Selby's face there was a thing of beauty.
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Selby's face there was a thing of beauty.
Runny-balls donning it here.
On one hand it would be good to have more up and coming players breaking through, but I absolutely love how a 44 year old qualifier can get to the semi finals of the world champs and make someone as good as Selby look like a bit of an idiot.
I also have no idea what you lot see in Murphy, i get proper smarmy school prefect/partridge vibes.
This is glorious. G'wan Ball Run.
I mean even then that would still leave him as more likeable than both SnookerBot and Kyren "That's Why They Call Me The Warrior" Wilson.Quote:
Originally Posted by igor_balis
All these re racks are blistering entertainment. Aren't there three more frames to go??
Aw ffs did he say that? I quite like him, he seems like a nice lad. Murphy comes across like the kind of bloke who went round his mates after school and spent the whole time talking to their parents.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
I've got a mental image of Murphy trying in vain to invite Selby to his church during practice.
I'd probably rather that than the Kasabian tribute band TJFL is going to see in Coalville. Would gain a lot more respect for him if he used this for his entrance music:Quote:
Originally Posted by Shindig
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOPPVb_3gdE
In an interview at his home one day he said something or other about mental strength and then "I guess that's why they call me the Warrior." Also (to his wife) "I mean there's Home Kyren and Snooker Kyren isn't there?"Quote:
Originally Posted by igor_balis
He doesn't seem like a bad person just enough of a fanny that I can't really get behind him. Plus it looks like his face was put on before it'd set.
I swear Selby's snooker becomes more of a ghastly eyesore with every passing year.
This frame could go on for hours yet.
This really is taking 'one for the purists' to new heights.
A pot!
Oh fuck off, Selby.
I'm sure his attitude sometimes is "Well if I can't enjoy this I don't see why anybody else should."
Just end the frame and leave me to my nightmares of you taking five minutes to plot your next safety.
He's playing the long game, trying to upset Bingham's circadian rhythms.
This frame still going. :D
Thank Christ for that.
THE JESTER in full on piss taking mode at the end there.
I like the idea of Selby becoming the barricade all champions have to conquer.
I genuinely think he was just trying to keep Bingham out of bed there.
There are definitely times he does it just to wind up his opponent.
I missed most of the evening and didn't see that much of the afternoon either but the highlights don't seem to be on now because of Selby's dicking about. Prick. :mad:
I feel this is once again appropriate...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfVEkGhYkNc
If you get it below the din, Neal Foulds giving Selby shit for five minutes on the right hand table is great.
It was 95% Selby staring at the table with his cold, dead eyes while Bingham crumbled into dust anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by Boydy
horror stuff from wilson but murphy has been great the last few frames
Selby's emotional inhibitor briefly shorted out there and allowed him to react to something.
I haven't watched yet today, but is Selby bogging Ball-run down with boring, scrappy frames?
They've completed one frame in about the last 90 minutes, i think, because of yet another re-rack. Bingham's on a decent break now though and hopefully about to make it 14-13.
bingham just played a very thin cut like i do playing pool
ballbag bingham playing proper shit now
THE JESTER has played his joker card. Bogged him down to the point of making everything awful.
Only Selby wins if he takes the lead.
Not to distract from the tension but Bingham's get up is atrocious.
Bollocks. Where's a kick when you need one?
"Yay, crowds are back and we're going to witness the snooker final."
<3am on Tuesday morning, Shelby calls for another re-rack>
Baldy's really shat the bed in the last three frames.
Have the BBC just stopped coverage of this or is it in some sort of interval?
No, BBC only seem to cover it in bits and pieces. Still live on Eurosport or the BBC red button (I think.)
I thought they'd stopped and have to come back after the other match finishes?
Maybe I'm wrong, other days BBC have definitely changed to other programming and sent snooker to the red button while Eurosport covered live and I thought the same happened earlier but I've just left Eurosport on.
Yeah, they palm it off to the website or red button.
I'd completely forgotten just how madly epic that Wilson/McGill semi was last year.
Murphy looks like he's finding his way there.
Murphy. :cool:
Incredible comeback, especially to sustain it across multiple sessions.
Yeah, that last session was a bit silly. 100% long pot success whilst reeling off 5 in a row?
Fuck off Selby
+1.
'Mon the Murphy.
Amazing how often Selby gets brain freeze.
Jimmy White and Ronnie aside I don't think I've ever wanted a player to win a final more than I do with Murphy here.
Yeah this is about as invested as I get, I think.
More of what we saw from Murphy yesterday, please.
I hate this navel-gazing shit. The game's fine, leave it alone.
Why the fuck is the current World Number 1 in the commentary box?
