2018 World Championship

[jrc750]

Wilson and Hawkins leading 11-5 and going to win., extremely disappointing results.

Only in your opinion of course

[mcsilks]

If any of the fancied players were playing like Hawkins, we'd be signing their praises and saying how brilliantly solid they were playing.

Hawkins gets some stick on here for the same reason Perry does. Because they play the percentage game and are unspectacularly solid.

Hawkins has proven he has the game to go far in this tournament, and in recent years, one might say he's been unlucky to drawn against eventual champions in the quarters and semis.

I really don't see any player left in this draw that can beat the Hawk this year. He's getting better and better, session by session and I can see why he's second favourite with the bookies.

He's playing the best snooker of his career to boot.

[Stormwatch]

Hawkins in one of the few players who could lose after being 11-5 up. Ding has already lost the game in his mind, so he'll return on the table without any pressure. I hope we'll watch a close match.
Very nice guys both of them, maybe too nice for this game...

[JimMalone]

So disappointed by and for Ding. If he would lose that match, okay. And all credit to Barry Hawkins. He plays like Higgins in this match. Great shot selection, good long pots, great breaks, knows, when he has to change to safeties and of course his safety game is great stuff.
Ding on the other hand isn't to recognise. After playing so well the two last years and only losing to a dominant Selby I really thought he had those lapses left behind. But with suddenly being the favorite the pressure has probably become to immense.

Good stuff from Wilson. I was sure he is the more complete player than Allen right now, but that the man from Northern Ireland with his firepower and his routine would make this a really close match.

[Dark]

Wilson and Hawkins leading 11-5 and going to win., extremely disappointing results.

[Billy]

shattered my hopes. bummer to see him lose.

Bummer to see who lose?

[anish147]

I'm losing interest in this competition as time goes.

I have tickets for the semis and Sunday sessions - my mate is so gutted Ronnie is out, he doesn't even want to go to the final. Might have a spare ticket for both sessions - row 10 approx. - would have to sit next to me, but PM me if interested!

[arsalanjami]

shattered my hopes. bummer to see him lose.

All my favorites are out now...... No more emotional investment.

Out of the lot tho - I would prefer Kyren to win it just so he can have that confidence of getting over the line and we can see something more from him next season with this title in his belt.

[Odrl]

A surprising evening for me. It was looking like we would get four very interesting matches, but that middle session so often proves to be a crucial one...

Disappointing stuff from Ding, not a hint of the form that saw him dominate against Xiao and McGill. I don't know, maybe becoming one of the big favourites this early in the tournament has put some additional pressure on him and he just hasn't been able to handle it. We've seen this from him the past, you expect him to win and he just plays incredibly underwhelming snooker. Then he suddenly starts playing well again when everyone has forgotten about him... Good stuff from Hawkins though, he took full advantage of Ding's problems and looks solid as a rock at the moment. But if anyone can get himself into trouble from 11-5 up, it's Hawkins. I think that was the scoreline he had against Dominic Dale in the quarter-finals four years ago, then played very poorly the next day and actually went 12-11 behind. I think Ding will need to apply some pressure for that to happen though, and he just hasn't been doing that so far.

Very impressive stuff from Wilson this evening as well, took the maximum out of the session really. He doesn't appear to have any weakness at the moment, and he clearly wants it as much as anyone. It's tougher to see a comeback in this one. :smile:

Also pleasantly surprised by Trump this afternoon, he played better than what I saw from him in his first two matches. Getting in front against Higgins has never been a problem for him though, his problems usually start when Higgins starts coming back at him...

[peterpackage]

very disappointed with Ding

Ding is Done

[Stony152]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that there was a left handed player in each quarter-final. Must be the first time that's ever happened.

[Stony152]

Kyren is going to be extremely difficult to beat.

[Guitarnolife]

Well, it's not Ding's year obviously but Hawkins played some decent stuff there. At 8-5 he seemed a bit fragile Hawkins but suddenly got going again and Ding just sunk deeper and deeper. I have a feeling that Hawkins might go all the way this year.

Wilson also building a good lead for tomorrow. Obviously not over yet but 10-5 is a comfortable lead.

Maybe the other matches prove to be a little closer. Carter - Williams could go into a decider I feel... If Williams and Trump won it would make a great SF line-up for me.

[Mr Snooker]

Interesting that Hawkins seemed so unfancied to beat Ding going into this match. Looking at their h2h it's all level at 7-7, but Hawkins has a 2-0 lead in longer matches (both World Championship wins).

Ding as never beaten Barry Hawkins in the World Championship in 2006 he lost in the last 48, 10 -6 and in 2013 he lost at the quarter final stage 13-7 and the Referee was Terry Camilleri, who is also the referee in this years quarter final between Ding and Barry Hawkins.

[gavpowell]

So annoying hearing peoples phones ringing and there must be notices saying to turn them off or on silent. They should plant someone in the audience for the purpose of letting his phone ring and the ref kicking him out. Then maybe everyone would be less likely to do it. I wonder how many times people are going to shout out "RONNIE!!" over the next few days.

There aren't notices actually, but Rob Walker tells everyone during the warmup and frankly it should be bloody obvious.