2024 Masters - Jan 7th to Jan 14th - BBC/Eurosport

ArmaniJeanss

Draw bracket by quarter. 1 v 2 in semi final.

1. Judd Trump v Kyren Wilson. Mark Williams v Ali Carter.
2. Mark Selby v Robert Milkins. Mark Allen v John Higgins.
3. Ronnie v Ding. Neil Robertson v Barry Hawkins.
4. Shaun Murphy v Zhang Anda. Luca Brecel v Jack Lisowski.

Non ranking, but one of the triple crown events. £250K up top, Judd defending champion. Best of 11 all the way to best of 19 final. Brecel v JackL kicks it off this afternoon.

Judd 7/2, Ronnie 4/1, Selby 13/2, 14/1 bar. The Masters Winner Betting Odds | Snooker | Oddschecker

Arthur Daley

Lisowski stomping all over Brecel. Luca looking like he will struggle to repeat the form of last year or two and put up much defence of his World Title.

Things can change in Sheffield of course.

Lisowski needed a handy win for his own season.

gormdubhgorm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121582625#Comment_121582625

Other question is can Lisowski put two good performances back to back? Will face the winner of Murphy v Anda. If he faces Murphy I would favour the adopted Irishman if he is switched on at all.

The Nal

Doubt Luca is the man to beat the Crucible curse.

Lot of bookies happy tonight though

Comic Book Guy

Ding with a 147!

gormdubhgorm

Gowan Ding ya boy ya - max break now 4-3 down massive turn around. I nearly switched off a few frames ago. Thought he might miss the last yellow very awkward.

The Nal

Fantastic! Delighted for him.

Watch him lose the next frame now.

gormdubhgorm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121587376#Comment_121587376

Yeah that happens hard to switch back to normal play. Just heard there Ding on for a massive bonus if he gets a max in the world championship now.

The Nal

Think he made Ronnie a bit angry. Some response. Shot time must be silly

gormdubhgorm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121587455#Comment_121587455

The standard of Ronnie's play has been ridiculously good. I thought he was supposed to feel edgy at this tournament with the vocal support he gets?

This is more like 'paid practice mate'.

Fair play to Ding for managing to make a game of it.

gormdubhgorm

That was a bit of cheek from Ronnie there, potting the red under the refs arm.

The Nal

15 second shot time!

gormdubhgorm

Ronnie post match in the arena- "My cueing aint great...."

--

What???

gormdubhgorm

Obviously that 147 bonus if get two is not enough for Ronnie (BBC studio) mentioning Ding's 147 full of praise for it etc.

Hazel says "you have 15"

Ronnie - "I am on strike from it, it should be 25"

Arthur Daley

Didn't quite catch his comment. Looking at him I was expecting the Rob Walker and BBC interviews could have developed into another car crash. But they just about managed to steer it on course.

He tells Parrot and Ken he doesn't bother watching other matches. He'll probably be in doing analysis for Eurosport all afternoon tomorrow. LOL

gormdubhgorm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121587816#Comment_121587816

Yeah that is what I was thinking about the Eurosport thing as well made no sense. I think Ronnie was just on the wind up on that, to be honest. Saying he watched 'one frame'. But he genuinely seemed more upset that he hurt his foot, and couldn't go running. Has to cycle instead.

The interview in the arena nearly went odd when he said 'I aint cueing properly'. You could sense the crowd murmuring sort of quiet. Rob Walker just about saved it by saying 'But the crowd don't agree'!

The Nal

Carter looked solid last night

HeidiHeidi

Kyren Wilson looking more than solid this afternoon. Sharp as a tack.

Trump is not getting a look in, and when he occasionally does, he's in poor form.

Could be a short match unless Trump gets his act together sharpish.

HeidiHeidi

He must have heard me! 3-1 at the interval.

Arthur Daley

Some of the form players in 2023 struggling a bit into early 2024.

One thing you can't say is that snooker is a just a boring procession these days.

Probably does leave the door open for Ronnie this week if his head is in it, with Willo out and Trump looking a bit dicey.

Arthur Daley

Wilson with another gimmicky break off. Can't see him sticking with it.

Whatever you do, don't hit the blue!

gormdubhgorm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121592224#Comment_121592224

I was thinking even in general the argument used to be there are no 'characters' in the game. There seems to be plenty of fellas with opinions off the table these days Varfaei, Williams, Allen etc. Or fellas that are late bloomers like Milkins/Bingham. There seems to be way more depth in standard of player now. I know that the masters is top 16. But even if the fella who sneaks in 16th is always capable of a run in it if he clicks. I wouldn't have said that years ago.

HeidiHeidi

Ah here, I miss a couple of hours, and Trump is up 5-3??? HTF did that happen?

I'm delighted, he's definitely my favourite of the two, hope he can close it out now.