Because he had a whinge about how the commentators are all older.
after finding out murphy is a god bothering pro-life twat as well as a general irritant, i'm fully on team jester
Whereas Selby wishes everyone was dead?
Oh, what?Quote:
Originally Posted by igor_balis
You're post about him the other day provoked me to look at his wiki and there's some interesting/funny shit in there.
@Igor
Oh god is he?
Oh well, he's still preferred dickhead here.
The Jester looks like he strangles them fresh from the womb.
NEWS UPDATEQuote:
Originally Posted by Boydy
he is, apparently, no longer a "god botherer", but i will present these tweets:
i love him randomly doing a poll :D my own take is that he's just a bit of a div, really
spending 8 hours a day in dark smoky snooker clubs with other snooker weirdos from early childhood would stunt the development of other aspects of anyone's personality to be fair - you just have to see their walkout music picks to confirm that
His personal life section on Wikipedia does make it sound like like he had the sort of childhood that almost guarantees you're going to end up a weirdo.
However: "Murphy's wife filed for divorce in 2009 on the grounds of infidelity after The People newspaper published an exposé revealing he had spent the night with an escort girl he had met at a religious youth group. Murphy's then manager, Brandon Parker, issued a statement confirming that Murphy had slept with the woman but denied he had been unfaithful, stating that Murphy did not have sex with her."
There's a lot to unpack here but "an escort girl he met at a religious youth group"???
"They slept together but didn't fuck." I mean, if it's good enough for Michael Jackson and Sia ...
The best part was when he was hiding away from it, she threatened to serve him his papers while he was live on TV at the Crucible.
shame selby is so tedious cus i actually prefer tactical battles and safety play to break building, but taking 5 minutes per shot and just being a humourless grump gives it a bad name. it's like the snooker equivalent of being a slow, defensively solid batter in cricket (good) who self-servingly runs out his partners and protects his average in run chases (bad)
I'm with you there. Matches where they just trade century breaks don't do much for me, back and forth frames are better if the Selby joy vacuum isn't at full pelt.
Bit of a turgid first mini-session that.
And this is absolutely horrible to watch.
Yet we can't stop.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
I'm more enjoying McManus on commentary thinking he's some kinda poet.
"Absolutely fabulous shot" - he bounced off a cushion bruv, simmer down before your lob-on rouses the dead and infirm.
Nearly an hour without potting a ball. :cab:
I've not seen any stats on it but is Selby the player involved in the highest number of reracks? I imagine he leads by a mile.
His head's gone.
this is terrific stuff
If Murphy plays better today it could be epic. He knows he's got the crowd completely with him and is starting to play off it.
Also (I haven't had much of the BBC studio stuff during this tournament, mainly off Eurosport), why is John Parrott knocking balls in on a table in the background while Hendry and Davis do their punditry?
It is indeed. If Murphy's break building was better he'd be level now.
Occasionally they'll cut to him and he recreates (badly) one of the shots from the frame.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
That, I believe, is Blockbusters.
Shame.
Bit stagnant and dull yesterday but today has been cracking
Really enjoying it too.
52 points from three visits by Murphy in this frame is so frustrating though.
It's been good today but unfortunately for Murphy it seems like Selby is absolutely in the mood to capitalise any mistake. Could do with him rattling off some more frames here.
I gave up at 13-9, then turned on again to see this, maybe God will only allow me to watch Selby crab his way around the table. Mon Murphy.
That was delightful. Keep that fucker in his chair.
Huge last frame this.
I feel like Selby is just trolling viewers now.
Jim is definitely banned from being one of them from here on in.
Because Selby is a humanoid robot of some kind, nothing affects him emotionally like it does with other players, and he can emerge from any 'adversity' with complete ease.
It's almost as if this fella's a three-time Champion, lads.
Oh he's a brilliant, brilliant player and had/has the game to be the best ever. He's just absolutely horrible to watch.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shindig
Hes easily top 10 ever but man's just a master of the old school grind. So many players these days wanna hit century after century and he knows how to get under their skin.
Similar to when Dott won it with fuckawfulness. Literal cloud of depression over the table that year.
I don't mind him but then I've never looked at snooker as a sport to be played at pace. And it's not like the grind is all Selby has.
O'Sullivan downing him at the end of that semi last year, at the end of an otherwise consummate Selby performance, was a work of utter genius and seemed to scar Selby for ages. Shame Ronnie ran out of steam this year or we could have had a repeat.
This first frame alone should see us through to morning.
They're just gonna keep shuffling the balls toward that pocket the black is over until it's re-racked, aren't they?
That shot on the pink just as he was putting it together feels like how half of the frames Murphy has lost have gone, and Selby will mop it up from here.
