Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Mark Selby - Discussion

[Odrl]

He was "forced" to take those risky shots ... there wasn't much else he could do. Yes, he was 35 behind when the messing around started and there was nothing wrong with keeping it tight. But there was some shot selection that made me, and others around me, wonder what he was up to. The goal of this game is to pot the balls ultimately, or am I wrong?

Well yes, but it's certainly a bonus if you can upset the other guy's rhythm in the process as well. Selby did contribute a lot to the balls going awkward, even though he needed them more than O'Sullivan, but I'm sure he thought he would ultimately come out of that situation on top. And in truth, that's exactly what happened, Selby closed the gap on O'Sullivan before the table opened up again. I agree that he probably sacrificed his own fluency for the sake of stopping O'Sullivan's, but I did suggest that that's something he should do, so I wouldn't exactly call it a tactical mistake, at least not without the benefit of hindsight.

But what I was mainly trying to say is that I, as a snooker fan, didn't feel like I was deprived of anything because of the way they played that frame. I found it very intriguing, and I actually thought it might break Selby's resolve a bit to see O'Sullivan compete and win a frame like that. But it went a different way after that...

[ore]

The way Ronnie's playing I'm even more depressed that Williams lost last afternoon.

Williams was pretty frustrated/gutted in post match interview on youtube, feeling the victory was that near..

So let's hope tomorrow Ronnie will take you out of that depression :snooker:

[ore]

But what I was mainly trying to say is that I, as a snooker fan, didn't feel like I was deprived of anything because of the way they played that frame. I found it very intriguing, and I actually thought it might break Selby's resolve a bit to see O'Sullivan compete and win a frame like that. But it went a different way after that...

I enjoyed that 1st frame a lot too
Especially that bit where Selby was getting snookered.

If such playing tactics by Selby in that 1st frame were the reason that the rest of the session got more scrappy, well.. yes maybe that's not that nice in general, and not nice for us to see, but if it gives advantage to Selby (disrupts his own flow less than it disrupts Ronnie's flow), kudos for Selby for pulling it of. First of all he's playing to win the WC out there, it's not only an exhibition to please the crowd.
One can argue Ronnie could have simply cleared up at once, thus avoiding the following safety battle

For some reason I have a feeling that Selby might have missed the train today...


Why are their sessions tomorrow following each other? A bit shorter break between those than for the other players.. Though maybe it's good they don't need to start in the very morning.

[zong]

I hope Ronnie can avoid getting tilted by Mark's play in the later sessions, I haven't seen him miss so many pots before. 4-4 for me is a great result for ROS, would have so easy for him to implode and lose it in the first session. This is really an intriguing contest...as much as I dislike Selby, I must admit he is a very very tough opponent

[Freddie Ng]

Hope to see both of them produce more interesting match.. the first match was really great.

[Odrl]

If such playing tactics by Selby in that 1st frame were the reason that the rest of the session got more scrappy, well.. yes maybe that's not that nice in general, and not nice for us to see, but if it gives advantage to Selby (disrupts his own flow less than it disrupts Ronnie's flow), kudos for Selby for pulling it of. First of all he's playing to win the WC out there, it's not only an exhibition to please the crowd.
One can argue Ronnie could have simply cleared up at once, thus avoiding the following safety battle

Absolutely. Although Selby did score an 84 and a 45 in the following two frames, and a 90 later on, so I'm not sure how much that frame really affected him. I think it was O'Sullivan who started missing, and that probably put a bit of pressure on Selby to take advantage.

But then Selby played that ill-advised black and gifted a frame back to O'Sullivan, but O'Sullivan threw away the advantage again with that ambitious shot on the green. Weird session... The snooker can only get better.

Why are their sessions tomorrow following each other? A bit shorter break between those than for the other players.. Though maybe it's good they don't need to start in the very morning.

I think it's so that they can prevent two matches from being played at the same time in all three sessions. Murphy-Carter would be completely overshadowed if it was always played alongside O'Sullivan-Selby, so they switch pairs for the second day.

[Monique]

Williams was pretty frustrated/gutted in post match interview on youtube, feeling the victory was that near..

So let's hope tomorrow Ronnie will take you out of that depression :snooker:

Williams wasn't frustrated at all. I was at that interview, sitting a meter in front of him and I know what I write. He was in awe , and he was clearly wondering what he could do more to beat ROS, but he wasn't frustrated.

[Wim]

I hope Ronnie can avoid getting tilted by Mark's play in the later sessions, I haven't seen him miss so many pots before. 4-4 for me is a great result for ROS, would have so easy for him to implode and lose it in the first session. This is really an intriguing contest...as much as I dislike Selby, I must admit he is a very very tough opponent

A Selby in topform can compete with an osullivan in topform. As you - for some dark reason - I don't like Selby very much but to be honest he could beat even a good osullivan today. Selby is a fighter showing strong character till the end. Ronnie tends to let things go sometimes. A very interesting match coming on today.

[matoski]

This is a horrible match to watch so far. There are two top class players with totaly opposite aproach to this match.
Selby is playing with so much passion, and determination to win and on the other hand Ronnie who looks like he is disgusted by snooker it self. I hope Selby wins for the sake of the semifinal match.

[The Boss]

This is a horrible match to watch so far. There are two top class players with totaly opposite aproach to this match.
Selby is playing with so much passion, and determination to win and on the other hand Ronnie who looks like he is disgusted by snooker it self. I hope Selby wins for the sake of the semifinal match.

You haven't got to know Ronnie at all yet, have you?

[noel]

QUOTE=matoski;491964]This is a horrible match to watch so far. [/QUOTE]

That's one of the wonders of snooker...
today is a new day mate!

Have some faith!



=o)

Noel

[noel]

QUOTE=The Boss;491973]You haven't got to know Ronnie at all yet, have you? [/QUOTE]

Neither has Ronnie. Apparantly.

Hope for happiness mate, his and ours!


=o)

Noel

[zong]

A Selby in topform can compete with an osullivan in topform. As you - for some dark reason - I don't like Selby very much but to be honest he could beat even a good osullivan today. Selby is a fighter showing strong character till the end. Ronnie tends to let things go sometimes. A very interesting match coming on today.

that's a pretty strong statement, an o'sullivan in top form is a different animal...that said, I don't think it's a possible situation. Unless Ronnie starts respecting Selby's game (not that i think he should), it's almost mutually exclusive for both to be in top form

[montoya10]

that's a pretty strong statement, an o'sullivan in top form is a different animal...that said, I don't think it's a possible situation. Unless Ronnie starts respecting Selby's game (not that i think he should), it's almost mutually exclusive for both to be in top form

I think it's unlikely to happen. Apart from John Higgins, Ronnie seems to show no respect for any other players' game.

[gavpowell]

Higgins and Williams - they're the two players he always namechecks as being modern greats.