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I'm dying to discuss the upcoming Masters, and since there's no appropriate thread in place...
This is an interesting event to try and predict, as there are never really any outsiders, but on the other hand, it's such a big and important title that not everyone is "destined" to win it. Also, at the ranking events you have the qualifiers who are usually the in-form players, and any top16 player that's not quite up for it is quickly filtered out. That might not be the case in this event, but let's hope that most players bring their best game.
Here's how I see it going:
Quarter 1:
Ronnie O'Sullivan v. Neil Robertson
Marco Fu v. Peter Ebdon
I'm really looking forward to O'Sullivan-Robertson. It's a bit of a shame they have to meet so early, but you always get some good 1st round matches at the Masters. It's a tough one to call, but the signs are not great for O'Sullivan. He's the defending champion for a start, and that's not his favourite position. He's also had his share of mediocre performances so far this season, and now the injury as well. But one thing I can say about O'Sullivan is that most of the time when I consider him an underdog in a match, he proves me wrong and plays some good stuff. I'm sure Robertson will be up for it as well. He's beaten O'Sullivan on the way to his first two titles and he won't be bullied by him. I think it's going to be a question of who out of these two (inconsistent) players finds their form next week.
Obviously whoever comes through will be favourite to reach the SF, but I wouldn't discount Fu or Ebdon here, as they have both been tricky opponents for O'Sullivan in particular in the past. I don't think Ebdon will be at his best here. He plays more bad tournaments than good these days, and you could say that the Grand Prix was a good one for him. I think he will have another form peak towards the end of the season. Fu hasn't played good snooker for a long time, and it's about time he finds some form. I can see Fu in the 2nd round, but all things considered, I think O'Sullivan will come through this part of the draw.
Quarter 2:
Allister Carter v. M.Williams/R.McLeod
Shaun Murphy v. Stephen Hendry
This one is very unpredictable, without a clear favourite, although on paper it should be Murphy. It's tough to predict how well Hendry will play, but I expect him to build his form towards the World Championship. Murphy was slightly disappointing at the UK, but he's a more consistent player than Hendry, so chances are that he will prevail. Williams looked to be on his way up, but I wonder if that defeat to Lines will slow him down again. Maybe a bit of laziness has crept up again. Carter has come back very well at the UK, after a slow start to the season. Williams may not be his favourite opponent, but Murphy and Hendry seem to suit him perfectly. He might just get through here.
Quarter 3:
Stephen Maguire v. M.King/J.White
Ryan Day v. Joe Perry
Stephen Maguire couldn't have asked for a better draw here. His three possible opponents (other than White) are three of only five players in the tournament not to have won a title. He was a bit lucky with the draw in the UK as well, but he might need to play a bit better this time. Ryan Day is another player who might like this draw. He's not had a good result for a while and this might just be his chance. This is arguably the weakest part of the draw, and if Maguire is not up for it, any other player, except for maybe White, can reach the SF here.
Quarter 4:
Mark Selby v. Ding Junhui
John Higgins v. Mark Allen
Very interesting quarter. John Higgins is the favourite on paper, and it always takes a good player to beat him. In fact, every player that's beaten Higgins this season has gone on to win the tournament. Last year's Welsh Open was the last tournament where the winner did not beat Higgins, expect for the WC which Higgins won of course. All three players could be a danger to him here. Mark Allen doesn't seem to enjoy playing him, but a best-of-11 at Wembley could be an occasion that gives him an edge. Selby-Ding could be another great match, almost on par with O'Sullivan-Robertson. Ding has obviously had a great season so far, a QF and two finals, one of which he won. But being the winner of the previous event usually works against players, and this is not his favourite tournament, or his favourite "atmosphere" for that matter. The opposite could be said for Selby. He's got a win and a final in his two appearances in this event, so he's still undefeated in best-of-11s here. In fact, five out of his six victories have been 6-5, which tells a lot about his handling of the pressure and the occasion. So my feeling is that Selby could reach the SF here, and also beat Higgins on the way.
Possible SF pairs:
Ronnie O'Sullivan v. Allister Carter
Stephen Maguire v. Mark Selby
In any case, I'm looking forward to it. There's a lot of stuff happening with the game at the moment, some of it very worrying, but the on-table stuff rarely disappoints, and there's nothing better than a snooker week to get my spirits up.
