2016 World Championship discussion

[gavpowell]

If you dont see that knowing your mates game inside out has a bearing on things then I dont know what to say. But of course it has a bearing. It's not just a game on the table so to speak, is it. If you know a players game very very well you get to know how that player reacts to certain things etc etc.. I could go on but I won't, it's like playing you're mate you're used to playing week in week out. Don't you think it's a little different to say playing a player you've played only a few times? ... Of course it is and has bearing on a game

Well I do not and have never played any sport, but Ali Carter knows Ronnie's game inside out - that's helped him beat O'Sullivan...err..never? Everyone knew Hendry and Davis's game but they couldn't do a damn thing about it. I think if you play your own game and don't do anything stupid, you give yourself the best chance whoever you're playing.

[Odrl]

A surprisingly entertaining evening of snooker tonight, I never expected these two matches to go so close...

Credit to Barry Hawkins for coming back so strongly from a 9-1 deficit. He was missing all kinds of balls and losing position almost immediately in breaks in the first part of the match, but he really raised his game tonight. He was very close to making it 10-10, and also 12-12, and I have a feeling he would have won the match from either of those scorelines. But in the end he had just left himself too much to do. As for Fu, that penultimate frame was an awful bottle job from him, reminiscent of some of Matthew Stevens' worst. He had a chance with a couple of reds left and just needed to take the easy balls, he had another chance on the brown and missed a "Steve Davis shot", and finally he had that easy blue for the match. I thought he was gone at that point. But to knock that long red in and clear up to win on the black in the last frame was superb. :smile:

Amazing stuff from McManus as well. He has really impressed under pressure in this tournament so far. He kept his composure when Maguire was going mad in the opening round, then something similar against Carter, and tonight he played his best when it matter the most. Higgins was exactly the opposite unfortunately. He got worse with every game in this tournament, and tonight he missed some really easy balls. I don't think he would have had much chance of winning this title playing like that, even if he had somehow got past McManus. His poor record against players older than him continues then... In recent years he has lost at the Crucible against Steve and Mark Davis, against Hendry, and twice against McManus. :smile:

I have a strong suspicion it will be a Selby-Ding final, but more on that tomorrow... :smile:

[GeordieDS]

Lovely post-match interview with McManus on Eurosport. Sadly the schedule may work against. He's first out tomorrow against a fresh Ding and then an early start on Friday as well. But who knows. I would dearly love to see him lift the title. It would be the ultimate in snooker faitytales. Anyone know what his pre-tournament odds were?

1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000/1

[cally]

Well I do not and have never played any sport, but Ali Carter knows Ronnie's game inside out - that's helped him beat O'Sullivan...err..never? Everyone knew Hendry and Davis's game but they couldn't do a damn thing about it. I think if you play your own game and don't do anything stupid, you give yourself the best chance whoever you're playing.

Okey dokey....

[GeordieDS]

I wouldn't expect anything less from them, although they're very efficient with their TV licence reminder letters

You don't need a tv license anymore, just go to their website when yours is due and tick the box which says you don't watch live tv

[Kargetina]

The last time Selby won the title, Leicester won the Football League Championship. Now Selby's in the semis while Leicester is a win away from the Premier League.

[Byrom]

The last time Selby won the title, Leicester won the Football League Championship. Now Selby's in the semis while Leicester is a win away from the Premier League.

Yeah but the last time Alan McManus won anything you could go out with a fiver get drunk buy your supper get a taxi home and still have change and this was number one

[Giggity1984]

I'd like to see Fu in the final. Pray to the snooker gods lads!

[Neil Taperell]

^^^^

Echo that

[armstm]

alan McManus after qualifying said he had no expectations and wasn't that excited. judd take note - reverse psychology works by taking the pressure off!

[joey3126]

I know it's a wrong attitude but I think I won't see another frame of this championship unless if Selby - Ding final happens, I respect them all but must say I expected a little more from World championship semifinals.

don't forget Marco...

[shmeeko69]

Yeah but the last time Alan McManus won anything you could go out with a fiver get drunk buy your supper get a taxi home and still have change and this was number one

And Jim Kerr had a dodgy barnet

[shmeeko69]

If you dont see that knowing your mates game inside out has a bearing on things then I dont know what to say. But of course it has a bearing. It's not just a game on the table so to speak, is it. If you know a players game very very well you get to know how that player reacts to certain things etc etc.. I could go on but I won't, it's like playing you're mate you're used to playing week in week out. Don't you think it's a little different to say playing a player you've played only a few times? ... Of course it is and has bearing on a game

Mindset plays a part and playing against a mate or someone who you practise with does affect a match. I remember Selby saying this before he played his mate Tom Ford in the WGP earlier in the year and he got beat in that match.

Of course there are other factors to consider whether it's an individual or team sport including recent form, length of tournament, venue record, health, diet, mental and physical fitness, travel, accommodation when you're trying to fathom out the eventual winner.

[Erwan_BZH]

Just watched the post-match interviews from Higgins and McManus.....It i always a joy to hear Alan talking about snooker. I don't know for you guys but each time I hear him, I always learn something. His knowledge is immense, he's calm, collected, always spot on in his comments. I really enjoy him when he does the pundit for ITV or Eurosport because it is of such high quality analysis, not the usual bullsh*t we constanlty hear on the BBC. It is so refreshing to have such an insider.

His interview yesterday was very honest, down to Earth, full of excitment. It's a shame he has to go against Ding because these are my two favorites players remaining on this tourney. Should be a cracking game between two master tactician of the game.

[itsnoteasy]

Yeah but the last time Alan McManus won anything you could go out with a fiver get drunk buy your supper get a taxi home and still have change and this was number one

I love simple minds, saw them twice back in the day, hail hail Jim Kerr. He's backing McManus ,no doubt about that, if you know your history.