Minor Tournament discussion 2017/18.

paulie21

Ronnie whitewashed by Higgins

Joe_ Public

Happens to the best of them, didn’t Ronnie whitewash Higgins a while back? Actually struggling to recall the last time O’Sullivan failed to win a frame, I suspect you’d have to go back a fair long way.

zuutroy

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Happens to the best of them, didn’t Ronnie whitewash Higgins a while back? Actually struggling to recall the last time O’Sullivan failed to win a frame, I suspect you’d have to go back a fair long way.

He looked like he had no interest. In total contrast to my last post, I think the 2 weeks off is sorely needed!

Joe_ Public

zuutroy wrote: »

He looked like he had no interest. In total contrast to my last post, I think the 2 weeks off is sorely needed!

Bit surprised to see him there this week. Can’t be enjoying his snooker THAT much, surely? Very little interest myself anyway, whole tour needs a break.

GreNoLi

Robertson psyching himself out of contention early on as he's prone to do.

Joe_ Public

This guy Cao plays some tactically odd shots! Maybe it’s pressure but you’d still expect better from a pro who’s been around a couple of years at this stage.

Permabear

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Arthur Daley

Crazy little flick at edge of the pack there

Arthur Daley

When you are world number 67 getting over the line for a ranking event and 70 grand is huge. So no surprise his bottle is going a bit out there

Ultimate Seduction

Arthur Daley wrote: »

When you are world number 67 getting over the line for a ranking event and 70 grand is huge. So no surprise his bottle is going a bit out there

What a great experience for him.

Arthur Daley

Tough clearance of the colours for the match

Permabear

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Permabear

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Arthur Daley

Played that black a bit too pacy maybe. And it hung on the pocket

Joe_ Public

Can allow something for pressure but it’s not an unlimited supply. It’s like he wants the title too be gifted to him.

Peter File

Can't see Robertson letting Cao in again.

Permabear

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zuutroy

Poor git. Cruel game.

Joe_ Public

Have some sympathy on a human level for him. But I haven’t seen a player get so many chances to win a title in years. It’s meant to be a tough sport.

Permabear

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ArmaniJeanss

To add to Kyren Wilsons rest shot in post #12, here's another "I've never seen this before' shot courtesy of Cao Yupeng in the final against Robertson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmtH-SChfGw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmtH-SChfGw

Frank O. Pinion

Just checking the tour schedule, after winning the Scottish Open on December 17th, Neil Robertson isn't playing again in a tournament until the World Grand Prix near the end of February. Over two months of a break. He didn't qualify for The Masters or German Masters, and doesn't play in the Shoot-Out.

ArmaniJeanss

German Masters has been enjoyable this week, Eurosport have really upped their game and have a very professional host broadcaster setup now (compared to when it used be two guys in a box-room in Slough doing the commentary from a local feed).

Graham Dott and Mark Williams in the final today, not sure whether that's to be celebrated as a sign that its a sport that people can compete into their 40s at or an indictment of the lack of young talent.

zuutroy

Williams rolling back the years playing some great stuff.

Judd is the only half decent player under 30 and he's a basket case.

Joe_ Public

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Graham Dott and Mark Williams in the final today, not sure whether that's to be celebrated as a sign that its a sport that people can compete into their 40s at or an indictment of the lack of young talent.

Very much the latter imo. Despite what Hearn might tell you the sport is not in the best of shape at the moment.

zuutroy

Just did a quick calculation there of the average age of the top 16 players:

1998: 28.7
2008: 31.1
2018: 34.4

Davis kind of skews 2008 a bit being 50 at the time!

Ronnie was probably spot-on last night talking about the guys who show up as pros now that look like they've never held a cue before, and have no match toughness because there's no amateur tour.

Joe_ Public

zuutroy wrote: »

Just did a quick calculation there of the average age of the top 16 players:

1998: 28.7
2008: 31.1
2018: 34.4

Davis kind of skews 2008 a bit being 50 at the time!

Ronnie was probably spot-on last night talking about the guys who show up as pros now that look like they've never held a cue before, and have no match toughness because there's no amateur tour.

Would agree vehemently with Ron there. Watching the younger players now it’s painful to see the lack of table craft in their game. And they’re not battle hardened the way they used to be. It’s all attack, attack, pot everything in sight until the real pressure starts to squeeze and they are as liable to fold as not.

