World Championship 2013 Draw & Gossip

PauloMN

Spiderpig92 wrote: »

If he loses the opening session it will be one way traffic and as much as i hate to admit it, the final could end with a session to spare

I sincerely hope not. However nice it is to watch Ronnie flying around the table destroying his opponent, there's nothing more deflating than a final that finishes so early. Final day is supposed to be one of those bank holiday evenings when you just can't go to bed even though you know you should.

It's unfortunate to see that people have written off Hawkins before he's played a shot. I think he could prove more trouble for O'Sullivan than people think. Would love to see him win it, I think the odds are against that but I don't think (and hope) it will be a whitewash.

Spiderpig92

I really do want Hawkins to do well, I like him as a player and seems like a very nice person, also the fact that I backed him as a outside world champion a couple of months ago. I would love to see him win it, but all I see is Ronnie winning it by 10 or more frames unfortunately. I really do hope I am proven wrong. COME ON BARRY!!!

SarahBM

PauloMN wrote: »

I sincerely hope not. However nice it is to watch Ronnie flying around the table destroying his opponent, there's nothing more deflating than a final that finishes so early. Final day is supposed to be one of those bank holiday evenings when you just can't go to bed even though you know you should.

It's unfortunate to see that people have written off Hawkins before he's played a shot. I think he could prove more trouble for O'Sullivan than people think. Would love to see him win it, I think the odds are against that but I don't think (and hope) it will be a whitewash.

If Hawkins gives Ronnie any chance Ronnie will destroy him, and I am sure Hawkins knows this. Ronnie I think is very unforgiving that way. Give him one shot and he will (most of the time) clear the table. Id say we will see a 147 or two.

Remember the Robertson Dott final a few yrs ago. I got on the train back to Dublin at 7, sure I was going to miss the end of the match, and was delighted it was still on by the time I got to the flat. Sure it didn't finish til after 1am! Loved it! So compelling.
The final this could be a walk over but I hope not.

cherryghost

In Argentina atm and having patchy viewing which is a pity. I had backed Walden since day one so I'm disappointed he didn't make it. I don't think he was mentally 'there' in the last session, something he will definitely have to work on if he's to become a world champion.

zack01

To be honest I just thought Walden ran out of steam, Hawkins had two bad sessions in the final and I guess by the third session it was all or nothing, he cue arm became loose and he began to find his rhythm again.

All credit to both players even though it wouldn't go down as a great semi final it was tension filled and they both played their part.

As for the final well rightly so O'Sullivan is hot favourite and I would expect him to win the final 18-8, 18-9.

Monkeybonkers

Ronnie -9.5 €50 @ 11/5
Has to be worth a shot after how badly Hawkins played in the semi.

radiata

SarahBM wrote: »

If Hawkins gives Ronnie any chance Ronnie will destroy him, and I am sure Hawkins knows this. Ronnie I think is very unforgiving that way. Give him one shot and he will (most of the time) clear the table. Id say we will see a 147 or two.

Remember the Robertson Dott final a few yrs ago. I got on the train back to Dublin at 7, sure I was going to miss the end of the match, and was delighted it was still on by the time I got to the flat. Sure it didn't finish til after 1am! Loved it! So compelling.
The final this could be a walk over but I hope not.

A 147 or 2? Well I hope so but I really doubt it. Very poor amount of centuries this year so far. Only 46 I think, finished in the 70s the last 3 years. You'd think someone who won the semi final 17-11 would rack up a few centuries but Ronnie didn't manage one, but I suppose there was a hell of a lot of safety play too. Maybe he's saving himself for the final

mikehammer67

i'm expecting a couple of 140+ breaks from ronnie

just a hunch

Backstreet Moyes

radiata wrote: »

A 147 or 2? Well I hope so but I really doubt it. Very poor amount of centuries this year so far. Only 46 I think, finished in the 70s the last 3 years. You'd think someone who won the semi final 17-11 would rack up a few centuries but Ronnie didn't manage one, but I suppose there was a hell of a lot of safety play too. Maybe he's saving himself for the final

If this is Ronnie's last year i think he will be all out to beat Hendry's record for centuries in the world's. He is two behind so can see him going all out to beat the record. Ronnie over 2.5 centuries is 4/6. I can see him getting a decent lead and let the arm loose and bang in the breaks.

