Betfred.com World Snooker Championship SEMI-Final Discussion

[breakman16]

A testament to the true fighting qualities John Higgins possess that he can manage to keep himself well in contention, especially as Williams is potting out of his skin..

Williams was virtually dominant for a significant part of the session, just cant grasp how it's only 4 all today!!! Amazing stuff from Higgins, Williams is possibly the only player who today's result wouldn't rattle, as John Parrott said "what do I have to do" but even so it must have crossed his mind! Great session there, quality stuff in all departments!

[Zoe]

People said that about Jimmy White though m8 and it never happened for him. Could be now or never for Trump before that belief turns to doubt.

Jimmy White never won as he kept running into Hendy. In the early 1990s Hendry was always going to defeat anyone that stood in his path to the World title. If it hadn't been White then the next best player would have repeatedly been defeated by Hendry. With the exception of 1995 Jimmy was always able to avoid Hendry until the final. Had he not been so lucky with the draw then he wouldn't have made so many finals. In the case of Trump there isn't any one player these days where you know you have almost certainly lost against before the match starts.

[Odrl]

Good stuff from Higgins to only be 7-9 behind. He really got the most he could out of this session.

Williams still looks a bit better though, so unless he lets it affect him, I think it will be tough for Higgins to take command. But then again, tomorrow is another day.

[breakman16]

Jimmy White never won as he kept running into Hendy. In the early 1990s Hendry was always going to defeat anyone that stood in his path to the World title. If it hadn't been White then the next best player would have repeatedly been defeated by Hendry. With the exception of 1995 Jimmy was always able to avoid Hendry until the final. Had he not been so lucky with the draw then he wouldn't have made so many finals. In the case of Trump there isn't any one player these days where you know you have almost certainly lost against before the match starts.

That was because at the Crucible (and most other tournaments, like at Wembley) Hendry was a phenom, a one off, who had such self belief that even IF he had a bad session, he didnt let it affect him, Jimmy was second best in the world for a number of years, John Parrott was a player who could run Hendry quite close or beat him in the early 90s, but from mid 91 onwards Hendry turned into a phenom at nearly every event, if it wasnt for Hendry people like Parrott and White and maybe Wattana would have won tournaments too!

[The Rook]

Jimmy White never won as he kept running into Hendy. In the early 1990s Hendry was always going to defeat anyone that stood in his path to the World title. If it hadn't been White then the next best player would have repeatedly been defeated by Hendry. With the exception of 1995 Jimmy was always able to avoid Hendry until the final. Had he not been so lucky with the draw then he wouldn't have made so many finals. In the case of Trump there isn't any one player these days where you know you have almost certainly lost against before the match starts.

I don't think White would have fared better these days against the likes of Higgins, Williams, ROS, Ding and Selby. The reason no one dominates now is because there are so many class players. At least from Trump's point of view, the class of 75 probably won't be at their peak for much longer.

Trump has the talent, and he may have the bottle, but his aggressive style leaves little room for error. It will be difficult for him to play so well and aggressively for a whole tournament without coming undone sooner or later.

[AndrewB]

Jimmy White never won as he kept running into Hendy. In the early 1990s Hendry was always going to defeat anyone that stood in his path to the World title. If it hadn't been White then the next best player would have repeatedly been defeated by Hendry. With the exception of 1995 Jimmy was always able to avoid Hendry until the final. Had he not been so lucky with the draw then he wouldn't have made so many finals.

You've obviously forgotten 1991 (not to mention 1984), and unless you're ascribing some kind of mind control powers to Hendry, there wasn't much he could have done in 1994 if White had kept potting. And, incidentally, White beat Hendry both times they met before the semis, so could quite possibly have beaten him if they'd met in an earlier round in the early 90s (he was after all the first to reach 10 and 13 in two of the four finals). I've no wish to denigrate Hendry - he'd still be the best of all time - but it would hardly have been a huge injustice if White had won one (or even two) of their finals.

