2018 World Championship

Happy4all

i wouldn't write Higgins off, Williams still has the odd loose shot in his game that can be punished

walshb

The Golden Miller wrote: »

Over the last decade or so, people often forgot just how good Williams was in his prime. At his peak, the best player I've ever seen

Top 3/4 on his day...

Inviere

Happy4all wrote: »

i wouldn't write Higgins off, Williams still has the odd loose shot in his game that can be punished

He can't string 4 or 5 shots together to even begin the punishment. It's over unfortunately

Thought Higgins would've come back stronger once he had his money made for losing all those frames.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Inviere

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Thought Higgins would've come back stronger once he had his money made for losing all those frames.

Yawn.

martyos121

It’s funny, Williams wasn’t even on my radar of potential winners when the tournament began two weeks ago. I’ll never doubt him again, regardless of how long it takes him to finish this one off. Class is permanent as they say.

sligeach

Happy4all wrote: »

he is very fat, but does that matter?

It never hurt Phil "The Fat B@st@rd" Taylor in darts or any of the other rolly pollies.

Inviere

Too little too late here you'd have to say.

omb0wyn5ehpij9

Well at least there will be some form of evening session!

sligeach

So there will be an evening session.

Mint Sauce

BDJW wrote: »

Well at least there will be some form of evening session!

Needs the remaining three of this one, to make tonight's half interesting.

Try_harder

sligeach wrote: »

It never hurt Phil "The Fat B@st@rd" Taylor in darts or any of the other rolly pollies.

They dont move as much or bend over a snooker table!

Milkman..

Inviere wrote: »

Debatable. Running marathons didn't help Osullivan going out in the 2nd round.

O'Sullivan worlds top player at 42

omb0wyn5ehpij9

Mint Sauce wrote: »

Needs the remaining three of this one, to make tonight's half interesting.

Yeah true. I’d love for a good battle and a late night finish, but just can’t see it

Inviere

Milkman.. wrote: »

O'Sullivan worlds top player at 42

It doesn't change the fact that his fitness done nothing for him at the crucible, and he was knocked out in round two. It's debatable if Higgins was in better shape he'd be doing better in the final, but I feel he's mentally drained, as opposed to being physically drained.

Joe_ Public

Milkman.. wrote: »

O'Sullivan worlds top player at 42

Selby is No.1

Milkman..

Inviere wrote: »

but I feel he's mentally drained, as opposed to being physically drained.

They're not separate issues

Joe_ Public

Some pretty decent pack openers from mark today

Inviere

Milkman.. wrote: »

They're not separate issues

In snooker they are.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Milkman..

Inviere wrote: »

In snooker they are.

No ,the mind and the body is all connected

Mental sharpness is linked to physical fitness

Inviere

Milkman.. wrote: »

No ,the mind and the body is all connected

Mental sharpness is linked to physical fitness

That's why Ronnie is in the final then yeah?

walshb

Two super pots...

Milkman..

Inviere wrote: »

That's why Ronnie is in the final then yeah?

That's why Ronnie is still at the peak of his powers at 42

Unprecedented stay at the very top level

sligeach

Calm down John, you'll give yourself a stroke.

Joe_ Public

Milkman.. wrote: »

That's why Ronnie is still at the peak of his powers at 42

Unprecedented stay at the very top level

Well done to him but certainly nothing unprecedented about it anyway.

PropJoe10

Think its pretty well known that mental and physical fitness are linked. At this level of sport, even a 2% mental advantage can be the difference between winning and losing. When you're fit, you always feel better in yourself anyway. I know I do.

Inviere

Milkman.. wrote: »

That's why Ronnie is still at the peak of his powers at 42

Unprecedented stay at the very top level

Yet Higgins is in the final and Ronnie isn't. Ronnie far from his peak, he'll never lift the title in the crucible again, whereas Higgins has been in back to back finals. Give over the Ronnie love in

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

sligeach

Permabear wrote: »

This post had been deleted.

