Currently watching the World seniors....some quite poor matches early on, but the standard at the quarters is generally very high.
I only found out earlier that to be a senior is to be over 40. I'd expect one of Ronnie, Mark Williams, or Higgins to win it.
Ronnie has been Ronnying:
I am enjoying the masters...but they are currently letting Shaun Murphy talk. Which is not my favourite thing.
1-1 in the Allen Carter semi, and game stopped due to medical emergency in the crowd.
Another ones gone down in the audience. They need a younger crowd!
Delighted that Michael Holt has got his tour card back. In a re-tread of slightly related (old) news, some of the football lads know his sister, who is also quite handy (and similarly named). They were trying to sneak her into a game against me, to put me in my place, as I have a reputation amongst our group as that guy when it comes to snooker.
Last two days of the world qualifiers - eight games today, eight tomorrow, winners reach Crucible - £12 a ticket for the full day, unreserved seating.
Today's matches include Maguire, former champion Bingham, and Lisowski v Stevens, which I'm hoping to watch in the evening session tonight.
Neil Robertson among tomorrow's games.
White, Fu, Doherty, McGill, Dott among those already eliminated.
It's frightening about how many good players have to qualify. Genuinely shocked when I saw Robertson had to. Would put lizowski in that category. Really think they should expand the field. Why not have an extra round, and an extra week, and still call it the world championship, rather than qualifying?
Jack Lisowski - a good player, but has a touch of the Jimmy White about him I think. Not the drugs and whores, more the bottling it at important moments. Highly skilled and highly strung.
Luca Brecel has had a terrible season since winning last year and has played poorly in the first round match. I really doubt he will be a contender unless he somehow manages to rediscover his form of last year.
For the rest, I'd go for Ronnie or Trump to win this year.
For me he's perhaps the worst all round player to have won a world championship. His sustained form this time last year was the blip. Not what has happened since.
....not really on the subject of favourites...I've not seen enough snooker this season to know who is coming into form (but my gut says mark allen is ready to be world champion, and has the long form game). I like to see 'classic' style snooker players...someone I can take something from (in terms of learning). With the best will in the world I wont ever be able to play like a pound shop Trump or Ronnie. But technically orthodox lefties like Allen and Williams (my current favourite active professional), and the gorgeously stylish (like Barry Hawkins), are my preferred watch. I enjoy Selby's all round quality (although his cue action is horrid - doesn't come through straight) and ability to win in lots of ways. It's often winning so ugly, that it's pretty.
That was fine until you said Selby's all-round quality. He's the Billy Davies of snooker. Not good enough on the table, so makes it more about off the baize. I know mental strength is a huge part of professional sport, but I want to see flowing snooker, not Selby trying mind games/gamesmanship to grind his opponent down. It's winning so ugly as to be awful and turning people off the sport..
It's the age-old problem between seeing professional sport as a job, a business or entertainment - I want to watch the players who see it as entertainment, and, thus, want to entertain.
I quite enjoyed Jak Jones beating Zhang Anda in a match that I'd have been competitive in. Extended frames, tension getting to the players, the mental struggle was great to watch. I wouldn't want every match to be like that but it is a part of the sport.
....I understand. It's a bit like Russ wanting football to be basketball and not trying to manage the without the ball stuff, and only looking at what people can do on the ball. I appreciate that most spectators find it exciting to see impossible shots being taken on, and big breaks flying in...and I can enjoy that...but possibly more I am fascinated by safety, denying your opponent an opportunity while trying to create one for yourself....manipulating the game so that your opponent plays your game, not theirs. Attritioning the shit out of things, to gain an advantage. Hard matchplay. For me that's every bit as fascinating a part of sport as thoughtless, reckless, on the front foot hit and hope.
YMMV.
Shaun Murphy needs to learn that less is often more.
And the bbc needs to learn that less Shaun Murphy, is more enjoyment for everyone else. Not for Shaun though, who clearly likes hearing himself running his stupid hammy mouth.
