Masters Semi-Final Discussion

[Marc]

I wont be at all surprised if its a higgins v maguire final tommorow, but whatever happens we are in for some brilliant snooker either way!

[Monique]

O'Sullivan-Maguire: The exception was perhaps the 2007 WC match against Higgins, and the signs were similar: he wouldn't go for long pots. Maguire for me.

I don't think the context is comparable. In that specific match Ronnie played very badly for one session, the morning session and left himself too much to do. Here it's a one session match: all of nothing. Yes he has refused the long pots especially before MSI... as he has done more or less in most of his matches in the last two seasons. Long potting is the weakest point in his game, he knows it. He said he didn't feel fully confortable with the new cue yet, especially in the long game. So there are two ways to look at his "refusal" of taking long pots: the negative one - he's not confident and the positive one - he's cautious and ready to be patient because he wants to win. For what I've seen yesterday it's more the second than the first...
Having said that, especially with Ronnie, today is another day... but Maguire is a bit like that aswell. And for Maguire to be 3-1 at the MSI well he can be happy for Robbo's mistakes. He didn't make that many, but Maguire made him pay for it. Like Ronnie did with Carter.
So for me it's impossible to predict.

[hegeland]

And I'll miss the whole thing today! I'm counting on youtube or elsewhere...

[RocketRoy1983]

And I'll miss the whole thing today! I'm counting on youtube or elsewhere...

TSF! Snookerfan92 wont let you down...although hopefully no scores in brackets eh hege lol

[MarcoFu]

I'm going for a John H and Ronnie final although I'd be okay with Magurie v. Selby.

[cueman]

I think Maguire and Selby are due a meeting in a final. We've had a lot of Higgins v O'Sullivan down the years, not that I'd complain but I just feel it would be refreshing to have a new rivalry.

[attilahun]

The stardard is very low at the moment...we can only hope for better snooker from them

[spike]

O Sullivan and Selby have a good rivalry going on so i would i like to see them both in this years final!

[johnwilliamson007]

thats a bad miss from john, i can see this being the sort of semi which has lots of drama but less quality play

[johnwilliamson007]

century from mark, well played! the balls were perfect too just what he needed.

[johnwilliamson007]

higgins missing some bad shots now, he isn't comfortable or cueing nicely at the moment

[johnwilliamson007]

fantastic pot by mark! just a point of interest - when was it introduced that drinking was allowed by the crowds in matches, is it just at the masters?

Im asking as ive never seen people have beer in a snooker crowd.

I don't think it should be allowed as snooker should remain a highly classy affair with a clean and crisp atmosphere.

[johnwilliamson007]

great performance from mark selby finds his form and will be tough to beat in the final, higgins a long way from his best. He throughly deserves his place in the final!

Bring on Maguire vs Ronnie

[Odrl]

That was a bit underwhelming. I predicted a high quality match, but it was only after the interval, that Selby played a couple of solid frames. Maybe he could have raised his game if it was close, and I'm sure he will need to do that in the final. Still, well done to him.

[Mauricio]

After mid-session interval I saw a game of only one player.

I would like to see more competitiveness from Higgins.