2013 Masters discussion

[daffie]

There's definitely a joke there, but maybe not for this forum...

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We definitely had the same thought process there

[daffie]

Maybe he's been reading this thread and all the love has spurred him on. :wink:

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Must be it!

[PatBlock]

What a shot on the last red! Boring.

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[daffie]

What a shot on the last red! Boring.

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Indeed

Frame still on for Neil...would be good for him to get this one!

Edit : too bad...5-1 it is.

[RaveDave]

Just tuned in after watching one epic tennis match between Stan the man and djoker. This is just as exciting as I thought it would be, would be good if both these players could lose :disgust: gorgeous looking trophy though.

[sberry]

2-5 Selby now but if Robertson can win the last of the afternoon it will be game on this evening, especially if Robertson can take the first tonight. If you're going tonight, take a sleeping bag.

[PatBlock]

I think the match needed Selby to miss that blue, sorry Mark.

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[coomsey76]

I can't believe it the BBC have finally delayed the next programme so they can stay with the snooker...... better later than never I suppose!!

Yeah definitely Robertson needs this frame!!

[trains]

Steve Davis 'It's a different looking Mark Selby today' err yes Steve thanks for your complete lack of respect for the pocket dynamo. !!

[daffie]

I can't believe it the BBC have finally delayed the next programme so they can stay with the snooker...... better later than never I suppose!

About time indeed!

I think the match needed Selby to miss that blue, sorry Mark. -

Very much so...and the next frame should go to Neil as well.

2-5 Selby now but if Robertson can win the last of the afternoon it will be game on this evening, especially if Robertson can take the first tonight. If you're going tonight, take a sleeping bag.

Putting up a pot of coffee as we speak

[Odrl]

You're desperately trying to make yourself sound like some grandmaster of snooker, a typical mr know-it-all who believes he's found the ultimate way to supreme knowledge of snooker. In other terms : "I'm right. You're wrong. Discussion over."

I'm actually not trying to sound like anyone but myself, and I don't think my post had much to do with "knowledge of snooker", since we are mostly talking about personal preferences and the mindset with which people watch and discuss snooker. I also enjoy discussion and rarely try to discourage it. :wink:

That being said, I'm not sure whether the rest of that post was directed specifically at me, since I never actually used the phrase "Selby haters", nor did I say people who don't like Selby don't like snooker. I said we all had our favourites. :wink: I'm sure no one would waste their time on a snooker forum if they didn't at least get some enjoyment out of it. In some cases that seems limited to supporting a couple (or maybe just one) specific players. But yes, some people do come across as not caring much, as long as certain players lose.

Do you really think this wave of hatred is perfectly irrational? I doubt it is.

I guess most preferences in individual sports are somewhat irrational. Sometimes it's hard to figure out what you like or dislike someone, especially when it goes against what you usually like in players, or against the styles you like more than others. Personally, I don't like mentally weak players who fall apart at crucial times. So why do I like Michael Holt? Sometimes you just can't explain it. And sometimes you can, as I said before, I'm sure some people developed a strong dislike of Selby specifically after his couple of big wins against O'Sullivan. They go on about negative tactics and slow play, but I'm sure a lot of them weren't nearly as outraged when he did exactly the same against John Higgins in the World final.

If you really like ALL snooker players and ALL the ways of playing snooker, then it's ok for you (take it easy on prozac anyway). Scrappy frames, perfect clearances, they're all part of the game. I doubt you really do.

You're right, I don't like everything. I'm not too bothered about particular players or styles, but I do like good snooker, and I mostly like the players that can provide that.

But yeah, there has been some stuff I haven't enjoyed in the past. I didn't enjoy the World Series of Snooker events that much, because I felt the players were deliberately playing dumbed-down versions of their own game to avoid safety exchanges. It just gave the impression that there was nothing really at stake, and if the players don't care about winning or losing, I can't either. I also don't enjoy shot-clock snooker or any variations with fewer reds.

Another thing I don't like is short matches, when there is no potential for comebacks and momentum shifts. And I don't like the Championship League style, where snooker is played in an empty room with no atmosphere and tension.

Yes, there are a number of people who hate Selby and dare to say it. Are they the problem?

I think the part of my post you quoted was the point I was trying to make. Feel free to criticize Selby as much as you like, I'm sure another round of abuse is coming his way tonight. But after the atmosphere some of you created last night, please don't pretend you are in any way bullied or victimized on this forum. From what I've seen, people who don't share your feelings about Selby are just trying to enjoy the snooker. :wink:

Why isn't there an equal repartition of haters, like 10% hate Selby, antoher 10% hate Trump, 10% Higgins, 10% hate Ding, 10% hate Lee, aso?

Everyone gets their share on here, don't worry about that. I'm sure it's much more than 10% for Higgins at this point, and Trump continually fills up page after page of discussion about how overrated and arrogant he is, some of that criticism as ridiculous as the one aimed at Selby. Although to be fair, you don't get as many people hoping someone beats them up or breaks their cues, or that they have a heart attack during the match. :wink:

We are really rational people (probably much more rational than your sentimental mush about the almighty Gods of snooker that we should all pay resppect to is)

Right, I really should stop all that nonsense about almighty Gods of snooker. Not sure why I brought it up. :wink:

Can we focus on the snooker now and hopefully an entertaining final?

Good luck with that. :smile: I'm very surprised at how it's going, to be honest. I thought Robertson was clearly the better player during the week, and I was sure Selby would pay some sort of price for last night. He still might, but he is certainly in a good position at the moment. I think this is also the first major final where Robertson is immediately on the back foot. He was quick to take control in some of his previous ones. He is also not really known for great comebacks (the one against Gould is the only one that springs to mind), but then again, he doesn't find himself behind all that often when playing well, so it will be interesting to see how he reacts. Important he wins this frame to make it 5-3. :smile:

On another note, nice to see Terry Camilleri doing one of the really big finals for the first time in his career. :smile:

[daffie]

Good break from Neil to go to 5-3...good starting point for the 2nd half of the final.

[cally]

Glad he won the last won, looking good for a good final sesh tonight..

[coomsey76]

I think Robertson will be very happy with 5-3 after how he started the session......

[sberry]

Glad he won the last won, looking good for a good final sesh tonight..

Me too but I may go out for a beer tonight, if it's still on when I get home the spectators won't be getting home, unless they live there.