World Championship 2009 [provisional discussion]

[JiangYu]

Cope qualified last year and played well against peter ebdon just losing 10-9. Ebdon applauded him and got the crowd to give him a round of applause afterwards. Cope is a fabulous potter and breakbuilder but inconsistent.

It's what I like about Ebdon. Such a nice guy!

[dannyd0g]

I would like to see Nigel make it to the crucible again, & It's looking quite good for him at the moment. Anyone else feel the same?

Yes, hes got 'pedigree' now hasnt he. It would be good to see his name in the mix.

Cope qualified last year and played well against peter ebdon just losing 10-9. Ebdon applauded him and got the crowd to give him a round of applause afterwards. Cope is a fabulous potter and breakbuilder but inconsistent.

Ah yes i remember now. I dont think Ebdon would win again if there was a rematch !

Meanwhile McManus has gone 2 frames down. C'mon Alan !

[rivercard]

I would like to see Nigel make it to the crucible again, & It's looking quite good for him at the moment. Anyone else feel the same?

Yes, I do. I also predicted him to win, so come on Nigel.

Meanwhile Gould has beaten Stevens 10-4. Stevens is obviously struggling, but I'm not sure Gould can be considered as a soft draw anymore either.

[Templeton Peck]

Nigel Bond seemed to virtually disappear from the scene a few years ago, but has been steadily improving since he beat Hendry in 2006. It's incredible that players like Bond and Harold are on the cusp of the top 16 and someone like Parrott - who is only a couple of years older - is languishing in the doldrums of the tour.

[dannyd0g]

Yes, I do. I also predicted him to win, so come on Nigel.

Meanwhile Gould has beaten Stevens 10-4. Stevens is obviously struggling, but I'm not sure Gould can be considered as a soft draw anymore either.

he does seem to be improving. But compared to the other qualifiers he may still be one of the 'softest' out of them.

I think the established top 16 would rather draw someone like Gould rather than someone like Cope.

[JiangYu]

he does seem to be improving. But compared to the other qualifiers he may still be one of the 'softest' out of them.

I think the likes of Ronnie and Murphy would rather draw someone like Gould rather than someone like Cope.

Cope is in a whole different class, being runner up twice already in 2006 and 2007. I don't think it's fair to compare him to Martin though - I would say Walden/Cope/Swail are in their own category whilst Gould, McLeod, Gunnell etc are vastly inferior.

You can't compare a 46th seed to a 16th seed.

[Goldspark]

Bond and Harold are on the cusp of the top 16 and someone like Parrott - who is only a couple of years older - is languishing in the doldrums of the tour.

Hardly. Bond has won one match all season and is 65th on the one-year list.

[dannyd0g]

.

You can't compare a 46th seed to a 16th seed.

i know what you mean. But i only did so because Rivercard wasnt sure Gould was still a soft draw.

[rivercard]

he does seem to be improving. But compared to the other qualifiers he may still be one of the 'softest' out of them.

I think the established top 16 would rather draw someone like Gould rather than someone like Cope.

Well yes, of course. But who would one would like to be drawn against more, Higginson or Gould? I think most would still say Gould, but that's a lot harder decision.

[rivercard]

I don't think it's fair to compare him to Martin though - I would say Walden/Cope/Swail are in their own category whilst Gould, McLeod, Gunnell etc are vastly inferior.

The difference is that Gould is only on the Tour for 2 years, while the other two are established journeyman. Gould is still a bit of an unknown quantity (for me at least).

You can't compare a 46th seed to a 16th seed.

You just did that, but I see what you're trying to say. Also, the 16th seed is pre-qualified for the Crucible.

[Templeton Peck]

Basically there are two players, possibly three that you wouldn't want to draw: Williams, Stevens and Doherty. Stevens is out of the frame now, Doherty is having a poor season but could do some damage in familiar surroundings, and Williams is outright dangerous for anybody. All the rest are easy draws, in the fact that they are not world class players.

[JiangYu]

The difference is that Gould is only on the Tour for 2 years, while the other two are established journeyman. Gould is still a bit of an unknown quantity (for me at least).



You just did that, but I see what you're trying to say. Also, the 16th seed is pre-qualified for the Crucible.

Haha - I meant actually comparing them. I just said that you couldn't compare them and that's why speaking in the context that you can't rather than you could.

[dannyd0g]

The difference is that Gould is only on the Tour for 2 years, while the other two are established journeyman. Gould is still a bit of an unknown quantity (for me at least).
.

I guess it depends on your definition of jorneyman, but i dont think Cope, Walden or swail can in fairness be called journeymen. They are all far better than that.

To me a jouneyman is someone who spends most of their career ranked in the fifties, never getting anywhere near winning a tournament, or even getting to finals, semis, and threatening all the biggest names on their day, as these 3 have done.

Meanwhile, a strong finish by Bingham. Unlucky Alan.

[Templeton Peck]

Instead of a random draw, where the top seed could get the toughest qualifier a better system would be to allow the seeds to pick their opponents. Ronnie being the number 1 seed would get first pick, then Maguire going down to the 16th seed obviously just being left with whoever hasn't been picked. It would be interesting to see who the players themselves perceive as the easiest and toughest draws.

[Viktortheman]

Both Dunn vs Bond and Dale vs Holt will go to a decider I think. Very exiting!