Welsh Open'11 - Final discussion

[ore]

Sunday February 20

1.30pm & 7pm
John Higgins v Stephen Maguire

[missneworleans]

Lol what does this pic mean?

[Erwan_BZH]

Been a while we didn't have an all Scottish affair in a ranking final! I'm rather delighted with that fact!
From what I've seen so far from both players, I think John will prevail on Stephen IF Stephen keeps on playing the way the did in the semi. OK, he had big breaks what he also did a lot of mistakes and silly shot selection.
John looked more composed in his semi and well....we all know he's playing for his father so this comes as an extra motivation for him.

I expect a good final though! May the best win! :snooker:

My prediction : John Higgins 9-5 Stephen Maguire

[cally]

Looking forward to today's final, hope it's a close cut affair this afternoon, i'm going this evening and hoping theres not a possible 1 frame tonight...

My first major final session this is and i can't wait...

Come on John...:snooker:

[missneworleans]

Come on Mags!!!

[Odrl]

It should be a great match. I'm trying to think of recent matches between the two, and it's all two-session or ever four-session matches. That WC semi-final in 2007 was the big one of course, Maguire played superb snooker in the third session to go 14-10 ahead, only to crack when Higgins applied the pressure in the fourth. He got some revenge in the QF of the 2008 UK Championship, winning a close match 9-7, before Higgins won this season by the same scoreline. Another big match I remember was one of my all-time favourite finals, the 2004 British Open, where Higgins won 9-6 in a high-quality match. But I suppose that goes beyond "recent".

So, they don't usually disappoint, do they? Maguire seems to be playing pretty well this week, making some impressive centuries at important times, and generally looking up for it. He is making occasional mistakes here and there, but it takes a good performance to exploit them, something his previous opponents weren't able to do. There is no doubt Higgins will be the toughest match for him. Higgins has the tactical awareness of Selby in the close frames, but is even more reliable when he needs a good clearance to win them, so I think Maguire would probably have lost to Higgins last night. Still, Maguire has improved with every match this week, so there is no reason why he can't raise his game even further.

It might be an emotional day for Higgins, but he has so far dealt superbly with any off-table drama. He's probably played even better because of it. It's a very rare thing for Higgins not to produce some of his best snooker in a major final, so I expect a high-quality contest between the two. I would love to see another decider, something Welsh Open finals provide quite often, and may the best man win. For the record, I've predicted a 9-7 victory for Maguire.

[ore]

Lol what does this pic mean?

Yumm sorry the table s a little wrong.

Ya know all-scottish final, kinda like all-chinese final back at masters. Just that is takes place in wales.

Figured looked more to the topic than smth of those below [though face is ].

Quite a brand name that Scotland is ey.

[PatBlock]

Apollogies for slight off topic, but I wonder where they both stand regarding the old firm derby taking place as we speak, anyone know if either or both of them are hoops or gers fans?

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[missneworleans]

Call the police Maguire missed a ball
Now I remember why they called him "on fire". What a half-session!!

[Odrl]

Great final so far, very high quality. I had a feeling Maguire would play like this today. It's just a question whether he can keep it up.

[spike]

Great final so far, very high quality. I had a feeling Maguire would play like this today. It's just a question whether he can keep it up.

Yes, enjoyable final. Maguire has played well all week and is in impressive form this afternoon so far. 99% pot success rate confirms that..

[ADR147]

Apollogies for slight off topic, but I wonder where they both stand regarding the old firm derby taking place as we speak, anyone know if either or both of them are hoops or gers fans?

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both celtic - that john higgins is a monster to beat!

[FOXMULDER]

And now the match changes...

[Odrl]

What a clearance from Higgins! Just when Maguire was starting to look untouchable.

[missneworleans]

Of course There we go
9-3 to Higgins?