Arthur Daley

Yeah, not a particular fan of Wilson. There's nothing wrong with the chap, but he just annoys the way he goes on bringing his kids and domestic life into most conversations. Find it all boring.

Each to their own

Arthur Daley

5-5 this might go on to 6pm.

Might struggle to get the new crowd in for 7 o'clock

AllForIt

Oh man I feel so bad for Wilson the way the that final frame went for him. He'd virtually had it won, did all the hard work.

HeidiHeidi

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121593002#Comment_121593002

Near the start of the game the camera panned in on the wife and the younger child - I know the older fella is all about it, a total showman, but this kid saw himself on a screen and looked like he wanted the ground to swallow him up - it was the most uncomfortable viewing, and they just held the camera on him for what seemed like an age. Felt so sorry for him!

Anyway, job done.

waynescales1

Didn't quite do all of the hard work though did he? Played a poor positional shot and was punished in one hit by Trump, that's elite sport.

bennyx_o

Christ, the heavy breathing on Eurosport has me close to turning the Robertson Hawkins match off

Cetyl Palmitate

Very poor stuff from Robertson. Ignoring his biggest break <30, his safety has been very weak also

Arthur Daley

Another marathon match tonight. And it's not even gone 5 all yet

Arthur Daley

Higgins is just missing a few clutch shots now, that is keeping him back from winning the titles.

Misses green with the rest to go 2-0 up and Allen wins with the respotted black to bring it to 1-1

gormdubhgorm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121596939#Comment_121596939

Knocking in a one visit break now, sort of out of character for the match. Higgins on 90% safety. But still only 2-1 up should have been 3-0.

I noticed Virgo and Murphy have been hyper critical of both players, in commentary.

Arthur Daley

Another long, tight match. 5-5

gormdubhgorm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121598020#Comment_121598020

Higgins is his own worst enemy makes life very hard for himself. Threw that match away.

Brian?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121598121#Comment_121598121

The only one who beats Higgins is himself. It’s always been that way, but he just doesn’t have the mental strength for it anymore. He’ll get enough wins to stay in the 16 for a while, but I can’t see him winning anything any time soon.

When was the last time he won a deciding frame? He either blows people away or loses tight matches. I think that run a few seasons ago where he lost 4 finals in a row broke him.

The Nal

Higgins and Allen were both abysmal yesterday. Not much to take from Selbys match against a weak opponent.

gormdubhgorm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121600083#Comment_121600083

I think it must have, I remember he said he was thinking of retirement after that.

There was an interview pre- match yesterday (can't remember who with) but Hazel Irvine pointed out in studio that Higgins said he no longer 'believes' he 'hopes'. I thought that was really odd. Hendry said if a player does not believe he is going to win he has no chance.

The Nal

Great chance for Hawkins to win this. Ronnie struggling badly.

gormdubhgorm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121602176#Comment_121602176

Hawkins did not go in for the kill when he had the chance, I think the pressure got to Hawkins. 4-3 Ronnie when it should be 5-2 Hawkins. Missed same pink in the corner pocket twice.

Arthur Daley

Nice red to win it

The Nal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121602342#Comment_121602342

Yep. And Ronnie went in for the kill despite struggling

Rothko

It's been a fairly poor tournament so far. I hope it kicks up a gear soon.

gormdubhgorm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121602603#Comment_121602603

They all seem to have an edginess for whatever reasons, even the seasoned lads. But you are right overall it has not been great. Bar Ronnie's first match v Ding. There was no game where two players played top tier stuff.

Arthur Daley

Some top players took little time resting up over Christmas, as Ronnie said they might feel a bit wiped out after all the travel in Asia.

They are earning, but some might be pushing the boat out a bit. This should mean players ranked 16-32 have a chance to pick up the pieces in the other events.

World Grand Prix with top 32 in form begins on ITV4 Monday.

The Golden Miller

The standard is brutal as usual, O'Sullivan winning at a canter again, on the handy side of the draw again too.

Your Hawkins, Lisowskis, Carter's, Wilson's etc, would be also rans in the 90s, early 00s. It's a sad state of affairs, when O'Sullivan at his age can still canter to wins, regardless of his talent.

Hendry must be fumming, no one to really stand in his way for an 8th world title, barring maybe Selby depending on his form. Trump no good under pressure either. Can knock centuries in for fun, but they dry up fairly quick on him at times when it matters.

Really disappointed the year Trump fell over the line to get the the world final after he beat Williams in the semi. Williams came back and should of finished him off, Trump's confidence went right out the window at the end of that game, and was brutal in the final. Imagine had we got a Williams O'Sullivan final that year.

Imagine a final where both Williams and O'Sullivan click and play to their best, it's one of the few match ups O'Sullivan would be in trouble. Williams a better single ball potter, and hard to stop him getting in first when he's pulling off those mercurial impossible pots.

