The common link

[JimMalone]

World-Champions that needed only one more frame to win for the title in the final, but lost in the decider.

I guess it has something to do with them squandering a big lead in the final though.

Can't fit exactly though, cause this also happened twice to Hendry.

[JimMalone]

Can't fit exactly though, cause this also happened twice to Hendry.

World-Champions leading by two frames with only being required to win one more for the title before losing, would fit though. :biggrin:

1975: Reardon leads Spencer 8-6, loses 8-9
1987: Higgins leads Taylor 8-6, loses 8-9
1998: Hendry leads Williams 9-7, loses 9-10
2004: O'Sullivan leads Hunter 9-7, loses 9-10
2010: O'Sullivan leads Selby 9-7, loses 9-10

[Odrl]

World-Champions leading by two frames with only being required to win one more for the title before losing, would fit though. :biggrin:

I've had a look and that answer actually works, even though it's a little complicated and not quite what I was looking for. :smile: You can have the points though.

Now, for 1 point, can anyone give the answer I was looking for?
Hint 4: It is similar to JimMalone's answer, but I was looking at different years in the case of Reardon and Hendry.

[JimMalone]

Lost a final to a compatriot in the decider?

This was actually one of the earliest things I had a look on (before all the hints), but didn't look about deciders and therefore abandoned it, because with Mark Selby another world-champion lost a masters-final to a compatriot as well.

[Odrl]

Lost a final to a compatriot in the decider?

That's the one. :smile:

Current standings:
1. cantpotforshíte - 7 points
2. Mark187187 - 3 points
2. JimMalone - 3 points

If anyone else can come up with a question, you are of course very welcome to do so. Otherwise I'll think of another one later. :smile:

[JimMalone]

I'll add one later :smile:

[Odrl]

Okay, time for another one...

Complete the following sequence:
..., Stuart Carrington, Neil Robertson, Judd Trump, Joe Perry, Martin O'Donnell, Mark Selby, Judd Trump, ?

What comes next? :smile:

(The sequence starts way before Carrington, but I've only listed the seven that directly precede our answer.)

[Odrl]

Sorry, I forgot about this. :smile:

Hint 1 (4 points):
The sequence has to do with something that was a lot more common back in the day. New players are added to the list less frequently nowadays, and it's more likely to happen in some of the events where fewer players are involved.

[Odrl]

Hint 2 (3 points):

Just to give you an idea of the time period we are looking at, Carrington was in the 2014/2015 season, Trump was in the 2016/2017 season, and the "?" we are looking for was this season. We are looking for something that happens in ranking events (Shoot-Out excluded), usually the ones with shorter matches and fewer players involved. We have to go all the way back to 2011 to find this occurring at the Crucible. :smile:

[Odrl]

Too difficult?

Hint 3:
It has something to do with highest breaks.

[cantpotforshíte]

Have they got the highest break in a ranking tournament without winning a match in it?

[Odrl]

Have they got the highest break in a ranking tournament without winning a match in it?

Good thinking, but no, that's not it. :smile:

[Odrl]

Okay, for 1 point:
The sequence is about players who have won the highest break prize in a ranking event with a break lower than 140.

Can you name the "?" we are looking for? :smile:

[DeanH]

Ronnie O'Sullivan

[Odrl]

Ronnie O'Sullivan

Nope. :smile: