The Snooker Thread

[igor_balis]

Brilliant semis so far, nice to see Jones back in it.
Safety play is the best form of snooker. Potting and breaks are like goals - basic.

I've actually liked how Jones has been declining some moderately difficult pots and going for safeties, when the default received wisdom is always to TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY to win in one visit. It'd be rubbish if everyone did it, but it's nice to see some variety of approach. His long potting has looked very tidy in the last few frames as well.

[igor_balis]

Watch him miss now, but it feels like Jones is in one of those spells where he wishes they could just keep playing this session all night.

[niko_cee]

Bingham's head now colour matching perfectly with the sponsor behind it.

[Gray Fox]

Nice clear up given the circumstances. Another hearty plug from Virgo for the Crucible as well.

[niko_cee]

Knowledgeable Crucible Crowd not coming up trumps there applauding the outcome Jones was desperately trying to avoid.

Slaphead's gone to absolute shit though.

[niko_cee]

Good god, the balls aren't half bailing him out here.

12 fouls in a frame though. :eek:

[niko_cee]

Not as bad as the one earlier but I'm really not a fan of players being allowed to foul ad infinitum in pursuit of the best possible shot. Not sure you should necessarily extend the three foul forfeit rule, but then just going for it and missing over and over again feels like an abuse of the rules.

[Gray Fox]

One semi is 8-8 and the other looks like being 9-9. The way it should be.

[Ben]

Really good match this. I’m all for World Champion Dave Gilbert.

[Ian]

The Angry Farmer. :cool:

[igor_balis]

Not as bad as the one earlier but I'm really not a fan of players being allowed to foul ad infinitum in pursuit of the best possible shot. Not sure you should necessarily extend the three foul forfeit rule, but then just going for it and missing over and over again feels like an abuse of the rules.

Nah bollocks, it's better than a decent snooker basically instantly making you far more likely to win the frame cus the other player is obliged to take a riskier escape. you're WRONG

[Gray Fox]

Getting a bit twitchy out there.

EDIT: Forgot I paused on iPlayer. Skipped back to live and he's on for a century.

[igor_balis]

Gilbo needs to win the next couple I think

[niko_cee]

Nah bollocks, it's better than a decent snooker basically instantly making you far more likely to win the frame cus the other player is obliged to take a riskier escape. you're WRONG

It is literally the name of the game though and whilst I appreciate the point made about roll-up snookers being disproportionately beneficial for very little effort, perhaps a bit of new rules pool is needed, why should you be permanently entitled to play the 'best possible shot' in a reasonably risk and consequence free way?

[niko_cee]

Things really not rolling for Gilbo at the moment.

[niko_cee]

Not helping himself either though. Head gone.

[igor_balis]

That Bingham safety was possibly the worst professional snooker shot I've ever seen :D

[Yevrah]

I make you right there.

The ref might have to do this more than once here. :D

[igor_balis]

Marcel being a right fanny here, good luck to him and Lindsay Hoyle though.

[Yevrah]

Just give him a fucking i-pad with iplayer on it ffs.

[igor_balis]

This is absolute PEAK snooker, what a magical sport.

[igor_balis]

Plz splatter them twice as badly this time

[Yevrah]

Yeah, that was class. :D

[igor_balis]

Bingham is absolutely gone, I feel like Kyren is gonna batter Jones in the final as well

[wullie]

I've got no idea why but it bugs me that everyone goes by surname on the scoreboard and there's Jak Jones with his full name. Unless his full name is actually Keith Jak Jones or something

[igor_balis]

I've got no idea why but it bugs me that everyone goes by surname on the scoreboard and there's Jak Jones with his full name. Unless his full name is actually Keith Jak Jones or something

He shares surname and even first initial with Jamie Jones of first round fame

[wullie]

Ah there is another Jones then, I did wonder.

[Gray Fox]

New winner guaranteed. Arses going to get twitchy if it's close towards the end.

