China Open - Last 16 Draw & Discussion

[The Statman]

A bit off topic, but I'm watching a Eurosport feed and I am convinced that the commentators (Joe Johnson and someone else) aren't actually in China, and are in a studio somewhere else like the UK.

Does anybody know if this is the case?

My issue is the fact that they pretend to be in the arena with lines such as "can't quite see from our commentary position"

You are correct, they are in a secret location somewhere in the southeast of England. It's so secret that I would have to kill you and myself if I told you more exactly where it was.

It is not just when they say things like "can't quite see from our commentary position", there are other more subtle giveaways.

In BBC commentary, Dennis Taylor might say something like, "We'll see if we can get a replay of that [positional shot/textbook stance/fantastic shoes/whatever]" and within 30 seconds the replay is duly shown. However, listening to Eurosport commentary, there are often occasions when they say something that makes it quite obvious they had no idea that a replay was about to be shown and they say suddenly "as we take another look at that ...whatever... "

Also, anyone remember that China final when the tv signal went on the final colours in the decider? The embarrassed commentary team clearly had no idea who had won, like the rest of us, until the picture returned and whoever it was had the trophy!

[The Statman]

Meanwhile, what's happening with Selby-Milkins? The live-score has been showing 3-1 and 0-0 for far longer than the length of the interval!

[missneworleans]

Meanwhile, what's happening with Selby-Milkins? The live-score has been showing 3-1 and 0-0 for far longer than the length of the interval!

They played that last frame before the interval for veryyy much time aswell!
Maybe problems with livescore?
Stephen started so well but it doesnt look too good now...at least he has a chance to fight back to 4-3..

[wayner147]

just watched Hendry ding. I have no idea how Stephen did now have a 4-1 leed on ding, from 2-1 up he missed everything, its not that ding played good, its that stephen just looked lost at the table, he missed dead on reds from 2 feet away by 4 inchs, he couldnt clear the colors, he had more then enough chances to win 5-1 or 5-2 and just couldnt pull the cue back and end the frames.

Is this is for Hendry will he just get so upset with him self in the next few years that he will just slowly die off or will he just walk away one day and never look back?

[Odrl]

In BBC commentary, Dennis Taylor might say something like, "We'll see if we can get a replay of that [positional shot/textbook stance/fantastic shoes/whatever]" and within 30 seconds the replay is duly shown. However, listening to Eurosport commentary, there are often occasions when they say something that makes it quite obvious they had no idea that a replay was about to be shown and they say suddenly "as we take another look at that ...whatever... "

That's true, but I wouldn't say the reason is them not actually being in the arena. Only the BBC commentators would know when a replay is about to be shown, as they have a "direct line" with the director, so to speak. That's when the BBC is the host broadcaster of course. When the commentators talk about something specific, such as a plant, or whether there is enough room for a ball to go past another one, they can show it right away.

But you can often hear the Eurosport commentators being in trouble. It's when the camera follows a player after a miss for example, and we don't see what damage is done right away. The Eurosport commentators have to pause until they see the table again. It doesn't bother me particularly though.

Also, anyone remember that China final when the tv signal went on the final colours in the decider? The embarrassed commentary team clearly had no idea who had won, like the rest of us, until the picture returned and whoever it was had the trophy!

Yeah, that was embarrassing. It was the final of the 2006 China Open. I think Williams was just about to pot the blue, and the next shot we got was Williams waiting for the trophy to be presented.

[Welshsteve]

What's happened to the live scoring of the selby match? It's been stuck at 3-1 with no score in the next frame for about an hour or more now. They taking a break for dinner?

[pat39]

A bit off topic, but I'm watching a Eurosport feed and I am convinced that the commentators (Joe Johnson and someone else) aren't actually in China, and are in a studio somewhere else like the UK.

Does anybody know if this is the case?

My issue is the fact that they pretend to be in the arena with lines such as "can't quite see from our commentary position"

It's starting to get embarrassing when Mike Smith says good evening to us all when he is sitting in a London studio at 12.30 lunchtime.

[pat39]

What's happened to the live scoring of the selby match? It's been stuck at 3-1 with no score in the next frame for about an hour or more now. They taking a break for dinner?

Just checked BBC website, they have Selby winning 5-1.

[snooker_147]

What's happened to the live scoring of the selby match? It's been stuck at 3-1 with no score in the next frame for about an hour or more now. They taking a break for dinner?

Mark Selby 5-1 won over Milkins. It finished an hour ago. :snooker: I think there is some problems about live score system. I could see Ronnie-Day match still on it a few hours ago

[Welshsteve]

Eurosport coverage is useless anyway. Joe Johnson talks so much tosh. The BBC commentators are much better

[beechy1212]

It's starting to get embarrassing when Mike Smith says good evening to us all when he is sitting in a London studio at 12.30 lunchtime.

I'm sure they commentate from France. I've moaned about the sound quality before because it's appalling.

[FOXMULDER]

Full results:

Stephen Lee 5-2 Ryan Day
Stephen Hendry 2-5 Ding Junhui
Allister Carter 5-3 Marcus Campbell
Robert Milkins 1-5 Mark Selby
John Higgins 5-2 Ricky Walden
Li Hang 4-5 Shaun Murphy
Mark Davis 2-5 Judd Trump
Peter Ebdon 5-1 Neil Robertson

Quarter Final Draw:

Stephen Lee v Ding Junhui
Allister Carter v Mark Selby
John Higgins v Shaun Murphy
Judd Trump v Peter Ebdon

[Rane]

It doesn´t look easy for Hendry now. He needs to win at least first round at the cruicible and at the same time to get one stage further than Cope or Walden, so if one of them wins their first match, Hendry will have to beat Selby, which require that he finds his best form.

[missneworleans]

Damn I thought Hendry is quite safe Well Hendry can get through first round but to beat Selby...would be very hard. But Walden and Cope might just lose-didnt do much this season...

[FOXMULDER]

It's been the same story for 6 years with Hendry... he just can't keep it up for consequtive matches. We see it over and over, he has a nice win with some good form and then is beaten comfortably.

I hope I'm wrong but if he loses in the first round at the Crucible he might retire. Can't see him playing outside the 16...