Coral Players Championship

FR01

The Coral Players Championship kicks off this evening with all the action live on ITV4

Here’s the draw and match times

(1) Judd Trump vs Michael Holt (16) – Tuesday February 25 at 7pm

(8) John Higgins vs Graeme Dott (9) – Tuesday February 25 at 1pm

(5) Ding Junhui vs Stephen Maguire (12) – Monday February 24 at 7pm

(4) Mark Selby vs Mark Williams (13) – Monday February 24 at 7pm

(3) Neil Robertson vs Joe Perry (14) – Tuesday February 25 at 1pm

(6) Yan Bingtao vs Kyren Wilson (11) – Tuesday February 25 at 7pm

(7) Mark Allen vs Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (10) – Wednesday February 26 at 1pm

(2) Shaun Murphy vs David Gilbert (15) – Wednesday February 26 at 1pm

nkl12xtw5goz70

Poor performance last night by Williams, whitewashed 6-0 by Selby.

Maguire through after beating Ding 6-5.

Chalk McHugh

So much snooker on these days it's hard to keep up with it. I dont bother with world rankings and who doesn't qualify for this or that. When it's on i'll watch whatever tournament is on and same with the one after. The rankings never interested me.

nkl12xtw5goz70

Ronnie is not in this one despite being defending champion, which seems odd. I thought the defending champion and the world champion got into every tournament regardless of rankings, but this one must be different.

Joe_ Public

I think that only applies to the masters. Defending champ and world champ are always top two seeds there. This ones based on season performances so everybody has to play their way in.

Robertson been absolutely brutal today, not dead yet but asking a lot to reel off another 4 frames way he's cueing.

Joe_ Public

Gathering a head of steam now robbo...not quite done with yet i think.

Chalk McHugh

Really looking forward to Sheffield this year. So many players who i feel could win it. Robbo playing great stuff this year. Murphy, Selby, Trump, Wilson, Ding, Trump all on decent form. The likes of Allen, Higgins and Ronnie can win any match. Few other players i cant think of but is this year the most open World Championship ever?

Joe_ Public

If trump repeats form of last year, he'll be hard to beat. But will he? Easy to forget he was within a shot of exiting in first round. It looks open enough alright, who do i trust enough to navigate the 15 day marathon and hold their nerve when it comes to crunch? Not sure yet. But think day i could trust ronnie to get it together for one big final push is passed. Really struggle to ever see it happening.

Chalk McHugh

Joe_ Public wrote: »

If trump repeats form of last year, he'll be hard to beat. But will he? Easy to forget he was within a shot of exiting in first round. It looks open enough alright, who do i trust enough to navigate the 15 day marathon and hold their nerve when it comes to crunch? Not sure yet. But think day i could trust ronnie to get it together for one big final push is passed. Really struggle to ever see it happening.

Yes unfortunately i haven't fancied Ronnie to win there in a few years. And even so now. Might win a few matches but Sheffield kills him and i'd barely have him in top 10 although no doubt bookies will have top 3.

Joe_ Public

Chalk McHugh wrote: »

Yes unfortunately i haven't fancied Ronnie to win there in a few years. And even so now. Might win a few matches but Sheffield kills him and i'd barely have him in top 10 although no doubt bookies will have top 3.

Sure its first year i can remember that he isnt actually bookies favourite (not sure about 2013), but he's up there anyway. Plenty will still be keen to bet him just because he's ROS and bookies will be only too delighted to line their satchels.

Joe_ Public

Gentleman gets it done eventually. Good finish but shocking miss on the blue by robertson, would surely have won if he'd got it to a decider.

Chalk McHugh

Welcome Holty to elite, top class snooker. First frame Trump rams home a dazzling 130. Could be a short night.

Chalk McHugh

Scintilating 64 sees Trump go 2-0 ahead. No player as good as Trump when in full flight.

AllForIt

That was some final black off it's spot to the center pocket by Holt. Don't think I've ever seen anyone slam one in that like at that blistering pace before. Didn't think it was possible.

AllForIt

Gutsy clearance from Holt to keep it alive.

AllForIt

Shockingly poor safety from Holt virtually hands the match to Trump to take it 6 - 3.

nkl12xtw5goz70

AllForIt wrote: »

Shockingly poor safety from Holt virtually hands the match to Trump to take it 6 - 3.

