International Championship Chengdu China Oct 26 to Nov 2

[jrc750]

Part of me si dead sure Allen is gonna walk away with the final without breaking sweat but I have seen enough of Walden over the years that every once in a whiel he produces the kind of quality that is hard to beat by anyone no matter how well they are playing. Could turn out to be an excellent match

Why do you always type in red ?? surely much easier and nicer to type in standard black ??

[DeanH]

International Championship Chengdu China Oct 26 to Nov 2

thoroughly enjoyed that semi final with some great snooker
look forward to tomorrow where from this week's performance by both bodes well to a good match
let's hope

[didier]

as i can see, williams is more "fit" that before that can maybe explain this ecexellent performance congratulation to him

[DeanH]

International Championship Chengdu China Oct 26 to Nov 2

I noticed Allen had a bit of tape on his butt (or that is what it looked like) anyone know if he has been seeing any coach recently?

[rich45]

I noticed Allen had a bit of tape on his butt (or that is what it looked like)

Maybe he simply had a hole in his trousers?

[chessking]

I noticed Allen had a bit of tape on his butt (or that is what it looked like) anyone know if he has been seeing any coach recently?

Why were you checking out his butt anyway?

[DeanH]

International Championship Chengdu China Oct 26 to Nov 2

steady, steady
cue butt not body area!

by the way British Eurosport starts at 6am tomorrow so should have from frame 1

[Odrl]

Less than five hours before it starts, so not much sleep for me tonight. :smile:

It should be a really good final between two players who have played very well this week. They are both in excellent scoring form, not wasting many chances at all. Their games are well matched, and they have similar experience in winning titles and competing at the business end of tournaments. There also shouldn't be any psychological edge either way.

They've meet quite a few times in the past, mostly in less memorable matches, but they did of course play a big two-session match before, in the semi-finals of the 2011 UK Championship, Allen winning 9-7. Walden got revenge in the UK last year, but it was only a one-session match. They have also played in China on three occasions before, and it's worth noting that all the major titles they have won between them have been in China.

Sometimes it can happen that an in-form player runs out of steam for the final and immediately goes behind in the first session, but I have a feeling that won't happen this time. It should be close throughout, with a few twists and turns thrown in. It's hard to call, but I have a feeling Allen could be stronger when the pressure fully comes on. Allen to win 10-8. :smile:


On another note, this tournament has joined the traditional big three as an event with slightly longer matches, and we are about to get a pretty "unconventional" winner. There have been 25 of these longer tournaments held since 2007, and six players have won 24 of those between them, the current top4 of Selby, Robertson, Ding and O'Sullivan, along with Trump and Higgins, who were very much at the top of the game when they won their titles as well. The one exception is Shaun Murphy, although not much of an exception really, because he was ranked 3rd in the world himself when he won the 2008 UK. So, what I'm trying to say is that tomorrow we will get the most surprising winner of a long tournament in seven years. :wink:

[robertmac]

Walden up 3-1 at the first intermission. I just saw the
last of the fourth frame so cant say much but Walden
looked sharp. He can win it if he can keep this form.
Allen however is no easy player to beat.

[Hal]

not impressive so far, I think it will get better as the match progress. I have Ricky Walden as a winner on event contest web, so I will stick with him, although I would not mind for Mark Allen to win the title as he is the best performing player this season so far. I will go with Walden 10 to 7 frames.

I am still little sad that MJW is not there, but all credit to Allen, it was a superb match he won.

[rich45]

Great to see Jan stepping in about the cameras and phones. Utterly ridiculous. The lady gave a translation so hopefully the message will get through. I somehow doubt it though. Oblivious to the concept of rules.....

[Leo]

Snooker seriously needs some up and coming characters in this game,because these pair on the TV now are not doing snooker any favours whatsoever.

[DeanH]

International Championship Chengdu China Oct 26 to Nov 2

just catching up with the recording and a comment Joe Johnson said a few days ago comes to mind "Ricky sometimes sees problems that aren't here"
Ricky can be an attacking player, and of course that is better to watch, but he does over think a shot and seems to convince himself there is a problem that is not there.

[bolton-cueman]

Snooker seriously needs some up and coming characters in this game,because these pair on the TV now are not doing snooker any favours whatsoever.

I always think Mark Allen is a great character - irreverent with the authorities, outspoken in press conferences and a very attacking player.

I wouldn't be disappointed if I turned up at a tourney and it was Walden / Allen playing!

[daffie]

I'm currently watching the recording of the first sessions of the Final. Definately not the quality match like the Allen - Williams cracker. Hopefully we'll see a bit more from Walden and Allen in the final sessions later on. Still I'm really enjoying (as usual) the longer-frame matches of this tournament