Who will win it now?

[BikiniKill]

I voted for Higgins because I think he's most likely to win it, but I really hope Hendry triumphs.

As for the "noisiness" of some players.. You can't be too hard on someone for a moment of uncensored happiness/relief. But it is a shame that that can impact on the players on the other table, and players should try to remember this.

[crucible77]

Hendry or Higgins

[Odrl]

Of the 8 players left, I've only ruled out Allen and Day before the start of the tournament. Obviously at the QF stage, the chances of players need to be reconsidered, but I'd still say they are the least likely winners. I think the winner of that match would prefer to play against Higgins. We know Higgins is tactically superb, and would have a big advantage in the tactical frames. But with Selby, he not only wins a lot of frames when they go scrappy, but also makes them scrappy on purpose if it suits him. Perhaps Allen has a slightly better chance than Day, because at least he's not so unreliable under pressure.

I had Robertson and Hendry in the 2nd group of favourites. Hendry's chances have obviously gone up. The silly mistakes seem to be at a low point in recent times. The fear of a poor session remains, but seem less and less likely now. The question of course is, whether he can match a Higgins or a Maguire, even if he does play like he is at the moment. He might need to find an extra gear.

Robertson's problem was Maguire, but he just played a solid first session against him. He's very hard to stop at the business end of tournaments, very strong mentally. But I think there are players playing better than him at the moment, so he needs to up his game as well.

And finally, the four remaining immediate favourites (out of five, the other was O'Sullivan). Maguire's chances have gone down a bit, I think. He's not at his very best, but will need to be, as I don't fancy his chances in the tense, close matches.

Murphy has not failed to impress so far, he's playing as well as he did in the UK Championship. I think there are a couple of players who have a stronger A-game, but Murphy's B-game is extremely reliable. And maybe more importantly, his ability to produce and sustain it regularly is quite good.

Higgins has probably played the best so far. Can't find a weakness in his game. He is scoring better than he was in China and the other elements are still there. His long potting is very reliable and his safety is as good as it gets. He is also still young enough not to have problems with inconsistency form session to session. Probably the 1st favourite now.

I can't say a bad word about Selby's game either. Ok, he was making mistakes against Walden and Dott, but after the 1st session against Higgins he has now scored the most centuries of all the players. His tactical game is quite a bit better than most players, except for Higgins, and to an extent Murphy. Another great strength of his is his ability to handle the long frames and sessions. He seems to get stronger as the tension builds up.

I guess I'll vote for Higgins, but if I was to make a list... I'd say the winner of the Higgins-Selby match will be the favourite. Murphy at 3rd, Maguire 4th, Robertson and Hendry 5th, Allen 7th and Day 8th.

[The Boss]

Of the 8 players left, I've only ruled out Allen and Day before the start of the tournament. Obviously at the QF stage, the chances of players need to be reconsidered, but I'd still say they are the least likely winners. I think the winner of that match would prefer to play against Higgins. We know Higgins is tactically superb, and would have a big advantage in the tactical frames. But with Selby, he not only wins a lot of frames when they go scrappy, but also makes them scrappy on purpose if it suits him. Perhaps Allen has a slightly better chance than Day, because at least he's not so unreliable under pressure.

I had Robertson and Hendry in the 2nd group of favourites. Hendry's chances have obviously gone up. The silly mistakes seem to be at a low point in recent times. The fear of a poor session remains, but seem less and less likely now. The question of course is, whether he can match a Higgins or a Maguire, even if he does play like he is at the moment. He might need to find an extra gear.

Robertson's problem was Maguire, but he just played a solid first session against him. He's very hard to stop at the business end of tournaments, very strong mentally. But I think there are players playing better than him at the moment, so he needs to up his game as well.

And finally, the four remaining immediate favourites (out of five, the other was O'Sullivan). Maguire's chances have gone down a bit, I think. He's not at his very best, but will need to be, as I don't fancy his chances in the tense, close matches.

Murphy has not failed to impress so far, he's playing as well as he did in the UK Championship. I think there are a couple of players who have a stronger A-game, but Murphy's B-game is extremely reliable. And maybe more importantly, his ability to produce and sustain it regularly is quite good.

Higgins has probably played the best so far. Can't find a weakness in his game. He is scoring better than he was in China and the other elements are still there. His long potting is very reliable and his safety is as good as it gets. He is also still young enough not to have problems with inconsistency form session to session. Probably the 1st favourite now.

I can't say a bad word about Selby's game either. Ok, he was making mistakes against Walden and Dott, but after the 1st session against Higgins he has now scored the most centuries of all the players. His tactical game is quite a bit better than most players, except for Higgins, and to an extent Murphy. Another great strength of his is his ability to handle the long frames and sessions. He seems to get stronger as the tension builds up.

I guess I'll vote for Higgins, but if I was to make a list... I'd say the winner of the Higgins-Selby match will be the favourite. Murphy at 3rd, Maguire 4th, Robertson and Hendry 5th, Allen 7th and Day 8th.

I agree with everything you've said there

[Rane]

At the start of the tournament I didn´t really know who to point at. I thought Ronnie O´Sullivan, Carter or Higgins would be the most likely winners, but didn´t see them as much bigger favorits than several others.

And now I still doesn´t have any idea.

[SmithStar]

However much i despise Hendry, i think he is going to win it. Id much rather see allen or selby win it but i just have a sneaky feeling that Hendry will go on and win it.

[brettski]

However much i despise Hendry, i think he is going to win it. Id much rather see allen or selby win it but i just have a sneaky feeling that Hendry will go on and win it.

Me to, if he can turn two or three frames over Shawn tomorrow I'd love to see him win it one more time.

[gettingbetter]

Ok, I'm calling it now. The winner of the WC will come from the Higgins/Selby match.

[Templeton Peck]

You're sticking your neck out there lol. Higgins has been put under severe pressure twice in this tournament and has responded with fantastic stuff on both occasions. You'd have to say he will win it or the man that beats him will.

[Anastasia]

i think Hendry !

[attilahun]

i think Hendry !

Im sure you do, but please mention the year also....

[Anastasia]

Im sure you do, but please mention the year also....

why? ......

[attilahun]

why? ......

So we can bet on it.....

[Anastasia]

So we can bet on it.....

as i said before if he beat murphy he will do it this year

[JiangYu]

I'm changing my mind to SELBY!