Next First Time World Champion

[In-off]

When was the last proper world final? 2003 probably

By 'proper' I mean a final you could have predicted before the event began

If some of the players mentioned here had Graeme Dott's inner steel they might have won a tournament, never mind the world

[Rane]

When was the last proper world final? 2003 probably

By 'proper' I mean a final you could have predicted before the event began

If some of the players mentioned here had Graeme Dott's inner steel they might have won a tournament, never mind the world

I think Selby has got a lot of experience of beeing in final stages since 2007, so today I think he would have a good chance against anyone.

[Odrl]

When was the last proper world final? 2003 probably

By 'proper' I mean a final you could have predicted before the event began

If some of the players mentioned here had Graeme Dott's inner steel they might have won a tournament, never mind the world

The 2004, 2006 and 2008 finals all had two top16 players (Dott was in the top16 in 2004, wasn't he?). Ok, in Dott's half of the draw in 2004 were Williams, Higgins and Hunter, so that was tough to predict.

But the 2006 final featured a former champion and a former finalist, both comfortably in the top16, and I'm sure some people did predict it (not me though ).

The 2008 final was not totaly unpredictable either, but I guess it wasn't "proper", since it was Carter's first ever final.

I'd say the 2006 final was the last "proper" final, at least I thought so at the time, I know the standard did disappoint a bit. But if you want even better than that, you have to go back to 2003 as you said.

[Templeton Peck]

Well 2003 was the last final contested by players who were top 16 and had a proven record for winning titles - you have to remember Dott hadn't actually won a title prior to the final. The last final prior to that to feature a player that hadn't won a major professional title was Joe Johnson in 1986 I think.

[Rane]

The 2004, 2006 and 2008 finals all had two top16 players (Dott was in the top16 in 2004, wasn't he?). Ok, in Dott's half of the draw in 2004 were Williams, Higgins and Hunter, so that was tough to predict.

But the 2006 final featured a former champion and a former finalist, both comfortably in the top16, and I'm sure some people did predict it (not me though ).

The 2008 final was not totaly unpredictable either, but I guess it wasn't "proper", since it was Carter's first ever final.

I'd say the 2006 final was the last "proper" final, at least I thought so at the time, I know the standard did disappoint a bit. But if you want even better than that, you have to go back to 2003 as you said.

I personally found the 2008 result surprising. You had Maguire, Selby and Murphy in the bottom draw, who had been the dominating players together with O´Sullivan through the whole season.

[Rane]

If a poll like this had been made at the start of the 2007 season. Ding would probably have got more than 50% of the votes, and people would have been called dreamers if they had mentioned Selby, Robertson, Day and Mark Allen

[Odrl]

Well 2003 was the last final contested by players who were top 16 and had a proven record for winning titles - you have to remember Dott hadn't actually won a title prior to the final. The last final prior to that to feature a player that hadn't won a major professional title was Joe Johnson in 1986 I think.

Yeah, I guess you're right. Both players would have to have titles to make a "proper final". But Dott was one of the favourites to make that final. As I said earlier, he was in a similar position that Day and Carter are this season.

I personally found the 2008 result surprising. You had Maguire, Selby and Murphy in the bottom draw, who had been the dominating players together with O´Sullivan through the whole season.

I agree, it was a surprise, but not totally unpredictable. Other than the players you mentioned, only Ebdon was perhaps ahead of Carter in the "expectations".


How many possibilites of a "proper" final are there this year?

• Both finalists in the top16
• Both have previous titles
• It would not be a surprise in any other way (like Dott getting to the final, for example)

[Rane]

Yeah, I guess you're right. Both players would have to have titles to make a "proper final". But Dott was one of the favourites to make that final. As I said earlier, he was in a similar position that Day and Carter are this season.



I agree, it was a surprise, but not totally unpredictable. Other than the players you mentioned, only Ebdon was perhaps ahead of Carter in the "expectations".
Agree on that one.

How many possibilites of a "proper" final are there this year?

• Both finalists in the top16
• Both have previous titles
• It would not be a surprise in any other way (like Dott getting to the final, for example)

I think you are right there. The surprise about Dott was, that he managed to beat Ronnie O´Sullivan. After the WC final in 2004 I didn´t give him many chances.

I think that any top 16 player should be expected to be able to win a tournament at a time, but I wouldn´t expect them all to be able to win the WC.

[In-off]

When I said 'proper' final I just meant one you could predict beforehand

I wasn't doing anyone down

[Odrl]

When I said 'proper' final I just meant one you could predict beforehand

I wasn't doing anyone down

Sorry for borrowing your term, I realize what you meant originally.

How many possibilites of a "proper" final are there this year?

• Both finalists in the top16
• Both have previous titles
• It would not be a surprise in any other way (like Dott getting to the final, for example)

To answer my own question: If you include Dott, there are 30 possible combinations of finalists. Without Dott there are 24. If you were to exclude a further player from the bottom half (like Fu or Hendry) there would be 20.

Nothing better to do I guess...

[Rane]

When I said 'proper' final I just meant one you could predict beforehand

I wasn't doing anyone down

I agree with you on this one. This year I think it was down to O´Sullivan and Higgins from the upper draw, and Maguire, Selby and Murphy from the bottom draw. Higgins because his draw looked nice, and the other four due to the results during the year and especially in the spring months.

[dazjwil7]

I think most World Champions have that little extra magic factor or whatever it may be. I personally think Robbo is the one that comes closest, with maguire not far behind

[Rane]

I think most World Champions have that little extra magic factor or whatever it may be. I personally think Robbo is the one that comes closest, with maguire not far behind

You have got a point there. Robertson looks like he owns the table, when he gets to the final stages. In that aspect he reminds me of Hendry in his prime and O´Sullivan when things are going his way.

[Asi]

If a poll like this had been made just after The 2008 Masters Qualifying Championship, Judd Trump would definitely be on the list. love this player!!!

[Templeton Peck]

Out of the young players only Maguire and Robbo seem to be able to give Ronnie a run for his money when he's playing well, so since he's the man to beat certainly at the WC and UK it seems logical to assume that the next first time champ will be a player that can go through him, which makes these two the likely culprits. Ronnie could always crumble but he hasn't looked like going crazy in recent months...