[-james-]

Oh dear.

[igor_balis]

Bingham is absolutely gone, I feel like Kyren is gonna batter Jones in the final as well:evictory:

[Giggles]

Jones may go home.

[Gray Fox]

Apparently he didn't touch the practice room after being 4-0 down. A bit foolish.

What's the biggest win in the final before this?

[wullie]

Could be worse for Jones, looking back over the list of finals they used to play 145 frames at one point.

Steve Davis beating John Parrott 18-3 appears to be the biggest hiding, at least in modern terms

[niko_cee]

Goes without saying that he really needs this final frame but he's just playing so badly.

[Giggles]

Nearly had got to the stage where you'd be rooting for the 18-0 for the craic.

[igor_balis]

Kyren playing on for three snookers at 7-0 is probably a sign of a TRULY DRIVEN SPORTSMAN but it feels a bit unnecessary.

[igor_balis]

Glad to see jak making a bit of a fight of it

I think he looks vaguely like me, actually. Poor bloke.

[igor_balis]

Pretty gutting end of session if Wilson wins this frame

[Jimmy Floyd]

Ball run has some questions to answer for allowing this state of affairs.

[Yevrah]

7-0 happens weirdly often in finals for whatever reason. The famous black ball one saw Davis in the same place and he still went on to lose.

[igor_balis]

J.j. did well to pull it back as much as he did but I think that's the ballgame. Even if he wins this frame, 13-9 just feels too far off. 12-10 and momentum plus Kyren shitting himself may have got him there.

[Gray Fox]

He's still in it, just about. Wilson will get very twitchy the closer he gets to the line if Jones can keep it close.

[igor_balis]

I think that's game. He had to win that one.

[Dark Soldier]

JJ is winning it lads

[Gray Fox]

He has done well to make it respectable, but you can't really be giving anyone in the Worlds final a 7 frame head start. Hopefully he sticks at it and we get a close finish.

[Dark Soldier]

Brecel came from 9 frames behind last year to win his semi. Dude was 14-5 down at one point. Taylor was 8-0 down in 85. 91 Masters Hendry 7-0 down.

Its happened many, many times.

[Gray Fox]

Wales a real hot bed of snooker? is it?

[Yevrah]

While a 7-0 deficit is far from ideal the bigger problem Jak Jones has is that he’s just a bit crap.

[Yevrah]

How did Jak Jones get this far? He's fucking shit.

It’s been an awful tournament all told. Lowest number of centuries for a decade, barely any good matches and a joke of a semi-final line up. Hopefully normal service will resume next year.

[Dark Soldier]

It’s been an awful tournament all told. Lowest number of centuries for a decade, barely any good matches and a joke of a semi-final line up. Hopefully normal service will resume next year.

Its prob more the ol' reliables are just fucking old now, sadly.

[Boydy]

Tempted to get down the nearest club and start practising regularly if this shitter can get to the world championship final.

[Shindig]

Must be the piss aura of the Crucible.

[Gray Fox]

I feel like Virgo is contractually obliged to praise the Crucible at least once per frame.

[Boydy]

He's so bad!

[Boydy]

Just fucking finish it Kyren so I can stop watching this shit.

[Giggles]

Virgo is getting sick of his shit now.

[Dark Soldier]

I've switched it over to Eurosport, I'm pretty sure Virgo has dementia.

[Waffdon]

What a fluke :D

[Boydy]

Here we go, he's potted a red. Break of 40 or so, then he fucks up an easy pot and hands the frame to Kyren.

[Boydy]

Didn't even get to 40 ffs. :D

[Gray Fox]

That black. Christ. Roll it in lad.

[Boydy]

Second century of the evening session? No, easy blue missed off the spot!

[Ian]

I do like how little poker face Jones has. Lose a frame? Sits chuntering away to himself. Wins a frame? Happy as Larry.

[igor_balis]

I really enjoyed how perplexed he was by the plant not going in, and the missed double not going safe.

