World Snooker Championship 2022

That was really entertaining to watch tonight. Roll on the semi finals tomorrow!

Ya, he was clearly emotional. They should hat left Jack alone, what was it, less than 2 minutes after being defeated, he's being interviewed. He handled it well. He's improved exponentially for me.

Never happened before in the modern era. 1969 - onwards

Never happened before that as there were only 4 World Champions pre 69 and they wouldn't have overlapped.

Would be a great quiz question. I was curious so quickly worked backwards on Wikipedia. Easy to eliminate years of finals where was a non winner or first time finalists/winner.

So managed to go all the way back to 1966. At that stage I don’t even think they had semi finals!?

So in answer to your question four past champs were never in SF. In the proper era anyway. Came close a few times with 3 out of 4 of the semi finalists. But never all four.

Mark Williams v Judd Trump

John Higgins v Ronnie O'Sullivan

Judd v Ronnie final with Judd prevailing is my guess,

what’s your thinking/predictions ?

Really disappointed for Jack but after a bit of time I'm sure he'll be able to look back and be delighted with how he did. It could be the start of a new stage in his career.

I used to play fairly regularly on Fergal o Brien's table when it was in the club in Lucan village. The pockets are tight but with the fine cloth and everything being very quick, you play with such little amount of power that for me it was just about the same to play on in terms of break building.

Potting balls tight along cushion are more difficult than the club table for sure but playing around the black is real nice on the pro table.

For example, srewing back off cushion on a straight black off spot and bringing white out around the pink spot requires a gently stroke and allows more accuracy whereas on a club table you might be using alot of your available power.

Worst table I ever played on was in a club where it seemed to have championship pockets and a thick cloth. Now that was impossible.

Club pockets with a fine cloth would make for big breaks I figure.

Yeah Trump could ‘click’ in the final. Has not played consistently great to get this far. Just did enough. So in theory he has a few more gears to go. Williams playing great though. Even that bad Williams session v Yan he hung on in the match.

Someone at the BBC needs to tap Shaun Murphy on the shoulder and tell him cut the shìt. He talks wayyy too much and tries to make everything into some astute observation. He clearly likes the sound of his own voice too much.

....then someone from World Snooker needs to take Murphy and have a very serious word with him about interfering with the officials. He was getting involved on a red being replaced last night and advocated for the ball to be moved towards the black cushion when the ball actually needed to be moved further away. The ref and the assistant should have told him to be quiet.

That is what I was thinking Dennis Taylor always go on about the ‘super fine cloths’ that have to be replaced and would only last a few days.

Between Murphy and Rob Walker on the BBC I really don't rate them as commentators. Murphy thinks he knows everything and was suggesting shots to play by both Jack and John last night and the players went for totally different shots.

I don't mind the commentators on Eurosport as long as Joe Johnson isn't commentating.

I was gutted for Jack, fair play to John getting over the line. But I do think that the John Ronnie and Mark seem to be struggling with tiredness, it might set it up for Judd to win it outright if he can up his game.

I remember one in particular where Murphy was horrified that Lisowski removed a red from the cushion. ‘Surely Not’ etc. Two reds left Lisowski ahead in frame. Lisowski won it.

The impression I get with Murphy he thinks his way of playing is the ‘more correct one’ nearly all the time! And then I think if Murphy was that good he would still be in the tournament!

Hes a world champion tbf. I think he was right about that red too, Jack got away with one. Awful shot from Higgins after.

Murphy clearly knows his angles!

Anyway get used to him. With Virgo and Taylor gone next year its Murphy for the next 30 years! Work in progress sure but hes only been at it a few years.