[breakman16]

I don't think White would have fared better these days against the likes of Higgins, Williams, ROS, Ding and Selby. The reason no one dominates now is because there are so many class players. At least from Trump's point of view, the class of 75 probably won't be at their peak for much longer.

Trump has the talent, and he may have the bottle, but his aggressive style leaves little room for error. It will be difficult for him to play so well and aggressively for a whole tournament without coming undone sooner or later.

Exactly Rock, which is why he wont win, winner of Higgins/Williams will win the tourney, I've always thought the winner of that half of the draw would be champion, nothing I've seen between Ding and Trump as good as they are, makes me think that they can outlast and outplay Williams or Higgins at 10 oclock or later Monday night when it's crunch time!!!

[breakman16]

You've obviously forgotten 1991 (not to mention 1984), and unless you're ascribing some kind of mind control powers to Hendry, there wasn't much he could have done in 1994 if White had kept potting. And, incidentally, White beat Hendry both times they met before the semis, so could quite possibly have beaten him if they'd met in an earlier round in the early 90s (he was after all the first to reach 10 and 13 in two of the four finals). I've no wish to denigrate Hendry - he'd still be the best of all time - but it would hardly have been a huge injustice if White had won one (or even two) of their finals.

He should have won one of them, the 94 one, Hendry showed great self belief in 92, but it wasn't like he knocked in 5 centuries and 2 90s either to win, SOME of it was due to White's poor play, not as much as was due to Hendry's good play but he didn't "play like God" as White has said, he had his chance in 94, and unfortuneatly for us all, he blew it, poor guy, its a tragedy he never won a world title!!

[Zoe]

Hendy himself should have won 2002, if you watch the last two frames, it's unbelievable the number of times he let Ebdon off. In frame 34 Ebdon even missed a very similar black to the one Jimmy White missed but Hendry didn't punish him for it.

[tai pichit]

He should have won one of them, the 94 one, Hendry showed great self belief in 92, but it wasn't like he knocked in 5 centuries and 2 90s either to win, SOME of it was due to White's poor play, not as much as was due to Hendry's good play but he didn't "play like God" as White has said, he had his chance in 94, and unfortuneatly for us all, he blew it, poor guy, its a tragedy he never won a world title!!

on that 1992 final stephen knocked in 3 centuries & a couple more 50+ breaks in the final session so i don't think it's accurate to say it was mainly jimmy's poor play that cost him the title. white had his chances in the first few 2 frames of the session, couldn't take them & stephen changed gear like the great champion he was.

back to today's match, williams definitely the better player but higgins hangs on in there like no other player i've ever seen.

[Zoe]

on that 1992 final stephen knocked in 3 centuries & a couple more 50+ breaks in the final session so i don't think it's accurate to say it was mainly jimmy's poor play that cost him the title. white had his chances in the first few 2 frames of the session, couldn't take them & stephen changed gear like the great champion he was.

The same could be said about Matthew Stevens. Yes he had commanding leads in both of his finals but his opponents both played some outstanding snooker in the final session.

[João]

Williams has no right to be happy to draw the session 4-4. Plus Higgins copes better with morning sessions so I can see him winning tomorrow's session 5-3.

[montoya10]

Williams and Higgins are probably going to go stroke to stroke until the very final moments of this match, so, watch out for a classic semi-final tomorrow..
Still, Williams looks like he isn't bothered by anything at all, while Higgins himself keeps struggling and somehow staying in contention..He came back at Ronnie, but MJW will be too much of an ask if he lets him build a significant lead..

[breakman16]

Great first frame by Ding, Judd can still score!!!! lol he BADLY needed that break!! Match back on now, feared for Judd after the first frame loss!!

[G30 MC]

Does anyone else think that Judd hit's the ball to hard at time's? When any of the top player's are playing well they seem to hit the ball sweet. Judd is a breath of fresh air with his flamboyance, Personly i think he is taking it to far and it will be his downfall. Again just my thought's.