2014 World Championship - Discussion

[cebs]

If you don't see Selby play dull and defensive snooker I think you might have been watching someone else.

Count the number of re racks he plays for, 3 so far in this match. Don't think I have ever seen Ronnie play for one.

He can go for it when he wants, his win over Higgins at the masters was great and showed his bottle in the final two shots but most often he waits for things to happen rather than makes things happen in my opinion.

No A game from either player and unless Ronnie breaks away I could see him going for a few risky ones, close to doing that before I thought.

Centuries vs re racks, I know which I prefer to see after several minutes into a frame.

[KSR2013]

Yes even if Selby won tomorrow afternoons session 6-3 to tie it 13-13 he'll have to win the evening session 5-4 to lift the trophy,I can't see it as Ronnie isn't pushing the boat out at all and is too good in among the balls,we'll see.

not looked at it like that. Ronnie still in with a chance. im hoping 4-4 next session. 5-3 ronnie is a bonus

[P.Smith]

Count the number of re racks he plays for, 3 so far in this match. Don't think I have ever seen Ronnie play for one.

It takes 2 players for a re-rack to happen. Not sure how you can blame Selby for that.

[daffie]

I disagree and I think this whole 'dull' thing has been completely over exaggerated. I hardly ever notice this purposefully slow playstyle that people constantly bang on about. I just see Selby as a great well rounded player with a lot of personality and determination. That's why I like him.

I completely agree. I'm the type of person that would be turned off very rapidly if a player would be unsportsmanlike or use unfair tactics (Ebdon in the past comes to mind).

Selby is granite as they say, he is mentally very tough, can keep himself together at the roughest of times during a match, never gives up, never throws the towel in, never drops his head...he just keeps going, toughening it all out untill he gets his chance and than he pounces. It's an awesome skill to have...one that John Higgins in his best days had as well.

Selby imo is the very best matchplayer we have in our game nowadays, Plus he is an absolute gentleman, on and off the table, and always very generous towards his opponents. Some other players could learn a lot from Selby and for example Shaun Murphy in that regard.

Put that all together and you have *the perfect snookerplayer* in my book.

[jrc750]

I completely agree. I'm the type of person that would be turned off very rapidly if a player would be unsportsmanlike or use unfair tactics (Ebdon in the past comes to mind).

Selby is granite as they say, he is mentally very tough, can keep himself together at the roughest of times during a match, never gives up, never throws the towel in, never drops his head...he just keeps going, toughening it all out untill he gets his chance and than he pounces. It's an awesome skill to have...one that John Higgins in his best days had as well.

Selby imo is the very best matchplayer we have in our game nowadays, Plus he is an absolute gentleman, on and off the table, and always very generous towards his opponents. Some other players could learn a lot from Selby and for example Shaun Murphy in that regard.

Put that all together and you have *the perfect snookerplayer* in my book.

+1 to this, i think he knows how to win

[Rocket Man]

I could understand this POV if it wasn't Selby lol. Someone like a Higgins, Robertson, Ding....especially Trump. That would add excitement. And Murphy. But Selby? Last year when he won the UK + Masters, those two tournaments just felt dead. He tortured his way to the title.

That being said it's an amazing talent to have. But he's just so boring. I love close matches with drama in all sports, but I can never stand dull sportsmen.

Anyway, that missed black from ROS really could be a turning point. Won't be able to catch tomorrow's afternoon session sadly, but I'm just praying that ROS can at least level the session. But really I think this is Selby's.

I don't think ROS has played that well all tournament, really. Hawkins + Murphy literally just collapsed - ROS put them in a few stressful situations and they couldn't cope. He was amazing in the final 3 frames vs Perry but before that was average by his standards. I don't think he's played anywhere near as well as he played against Hawkins/Bingham in 2013, or a few of his 2012 matches.

A good start tomorrow is vital.

You're like a broken record with always being down on Ronnie's chances. He's won both sessions so far and got a more than useful 3 frame cushion, this is his all the way.

[amsel]

I find Neil a lot more boring than Selby, for some reason. Maybe it's the way Neil moves around the table in slow motion. He has no personality, overcontemplates many safety shots. Selby shows emotion, moves fast. Maybe his playing style is not the most exciting, but I like to watch him play.

[Table_of_Reds]

I bet O'Sullivan still has nightmares about the Welsh final and that Masters final. Against any other player he wouldn't bat an eyelid about this, but because it's Selby he'll be terrified.

[trains]

'Sat Nav' Selby is one of the best at laying snookers and getting out of them,I don't see how that is dull,its the players who aren't that good at snookers like Shaun Murphy who I find dull.

[P.Smith]

Btw are Ronnie and Judd friends or something? I believe Ronnie referred to him as 'Trumpy' during his interview with Stevethat they aired during the mid-session interval. Seems like he wouldn't do that unless they were friends.

[stephenm2682]

Btw are Ronnie and Judd friends or something? I believe Ronnie referred to him as 'Trumpy' during his interview with Stevethat they aired during the mid-session interval. Seems like he wouldn't do that unless they were friends.

practice partners aren't they?

[P.Smith]

practice partners aren't they?

I didn't realise.

[stephenm2682]

I wonder if Mark still has nightmares about the masters final too? ;-)

[stephenm2682]

Interesting stat, Ronnie has lead 10-7 going into the final day for the last 3 years!

I think the black missed to go 6 clear was huge, I think ronnie was thinking 12-6 and finish the match in the afternoon!!

[trains]

If Ronnie's long potting is as good in the 3rd and 4th sessions as it was in the first 2 sessions I'll be really surprised if he isn't lifting his 6th world title,I think long potting problems attributed to his loss to Higgins in the 2011 wc.