World Snooker Championship 2021

tanko

zuutroy wrote: »

With the exception of Ronnie vs McGill and Ding vs Bingham it's been pretty dull fare this year in terms of drama.

It's been tough watching alrite, all the qualifiers apart from Bingham have been poor. Very few players in good form.

waynescales1

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Playing best of 7s most of the year, roll on roll off, no intervals, i really dont see how players can develop the proper mentality for a 17 day marathon like this anymore. It's probably a total culture shock for young players experiencing it for the first time and lots will never adapt to it. Dont see too many more mcgills or wilsons on the horizon whose games seem made for it. Yan Bingtao possibly another given time.

Never thought about that aspect of it. More long format tournaments on the tour is the obvious solution to that but Hearn’s approach won’t allow for it I don’t think. How are you going to fit a few 2 week long format tournaments into an already packed schedule on a 128 player tour?

BonnieSituation

begbysback wrote: »

Remember people, this is actually the format which made Peter Ebdon a world champion

Are you saying the pinnacle of the sport should be shorter and thus easier to win?

Part of the biggest attraction to the World Championship is the fact that it's a relentless slog and requires players to dig down.

Joe_ Public

waynescales1 wrote: »

Never thought about that aspect of it. More long format tournaments on the tour is the obvious solution to that but Hearn’s approach won’t allow for it I don’t think. How are you going to fit a few 2 week long format tournaments into an already packed schedule on a 128 player tour?

Yeah, no chance of it. It's just fusty old traditionalists like me pining for the days when the uk champs were a proper second long format tournament. But they're definitely not coming back anytime soon.

BonnieSituation

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Yeah, no chance of it. It's just fusty old traditionalists like me pining for the days when the uk champs were a proper second long format tournament. But they're definitely not coming back anytime soon.

You're not fusty at all.

There's a lot to be said to have an singular tournament take over coverage for a fortnight and beyond.

Discussion and storylines develop. People can dip in and out.

This drive to satisfy tik tok watching kids, that were never gonna watch it anyway, is eating a lot of sports up at the moment and is going to ruin them.

Arthur Daley

Wasn't the Tour Championship in 2019 a move in that direction. Best of 25 final and good long matches leading up to it.
The UK could easily reinstate longer semi finals (best of 17) and add 2 or 3 frames to the final if there was a will to do it.

begbysback

BonnieSituation wrote: »

Are you saying the pinnacle of the sport should be shorter and thus easier to win?

Part of the biggest attraction to the World Championship is the fact that it's a relentless slog and requires players to dig down.

Actually I’m kind of on the fence really, it’s a bit like horse racing, the grand National is a slog and probably the biggest race, but the grand National winner is never the overall best horse.

Not sure if Wilson v Robertson is the best example though as Wilson seemed to have Robertson’s number the past few matches, and over shorter matches.

waynescales1

Maybe the top 16 could form a break away league, for which they automatically qualify each year?

Joe_ Public

Arthur Daley wrote: »

Wasn't the Tour Championship in 2019 a move in that direction. Best of 25 final and good long matches leading up to it.
The UK could easily reinstate longer semi finals (best of 17) and add 2 or 3 frames to the final if there was a will to do it.

Tour championships definitely a good introduction as far as it goes. Finals could be longer too but I'd imagine the tv bosses exert some influence when it comes to formats and i think they generally prefer the shorter matches wherever possible.

Joe_ Public

Another day, another judd struggle.

Strumms

Poor shot by Murphy, that will likely cost him the frame. Looks amazed, a straightforward pot.

Joe_ Public

I'd assume he got a big kick there, hopefully doesn't let it get to him. Looks very relaxed and comfortable out there while trump appears a little subdued. To me anyway.

waynescales1

Pretty worried by what I’m seeing from Trump, I think Selby is actually going to coast to victory this year.

Find it a bit strange; that with this being the biggest comp - by a long chalk :pac: , that there's no 'studio talk' going on... No Jimmy, Ronnie, Fouldsy, Andy the Jew (:P oops - couldn't help it) , or the cloying nordie Murray.

