2013 Masters discussion

[daffie]

Yes Odrl very much looking forward to this 2nd Semi. Could be a very close fought one with much safety play and tense moments. Here's hoping to a midnight finish as well...I'm up for it

[Neil Taperell]

I find Selby to be too negative for my liking . He seems to make a large majority of his frames disjointed with his negativity . And each frame lasts an eternity .

[Odrl]

I'm looking forward to tonight's match, it could be a really close one. And yes, PatBlock, a midnight finish would be lovely.

I'm not sure when these two last met in a major match, but they played a couple of times around 2010 and 2011. The big one was of course their semi-final at the WC, where Selby was the favourite, but Dott was in control for most of the match and prevailed in the end. Selby got his revenge in the German Masters and the Welsh Open the following season, although it was only best-of-9s of course. I'm not sure if they've played a major ranking match since.

Neither has been at their best this week. Dott has been better than his normal form of recent times, but it's not exactly been one-visit snooker. With Selby I kind of expected it, considering he is the winner of the previous event. Still, he has shown his usual fighting qualities against Bingham, and then never looked like losing against a poor Williams. He obviously likes this format. I think he played in eight of these tournaments where it's mostly best-of-11 prior to this one, and won three of them, so that's quite impressive.

I'm not sure what to expect tonight really. Dott has been known to struggle against the more methodical players in the past, but at the same time, he doesn't seem to mind playing Selby that much, and he completely outplayed him tactically in that WC match. So in any case, there should be some high-quality safety played. And if the breakbuilding is a bit lacking, which it very well could be, there could be a lot of interesting frames decided on the final colours. We'll see if either player can raise their game tonight. Of the two, I think that's more likely to be Selby, a specialist for these evening matches in front of a full house. Selby to win 6-5. :wink:

[Neil Taperell]

Come on Graeme Dott . Love the guy's determination .

[armstm]

i liked hendry's comment about the current masters being slightly devalued by the absence of ronnie. probably prompted by murphy's control (lack of) of the cueball.

[PatBlock]

Frustrating performance from Shaun, could have easily been a whitewash. Can't see Selby or Dott getting passed Robertson ATM, but you never know...

Expecting a close match tonight, neither of these two know when they're beaten so could be another midnight finish for you guys running on CET, maybe even for us in the UK too.

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[brusque]

Your confidence in Dott is overwhelming.

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Dott will beat Selby. You heard it here first

[daffie]

Well a good win for Neil. Murphy really didnt put up too much of a fight though. Too bad, was expecting more of this match. On to the 2nd Semi...

[daffie]

Yes I can't see a way back from 2-5 down. Just a bit of a disappointing match this has been if I'm honest...rather flat performances from both, with Neil having some good frames and big breaks though. But...never count Murphy out. Sometimes he can find his best form from being behind. But I don't see it happen this time...

[Odrl]

Excellent stuff again. Can't see Murphy winning from here, Robertson is no Carter or Stevens. When he gets the chance, he will take it.

[daffie]

Well played Neil, great clearance. Murphy on the other hand is not all there. You can see it from the beginning of the match...the fearceness isn't showing in his face. And he can't seem to find it. Must win frame this one.

[Odrl]

Very nice clearance from Robertson. It's amazing, Murphy was on the verge of making it 3-3, after all the setbacks from the first part of the match. Until that rest shot... He could have got away with it on another day, but Robertson punished him when it really mattered. :wink:

[PatBlock]

Has Shaun managed to pot one with the rest since Hendry said he was ATM probably the best in the world with it?

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[fernandofan08]

Great match so far. Good quality snooker, some silly misses but the left-hand side of the table.... not right. Dont mind who wins this as I like both. My only fear is, whoever wins this will smash their opponent in the final so long as dull-as-door knob Selby doesnt take 15 minuet a shot and plays the game to the point of being one step from a rewind.

[daffie]

A very crucial frame to win for Murphy! 2-3 is not bad the way he's been playing today. Hoping he can find his rhythm soon now...