Only problem for him since he regained form, is his break building often breaks down around the 60/70 points mark and gets frames stolen on him, something that didn't happen to a younger Williams, who was like a robot.

I remember the final Williams won against Higgins, and at the end, Higgins tried to mount a come back. The pressure was off him as he was behind and wasn't missing a ball. The problem was he couldn't really get too close as Williams kept pulling off miraculous pots to get in first every time.

I've never really seen a player pull off the amount of incredible and impossible shots as Williams. O'Sullivan more consistent for sure, but I don't actually think he'd have the ability to pull off some of the stuff Williams can do at times.

If Williams had a better work ethic and practised properly his whole career, it's scary what he could of achieved. As much as he's won, I can't always help but feel disappointed that he's left so much behind him, what could of been. Was a potting machine.

We always talk about O'Sullivan not being focused and head not in it at times, Williams was actually far worse. Gave up practising in 05 for about 13 years. That's the real shame, not O'Sullivan who did always practise, regardless of what he said. For me, Williams is the greatest at his peak, does things I've never seen anyone else capable of doing, bar Alex Higgins in patches!

gormdubhgorm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121603044#Comment_121603044

Good point on Wiiliams mad to think he only returned to playing properly when his wife gave out to him and he won a world title, which he thought he had no chance to - him saying he would the press conference naked etc if he won. He seems to be a big fan of this sight rite craic now though. The way he rolls mad shots in casually adds to the drama of any game.

You are right as well that Ronnie is on the soft side of the draw. Robertson collapsing helped. Unless Murphy (who I assume will beat Lisowski) really ups his game, it looks like a least a final for Ronnie with only playing top form in his first match.

It is a shame as well that those Chinese lads made eejits of themselves with the match fixing, especially Yan Bingtao that fella looked like he was shaping up to dominate snooker for the next decade. There is this strange sort of void in snooker as a result. with no fella in their 20's storming through the auld lads, yet . Unless Zhao can kick on he seems like the only hope for that age group?

Normally you would think you would get three or four young fellas of the same age putting it up to the old brigade. Ronnie keeps expecting it to happen but it has not. The old brigade are still more than holding their own.

Ironically way things are going it looks inevitable that one of the Chinese tournament's will be the new 'major' even over taking the masters (who the likes of Hendry always sees as second to the World Championship in importance).

The Golden Miller

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121603260#Comment_121603260

Despite Williams resurgence and world title win, he still doesn't kill himself practising. He won a world title with a half effort tbh. The site rite stuff was more an exercise in regaining confidence. Could still be performing better generally if his heart was in it, which it still really isn't. He's winging it, albeit with more effort than he once put in.

I remember watching a quarter final against Ding I think, circa 2013, and he was a disgrace. Totally disinterested, got hammered, made no effort to play safe on anything, and went for everything.... and didn't care less. Was thinking, if this is what Williams has become, why take the spot of someone who wants to try.

At least we got him half back to an extent

The Golden Miller

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121603260#Comment_121603260

The standard has been poor since the mid 00s. When Dott and Bingham are winning world titles, you know your in trouble, also rans. When Hawkins and Carter are deemed serious contenders, you know the dept of the field is brutal.

When Hunter passed, Williams stopped practising, Stevens lost confidence, Hendrys form nose dived, that was the end of snooker as we knew it. All that happened in a close time frame

There was a stage, whoever was on form between Higgins and O'Sullivan, had a world title in the bag. And as much as I like both, neither would of had it that handy if facing Hendry or Williams at their peak.

Bar Selby, I struggle to name a truely great player who has come along. Robertson a let down, as is Trump in many ways. After that, nothing since circa 05

The Golden Miller

Just on Williams. In 00s he won two of the triple crown events and racked up a heap of other titles. From what I've read, even then his motivation went out the window for a year or two.

When the wife got onto him after a year or two of living it up and he refocused and put serious effort in, won every televised tournament in the 03 season, including the triple crown. After that the wife said there was nothing she could do to motivate him and the kids came then, so that was that.

Most of what he's won has been over 3/4 seasons where he genuinely applied himself, and is like 4th or 5th as the most successful player in terms of titles and majors won. That's actually staggering, when he applied himself, he demolished everything in front of him, to the point in 03, he was winning nearly everything he entered.

People do forget just how good and dominant he was at his peak, he was actually hated back then as he was like a robot and didn't miss, but looked boring, serious and solemn, despite actually being extremely laid back.

I've never seen a player play to the level he did for a whole season in 03, not even O'Sullivan or Hendry at their very best. This guy was so good at his peak, he was half a level ahead of them at their best imo!

The Golden Miller

Between like 98 to 04 we had a golden era, of Williams, Hendry, O'Sullivan and Higgins at their best and in that order, with a supporting cast of Stevens, Hunter, Doherty and a few more. Greatest dept of talent the game has seen.

All typed on my phone so apologise for any spelling errors in the above messages