UK Champ 2010 - Final discussion!

[ore]

Sunday 12th December
2pm & 8pm

John Higgins > < Mark J Williams

[gavpowell]

I felt from the second round that Higgins was likely to run away with this tournament to be honest - he looks like a man possessed.

[ore]

Oh well. Before the semi finals it seemed that about the only possible final is Higgins v Murphy.

[Odrl]

Any new thoughts ahead of the final?

A couple of meetings between the two last season. They played in Shanghai at the start of the season, with Higgins winning 5-1, but Williams played with an injury in that match, so Higgins was always going to win. The other time they played was in Beijing, a tournament which Williams won, beating Higgins 5-2 on his way in the 2nd round. The last time they contested a major final was also in China, in 2006, Williams won on the colours in the decider.

We can find all kinds of statistics that indicate these two players are well matched, but if we only consider their play this week, Higgins should be a big favourite. He had a pretty routine victory against Allen in the semis, and a nice rest yesterday. He's won most of his finals in recent years, and at least competed in every one since 2005. When all signs point to him winning, he usually sees it through.

We could say more about the way Williams came though last night I suppose. We've all praised the way he fought even when things weren't going his way, but if you think about it, it was Murphy who won three very scrappy frames that he perhaps shouldn't have. Williams actually had good chances to win the match convincingly, but after he let it slip, he really did dig deep to turn it back in his favour. I don't know what he means by "I changed my cueing", but I hope he keeps it up today.

Realistically though, Higgins has been the heavier scorer all week, and it's really hard to win a significant percentage of the scrappy frames against him as well. Williams will either need another gear today, or somehow stop Higgins from getting into a rhythm. Not enough time to say much else, as Rob Walker is already doing the introductions...

I'm hoping for some snooker magic today.

[very.tee]

Great start by Mark Williams, his highest break! I'm glad his form hasn't tailed off too badly :snooker:

Come On Mark J.!!!:snooker:

[seppo147]

good luck it was few times

[montoya10]

Oh, that's really poor of me to misjudge the starting time

Come on Mark J!!

[cue1]

Great start by Mark Williams, his highest break! I'm glad his form hasn't tailed off too badly :snooker:

Come On Mark J.!!!:snooker:

I hope it's he'll have a great finish, too

Come On Mark J.!!!:snooker:

Oh, that's really poor of me to misjudge the starting time

Come on Mark J!!

Shame on you, montoya10 How could you?

[montoya10]

Shame on you, montoya10 How could you?

I'm not living in UK, so, I have to make some calculations..

Mark, that will really hurt

Well, maybe not..

[cue1]

I'm not living in UK, so, I have to make some calculations..

Well, neither do I but when it comes to Mark J., we make the effort

Come On Mark J.!!!:snooker:

2-1

[montoya10]

Well, neither do I but when it comes to Mark J., we make the effort

Come On Mark J.!!!:snooker:

2-1

Still, it gets complicated at times

Unlucky plant miss..

[very.tee]

Well, neither do I but when it comes to Mark J., we make the effort

Come On Mark J.!!!:snooker:

2-1

Well congratulations to you cue1! Mark J needs our support so I'm glad you're here

Come On Mark J.!!!:snooker:

Chance for 3-1 :snooker:

EDIT: Also, is anyone else unable to click on the colours, fonts, smilies etc? I have to type/copy and paste all mine...

[montoya10]

Willie Thorne moment, nearly

3-1

[Hal]

Very interesting blue ball in 4th frame :-) but it dropped, all that matters!

COME ON MARK J.!

[montoya10]

They're working well, I mean the smilies, fonts and colours