Steve Davis + Bahrain...

[tallguy]

I agree that it would be quite unfortunate if a walkover happens in the later stages of a tournament. Nobody, even the player who benefits would really wish for that.

My point is a player should not be faulted for trying his best to progress even though he is fully aware that he would have to surely concede a walkover at some point in time. Unless it is otherwise stated in contract, I would think it grossly unfair to dock ranking points/money won by the player for his efforts before he conceded.

[mushka]

I am torn about this one.

That the situation all concerned players were put into, is unfair one, is beyond doubt true. I have hard time believing there were other reasons for WSA to schedule Bahrain Championschip the way it was done, beyond their own personal agenda that has nothing to do with welfare of the sport.
It is unfair to ask players to bear the concequences of someone else mess, but if Steve Davis has right to enter the tournament, so have the others. Can you imagine the outrage that would follow if all 4 players succeeded in their matches, entered next stages and then had to withdraw? Perhaps there would be few who would say „it serves WSA right“, but general audience (even those who would be aware of the situation), the ticket holders? I think it would do more harm than good.

I am not reprimanding Steve Davis actions, because frankly I cannot think of a way to make the situation fair to everyone concerned. However, I think his actions open new round of questions whether he wins his match with ROS or not. In a way it would be better if he lost. In a way it would be better if he didn´t, then there wouldn´t be any kind of analysis how much the fact of knowing he can´t compete in the next round bore on his mind.

The thing I am wondering about is, how would it be taken (not just here) if all players entered the tournament?

[gby4]

Unfair situation indeed. If such a MIRACLE should happen, that Steve Davis would get past ROS and enter so far as QF round, the PL matc between Davis and Ding would have to be canceled. If this would happen, PL audience should be given another match instead. Ding will not be able qualify to PL semi-finals anyway, so would it be so unfair if he were to play someone else instead and possibly get the points. I know this is wery imaginary, but Mark Williams would be awailable. While it's true that Davis missing on PL match would not be a disaster - ( also considering his standard of play in this yer's PL so far ) - it would rise another problem. Wouldn't it look like Barry Hearn approwing the situation that WSA has forced the players into? Very theorethical, but still...

The other side of the matter is that in Bahrain Championschip audience is entitled to see what snooker as a sport is all about.I mean the big picture, not just big breaks. I think that Steve Davis with his ability to play at this level in his age, shows something caracteristic about snooker. His ultra-conservative brake-off shots and relative slowness may not be everyone's cup of tea, but we will have to wait if another 50+ player would turn up to play in his level.I doubt that we shall ever see a 50+ player with aggressive style of play, or has there already been such a player in snooker history? In some interwiev Davis said that he accepts the fact that he has now become the prey for younger players, but he will quit when he won't be able to perform. He has been to two QF-rounds this season, so I think that he has performed. Winning tournaments is another thing, but snooker is not totally dominated by youth ( under 30 ) as many of the other sports - and that is one of the things I like the most about snooker.

As for the player, Davis really needs the ranking points to stay in 32 , althoug he is currently 22 in provisional standings. Personally I hope to see him in tv-stages again next season. Even if it means whatching the bloody livescore

[murdock]

Unfair situation indeed. If such a MIRACLE should happen, that Steve Davis would get past ROS and enter so far as QF round, the PL matc between Davis and Ding would have to be canceled. (

Have faith gby4. As I said in a previous post, I'm expecting a tense final frame thriller with Steve winning 5-4! Anything to see Ronnie throw his toys out of the pram again...

[gby4]

When everything goes right all the top 32 players are capable of beating each other. The margins are small, althoug we tend to forget that sometimes. I know it is possible, but Davis BELIEVES that it can happen. And that is just fine by me. He sure doesn't take unecessary risks like ROS sometimes does

[S Davis Fan]

Steve is yet to win a Premier League Match yet. He has been playing so bad, that he will proberly boycott the PL and play the Bahrain match. By the way will Eurosport show this tournament? By the way Steve played a friendly Exhibition last Night against Joe Perry and won 5-4 and he played the proper break off shots on all breaks. Made a couple of breaks over 50 as well. A pleasure to watch.


Go Steve

[wildJONESEYE]

Unfair situation indeed. If such a MIRACLE should happen, that Steve Davis would get past ROS and enter so far as QF round, the PL matc between Davis and Ding would have to be canceled.

ummmmmmmm NO it wont be canceled Ding Junhui has pulled out of this tournament to play in the league against Davis therefore if davis wont withdraw from a match to play Ding on November 13 at the Dolphin Leisure Centre, Haywards Heath, West Sussex......ding will not be happy will he.....

[Templeton Peck]

Well the players are under contract and Barry Hearn has made it clear he will sue any player that withdraws. If a player withdraws form the Premier League then they would have no match to show and default on their contract with Sky. At least with a typical tournament the consequences aren't too severe with the two-table format because they still have a match to show. Davis probably won't get past O'Sullivan, and even if he did no-one would notice if he missed a few easy balls in the 2nd round to get knocked out. Problem solved, he gets 1900 points and can honour his PL contract.

[gby4]

Oh no... how didn't I see this, Ding has got three more games to play - so he could get to PL semifinals Still, it is unlikely that Davis should get to Bahrain QF, he would have to win either Fu or Dale after ROS. Looking at it in this way, it doesn't look so impossible anymore. ROS is unpredictable, there is no denying that But I really don't want to go into bashing any one player, although it would be interesting to see what would happen, should Davis go as far as QF- round in Bahrain.

[gby4]

Good information on PL contracts Templeton Peck. I just can't imagine Davis playing badly on purpose, not on purpose its unfortunately easy to imagine nowadays as his form varies a lot. But you were not serious with this were you?

Davis probably won't get past O'Sullivan, and even if he did no-one would notice if he missed a few easy balls in the 2nd round to get knocked out. Problem solved, he gets 1900 points and can honour his PL contract.

In case you were, we will just have to wait for unusual betting patterns to turn up. But there can't be anything unusual about betting against Davis can there?

[Templeton Peck]

He could just go for a maximum every frame, there's no rule against that.

[gmg]

Is there any chance that Davis could fly back and forth to the UK to fulfil both engagements if he did manage to reach the quarter finals? I'm sure he'd do it if he could.

Btw, to answer the query about most adventerous ever 50-something player, my vote would have to go to the sadly missed Cliff Wilson.
G.

[very.tee]

Is there any chance that Davis could fly back and forth to the UK to fulfil both engagements if he did manage to reach the quarter finals? I'm sure he'd do it if he could.

I think it would be ridiculously tight and improbable.

In any case Steve CAN'T drop his PL match, I'm going to see it!
(So excited!! My first live match)

[Templeton Peck]

Dubai is about 6-8 hours on a plane so I'd say it was virtually impossible. The quarter finals are played that day so he will definitely be on in the afternoon or evening.

[murdock]

Oh no... how didn't I see this, Ding has got three more games to play - so he could get to PL semifinals Still, it is unlikely that Davis should get to Bahrain QF, he would have to win either Fu or Dale after ROS.

Fu or Dale? Hardly two names that would make the great Steve Davis quake with fear! He's beaten Dominic Dale already this season (in Shanghai) and has a good record against Marco Fu. Neither of them are exactly world beaters! I could understand people thinking he doesn't stand a great chance against Ronnie, but surely he's at worst even money to beat Fu or Dale?