It's so careless and frustrating to watch, and is presumably why his lone title was 16 years ago.
It seems impossible to guess with him which way it's gonna go as well. he'll rattle off some cracking shots and then the next one bonks harmlessly into the side of the pocket.
McManus really talks a lot of shit.
get on eurosport
Who does commentary there?
I don't have it anyway.
I've always wanted to know how much actually goes into being a snooker referee, and how you actually become one in the first place. Other than the rules we all know, there isn't that much to it, is there?
If it pays more than £50 a day I might make the switch over from cricket.
Murphy's fucking mammoth skull would need a wobble here if his neck was capable.
This kid with the big hair on the beeb is a talented presenter. Will go far.
This is a lovely fightback but there's no way Selby doesn't grind his way to a victory and the remote possibility of a smile.
I hope it goes to a decider.
When the grim reaper comes for Mark Selby I hope it takes the form of a containing safety shot.
Murphy will come to regret that, you suspect.
Yeah fair fucks to him thinking fuck it let's have it, but silly shot.
Just got sucked into a wiki hole on past world championships, leading me to the knowledge that 1948 champion Fred Davis played on long enough as a full professional to have played an official competitive game against Ronnie O'Sullivan (!), but upon seeking out the 1948 championship itself the article said:
I thought it was weird they were playing a single-frame final in those days, although I thought maybe it was a much more low key affair... then I realised the score was in frames, not points. That's right, the final was played over the best of 145 frames, and they played out the full 145, even though the 73-frame winning post had been passed ages earlier. I suppose this should have been a clue:Quote:
For the second year running the final was contested by Fred Davis and Walter Donaldson. Davis won his first World title by defeating Donaldson 84–61 in the final, although he reached the winning margin already at 73–52.
Give me Selby v Higgins or something over that distance.Quote:
The final was held at the Leicester Square Hall in London, England, from 19 April to 1 May.
That Selby/Bingham frame the other day felt longer than that, to be fair.
At some point that surely just turns into informal lagers.
Fred Davis' wikipedia page led me to this, apparently his last ever tournament. Looks a pretty incredible affair (what on earth is sudden death?), but I was drawn to the women's section where most of the bracket have their own wikipedia pages. Karen Corr took home 15 grand, which a quick google tells me is equal to the entire prize fund for the Women's World Championship 2019. What happened?
I really want to go to bed. :moop:
I found myself watching some youtube stuff, hoping to catch his last televised match. Instead I found some billiards match. I have no idea how billiards work. Breaks were going up despite nothing being potted. I'm glad it died out.Quote:
Originally Posted by -james-
Ah billiards, I think it's alright once you get into it. I vaguely recall playing it once.
Talking of things dying out, there's always talk of there being no snooker clubs anymore, fewer and fewer pool tables in pubs etc, but I have distant recollections of bar billiards tables being a regular sight in establishments (presumably when I was a kid) and they always looked unfathomably intriguing. Can't say I've seen one of those for decades.
Any kind of table pub sport is just taking up space that could be used by another 20 people drinking £5.50 pints.
Snooker clubs were done in by a combination of the smoking ban, and Tony Blair's broader war on traditional working class leisure. A costly one, in the long run, when you look at the Red Wall all voting Tory.
Snooker clubs probably just don't make that much money.
They made enough money to keep going for decades until you weren't allowed to smoke in them.
Rates hikes probably an issue as well (but it's all part of the same gentrification process).
Pool tables are gone from all pubs round here too. That definitely coincided with the smoking ban and publicans realising they could charge twelve quid for a burger.
And pubs are probably nicer and definitely less cancerous that way, but it's killing snooker and that, combined with shocking tour mismanagement before Hearn turned up is why we have absolutely no youngsters of any note coming through.
We've had this discussion before but it it's also just not cheap to play. You're relying on the youth wanting to spend seven quid an hour (which, why the fuck would they just to get into a sport?) or a parent or whoever dragging them along to play.
That'll be related to your previous comments on it taking up floor space they could be using to serve drinkers or whatever but it is what it is and they need to find a way to make it sustainable and/or entice younger people into playing more than they currently want to.
On afternoons when I'm at a loose end I'd happily go along to my nearest place and just practice on a table by myself but chuck in drinks (whether it be soft drinks or a couple of pints) and I'd be looking at the better part of £30 which.... no.
As someone who played a bit as a kid, I'm with you Ian. It was fucking expensive.
I did lol at Judd Trump wanting them to 'appeal to a younger audience'. Mate, you're walking around a dimly lit green baize table knocking balls into holes, playing a bit of Cardi B over the top isn't going to change the audience.