Terrible safety shot. He should have taken on the red.

AllForIt

Emmy Wrong Vaseline wrote: »

Terrible safety shot. He should have taken on the red.

Absolutely. He was on a bit of a roll and at 5 - 3 behind he had to take his chances.

nkl12xtw5goz70

From 3-1 down to Murphy at the midsession interval, Gilbert takes it to a deciding frame.

AllForIt

Trump on form surprisingly misses to let Higgins in for a century to peg it back to 3 - 2.

nkl12xtw5goz70

Level now but Trump in first in the seventh frame

AllForIt

Higgins's long game not good enough. Never fancied him for that long pot which he missed by quite a bit. Trump one from victory.

nkl12xtw5goz70

Match has gone scrappy but Trump still hot favourite.

AllForIt

Yeah scrappy alright. Trump pulled off 3 amazing reds though most players wouldn't dream of going for.


edit: and that's it 6 - 3 Trump.

nkl12xtw5goz70

And Trump goes through 6-3.

Joe_ Public

That red near middle pocket cushion that he clipped into top pocket at speed was insane. Never seen a player as good at that type of shot, not just the pot but the control he gets on cue ball with it.

Joe_ Public

One of those all too rare days Maguire actually lives up to his nickname. Giving selby a going over early days here.

FR01

Joe_ Public wrote: »

One of those all too rare days Maguire actually lives up to his nickname. Giving selby a going over early days here.

He’s an enigma is Maguire. You just don’t know what your going to get with him !

Joe_ Public

FR01 wrote: »

He’s an enigma is Maguire. You just don’t know what your going to get with him !

Yeah, i dont think it was ever a question of ability with him. Could have been a top 3/4 player easily with requisite temperament. Maybe it'll click for him into his 40s, as he mellows a bit - at least in theory! I like him anyway, some dont, so wouldn't mind seeing it happen.

FR01

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Yeah, i dont think it was ever a question of ability with him. Could have been a top 3/4 player easily with requisite temperament. Maybe it'll click for him into his 40s, as he mellows a bit - at least in theory! I like him anyway, some dont, so wouldn't mind seeing it happen.

Agree , but I like his game and that’s about it, he’s not a very endearing chap.

Joe_ Public

FR01 wrote: »

Agree , but I like his game and that’s about it, he’s not a very endearing chap.

He seems fine to me, but i obviously dont know him personally.

I wonder if its coincidence that his new practice arrangement with higgins and mcgill has yielded some decent results this season. Bodes well for future if its not. No way a guy of his stature should have to be ever qualifying for the crucible.

Joe_ Public

Somehow this is going to 4-4 and you have to think selby is clear favourite from here. Hard to say what happened to maguire, going great guns, then seemed to fall in a hole.

Gentleman Joe 4-2 down here against Bingtao; neither playing very well at all tonight.
I can see a comeback from Joe. Yan too skittish a lot of the time - missing and running out of
position too much for me although he's ahead.

I think Joe wins this as he has better composure overall I feel.

Could be worth a bet in running. About 6 - 7/1 atm.

AllForIt

Yeah I agree. Yan turning down that black to center wasn't a good sign. Been a few great pot's to the center pocket this event and that one was easy in comparison.

Yan's throwing this frame away..

Just one foul 4 and it's there for the taking for joe

5 - 2 now. Joe probably thinking of going to bed

Some good pots from Yan there when the frame was virtually over - nice yellow to middle.

Can't see Yan winning his next match if he wins this, as he well should.

AllForIt

Deleted User wrote: »

Just one foul 4 and it's there for the taking for joe

A few good attempts there by Joe but he won't have minded dragging it out despite loosing it.

AllForIt

AllForIt wrote: »

A few good attempts there by Joe but he won't have minded dragging it out despite loosing it.

Haven't seen Joe like this before. Banging the cue off the ground very unlike him. I reckon he's only at about 60% - pity because on another day he probably beats Yan 6 -3. Still a glimmer though. ~~I think if it was allowed he'd have thrown in the towel 10 minutes ago

AllForIt

Yeah Joe looks completely lost. If he could have mustered some form he'd be in with a chance to claw this back but as it is it's painful to watch.