This is an interesting event to try and predict, as there are never really any outsiders, but on the other hand, it's such a big and important title that not everyone is "destined" to win it. Also, at the ranking events you have the qualifiers who are usually the in-form players, and any top16 player that's not quite up for it is quickly filtered out. That might not be the case in this event, but let's hope that most players bring their best game.
Here's how I see it going:
Quarter 1:
Ronnie O'Sullivan v. Neil Robertson
Marco Fu v. Peter Ebdon
I'm really looking forward to O'Sullivan-Robertson. It's a bit of a shame they have to meet so early, but you always get some good 1st round matches at the Masters. It's a tough one to call, but the signs are not great for O'Sullivan. He's the defending champion for a start, and that's not his favourite position. He's also had his share of mediocre performances so far this season, and now the injury as well. But one thing I can say about O'Sullivan is that most of the time when I consider him an underdog in a match, he proves me wrong and plays some good stuff. I'm sure Robertson will be up for it as well. He's beaten O'Sullivan on the way to his first two titles and he won't be bullied by him. I think it's going to be a question of who out of these two (inconsistent) players finds their form next week.
Obviously whoever comes through will be favourite to reach the SF, but I wouldn't discount Fu or Ebdon here, as they have both been tricky opponents for O'Sullivan in particular in the past. I don't think Ebdon will be at his best here. He plays more bad tournaments than good these days, and you could say that the Grand Prix was a good one for him. I think he will have another form peak towards the end of the season. Fu hasn't played good snooker for a long time, and it's about time he finds some form. I can see Fu in the 2nd round, but all things considered, I think O'Sullivan will come through this part of the draw.
Quarter 2:
Allister Carter v. M.Williams/R.McLeod
Shaun Murphy v. Stephen Hendry
This one is very unpredictable, without a clear favourite, although on paper it should be Murphy. It's tough to predict how well Hendry will play, but I expect him to build his form towards the World Championship. Murphy was slightly disappointing at the UK, but he's a more consistent player than Hendry, so chances are that he will prevail. Williams looked to be on his way up, but I wonder if that defeat to Lines will slow him down again. Maybe a bit of laziness has crept up again. Carter has come back very well at the UK, after a slow start to the season. Williams may not be his favourite opponent, but Murphy and Hendry seem to suit him perfectly. He might just get through here.
Quarter 3:
Stephen Maguire v. M.King/J.White
Ryan Day v. Joe Perry
Stephen Maguire couldn't have asked for a better draw here. His three possible opponents (other than White) are three of only five players in the tournament not to have won a title. He was a bit lucky with the draw in the UK as well, but he might need to play a bit better this time. Ryan Day is another player who might like this draw. He's not had a good result for a while and this might just be his chance. This is arguably the weakest part of the draw, and if Maguire is not up for it, any other player, except for maybe White, can reach the SF here.
Quarter 4:
Mark Selby v. Ding Junhui
John Higgins v. Mark Allen
Very interesting quarter. John Higgins is the favourite on paper, and it always takes a good player to beat him. In fact, every player that's beaten Higgins this season has gone on to win the tournament. Last year's Welsh Open was the last tournament where the winner did not beat Higgins, expect for the WC which Higgins won of course. All three players could be a danger to him here. Mark Allen doesn't seem to enjoy playing him, but a best-of-11 at Wembley could be an occasion that gives him an edge. Selby-Ding could be another great match, almost on par with O'Sullivan-Robertson. Ding has obviously had a great season so far, a QF and two finals, one of which he won. But being the winner of the previous event usually works against players, and this is not his favourite tournament, or his favourite "atmosphere" for that matter. The opposite could be said for Selby. He's got a win and a final in his two appearances in this event, so he's still undefeated in best-of-11s here. In fact, five out of his six victories have been 6-5, which tells a lot about his handling of the pressure and the occasion. So my feeling is that Selby could reach the SF here, and also beat Higgins on the way.
Possible SF pairs:
Ronnie O'Sullivan v. Allister Carter
Stephen Maguire v. Mark Selby
In any case, I'm looking forward to it. There's a lot of stuff happening with the game at the moment, some of it very worrying, but the on-table stuff rarely disappoints, and there's nothing better than a snooker week to get my spirits up.
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