Ronnie O'Sullivan v Matthew Stevens - Semi Final

[Ronnie's tip]

4-0, but neither player has played well. Been entertaining though.

[aderion]

I watched those games to a fair degree and never saw Stevens playing like this. Surely he's getting punished, but he had chances to pot balls and didn't pot them.

Thats what we call "PRESSURE"

[Masterdoctorgenius]

mattew has to win at least three of the next four frames

up 2-6 is an uphill battler and he is more known for squandering big leads than coming back from huge deficits

[breakman16]

well that's this session over I think, expecting 6 2 Ronnie or even more in Ronnie's favour, shame, will be properly watching the highlights later!

[montoya10]

Thats what we call "PRESSURE"

I don't buy into this pressure thing. He isn't a 15 year old kid in his first TV appearance. He is a 35 year-older double finalist.
He is just playing bad. That's about it.

[Masterdoctorgenius]

I don't buy into this pressure thing. He isn't a 15 year old kid in his first TV appearance. He is a 35 year-older double finalist.
He is just playing bad. That's about it.

this is his first semi final in any tournamet for ages and he is playing a player he last beat in 2003

a little bit of pressure

[Ronnie's tip]

Something I've noticed about ROS in this tournament is that his positional play has actually been his biggest problem. His safety/potting from distance has been as good as I've seen it for a long time, but so often he's made a 20-30 break, gone out of position and let his opponent back in.

Strange.

[Masterdoctorgenius]

i think the quite opposite of what u think

watch yesterdays and williams match

[Ronnie's tip]

Chance for Stevens to get a frame here.

i think the quite opposite of what u think

watch yesterdays and williams match

How many times did Ronnie make a small break then let both back in?

He had a period in both matches (especially against Williams) where he was amazing in all areas, but aside from that...

[snookerfran]

Something I've noticed about ROS in this tournament is that his positional play has actually been his biggest problem. His safety/potting from distance has been as good as I've seen it for a long time, but so often he's made a 20-30 break, gone out of position and let his opponent back in.

Strange.

I noticed this too, especially in the last session against Robertson. It's really unusual to see Ronnie run out of position but he did it a few times.

I also noticed he went for blacks early on in a couple of frames and mucked up the position, then played a bad safety really quickly. At the time I thought he had his mind on the 147 rather than winning the frame because he had a few to spare. Essentially I just think he's trying to play terrific snooker but he's not quite there yet. And the bounce of the tables isn't helping.

[breakman16]

Chance for Stevens to get a frame here.



How many times did Ronnie make a small break then let both back in?

He had a period in both matches (especially against Williams) where he was amazing in all areas, but aside from that...

but u dont have to be amazing all the time, just in certain periods, surely no one can expect perfection?

[Ronnie's tip]

Terrible miss by O'Sullivan. Stevens will feel like topping himself if he doesn't win the frame now. This could be a big frame.

[Ronnie's tip]

Stevens get's the frame. Had a lot of luck though. Game on...

but u dont have to be amazing all the time, just in certain periods, surely no one can expect perfection?

Ronnie does lol.

But this is his 9th session I think, and he's been 'great' in only 2 of them. Not complaining though - too often when ROS plays anything less than his best he gives up.

[ytsejam]

Just how useless are the referee's these days?!!!..TWO balls to reposition a few inches, TV monitor for one to look at and guide the other, YET they still can't put the balls back where they were?!!...What chance would these ref's have had back in the day without TV "stills"?!!

[snookerfran]

Stevens has his first frame on the board. Strange frame, a couple of great pots and bad misses...