Stephen Hendry V Ali Carter

[RaNeN]

I didnt expect this! I atleast expected a fight! Come on Hendo!

[Aggrolite]

Hendry 8th is being far too harsh. The damage was done first session when Ali played much better, this session wasn't up to much, but Ali was still playing quite well.

He's 38, why not keep playing? I think he could still bag the odd tournement (although i think this would probably have been his biggest chance for a world title that he'll get now). Remember how well he played against O'Sullivan/Dott in the UK?

Still, he only has to win 9 in a row tommorow.....sigh. I'm rapidly losing interest in this tournement. Higgins, Stevens or Ebdon better do well from here. O'Sullivan/Murphy final will be the first in many years i don't watch. The only match i can think of when i would have zero interest in who wins.

[nekdo]

I`m also disappointed with Henry`s game.It seemed he can`t do anything right, but on the other hand Carter was out of this planet.His potting was unbeleivable.It reminded me on Robertson when he beat Higginson.
This years Crucible is pretty ****ty.Ronnie is doing something but you never know when the brick is gonna fall on his head.You can`t count on Ali either.My hopes are on John.Today session was good and Fergile is not a bad player at all.We`ll see.I just don`t want to watch half a sleep Ronnie.It seems he doesn`t give a f...

[missneworleans]

Henry now can do nothing. The finish of the game now will be just formal. It can be Ok if Hendry loses to Carter, but not with this score!!

[ADR147]

he is dead in the water i am sure but does anyone else remember in the final against jimmy white when he was about 17-8 down and won 18-17 ?

[Alex0paul]

If he gets a chance today he will definatly go for the 147.

[elvaago]

He was 14-8 down against Jimmy and won 18-14. But Jimmy bottled it and Ali is not likely to do that in this form.

[Alex0paul]

All we can hope for is Ali to turn up late, get docked a few frames and then he somehow is ill during the interval and then maybe Hendry might win.

[elvaago]

All we can hope for is Ali to turn up late, get docked a few frames and then he somehow is ill during the interval and then maybe Hendry might win.

That's about as optimistic as I am, Alex!

[April madness]

Hendry lost the plot. changing your cue a forthnight before the tournament is suicide! Desperate measures.

Is he the only one to change the cue before tournament? I remember there were talks about Ronnie who picked his cue just about few weeks before the start of this season, and got to the NIT finals right away... It's just Stephen does not play well for some reasons, and I guess the cue is not the main factor - you really believe he would get to the QF with his old cue?

[elvaago]

Jimmy used to change his cue every couple of weeks, cause he'd lose it or someone would break it and he'd have to borrow someone's cue halfway through a match and still make centuries. Having a new cue is in your head.

[Wim]

Is he the only one to change the cue before tournament? I remember there were talks about Ronnie who picked his cue just about few weeks before the start of this season, and got to the NIT finals right away... It's just Stephen does not play well for some reasons, and I guess the cue is not the main factor - you really believe he would get to the QF with his old cue?

I agree with this - it 's sad to see hendry play like this but don't blame the new cue only.

[PaulTheSoave]

I did not mention, because he changed his cue, this was the reason for losing. Changing a cue is rather a symptom that he already has lost confidence and went for the thing in your head as Elvaago mentioned.

Dont twist my writings please!

[cueman]

I think Stephen changed cue because he was looking for something to perhaps inspire him, I think he knows that his game was nowhere near good enough to challenge for the title and so looked at a new cue to try and give him an edge.

It hasn't worked though and IMO this cue has caused more problems as he hasn't really had enough time to get used to it. In reality there wasn't anything wrong with his last cue but sometimes players look to blame anything but themselves for their demise.

[Alex0paul]

I reckon Hendry is going to come back today and win.