Who will win the UK Championship?

[montoya10]

Thanks, I like to do a little preview before the "snooker week" starts. It gets me in the right mood. Shame I couldn't do it for the Grand Prix, because of the random draw. Although I don't often get it right. I seem to do better with mid-tournament predictions, when I see how the players are playing. It's not great for the prediction contest though, because the first two rounds have the most points available.

Anyway, thanks for playing.

Not at all It's my pleasure.

I miss-predict a ton of matches also, but still trying, it's entertaining and just gets me in the mood, as well..

By the way, Holt in the semis is a very interesting surprise pick. I think if Michael somehow gets to that stage, he would stand a very good chance of winning all. But his mentality is still not solid enough, sadly at this age..

[spike]

For me Michael's temperament has always been a bit of a concern...yeah there's no doubting his ability on the table but he seems to lack the self-belief needed to make it to be (a major contender) in every tournament he enters.

I hope he proves me wrong though..

[montoya10]

The real problem is that he is just sticking to his past mistakes and never gets himself a bit relaxed. He is just wasting his talent, and that's the reason why I'm unhappy with him.

Maybe that's the same reason why Stephen Lee is in a major slump, for me a player with one of the most fluent cue actions out there..

[Haitch]

The thing that I always consider is the surprise factor, and to be honest if you see Holt beat Maguire 9-7 would you be that surprised - i wouldnt. Thats why I have backed him to win at odds of 170/1 !

[spike]

Holty is a pretty good price at 5/2 with William Hill to dispose of Stephen Maguire in the first round. With the recent death of his Grandfather weighing heavily on Maguire's mind, this could be Michael's best chance to take full advantage of that..

[bouver]

Sullivan - Stevens : Don't see the value in this match. Stevens played very well in qualy and on his day he's still a class act and considering you're never sure if Ronnie will show up it's a no bet. It still should be a Ronnie win but no value.

Murphy - Greene: Should be easy Murphy win. I don't see him crumbling under the pressure of defending champion.

Wengbo - Day: If Day doesn't perform at his fully best, i can see a Wengbo win here. Provisionally at 14th and with a bag full of confidence after his Shanghai final this asian potting machine can provide the upset here.

Robertson - Ford:Again not a lot of value, i expect a Ford break through any time soon. Robertson should prevail here but i think it won't be as easy as the odds predict.

Selby - Cope: Mark had a HORRIBLE start to the season, dropped provisionally to 15 (only one place above Jamie) and so he needs a win as soon as possible. We all know he likes the longer matches but he will still have to dig deep and find something good to beat Jamie here, who had a very good win in the qualys over the newborn Ken Doherty. So if Mark shows up at full potential, he wins. If he plays like he has been playing this season, Jamie wins... Hard to predict!

Maguire - Holt : Paddy Maguire, Stephens grandfather and biggest supporter passed away earlier this week. Maguire will miss the funeral as he is competing in Telford on Saturday. But the Scot told that Paddy had said the snooker had to come first - no matter what happened. But for me it's too hard to predict how all this will influence his game so this is a no bet for me.

Hendry - Davis :Clash of the champions from the nineties and the eighties. Over the last years Hendry is doing just enough to keep his place in the elite 16, while Davis is here and there putting in a result to hold his slide down the rankings unlike for example John Parrott. A lot of easy misses slipped in Davis' game over the last years but if he can keep that under control he still takes a lot to be beaten. I predict a brave fight from Davis but a Hendry win.

Ding - Dunn: Should be easy win for Ding but again not much value.

Carter - Mcleod: Mcleod grabbed the wildcard for the masters and had a terrific win over Selt in the final qualy, but he still has to prove his worth under the big camera's of the bbc. If he can produce the game he produces away from the spotlights he can be a big scare for Ali. I predict a close match, but experience should but Carter eventually over the line.

Fu - Lines: I don't know enoguh of Lines to do any predictions here, but i heard he played very well in qualys. Anyway, this match is a no bet for me.

