Next First Time World Champion

[Matt_2745]

Perhaps not the place to say it but your blog is very good Matt

Keep up the good work

Cheers, will do my best.

[João]

However I still rate Maguire as the better player, and if he ever gets back to the standard he produced at the 2004 UK he should walk it.

wow, I remember him in the British Open and UK 2004 playing godlike. About the best I've ever seen in a player. It was quite impressive.

[Migtsf]

my point with maguire is that i dont think he can. in 04 he wasn't established and the prssure was off. since he's been expected to produce he has flattered to deceive

Yeah, I agree. I don’t think he can either. I picked him to win the WC last season, and his form was much better than it is at the moment, but after seeing how he reacts in certain situations, I just don’t think he is able to pull it off.

Stephen probably thinks deep down that his best chance to become World Champion is past him already. I mean, in 2004 he may have been regarded as the next best thing, but since he never managed to deliver since then, and after seeing other younger players, like Murphy, Ding and Selby, stealing the spotlight from him the following years, he might think it is too late now. He probably feels overthroned without ever being crowned.

I voted for Selby, but I don’t rule out completely the possibility of Maguire or others to win it. I just don’t put the Scot in my favorite’s group right now.

[Matt_2745]

I think Maguire is still right up there, he's what, 27? Reckon he has another couple of years at least where he'll be one of the favourites and in with a real chance. If he starts to regularly falter in the semis or the final then he might feel that he has had his chance, but until then I think he has got every chance.

Looking at the seeded players in his half of the draw for next year, it's not too bad...

[ADR147]

i think ryan day.

[Goldspark]

Who knows, if Ronnie wins it for the next 5 years it could be someone who wouldn't be considered a contender now or even someone we haven't heard of yet.

[Rane]

Who knows, if Ronnie wins it for the next 5 years it could be someone who wouldn't be considered a contender now or even someone we haven't heard of yet.

With Ronnies succesrate at the cruicible so far, thats probably more unrealistic than one of the mentioned players winning.

[Odrl]

It's a perfect time, this next couple of years, for the "middle" generation of players. Guys like Maguire, Selby, Murphy, Robertson. The older players are exactly that, older, and sometimes the door will be open. It was open in 2005 and 2006 when Murphy and Dott won it, but not the last two years. And we can't really count on O'Sullivan or Higgins to be favourites much longer.

And the other thing is, the generation after Maguire, Selby etc, seems like a really weak one. Guys like Allen or Cope, who are not great snooker players really, just great potters.

Players with a good chance:

Mark Selby: Still has some 6 years of peak form. Has been in the final before, and didn't really bottle it, just lost to the better player. I can't see any weakness really. He can play a tactical game, or a breakbuilding contest. Has plenty of mental strenght. Has been known to make comebacks. Wins most deciders. And of course, does enjoy some mind games. I think he will win it, but not necessarilly the first.

Stephen Maguire: With Higgins and O'Sullivan declining, I think he will have the best "peak game" in the next couple of years. Plenty of weaknesses though. Likes to dwell on mistakes, and has had problems with clinching matches when in front. If matches go close, I think Selby or Murphy would have a better chance. If Maguire does win the Championship, which I think is likely, it might be one of those wins, where he just blows everyone away, and it doesn't get close at all. Or maybe if he meets Murphy, and gets the super "anti-Murphy" determination.

Neil Robertson: Great record so far in the business end of tournaments. Also in the business end of finals. He could be good over four sessions, but is prone to a crisis in the middle of long matches. I don't think he has the firepower of a Maguire but that doesn't always win you matches.

Ding Junhui: Probably the last realistic chance on my list. It's hard to see him not winning it, he has at least 10 chances still in peak form. But doesn't look like winning it in the near future. First of all, his determination is quite pathetic, doesn't like coming from behind at all. He also seems to have a minor case of the "O'Sullivan frustration", loses heart when he can't play his best. But one thing he does have is the firepower.

Other possibilities:

Matthew Stevens: Well, if Ivanišević won the Wimbledon, why could Stevens win the worlds? I can see him playing as he always has, good record at the worlds, tough to beat in the long matches. Unlikely to win it though.

Marco Fu: Has been in the SF before, good record against the top players. Good temperament, doesn't mind long matches or frames, scores heavily. But with only one ranking title, he must be doing something wrong.

Ryan Day, Ali Carter: Players in the top half of the top16 should be able to win tournaments, but I can't see either of them winning the worlds. They are in a similar position to Dott when he won it, but he played his best then, I don't think Carter or Day are able to, under pressure.

The younger players? Allen, Cope, Trump? I would compare them to the 2005 Murphy, but he found another gear then, I haven't seen any one of these play to that standard yet.


I pretty much ruled out most of these guys, but someone has to win it, and it can't always be the older players, can it. And the only other peak player who would not be a first time winner is Shaun Murphy.

[RocketRoy1983]

Mark Selby in my opinion and I really hope he does as he is a very talented player. Would also like to see Maguire go far in Sheffield in 2009.

[Migtsf]

Stephen Maguire: With Higgins and O'Sullivan declining, I think he will have the best "peak game" in the next couple of years. Plenty of weaknesses though. Likes to dwell on mistakes, and has had problems with clinching matches when in front. If matches go close, I think Selby or Murphy would have a better chance. If Maguire does win the Championship, which I think is likely, it might be one of those wins, where he just blows everyone away, and it doesn't get close at all. Or maybe if he meets Murphy, and gets the super "anti-Murphy" determination.

That "anti-Murphy" determination has been said to have originated in the so called 'chalk incident'. But I wonder if that isn't just a disguised motive, hiding the true reason why there is such a grudge, and that reason could be the fact that Murphy won a World Championship and Maguire didn't.

[João]

I can actually see Murphy winning it again once or twice, but I think Mark Selby wasted his opportunity already and I doubt there will be many (if any) more.

[Odrl]

That "anti-Murphy" determination has been said to have originated in the so called 'chalk incident'. But I wonder if that isn't just a disguised motive, hiding the true reason why there is such a grudge, and that reason could be the fact that Murphy won a World Championship and Maguire didn't.

Yeah, I read that they were big rivals even as juniors, and never really got along. I think Maguire really wants to show that he is the better player when they meet. I also remember a quote from last season I think, where he said something like "I can't let HIM beat me".

I think if they meet in the latter stages of the Worlds, Maguire's mindset might be something like "I have to beat Murphy!", rather than "I have to get to the final". And even when he makes mistakes, he doesn't dwell on them half as much against Murphy. At least that's the impression I got from their many meetings in the last couple of seasons.

[Kathrin]

I´ve voted for other and guess who...
but serious, I think Mark Selby is more likely to win the WC.

[Anastasia]

I´ve voted for other and guess who...
but serious, I think Mark Selby is more likely to win the WC.

who Kathrin Stephen Lee ?
I know I know but he is too old already by the standard to hege

[Kathrin]

who Kathrin Stephen Lee ?
I know I know but he is too old already by the standard to hege

I think 29 is a good age to become World Champion