Contrary to Yev, I loved this tournament. Centuries are overrated anyway, you've already won the frame ffs. Not sure of any other sports where you basically just keep going in that situation, at least a third of the shots in a total clearance are basically superfluous.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've always thought that, it's like if a cricket team reached the winning target and kept going anyway to get Dhoni to his hundred (let's hope the BCCI aren't reading this for ideas). If I was on the end of a Judd Trump clearance and he started smashing the last few in exhibition-style as he does, I'd want to chin him.

[Yevrah]

Whether you're bothered by them or not centuries are a good barometer of the level of play in a tournament, given that the players are actively trying to get them.

The Higgins/Allen match was great but beyond that they're wasn't much to get excited about.

[Shindig]

Aye, break building is essential. Once they're at the table, that's got to be a forefront of every player's mind. Every ball matters to some degree.

[igor_balis]

Honestly not trying to be contrary, but I much prefer gritty safety play to breakbuilding. Don't get me wrong, I love some #naughtysnooker, and I appreciate great pots, but when players are just in the zone and ruthlessly clearing the table without ever really losing position (basically optimal snooker that all players are trying to achieve) I find it incredibly boring.

Obviously there's a difference between great safety play and frames getting bogged down cus people keep missing stuff, but I love it either way.

Yev, you're obviously right that lack of centuries is a clear indicator of a lower standard, but I don't really care about that anyway. Give me unfancied randos somehow ending up at the business end of the tournament over Judd and Ronnie and co just smashing everyone.

[igor_balis]

Aye, break building is essential. Once they're at the table, that's got to be a forefront of every player's mind. Every ball matters to some degree.

A bit like votes in safe seats under FPTP - they do, but also they kind of don't. In fairness, I love a 147, but garden-variety 100s can do one.

[Boydy]

I love tactical safety battles too but if there's not much jeopardy to them because your opponent is only going to make a break of 30 if he gets a chance and then fucks it up then they're not really as exciting.

[niko_cee]

Weren't they blaming the tables for the lack of century breaks?

[Giggles]

Have they ever been as 'lumpy'? Even aside from that whole mess with the O'Sullivan black, I never seen as many balls come to a stop and then settle left or right of their trajectory.

[igor_balis]

Trump Vs Robertson has been absolutely appalling, I can't remember seeing standard this low since I played with my old work colleague at Riley's.

[igor_balis]

Trump has woken up and been great since I wrote that, Robertson is really bad though, maybe he's done at the top level - he will drop out of the year to date top 16 and thus will not compete at the masters.

[igor_balis]

Ball bag Bingham probably even worse this evening

[igor_balis]

147 from one of the Chinese fellas on table two though which was nice

[Jimmy Floyd]

I think we're entering the Kyren Wilson era, and it's probably what we deserve.

[AJ23]

I think we're entering the Kyren Wilson era, and it's probably what we deserve.

It would be about time. But the old dog John Higgins is still in the draw and his next game is against Judd Trump.

Both are in Wilson's side of the draw to potentially meet in the semi-finals.

[Shindig]

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/976/cpsprodpb/ea8a/live/c745ee10-ace2-11ef-92c5-85d8a8f7d550.jpg.webp

What a forehead.

[wullie]

His entire face is in the southern hemisphere.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I umpired with a guy last year who was like that and I'll be honest, I couldn't take him seriously all day.

'Did the batsmen cross there?'
'Dunno mate, your face is on your chin'

[Waffdon]

Trump in the first 4 frames earlier today was so close to utter perfection. Genuinely should have had 4 centuries in a row

[igor_balis]

Been a good tournament overall, nice to see Michael Holt doing alright, seems a decent bloke.

[Waffdon]

Think Wilson wins this match. He seems to have trumps number this year

[igor_balis]

Think Wilson wins this match. He seems to have trumps number this year

Quality jinxing

[Waffdon]

Worked a treat. Pretty shite match though

[igor_balis]

Agreed.

