Masters - 1st Round Discussion

[rob s]

I agree with spike that so far it was best match of the masters. I tend to disagree with bonoman 1970 as I think mark allen looks a good player I dont think he will ver dominate world snooker but I think he will be around the top 16-32 for years to come...

[SnookerFan]

I just got back from the venue having been there for a few days. Nice enough venue. But somewhat out of the way.

[spike]

I just got back from the venue having been there for a few days. Nice enough venue. But somewhat out of the way.

How does it compare to Wembley Arena & the Conference Centre would you say?

[PatBlock]

I can't seem to find the link for the Lee v Selby match that's just started anywhere on the BBC Snooker homepage, so here it is in case anyone wants it:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/snooker/15973141.stm

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[montoya10]

Not a high-quality frame, not a nicely spreaded bunch of reds there were.

[gavpowell]

How does it compare to Wembley Arena & the Conference Centre would you say?

The conference centre was cosier and the seats were much more comfortable, but otherwise I'd have said it was much the same. I never minded the Arena to be honest, but it was a bit sterile and gigantic - the Ally Pally feels like its being staged in a country house somewhere.

The venue's only a half mile walk through scenic parkland to Muswell Hill, so I wouldn't have said it was much out of the way - unless you didn't bother to do any research and took the website at its word for accommodation!

[montoya10]

Selby misses a sitter.
Oh wait, Lee miraculously snookers himself on the blue.

What s sluggish start.

[montoya10]

Both have been getting everything wrong so far.

[SnookerFan]

How does it compare to Wembley Arena & the Conference Centre would you say?

I only went to the Conference Centre once, and remember liking it. But don't remember anything more specific than that.

The Alexandra Palace is a bit of a mission to get to, especially as I'd never been and didn't know the area. And also there is not anything too close to the venue. Which doesn't particularly matter to me as I go solely to watch snooker, but it is nice to have something to do if you've got an all day ticket, and a couple of hours between matches. A few pubs/shops in the grounds wouldn't go amiss.

The actual room it's in has the same layout as Wembley but is smaller, and feels more intimate. That gives it a better feeling than the Masters. Which to be fair, didn't have anywhere near as good an atmosphere as the commentators made out that it did.

[PatBlock]

This match between Selby and Lee is turning into a classic, can Selby fall over the line?

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[Odrl]

I was thinking that Selby was looking quite solid after the first four frames. I never imagined it would be such a struggle for him to win in the end. He will need to play a lot better against Murphy.

[missneworleans]

The in-off with the brown was one of the worst shots I've ever seen but the winning break was fantastic

[Odrl]

Good 2nd frame in the Carter-Dott match with some classic shots. That second snooker behind the yellow from Carter was tremendous, shot of the tournament so far for me.

[PatBlock]

Well, if you need to thread a needle, Dott's your man! And what a cracking pot and possition on the blue into the green pocket from Carter.

Got to be going all the way tonight, definitely!

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[Odrl]

Got to be going all the way tonight, definitely!

Yeah, I have a feeling this will be the first decider of the week. And quite possibly a midnight finish too, although the first four frames were reasonably fast.