UK Championship 2019 26/11 - 8/12 BBC/Eurosport

Chalk McHugh

Ding looking good for his fourth triple crown win i believe. Three UKs and one Masters. For a player of his undoubted class i think it is a below par return. To not win the big one is disappointing. Only one World final appearance is not a good record. But hats off to him making the breakthrough for the Chinese invasion.

DelBoy Trotter

Can’t see Maguire coming back from this. I’d say it’ll finish 10-6

The Nal

Few people on the Beeb saying the next 10 years will be dominated by the Chinese. Heard that before.

Ronnie's not playing in the Masters. Odd.

Joe_ Public

Hearn saying no darts player would ever refuse a 9 dart finish with no bonus, in obvious dig at Ronnie. But heard van gerwen say he would do exactly that on telly just a few weeks back!

Chalk McHugh

The Nal wrote: »

Few people on the Beeb saying the next 10 years will be dominated by the Chinese. Heard that before.

Ronnie's not playing in the Masters. Odd.

It's a numbers game i guess. Was always going to take a while before the Chinese started to get more and more players onto the tour but i think its beginning to happen and i think they will begin to dominate over the next decade or so.and when they do there will be no going back. I even heard snooker is on the school curriculum over there now so while most of our snooker clubs are long gone or soon to go these boys are being thought in school. Do the math.

CFlat

Ding gone off the boil a bit here. It's not over yet.

waynescales1

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Hearn saying no darts player would ever refuse a 9 dart finish with no bonus, in obvious dig at Ronnie. But heard van gerwen say he would do exactly that on telly just a few weeks back!

Meaningless comparison. If you refuse a 9 dart finish your opponent can still win the leg. A frame of snooker is over after 80 points.

nkl12xtw5goz70

Maguire is hitting the ball beautifully right now.

Chalk McHugh

Wakey wakey Ding.

gormdubhgorm

Mckenna Crashing Material wrote: »

Maguire is hitting the ball beautifully right now.

It is a mad final. The funny part is the studio seem to be implying that Ding is flaky, and are not saying the same about Maguire!

When you think about it both fellas arguably have underachieved.
I saw a pre-match interview with Maguire where he said he does not think about 'underachievement' anymore and just plays the game.

Ding has gone the other way and seems to have redoubled his workrate practice etc.

Dante7

On fire Maguire playing beautifully now.

Joe_ Public

Chalk McHugh wrote: »

It's a numbers game i guess. Was always going to take a while before the Chinese started to get more and more players onto the tour but i think its beginning to happen and i think they will begin to dominate over the next decade or so.and when they do there will be no going back. I even heard snooker is on the school curriculum over there now so while most of our snooker clubs are long gone or soon to go these boys are being thought in school. Do the math.

This is probably correct in that it is a numbers game. I'm not sure the likes of parrott when they talk the curriculum truly know what goes on in china, its just something he heard a few years ago, but if they keep producing generations of even half decent players while the uk and Ireland declines, then the balance of power has to shift and we end up with 2 majors in china and the world champs in saudia arabia!

gormdubhgorm

Joe_ Public wrote: »

This is probably correct in that it is a numbers game. I'm not sure the likes of parrott when they talk the curriculum truly know what goes on in china, its just something he heard a few years ago, but if they keep producing generations of even half decent players while the uk and Ireland declines, then the balance of power has to shift and we end up with 2 majors in china and the world champs in saudia arabia!

I remember a good few years ago thier was talk of the World Championship going to China. Parrott was one of those who was dead set against it - because of 'tradition'.

Chalk McHugh

Joe_ Public wrote: »

This is probably correct in that it is a numbers game. I'm not sure the likes of parrott when they talk the curriculum truly know what goes on in china, its just something he heard a few years ago, but if they keep producing generations of even half decent players while the uk and Ireland declines, then the balance of power has to shift and we end up with 2 majors in china and the world champs in saudia arabia!

😀😀

tanko

Maguire is going to have to win four in a row now, hard to see that happening.

Chalk McHugh

Class break should put a halt to Maguires mini-revival.

Joe_ Public

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

I remember a good few years ago thier was talk of the World Championship going to China. Parrott was one of those who was dead set against it - because of 'tradition'.

I was being a bit tongue in cheek admittedly. I do think world champs will simply outgrow crucible at some stage but i truly hope its not for many years yet!

gormdubhgorm

tanko wrote: »

Maguire is going to have to win four in a row now, hard to see that happening.

He nearly did earlier in the game!

nkl12xtw5goz70

Beautiful 131 break from Ding and it's hard to see Maguire stopping him now.

Joe_ Public

Ding has been solid through the match. Mags not actually played bad, just could never quite get on his coattails to apply the squeeze.

Sharp MZ700

Didn't realise it was 8 years since Dings last major!

waynescales1

Mckenna Crashing Material wrote: »

Beautiful 131 break from Ding and it's hard to see Maguire stopping him now.

The 2-3 shots that Ding played to free up the black were exquisite.

tanko

It's a pity Stephen Hendry isn't doing the commentary. I find Alan McManus bloody hard to listen to.

gormdubhgorm

tanko wrote: »

It's a pity Stephen Hendry isn't doing the commentary. I find Alan McManus bloody hard to listen to.