[Kikó]

45 year old v 38 year old. Snooker probably has fifteen years left before it's dead.

[niko_cee]

It's such a weird sport/game though. I was somewhat amazed to see the other day that Barry Hawkins has 4 ranking tournament wins in his 28 year pro career. For someone who seems to have been fairly consistently in the top 16 for ages that seems like a low number. He's 11th all time for matches won apparently. Must be weird just grinding away forever without ever really having any sort of moment in the sun when you are in the top whatever in the world at something. I suppose golf is similar.

[AJ23]

It's difficult to get excited by a guy who's name is Barry Hawkins. It's the sort of name of someone who hires out bouncy castles.

[igor_balis]

Finally some PROPER snooker

[igor_balis]

It's such a weird sport/game though. I was somewhat amazed to see the other day that Barry Hawkins has 4 ranking tournament wins in his 28 year pro career. For someone who seems to have been fairly consistently in the top 16 for ages that seems like a low number. He's 11th all time for matches won apparently. Must be weird just grinding away forever without ever really having any sort of moment in the sun when you are in the top whatever in the world at something. I suppose golf is similar.

Aye, you'd think they'd be shared around a bit more, but I spose if you get seasons where trump or whoever win 7 there's hardly any left for the rest.

It's what made moments like Milkins winning whatever it was he won a few years ago extra special.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's still living off the long tail of when there was a sweet spot between working class social games culture and mass market colour TV in the 70s and 80s. Obviously you can now watch Disney+ or Barcelona on your colour TV, and as for working class social games culture, that seems to have been taken over by darts which can be played in a smaller space with cheaper equipment and doesn't take as long.

It remains a remarkably pleasing televisual experience. The sound, the look, everything is a wonderful aesthetic. That's about all it has left going for it. Has already proven to be a great survivor so I wouldn't write it off, but it might become principally Chinese. I think it suits Chinese civilisation well. Patience, discipline and staying in it for the long haul.

[igor_balis]

Also Hawkins hitting the blue there doesn't fill me with much confidence for him making it number 5

[igor_balis]

It's still living off the long tail of when there was a sweet spot between working class social games culture and mass market colour TV in the 70s and 80s. Obviously you can now watch Disney+ or Barcelona on your colour TV, and as for working class social games culture, that seems to have been taken over by darts which can be played in a smaller space with cheaper equipment and doesn't take as long.

It remains a remarkably pleasing televisual experience. The sound, the look, everything is a wonderful aesthetic. That's about all it has left going for it. Has already proven to be a great survivor so I wouldn't write it off, but it might become principally Chinese.

Yeah it's probably my second favourite spectator sport after, very specifically, the final day of a golf major.

I really dunno what will happen to the sport over the next ten-fifteen years - it feels like it's absolutely on its arse at #grassroots level, there's one place in Rugby I can play, upstairs at the pool place, and I'm convinced they only bother persisting with snooker tables because it's literally where world top 16 player Chris Wakelin practises.

In terms of the professional level, I have a slightly batshit prediction that we'll still get a decent contingent of young British players coming through in the next generation or so, but they'll all be from posh or more likely nouveau riche type families - builders and plumbers done good, who just happen to whack a full sized snooker table in their house.

[igor_balis]

Great third frame from bawkins, got the better of a safety exchange and cleared up nicely. This is my favourite kind of snooker, some decent little breaks, some good safety play, but certainly not mechanically putting everything away at will. A heathen would describe that as "bad potting", but there's more nuance than that. Inconsistent breaks, some potting, and yes, some missing.

[igor_balis]

Average frame length creeps above 30 minutes :drool:

[igor_balis]

Also snooker crowds are really bad at knowing when to clap

[Waffdon]

Allen is a right eye sore

[niko_cee]

This is brutal viewing.

