Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Mark Selby - Discussion

[Odrl]

Good finish for O'Sullivan. He played a number of crazy shots when he was out of position in that break, but they went in this time. I suppose Selby won't be too disappointed, because he could have gone 3-4 down himself. But if they keep playing this poorly, I don't like O'Sullivan's chances. He needs to raise his game.

[Black_cat]

Guys...guys...it CAN'T get worse now, can it?
For their respective state of minds, I mean, not the snooker.

What strikes me as interesting is that Ronnie's safety has been quite accurate; he won that marathon opener, showed patience, got some excellent snookers and...got lost in the balls.
Whereas Selby seemed to be more fluent when in.

I haven't seen so many misses from two top players since the '07 Masters semi between Ronnie and Maguire. People thought that Ding, who had qualified already, would make minced meat out of any of them.

I'm still baffled. Ronnie seems to have decompensated after the magnificent win over Williams and Selby...I don't know, I'll ask the Selbologists around what has happened. (very.tee, if you like... )

Pleased with 4-all, could have been a disaster. And, guys...ok, one guy particularly, hit the running course, get a nice dinner and have a date with the practice table.
Please!

And as I'm saying this, Ronnie makes an 81, I think, to level. Eurosport, take a tennis racket and shove it up your rectum, handle first!

[brusque]

Eurosport, take a tennis racket and shove it up your rectum, handle first!

hahaha ... i share your pain mate

[montoya10]

Dennis Taylor said very much the same thing in commentary. This can so often in Snooker though, even with the likes of O'Sullivan. I have still enjoyed watching this session though, with a few twist & turns along the way..

Last few frames were probably more enjoyable than the first half of the session, but still they were scrappy. I'm content with the session as well. I like tactical play, but they need better potting percentages, I suppose..

[Looki]

Last few frames were probably more enjoyable than the first half of the session, but still they were scrappy. I'm content with the session as well. I like tactical play, but they need better potting percentages, I suppose..

I wish it had been tactical battle but it was who-misses-the-most -contest.

[montoya10]

I wish it had been tactical battle but it was who-misses-the-most -contest.

At least, they can't miss more than this when they come back

[Looki]

At least, they can't miss more than this when they come back

Hope so, bit of an anticlimax after Ron v Williams match. Selby also was in blistering form against Hendry. I guess it's true that you can't play well all the time (as far as I'm concerned it's very much the case ).

[Mal]

What strikes me as interesting is that Ronnie's safety has been quite accurate; he won that marathon opener, showed patience, got some excellent snookers and...got lost in the balls.
Whereas Selby seemed to be more fluent when in.:

in terms of the first frame, Ronnie's safety was poor - Selby kept getting single reds or just red and colour - eventually Ronnie got a chance and by that stage the balls were open and he played poorly -He laid two very easy snookers that any pub player could lay and he had a LOT of running. I think Selby will be disappointed to be only 4-4, but he will get much better as the match goes on - People said the same thing about Mark Allen against Ronnie last year. It was a disappointing opening session and people said he had missed the boat - forgetting that Mark also played bad. Next two sessions ronnie played much better and was knocking in the centuries - only problem for him was Mark upped his game as well and was the winner. I think the same will happen here. - Mark 'A' game has been shown over the last few years to be a match for anyones and I think it will come through tomorrow.

[Vex 147]

Goodness me...what is going on with Ron! I can officially state that i have never ever seen him play so bad, think that he´s state of unpredictable mind is getting worse and worse! I don´t know, from this point on, i really can´t see him win this match against Selby... i´m really trying but i can´t...oh dear Ronnie what´s the matter AGAIN!?!?

[attilahun]

Ronnie can win it, but he has to start playing snooker. Mark also can win it, but not if Ronnie is at his best. This is the key, imo, if Ronnie can produce his A game, Selby has no chance, if not.....Mark is favorite to win it.

[The Boss]

Ronnie will win because the final session is in the evening. That's when he ticks

[Monique]

in terms of the first frame, Ronnie's safety was poor - Selby kept getting single reds or just red and colour - eventually Ronnie got a chance and by that stage the balls were open and he played poorly -He laid two very easy snookers that any pub player could lay and he had a LOT of running. I think Selby will be disappointed to be only 4-4, but he will get much better as the match goes on - People said the same thing about Mark Allen against Ronnie last year. It was a disappointing opening session and people said he had missed the boat - forgetting that Mark also played bad. Next two sessions ronnie played much better and was knocking in the centuries - only problem for him was Mark upped his game as well and was the winner. I think the same will happen here. - Mark 'A' game has been shown over the last few years to be a match for anyones and I think it will come through tomorrow.

two comments.
1. last year against Mark Allen Ronnie only played well in second session, he was again very poor in third while Mark maintained the improved level he had in session two and that's why Mark Allen won it. And before writing this isn't true rewatch the footage.
2. I don't think Ronnie's safety was poor in that first frame. He was desperately trying to pull one ball out at a time in the hope the game could eventually get going while Mark Selby was trying his best to stale it... He did manage to frustrate Ronnie big time and to drag him down but he dragged his own game down as well. None of them could really find any fluency after that. Mark did himself, snooker and the fans no favour. Not to mention he conceeded while there was still enough points on the table. OK he had left Ronnie in good position to score, but the balls weren't exactly over the pockets and given what they both had missed before, there wasn't any certainty Ronnie would actually take his chance.

[Odrl]

He was desperately trying to pull one ball out at a time in the hope the game could eventually get going while Mark Selby was trying his best to stale it... He did manage to frustrate Ronnie big time and to drag him down but he dragged his own game down as well. None of them could really find any fluency after that. Mark did himself, snooker and the fans no favour.

Now wait a second... I thought that was a great frame. Selby was more than 30 points behind before the balls went awkward, and yes, he tried to keep it tight, but he was the one who went for a couple of risky pots. And not only that, he played a cannon into the reds on at least two occasions, but didn't finish on a colour. I thought it was great the way he dug deep to get back into the frame, before O'Sullivan got his next chance.

[Monique]

Now wait a second... I thought that was a great frame. Selby was more than 30 points behind before the balls went awkward, and yes, he tried to keep it tight, but he was the one who went for a couple of risky pots. And not only that, he played a cannon into the reds on at least two occasions, but didn't finish on a colour. I thought it was great the way he dug deep to get back into the frame, before O'Sullivan got his next chance.

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?

[arbitrage]

Yeah, Ronnie has kept his discipline very well throughout his match against William. But that was partly because of the huge respect O'Sullivan has on Williams. I personally don't think Ronnie has too much of a respect to Selby. But I really wish Ronnie can keep his discipline and mind right in this match! If that happens, he's definitely favourite to win!

yes, you can see the disdain he has for the "boring c+++" and that might prove to be his own undoing. hopefully not though.