Candidates for the title

[PaulTheSoave]

Well, this year I got the feeling it is going to be Ronnie O'Sullivans' year. His main hurdle will be the second round, Robertson or Day (if he comes back). If he overcomes it, he will go all the way.

I could be wrong of course. Other outside favourites:

Maguire, Murphy or newcomer Allen (probably too early). In the field as it is I also see Stevens go to the final if he manages to win the repeat final of 2005, being a quarter final. Okay, lets go for a O'Sullivan - Stevens final.

[Marc]

The player whos impressed me the most is Ronnie too....maguire looked the best ive seen him since he won the uk championship at the end of 2004.. i think a semifinal between these to is to is most likely..

the other half of the draw im hoping for hendry to find form like he did in the uk champs and make it to the final..

sullivan v hendry final at the crucible has never happenend, but hendry needs to improve on todays play, otherwise it wont likely ever be.

[Alex0paul]

We are still on course for 3 grudge match finals at least.

O'Sullivan V Hendry
O'Sullivan V Ebdon
Maguire V Murphy

Personally the last one is the most probable as both have handy draws and are playing well.

[PaulTheSoave]

i agree on hendries present form. He seems to have lost it since the evening session in the UK final. I cannot see Ebdon going all the way, though his draw seems quite easy. Selby is a good player but is a bit unstable. Changing bad sessions with good ones against Lee. If Ebdon meets Hendry in the quarters, I put my money on Ebdon.

[Marc]

Ronnies draw is really tough, if it goes to plan.

1st round - ding
2nd round - robertson
quarterfinal - higgins
semifinal - maguire
final- hendry, ebdon, murphy, stevens.

if he does go on to win it, beating these, then it will an amazing feat.

i woudnt put it past him tho...

[PaulTheSoave]

Higgins will be the least to fear of this group (Ding already gone). He seemed out of sorts, nowhere near his brilliant form he displayed at The Masters 2006. He needs that to beat O'Sullivan imo.

[Maija]

i agree on hendries present form. He seems to have lost it since the evening session in the UK final.

Oh, he has played well since, for instance in the Malta Cup, though I'd put my money on Ebdon too if the two were to meet. I don't think Stevens has got what it takes to beat Murphy or Ebdon at the moment, so I think Ebdon might see himself in another final this year.

The top of the draw - ooh, heavens. Is a hard one. I really can't make up my mind, it seems to fluctuate between Robertson, Maguire and ROS. I don't want to write John Higgins entirely off, but he's not really showed a lot of form, except for that last frame there.

But hey... guesswork

[Marc]

I still woudnt right off Hendry not by a long way! If he manages to get through against Hicks or Carter then I think we'll see a big uplift in his performance.

It was the same in 2002 when he didn't play particularly well in the early rounds, whereas O'Sullivan started off with excellent performances. Then, when they met in the semi-final, it was nip and tuck all the way until the final session when Hendry pulled away with four frames on the spin to close out the match.

I remember people were writing him off that year as well.

[PaulTheSoave]

guesswork indeed. Hendry does not seem to have his consistency for the whole full week or two weeks. Seeing him play against Dott in The UK semi, vintage stuff. Sunday evening all gone. Lets hope he has his "bad" match under his belt for this tournament and blossoms from now on!

[missneworleans]

Hendry won Gilbert but his form don't look very good. But it didn't looka good after 1 st round of UK but then he get to final, so let's see his next match
Maguire looks solid, he beated a diffucult opponent easily, so we should watch him, he can win!
Murphy looks not bad too, but Trump is not a best opponent, although Parrot too, so let's watch his few next matches to see
O'Sullivan is very good, but he won Ding maybe more c's of Ding's poor play. Also Ronnie has tough draw, so let's see- it won't be easy o beat all
Ebdon looked not perfect in his match with Bond, let's see his peformance in nect matches
Stevens beated Delaney very easily, but let's see how he will play Allen. After his win on Doherty, that won't be easy!
Of course Higgins and Robertson, but thay haven't played yet- so can't say anything

So still it's too early make predictions. I think we can make predictions only in quarter-finals, not earlier

[Wim]

The problem for ROS could indeed be Robertson - after that match eventually Higgins but this can' t be a real problem for Ronnie or Robertson; only Macguire remaining ,a dangerous outsider playing well apparantly

[ronnieisthebest]

Paul you are on the money I reckon with an O'Sullivan-Stevens final.

[Wim]

Paul you are on the money I reckon with an O'Sullivan-Stevens final.

Could be, but Stevens, is there some indication he could go far ?

[Q Ball]

Not a lover of ronnie or ebdon, but its probably the best grudge match left, if i had to say who i want to win, it would have to be ebdon.... Come on Hendry

Q

[Blondie]

Hi Q,

...........and can't understand why you're not a great fan of Ron, or Ebbo?