[igor_balis]

Allen is a right eye sore

I dunno, I think he's quite handsome now he's not a gigantic fat cunt

[igor_balis]

I saw him pacing quickly across a road with his manager/minder/fluffer, cue case in hand, when I was holidaying in Belfast. I was all of a flutter.

[igor_balis]

Also, to get all amateur psychologist, watching people like Hawkins, Gary Wilson, Dave Gilbert and other perennial top 16/ top 32 type players who never win fuck all, I do think it's mostly psychological. Even when they go on a decent tournament run, I just don't believe them. Guy on eurosport was saying how Mark Allen described Hawkins as "solid" and basically good at every aspect of snooker, and yet as soon as he goes 4-2 down in this, against a fairly underwhelming Allen it's like yeah, obviously. Cus you're a fucking loser mate.

[niko_cee]

Consider yourself swooped.

[Waffdon]

This standard has been hilarious. Semi final of a triple crown as well.

Trump should wipe the floor with either but you wouldn’t be shocked if Allen ‘Selby’s’ him if he gets through

[Jimmy Floyd]

Also snooker crowds are really bad at knowing when to clap

Used to be better before they were all listening to commentary on earpieces. Genuinely should be taken away.

[Waffdon]

that final frame summed up the whole game. At least the final shouldn’t be a dull affair

[AJ23]

Lefties running the show.

[igor_balis]

Delighted to be wrong, as I love an underdog winner. Trump has been inconsistent as well, but I still reckon he'll probably batter Hawkins. The late finish here won't help. Plus while it's easy to write off my chatting bollocks about Hawkins being a LOSER, I think it's more of a thing tomorrow, seeing as the cunt has lost a few major finals before.

[igor_balis]

Lefties running the show.

Sounds like an Ali Carter tweet

[Waffdon]

Yeah trump got battered in the Irish final the other week.

Should piss it though

[igor_balis]

Used to be better before they were all listening to commentary on earpieces. Genuinely should be taken away.

I absolutely hate it, especially when virgo or one of the other dickheads makes a shit joke and the audience giggle and distract the cueist.

In theory it should help really though, because when someone plays a great safety shot and accidentally pots the red and leaves himself in a shit position, the commentators should be making it clear this is not a good outcome. I spose the BBC commentators are mostly just shouting where's the cue ball going and stuff, though.

[igor_balis]

Yeah trump got battered in the Irish final the other week.

Should piss it though

Hawkins has lost two masters finals and a world championship final, and even managed to lose to mark king in some other final. Fanny.

[Shindig]

In theory it should help really though, because when someone plays a great safety shot and accidentally pots the red and leaves himself in a shit position, the commentators should be making it clear this is not a good outcome. I spose the BBC commentators are mostly just shouting where's the cue ball going and stuff, though.

The perspective you get from watching won't match the TV overhead so the commentary helps put that in context.

[Waffdon]

How is Shaun Murphy in commentary or in the studio for every single game? Beyond annoying

[igor_balis]

How is Shaun Murphy in commentary or in the studio for every single game? Beyond annoying

Did you see the tweet where mark williams said he muted if he's on cus he "never shuts up" :D

Get on Eurosport if you have it.

[niko_cee]

It's either that or Shaun Murphy winning the tournaments so which do you want?

[igor_balis]

They have far too many current pros commentating, I'm sure they had Kyren Wilson doing some games and he's like 33.

[igor_balis]

Chelsea could probably do with a third goal before the inevitably concede. Don’t really do clean sheets

[Kikó]

They have far too many current pros commentating, I'm sure they had Kyren Wilson doing some games and he's like 33.

What does a snooker teenager really know about the game?

Also, Shaun Murphy. How is in the studio every single game? Beyond annoying.

[igor_balis]

How is Shaun Murphy in commentary or in the studio for every single game? Beyond annoying

I can't believe you deleted the duplicate post, dickhead.

[Waffdon]

I can't believe you deleted the duplicate post, dickhead.