Also a quick question if Ronnie win's without going behind surely that must be a record never being behind in the tournament.

Backstreet Moyes

A link to Ronnie talking about his financial state and his recent problems.

http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/NewsArticles/0,,13165~3167132,00.html

TheHopeful

Just on the commentators, another annoying soundbite that they throw out almost every frame when someone is on a break and misses...."would you believe it?!" I watch it muted at times! But they can be pretty funny at times too in fairness, like taylors comment when the "fart" went off on Judds shot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55b3Q_yLTzY

Im glad Hawkins won the other match. He is much grittier than Walden, and might be able to get under Ronnies skin and keep it some way close by making the frames scrappy.

KERSPLAT!

Here we go!!

Monkeybonkers

Hawkins picks up where he left off with that first shot. Brutal safety!

Myrddin

Come on Baz! Would love to see Hawkins do it, but very hard to see past the rocket in this match.

All you heathens criticising the commentators, the BBC lads no matter how old & outdated, are the best to listen to. The dreariness of Eurosport commentating on the other hand, no thanks.

efb

18-0???

KERSPLAT!

EnterNow wrote: »

Come on Baz! Would love to see Hawkins do it, but very hard to see past the rocket in this match.

All you heathens criticising the commentators, the BBC lads no matter how old & outdated, are the best to listen to. The dreariness of Eurosport commentating on the other hand, no thanks.

I agree regarding the commentators. I mean they commentate on hundreds of frames, there's only so much they can change things up! To have players and ex players of the standard of Hendry, Davis, etc is fantastic!

Pretty bad start from Hawkins, not the missed black but the initial safety was pretty terrible. He'll need to settle very quickly before Ronnie runs away with it

1-0 Ronnie

Monkeybonkers

Monkeybonkers wrote: »

Ronnie -9.5 €50 @ 11/5
Has to be worth a shot after how badly Hawkins played in the semi.

I'm counting my money

Monkeybonkers

You expect Hawkins to miss every pot. He's not even getting close with them. It won't do his confidence any good if he misses his next few. He might really fall apart if that happens

KERSPLAT!

Come on Barry ffs

KERSPLAT!

2-0

TwoShedsJackson

Thought Virgo was about to wet himself during that 'WHERE'S THE CUE BALL GOING' moment.

Turtwig

Princess Petulia Pissy Pants wrote: »

2-0

Ronnie got lucky on at least two occasions there but Jesus! that was still an impressive break. Hawkins needs to win this one for his confidence at least.

KERSPLAT!

Yep, JV was right when he said players don't really settle till they get a frame on the board

_feedback_

Delighted to see Barry potting a few early. He is losing the cueball a bit, but hopefully that will settle down. Wouldn't like to see him destroyed, he had a great year.

Ronnie looking good. Interesting to see how they both reacted to the table being a bit slow.

KERSPLAT!

Wooooo! 2-1! That was a close black, rattled about 4 or 5 times before dropping

efb

Nice to see him get a frame

Tommay

2-1

Nice to see Hawkins out of the gate.

Spiderpig92

Lovely break from Hawkins, has his eye in now!

Monkeybonkers

At last Hawkins is playing decent stuff. Hope he doesn't do it too much though

KERSPLAT!

2-2, really good break considering it was done with mostly the blue!

efb

2-2 wow. Delighted

Shane St.

Might have a match here after all

SarahBM

Kilkenny playing so I have been relegated to the laptop and the god awful Eurosport commentary. Its ridiculous that you pay for sky yet you cannot watch BBC on Sky Go.

nice to see Hawkins settling his nerves but I think Ronnie might just come out all guns blazing.

Tommay

How did that red not go in. Anti gravity cloth.

Myrddin

And the rocket trails, for the first time in the tournament

KERSPLAT!

3-2 Hawkins, this is fantastic, well done Barry!!

Myrddin

Great play, well done Baz!

_feedback_

Princess Petulia Pissy Pants wrote: »

3-2 Hawkins, this is fantastic, well done Barry!!

Absolutely delighted to see him back to playing well. Was settling in for a boring final, but it could be the opposite if he keeps this up.

