shanghai masters rules?????

[rocknroll]

hi there,

i was just watching coverage of the tournament and realised that there is quite a strong tendency for players to get down and hit the ball, without giving as much thinking time as they do in other tournaments.

i was just wondering if their shots were timed? or if the players dont take it as seriously as other competitions? it seems a very quick game they are playing.

G

[Robert602]

It's definitely not timed. I think it's fair to say that some players haven't taken the preparation very seriously, but I think as it's a ranking event they'll be trying their hardest now that they're there.

To be honest, I can't say I've noticed the players playing especially quickly, apart from Steve Davis towards the end of his first match (in an apparent attempt to change the rhythm of play in his favour). Also a few of the Chinese wildcards as well as Ding seemed to lose focus when they were a frame or two behind. Apart from that, the players are playing their typical game IMO.

[MrRottweiler]

I will be very shocked nay stunned if they introduce timed shots. It will wreck the game. They might as well start playing on an 'L' shaped table with purple baize and only allow players to use blue chalk.

[Ekphantos]

To be honest, I can't say I've noticed the players playing especially quickly, apart from Steve Davis towards the end of his first match (in an apparent attempt to change the rhythm of play in his favour).

This apparently worked out
I also think timed shots would wreck the game, it is fun in the PL to see the players nearly running around table when using the rest, put for "real" tournaments I wouldn't want to have it.

[rocknroll]

cheers guys, i didnt think it wud be timed since it was a ranking event, but i still get the feeling that players are not taking as much thinking time as they would, say in the uk championship or the world championship.

[Ekphantos]

I haven't seen a single match yet, as I have been on holidays, but what seems weird to me is that a lot of the top stars are out already and players like Dale or Bingham are still in. Maybe the lower ranked players take it more seriously and are further advanced in their preparation for the upcoming season than the top players.

[Robert602]

That's probably true. They need the money and the ranking points more, and crucially also get a bit of hard match practice in the qualifiers they have to play.

According to the commentators, Dale is particularly enthusiastic about the game and plays all through the year, whereas most pros take time off in the summer. It pays off, he always seems to get his best results at the start of the season (this being the second consecutive year he's had an August semi final).

[missneworleans]

I will be very shocked nay stunned if they introduce timed shots. It will wreck the game. They might as well start playing on an 'L' shaped table with purple baize and only allow players to use blue chalk.

Haha yes that will be cool!