:D

I was going insane wondering why that clean sheet post was being messaged on here after Danny in the other thread. Google chrome on the phone is as tragic as Trump has been here

[igor_balis]

:D

I was going insane wondering why that clean sheet post was being messaged on here after Danny in the other thread. Google chrome on the phone is as tragic as Trump has been here

Yeah I hate it, I need to work out how to do what Ben mentioned in the other thread.

[Yevrah]

Yeah, +1 for current pros commentating. There's something about it that sits so uncomfortably with me.

[igor_balis]

Hawkins looking Ike he's gonna take the lead, then a crap positional shot and two ropey safety shots let's trump back in, though trump only managed 14. Huge frame, I think who wins it wins the tournament.

[Waffdon]

Yeah, +1 for current pros commentating. There's something about it that sits so uncomfortably with me.

It’s just hard to take them seriously especially when it’s always usually middle of the pack players doing it. Murphy critiquing a guy who papped him out the same tournament is just a bit wrong

[Waffdon]

Trump’s got nervous and Hawkins now can’t miss. Could be a decider

[Boydy]

Fucking Trump, boring cunt.

[Waffdon]

Fucking Trump, boring cunt.

Not on the table he isn’t, unlike 90% of the players

Hopefully he kicks on in triple crowns now rather than stat padding the ranking titles

[AJ23]

I don't think Brecel could repeat this again if he tried 100 times.


https://youtube.com/shorts/mzeDjkAPhFE?si=lfBeWWVM7K1AwNMG

[Waffdon]

Always nice to see Mark Allen lose. What a bottle job

[Giggles]

1869299877978800165

[Yevrah]

That is genuinely remarkable.

[Ben]

What a bell end.

[Yevrah]

In 35 years of watching the sport I’ve not remotely seen anything like that. The seethe to end all seethes.

[Yevrah]

Watching it again I think it might be perfect. The ref trying to console the child while Selt can be heard smashing the shit out his cue. :lol:

[Ben]

That’s the worst part for me. Young lad getting a big win on tour and Selt has made him feel a foot tall.

We all love a tantrum when we miss but acting like that during a match over a fluke is embarrassing behaviour and he needs banning. No doubt it’ll blow over after a Twitter apology.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Kid should have been awarded frame and match. Selt also should get the banhammer.

Kid should also get a thousand ranking points for his delivery of 'Have a good Christmas'.

[Waffdon]

Yeah, the ‘have a good Christmas’ was perfect.

Selt has always come across as a twat

[Giggles]

Some going that from Robertson.

[Boydy]

Why do they wank on about the venue so much these days?

Pretty sure they always do it here and at the Crucible for the World Championship.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I always used to think it was because the rest of the (largely unseen) events are played at Rhyl or Prestatyn in front of 7 people and the referee, but these days there are loads of events in reasonable size arenas so I don't know.

Stephen Hendry did a behind the scenes video at the Crucible last year for his YouTube and other than the arena itself, it looked like a complete dump.

[Waffdon]

147 from Murphy. God, I really hope he doesn’t win this. He has looked v good all week though.

All aboard the Trump Train and his Triple Crown

[Yevrah]

Quite looking forward to this. 'mon Murphy!

[niko_cee]

That swerve shot was insane.

[Yevrah]

Ridiculous yellow into the middle there as well.

[niko_cee]

Aye, the forehead is on fire at the moment.

[niko_cee]

Got a bit cocky with the middle pocket there though.

[Waffdon]

Have players always been terrible at break offs or do they deliberately leave long pots on to entice the player to go for it?

[niko_cee]

Isn't it sort of a risk/reward thing - they can make the break completely safe but then it is likely to bog the frame into stalemate shitfest?

[Yevrah]

They're not deliberately doing it I don't think, they're just quite hard to get safe with the element of randomness in how the pack will open when you hit it.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I was always shit at the break off when I used to play. The theory goes that if you apply some top and right hand side (if breaking off from the right) then it should come back across into baulk, but I could never get enough purchase on and ended up either smashing into the blue or just being far too thin.