One would think that all the troops would be 'on hand' to proffer their punditry between every session/interval for the whole 17 or so days.

Not so, I guess..

For me, about 20% of entertainment value comes from listening to the former pros giving their opinion/s, and even the lame 'banter' is okay at times too...

Had to listen to Dom and Yates give a 'reprise' of the previous 4 frames..

Anyway, Mon Spud

Joe_ Public

This would be the time for murph to kick on and start really laying it down. Dont give judd the chance to hold on to your coattails. Win the next and then have 2 gos for a lead going into tonight.

gormdubhgorm

BonnieSituation wrote: »

You're not fusty at all.

There's a lot to be said to have an singular tournament take over coverage for a fortnight and beyond.

Discussion and storylines develop. People can dip in and out.

This drive to satisfy tik tok watching kids, that were never gonna watch it anyway, is eating a lot of sports up at the moment and is going to ruin them.

I agree with this a snooker match is a game that should be let develop and breath. It is not crash bang wallop like most other sports.

It is the most auld fella thing I will ever say. But I think rise of computer games have contributed to relegating snooker from dizzy heights when it was all the rage.

Kids prefer to spend hours doing that instead of playing snooker. As snooker is unusual in that it an 'indoor pursuit' computer games has usurped it completely.
That is my theory.

There are many 'non athletic type' fellas who pick snooker and would be hopeless at athletic sports. If the likes of Stephen Lee and Shaun Murphy were born a generation or so later. I would say they would have been online 'gamers'.

Strumms

Poor shot by Murphy looked to have rushed that,

I hope 22yr old Shaun is having a word with 38yr old Shaun, and saying "Well done mate - keep it up"

Say Your Number

McGill looked unstoppable last night, now he's lost 4 in a row, the twists and turns like this are the reason I love the WC.

BonnieSituation

begbysback wrote: »

Actually I’m kind of on the fence really, it’s a bit like horse racing, the grand National is a slog and probably the biggest race, but the grand National winner is never the overall best horse.

Madness. The Grand National for a start, is a horrible race.

There's not a hope that we'd be watching the WC if it was a load of best of 7s and done in a week.

The BBC have certainly upped their coverage this year, and it's most welcome. Having wall-to-wall coverage brings in the casual and there's a lot out there who don't watch the game outside of those 3 weeks in April, so having them onboard helps the game.

Joe_ Public

McGill just has the stamp of a player who'd hate to have to do things too easily, if it's not an all out last man standing war, he's just not happy. Could be under the cosh now, though.

'The Grand National' ???

Zero comparison -Marathon , or otherwise, it's a HANDICAP ffs... lol :pac:

walshb

waynescales1 wrote: »

Pretty worried by what I’m seeing from Trump, I think Selby is actually going to coast to victory this year.

He is the new favorite now, and seems to be hitting real form

He really has the complete game for four sessions snooker...so consistent and mentally strong, as well as a fantastic break builder.

5 on the bounce for "cueball senior" - was mainly watching Murphy/Trump - some copitulation/comeback.... Gotta feel for Anthony - some session last night; and now he's one frame away from going out at 12-10..

AllForIt

Alway been a disapoiment to me the way Murphy has underperformed over the years as I've always believed he can do better, like he is today. He's one of my top 3 players to watch on form, Ronnie and Williams being the other two.

I'm hoping he can pull this off today. And that Selby had peaked a bit too early.

BonnieSituation

I can't believe this session from McGill.

Amazing what the break does to a player. He was unstoppable last night.

That long red there was money. The pressure must have been unbearable.

AllForIt

AllForIt wrote: »

Alway been a disapoiment to me the way Murphy has underperformed over the years as I've always believed he can do better, like he is today. He's one of my top 3 players to watch on form, Ronnie and Williams being the other two.

I'm hoping he can pull this off today. And that Selby had peaked a bit too early.

#MeToo

On both counts

BonnieSituation

That long red from Bingham was the match.

Joe_ Public

Should not have left that red, Anto!