Should have taken the freeball Joe - hindsight and all that :pac:

AllForIt

AllForIt wrote: »

Yeah Joe looks completely lost. If he could have mustered some form he'd be in with a chance to claw this back but as it is it's painful to watch.

Very painful - I hope Yan wins in this visit..

I'd like to here some input every now and then from the lads in the studio (apart from Rishi who's clueless) between frames. I think itv are missing a trick there; it would "add to it" as they say; not only this match but in general.

Not just the mid-session interval.

Anyway, melting pot job here imo, even at 5 - 3 Yan, and Joe playing atrocious..

Chalk McHugh

Never really get too excited watchiing Joe Perry. Been around a hell of a long time but not a player i particularly enjoy seeing playing. I would include Maguire in that.

Chalk McHugh

Chalk McHugh wrote: »

Never really get too excited watchiing Joe Perry. Been around a hell of a long time but not a player i particularly enjoy seeing playing. I would include Maguire in that.

I'd rather him than Selby. I think he's alright to watch usually, but then again he's not on TV match tables a hell of a lot. What's seldom and all that

Chalk McHugh

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I'd rather him than Selby. I think he's alright to watch usually, but then again he's not on TV match tables a hell of a lot. What's seldom and all that

A lot of players are like robots these days. Kyren Wilson is another that doesn't exactly get the juices flowing. He makes Cliff Thorbourn look exciting. I guess you cant enjoy watching every player. I enjoy 90% of them but there are a select few that i will gladly miss.

AllForIt

Chalk McHugh wrote: »

Never really get too excited watchiing Joe Perry. Been around a hell of a long time but not a player i particularly enjoy seeing playing. I would include Maguire in that.

No, the match never looked like it was going to be too exciting on paper but I didn't think it would be this bad.

Maguire is in a different league to Perry imo but he's just not consistent. He's doing well lately though. I don't find him to be boring particularly but you just never know what your gonna get from him.

AllForIt

AllForIt wrote: »

No, the match never looked like it was going to be too exciting on paper but I didn't think it would be this bad.

Maguire is in a different league to Perry imo but he's just not consistent. He's doing well lately though. I don't find him to be boring particularly but you just never know what your gonna get from him.

I like watching Maguire myself but usually when he gets to the business end/on a TV table etc... enthusiasm is tempered somewhat as one expects him to get beat unfortunately..

I agree on Wilson as well as the other poster - very boring. Don't much like Murphy either.. too pompous for me.

Lisowski usually a good watch, bit lacking in consistency though.

Roboticism appears to be the norm nowadays.... even with Judd alas at times - now that he's gotten his overall game in shape.

Need one or two more inconsistent "mavericks" ...

Chalk McHugh

AllForIt wrote: »

No, the match never looked like it was going to be too exciting on paper but I didn't think it would be this bad.

Maguire is in a different league to Perry imo but he's just not consistent. He's doing well lately though. I don't find him to be boring particularly but you just never know what your gonna get from him.

It's not that i particularly think Maguire is boring but i got fed up with his temper tantrums and constant aggressive facial expressions and uttering expletives. Also the only player to avoid wearing a bow (medical condition yea i'm sure). To be blunt, he has very little ettiquette and lacks basic table manners and i just dont like him for these reasons.

Joe_ Public

On the tie issue, as i hate wearing them and find them uncomfortable i would also be doing everything in my power to avoid wearing one. Alex Higgins usually turned up wearing one, but would make a point of furiously whipping it off before the match begun. It might just have made the smoking and drinking easier!

Chalk McHugh

Chalk McHugh wrote: »

It's not that i particularly think Maguire is boring but i got fed up with his temper tantrums and constant aggressive facial expressions and uttering expletives. Also the only player to avoid wearing a bow (medical condition yea i'm sure). To be blunt, he has very little ettiquette and lacks basic table manners and i just dont like him for these reasons.

Some good points there even if I don't mind how he carries on myself..

Murphy, on the other hand has too much etiquette, like the other day playing Robertson I think - he left the table needing snookers after having tried to get them but failing... He done the "gentlemanly" thing apparently by letting the frame continue instead of conceding it there and then