The Final: Selby Vs' Higgins

[dino]

I am also delighted that Higgins won it!
As for Selby, he has earned another fan here. He did play slowly but I don't blame him, all part of the game. John was just too tough..
I think the final was great

[Mitsuko]

Finally the best player wins his second World Championship

[davis_greatest]

I'm telling you, Eirian is not good at respotting balls.

What do you mean, hegeland? Do you mean placing colours back on their spots or replacing balls after a Foul And A Miss? If the latter, I do agree - he seemed to have very little idea, even when only the white needed replacing and he had (presumably) studied its position beforehand.

[Ginger Freak]

I have a little sympathy for Selby although at one point I was angry because he was definitely using gamesmanship with the amount of time he was taking over certain shots. If it was Ebdon doing this everyone would be critical of him.
He knew that he'd got John on the ropes but there was no need for some of the lengthy time he took over quite straightforward safety shots. He was trying to get into John's head and it worked in the early part of the evening session but I think Higgins class and determination saw him through.

I don't think it was a deliberate ploy by Selby to slow down. He didn't go too slow when in amongst the balls when he could have done an Ebdon and taken 5 mins for a break of 12. The lad was nervous (understandably), having come back from the brink he probably just realised that he had a chance to win the thing, and having found himself in a safety exchange he finally had some pressure on him as he knew the slightest mistake would cost him a frame he couldn't afford to lose.

Higgins played his safeties quicker simply due to experience, he knew what to do, and when to do it. Selby, under that sort of pressure was probably struggling to remember which side of the cue to use never mind play safe! So i think it was only right he took time out to compose himself before each shot.

Well done to both players though!

[Ginger Freak]

What do you mean, hegeland? Do you mean placing colours back on their spots or replacing balls after a Foul And A Miss? If the latter, I do agree - he seemed to have very little idea, even when only the white needed replacing and he had (presumably) studied its position beforehand.

I know what you mean! There was an instance in the first session where Higgins clattered the balls trying to get out of a snooker and Selby put him back in. It took Eiran 3 1/2 minutes to re-spot the balls (using a still-frame TV replay!) and still only got it about 95% right (using a still-frame TV replay!)

[davis_greatest]

I know what you mean! There was an instance in the first session where Higgins clattered the balls trying to get out of a snooker and Selby put him back in. It took Eiran 3 1/2 minutes to re-spot the balls (using a still-frame TV replay!) and still only got it about 95% right (using a still-frame TV replay!)

They should use Hawkeye to replace the balls. If the thing's talented enough to play shots the way the players "should have played them", I'm sure it would find it no challenge to get up and replace the balls in their precise positions.

[Ginger Freak]

They should use Hawkeye to replace the balls. If the thing's talented enough to play shots the way the players "should have played them"

I think it's the technological equivalent of Willie Thorne !

[snookerlass]

That was a Final were no one deserved to loose, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Congratulations to John.

[kirkwuk]

That match was exciting as Selby, as far as I'm concerned, is one of the few stars who has broken out from Pool and had a chance of owning the World Championship. What inspired me was his use of plants (or combination shots). In a later frame he used a combo shot and screw back to enable the red to catch the pink into the pocket. This guy deserved to win and I feel he's going to be a major player in the future. He needs experience playing at that pressure but I feel over time he will improve and hold the championship.

Players like this are exciting because he brings something new and exciting to the game. Although I disliked the amount of joking and messing around I think he will mature into a more serious player and be able to outst champions like Higgins.

[hegeland]

What do you mean, hegeland? Do you mean placing colours back on their spots or replacing balls after a Foul And A Miss? If the latter, I do agree - he seemed to have very little idea, even when only the white needed replacing and he had (presumably) studied its position beforehand.

Yeah the latter, sorry for not beeing clear. Watch out for red reps though, when I wrote about this last week I got a couple!

So it became quite an exciting final in the end. All credit to Mark for not giving up despite trailing by 8 frames!

CONGRATS TO HIGGINS, WELL DONE!

[missneworleans]

Great match, although I hoped Selby to comeback and win..
Anyway, very great match and tournament too

Congratulations Higgo!

[missneworleans]

BTW guys, number of centuries tied with number of centuries in 2002!

[Maija]

I don't think it was a deliberate ploy by Selby to slow down. He didn't go too slow when in amongst the balls when he could have done an Ebdon and taken 5 mins for a break of 12. The lad was nervous ...

I don't think it was down to nerves, he simply played like that the entire championship. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I seem to remember that shot time thingie popping up quite often when he was playing. He simply takes the time he needs to examine his options, quite often coming up with something creative. I can't remember right now (snooker overload), but did he pull off that 4-ball plant he tried? He at least potted a couple of 3-ball plants.

[Valderie]

Great match, although I hoped Selby to comeback and win..
Anyway, very great match and tournament too

Congratulations Higgo!

Totally agrree with that missneworleans!

[missneworleans]

I don't think it was down to nerves, he simply played like that the entire championship. Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I seem to remember that shot time thingie popping up quite often when he was playing. He simply takes the time he needs to examine his options, quite often coming up with something creative. I can't remember right now (snooker overload), but did he pull off that 4-ball plant he tried? He at least potted a couple of 3-ball plants.

Yes Selby was one of the best extreme shot makers.
But the best plant was Steven's one with 5 (! ) balls!