for him when it comes to the stick he gets when he isn't banging in maxi's and tons every match. Ultimately he is a level above every other player in the world and after Selby and Robertson run out of steam agaisnt each other in the semi i doubt they will have much left in the final...I predict Robertson O'Sullivan Final with ROS winning it quite comfortably.

[Dr_Doctor]

What do you all make of this?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/27234957

I bet if Trump was the one getting the 100, he would have fist pumped through the ceiling.

[Giggity1984]

What do you all make of this?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/27234957

I bet if Trump was the one getting the 100, he would have fist pumped through the ceiling.

That Trump's a petulant douchebag?!

I think that sums it up nicely.

[gem]

What do you all make of this?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/27234957

I bet if Trump was the one getting the 100, he would have fist pumped through the ceiling.

A kind of standard answer from Judd.
He is a bad loser in the mould of Arsene Wenger.

Obviously 100 tons in a season is a far greater achievement than a 147 and I imagine Judd thinks this himself but he is not able to hide his disappointment at times and comes out with things that sound childish and silly.

Doesn't really matter though but it does make him an easy target.

[attilahun]

I think it was a normal reaction of a player who was clearly disturbed by Robertsons tactics to deliberate slow down the game. I cant wait to see how Robertson will cope with that tactic used against him by the one player who took it to perfection......

[P.Smith]

What do you all make of this?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/27234957

I bet if Trump was the one getting the 100, he would have fist pumped through the ceiling.

Obviously Trump feels as if a 147 is better. Neil feels otherwise. Personally I would've also be much more excited about seeing a maximum than just another standard century break.

Of course Trump would've been happy if he did it, but he didn't do it. As he said, it meant nothing to him and he was focused on trying to win the match at the time. I have to applaud his honesty.

[Rocket147]

Trump's entitled to his opinion. That's it. Nothing more.

[scottley]

Just seen the end of the Hawkins win again, tremendous show of sportmanship from Dale, it must be so hard to smile and pat somone on the back after getting so near, every credit, other players take note!

[montoya10]

I stopped watching the game when it was 11-8. I'm glad I did and missed the comeback from Robertson. Next round, the two dullest players amongst the top to play now, well, I better skip it, I guess.

I think Barry will be an even bigger threat to Ronnie than he was last season. He has already proved that his major success hasn't been sheer luck or anything. His confidence should be even higher, though he might also expect more out of himself this time.
I predict a somewhat close score. Actually, no reason whatsoever why we can't go through all the way to a dramatic finish.

[daffie]

Yes fantastic sportsmanship from Dale as always. A true gentleman!

Wow...semi finals time already...this tournament has flown by. But these are always the real top days for me so bring it on! :snooker:

[cyberheater]

I can tell by the way Ronnie shook hands with Hawkins that he's already got him.

[montoya10]

JV going around and jinxing guys, as usual..

[daffie]

I can tell by the way Ronnie shook hands with Hawkins that he's already got him.

The 2-day beard convinced me...he's got him already!