2018 World Championship

[blahblah01]

...but between Ding and Higgins, logically, wouldn't you make Higgins favourite even if you feel Ding might win?? I've warmed to Ding a bit but not enough that I'd like to see him win the tournament, but then again I'd rather not see Carter win it either. Good players, but I don't get pleasure watching them unless it's a good opponent.

Ding vs Wilson?

[blahblah01]

Do you mind if I don't? I would love it, but he misses too many pressure balls.

Same, but he implodes ratehr than just pressure shots?

That raising of the Butt on the Blue last year was like Jack\Milkin....

[gavpowell]

I quite like Ding's chances now as well.

...but between Ding and Higgins, logically, wouldn't you make Higgins favourite even if you feel Ding might win?? I've warmed to Ding a bit but not enough that I'd like to see him win the tournament, but then again I'd rather not see Carter win it either. Good players, but I don't get pleasure watching them unless it's a good opponent.

[Billy]

Been watching Ding practice lately. Trust me, this is his year.

Do you mind if I don't? I would love it, but he misses too many pressure balls.

[blahblah01]

Barry Stark, a font of snooker knowledge and a true gent surely they don't have long top wait to achieve the success they have worked hard for.

BS does seem to be, and a fair few of us tipped (ho ho) Kyren for the Final this year.

Of all the Coaching vids that I have watched in the last 15 months, his are by far the best as he isn't preaching one way....

This is one of my faves as he goes on about different reactions as players\timing etc is different - from that minute or so I think I understand "timing", lol.

[Rane]

And it was Williams in frame 6.

[Rane]

What a way to give up a frame. LOL.

[narl]

Been watching Ding practice lately. Trust me, this is his year.

Practice table play really means nothing on the match table. The only exception to that is being able to take your practice game to match play and it's rare that's seen with Ding.

[Shockerz]

I know we aren't pros, but do you knock tips in then cut them off so you have a spare? As soon as I have a tip I'm happy with it's not going anywhere.

I get where you're coming from but I generally use tips where I don't need to.

When I used Talisman's I did actually do 2 spares (lost one of them) and used to keep the other in the case. To be fair, I could have a crack at doing one from scratch, shape it etc but it would be tight on the 15 minutes they allows for this which is a little too tight for the guys; should give them 25 minutes as it doesn't happen that often.

I use the Centruy G3 not and like the Talisman, it plays straight in (in my opinion) so again not an issue for a spare as I feel they are very consistent.

Point taken though, as an amateur I probably would't have a spare if I used Elks and other 'playing in tips' but I'm not making my living off it.

I understand where you're coming from but after one disaster I think I would probably ensure a couple of spares rather than a potential nightmare again.

That aside, I love the Wilson / Stark team.

Kyren Wilson is a fantastic prospect as had some amazing shots to wrap the last frame up and with Barry Stark, a font of snooker knowledge and a true gent surely they don't have long top wait to achieve the success they have worked hard for.

[blahblah01]

I know we aren't pros, but do you knock tips in then cut them off so you have a spare? As soon as I have a tip I'm happy with it's not going anywhere.

Selby was interesting re tips going off, and that was why he changed after a Semi as it was "dead".

[jonny66]

Hadn't seen this video so thanks for that.

If Kyren needs a lengthy playing in time (still don't understand why they don't have a couple of spares that are played in and then razor blazed off.

They may not be a perfect replacement but better than a non played in one or one with a chink out of it.

I was hoping at the end of the video Barry would say this is the solution for next year or in the future, hopefully it is as he is certainly playing solid.

He played a couple of different shots tonight (successfully I might add) where I though he might have stunned the cue ball but instead played some power running side shots and I couldn't help but wonder if it was to avoid the chip out of his tip.

Either way, he is through so hopefully has a decent chance to get some confidence around whatever they do with the tip.

I know we aren't pros, but do you knock tips in then cut them off so you have a spare? As soon as I have a tip I'm happy with it's not going anywhere.

[blahblah01]

Hadn't seen this video so thanks for that.

If Kyren needs a lengthy playing in time (still don't understand why they don't have a couple of spares that are played in and then razor blazed off.

They may not be a perfect replacement but better than a non played in one or one with a chink out of it.

I was hoping at the end of the video Barry would say this is the solution for next year or in the future, hopefully it is as he is certainly playing solid.

He played a couple of different shots tonight (successfully I might add) where I though he might have stunned the cue ball but instead played some power running side shots and I couldn't help but wonder if it was to avoid the chip out of his tip.

Either way, he is through so hopefully has a decent chance to get some confidence around whatever they do with the tip.

The Bold is why I looked it up, but.....

He was interviewed by Eurosport and the plan is to use the Masters Finlal one - White and Selby (who looked like a ren boy) weren;t impressed, saying he would be lucky to get a session out of it....

Selby had told him that tip wouldn't see him to the Final before it started.

[Rane]

I quite like Ding's chances now as well. He played terrifically well at the Crucible in 2016 and 2017, only losing to an excellent Selby, and I think seeing the two favourites go out could give him a nice boost of confidence and motivation. He was also quite lucky with the draw this year, with only Hawkins really standing in his way before the semi-finals, so he could get there without expending too much energy. He made a good start against Xiao as well.

But then again, considering how horribly I've misjudged things in this Championship so far, I could be wrong again... :smile:

My opinion as well, but all of a sudden this years WC has become very interesting.

[Shockerz]

From 12 months ago...

Hadn't seen this video so thanks for that.

If Kyren needs a lengthy playing in time (still don't understand why they don't have a couple of spares that are played in and then razor blazed off.

They may not be a perfect replacement but better than a non played in one or one with a chink out of it.

I was hoping at the end of the video Barry would say this is the solution for next year or in the future, hopefully it is as he is certainly playing solid.

He played a couple of different shots tonight (successfully I might add) where I thought he might have stunned the cue ball but instead played some power running side shots and I couldn't help but wonder if it was to avoid the chip out of his tip.

Either way, he is through so hopefully has a decent chance to get some confidence around whatever they do with the tip.

[DeanH]

Been watching Ding practice lately. Trust me, this is his year.

Where was that?

Also you know the snooker-saying, "tough to bring your practise game to the match table"!