They should look at changing their business model so that it's not £7 an hour. I'm sure they could work out some new way that makes it affordable and bring people in. Maybe make it like hooters.
I'm also waiting for the day someone has the heart to tell him, that at thirty-two this year, he's not young anymore.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
:D
But he wearing some dope kicks whilst doing his punditry stint!
That 1991 Masters page brings back a lot of Big Break memories, feels like Tony Drago was on it every week. They should get that back on Challenge, I think I've seen every repeat of Bullseye on there now.
Two players under 27 in the main draw this year, both of them Chinese. K.Wilson (29) the only under-30 to make it past the last 16.
Conversely, half the draw was 37 or older.
Did anybody watch Gods of Snooker on the BBC? I'm about halfway through episode 1 and enjoying it so far.
I did, it was pretty good. I enjoyed all the swearing particularly.
Yeah I've just finished it and it was pretty good.
I know Higgins was famous for his extra-curriculars and that he'd be drinking during games but the clips of him in this where he was so obviously bladdered during matches were a bit of an eye opener to me.
Stephen Hendry was and looked ridiculously young during first tournaments. :D
1990 was the first year I remember watching lots of, so I only really caught the arse end of his career, when he was a completely pissed up twat.
Different sports obviously, but the similarities between the NBA as portrayed in The Last Dance (prior to Jordan's arrival) and snooker (before Davis and Hendry turned up) are uncanny. Sport seemed to be a vehicle to get loaded and screw women back then.
Accidentally watched episode 3 first. Good stuff but Higgins will basically just be Mark E. Smith to me. A permanently pissed hand grenade.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/58003683
That's some top NARRATIVE there.
Was she doing anything wrong or is he just a bitter shitebag?Quote:
Mark Allen will play ex-partner Reanne Evans in the British Open in August, four months after he requested that she be removed from a television studio.
Evans was working as a BBC pundit at the World Championships when Allen said he didn't want her to be in a TV studio where a practice table was situated.
I follow snooker and the DRAMA to a reasonable degree and I haven't a clue.
The studio stuff is proper small time so he's a dick either way.
Maybe she was being a bike or something.
I was reading about that earlier too. That's not even his most recent ex-partner which I had initially assumed. He's in some bitter legal battle with her and decalred himself bankrupt recently presumably to prevent her getting much.
He sounds like he's just a cunt tbh.
Yep, he's definitely one of those.
To coin an OSW phrase, he's such a rat-faced knacker.
I'm left wondering what Justin Credibles safety game is like.
Incredible, obviously.
safer than a lance storm chair shot babyQuote:
Originally Posted by Disco
So, is this grudge match going to be worth following or is he just going to lol her off the baize?
It would be funny if she won but I've no idea if there's any real likelihood of that.
It's so bizarre watching this with Stephen Hendry's earnest commentary over the top. She blanked his pre-match handshake, obvs.
She's won the second frame, and he looks RATTLED.
I hope she goes on to batter him.
I stuck it on briefly and he flubbed the two shots I saw. 'Mon Evans.
She's started the next with six reds six blacks :D
Such theatre and she seems to have some vocal 'support' in there too.
She's got this.
He keeps tapping the table for quite routine safety shots. Safe to say that heads have very much gone here. Total demolition job by her.
Bit worried I jinxed her there.
Luckily Allen isn't able to make up for the misses.
I can't remember the last time I watched Snooker, but even I'm finding this tense.
It definitely is tense. :D
Allen bottled that decision with the red to the corner there.
Oooof. Now then.
He's a right bastard.
As is Ian for the jinx.
Yeah my timing wasn't good.
Sorry, ladies.
Hopefully she's just setting him up for extra misery.
I am watching snooker.
Or is it 'the snooker'?
"Some snooking" is the common way of saying it.
She could've done with this composure when she flubbed that red in the last frame. :moop:
I think it's only 'the darts'. Snooker is just snooker.
Do you hate all women or is it just those in sport?Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
That must be one of my most effective jinxes ever.
You normally need to be watching England play cricket for those sort of instant results.
Sort of glad Allen won in the end as I'd have been gutted to miss that.
Stephen Hendry's comeback may be continuing tonight vs Chris Wakelin. I say may be as the scheduling for this tournament is for some reason kept a bit of a secret.
Hendry won last night and looked ok despite only having a high break of 47. :sick:
I mean he's not gonna beat anybody good, is he?
I'd be very surprised if he did, but this short form format (and unseeded draw) is a bit of a joke so he has more chance here than elsewhere.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
Hendry back on with one of the most tragic opening frames you could conceive of. 0-1 vs Gary Wilson.
Has he improved at all since that Jimmy White shit-off?
Judging by the opening frame and start of the next of this, he's somehow got worse.
Commentators excusing him with lack of 'match practice', but I don't believe in that. If you're good at snooker, you're good at snooker - Jimmy White has been banging on about how good he still is in practice for two decades now while being completely useless in matches during that time.
On the plus side for Hendry, his awfulness seems to be rubbing off on Gary King.
List of horrors so far include:
Breaking off and somehow leaving the white ball eight foot from the baulk line and in amongst the reds
Coming back to the table when he needed snookers (for that elusive match practice) only to miss a routine starter
Missing a host of pots I wouldn't be that chuffed to get so far in frame two
Shanking a long pot attempt miles wide
Probably more I've missed as I'm working while casually glancing up at it
Honestly, if he's not going to put six hours practice a day in, I don't know why he's bothering.
3-0 loss and out.
It's bizarre to think of snooker players going downhill with age. The table doesn't change over time and it's not a physical game. It should just be mental sharpness but that would imply practice would bring that back. Are ... are the other players just better now?
Everything deteriorates with age.
Considering John Higgins and Ronnie O'Sullivan are both pretty ancient and near the top of the rankings suggests it's more Hendry losing what made him good (practice maybe) more than purely his age.
Hendry wasn't very good by the time he retired and practice might not change that, but there's no way he's going to rock back in and beat people consistently without it.
People deteriorate at different rates.
I think it was Steve Davies that said it was the eyes that go. Once they go, you don't get it back.
Steve did have his moments, though. Made the Quarter Final of the world championships in 2010. That was the last time he qualified for one.
Been watching Judd Trump in the US Open 9 ball championship this week. He's playing now and looking good for the last 32 (I think!).
Where’s that on?Quote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
Sky Sports Mix at the moment.
Here's the schedule.
https://cuescore.com/tournament/US+O...p+2021/9209905
No idea how this loser/winner stuff works, but it has the whiff of a Swiss format about it.
Class. Love watching 9 ball.
He made some cunt of not just rolling in that 7 though.
The guy he's playing is genuinely wank (but somehow better than either of his first two opponents), to the point whether I wonder if I'd bothered with 9 ball in any way shape or form seriously I'd be in Atlantic City playing myself.
I obviously don’t watch it that much after all because I’ve never seen that thing they use to hold the 9 ball on the break before.
Me neither. Seems an odd thing to do given there isn't really anywhere on the table it could end up that'd be hard to pot. In fact, as I type that I wonder if it's encouraged to stay where it starts with that thing to stop racks ending in seconds if it went near a pocket instead.
Trump back on, apparently against someone good this time.
Seen that lad interviewed with Trump earlier. A Scot but sounds like he’s been in the US a long time. Sounded fairly confident of taking him anyway.
Yep. He's 5-0 up already.
Is he facing Jayson Shaw? Because if so Shaw will twat him.
He is indeed.
Apparently Trump was bookies favourite beforehand. If I'd known that I'd have started a train.
He’s well into the process of doing just that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gray Fox
Seen Mark Allen walking out of some door here this morning, unfortunately I only clocked it was him too late to call him a cunt.
The final is just starting now.
I tuned in to Shane Van Boening getting absolutely smashed by some Singaporean the other day and there seemed to be a bit of a rules stoush underway as to whether an extension had been called.
It was against this Yapp geezer who is in the final.
I've enjoyed this tournament, but it's manifest nonsense that you can theoretically lose a match without playing a shot.
Aye, 9 ball pool is a bit of a circus. Is it winner stays on in terms of the break in this one? I only ever tend to watch the Mosconi Cup when that's on and I think they alternate it in that format.
It’s winner breaks. Biado won the lag and was 2-0 up without Yapp having a shot.
That 'top rail bank shot' just there proves what a farce this is as an endeavour.
That cut to the middle was more unbelievable because he played it, rather than the somewhat comedy way it dropped in. They never play to the middle normally do they?
There’s that stupid fucking rail rule again.
Aye, that's just ridiculous. Surely the cushion rules can only ever apply in a non-snookered situation?
10-ball is a new one on me.
This guy's luck is unreal.
He’s having a serious run of the balls.
Heck of a comeback there.
He had a good few shit turnouts off breaks too but ploughed on. Would love if he’d made that plant in the winning rack and win it then and there.
Used to play a fair bit of the American pool stuff, back when I lived somewhere that had a decent club nearby.
It was good until that mate would come. He'd always line every shot up to aim a plant towards the 9 ball, then smack it as hard as he could. Made you realise how stupid the game can be if you think about it.
