Ronnie O Sullivan v Neil Robertson - Quarter Final

[cueman]

Another great match that would have made a better final. Its a tough draw for both players and I just wonder whether the winner will have enough left in the tank for a semi and final. I don't think its a certainty that the winner of this will win the tournament. Obviously the other half of the draw is a little easier in that respect.

Much as I want Ronnie to win I think Robertson has the game to upset Ronnie's rythmn. We'll see plenty of Robertson walking around the table and doing his usual table ownership and it does affect his opponents. Ronnie will need to stamp his authority on this game in the first session if he's to stand any chance of winning.

[montoya10]

Robertson is Peter Ebdon with hair these days. Methodical, relies on long potting, takes his time for shots, doesn't care if balls go to awkward places and in fact, tries to keep the balls closed. Even so, I don't expect his determination level to reach the great heights of Ebdon's 2002 run. It's too much for him, perhaps.

Ronnie's long potting has been the best amongst all players in this tournament. He didn't quite pull out Trump-esque outreageous ones, but he nearly didn't miss a ball that you could call a half chance. MJW plays the game at a tempo quite close to Ronnie, so, he's kind of player taking the match into Ronnie's background. He'd only stay with Ronnie had he played his best and he didn't. Robertson will never do this and I'll not be surprised at all if we see the black tied up at early stages of the frame. Selby tends to do this when he's playing against Ronnie and this is quite a frustrating approach for him, a displeasure he doesn't even need to hide with his body language.

I'm still sticking to my pre-tournament prediction and call Stephen Maguire to win it all at this point. Maguire certainly wouldn't fancy facing a nemesis in the final, but then again, I'm not sure if it's the same kind of match if they play a four-session game. Still, I guess it's going to be a Maguire-Robertson final (Stevens to pull something out of bag? He scored excellently in his first two matches and will probably put aside Day. Not sure what he can do against Robertson, but writing him off will be a big, big mistake), with Maguire getting the title.

This prediction kind of forces my hand to go with Robertson in this match. 13-11 is my prediction and there could be a maximum, perhaps? Wishful thinking. A bit

[st_hendry]

13-9 ronnie

[Odrl]

Another great match that would have made a better final. Its a tough draw for both players and I just wonder whether the winner will have enough left in the tank for a semi and final. I don't think its a certainty that the winner of this will win the tournament. Obviously the other half of the draw is a little easier in that respect.

Yes, very dangerous when you have two of the favourites meeting as early as the QF, especially if the winner needs to call on all of his reserves of energy and concentration. I think it's a little easier this year though, because there isn't a Selby or a Murphy awaiting in the semi-finals, it's going to be an opponent O'Sullivan or Robertson should beat in normal circumstances.

Maguire certainly wouldn't fancy facing a nemesis in the final, but then again, I'm not sure if it's the same kind of match if they play a four-session game.

By "nemesis", I assume you mean O'Sullivan? It's interesting, one of the reasons I would like to see a Maguire-Robertson final is the great rivalry they have developed in recent seasons. I think it was the 08/09 season where they seemed to play each other in the quarter-finals of every tournament. They've also played a couple of times at the WC, but it was always one-sided, with one of them playing their best, and the other not so much. Maguire had the better of their rivalry for a long time, before Robertson improved the head-to-head in the more recent meetings.

They've not played a big match for a while now, so I would definitely enjoy this pairing in the World final.

[LittleMissAlexa]

13-11 rocket

[montoya10]

By "nemesis", I assume you mean O'Sullivan? It's interesting, one of the reasons I would like to see a Maguire-Robertson final is the great rivalry they have developed in recent seasons. I think it was the 08/09 season where they seemed to play each other in the quarter-finals of every tournament. They've also played a couple of times at the WC, but it was always one-sided, with one of them playing their best, and the other not so much. Maguire had the better of their rivalry for a long time, before Robertson improved the head-to-head in the more recent meetings.

They've not played a big match for a while now, so I would definitely enjoy this pairing in the World final.

Yes, he doesn't have a great record against O'Sullivan and the German Masters final can really get to his head if O'Sullivan starts to play well. Psychological effect could cause a deterioration in his game. It'd be one real scoring match, so, definitely this would be enjoyable, too.
Maguire is probably the most efficient attacking player of his generation, so, you'd expect him to outscore Robertson in an open contest, but then again, Robertson will try to do everything to prevent that scenario from happening.
I'll be content with the final in either way

[johnsusername]

At a push, maybe Robbo will win this - but it might leave him shattered for the semi final. But then I've got every prediction wrong so far in this tournament!

[gazza147]

If Ronnie turns up with the "Right Head On" he will Win 13-7.

[Mr Snooker]

the only two seeds playing each other in the q/f this Neil (6) and Ronnie (14), Ronnie played flawless snooker againts Mark Williams in the last 16 second session and if he keeps it up he will beat Neil comfortably i think, but Neil is a very strong player another close one i think 13-11 Ronnie head to head meetings Ronnie 7 Neil 4

[spike]

This has all the crudentials of turning out to be a classic on paper, but as we have seen already with Higgins/Hendry and Williams/O'Sullivan this isn't always the case. Both O'Sullivan & Robertson appear to be cueing as well as ever, especially in their second round matches, with O'Sullivan having produced a higher standard of play, (second session against Williams) was Snooker from the gods. Both are devesating long potters, both have a good all round safety game and both score heavily when in the balls. I see no reason why we shouldn't be treated to a tremondous quarter-final, between these two great players.


It's a really hard match to call, either player is good enough to make it to the semis, though i feel Robertson's tactical play is superior to O'Sullivan's, plus Robertson has a sound temperament, which is not always the case with O'Sullivan. Though in saying that O'Sullivan alot of patience and has looked very focused from the start of this tournament.


Neil Robertson to prevail 13-11..

[paul180]

o,sullivan 13-8 robertson

[ace man]

I give slight advantage to Ronnie maybe because he'll certainly get more support from the crowd. It will be a better match than a Williams one, that's for sure. Was anyone else disappointed with Williams attitude during and after the match? It looked as though he never really believed he could beat Ronnie! How could a double WC have so little confidence? I mean lesser players than Mark have beaten Ronnie in long matches...

[jaffa.johnson]

I give slight advantage to Ronnie maybe because he'll certainly get more support from the crowd. It will be a better match than a Williams one, that's for sure. Was anyone else disappointed with Williams attitude during and after the match? It looked as though he never really believed he could beat Ronnie! How could a double WC have so little confidence? I mean lesser players than Mark have beaten Ronnie in long matches...

When you havent beaten somebody for 10 years, it plays in your mind and you doubt yourself.

On the other side it is also in Ronnies mind and he knows he has the advantage.

[jaffa.johnson]

I fancy Ronnie for 13-10.

[armstm]

Come on ron!