Obviously Ronnie still very much favorite, but come On Barry!

SarahBM

what was the score in the last frame?

miketv

SarahBM wrote: »

Kilkenny playing so I have been relegated to the laptop and the god awful Eurosport commentary. Its ridiculous that you pay for sky yet you cannot watch BBC on Sky Go.

nice to see Hawkins settling his nerves but I think Ronnie might just come out all guns blazing.

Try "Film On" you can get BBC live coverage there.

John.Icy

Yeah...judging by Ronnies response, Hawkins must win scoring wise(when he gets the chance of course) in one visit each time to get much of a look tbh. Ronnie is playing amazing.

Turtwig

Ronnie and Barry talking about the table cloth.
As Denis said though jesus bad table or not that was an impressive first session.

zack01

wonderfullife wrote: »

I think players and even commentators have lost sight of what a "kick" is.

A kick is a contact which throws up unexpected results. Whether it's an unexpected angle of cue/object ball or unexpected pace.

However lots of players and commentators are claiming kicks that are not kicks. Sometimes balls will leave the bed of the table, but are not necessarily kicks - just bad cueing.

Even though we can't see it with the naked eye, all balls leave the bed of the table on contact with another ball. It's just usually by such a small amount that it's not noticeable to the naked eye. The BBC showed this with the super slow-mo cameras a few years back.

But in the case of Trump in particular there's a reason he gets so many of the balls jumping or "kicking". If you look at Judds set-up, he keeps the cue close to his chin and his back hand (cue hand) elevated. Ronnie and Selby in particular, drop their back hand slightly on delivery and the cue follows through on a flatter trajectory. As such, Trump is always aiming slightly downwards, even when he believes he's delivering the cue parallel it's not quite that. If you're always aiming slightly downward it increases the likelihood that the red will bounce higher as the white will be bouncing before it gets to the red.

Also, it's fairly hard to ever deliver a cue parallel through the centre of the ball. Purely because there is a drop from the cushion to the table, so cues will always go through the ball at slight angles that are not parallel to the center line of the white.

For example, take 2 snooker balls and put them on your kitchen table. You can cue through the middle of the white. Parallel to the table. If you then line the edge of your table with a stack of 3 CD's and cue over them (a la a cushion) you can get through the centre of the white but the cue won't deliver parallel to the table.

I believe it's those who cue the most parallel possible who have least kicks. And that's usually those who drop their back hand. Higgins and Trump are very similar, tight to their chins and back hand elevated and they both seem to get a lot of kicks.

TL;DR

Really have to disagree with that statement, it doesn't matter how a player cues or how he delivers the cue through, the fact is a kick can happen anytime to any player.

SarahBM

back to back centuries for O'Sullivan.

and a guy in the crowd wearing a Gryfindor scarf.

Both players not happy with the table.

KERSPLAT!

Barry would be pretty happy with that, playing much much better than before

Myrddin

zack01 wrote: »

Really have to disagree with that statement, it doesn't matter how a player cues or how he delivers the cue through, the fact is a kick can happen anytime to any player.

Plus they still don't really know on a scientific level what causes a kick either as far as I know. Chalk, moisture, dirt, spin, cueing or a combination of all...

celticfc

TheHopeful wrote: »

Just on the commentators, another annoying soundbite that they throw out almost every frame when someone is on a break and misses...."would you believe it?!" I watch it muted at times! But they can be pretty funny at times too in fairness, like taylors comment when the "fart" went off on Judds shot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55b3Q_yLTzY

Im glad Hawkins won the other match. He is much grittier than Walden, and might be able to get under Ronnies skin and keep it some way close by making the frames scrappy.

Listen at 52 seconds when someone shouts "WEETABIX"

Myrddin

Even if he doesn't win this, the experience of being in the finals of the Crucible will stand to Hawkins big time. There's no tougher arena in Snooker than this

KERSPLAT!

Missed the ninth frame, Barry really making a go of this!!

_feedback_

First time in the tournament that Ronnie loses the first frame of the session. He missed a few pots that frame. Barry playing well tonight.

They both met the tournament director about the table not being good for them, but they decided not to change/alter it in the end.

Hawkins back in first in frame 10 too