ArmaniJeanss

2018 Snooker Shootout starts tomorrow lunchtime, continues through until Sunday all live on ITV4.
As usual a lot of the top names giving it a miss, but Mark Williams, Shaun Murphy and Mark Allen are there from the Top 10 in the rankings.
Full first round draw and details.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_Snooker_Shoot-Out

Must admit I love this competition and will definitely dip in and out of the coverage over the weekend.

zuutroy

Turned it on tonight. I think I hate everything about it. For shame AJ.

Arthur Daley

What are the audience on at times. They keep blaring out drunken jeers every three shots of so. Then off to the flesh spots and curry houses of Watford no doubt.

It's a bit of fun, but a bit low rent innit

Frankie Lee

The crowd being arseholes really ruin it. Good to see Josh Boileau win today, is that his 1st televised game?

Joe_ Public

It was just about watchable yesterday as all the idiots shouting “yellowwww” hadn’t made it in yet.

Don’t really mind it myself as an event, it’s harmless really. Feel sorry for Clive Everton, though, to see the great man reduced to bigging this stuff up is a bit sad.

ArmaniJeanss

zuutroy wrote: »

Turned it on tonight. I think I hate everything about it. For shame AJ.

*Sits behind yellow pocket and does Mexican wave when zuutroy pots it there*

It's a bit of a laugh, some cracking finishes tonight with game changing pots in the last 20 seconds.
Some terrible shot selection and time management as well, players seem to forget the object of it under pressure.

Arthur Daley

A bit of a payday 32 grand for the likes of Georgiou if he wins this here against Dott

Arthur Daley

Exciting finish to shootout

zuutroy

I have to admit I did enjoy the final!

_feedback_

zuutroy wrote: »

I have to admit I did enjoy the final!

Really don't like this format, and the crowd in particular, but yes the final was exciting!!

EDIT: I've just realised I used the word exciting in relation to a game Graham Dott was involved in :P

ArmaniJeanss

After all the fun of the ShootOut it's back to a normal event with the Grand Prix from the Guild Hall in Preston, one of the traditional snooker venues.
Starts on Monday evening with live coverage throughout the week on ITV4 until Sundays final. £100K to the winner.

Limited to Top 32 in the one year rankings, surprisingly enough last years winner Barry Hawkins didn't make the cut.

Draw here.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2018_World_Grand_Prix

Stuart Bingham on his comeback from suspension against Mark Williams looks the standout tie.

zuutroy

Not seen anyone play as bad as Milkins is now for a long time.

Spudman_20000

zuutroy wrote: »

Not seen anyone play as bad as Milkins is now for a long time.

Until Brecel just now. Delighted for Georgiou.

johnpop

So happy for Higgins

zuutroy

Fairly spectacular clearance by Ronnie to level at 3-3 there. Bingtao is very solid.

Spudman_20000

Great match, Bingtao would have beaten practically anyone else tonight. Ronnie 's safety was top notch.

zuutroy

Yea he had him on the cushion every time. Pretty hilarious post match interview too: "When you play badly as often as I you have to find other ways to win" Hendry silently fuming.

Spudman_20000

I'm sure Ronnie will ruffle some feathers too accusing the younger players of having no bottle, but he has a point. These young guns can pot everything but you have to be able to do it under pressure. Bingtao 's positional play deserted him in the last frame.

_feedback_

zuutroy wrote: »

Yea he had him on the cushion every time. Pretty hilarious post match interview too: "When you play badly as often as I you have to find other ways to win" Hendry silently fuming.

It was funny watching Hendrys reaction to most things Ronnie was saying - he just has this smirk on his face and you can tell he doesn't know what to make of some of what Ronnie is coming out with!

There was a bit of a fiasco with a yellow which needed to be put back. the ref had it a few inches closer to the cushion that it had been. Ronnie was refusing to take the shot and the ref was insisting it matched the monitor, when it clearly didn't.. there must have been some sort of error with the technology, surely the two referees couldn't have been that wrong?

zuutroy

God mode tonight for Ronald.

ArmaniJeanss

Tense semi-final between Ding and Selby, could be a late one.

Joe_ Public

So perplexing Ding. Playing great safety tonight then goes plays a barmy shot like that to gift the frame to Selby. Total enigma.

ziggyman17

not even 8pm on a Sunday night and the final is over.........what a player......