Who will win the 2008 world championship?

[moondan]

im taking an educated guess.......did superaussie by any chance vote for Neil Robertson mmmmmmmmmm ???????????????? lol

Wild, hahahahaha.

[wildJONESEYE]

I think its the moment of truth for Selby. Next to Ronnie he has the most pressure of expectation.
Sure he has the class, but can he handle the really big time, he got to the final last year but was the pressure really on him?
People say he is a great pressure player, well now we will really find out because this is where it counts.
I just dont know about this guy, Ive watched all his matches this year and counted the pressure pots, in my opinion he gets about 50% no more, Davis ran at about 70% and Hendry probably 85% and thats where its at if you want to be a great great player.
I hope he comes through because its great to see a player bring back a little thought to the game.
In the uk deciding frame he worked a fantastic chance but missed the pot by a mile and in doing so split the pack and it cost him dear.
I dont think a youthful Hendry or Davis would have missed that pot or any of the ones he missed in the previous frames to put Ronnie to bed.
This is the biggy. Of all the players playing this is his moment of truth.
Can he really handle it? I just dont know and this is what fascinates me so much.

i think you got a valid point moondan but considering this time last year he wasent expected to do much...then he reached the final..and he came in to this season and what a season he has had......he has proved a lot of points about himself BUT next week he is returning to where it began for him....we will see if he can handle that aswell as he has handled his first season in the Big League?

[wildJONESEYE]

No disrespect to Robertson,Hendry and Higgins id have like to see a poll with only the other 4 on it........becauase they are the favarates for the title by a long way in my opinion....it would be interesting to see how people would vote then.....

sorry superaussie.

[moondan]

Wild, for me its really open, love to see robbo smash his way to the title and he has as good a chance as any in my book.

Whats it now mate 32 hours, God its been a long day. catch you later.

[Anastasia]

My vote is for Hendry of course and always will be for him The dream for 8 world title is not dead yet

[Signal Fire]

Bond, Swail or Harold.

Other contenders: King, Carter & Perry.

[PaulTheSoave]

I voted for Selby, as he is the man for consistency for the longer matches. Maguire is number 1 this season, but he seems to have bad sessions during long matches (against Higgins in the final last year). Though I hope he will overcome this and lift the title. Really want to see him win it.

If Murphy, Maguire and Selby were not grouped in the bottom half, but one of them in the top half I am dead certain one of those would be world champion on the 5th of may. ROS got a chance, as his draw is easier, could play bad, and still win matches (likewise The UK). But I cant see it happening. (Unless the rest is out of shape).

[Wim]

I' ll vote O'Sullivan. He' s not the super favorite but I give him the benefit of the doubt,on course he won't be stopped

[Stella147]

Ken or Swail
Although liking Maguire for it as well...

[PaulTheSoave]

think the question is, who will win it, not who would you like to win it.

Unless you know something more!

Ken or Swail
Although liking Maguire for it as well...

[Monique]

I did not vote ... too open

It all depends on ...

Maguire, Selby and Murphy are in the same half of the draw. Selby and Murphy will probably meet in the quarters, and the winner face Maguire in the semis. I'd tip Selby to come out as a winner of this ... but only just. Actually it will be very much on the form of the day and how they handle the pressure. It's the first time Selby will be faced with such pressure. So pretty unknown...

Regarding the other half, "on paper", ROS seems to have a rather easy path to the semis. However he has a lot of pressure - the uncertainty of his fate after the China incident adding to it - and of all players he's the most fragile mentally (I don't count Dott here, I hope his present problems will be solved soon and he will be his good old gritty self again soon). And I expect Williams to put a fight. In the semis ... if he gets there, my bet would be for him to meet the winner of the Ding/Fu match. And then again, I'd tip ROS to win over Ding, but Fu? Not sure at all!

Final? (if my scenarii work of course ...)

ROS vs Maguire or Murphy ... I'd go for ROS
ROS vs Selby ... I don't know: Selby will grind for sure, they both will be under extreme pressure and wanting it badly
Fu vs Selby or Murphy ... Maguire or Murphy (better have some coffee and croissants ready, this gonna drag us to the next day breakfeast!)
Fu vs Maguire ... I don't know: either Maguire is on fire and wins, or he will lose patience and lose (déjà vu?)

[pat39]

As has been said already Ronnie does have a fairly easy draw and it will be a surprise if he doesn't reach the semis at least. The top quarter of the draw is wide open and I think Ryan Day or Mark Allen could reach the semis. The bottom half is all about Selby, Murphy and Maguire. I think Murphy will edge past Selby (if they play) and a Murphy v Maguire semi is a 50/50 call, but if I had to choose I will go for Murphy. The players most likely to cause an upset in the bottom half are Carter and Robertson but for the final I will go for a Murphy win over O'Sullivan.

[PaulTheSoave]

I think it is all said a bit easy, ROS has an easy draw. I rather think he would benefit a hard draw as he would be more focused. I just refer to The NI Trophy where he lost to Fergal O'Brien. I am pretty sure 100 out of 100 would have predicted a win there (including myself). ROS can lose from anyone today as the other three hotshots wont be surprised by much lesser players.

[Stella147]

think the question is, who will win it, not who would you like to win it.

Unless you know something more!

Ha ha
Yes I know but I truly believe Ken will step up to the plate and the only person that I fear to beat him is Joe (well in my heart anyway!)
Ken has had a great return to form and I think he can go all the way.

I also think Selby and Maguire are forces to be reckoned with... and as much as it may pain me Murphy has been playing consistently well all season and could do it too.

I'm thinking Selby will beat Murphy to get to the semis where he'll meet Maguire. Maguire will take that match to meet Ken in the final. Ken will beat Ronnie in the quarters and Higgins in the semis, ultimately claiming the trophy after a close battle with Maguire...

I'm never right but that's my thoughts/hopes...

[Monique]

I think it is all said a bit easy, ROS has an easy draw. I rather think he would benefit a hard draw as he would be more focused. I just refer to The NI Trophy where he lost to Fergal O'Brien. I am pretty sure 100 out of 100 would have predicted a win there (including myself). ROS can lose from anyone today as the other three hotshots wont be surprised by much lesser players.

That's a fair point Paul ... although I must say I was not THAT surprised when ROS lost to Fergal in the NIT. Why? with some "practice" you learn to "listen" to him in post matches. And in his post-match following his five centuries, including a 147, against Carter he sounded surprisingly negative, the same happened after his win against Robertson in the 2006 UK, just before the walk-out, and also after his win over Fu in China quarters in 2007. My point is that his lack of focus in NIT was not linked to a lack of respect for Fergal but rather to a negative frame of mind.
So yes the only certainty about ROS is that you can't have ANY certainty. You get the Ronnie of the day and that's it..