World Grand Prix, 13-19 December, Coventry Arena

Joe_ Public · 16-12-2021 4:33pm

And so Jimmy Robertson brings Brecels run of form to an end so no Ronnie-Brecel qf as anticipated. A lot of the big guns falling this week, you'd have to say might be best chance Ronnie gets to end his mini title drought for a while.

waynescales1 · 16-12-2021 5:08pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118331524#Comment_118331524

He literally said the exact opposite in a recent interview. Said, unlike Hendry and Davis, he's quite happy to just turn up, play and see how he gets on without focusing on winning. He mentioned Jimmy White a number of times, who has been doing exactly that for about 15 years.

Sandor Clegane · 16-12-2021 5:25pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118331944#Comment_118331944

I don't believe he's that type to be honest, as much as he likes to say he is, he's a winner and wants to keep winning, I could see him packing it in if he's winless run continues, now it may not be this year or next but he wont continue on if he's not challenging and winning titles imo.

Sandor Clegane · 16-12-2021 5:28pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118331745#Comment_118331745

Selby, Robbo still in it though and Id have them favorite if they meet.

Arthur Daley · 16-12-2021 7:06pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118332000#Comment_118332000

I'd say you are right. If he slipped out of the top 10 I'd not see him hanging around all that long. He might do it for a bit but he'd soon move on to something else. A bit like the phase he went through last year playing on with multiple snookers required. The novelty of it would wear off.

Joe_ Public · 16-12-2021 7:09pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118332016#Comment_118332016

Well, sure, i wouldn't expect him to face Jordan Brown every time he makes a final. But if he reaches this final he'll have beat Hicks, Vafaei, J Robertson and winner between Maguire/Bingham so on that basis, I'm not sure he'll get too many better title winning opportunities than this. Whether he wins is another matter entirely.

Joe_ Public · 16-12-2021 10:15pm

Was hoping they'd go for other match on live broadcast but not surprised they stuck with no.1 and world champ. At least Ford making him work for it now.

eric hoone · 16-12-2021 10:23pm

Sat nav Selby being tested here

Joe_ Public · 16-12-2021 11:47pm

Well done Neil Robertson, that was a great finish. Thought Yan had actually played an ok safety shot there, great pot to nick that in and get on the pink. Best of 9 makes a big difference with these matches I feel.

Joe_ Public · 17-12-2021 7:47pm

First sf tonight, cracker on paper and look hard to split. Interesting though that while h2h is tight, Robertson has beaten Selby in 10 of their last 11 meetings, 7 out of 8 if you exclude league clashes. Hard to know whether to read anything into that, but it is a good record. Encouragingly, a lot of deciders among those matches.

waynescales1 · 17-12-2021 7:54pm

They played a cracker of a 6-5 semi final last year, I think on one of the ITV tournaments, could easily be the same again.

Joe_ Public · 17-12-2021 8:30pm

Robbo definitely looking razor sharp tonight. Wondering maybe the enforced lay off after being knocked out of the uk champs early might have done him no harm. Recharged the batteries a bit.

Sandor Clegane · 17-12-2021 8:32pm

Robbo in great form so far, Selby needs to slow this down and try and drag Robertson into a tactical battle.

waynescales1 · 17-12-2021 9:11pm

The camera in the corner pocket had Robertson bang to rights anyway.

Joe_ Public · 17-12-2021 9:39pm

Jaysus how the flippin heck did he win that? Mad frame of snooker, would have been an amazing decider.

Joe_ Public · 17-12-2021 9:47pm

Every time I switch over to eurosport this week, to get a break from a certain commentator, it always seems to be Phil Studd on his own in the booth. Just sounds strange and a bit lonely, you'd think they'd be able to find him a partner even if all the main guys have decamped to itv for the week.

Sandor Clegane · 17-12-2021 10:49pm

Mad shot from Robertson.

Deserves to lose the frame after that.

Sandor Clegane · 17-12-2021 11:45pm

Robertson through, well deserved in the end he played the better snooker.

You'd have to have Robbo heavy favorite to win it outright now.

waynescales1 · 18-12-2021 8:54pm

The WST are gonna have to get a grip of the audience situation. The phone noise at the UK was a disgrace and now we have people bringing newborn babies into the arena.

Sandor Clegane · 18-12-2021 8:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118344105#Comment_118344105

That was a truly bizarre moment, as Hendry said what if it starting crying?

waynescales1 · 18-12-2021 9:08pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118344128#Comment_118344128

Yer one will probably sue the WST, and win!

Sandor Clegane · 18-12-2021 9:51pm

Its amazing how poor Ronnie has played yet he's still in the semi final and leading 3-1, his run to the semi's has been very easy it has to be said, I thought Bingham would cause him some problems, he's by far the best opponent he's played so far but Bingham has been very poor himself tonight, not over yet though, a lot can still happen but both have been very poor.

Joe_ Public · 18-12-2021 10:01pm

Ronnie not having the balls put back after Bingham fouled the last red was strange. Could have payed for that but Bingham been way too slack to take advantage, some of his misses have been embarrassing.

eric hoone · 18-12-2021 10:15pm

Bingham not at the races tonight

waynescales1 · 18-12-2021 10:51pm

Could O’Sullivan have had Bingham play from behind the brown? If so, surely that was the right shot…

waynescales1 · 18-12-2021 10:54pm

I’d say Bingham wants the ground to swallow him up.