Looks like Higgins is about to beat Allen in the final of the NI Open in Belfast. You love to see it.
Ah no, Allen's gonna win, the prick.
Shaun Murphy lost 6-5 to young Chinese amateur Si Jiahui in the UK Championship last night, and had this to say:
One of the more deranged rants I have heard in a while.Quote:
A furious Shaun Murphy has said "amateurs should not be allowed in professional tournaments" after losing 6-5 to Si Jiahui at the UK Championship in York.
Si fell off the main tour at the end of last season and only entered the UK Championship as an amateur top-up in the field.
Having dominated from the outset and led 5-1, the Chinse rookie looked to have let his chance slip when watching Murphy rally to 5-5 and then appear on course to win the deciding frame.
However, when the 2008 champion missed the final blue, Si stepped in to claim a famous victory, one which left Murphy furious.
Murphy told BBC Radio 5 Live afterwards: "I feel extremely hard done by that I have lost to someone who shouldn't even be in the building.
"I don't know why we as a sport allow amateurs to compete in professional tournaments. This is our livelihood. This is our living. We are self-employed individuals and not contracted sportsmen. We don't play for a team.
"The other 127 runners and riders in the tournament, it is their livelihood too. It is wrong, in my opinion, to walk into somebody who is not playing with the same pressures and concerns I am.
"He played like a man who does not have a care in the world, because he does not have a care in the world. It is not fair, it is not right.
"I am not picking on him as a young man, he deserved his victory. Amateurs should not be allowed in professional tournaments, the end.
"This is our livelihood. This is how I put food on the table. This is how I earn money. Since turning professional at 15, I have earned the right to call myself a professional snooker player. He hasn't done that. He shouldn't be on the table."
Yeah, that is absolutely insane and completely wrong. Knew there was something bubbling under all those smiles.
Must be going through another divorce.
Or he has an amateur accountant who's made off with all his money.
Is this the same Shaun Murphy who won the world title as an amateur qualifier?
...And competed the Open as an amateur a few years back.
Whilst we are at it, let's stop any team from outside of the top 2 divisions from entering the FA Cup. Absolute wasters.
I'm into that idea, Sutton United are still in the cup and my arse is getting twitchy.
Yeah Murphy is a fucking weirdo.
Actually guys he's a hero. He posed for pictures and signed autographs.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CWpEkkqIPT6/
You're gonna need to do a snip of whatever it is you're trying to show us I think if you want it to appear in the post.
Unless it maybe works if you actually have an account.
Looks like such a downy :D
It's his response to the picture I'm on about. I think you have to click to see it. Doing this has made me feel older.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
I saw the response and I've not got an account so others will be able to see it.
Holly's being a mild bitch, to be fair. "It would be best if you died." :D
Oh maybe Instagram is just blocked at work.
I see it now. :D
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/59407192
Turns out he's got plenty of support. I never considered how it could be knacking player development up. If they're topping up 128 people draws with amateurs and they're mostly getting dumped out in round 1, it does nobody any favours. The sport might just be dying a slow death, though.
It's the same balls that the 'top players' come out with in every individual sport. They believe they are owed guaranteed easy money and will scream and cry until they get given it (for example by a more exclusive tour) rather than having to keep earning it on merit every year.
If the players had their way every tournament would only have 32 players in it and the top 16 would be seeded in the first round, with no qualifiers.
For the most part they're absolute mugs who haven't a clue what's best for their sport, but what's odd about Murphy's latest comments is that he's normally on the right side of the debate and not even close to the sort of nonsense he's come out with here.
Neil Robertson's been sawn-off by one now. :lol:
Loving that. :D
As always, Ronnie is great value https://www.eurosport.com/snooker/uk...87/story.shtml
What job did Ronnie go and get? Welder? Hod carrier?
Maybe he's writing more of those books.
Wasn't he a farm hand or something?Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
Ronnie on BBC2 now, against the former Indian Open semi-finalist Robbie Williams.
What the fuck is going on with Mark Allen?
https://www.bbc.com/sport/snooker/59428726.amp
Gambling debt.
Is it?
How does it stop him playing snooker though? Surely he needs to play to earn money?
Catch 22, isn't it? Give an addict money and see what they do with it.
Maybe he has to sell his cue and/or waistcoat.
Or his body. Think on that.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/59457433
Obviously.Quote:
The Scottish Open starts in Llandudno on 6 December.
The state of snooker is absolutely tragic at the moment.
Just switched this on and Mark Allen looks like the walking dead.
Ronnie on form alert.
In not unexpected news, I see O’Sullivan is acting the twat again.
What's he doing / saying now?
You can tell when Ronnie's away with the fairies as he's constantly telling everyone how fine he is.