[Waffdon]

Murphy calling out yellow ball when it couldn’t be anymore obvious it’s what he’s going for. He just loves hearing his own voice

[John Arne]

I was always shit at the break off when I used to play. The theory goes that if you apply some top and right hand side (if breaking off from the right) then it should come back across into baulk, but I could never get enough purchase on and ended up either smashing into the blue or just being far too thin.


The break was the one thing I could always manage. Like you said, a touch of top, bit more of right hand side, and managed to get it back to baulk quite often. Unfortunately, it tended to be my best shot of the game as I struggled for a max break of 18 or so.

[Ben]

I played a lot of billiards so the break was standard stuff for me. It all went to shit thereafter when I had to start potting.

Similarly the updated pool rules fucked me over when they started introducing shit like skill shots and deliberate fouls which totally nerfed defensive play.

[Yevrah]

Really enjoying this and we've now hit the point where Murphy's suspect match play is going to come under serious pressure.

[igor_balis]

I think the thing with breaks is that long-potting is just a lot better than it used to be. The alternative, of course, is to go with the Mark Williams banter break, but actually please don't.

I've vaguely warmed to Murphy recently. Well, not quite "warmed" - I think he's just authentically a weird, very Partridge kind of bloke, and he can't help it. Plus I have really enjoyed his play throughout the tournament, he is a very fun player to watch when he's on form.

Also, he looks a bit like that fat crone from The Chase. I'm gonna start calling him the governess. Also - we have a game here boys.

[Yevrah]

Yeah, he's definitely an odd one, but I like that he speaks his mind and as you say when he's playing well it's a joy to watch.

[Shindig]

I too have noticed the Governess comparison. They've never been in the same room.

[Waffdon]

Trump isn’t half throwing this away. So many missed opportunities after building a decent break

[Waffdon]

Wilson just has his number. Seems to beat him every single time

[Dark Soldier]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c985555nr49o

Dott's a nonce

[Gray Fox]

Jackson Page(?) has become the first player to ever hit two 147s in the same match.

For doing that alone he's won a potential £25k in the high break bonus(£15k) at the WC and 147 bonus (£10k). There was also a bonus of £147k on offer from Saudi for the first player to make two 147s during the Triple Crown events + Saudi Masters.

[Shindig]

My minds eye has Jackson Page as a fresh-faced prodigy.

Not even close. (https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/two-maximum-breaks-in-world-championship-qualifier-earn-jackson-page-147-000/ar-AA1CTZ2w?ocid=BingNewsSerp)

[wullie]

I love how there are still darts and snooker players 20 years younger than me who look older than I ever will.

[Yevrah]

World Championships started this morning. Ronnie is IN and some really not very young Men will be playing snooker ball for the next 17 days.

[Gray Fox]

I see he's started the self doubt promo early this year. Not picked up a cue in nearly 5 months before the start of this one.

Hendry reckons Zhao Xintong is the one to watch.

[Gray Fox]

Crucible Curse eyeing up another victim here.

[Pleb]

:cool:

[Waffdon]

That should be judd trump sailing through to a second win now his nemesis is out

[Gray Fox]

That should be judd trump sailing through to a second win now his nemesis is out

Yeah unless we get vintage Ronnie over the next couple weeks, I cant see anyone stopping Judd Trump apart from himself.

[Dan]

This Mark Williams/Wu Yize match has been good.

Yize has lots of flashes but needs to clean everything up a bit to be a real threat. Mark Williams just continues to grind & use all his experience. Still an excellent potter despite his eyes going as well.

[Giggles]

The spectators must have fairly dumbed down. They don't seem to know a good shot now until it's confirmed on their commentary headphones.

[Gray Fox]

Robertson just torpedoed himself out of the tournament too.

[Boydy]

Might be a second rerack in one frame in this Higgins - O'Connor match now.

[Yevrah]

A disgraceful three frames from Carter here.