Joe_ Public · 18-12-2021 10:57pm

Not putting Bingham in again was very odd, did something similar in F4, don't know why. Shocking performance from Bingham, not at the races against a pretty mediocre O'Sullivan.

Joe_ Public · 18-12-2021 11:10pm

"I'm not going to moan about it," says Bingham, after having a good moan about the table, the number of kicks and Ronnie getting all the run.

Arthur Daley · 18-12-2021 11:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118344694#Comment_118344694

Yeah, but think Ronnie was in the mood to have a swing at it knowing he was heading for the win eventually.

eric hoone · 19-12-2021 12:52am

I'd say the bookies have priced up the final fairly enough. Robbo to win

Joe_ Public · 19-12-2021 1:25am

Nothing about ronnies choice of shot to play the brown made much sense to me. If he was trying to play the white in behind the yellow not to leave red on if he missed, then he still would have had a tough yellow while leaving the red on again, which he needed to win the frame. Doesn't add up. Neal Foulds was speculating whether Ronnie was having some moral qualms about using the miss rule and have to say that had definitely crossed my mind earlier in the 4th frame where he let an even more bizarre one go.

mrunsure · 19-12-2021 11:37am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118345228#Comment_118345228

Yes, he's refused to take an advantageous miss in the past. His view is that as long as the player makes an honest attempt of getting out of the snooker then there shouldn't be a miss called.

Joe_ Public · 19-12-2021 2:11pm

Pretty surprising stat from last night, Bingham was the first top 16 player Ronnie had beaten in a ranking event since last march. Not surprising he's second favourite today as he'll have to improve substantially from his sf, curious to see how his approach will be early doors, will he attack or pay due deference to Robbo and try to be more patient.

Arthur Daley · 19-12-2021 2:40pm

Going into the pack off the cut back red. Ronnie is going to give it a lash here today.

Joe_ Public · 19-12-2021 2:59pm

Big chance missed by Neil to apply a real early killer blow there. Ronnie needed that, still second best it has to be said. Needs a good shake to get him really going!

Joe_ Public · 19-12-2021 3:22pm

Very strange start. As Dave Hendon just said, could just as easily be 4-0 as 2-2. Ronnie fans will be very happy but he hasn't picked up much from last night, while robbo just not ruthless enough with the chances he's had.

eric hoone · 19-12-2021 4:03pm

Ronnie'd want to tighten up his game

Joe_ Public · 19-12-2021 4:34pm

If he gets out of this 4-4, it'll be some escape.

The Nal · 19-12-2021 5:03pm

Great night ahead. Love when Ronnie digs in like that.

Joe_ Public · 19-12-2021 5:04pm

That was simply incredible. What this player is capable of when he puts his mind to it is astonishing. Absolute master class of snooker laying there, i have to fancy him for the match now as I don't think he can fail to improve for evening session.

eric hoone · 19-12-2021 6:55pm

Ronnie showed a great attitude to nick that last frame, rare if ever he'd go chasing two snookers before

Joe_ Public · 19-12-2021 7:04pm

After Neil missed the red i was fully expecting ronnie just to shake hands and quick exit stage right. Try to second guess him and he'll make a mug of you! Yesterday he wasn't playing misses against Stuart Bingham, today he put Robbo back in on at least 2 occasions. Just an enigma to his dying day, i guess.

eric hoone · 19-12-2021 8:44pm

Great final so far even without heavy scoring

Joe_ Public · 19-12-2021 9:00pm

If robbo can get 2 frame cushion again, feel it could be decisive, particularly after that telling blow. Ronnies stickability has been admirable but he'll be running out of frames soon.

eric hoone · 19-12-2021 9:36pm

Can't fault Ronnie's application...

Joe_ Public · 19-12-2021 10:34pm

What a time to miscue! Chance ronnie to close it out.

Arthur Daley · 19-12-2021 10:39pm

Ronnie ends his drought

waynescales1 · 19-12-2021 10:39pm

Have we seen the end of O’Sullivan? Did I actually read that earlier this week? Whoever said that has some explaining to do!

Sandor Clegane · 19-12-2021 10:47pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118349028#Comment_118349028

LOL...it was me that posed the question, Ronnie made remarks about quitting and I personally think he wouldn't continue without being able to compete in the business end of tournaments, and I believe that, I don't think he'd continue just for fun, that's bollox from him tbh he wants to win tournaments.

It was a good victory, but lets be honest he was very lucky, he had a very easy run to the final and tonight Neil should of been out of sight, he turned it on in the latter part of this match but Neil should of been too far gone.

The Nal · 19-12-2021 11:04pm

Some incredibly lucky world class safety shots today from Ronnie to stick in there and then lucky breaks of 90, 80, 77, 77 and 77 to win 5 of the last 6 frames in 35 minutes tonight.

He needs to pack it in.

World Grand Prix, 13-19 December, Coventry Arena

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