2008 Maplin UK Championship

[JanieWatkins]

Again for those struggling with the WSA black screen draws!

the Uk draw is up on GSC

I will be adding all the other info like points, prize funds, schedules etc in due course.

for those who don't know what on earth GSC is

it's The Global Snooker Centre
http://www.globalsnookercentre.co.uk

Most current and recent events will show on the main page, or check our "What's New", the Calendar or Results Archive to find the events you're looking for.

[In-off]

Best snooker website bar none

The World Snooker site doesn't even fill in match scores!

[jw147]

not the worst draw in the world for jimmy:snooker:

[bobbond]

Yeah Jimmys definitely in with a chance of qualifying there!

Ans Stevens should hopefully qualify with any luck. I can't remember the last time I saw him in a televised tournament.

[PaulTheSoave]

Think miracle needed.

Ans Stevens should hopefully qualify with any luck.

[Alex0paul]

I can't remember the last time I saw him in a televised tournament.

World Championships?

[PaulTheSoave]

Correct. 10-5 drubbing against Higgins

[very.tee]

Christ, top half of the draw seems to me a lot trickier than the bottom half.

Not too good for myself as a Mark Selby/Ali Carter fan

[Rane]

I´m of the same opinion. Plus Mark Williams, Ricky Walden and Barry Hawkins from outside top 16 in the draw.

[jw147]

jimmy and ronnie last 32??

[very.tee]

yep: fun, fun, fun!

(well, HOPEFULLY!)

[bobbond]

I'd love that to happen, what a crowd it would pull in

[JiangYu]

If Stevens qualifies, he'll be facing Marco in the last 16 (assuming they get that far, that is), my two favourite players :'(

[Odrl]

We're nearly there, only 3 days away. It's been 25 days since I last saw snooker on TV, so I'm pretty excited. And it's one of my favourite events. It's seems to bring out the best in some players, the specialists for longer matches. There is also less chance of players with the potential to find some form here, going out early.

Some of the things that I find interesting about this tournament in recent years:

In 2004 this event was, to my knowledge, the only ranking event in history where none of the top8 made it to the QF. In 2006, 5 of the top8 made it to the QF, which is pretty good going. I wonder what the record is?

The final of this event was last close in 2003, since then it was always pretty one-sided. The runner-up never got past 6, and the average number of frames won for the runner-up is less than 4.

And another thing, in the last 4 years, two of the winners were outside the top16, and no one was really surprised. (Maguire in 2004, and Ding in 2005)

Another thing I just noticed when looking at the results in recent years... In 2004, all 16 players in the last16 were either from England or from Scotland. Since then, there has always been a Chinese player in, at least, the QF.


Shall we make a little preview/prediction for this year?

Quarter 1:

Ronnie O'Sullivan v. Rory McLeod
Joe Perry v. Mark Davis
Marco Fu v. Barry Hawkins
Ryan Day v. Matthew Stevens

O'Sullivan and Perry scheduled to meet again. They've played in the first two ranking events this season, O'Sullivan won 5-3 both times. They've also met twice in the Premier league. I expect O'Sullivan to come through here, but Perry's record in this event in pretty impressive: 2nd round last year, and two semis and a QF in the previous three years.

The other four could not be more evenly matched. Ryan Day as one of the players of the season so far, and the other three all specialists for longer matches. I can't choose a favourite here... maybe Matthew Stevens.

Quarter 2:

Ali Carter v. Ian McCulloch
Peter Ebdon v. Andrew Higginson
Graeme Dott v. Ken Doherty
Mark Selby v. Mark Williams

Carter said he didn't care about Bahrain, because he wanted to do well in this event. Well, he is the highest ranked player of the first four. I would put Ebdon favourite here though, he also said he was preparing for the big events this season. Let's not forget about the other two, Ian McCulloch especially is good in this format, he proved that in the WC in 2005.

The other two pairs could not be more different. Dott and Doherty both having a bad season (or year, i suppose). Dott should be physically fine by now, and in a sense, there is no pressure on him now, no one expects him to win. Ok, he needs a couple of wins for the rankings, as does Doherty. At least Doherty won his first match in this event, so he at least gets full points if he loses. But the quarter finalist here is surely going to be the winner of the other match. Mark Selby doesn't really play poor matches these days, and he can't afford to here. I make him a pretty strong favourite, because Mark Williams barely got past Greene, just a couple of days ago. But he has shown some form this season.

Quarter 3:

Shaun Murphy v. Martin Gould
Mark Allen v. Stuart Bingham
Mark King v. Judd Trump
Stephen Hendry v. Stephen Lee

Not the toughest part of the draw. I think Allen is favourite for the first QF spot. Murphy has an easy opponent on paper. If he gets past Gould, and gets some confidence back, who knows... I'd put my money on Allen here.

I didn't see Stephen Hendry play last weekend, it looks like he is still a bit of a mystery. On this season's form, Trump is a good bet, but so was Walden who lost to Hendry in Bahrain.

Quarter 4:

John Higgins v. Joe Swail
Ding Junhui v. Steve Davis
Neil Robertson v. Michael Holt
Stephen Maguire v. Jamie Burnett

Insanely tough quarter. All four of the seeded players have won at least 3 ranking titles in the past four years. Tough opener for John Higgins, and possibly a tough match with Ding in the 2nd round. Still, with his win in the Grand Prix, I think he has an advantage over Ding. Ding always seems to play his best against Davis, but he loses heart quickly, if he goes behind in a match. John Higgins for me.

Ah... Robertson and Maguire scheduled to meet again. Lovely match in Bahrain, as well as the WC match this year. I don't know... How to decide? Well, in recent years, the winner of a ranking event usually goes out early in the next. Maguire slight favourite then.

Possible QF lineup:

O'Sullivan v. Stevens
Ebdon v. Selby
Allen v. Hendry
Higgins v. Maguire


Who do you guys think will be playing at the business end of the tournament?

[Rane]

Quater 1. Yes Ronnie should be favourite, but I think he will have to work hard to get through.
I favour Day to be in the quarter final, and if he can reproduce the game from the grand prix, then he could go all the way. But of those four it will be form on the day, that gives the end result.

Quarter 2.
Carter or Ebdon will be a question of form, from what we have seen so far this season, this will point in direction of Carter.

Dott and Doherty will be hoping for a win, but if Selby find his form, I can´t see any of the other three go past him.

Quarter 3.
Seems to be the weakest. I think Murphy gets going, and then I think Trump can make it through as well, but if Hendry is back in vintage form, then he can beat anyone.

Quarter 4. Agree on Higgins. From what we have seen so far, I expect Robertson to be in the quarter as well, but it will be close between him and Maguire.