Format and Schedule of China Open

[Odrl]

How long have they been playing for so far ? At work so not able to watch it .

But i take it the Tortoise is playing his way as usual . Is he taking ages over simple shots ?

Nothing outrageous in my opinion, his usual slow pace. The problem is that it's also pretty poor stuff. Ebdon didn't get on a colour after a couple of good pots, so he had Maguire snookered, and Maguire missed several times. There was also a mid-frame toilet break from Ebdon in the last frame.

But he has just finished the session with another century to lead 5-1, so it's not all bad.

[Faidenk]

How long have they been playing for so far ? At work so not able to watch it .

But i take it the Tortoise is playing his way as usual . Is he taking ages over simple shots ?

3 and a half hours to play 6 frames, it's agony. I'm watching on Hahasport here in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, just an our away from Beijing's time so the first session starts at 1.30pm and 2nd at 6.30pm. I think I am going out to the bars tonight and forgo the 2nd session, and drink the USD1.50 mugs of beer till I drop and buy the ladies the couple of drinks. Cheers.

[Gerry Armstrong]

If he played Pro Golf that slow he'd be pulled off the course and would be looking at a fine.

[Neil Taperell]

Mid-frame toilet break ? Bet Maguire loved that !

[Neil Taperell]

If he played Pro Golf that slow he'd be pulled off the course and would be looking at a fine.

Is there not a rule where the Referee can have a word with the player , if he considers that he is playing too slow ?

[Odrl]

Mid-frame toilet break ? Bet Maguire loved that !

Oh, it gets better... It was after Maguire's failed snooker escape. Ebdon had a ball in hand, with a possible long red. When he came back, he asked for the balls to be replaced.

[Gerry Armstrong]

Is there not a rule where the Referee can have a word with the player , if he considers that he is playing too slow ?

The problem is, what is too slow? There is no definitive rule.

Tennis have their 24 second rule, Golf have their keeping up with the game in front rule etc. Snooker has nothing and therefore it's all up to the referees which isn't fair and wouldn't be consistent. And referee's thinking for themselves is actively discouraged in Professional Snooker i.e. the Miss rule is supposed to have some referee input but this has been removed with the Must Hit directive from World Snooker.

World Snooker need to define what is too slow and the referees can then enforce the rule.

[PatBlock]

Just enough time to walk the dog, then back for the evening session. Should be very interesting, I can see Mags coming back at Ebdon, but he'll have to hold his nerve and stay calm.

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[Faidenk]

Just enough time to walk the dog, then back for the evening session. Should be very interesting, I can see Mags coming back at Ebdon, but he'll have to hold his nerve and stay calm.

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I certainly hope so, not that I'm a great fan of Mags. Where's the sportsmanship in playing that slow?

[daffie]

Oh, it gets better... It was after Maguire's failed snooker escape. Ebdon had a ball in hand, with a possible long red. When he came back, he asked for the balls to be replaced.

I'm still catching up at 1-3 now. It is pure agony watching Ebdon. The thing is, we all know he is capable of playing faster *and* playing well at it. So for playing this slow, I'm of the opinion that it's deliberate to put Maguire off. And that's just not very sporting...I don't like to see this from Peter.

Edit...just seen the bathroom break and it wasn't that bad really I have to admit. And Peter did take a sprint as well coming back in. Just hoping that didn't upset his vegi-bowels...he might have to go back out again!

[Neil Taperell]

3 and a half hours to play 6 frames, it's agony. I'm watching on Hahasport here in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, just an our away from Beijing's time so the first session starts at 1.30pm and 2nd at 6.30pm. I think I am going out to the bars tonight and forgo the 2nd session, and drink the USD1.50 mugs of beer till I drop and buy the ladies the couple of drinks. Cheers.

Sounds like a plan to me.........i'm just hoping on a plane ....probably still get to watch the last session the pace it is being played at !

[Odrl]

Haven't seen the mid-frame bathroom break yet, but if it happened like you described, with Ebdon coming back and only then asking for the balls to be replaced...well, that is just too much imo. Very annoying for your opponent. Rather unsporting and deserving of a warning at the very least! Hoping 'big Jan' will step in at some point...

Yes, it's probably not the thing to do. If he was going to take the long red on, that's fair enough I suppose. But to delay things on what he knew was going to be Maguire's shot is pushing it a bit. It was also more difficult for Maguire to adjust his aim after the first miss, because he had to leave the table and sit in his chair for two minutes or so.

[daffie]

Yes, it's probably not the thing to do. If he was going to take the long red on, that's fair enough I suppose. But to delay things on what he knew was going to be Maguire's shot is pushing it a bit. It was also more difficult for Maguire to adjust his aim after the first miss, because he had to leave the table and sit in his chair for two minutes or so.

Good point still indeed. Maguire is keeping his cool though...I'm very very impressed!

Now...anyone know what eurosport coverage of the remainder will be? Regular schedule was planned for 14-15.30 on eurosport2 Live, and on 20.45 I guess some repeat. But hopefully eurosport might change this now...not holding my breath though.

[Masterdoctorgenius]

thank good maguire fluked the black against ronnie, now i can see the bright side lol

ronnie would go mental playing this type of war game

[LittleMissAlexa]

Peter has a milestone he could complete in this match hes on 299 centuries he would become only the 5th player to build 300