Regardless of how entertaining he can be to watch he remains an enormous arsehole and all the 'Ah well the game needs characters' you hear in response to him being an arsehole can do one.
This set-up did seem a bit open this time around, I don't know if it was always like this or what but there's no screens inbetween and the tables are right close to eachother with a stampede every 30 mins as the masses go for their beers and lines.
Brecel with one of the best sporting performances i've ever seen, astonishing stuff.
Zhao was pretty good too just now.
Could be a cracking final.
yep, flawless from him except the safety in the 5th frameQuote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
No comments here on the atrocious scoreboard the BBC graphics department have come up with? It never disappears from view, either. My eyes were bleeding watching that Brecel match this afternoon.
Dunno if it's the same one, but I watch Eurosport, much prefer the commentary, especially without hearing the BBC twats trying to crack the audience up in their headsets with their shit jokes.
Enjoying this final so far - two positive, in-form players and not the same tired old faces for a change.
Turned the BBC on to see Shaun Murphy. Nope.
I'm going to sound like a grumpy old man, but that young man just shouldn't be in the studio.
Zhao is probably the first player I've seen since Trump who has rocked up and looked the real deal. 24's not particularly young, so he's wasted a few years, but he could be properly good.
The Guardian take on this is very weird. "China now holds 2 of the 3 big titles"... the invasion is here!! Run!! Run!! Run!!
Would probably put me off watching a bit if I’m honest. May as well be an underage or women’s tournament if I don’t know anyone playing.
What does Mosconi Cup D2 mean?
Ah, day 2. I thought it was some low level competition thing.
Day 2, presumably.
Isn’t this the lad that kicked the shite out of Judd Trump in the US Open?
Jayson Shaw did, if that was him?
Crowds are usually a bit partisan for this, but there's some specials in tonight.
That’s the lad alright.
The crowd have done my head in enough that I’ve turned it off. What’s that shit about for every extension?
Just put it on, who on earth are these retards in the crowd? Are they encouraging it?
It’s like they did a round up of passing imbeciles.
O'Sullivan vs Bingham in the semi of the World Open starting on ITV4 now.
Ronnie level with Robertson at 4-4 going into tonight's final session. The former played like a complete twat, bar when he needed snookers in the last frame which he got in excellent fashion. Should be a cracking finale tonight.
This masters stuff is dogshit.
:D
Ahahaha
:D
lll
Jesus. That was brutal. :D
Trump-Allen was tasty yesterday and Ronnie-Robertson is heating up nicely now.
Cracking finish in the Robertson - Williams match there.
fucking incredible scenes
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/snooker/60008693
That's just a stupid shot. Perfect.
I can’t believe Williams blew that match. He played so well but lost his composure on a couple of vital and not-that-difficult shots.
The shootout on Eurosport is decent fun, if you can bear the stupid crowd noise. The Persian Prince currently bidding for a semi-final berth.
Robertson playing some lovely stuff this session
First year I can ever recall that I’ve no channel to watch on. If I can last 2 weeks I’ll never get the bbc again.
Ronnie to win it all
Mark Allen must be reaching Stephen Lee levels now
Weight or cheating?
Former, but the latter absolutely wouldn't surprise me, he gives me very bad vibes.
Ronnie sounding like a CCP spokesperson on Eurosport. :cab:
Get the Ronnie-Vafaei matchup after the terrorist's comments :drool:
:D I enjoyed that whole section a lot. What do you think, Jimmy? "..."Quote:
Originally Posted by Ben
Selby vs. Yan is shaping up to be a classic. The latter 10-7 ahead and they play to a finish tonight. First to 13.
Bingtao getting some serious run of the balls, which I don't mind too much against the pesterer from leicesterer.
As much as I dislike him, one has to admit the last 3 frames from Selby (and some of the safety in this) have been magnificent.
Is there anyone better than Selby when it comes to digging in to try and save a match?
Nope. He's the best ever at it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gray Fox
Never ended up getting bbc sorted for this. How long is left?
10-11 now to Yan. Could be another hour or two yet.
I think Selbys got him right where he wants him now. Drawn Yan of his rhythm and into his game. He's hanging with Selby well, but how long can he keep it up?
Bingtao's turn to get a bad run of the ball.
What a frame. :D
EDIT: And I believe it's close to breaking the record for the longest one ever.
Jesus, what a miss on the blue.
Fuck me. This lad is going to be something special.
What a frame to win for Yan. He’s have broken had that black miss at the death cost him.
Did feel Selby played that far too hard.
I don't know how that black stayed out.
One of the best frames I've ever seen. So so good.
This kid could be great.
