UK Champs Kicks Off This Monday

[chrisdebag]

well the demons are back with ronnie

just when it looked as if he was becoming more mature he loses it again

[RaNeN]

I just dont believe i, Ronnie lost???????????????How??????Did he not play welll??????Did his opponent play an extraordinary game of snooker??????

[RaNeN]

I just dont believe it , Ronnie lost??????????????? How?????? Did he not play welll?????? Did his opponent play an extraordinary game of snooker??????
Mark King won a tournament in the last few months didnt he?

[cueman]

Even in the 1st session Ronnie didn't seem at the races and tonight he didn't really get much of a chance in the first 3 frames and King took his chances well. The towel thing is weird, he did it last year, its as though he is hiding himself away, maybe he doesn't like being in front of the cameras or a large crowd and at times it just gets to him too much.

Credit to King though, he held himself together well and deserved to win.

[cueman]

Even in the 1st session Ronnie didn't seem at the races and tonight he didn't really get much of a chance in the first 3 frames and King took his chances well. The towel thing is weird, he did it last year, its as though he is hiding himself away, maybe he doesn't like being in front of the cameras or a large crowd and at times it just gets to him too much.

Credit to King though, he held himself together well and deserved to win.

[reverse_side]

for those in the crowd watching Ronnie's antics (hot arean or not) it must be very strange, how off-putting for King I don't know.

Does it seem that everytime Ronnie meets someone who has an appetitie for beating him he goes into his back-up tactics of trying to put them off? Chamberlain warned ronnie after conceding the 11th frame and I was surprised the ref didn't class having a large white towel draped over his head wasn't ungentlemanly either!

It isn't a comfortable situation where a player really starts to focus on playing well when you've a mindset that they've never tried this hard before and it rocks you slightly becuase you were expecting an easier game.

It's different when someone's bordering on gamesmanship, but Ronnie must have thoughts, like us all, that are transparent if he was candid enough; interviews should be a contractual obligation for continuing to be a Pro player.... give him a chance to tell us about pool!

[cueman]

Steeeevooooooo.

What a performance from the legend Davis, to come back from 8-6 down against the defending champion, knocking in the highest break on the way, a 145 is just remarkable. I haven't seen Davis perform like that in a match since the mid 80's. For me this result puts him up there as the greatest player to have played the game, simply because of his record and ability to still do it in todays game. I can't imagine Hendry or O'Sullivan performing like that when they are nearly 50 years old.

[Nat5guns]

lol, i cant believe it. I didnt even think he had a chance against him to be honest, but when he is playing like that hes capable of beating just about anybody.

[reverse_side]

so pleased for him, Maguire's got many a great day left in him but Steve rolled back the years, proving his class yet again; even with the bad run of the ball he was getting AND Clive's voice ringing in everyone's ears in the arena too (via the audience's earpieces).

FANTASTIC

Ken in the next round.

[cueman]

Won't be easy against crafty Ken but if he can maintain that form he'd beat anyone.

[RaNeN]

Crafty Ken is already out. What about Hendry????
Also will Ding make it to the semis?

[cueman]

Hendry looks back in good form and his record against Davis is second to none. I just hope Davis can stay with Hendry in the 1st session because Hendry could blitz him as he has so many times in the past.

Ding has had a fairly easy draw so far, Robertson isn't playing so well so he should make the semi, then of course he faces Perry/Bingham, again a lot easier than facing Hendry or Davis, so Ding has a great chance to reach the final. Its certainly been a good event full of surprises and comebacks.

[Robert602]

Hendry is on good form if you look at the longer term (this season and last), but his performance against Carter wasn't that brilliant and he hasnt been truly at his best all week. Davis on the other hand is on his best form in a decade (at least). I'd still put Hendry favourite because I think Davis has to be at the top of his newfound form to challenge him, but I wouldn't rule 'ol Steve out.

Either man has a good chance of taking the tournament I'd say, Ding's playing well but not quite as well as he was when he took the China open. Whoever wins the semi will be favourite in my book.

[reverse_side]

aye Rob, Prov world numer 2 V 5.

I wonder what steve would take; his short term form or Henders longer history of recent seasons.

generating some column inches this match; JB says the whole of the back page of the Racing Post has been dedicated to this match.

Ladt time it was this good was the '97 Masters final, a streaker came when Stevo was struggling, he ran out a winner.

here we go...... butterflies and tingly tear ducts.

[reverse_side]

stevo 6-1 up - 'ave it.