Masters Quarter-Final Discussion

[hegeland]

Thursday 15 January 2009
13.30 – QF1 - Mark Selby v Mark Allen
19.00 – QF2 - John Higgins v Ding Junhui

Friday 16 January 2009
13.30 – QF3 - Stephen Maguire v Neil Robertson
19.00 – QF4 - Ronnie O'Sullivan v Ali Carter

Any thoughts for the upcoming matches?

[tallguy]

All of them seem to be mouthwatering clashes .

Except maybe Ronnie would win his easily (but you never know with Ronnie). The other three look like going down to the wire. :snooker:

[spike]

They all look like tough matches to me! Would like to see Ding do well and get to the final, and that's not just because i have him in the lucky dip before you may ask. ha ha

[João]

Ronnie vs Maguire is still one of my favourite matches to watch. I hope they both go through.

[poolqjunkie]

Want to really see Ding win against Higgins.

[spike]

Anyone wanting to see a repeat of the 2007 masters final?

[Goldspark]

Ding's been thumped twice by John Higgins recently (5-0 in WS and that 7-1 session in the UK) and although Ding is showing signs of a resurgence I still think he looks a little fragile, so I can only see that one being very one-sided in Higgins's favour. I'd like to be proved wrong though.

[zombieman]

Mark Selby v Mark Allen: This will be an interesting match with a clash of styles, sort of. Selby will need to up his game from the Walden game to match the Allen of yesterday. However, Allen relies much on his long potting, he doesn't really have a B game. I see a tense match with a close result, Selby taking the pressure better and prevailing.

John Higgins v Ding Junhui: As I recall we saw this matchup a couple of times recently with Higgins getting the better of Ding. Ding's game is much about confidence and he found good form in the first match, but Higgins is a fighter which doesn't suit Ding. Tough to call but I expect John to go through.

Stephen Maguire v Neil Robertson: This is turning into a great rivalry, somewhat a tossup, I lean towards Robertson though because he doesn't have Maguire's mood swings.

Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Allister Carter: Carter is in better form at the moment, I think this match will be all about whether Carter can truly believe he can defeat Ronnie and disregard their past head to head history. If he has a positive mind he could even win easily (!) as Ronnie might get disinterested.

[Odrl]

If Carter is ever going to beat O'Sullivan, this is the time. He's just played some of his best snooker again, we should start calling him mr. first round. If he is going to lose before the match starts again, I'm hoping he goes out in first rounds for the rest of the season. He has a habit of defeating potential champions, only to lose in the next round. I think Carter has the game to defeat O'Sullivan on the table, but this match could be won or lost in the mind. It's a bit ironic that he is such an underdog to a guy, who is a master of losing matches in the mind himself.

Higgins or Ding? No doubt that Ding has played better in the 1st round. I'd like to see him win the event, and sort of redeem himself at the venue where it all went wrong for him. Higgins has the mental edge, but will need to apply it on the table.

Robertson and Maguire again... Neither was great in the 1st round. But since this has become a bit of a grudge match, they could both raise their games. I'll think about this a bit more when I make my predictions in the morning.

And finally, Selby-Allen. This game will come down to Selby's attacking game. We know he is favourite for the safety battles, he should be favourite when the pressure is really on. But can he outscore Allen? Not so sure from what I've seen in the 1st round. Of all the matches, I think this is the easiest to call, Selby for me.

[RocketRoy1983]

allen-selby match just started and what a poor turn out

[JiangYu]

I hope Selby makes a big impression on the tournament. He won the first frame and looks to be cueing well but I want Selby to get into the Final at least. Risky shot by Allen on the red to leave Selby in again. At this rate, I'm predicting another Whitewash. I know - so early on but I have a feeling.

[RocketRoy1983]

How nice to see the 2 boys laughing and joking. A refreshing change non?

[spike]

1-0 to Mark Selby, and back in the balls again in this second frame. Early days but Mark seems to be cueing well

[RocketRoy1983]

1-0 to Mark Selby, and back in the balls again in this second frame. Early days but Mark seems to be cueing well

But which Mark?????

[miscuehamburg]

But which Mark?????

I bet Mark wins. Im earnest, easy going for Mark S so far