2024 World Championships

Ken gets it

https://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2024/0426/1445943-doherty-urges-hearn-to-stick-with-the-crucible/

Most people would have had Si to beat Jak Jones easily

Always reminded in the Crucible that performance in one round only means so much in the next round. First round or two is as much about survival and still be standing with a chance to win it by going on a run.

His self-talk looks horrendous. No teen drama bully could be harder on him than he's being on himself.

The puss on Jak Jones.

If Si can hold it together it’s 8-8.

Jak Jones first match against Anda was even worse

He'd make mince meat of jones but Si would make a game of it

Trump V O'Sullivan could meet in a Semi-Final.

Hard to say. He used to coast in the 90's the early rounds were a foregone conclusion. Eddie Charlton and the likes. Then if he got to the Quarters he was getting Griffiths. And a lot of his matches he used to try and win with a session to spare. It was only around the Semi Finals he had real tests, from memory.

If Hendry was playing now he would have a lot more hurdles. Where even a qualifier could either give a real test or cause a shock. I cannot remember many 1st, 2nd round crucible shocks in the 90's. I know Steve James beat Hendry the first year he was defending "crucible curse". But in my mind it was very rare.

But in the 1990's it was not a question of if Hendry would get to the final. It was who would he be playing in the final. There were not many players outside the top 6 - like a Bingham, Dott, Murphy who could cause major upsets at the World Championship, back in the 90's.

Plus the style of play is a lot different overall. Even the bog standard top 64 player is likely to be agressive. Hendry mostly just faced "fear" in the 90's. I think Hendry said he knew as soon as his opponent walked out if he had them beaten or not.

So in answer to your question no Hendry would not have it as easy as he did then.

Opposite side: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sportinglife.com/amp/snooker/news/world-snooker-championship-2024-draw-seeds-schedule-results-and-tv-information/217333

This would be the Trump that has won one world championship in 14 attempts?

I suppose they have it on the "both sides" to stop cheating and missing on purpose to gain an advantage. If you knew you could leave just one edge players at this level would be willing to take their penalty points.

I like it to be honest it adds to the drama.

I like to think there's some to truth to the idea that the more "free flowing" players will be able to have longer careers due to having a less draining style of play. Selby and Doherty might back this up, however, I wonder just how valid it really is. Hendry's standard of play began to fall quite sharply at just 30 years old and there weren't many more aggressive than him. He made his last final at just 36. Then you have Higgins who has no problem grinding opponents down, he was still making WC finals in his mid 40s.