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Ssb - final preview
Ronnie O'Sullivan will start as a big favourite to beat Liang Wenbo and win the Shanghai Masters today.
He did, too, against Ricky Walden last season and was beaten 10-8.
However, Ronnie seems far more relaxed this year and willing to dig deep and be patient. He proved this in doing a job on John Higgins in the semi-finals.
This is a final featuring snooker's two leading mavericks so making predictions is futile.
What it does prove, though, as if anyone doubted it, is that China is fast becoming a powerhouse in the sport.
Liang has already overtaken Ding Junhui in the provisional rankings and his unique way of playing the game has been a breath of fresh air.
The great irony is that, had the strict rules of the sport been obeyed, he would have been scratched from the tournament having failed to obtain a visa to play his qualifying match at Prestatyn.
Liang has more than seized his second chance to make an impression on the tournament.
He needs to make a good start to the final. If he does, a shock result is not unthinkable.
More...
He did, too, against Ricky Walden last season and was beaten 10-8.
However, Ronnie seems far more relaxed this year and willing to dig deep and be patient. He proved this in doing a job on John Higgins in the semi-finals.
This is a final featuring snooker's two leading mavericks so making predictions is futile.
What it does prove, though, as if anyone doubted it, is that China is fast becoming a powerhouse in the sport.
Liang has already overtaken Ding Junhui in the provisional rankings and his unique way of playing the game has been a breath of fresh air.
The great irony is that, had the strict rules of the sport been obeyed, he would have been scratched from the tournament having failed to obtain a visa to play his qualifying match at Prestatyn.
Liang has more than seized his second chance to make an impression on the tournament.
He needs to make a good start to the final. If he does, a shock result is not unthinkable.
More...