Betfred.com World Snooker Championship Q-Final Discussion

[breakman16]

Selby is feeling it big time now. Missing balls he hasn't looked close to missing previously. IMO he peaked against Hendry and the come down after that might just damage his confidence. Ding can only throw this match away for me, unless Selby starts the gamesmanship which we all know he does when things aren't going in his favour. Suddenly the jester stops having fun and becomes mr sly.

No fun time for Selby now!! What a fantastic chance for Ding in this match now!! Meanwhile Ronnie needs one of the next 2 fames badly, I fancy him to do it if I'm honest, 5-3 he's still in the match!!!

[cueman]

great break under pressure there from Ronnie, some cracking pots to keep the break going. one behind now. 4-4 would be a fair scoreline.

[breakman16]

great break under pressure there from Ronnie, some cracking pots to keep the break going. one behind now. 4-4 would be a fair scoreline.

4 all, fantastic session, that's the world championships at it's best!!!!

[peterpackage]

Ronnie and Higgins is a great match. Both are making mistakes but great drama

Can't believe Ding is hammering Selby !

[breakman16]

I saw this happening with Selby today, well played Ding, in position now even if he loses the last session, perhaps the Bingham result will spur Ding on further?

[breakman16]

As good as Selby is, he desperately needs the last frame!!

[peterpackage]

Selby is feeling it big time now. Missing balls he hasn't looked close to missing previously. IMO he peaked against Hendry and the come down after that might just damage his confidence. Ding can only throw this match away for me, unless Selby starts the gamesmanship which we all know he does when things aren't going in his favour. Suddenly the jester stops having fun and becomes mr sly.

Can you elaborate ? What kind of tactics does Selby use ?

[spike]

Very high standard from both Higgins and O'Sullivan, though Higgins will be a little disappointed by not taking a slight lead going into the second season. Looked very likely in the seventh frame, but Higgins broke down on a comparatively easy red, when looking like he was going to 3 frames clear..

[breakman16]

Very high standard from both Higgins and O'Sullivan, though Higgins will be a little disappointed by not taking a slight lead going into the second season. Looked very likely in the seventh frame, but Higgins broke down on a comparatively easy red, when looking like he was going to 3 frames clear..

He needed to get the lead, playing O'sullivan focused and ready to play mentally all chances no matter how early must be taken, if Higgin's loses, he'll rue that chance to win the session!!

[cueman]

Can you elaborate ? What kind of tactics does Selby use ?

He tends to slow the pace of the game right down and starts playing on when needing 4 or 5 snookers. Some might say its part of the game and to a large extent it is but he tends to do it at times to purely frustrate his opponent which to me is gamesmanship. He isn't as bad as he used to be, mainly because he scores a lot better now but it still rears its ugly head from time to time.

[breakman16]

He tends to slow the pace of the game right down and starts playing on when needing 4 or 5 snookers. Some might say its part of the game and to a large extent it is but he tends to do it at times to purely frustrate his opponent which to me is gamesmanship. He isn't as bad as he used to be, mainly because he scores a lot better now but it still rears its ugly head from time to time.

I agree that if a player needs 4 or more snookers they shouldn't carry on, if they need 3 and the balls are quite good then fair enough, but after 10 minutes of playing for snookers all but the hardcore are bored, if Selby had lost from 11-5 up, he could hardly look back on the frame he won from 4 snookers as a turning point had he conceeded it, he would have blown lots more chances to win, it wasn't like he was playing a Hendry of old who could knock in 4 80s and a century to pull to within 1, I haven't seen a frame won with 4 snookers needed for many years, think someone once won a frame with 5 needed many many years ago, anyone know who it involved? I don't mind the slow play here as the frame is live and its a massive frame, selby desperately needs this IMO! My point is there comes a time when you have to consider the people watching the game, 4 snookers needed is a bit excessive, it's not like he was losing 8-7 or winning 8-7 even

[spike]

if Higgin's loses, he'll rue that chance to win the session!!

I dont think he would...its still early days in this match, and with the first 8 frames having been shared not much damage has been done. Looks at the moment this match could go the full distance..

[spike]

think someone once won a frame with 5 needed many many years ago, anyone know who it involved?

It was John Spencer, but not sure who it was against...something tells me it may have been against Jimmy White..

[breakman16]

I dont think he would...its still early days in this match, and with the first 8 frames having been shared not much damage has been done. Looks at the moment this match could go the full distance..

It could, dont get me wrong I think it's got 13 11 either way all over it, if not a decider, but I think that slender lead, like what Steve said earlier about nicking leads end of sessions and frames you shouldn't win, things like 5-3 and 4 all are sometimes all that matters right at the end of a match, still early days but any lead is a welcome one!!

[breakman16]

It was John Spencer, but not sure who it was against...something tells me it may have been against Jimmy White..

Wow, that would have been right at the start of my snooker watching "career" lol