2016 World Championship discussion

[WestHam1895]

Great match and , I guess, fair result insofar as Selby did what he had to do to win, whatever it was. Not always pretty, sometimes infuriatingly and maybe, purposely slow. That's his game. I am not too fussed about him, some players you just don't take to, it's the way it is. But, He doesn't really look happy, and seems like a bit of a hollow victory. I do feel bad for him, the reception was pretty quiet, and I don't like to see that. Doesn't matter who I am rooting for, I am always happy for the winner, and wish them all the best.

[JimMalone]

Can't believe the hate here for Selby, the guy is a serial winner and does it in any means necessary. This is a guy who doesn't play you at your own game, but HIS in order to win. Just look back to the previous world championship he won against O'Sullivan, if you play Ding or O'Sullivan at their own game he will lose, so why would he do that?

Selby has won 2 or 3(can't remember) and 1, looking like two, world championships yet people think he is just lucky!

By the way the game is called snooker... clue is in the title... it's not all about pretty flowing balls going into pockets, it is a game largely based around tactical safety and... snookers.

Well said. Not to forget he is Number 1 in the world for 5 years.

[liquid_symphony]

Indeed...and imo it's even worse than that...if you can only focus on your severe hatred for a player/person, and this then completely overrules even the match and battle you are watching, then you are the real loser in my book. This goes for all the selby haters in here...sour grapes as always

is the thread's about snooker ? so if it is are the people allowed to express their opinion without being insulted ....

[zzeezzy]

He's not saying he has been lucky to win them all - just this one.He had an easy draw- look at who he played.The only match he played well in was the final.And he did have the run of the ball.

Ding contributed to Selby's run of the ball with the mistakes he made when he was put in awkward positions.

Look I'm not saying it is pretty by any means but the guy is just a serial winner and I admire how he can the best break builders in the game by playing his way. People on here seem to be thinking that the game is all about potting and break building, whereas in fact that is a whole other side to the game that is just as important.

For the record my favourite player is Shaun Murphy, but I'll be the first to admit that the reason he hasn't won more in his career is because if his A game doesn't work, he doesn't win.

Ding showed a lot of tenacity in this final and mixed it up well, but he just came up against a better match snooker player.

[JimMalone]

Just listen to the cheer for Ding when he accepts his runner-up cheque, compared to the one for Selby when he takes the trophy. That's all I'm saying. Very unpopular winner, and for good reason.

Maybe your ears are wrong? Huge applause for Selby when he got the trophy.

[JimMalone]

Selby finding it difficult to crack a smile.

So not only I noticed it. He looked rather like somebody who had just lost the final.
Would really be interested in his "personal problems".

[The Rook]

He's not saying he has been lucky to win them all - just this one.He had an easy draw- look at who he played.The only match he played well in was the final.And he did have the run of the ball.

Selby won the match by 4 frames, not 1, so it was a reasonably convincing margin. Anyway, luck has always been one of the staple arguments of "Why Selby Wins" by the haters. In 2011 there were certain prolific posters on these boards who were of the opinion that Selby is the worst No1 in history, a fluke No1, and just filling in briefly prior to Trump's imminent Hendryesque style dominance. Funnily enough, Selby has finished every season since at No1, and won two World Championsips, but some of these clowns still think it's down to his superior luck. I suppose little has changed really.

[s.h442]

Well done to Selby. His matchplay was outstanding. I feel sorry for Ding though and if he had have won it would have been great for the game in China. He will be back though and who knows he may go one better in 2017.

[Hatcherjob]

Congratulations Mark Selby. World champion, Leicester are Premier League winners and then a post match lobotomy to cap it off.

I think its a travesty he's won it. I'm not being bitter, I actually think he's a hugely talented snooker player who could probably win it playing ethical snooker. He's good at what he does, but its what he does that's the problem. Snooker has been rejuvinated of late - what a kick in the face it is to have this bore as the leading light. China: I can only apologise, nobody wins out of this, not even Mark Selby.

[ghost121]

Hard luck to Ding, who has performed with great credit under the toughest of circumstances. I feel a nervous start cost him in the end. Congrats to Selby. The man is granite.

[jonny66]

Selby deserved that win, Ding didn't turn up in the first session and that pretty much put an end to it, which is a shame. He's not my favourite player, but I can only take my hat off to his tactical mastery and all round game. No idea what's wrong with him, but he sure didn't look like he had just won the World championship.

[JimMalone]

So that was a great end to a great World Championship.
A high standard final that delivered brilliant safety exchanges, 5 Century Breaks and a near comeback from 0-6 down.

I feel sad for Ding. For most of the tournament he was the best player and as I stated before nobody would deserve the crucible title more than the nice guy from China.
In the final he run into a player who was better though. For most of the last 17 days Selby didn't play close to his best snooker and maybe he was a little lucky that the road to the final wasn't as hard as it could have been. He showed again thought, that he is the most complete and mentally strong player on the tour, at least in my opinion. He played his best when it counted the most and is really worthy of becoming the just sixth player in the era of the crucible to be crowned there as the world champion at least twice.

Edit: One thing I'd like to add about Ding. I hope now that he had a good world championship and came into his first final that this gives him confidence to perform good again on the biggest stage of this sport.

[cally]

So not only I noticed it. He looked rather like somebody who had just lost the final.
Would really be interested in his "personal problems".

Why would anyone be really interested in someones personal problems? Jeez

Well done mark Selby, two time world champion... You don't do that with a fluke. The boy knows his way around a. Snooker table alright. He's like a throwback to the 70's grinders to watch tho...

But want can ya say. He plays the game as he needs to. Fair play to him and the best of luck to him for future....

[Tim65]

Ding contributed to Selby's run of the ball with the mistakes he made when he was put in awkward positions.

Look I'm not saying it is pretty by any means but the guy is just a serial winner and I admire how he can the best break builders in the game by playing his way. People on here seem to be thinking that the game is all about potting and break building, whereas in fact that is a whole other side to the game that is just as important.

For the record my favourite player is Shaun Murphy, but I'll be the first to admit that the reason he hasn't won more in his career is because if his A game doesn't work, he doesn't win.

Ding showed a lot of tenacity in this final and mixed it up well, but he just came up against a better match snooker player.

Agreed.I actually like the tactical stuff & its amazing how he can impose his will on a match.He reminds me very much of Ray Reardon.I still think he had a good run of the ball in the final but maybe you make your own luck.Its a fact that the highest ranked opponent he had was no14 seed Marco Fu so he did have an easy draw.

[jonny66]

I hope Selby doesn't read this thread, he seems to have enough problems.