2016 World Championship discussion

[gavpowell]

What's tomorrow's line up, please? I know there's plenty of sport sites to answer that, but they're an absolute nightmare to navigate.

10am
Williams vs Ding
Wilson vs Selby

2.30pm
Hawkins v Fu
Higgins v McManus

7pm
Wilson v Selby
Williams v Ding

[MrRottweiler]

Just saw the final frame between Ronnie and Barry. That will have been a big win for Barry and he often shows it but he was restrained because he could see how gutted Ronnie was for the foul. Good on him for that. Very strange for Ronnie to even risk something like that happening.

Did anyone else notice how gutted Terry Griffiths clearly was when Ronnie fouled in the final frame decider when he knew he was out. I would have hoped the commentators are meant to be impartial.

[Neil Taperell]

Would like to see Marco Fu or Barry Hawkins win it .

[cueman]

Its not a great line up really, especially for the viewing public. A lot of those matches feature very similar players and match ups. The thing that made Trump vs Ding such a watchable game is the different styles. Ronnie also brings a charisma and style that is so attractive to watch.

No disprespect, but the players left in now are all like robots. I can see the viewing figures declining massively with the two biggest draws going out today, not a great day for the sport. When you add in Robbo and Murphy and the defending champ all going out in the first round, its certainly not good for the game or sponsors.

[MrRottweiler]

Am I the only Ronnie fan who likes John Higgins? (Admittedly I used to hate him, but only because he had a habit of beating Ronnie.) He is absolutely adorable.

Selby is awful though.

John Higgins is my favourite player and has been since the 90s when he could clear the table like Hendry. Higgins was a potting machine and it's a shame I don't see that form in him anymore. He's not as young of course but I would love to see him hit some form and become like the Higgins of olde. He had the best all round game and no-one liked playing him because he was such a good match player. Higgins and Ronnie are good friends as well and their parents know each other. I recall Ronnie mentioning Higgins in one of his autobiographies talking about when he had just beat Higgins to win his first world championship in 2001 and John said to him "give my congratulations to your dad" because their families were friends.

[BarryH]

Depression

Goodness me NO. Please NO. Selby and Higgins... anyone but them. Even boring Barry or Marco Fu... just not either of those two please. Selby is like watching paint dry and I can't look at Higgins the same since 2010.

Williams, Ding or Wilson for me.

edit: in fact even McManus would be better than those two. Although he has zero chance of beating Higgins IMO.

I sort of agree with most of that, though I've nothing against Higgins personally or character-wise (he was framed by The News of the World FFS!). He's obviously a great player, but dead boring to watch. I've also little interest in watching Inspector "Ding" Dreyfuss or Homer "The Hawk" Simpson.

I find it hard to work up any enthusiasm for anyone left in the draw now. Maybe I'll watch Mark Williams if I get over my disappointment with today's results in time. I'll probably watch the Crucible Classics on iPlayer instead, though I'm not sure I want to relive Jimmy White's losses to Hendry.

[MrRottweiler]

I might have to have a little flutter tomorrow on Higgins going all the way this year. I think he's favourite against McManus so if he can win that and hit a good spell he could do it but I hate to admit I don't see the stamina in him anymore.

[mikeyd100]

Here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pyna0ANhK7Y

Press conference of Judd. Doesn't seem that bad, but then he is answering a question does he think Ding can win it. He's just giving an honest answer. Really don't think there is a lot in this. Hendry has said far worse about players yet nobody ever criticised him. Just seems like its Judd bashing time on here.

Thanks for the link, yeah I agree, it wasnt bad, like you said it was a pretty honest assessment and he did compliment Ding too.
I still dont agree with his tweeting though haha.

[peterpackage]

Well played Hawkins

OH well, gonna save a heap of time i would have spent watching the snooker

All the players i enjoy watching are out

I would only be interested if Ding makes the final

[mikeyd100]

Ronnie's and Hawkin's press conferences if anyone is interested :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75bXKgratzM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_qgVA6I3OqQ

[peterpackage]

Barry hearn won't be too happy but hey players have to perform

[gavpowell]

I've never seen Ronnie look so upset - he obviously really did expect a good run this year.

[mikeyd100]

I've never seen Ronnie look so upset - he obviously really did expect a good run this year.

I liked what he said though, he seemed quite honest about things.

[Le Ball Sack]

In terms of Ronnies performance in that match was it around a B+?

[gavpowell]

I liked what he said though, he seemed quite honest about things.

Yeah. Frankly, it makes Hendry, Davis and Reardon all the more remarkable - when the level of talent Ronnie's got can't guarantee him a sixth world title, how the hell did the others manage it? Amazing achievement.