German Masters Semi Finals

[montoya10]

Still fancy Maguire to win the tournament at this point, but, then again, I'm usually no good with this kind of predictions.

[PatBlock]

well, eurosport cutting coverage short at a critical point in the match, cut short to make way for the footy..

Int got a clue how the match ended. was enjoying muchly too...

It's worth pointing out that the eurosport player has a dedicated German Masters channel, which showed the entire match. But you're right, it's utterly disgraceful scheduling from eurosport.

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[palukaville]

Ronnie will have to raise his game in the final i feel. But the positive thing is hes cueing well, especially on the long shots!!,

[bullen3]

Cheers, hadn't heard about their little "feud".

[Masterdoctorgenius]

on worldsnooker:
Ronnie O'Sullivan shrugged off the effects of glandular fever to beat Stephen Lee 6-4 and reach the final of the PartyPoker.net German Masters.

The three-times World Champion revealed after the match that he has been suffering from the virus for two months and that he is concerned about his long term health.

He was far from his best against Lee at the Tempodrom in Berlin but did enough to move within one more win of his first ranking title since the 2009 Shanghai Masters. O'Sullivan remains in danger of dropping out of the elite top 16, but has given his bid to avoid having to qualify for the World Championship a huge boost with his run here.

A full house of 2,500 saw O'Sullivan go 2-0 up with a top break of 73, but when he missed a red to a centre pocket on 45 in frame three, his momentum was stopped as Lee took it with a run of 72. O'Sullivan won the fourth with a 59 before Lee, playing in his first ranking semi for six years, rolled in a 63 for 3-2.

Both players missed several chances in frame six, even smiling to each other at one stage as ball after ball refused to drop. O'Sullivan eventually cleared from green to black, and he won the next with a break of 82 to lead 5-2.

Lee battled on and won the next two frames with a best break of 54, and he had chances to make it 5-5, notably when O'Sullivan missed the green off the penultimate red. Lee failed to pot the last red, and O'Sullivan looked certain to clinch victory until he missed the final pink by several inches. Lee attempted a difficult thin cut on the pink and left it in the jaws, and O'Sullivan finally secured his place in tomorrow's best-of-19 final against Shaun Murphy or Stephen Maguire.

"I'm just relieved to get though because I've really been struggling with glandular fever this week," said 36-year-old O'Sullivan. "I didn't think I was going to get through the match. It's not an excuse for missing balls but sometimes I feel dead on my feet. I was wiped out even before the game, I just had to try to get through it.

"I've had it since early December. I was playing a lot of matches and travelling from event to event with a lot of late nights, and I was exhausted. I knew it was building, but I was doing well in a couple of tournaments I there wasn't time to rest.

"Before the UK Championship I was ill for a week. After that I had three weeks off and was able to get some rest, but then it came back again about ten days ago. I've had some tests done because it was important to find out what it was. I had it before about six years ago and the symptoms were the same. It can just knock me out. The doctors say I have to take it easy but at times this week I have been exhausted. I haven't even been running or hit the gym for the past two weeks, which is not like me.

"There's a lot expected of us as players but my health comes first and I'm not prepared to compromise. I can't push myself over the edge. There's no cure for glandular fever, it's a virus which stays in your body. There's nothing you can do except rest so I'll go back to the hotel now and sleep.

"I have to listen to my body. Both the doctors I have been to told me it is a serious illness and I need to be careful, because if it gets worse then it can take years to recover. I want to enjoy my life."

a bit concerned after reading this. will he take a break, let alone skip tomorrows finale.
not good to hear if someone is ill and he had it several years ago too

[PatBlock]

You have to watch it online but the LiveWorldSnooker.tv subscription is excellent. Great quality and doesn't cut its coverage short since they have no other time commitments. I'm very happy with it.

I agree, it's a great service, but unfortunately the German Masters isn't available on LiveWorldSnooker.tv in the UK because of copyright restrictions, i.e. eurosport bought the rights.
But the eurosport player is only £4 a month so....

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[FerruleFox]

Not available in the UK? Didn't realize that. Don't blame you guys for being upset then.

[Ronnie's tip]

Highlights on Eurosports atm.

[FerruleFox]

Sorry to read that about Ronnie's illness. I was joking about him hopping on a plane home but this sounds pretty serious.

Props to him for toughing it out.

[DeanH]

Sorry to read that about Ronnie's illness. I was joking about him hopping on a plane home but this sounds pretty serious.

Props to him for toughing it out.

That would be the private plane of his friend, Damian Hurst, that he came over in

[BradyBoy82]

Sorry to take this off topic, but i've tried to start a new thread and have never posted before, can I not do that until I have posted replies for a certain period of time?
Back on topic, cracking effort from Ronnie if he's got glandular fever, I've had it and it knocks the pony out of you!

[Masterdoctorgenius]

why did he play left handed the last clearance could have had cost him the match

[FOXMULDER]

Just saw the replay... bit odd.

Why did ROS play the crucial final clearance left-handed? Maybe it's a way of taking pressure off himself?? Anyway it was very strange, and he didn't even look like he wanted to win at the end. Perhaps his illness is draining his energy.

[Masterdoctorgenius]

@foxmulder

are u my twin

same question i asked myself

think even ronnie doesnt know what he does sometimes, this is why i love him

[coomsey76]

Highlights on Eurosports atm.

I've giving up watching snooker on Eurosport channels... there scheduling is terrible, I know it's really good for snooker that they have bought the rights to show it but they really need to sort the scheduling!!

Bet365 for me for tonight's semi-final!!