Champion of Champions - Tuesday 4th Nov

[brusque]

the joy of watching Ronnie play like he did in the last frame ... makes u believe in God .. that kinda skill cannot be acquired ... that's gotta be divine n God given

[Odrl]

I don't agree it de-values it if the top players met in finals more frequently - I think it inspires the watching public - how many times did Davis Play Higgins or Hendry play White Or Hendry Play O Sullivan or Williams play Hendry or Ronnie play Higgins? Did it de-value any of them meetings?

No, but I don't think there was ever a period where the same players were meeting too often. I don't even think the flat system changed much in that respect, compared to the old tiered system. The greater diversity in major finals came along with the decline of a really dominant top4, around 2004. These days you have top4 players like Robertson or Selby who still reach many finals, but they are not consistently beating the likes of Allen or Fu (and other decent top16 players), so of course the finals won't always be contested among the top4. I'm sure some people who are not really that into snooker would only watch a couple of possible pairings, or maybe only watch a particular player (mostly O'Sullivan), but for everyone else I think you have to go back a long time to find a really uninteresting pairing in a major final. :smile:

I think the main difference between the two systems in this respect is the earlier rounds. If the top16 players come in at the last32 round, there is a good chance they will be meeting a lot in the last16 and the quarter-finals of tournaments. But under the new system they are further apart in the draw, and there are a couple of extra rounds where they can get knocked out, so they don't meet as often. I also think the achievement of a lower-ranked player getting to the business end of a tournament has been somewhat devalued, because they can now get there without really playing a top player. I think I commented on this after the very first tournament under the new format, the Wuxi Classic last season, where David Morris reached the quarter-finals. Another example would be Robert Milkins, who reached two major ranking semi-finals at the start or last season. Sounds like an impressive achievement for him at the time, but if you look at the players he beat on his way... Robbie Williams, John Astley, Jimmy White, Scott Donaldson, Anthony Hamilton, Ben Woollaston, Rory McLeod and Tom Ford. Those two runs have been one of the high points of Milkins' career, but he was the favourite in every match he played!

On a similar note, this system isn't all that fair for the lower-ranked players either. Yes, they can now reach the venue by winning only one match, the same as everyone else, and they have to win the same number of matches as the top players to win the title... But there is a huge difference between drawing the 64th seed, currently Kyren Wilson, or drawing a top player like Selby or Robertson in the 1st round. Whereas before everyone would play their first match against a player in "their own league", and if they were consistently winning those matches they would go up a tier. It certainly wasn't as much down to the luck of the draw as it is now. :wink:

Does it when Federer plays Nadal?

I have to confess I don't really follow tennis, and I have no idea how these rivalries are perceived by tennis fans or the general public, but to me it kind of seems like tennis is all about the three or four possible pairings between the top players, and no other rivalries really exist now. I'm not sure whether there is more or less excitement for each time Federer and Nadal meet, but I would guess it's less, after 30 times or so, especially if one player clearly has the upper hand. But then again, tennis doesn't get me excited, so if you replaced Federer and Nadal with Robertson and Selby, it would take a long time before I got bored of them. :wink:


Anyway, good match today, great break from O'Sullivan in the last frame, as was Ding's century earlier. Should be another good match tonight. :smile:

[Byrom]

Well it matters little to me I like watching the likes of Marco Fu or even the new kids on the block or players with a different style of play actually but I am a more die hard type of fan and I doubt the public at large care or even know any of the modern day up and coming players. Previously when the top 16 where protected the top players did meet each other in finals a lot more and the general public - not your hard core snooker fans - and as such casual viewers of the game do have more chance to familiarize themselves with the top players.

In the past under this system - Hendry met White numerous times in finals Higgins met O Sullivan - Wiliams met Hendry many times and yet these days despite being at the top of their games Robertson and Trump have not met Ronnie in a ranking final or anything else all that much which is a shame for the watching public at large.

Credit to this tournament and the Masters for giving it more of a chance to happen. I just think it would help the game, attract more sponsors, develop more rivalry and appeal more to more of the public at large to go back to what it was - even if I myself as an avid snooker fan think it is fairer now and prefer it this way.

[sealer]

It was special to take the last frame the way he did

[Byrom]

Anyway chit chat over game on looking forward to this - Nice opening pot - it must give you enormous confidence to be able to smack the long ones in as consistently as Robertson does?

[robertmac]

What a match. Robertson flukes a red and clears up frame 1
and Trump has a nice break to win the 2nd. Both players are
playing very well.

[Byrom]

Yeah been a great tournament with lots of top class snooker throughout - the one thing that stands out for me about the whole thing is the use of camera angles - the wider views and mixing in particular of the shots which are very good and professionally done - I don't know how much of this is down to the venue but I think ITV have done a much better job than their more experienced BBC people surprisingly.

[scottley]

He deserved to win that after that opening smash of a red!!

[robertmac]

ITV has done a terrific job not only with the cameras
but the analysis as well. Top notch.
Trump goes 2-1 up with some brilliant play after he
gets an opening. Great stuff from both players.

[scottley]

I think Judd has the most cue power of any player i've seen, quite remarkable!

[streamer45]

This is the Trump I was used to like, top stuff!

[sealer]

+1 to ITV prise

They do seem to lack a bit of smoothness of BBC with Hazel etc, but they do try and they clearly take to another level that just need a bit of additions and polishing up. Hope this one will stay on the calendar. What they do not spare is the air time. I will have more.

[P.Smith]

Fascinating game this one. It still amazes me that Trump can pot so many ridiculous long balls and then trip up on simple shots. He has missed 3 easy blacks off the spot in this match.

Apart from careless misses he is looking relatively sharp. 5-3 up now and I expect him to close it out now after that confidence building break. Robertson is playing in a rather mediocre fashion.

[thommo335]

Champion of Champions - Tuesday 4th Nov

sure I've just seen 'front row brian' wearing the chocolate brown Coventry away top from the seventies! !!!

[robertmac]

Trump 5-4 as Robertson takes a frame.
Not over yet.