World Championship 2012 1st Round Discussion

[Odrl]

Poor stuff on the other side, Stevens leading 3-0. The table isn't helping either, big bounces and balls drifting off their path. Ridiculous conditions really, considering this is the World Championship.

Fu needs to take the fourth frame now.

[breakman16]

Poor stuff on the other side, Stevens leading 3-0. The table isn't helping either, big bounces and balls drifting off their path. Ridiculous conditions really, considering this is the World Championship.

Fu needs to take the fourth frame now.

Tournament organisers will not be happy . . . not a prayer of them getting the 9th started before 1 50 pm!

[PatBlock]

Watching Luca this morning just makes me appreciate how incredibly mature Hendry was at the same age. As for Mags performance, sweets from a baby.

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[breakman16]

Watching Luca this morning just makes me appreciate how incredibly mature Hendry was at the same age. As for Mags performance, sweets from a baby.

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Yeah I thought that, Hendry was WAYYY beyond his years at the same age, no doubt looking back all could see he would be an all time great in due course, well played Luca, great effort lad, Maguire did just about enough, wasnt impressed though, how can he go from making a 100 to not being able to cue straight? Weird stuff from him, unless he improves 2 fold, I can't see him beating his next, very experienced opponent!

[trains]

Watching Luca this morning just makes me appreciate how incredibly mature Hendry was at the same age. As for Mags performance, sweets from a baby.

Not sure if 86 Hendry would have got through the 4 qualifiers though,plus as flat as Maguire was here he'd prob still beat Thorne and I like WT.

[breakman16]

Not sure if 86 Hendry would have got through the 4 qualifiers though,plus as flat as Maguire was here he'd prob still beat Thorne and I like WT.

Maguire is experienced though, that's the difference, also the standard of the qualifiers, while not being mugs, are not the standard back then they are now, think everyone liked the great WT, he could have won more with more mental strength!

[Odrl]

Stevens takes a 6-0 lead, really crappy stuff from Fu so far. We know Stevens is not exactly a master of holding leads, but a 9-0 or an 8-1 would be too much to overturn. Fu needs two or three frames here.

[Gerry Armstrong]

Well played Maguire, solid performance in a no-win situation.

[Odrl]

8-0. I can't believe Marco Fu is on the verge of getting me some minus points in the fantasy game. In a two-session match!

[montoya10]

8-0. I can't believe Marco Fu is on the verge of getting me some minus points in the fantasy game. In a two-session match!

That will not be the usual +5/-5 for whitewash. +10/-10, so, that's some haul of points!

[montoya10]

From what I have seen from Luca Brecel, I could say he looked like a real player that put out a bad performance, not a kid out there shaking and playing near-unconscious shots.
His temperament (final frame excluded) impressed me more than his cue action. He looks like he could take quite little time to become a real threat to other players, just like Ding and unlike Judd.
On top of that, is it my imagination or is this kid smiling nearly all the time? We'll see if he turns out to be a popular player amongst his fellow pros.

And Marco. You disappointed me with your performance. You're capable of doing much, much better than that.

[daffie]

Well as I thought, rather big ramifications are expected for Mark Allen's insane remarks from yesterday, effectively accusing all Chinese snooker player in general of having the tendency for cheating.

Well he himself has 'fled the scene of the crime' and went on holiday. Hopefully he'll come back to receive a nice big fine or ban from snooker...

Good riddance I say. If he doesn't have the soundness of mind to at least apologize the day after, then he deserves to get punished to the max imo.

In the meantime...awaiting a nice good-natured & fluient match between Ronnie and Peter

[montoya10]

You can read his Twitter account to get some insight on how he feels. I don't think he feels like he made a mistake. He sticks to sharing his opinion.
That's nice to support freedom of speech, and his thoughts about Chinese players and their on-table acts may even need consideration. But the real point is you don't make such comments just after getting beaten by a Chinese player in a fair match. That's insulting and takes away from your opponent.
What's more confusing is he really gave credit to Cao's play. I guess Mark really has little idea how to bring up his thoughts together and give a total press conference. It's more of a mess with him generally.

[daffie]

Steve Davis had distanced himself from Mark's remarks about Chinese players in general being cheaters.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012...?newsfeed=true

He also questions the need for the press conference following immediately after a match, where certain players may give in to venting their frustations. But as only Allen seems to have a problem with it, I don't think it is an important point.

Also a reaction from Barry Hearn :

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/17811544

Ah well...enough about our little whining ulsterman. On with Day 3...

[Dubliner]

Cant help thinking Mark Allens rant has had some effect on Marco Fu's match. We will probably never know unless Fu comments about it, which I'm sure being a gentlemen wont say in public. It certainly couldnt have helped Fu what was said.