shanghai masters 2008

[wildJONESEYE]

Jimbo's done it again ! Through 5-1 against Ken, to play Mark King in the main event. He stands much more chance of winning that than he did against Hawkins !

in the NIT he lost to hawkins in the Round he just beat Doherty in so he has gone ferther already in the shanghai masters and Mark King couldnt be a better draw for him with respect to Mark.

[Mal]

yes, but Jimmy seems to be playing alltogether better this season. Plus he says he had kricked his neck before that match. Also having loast to King last time, he will be better prepared this time, there's also the other motive of seeking revenge.

He certainly is playing much better. Don't get me wrong - I do agree it's a good draw (especially when you consider the alternatives) and he has a good chance - but certainly won't be easy - however, revenge could be sweet!

Getting ahead of ourselves - the last 16 would probably be against Mark Selby (or Swail/Trump).

[Monique]

Dave was there in Prestatyn
http://snookerscene.blogspot.com/200...hite-wins.html

WHITE WINS!

Jimmy White beat Ken Doherty 5-1 and, in the end, played very well to do so.

The highlight was an 82 break in the third frame but what impressed me most was Jimmy's keenness and competitive spirit.

It was clear that qualifying for the final stages of a second successive ranking tournament meant a lot to him.


“It’s so difficult here but I knew I had a slight edge because I’d won matches and Ken was coming in cold,” White said.

“I’m just building on confidence. I’ve come through well after some tough games and played well today.

“I’ve been working really hard and know my game is there. It’s all about the mental side and I’ve got some confidence now which makes all the difference.”

Always nice to hear ...

Meanwhile Ian McCulloch and Ricky Walden are still battling in frame 4 after 2h40 ... aiming at some record there?

[Rane]

I´ve only seen Walden a few times, but it seems like his matches often are very long. I haven´t thought of him as slow, but are there some of you who know him better, who can give an explanation.

[Rane]

Harold and Hamilton through as well. it´s the old mens day.

[SD147]

Regarding Judd Trump. He's a decent player. But the main tour certainly sorts the men from the boys. He had a good amateur career, but so have many others who never quite made it to the top. I don't think he will ever become the world beater that everyone kept banging on about a few years ago. He doesn't have the class of Mark Allen or Ding Junhui to be quite honest. But then I also don't think that Ding will ever dominate like so many predicted.

Well done Jimmy. He's really been putting in the hours on the practice table, so good to see it paying off.

[wildJONESEYE]

Well if he has only made 2 tv appearances, and has had to play top players like that on both occasions, its no wonder he has frozen. I suspect he will just need an easier opponent on TV to get him going, before he can stand a chance against the very top players.

point is it isnt the oponements he played but the fact he doesent make the round often enough so that sometimes he could get easier draws like jimmy has against Mark King in shanghai...

i know hes young but he is slow developing for my liking..

[dannyd0g]

point is it isnt the oponements he played but the fact he doesent make the round often enough so that sometimes he could get easier draws like jimmy has against Mark King in shanghai...

i know hes young but he is slow developing for my liking..

It seems to me that these days no one just burtsts through from nowhere anymore in the way that the likes of Ronnie did winning 74 out of his first 76 matches or whatever it was.

The last person to steam roller up the rankings was Ding, and he had some help with wildcards to get him through to the final stages. Yes he was good enough anyway, but it might have taken him longer to break through without that.

These days the best anyone can hope for seems to be a steady climb. I havent studied all of Trump's results but from what i can remember each season as he's climbed to the next tier he regularly wins his first match against the lower seeded player, but falls to the higher ranked player in the next round. This year he will be facing the 17-32 rankers much more often. There's a lot of big names and great players in there, so if he develops his match play further to beat them, he'll be well on his way, as that will be his final hurdle before he breaks through to facing players 1 - 16 all the time.

[SD147]

It seems to me that these days no one just burtsts through from nowhere anymore in the way that the likes of Ronnie did winning 74 out of his first 76 matches or whatever it was.

The last person to steam roller up the rankings was Ding, and he had some help with wildcards to get him through to the final stages. Yes he was good enough anyway, but it might have taken him longer to break through without that.

These days the best anyone can hope for seems to be a steady climb. I havent studied all of Trump's results but from what i can remember he regularly wins his first match against the lower seeded player, but falls to the higher ranked player in the next round. This year he will be facing the 17-32 rankers much more often. There's a lot of big names and great players in there, so if he develops his match play further to beat them, he'll be well on his way.

Yes I feel that Ding was helped along in his early career somewhat. Good player though he is. The same happened with Marco Fu many years ago, he was given a large helping hand.
It's a shame that any of the UK tournaments don't offer wildcards to British amateurs like they do overseas. Ding would have made it anyway, no question. But he's not going to be a dominant figure in the game like many predicted.
I think Mark Allen has pretty much made a good "burst" onto the scene. Not many people touted him as a top player in the way they did with Trump, but he has made the top 16 very quickly indeed.

[dannyd0g]

I think Mark Allen has pretty much made a good "burst" onto the scene. Not many people touted him as a top player in the way they did with Trump, but he has made the top 16 very quickly indeed.

Yeah how could i forget Allen, he has made it in 3 seasons i think; comparable to the likes of Ronnie and John Higgins. If i could rewrite my earlier post slightly now, id work that into it.

Meanwhile Davis has beaten old foe Greene to qualify. I think theyve had quite a few tussles over the last seasoon or two !

[dannyd0g]

Trump has now finally beaten Swail 5-3 to avenge his defeat in the w/c quals. What did i say, he's well on his way.

Through to face Selby.

[João]

Through to face Selby.

I agree. He's on his way... home.

[wildJONESEYE]

Regarding Jimmy White remember with him being 1 of the lowest Rank Qualifiers he will have to play an extra match before he meets Mark King against chinese players in the Wild Card Round.....

he should win but thoes chinese are dangerous...

[attilahun]

Shanghai.....HERE WE COME...


Well done, well done......

[Monique]

Steve Davis qualifies also ... I'm pleased!
and Dave again was there http://snookerscene.blogspot.com/200...-wins-too.html

AND STEVE WINS TOO...

Steve Davis joined his fellow veteran Jimmy Whiote in the draw for the final stages of the Shanghai Masters aftera typically dogged effort to put away Gerard Greene 5-3.

The Pontin's holiday centre here in Prestatyn holds great memories for Steve. He played here as an amateur in the 1970s and made his name as one to watch in the pro ranks.

“The room I played in had very special memories for me as an amateur,” he told me.

“I watched all the legends play here in the 1970s and made a bit of a reputation for myself here so it was nice to come back.

"I remember the excitement I felt coming here for a week of snooker and I had a bit of that before I set off yesterday.

"You approach it differently as a professional but it's still got the same feel to the place. Only the road signs have changed."

Steve signed loads of autographs after his match. Like Jimmy, he is still one of snooker's biggest names and, regardless of form, will remain so as long as he plays the game.