Allen - Lee: Lee had a very good win in final qualy over the in form Milkins and scored two centuries doing it. But still i think Allen will be way more he can handle in this match. Allen wins!

Higgins - Walden: I think Higgins was hoping for an easier draw than this. Walden, provisionally at 11, seems to finally starting to play to his full potential. Though draw for the scot but he will come through after a hard fight.

King - Hamilton: This could really go either way and will be mainly determined by form of the day and run of the ball..

Perry - Bingham: Bingham is playing some nice stuff right now and could upset the higher rank player here, but will be close match...

Ebdon - Trump: Maybe if Ebdon slows the game down and uses all his experience to put Judd of his game he can win this, but i see a Trump win here. He likes the attention and big crowds and just breathes snooker. Trump had an awful start to the season but had a good win the qualy and will like his draw. I see a trump victory here!

Williams - Dott : Williams has beaten Dott here last year and i don't see why he shouldnt do it again this year. Dott is trying hard to come anywhere near his form that took him to the worldcrown but just can't get there while Williams is getting back to his former self after couple of rough seasons. Williams wins!

[HunRon]

Sullivan - Stevens :

O'Sullivan(!!!), not Sullivan!

[Alex0paul]

My quarter final line up would be

Ding Junhui v Mark Allen
Graeme Dott v Stephen Maguire
Matthew Stevens v Jamie Cope
Anthony Hamilton v Ricky Walden

It can't be as great as the 2004 line up though

Joe Perry v Ali Carter
David Gray v Graeme Dott
John Parrott v Mark King
Stephen Lee v Stephen Maguire

That was glorious

[superaussie]

My quarter final line up would be

Ding Junhui v Mark Allen
Graeme Dott v Stephen Maguire
Matthew Stevens v Jamie Cope
Anthony Hamilton v Ricky Walden

It can't be as great as the 2004 line up though

Joe Perry v Ali Carter
David Gray v Graeme Dott
John Parrott v Mark King
Stephen Lee v Stephen Maguire

That was glorious

stevens

do you have robbo losing to ford

[Alex0paul]

stevens

do you have robbo losing to ford

No I reckon he could fall to Walden like he did in Shanghai. I would love to see a tournament full of shocks like 2004.

[Odrl]

It can't be as great as the 2004 line up though

Joe Perry v Ali Carter
David Gray v Graeme Dott
John Parrott v Mark King
Stephen Lee v Stephen Maguire

That was glorious

Yeah, I think that has so far been the only time in history, where none of the top8 players made it to the QF.

Although to be fair, Maguire and Dott were better players than their ranking suggested.

[montoya10]

Still, 2004 lineup is somewhat interesting..

David Gray was good back then, Ali Carter is good now
Stephen Maguire improved a lot, JP's game declined, Perry has been consistent in the recent years, but Lee slided down the rankings, so did Dott..

6 of these players are in the tournament again, let's make a prediction of how many of these would make it the QF again

I'm going with 2. Stephen Lee and Stephen Maguire Sticking to my previous prediction post

[The Boss]

O'Sullivan is my bet, but i won't rule out my other favourites King and Perry, who are both due a title. Both have proved dangerous at this event in the past. It's between those three. I will enjoy watching the tables getting punished, whatever happens



Dangerous: Perry possesses a merciless 'down on the shot'

[Odrl]

I'm going with 2. Stephen Lee and Stephen Maguire Sticking to my previous prediction post

One. Only Maguire. And if he should lose to Perry, that's still one.

And if Allen loses, it's probably between Carter and Lee, so a chance for another one there. Actually, none of these players are outsiders, but let's stick with one.

[montoya10]

One. Only Maguire. And if he should lose to Perry, that's still one.

And if Allen loses, it's probably between Carter and Lee, so a chance for another one there. Actually, none of these players are outsiders, but let's stick with one.

You're right. If any of these would enjoy a deep run, I would be surprised, but not shocked.

Anyway, isn't it the time to start the discussion thread We've already been into discussion in this one, though

King v. Hamilton is probably going to be a late night show, any idea for the start time of that match?