NI Trophy last 16 discussion

[hegeland]

Thursday August 28
13.00
Stephen Maguire v Alan McManus
Dave Harold v Stephen Lee
John Higgins v Liang Wenbo
Not before 15.00
Ian McCulloch v Mark Selby
Mark Williams v Mark Allen
Ali Carter v Ding Junhui/Mark Davis
19.30
Ryan Day v Barry Hawkins
Joe Perry v Ronnie O'Sullivan

Eurosport 1 live 13.00-16.30
Eurosport 2 live 19.30-end


Scot vs Scot, Mark vs Mark, Heavyweight vs Heavyweight. What do you think?

[Mal]

The standard was mixed in the last round, but in the last 16 now and it should start to heat up. Some potentially close games.
Mark Allen will have the crowd behind him and he got to the semis last year. Last time he played Mark Williams, he led 5-1 and played very well with high breaks and then had chances to go further ahead only to lose 9-5. Mark Williams has been playing much better the last year (in comparison to previous 18 months) but he still isn't at his best. I think Mark Allen will come through.
Other tough matches to call - Higgins will be favourite against Liang but Liang is fearless. I think Higgins will have too much.
Both Stephens to get through in the morning. I think Selby - McCulloch could go to the wire. Carter to stop Davis' good 4 match winning streak. Ronnie to power on and Ryan Day will need to improve and I think he will.

[hoggar]

Thursday August 28
13.00
Stephen Maguire v Alan McManus
Dave Harold v Stephen Lee
John Higgins v Liang Wenbo
Not before 15.00
Ian McCulloch v Mark Selby
Mark Williams v Mark Allen
Ali Carter v Ding Junhui/Mark Davis
19.30
Ryan Day v Barry Hawkins
Joe Perry v Ronnie O'Sullivan

Eurosport 1 live 13.00-16.30
Eurosport 2 live 19.30-end


Scot vs Scot, Mark vs Mark, Heavyweight vs Heavyweight. What do you think?

Well I´m sticking out my chin and saying McManus can overcome Maguire. He seems to be in great form and is the kind of player that can drag Maguire down, stop his magic and get him struggling. Unless Stephen comes out in full swing and gets his speed up it might get sticky.

Lee will take Harold down easily. He seems focused on getting back on top 16.

Liang seems really dangerous at the moment. Higgins need to intimidate him a little bit to take the edge out of him. If Liang gets the first frames, I think hell win it.

Selby McCullogh will be a tough game, but Mark seems reasonably well poised and should come through.

Davis Carter... strange game I think, didnt see the Ding game but not sure Davis won on own merits as much as Ding having his usual break downs. I think Carter will sail through again.

Williams looks strong I think, perhaps on his way back to something of his old self. Allens home turf wont help him.

Hawkins seems back in the form he had a few years back. Day has great skill but gives away too much against a break builder like Hawkins.

And I cannot see Perry crash the Rocket.

[Maija]

From WSA, it seems that these are the televised matches of the day:

1 pm Table 1: John Higgins v Liang Wenbo. Ref: Eirian Williams
After that Table 1: Mark Allen v Mark Williams. Ref: Jan Verhaas
7.30 pm Table 1: Ronnie O'Sullivan v Joe Perry. Ref: Jan Verhaas

I doubt that McManus will beat Maguire, but I suppose anything is possible. Speaking of which: when was the last time we saw McManus? It's been ages.

[Rane]

O´Sullivan is favorite, but he has to be on top, or we could see a surprise in that match. From the scoreline it seems as if Perry has carried on from where he stopped in spring.

[pekmez]

Mark Selby v Ian McCulloch that would be interesting match. ref. Michaela Tabb

[Blondie]

...yeah, and also with Mark's new and quicker cue action, not spending so much time down on the shot. Interesting one....

[João]

John Higgins must start with one visit breaks to win the frames when Liang misses a pot which is fairly normal on his game, otherwise I can see Liang getting through.

Mark vs Mark... well it could be an excellent match. Both players seem in acceptable form and they are both very attacking so this could be a very fast match and could go 5-1 to either side.

Also expecting Stepehen 'Werbeniuk' Lee to overcome Harold easily as he seems so far in the tournament the player with the best break building.

O'Sullivan can expect a really methodical Joe Perry which we all know, can bring him issues.

Let the games begin.

[hoggar]

Dominic Dale in the tg4 studio. I never heard him talking before and always had bit of a "meh" attitude towards him, but it immediately struck me how genuinely nice and pleasant he seems. Not that I've had a reason for believing otherwise of him, but still. A nice discovery.

Higgins first among the balls.

1-0 for Higgins after a strong break. Liang at the table.

Liang broke down after a stupid pot selection after some brilliant play.

[hoggar]

2-0 and Higgins back among the balls. Liang is not playing very well and Higgins is punishing him for his mistakes. I think his heart will go out of it if it goes to 3-0.

[Monique]

Liang is not using his brains ... and what a fluke!

[hoggar]

2 1 though and some chinese hope yet. He must improve massively though.

[Rane]

Harold 2 - 0 Another surprise coming up ?

[Rane]

McManus 2 -0 and Higgins on his way to 3 -1. If Wenbo doesn´t stop making all those mistakes, then he won´t have a chance.

[João]

For god's sake.. why do they insist on showing last year's maximum on every mid session interval. How about switching tables or something?