Shaun is "dialled in" , as the golf pundits like to say.... Gwan Murph :)

Sandor Clegane

walshb wrote: »

He is the new favorite now, and seems to be hitting real form

He really has the complete game for four sessions snooker...so consistent and mentally strong, as well as a fantastic break builder.

He gets too much stick IMO, he has it all really, great safety, great tactician, great break builder and great mentally, does well as a front runner but also has great ability to battle through tough and awkward matches.

Joe_ Public

If judd goes on to lose, i will lay any money he blames the table.

Joe_ Public

Joe_ Public wrote: »

If judd goes on to lose, i will lay any money he blames the table.

Guaranteed to have at least one excuse.. Don't know if his brother is with him this go-around ( I know he wasn't travelling with him the last long while, due to restrictions) . That could be another one..

dobman88

Joe_ Public wrote: »

If judd goes on to lose, i will lay any money he blames the table.

Wasn't Kyren Wilson also complaining that the cloth should be changed after every session?

Joe_ Public

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Guaranteed to have at least one excuse.. Don't know if his brother is with him this go-around ( I know he wasn't travelling with him the last long while, due to restrictions) . That could be another one..

Think the brother is there alright so might rule that one out. It's just that table does seem to be playing a bit on the slow side, wilson was even complaining about it later, so just seems a ready made excuse for judd should he want it.

gormdubhgorm

BonnieSituation wrote: »

I can't believe this session from McGill.

Amazing what the break does to a player. He was unstoppable last night.

That long red there was money. The pressure must have been unbearable.

That is what I was worried about yesterday. That McGill played that well that it would be impossible to sustain that level.

gormdubhgorm

Deleted User wrote: »

Shaun is "dialled in" , as the golf pundits like to say.... Gwan Murph :)

Can we officially adopt him? Second name Murphy. Lives in Ireland. Irish wife.

gormdubhgorm

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

Can we officially adopt him? Second name Murphy. Lives in Ireland. Irish wife.

Good idea that... He's "one of our own" now that he's living here, and what with him having a "Proper Irish name" , tis a no-brainer

beertons

What a red by McGill there.

Joe_ Public

Huge stones. Been absolutely hammered today but no way I'd be offering last rites.

Say Your Number

McGill going down swinging.

BonnieSituation

beertons wrote: »

What a red by McGill there.

Unbelievable stuff.

This match from start to finish has been top-drawer. Best of the tournament by far.

Scottish Granite - Am glad he appears to be relatively tall (not sure what height he is) ; as there is little chance of that patronizing "plucky" descriptor being bestowed upon him.... A proper player too - If all comps were at least best of 21; then he'd surely be a top 8 player..

He's not lacking in any department.. Maybe now he'll get the credit he deserves... Only thirty (thought he was older until recently) , so win or lose today, I can see him being one of the players who have never won this, that will win it someday.... Unlike Wilson (who'll always fall short imo) , or Allen..

Gwan Ant

Say Your Number

Both of them have played brilliantly, tough that one of them has to go home after this.

Loafing Oaf

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

Can we officially adopt him? Second name Murphy. Lives in Ireland. Irish wife.

If he starts spelling Seán the proper way:P

DmanDmythDledge

spurshero wrote: »

Talking about centuries is a waste of time . There will be over 100 centuries in this tournament alone helped of course by the fact that the pockets are certainly a tad easier then they were years ago .

Obviously there is some sort of correlation between centuries and success but the guys who consistently hit 60-80s are going to win more... That's generally what you need to get you over the line in a frame

Loafing Oaf

Massive break for McGill there with the black going in:eek:

waynescales1

In goes the black from Bingham, so unlucky. This is proper Crucible drama now.

BonnieSituation

waynescales1 wrote: »

In goes the black from Bingham, so unlucky. This is proper Crucible drama now.

This is exactly why the WC is such a great tournament.

raclle

The last time I seen Murphy play this well was when he got to the final in 2015 and when he won it in 2005. Also really impressed with Bingham and he's playing just as good as when he won it in 2015. I suppose that's obv to say as he hasn't got this far since then