Sorry, I meant John.

omb0wyn5ehpij9

Massive frame to steal by Higgins there

Peter File

14:9 Williams. Super clearance by Higgins
The commentary on both channels really is abysmal this afternoon.

Inviere

PropJoe10 wrote: »

Think its pretty well known that mental and physical fitness are linked. At this level of sport, even a 2% mental advantage can be the difference between winning and losing. When you're fit, you always feel better in yourself anyway. I know I do.

No one is saying they're not linked, I'm not convinced though that a fitter Higgins would have a different scoreline today. All the fitness in the world hasn't helped Ronnie and Selby either... I think high pressure Snooker like this places more emphasis on mental strength and resolve, than it does the ability to run a marathon.

Happy4all

PropJoe10 wrote: »

Think its pretty well known that mental and physical fitness are linked. At this level of sport, even a 2% mental advantage can be the difference between winning and losing. When you're fit, you always feel better in yourself anyway. I know I do.

they've got about 10 chins between them, neither particularly physically fit.

mdwexford

That's a bad frame for Mark to lose.

He was right to slap the table, played that cannon awful.

This match is not over.

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

Inviere

Permabear wrote: »

This post had been deleted.

True, but the fact that Higgins hung in and took the frame might just give him a psychological boost. Still, an absolute mountain to climb

Beechwoodspark

Inviere wrote: »

Yet Higgins is in the final and Ronnie isn't. Ronnie far from his peak, he'll never lift the title in the crucible again, whereas Higgins has been in back to back finals. Give over the Ronnie love in

Why are you so sure Ronnie won’t win it again?

Permabear

This post has been deleted.

liamoreilly

MisterAnarchy wrote: »

I managed to pick up 2 tickets for the first 3 sessions of the final in the last few minutes.
Just 2 more and I have the Grand Slam.

...Let me know if your other half pulls out ðŸ˜...Only tickets available now are the VIP ones, no chance my pocket affords them!!...

Milkman..

Inviere wrote: »

No one is saying they're not linked, I'm not convinced though that a fitter Higgins would have a different scoreline today. All the fitness in the world hasn't helped Ronnie and Selby either... I think high pressure Snooker like this places more emphasis on mental strength and resolve, than it does the ability to run a marathon.

It's not a rule by any means that only fit players will make the final stages and all the unfit players will drop out in every tournament.

However it's well established that fitness plays an important role in mental sharpness .

Inviere

Beechwoodspark wrote: »

Why are you so sure Ronnie won’t win it again?

I've felt that way for a while now. I think he's still a force to be reckoned with, and has just had a brilliantly successful season. I don't feel though, that he has the ability anymore to sustain the level required for the 2+ weeks of the Crucible anymore. With Selby gone, this year was his best chance to get that 6th title, but Carter, a man who never beat him professionally, took him out in the second round.

Joe_ Public

This whole fitness issue is tiresome. Just say it was revealing that Kyren Wilson spoke of how tired he felt towards the end of his sf while Higgins was the one who looked to be getting fresher. As long as your not grotesquely out of shape the whole issue is a boring red herring.

walshb

A Hendry like comeback ala 1992?

Inviere

Milkman.. wrote: »

However it's well established that fitness plays an important role in mental sharpness .

I would agree with that.

Inviere

Joe_ Public wrote: »

This whole fitness issue is tiresome. Just say it was revealing that Kyren Wilson spoke of how tired he felt towards the end of his sf while Higgins was the one who looked to be getting fresher. As long as your not grotesquely out of shape the whole issue is a boring red herring.

Exactly.

walshb

Joe_ Public wrote: »

This whole fitness issue is tiresome. Just say it was revealing that Kyren Wilson spoke of how tired he felt towards the end of his sf while Higgins was the one who looked to be getting fresher. As long as your not grotesquely out of shape the whole issue is a boring red herring.

That should close this debate. Well said...

walshb

Some super pots here.

Age truly is just a number In this sport...

callaway92

Wish those cunce in the booth would shut up about a potential max from only a few blacks in. Leave him at it