2016 World Championship discussion

[scarfacechen]

Well played Ding and also huge respect to Angle McManus for playing so well throughout the championship

[Erwan_BZH]

Congrats to Ding who has been very, very impressive! It's very satisfying to see him back to his best level. He's the clear cut favorite now. And I think we have to thank Terry Griffiths for his huge work with Ding. The Welsh guru has managed to put him back on the right track!

Regarding Alan, he can be so proud of himself of his accomplishment. Reaching the semis at age 45, 23 years later, and playing so well is astonishing!! Well done Alan!!! Can't wait for his post match interview.

[crocodile]

Wow, that was fantastically tense. :nevreness: Can't wait for conclusion tonight, and tomorrow morning.

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Yes, it'll be a shame if Selby or Fu has to lose ....

[itsnoteasy]

Well done Ding, deserved winner of a great match.

[Odrl]

A nice day of snooker so far. :smile:

Lovely frame between Selby and Fu to finish their session. I thought I would have plenty of time for my 30-minute walk home after the frame finished, but it turned out it was already time for the next session to start when they were still playing, incredible. :smile: Nice result though, it should be an interesting evening session. I'm still sticking with my original prediction, but it does seem like Fu could take control of the match if he starts strongly.

Very well played to Ding Junhui. I called a new centuries record after the first session, but he only managed to equal it, shame on him! :wink: It's amazing that McManus held on for so long though, every credit to him. This semi-final will live in the memory for a long time as one of the best, even if it did not go all that close in the end. :smile:

Oh, and before I forget... I must object to Philip Studd's use of the phrase "a great escape Steve McQueen would have been proud of". I've heard him say that a few times now, but surely McQueen's character got caught in the end, didn't he? The phrase should be "a great escape Charles Bronson or James Coburn would have been proud of". :wink:

[streamer45]

Oh, and before I forget... I must object to Philip Studd's use of the phrase "a great escape Steve McQueen would have been proud of". I've heard him say that a few times now, but surely McQueen's character got caught in the end, didn't he? The phrase should be "a great escape Charles Bronson or James Coburn would have been proud of". :wink:

If only that was the only problem with his commentary...

[Ben04uk]

Well you seem to be in the know, who is he working with?

Robertson is generally to considered to be somewhat of a 'manufactured' player as well.

[Cov86]

It is a shame that the McManus dream run has ended but Ding was the better player overall. Still an amazing tournament for Alan.

I'm hoping Fu can come through this......... that way I will be a happy neutral in the final.

[daffie]

Ok then...more of the same please gentlemen.

I've got some midnight oil to burn...pretty sure that 76 minutes can be beat

:snooker:

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[stephenm2682]

ooooooooh controversy

[JimMalone]

There has been twenty odd robins in this match, I think we can safely say winter has arived
I don't see this as his B game, every time I watch him he plays this poorly, his cue ball control for the best player in the world is just awful, it's an exception if he plays well not a rule so that makes this standard his normal game.
Again this is not an attack on him, it's frustration watching him, it feels like he's settled, kind of I'm not as good as the others so I will just be negative, has he been to anyone to help him improve? Robertson went to Hendry, Ding went to Nic, then Terry, has Selby even tried?
I think he has a mental block, I saw Shaun Murphy say even as youngsters he couldn't score like the rest of them so retreated into this negative way of playing and for me instead of grabbing the bull by the horns and getting help to improve he's settled for this style of play.
As I say I have nothing against him as a person, he's coming to the club sometime next year and I will be first in the queue for a ticket, I think it will be a great night, he's obviously a great player to get to where he is, but he is just so negative it hurts to watch him.

In one aspect you're probably right. Selby isn't playing his B-Game here, it's rather his C-Game...

But that guy has played more than 400 century breaks and just for record more than any other player this season despite his season being pretty average for his standards. And Selby definitely doesn't play poorly all the time. I mean: You don't get to #1 in the world, let alone having that top ranking for four years in a row (talking about seasons end), if you play poorly all the time.
Also he was part of some of the (at least IMO) greatest World Championship matches in recent years. Thinking about his semifinal against Robertson in 2014 or his quarterfinal against Higgins in 2009.

[P.Smith]

Why didn't Marco call a foul on himself there? There is no way he wouldn't have noticed touching the red.

[JimMalone]

I've got some midnight oil to burn...pretty sure that 76 minutes can be beat

:snooker:

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I second this request.

[MrRottweiler]

Earlier I heard Hazel Irvine apologise to anyone who heard swearing from the commentry box but I didn't hear it. Does anyone know what was said? I think it must have been during or just after the 75 minute frame.

[Cov86]

Looks like Selby is starting to play better here. Is he going to find his A game just in time to sprint over the line?

Personally I hope not. I want Fu to win it!