[Ben]

His head has gone. Good riddance.

[John Arne]

Who on earth are Halo? Presumably not the old xbox game...

[Ben]

This tournament is shaping up very nicely. O'Sullivan vs. Selby and Higgins vs. Williams potential quarter finals.

[-james-]

I see Zhao Xintong is joint second favourite to win it with the bookies. Have the BBC addressed the match fixing stuff? Going to be funny seeing them tiptoe around it if he does win it.

[Ben]

Not sure if BBC have talked about it but I don't think there's a lot of ill will there. He was one of the young ones that was naively caught up in it. The biggest shame out of it all was Yan Bingtao.

I don't see him as second favourite, mind. He's incredible on his day but this is a tournament of attrition and he's shown himself to have lapses in concentration still. I think the longer matches will be his downfall.

I would love to see Ding win it.

[John Arne]

This tournament is shaping up very nicely. O'Sullivan vs. Selby and Higgins vs. Williams potential quarter finals.

41, 49, 49 and 50. Average age of 47.25 :drool:

[-james-]

Murphy not doing a very good job of disguising how shit he thinks Woollaston is.

[-james-]

This has been so shit from both of them.

[Gray Fox]

This has become the worst kind of gritty frame. Murphy on commentary to make it even worse.

[Yevrah]

Selby shitting out is fantastic news.

[Ben]

Pretty impressive capitulation from Ryan Day too. 5-1 to 7-10.

[Waffdon]

O’Sullivan has the dream route to the semis unless Si Jiahui can turn it on again

[wullie]

Mark Allen's just hit a 147 despite appearing to get himself stuck at least twice.

[Yevrah]

Was he potting balls cushion first?

[-james-]

1915809766221172923

That's incredible

[Dark Soldier]

Cannot fucking wait til Virgo retires

[Shindig]

He's going to get that catchphrase shouted at his lowering coffin.

[Boydy]

Is BBC 4 showing the Mark Allen 147 from earlier that Willie mentioned or is he on for another one here?

[Yevrah]

Virgo's top notch.

Talking of which, Allen's on for another 147 here.

[Boydy]

Seems like that was another one but he's just messed it up.

[Yevrah]

Yeah, shame that.

[Dark Soldier]

Virgo's top notch.

Cunt doesn't even understand angles despite his head at 90 degrees, useless

[Gray Fox]

I think the all timer commentary duo was Taylor and Willie Thorne.

These days we have to put up with Shaun Murphy.

[Dark Soldier]

I miss the days of being round me Grandad's as he chainsmoked all day while the voice of Clive Everton put me to sleep, Terry Griffiths taking 25 minutes to hit a 14 break.

[wullie]

Do people at the snooker cough intentionally just so they can hear themselves back on iPlayer or is Sheffield rife with lung disease?

[Gray Fox]

Vafaei does not look like he wants to be there at all tonight.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Do people at the snooker cough intentionally just so they can hear themselves back on iPlayer or is Sheffield rife with lung disease?

They're all riven with pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis after a hard morning's work at the steel mill.

[niko_cee]

:cool:

The calling card of a proper old fashioned private school education.

[Waffdon]

Judd :cool:

He’ll probably lose now

[Yevrah]

Yeah, that was obscenely good from him. Fancied Murphy to do something in this tournament, but he was blown away in that session.

[Waffdon]

Tomorrows evening session looking utterly pointless with both games sitting at 12-4

[wullie]

Higgins absolutely pulled it out of the bag here, 12-8 down and then a brief interval and he's pulled it level, last frame starting now. Amazing what you can do once you've had a poo.

[-james-]

That was a hell of a match.

[niko_cee]

Epic match.

[Waffdon]

Brecel doing that thing where he’s looking like a god again. Wonder if he can keep it up. Both players just keep winning in one visit

[-james-]

The two semi finals look great. Wouldn't want to pick a winner. Whoever wins this probably.