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Ssb - let the action begin
Sowe’re ready, then.
Allthe talking, the predictions, the conjecture, can stop. The Betfred.com WorldChampionship is about to begin.
Thisis snooker at its best: gimmick free. The World Championship stands alone asthe last bastion of what championship snooker should be about, unsullied bycheap attempts to dumb it down.
Asit has been for the last three decades the World Championship is 17 days oflengthy matches, slow burning drama, great potting, big breaks, unexpectedmisses, joy, despair, elation, heartbreak, good luck, bad luck and, for one ofthe 32 players involved, a life changing triumph.
It’stough, really tough. You need skill, stamina, bottle and much more to becomechampion. You need belief and mental fortitude. You need heart and nerve.
Forthe eventual winner, a place in the history books awaits. For everyone elsethere is only disappointment.
TheWorld Championship existed for 50 years before moving to Sheffield’s CrucibleTheatre in 1977 but the Crucible era coincided with snooker’s television age andis thus awash with memories inescapably stitched through time in the grandtapestry that forms the history of the sport.
JoeDavis was the first champion 85 years ago. He used half of the original entryfees to purchase the silver trophy which is still presented to this day.
Littledid he know what he started. Colour television brought the tournament intoliving rooms and illuminated moments forever frozen in time.
Eventhose who don’t remember them first time round can see them now: Barry Hearnbarrelling into Steve Davis after his young charge won his first world title in1981. Alex Higgins tearfully beckoning his wife and baby on to the stage in1982. Cliff Thorburn sinking to his knees after his 147 in 1983. Dennis Taylorholding his cue aloft after his black ball defeat of Davis in 1985. Joe Johnson’ssmile, equal parts joy and disbelief, as he swept away Davis in 1986.
Intothe 1990s and the remarkable Stephen Hendry-Jimmy White rivalry, the emergenceof John Higgins, Mark Williams and Ronnie O’Sullivan, whose 1997 maximumremains an audacious exhibition of sheer skill.
Wehad drama too in the 2000s, Peter Ebdon winning a decider against Hendry, KenDoherty’s 2003 adventure, Shaun Murphy triumphing as a qualifier.
Justlast year Judd Trump enthralled as the new kid on the baize, threatening theold guard with his incredible potting, the latest in a long line of players whohave lit up the Crucible stage.
Closeyour eyes and remember. And then open them and enjoy the 2012 edition, becausemore memories are about to be created.
Thereare a number of players going into this year’s tournament with every reason tofeel they can scoop the £250,000 first prize come May 7 after a season in whichthe major prizes have been shared around.
Thereare nine players in the field who have won the title before. Three players areexperiencing the Crucible’s unique and oppressive atmosphere for the firsttime.
Ifyou are going to Sheffield to watch in person then you will be part of theexperience first hand. Everyone else can enjoy it on TV and online.
TheBBC has coverage all day on the red button (for those with satellite television)and live terrestrial coverage in the afternoons. All matches are live on theBBC website for UK residents.
Eurosporthas blanket coverage across its various channels and on the Eurosport player.
Thetournament is also live on Chinese TV and on liveworldsnooker.tv apart fromthose areas with TV coverage.
Whereveryou are watching, I trust you will enjoy it.
It’sbeen another great season of snooker, featuring more action than ever, but thereis only one World Championship. This is the ultimate test for any player.
There’snothing more to be said. Let the drama begin.
More...
Allthe talking, the predictions, the conjecture, can stop. The Betfred.com WorldChampionship is about to begin.
Thisis snooker at its best: gimmick free. The World Championship stands alone asthe last bastion of what championship snooker should be about, unsullied bycheap attempts to dumb it down.
Asit has been for the last three decades the World Championship is 17 days oflengthy matches, slow burning drama, great potting, big breaks, unexpectedmisses, joy, despair, elation, heartbreak, good luck, bad luck and, for one ofthe 32 players involved, a life changing triumph.
It’stough, really tough. You need skill, stamina, bottle and much more to becomechampion. You need belief and mental fortitude. You need heart and nerve.
Forthe eventual winner, a place in the history books awaits. For everyone elsethere is only disappointment.
TheWorld Championship existed for 50 years before moving to Sheffield’s CrucibleTheatre in 1977 but the Crucible era coincided with snooker’s television age andis thus awash with memories inescapably stitched through time in the grandtapestry that forms the history of the sport.
JoeDavis was the first champion 85 years ago. He used half of the original entryfees to purchase the silver trophy which is still presented to this day.
Littledid he know what he started. Colour television brought the tournament intoliving rooms and illuminated moments forever frozen in time.
Eventhose who don’t remember them first time round can see them now: Barry Hearnbarrelling into Steve Davis after his young charge won his first world title in1981. Alex Higgins tearfully beckoning his wife and baby on to the stage in1982. Cliff Thorburn sinking to his knees after his 147 in 1983. Dennis Taylorholding his cue aloft after his black ball defeat of Davis in 1985. Joe Johnson’ssmile, equal parts joy and disbelief, as he swept away Davis in 1986.
Intothe 1990s and the remarkable Stephen Hendry-Jimmy White rivalry, the emergenceof John Higgins, Mark Williams and Ronnie O’Sullivan, whose 1997 maximumremains an audacious exhibition of sheer skill.
Wehad drama too in the 2000s, Peter Ebdon winning a decider against Hendry, KenDoherty’s 2003 adventure, Shaun Murphy triumphing as a qualifier.
Justlast year Judd Trump enthralled as the new kid on the baize, threatening theold guard with his incredible potting, the latest in a long line of players whohave lit up the Crucible stage.
Closeyour eyes and remember. And then open them and enjoy the 2012 edition, becausemore memories are about to be created.
Thereare a number of players going into this year’s tournament with every reason tofeel they can scoop the £250,000 first prize come May 7 after a season in whichthe major prizes have been shared around.
Thereare nine players in the field who have won the title before. Three players areexperiencing the Crucible’s unique and oppressive atmosphere for the firsttime.
Ifyou are going to Sheffield to watch in person then you will be part of theexperience first hand. Everyone else can enjoy it on TV and online.
TheBBC has coverage all day on the red button (for those with satellite television)and live terrestrial coverage in the afternoons. All matches are live on theBBC website for UK residents.
Eurosporthas blanket coverage across its various channels and on the Eurosport player.
Thetournament is also live on Chinese TV and on liveworldsnooker.tv apart fromthose areas with TV coverage.
Whereveryou are watching, I trust you will enjoy it.
It’sbeen another great season of snooker, featuring more action than ever, but thereis only one World Championship. This is the ultimate test for any player.
There’snothing more to be said. Let the drama begin.
More...
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