2019 World Snooker Championship

[vilkrang]

He most definitely can be arsed. He chooses what he enters, applies himself, and wins the vast majority of his matches. He is human. He's allowed to get nervous or have an off day and miss a few pots. For all his strengths, his b or c game is nowhere near his best.

I know he's human, just pointing out that he isn't in the frame of mind to challenge this year so I'd rather Cahill go through. Ronnie at the World's hasn't been great to watch since 2014.

[sanman]

He is gonna lose

[Billy]

Definitely. Nobody with his mind right would ever think that Ronnie O'sullivan doesn't want to become World Champion - in any year.

You can't really blame folk for coming to this conclusion when he's performing (or not) as he is in this match. He's hitting the blue on the break, going top side of blue on the break, hitting safeties thick, missing simple pots...

Maybe it is just an off day. Maybe he's feeling under the weather. Whatever the reason he looks like he'd rather be anywhere else.

[ken147]

I think Ronnie is very frustrated with the table conditions. There were a couple of occasions where he went into the pack and there was not much reaction from the cue ball and also some heavy contact / kicks.

[gavpowell]

Maybe it is just an off day. Maybe he's feeling under the weather. Whatever the reason he looks like he'd rather be anywhere else.

He was pretty arsey at the pre-tournament presser as well, so for all his talk about dedication etc. he doesn't come across as relishing the opportunity.

[narl]

He was pretty arsey at the pre-tournament presser as well,

Nothing new for him.

[The Boss]

He played similar against a lower ranked player in the Welsh Open this year - throwing caution to the wind and going for everything. He won on that day, so i expect him to get through tomorrow

[DeanH]

He played similar against a lower ranked player in the Welsh Open this year - throwing caution to the wind and going for everything. He won on that day, so i expect him to get through tomorrow

and lost to an even lower ranked player (Alexander Ursenbacher) two days later
of course that was a short format match so...

[wake_up_bomb]

If you keep continually emphasising...Sheffield is a nightmare, it's a marathon, you have to grind your way through it, I don't enjoy playing in it, it's boring and tiring...it's just completely the wrong mindset to begin with. It's hardly surprising that this can then impact on your performance.

[Odrl]

Selby vs Zhao might be difficult to watch tonight, if this opening frame is any indication...

[fkhan]

Selby vs Zhao might be difficult to watch tonight, if this opening frame is any indication...

Could the table's conditions be the reason

[Odrl]

Could the table's conditions be the reason

I would sooner blame the poor form of the players involved. It's not as if they're losing position and breaking down as a result... They've been missing some real sitters. :smile:

[gavpowell]

Nothing new for him.

No, but nor is erratic form!

[gavpowell]

Oh God, just as I suspect - Selby in trouble in the first round, fights his way back and ends up winning the tournament..

[Odrl]

Nice total clearance. Maybe it won't be so bad after all. :smile: