Ssb - tortoise v hare: The rematch

[MySockPuppet]

When an unstoppable force meets an immovable object something has to give. But who will win out between the fast, attacking Ronnie O’Sullivan and the gritty, grinding Peter Ebdon in the second round of the Pukka Pies UK Championship today?

Famously, indeed controversially, the tortoise beat the hare at the Crucible in 2005 when Ebdon mounted a rearguard action to recover from 8-2 down and win their quarter-final 13-11.

Ebdon denied that he had slowed the pace of play down deliberately – at one point he took five minutes to make a break of 12 – but, all the same, he got under O’Sullivan’s skin and did a proper number on him.

Ebdon has won 11 of his 28 meetings with O’Sullivan, not a terrible record by any means against the world no.1.

But O’Sullivan demonstrated great patience in beating Matthew Stevens 9-3 yesterday, exhibiting some sublime safety play and gradually getting better as the match went on, winning nine of the last ten frames.

O’Sullivan may not look forward to playing Ebdon but would enjoy beating him.

Looking for a fifth UK title, O’Sullivan has arrived in Telford in cheery form fresh from turning 34 last weekend.

He is in a good mood following the coup that saw his friend Barry Hearn installed as chairman of the WPBSA.

And though his game is not at 100% yet, he’s not a player anyone wants to draw.

Ebdon had a good win over Judd Trump in which he won all five frames played in the final session. O’Sullivan, though, is a different prospect entirely.

Ding Junhui certainly has the game to end Shaun Murphy’s title defence but has only beaten him once in six meetings.

Ali Carter was delayed until midnight through a combination of a stubborn opponent in Rory McLeod and the roll on/roll off format whereas his second round opponent, Stephen Lee, has had a day off between matches.

Rank outsider Peter Lines is appearing in the last 16 of a ranking event for the first time in ten years but twice champion Mark Williams surely represents a match too far for him.


More...

[madman]

I know its all snooker, but i feel that when a player deliberately slows the pace down, and you call it 'Tactics', by taking loo breaks after every frame, 1-2 minute shot selection / duration, this is just bad sportsmanship.

Don't get me wrong, i love a tactical game as well as the next man, trying to achieve 4 snookers with only the colours left, some good safety play etc, but when a match is deliberately slowed down from the break off, with 45-60 minute frames, its a sign of poor sportsmanship. As well as trying to win the match and enjoy it, these pro's should try and entertain when they get to the tv stages.

Of course the tactical part of the game is needed, but not by these measures. If they want a game of P-----G your opponent off, why dont they take up chess!!!! To make a player of O'Sullivans natural ability and class come down to their level, is just pure cheating i believe. Thats not snooker. I know they need the points and the money, and its the only way some of these players can beat the likes of Ronnie by, but surely give it a decent go by trying to play the game as a skill, and not so much as an intense game of the minds.

As for Peter Lines, he's in the form of his life at the moment, and i wouldn't be surprised to see him knock-out Williams. Go on the Linesy!!!
Whats going o with the Trumpy???

[superaussie]

mcleod makes ebdon look like a flying machine

[missneworleans]

Ebdon is not slow at all in the recent times

[Odrl]

Well, the way I see it, you can't really slow you opponent down. Snooker is a "turn based" game, with the two players taking turns at the table, and there is no direct interaction between them... So you can only slow yourself down. You have no effect on how you opponent plays.

[missneworleans]

And Ronnie is not so fast aswell

[ore]

I know its all snooker, but i feel that when a player deliberately slows the pace down, and you call it 'Tactics', by taking loo breaks after every frame, 1-2 minute shot selection / duration, this is just bad sportsmanship.

Don't get me wrong, i love a tactical game as well as the next man, trying to achieve 4 snookers with only the colours left, some good safety play etc, but when a match is deliberately slowed down from the break off, with 45-60 minute frames, its a sign of poor sportsmanship. As well as trying to win the match and enjoy it, these pro's should try and entertain when they get to the tv stages.

Of course the tactical part of the game is needed, but not by these measures. If they want a game of P-----G your opponent off, why dont they take up chess!!!! To make a player of O'Sullivans natural ability and class come down to their level, is just pure cheating i believe. Thats not snooker. I know they need the points and the money, and its the only way some of these players can beat the likes of Ronnie by, but surely give it a decent go by trying to play the game as a skill, and not so much as an intense game of the minds.

As for Peter Lines, he's in the form of his life at the moment, and i wouldn't be surprised to see him knock-out Williams. Go on the Linesy!!!
Whats going o with the Trumpy???

It seemed to me Ronnie was more into tactics this time so far
Refusing many long pots, much more careful in safeties... As if he would have adopted Ebdon's strategy on Ebdon, maybe? (I did not see that famous WC match between them).

[SnookerGuru]

Any player that needs to deliberately play slow to annoy their opponent has already become a loser.

[RocketRoy1983]

Each man to their own and as true snooker fans (As we all on here are no matter how much we dislike certain members) we should enjoy it.