Williams bringing out the bugs bunny face, as a result of the increasing number of missed high cuts that he's been moving on.
Not looking good for him, unless he can put together a string of birdee's.
6 May 2023
94
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Which he did with some absolutely amazing shot making, with the odd silly miss chucked in.
So still looking possible for Williams at 8-8. I'm my defence I'd like to point out that Ronnie was 4-4 until he butchered his cue.
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Ronnie appears to still be on brass, with a functional tip. Maybe too late, but at least applying some pressure.
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Williams looks to have moved up a gear today, pot % up to 95.
Out of the two, I think he'd be the more likely to beat Xintong. Zhao is good at break building, but his matchplay is no match for Mark Williams. -
Potentially great final if Williams holds his form. Might depend on what he still has in the tank, but it wont be temperament or ringcraft that he comes short on. If his opponent can pot off the lampshades and win in one visit it could get whiffy quickly. If it has an element of mud wrestling Williams can do it. It's potting/breakbuilding versus shot making and craft. A perfect matchup if they are both on it.
Williams is a remarkable player. While the rest of snooker plays with stun/run-through, he drops the ball in at dead weight and uses natural roll*. It's everything you are told not to do. But he's quite good at it.
* Also he's got a rock hard tip, plays almost exclusively centre ball striking. All possible variables are eliminated, and the slow roll eliminates kicks and reduces percentage error in position....though it does mean it's all touch, and some shots in the balls aren't on. He creates unique shots. Knows his way round a table like an all-time great (that he is), and has incredible judgement of pace.
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He's a great player, and also has a great temperament. He'll need all his craft now though; it's rare for someone to come back from 7-1 down after the first session.
The other thing about Mark Williams is he has a great personality. I've watched somewhere of the YouTube videos with Stephen Henry and he's hilarious.
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Not unexpected that he might struggle after having the much later semi. Neither played near their best. No worse than 5-3 should have been doable, but Williams broke down in every potentially winning break.
It's a long way back, but better tank an early session, than a late one. At least he knows what he needs to do. Can he? No other player his age has even got here.
.... And yes, he's my favourite for a range of reasons. Character included.
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One more frame to guarantee a fourth session! If he can win the first session tomorrow 6-2 then he's back level. Needs at least 5-3 to stand any chance.
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Lost 3-0 in the cup to the ex-footballer tonight. Breaks of 35, 2x24 and 33;did for me. At least I can concentrate on the league now.
Also played the catch-up fixture from last week against an ex-Gurkha. He's a lovely guy, but he plays really slowly, feathering about 20 times before playing a shot. Anyway, scores are tied at 2-2 as we ran out of time. Already a pretty decent result for me as you get a point for each frame (you get 4 if you win 3-0), so guaranteed at least 2 points. He's a good player and last year's champion (he beat me 3-0). He's not playing his best, but I was potting well, being let down by loose positional play.
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Psychobel got me clicking through the Facebook, but here's one to remind you how old you are.
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League is going much better this season. I'm up to 4th now with 18 wins and 11 defeats following a 3-0 victory tonight (second in a row).
Also, Ken Doherty was playing a match against Mark Davis in the 900 tournament. He got roundly trounced 3-1, but I had a short chat with him after and he is a genuinely nice guy and also very funny. Stuart Bingham was also there and I watched him score a 128 break against Rehanne Evans. A fun evening. -
Watching Scott Donaldson in the UK Championship. Who does he think he's kidding with that comb-forward? Baldness plainly visible through the long strands of hair.
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He also looks like a bird.
Bald Eagle?
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Always makes me feel better about my game when I see a pro completely miss the ball they're going for. Allen gone into full grinding mode.
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A nice frame chasing the balls around for an hour. My sort of snooker.
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I've lost league matches 3-0 in less time than that frame took.
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If this was a club table I'd be unhappy with it. Drifts off up table to the yellow pocket. Inconsistent nap roll to the middle bags, and the right hand black pocket plays tighter than the left hand one.
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Yes. Donaldson played a shot to roll up to a ball on the baulk cushion, a shot I wouldn't attempt on a club table due to the likelihood of it drifting and missing the object ball, and so it did. There are two tables in my club where you can trust the roll, but that shit from Donaldson was like one I see regularly on our club tables.
Anyway, if Allen is to get back into and win this match it'll take him until about 2.30 at this rate. -
Also, Davis seems to think that Allen's titanium ferrule is causing him problems. I've improved a lot since I bought my new cue which has a titanium ferrule, but then I haven't been playing 16 hours a day for 30 years.
Donaldson is playing a little like me in this match. Some good long pots, solid safety, and the inability to get a break above 30.
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3-0 win in the league tonight; third 3-0 in a row. Tonight was especially good because he was top of the league, five points ahead of me with a frame difference of +20 v my +16. With four points for a 3-0 win, I'm now only one point behind with a frame difference of +19 v +17.
I'll remain in fourth place level with the player in second on points, who didn't play tonight. He has a frame difference of +29, a handicap of -7 and usually gets at least one fifty break in a match. He looks odds-on yo win the league, although he just lost his first match two weeks ago.
I'm also level on points with the player in third, the ex-pro footballer, whose frame difference is +24. It's tight at the top!
I don't want to be in the top three at the two thirds point of the season as they have 7 removed from their handicap and the bottom 3 have three added.