Ah I like McManus think he is the best of the commentators/analysts. Different take on things than most, adds in nuggets of info. Plus comes out with stuff like 'as wide as the clyde'.

Chalk McHugh

tanko wrote: »

It's a pity Stephen Hendry isn't doing the commentary. I find Alan McManus bloody hard to listen to.

He seems to have a mini orgasm over the most rudimentary of shots. And wearing a cravat in the ITV studio was cringe.

Chalk McHugh

Fantastic Ding boy. Class wins out. Finish in style. Ding is back!

nkl12xtw5goz70

Well done to both players. Very high-quality final ending with four consecutive centuries. Ding a well-deserved champion.

waynescales1

Chalk McHugh wrote: »

Fantastic Ding boy. Class wins out. Finish in style. Ding is back!

Loved that final clearance. Brown to final red, absolute peach of a shot.

DelBoy Trotter

Well done Ding, very enjoyable final

El_Duderino 09

Very sweet Interview by Ding.

And very gratuitous by Stephen.

Result was well deserved. Fair play Ding.

BorneTobyWilde

200k o wow. A one weeks wage for a crap footballer.

Sharp MZ700

Video chatting with his daughter in the interval and she's started walking while he's gone... Some sacrifice, delighted for him.

BorneTobyWilde

The skill deserves more, how on earth is the prize money so low

waynescales1

If he can keep this standard going then Ding v Trump at the Masters would be something to look forward to. The sport needs Ding back at his best to challenge Trump’s recent dominance.

weemcd

That final frame was filthy from Ding. Launching the black ball and it ends up hitting the camera? Snooker has it's new bad boy.

Absolutely delighted for him.

Joe_ Public

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

The skill deserves more, how on earth is the prize money so low

Look at the list of sponsors - all low level bookies. Just not able to attract the big banks and financial institutions with their big bags of money.

Joe_ Public

Did they say during interview that ding is living back in china full time now? Big commitment to make in terms of travelling but makes sense if he's happier in himself i guess.

nkl12xtw5goz70

I thought he lived in Sheffield?

Joe_ Public

Mckenna Crashing Material wrote: »

I thought he lived in Sheffield?

He did for years. I do recall they moved back to china either after marriage or birth of child but thought that was temporary. Just thought hazel said it during interview but i could have picked it up wrong.

Anyway, amazing to think its 14 years he first won it and still only 32! When he moved to sheffield first he was actually living with an irish lass, as a tenant as opposed to relationship!

Chalk McHugh

weemcd wrote: »

That final frame was filthy from Ding. Launching the black ball and it ends up hitting the camera? Snooker has it's new bad boy.

Absolutely delighted for him.

😀😀 Bad Boy Ding

Chalk McHugh

Ronnie said Ding is a class act, like a boss of the mafia or Al Pacino. Not sure Lucky Lucciano, John Gotti or Paul Castellano were 'class acts'!

Berserker5

I can't take to the game the same way since hearn butchered the pockets

Call me a tradionalist but I like to see centuries hard got

Chalk McHugh

Berserker5 wrote: »

I can't take to the game the same way since hearn butchered the pockets

Call me a tradionalist but I like to see centuries hard got

Definately far easier to bang in the big breaks now with the lighter balls and fine cloths. Im not sure if the pockets are bigger than before? Reccord tonnes for the UK last year and broken again this year. It's a tonne fest.

BorneTobyWilde

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Look at the list of sponsors - all low level bookies. Just not able to attract the big banks and financial institutions with their big bags of money.

SOunds like a badly run show. Barry Hearn is so 1980's . It's a joke that the money is so low. The whole game needs a shake up.

Joe_ Public

On the pockets, i took a screengrab of this martin gould shot from the champion of champions because i thought it was most ridiculous thing I've ever seen in the game. Remember - this is a pot!

Chalk McHugh

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

SOunds like a badly run show. Barry Hearn is so 1980's . It's a joke that the money is so low. The whole game needs a shake up.

The money is decent now. Stop comparing it to football where it's like monopoly money at this stage. A lot of these snooker players make a good living for doing what they love. Id swap in a heartbeat if i had the talent. They get to travel the world now. Snooker is in rude health and its only going to get better. Pity it's almost dead in Ireland.

Joe_ Public

BorneTobyWilde wrote: »

SOunds like a badly run show. Barry Hearn is so 1980's . It's a joke that the money is so low. The whole game needs a shake up.

I'm definitely no fan of barry hearn but to be honest, I'm not sure the demand is out there. They should be doing more to try and attract sponsors who arent bookies though. But some will tell you the game was nearly dead before hearn took over so he's a god in some peoples eyes!!

Chalk McHugh

Joe_ Public wrote: »

I'm definitely no fan of barry hearn but to be honest, I'm not sure the demand is out there. They should be doing more to try and attract sponsors who arent bookies though. But some will tell you the game was nearly dead before hearn took over so he's a god in some peoples eyes!!

He's done a great job in my opinion.

Joe_ Public

Chalk McHugh wrote: »

He's done a great job in my opinion.

There is varying opinion on the matter i would say.

Arthur Daley

Joe_ Public wrote: »

On the pockets, i took a screengrab of this martin gould shot from the champion of champions because i thought it was most ridiculous thing I've ever seen in the game. Remember - this is a pot!

Could be hugging the cushion with running side? But not pacey to allow it to drop