Yeah, there's been a fair few youngsters promise much, so who knows for sure, but that was something else.
I have a pair for the afternoon session (2:30) table 2 if anyone is interested in them. Person I was going with can't go. Message here if interested, email tickets.
One of them is going spare so if anyone's local and wants it they can have it.
Cheers for offering them out Manc, if I was more local I'd have bitten your arm off.
Robertson vs. Lisowski (7-9) to a finish tonight should be half decent.
What general times of evening does this tend to be on BBC?
7pm until it finishes.
Lovely stuff.
Is Neil Robertson into Warhammer? :D
In a very big way. Gaming in general.Quote:
Originally Posted by Boydy
World of Warcraft too iirc.
He's a regular at a vegan restaurant that my mate works at when he's in Glasgow.
This is a magnificent match.
I like Robertson but I miss his lockdown afro.
It is. Reckon we could see some immense semi's and final, there are more players in good nick going into the final stages than I can remember for years.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ben
The excitement level of any Crucible fortnight is determined by when Barry Hawkins gets knocked out. If the Hawk's still there past the first weekend it's time to make other plans. This year we are more fortunate.
I've dipped in and out of the tournament, some great stuff. Big frame for Lisowski there.
He’s so good, just got a head full of cartoons.
There's another 147 on here...
That green was a proper arse twitch.
I hate it when both tables are rocking like this. Always feel like there's a cooler party you should be at when the other side of the auditorium cheers.
Jesus, I was nervous for Lisowski there. What a cracker.
"Missions", whatever the fuck that is, can fuck right off.
This is fantastic stuff.
I don't think I've ever seen that kind of fluke.
All the mobile phones and commotion from the other side is distracting enough, but I can't take my eyes off the beardy Finn in the front row.
he's been there all week, he looks like fucking surreal comedian TONY LAWQuote:
Originally Posted by wullie
https://www.thecomedycow.co.uk/uploa...3287772083.png
maybe it is tony law
This tournament worth following?
I'd say so. A cracking quarter-final line-up and all the grinding shitters gone.
This is certainly the best one for a while. Thoroughly enjoying it.
I'd say the only player left who is playing badly is Stephen Maguire (which I hope doesn't jinx Ronnie) and some of them are playing superb stuff. Mark Williams has 10 centuries already, ten. In two matches. The record is only 16.
I'm all in on John Higgins again. Snooker should be won by the old and the big, these slender youngsters can all fuck off.
Did Yan neck a few pints in the mid session interval or some shit
The weirdos mugging for the camera behind Steve Davis in those chat bits look happier that they might briefly be on TV than I think I've ever been about anything.
I never get those people. I'd be doing anything to stay off the TV.
Got tickets for the 1st session of the final so hoping for o'sullivan v lisowski. Not checked if the route to the final is mapped out or not so may not even be possible.
Not possible, they'll meet in the semi's.
The quarters have been gash so far.
That's a possible semi I think.
Was gonna say it's hard to see beyond O'Sullivan looking at the brackets, but Higgins has a really good recent head-to-head record against him, a very low-stress early couple of rounds and definitely has the experience to cope with the long, long matches. As much as I don't like him, as long as he gets past Lisowski (and ideally without it going the distance), I reckon he might do him. Bingtao to beat the Scottish cheat in the final.
i know williams will deffo win this last frame now i've said this, but i got on bingtao £5e/w for the whole thing at 16/1 about an hour ago. and he's now sitting at 6/1 :cool:
No way is Yan only 22. The kid plays like a veteran.
I can't look at Yan Bingtao without thinking back to his nonplussed face as Rob Walker invasively opened his fridge/peered under his sofa.
Still one of the greatest VT's in television, let alone snooker.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
:DQuote:
Originally Posted by John Arne
What was he doing under there???
Ronnie through with the two frames he needed in about 18 minutes.
Just being a bit weird and nosey :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
This second session in the Trump vs. Bingham match has been genuine club standard.
:D was gonna say, is that the worst anyone has ever played at the crucible while still winning 5 frames on the bounce?Quote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
Yeah there have been some absolutely rotten shots.
Bingham's miss on the black was terrific.
In Yan we trust (to stop the shitshow continuing).
Yan :cool:
These two now having a go at shots that wouldn't be out of place in one of my games.
Today's winner: the middle aged bloke who clearly thought he was a bit of a legend for pretending to scratch his nose so he could give the finger.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
Just watched this. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by John Arne
There's so much going on here. Ah, you like fish and chips! Gimme some elbow, brother. Yan looking perplexed as he just digs through his fridge. Rob not taking no for an answer on trying to get his signature dish. "The coat is SO SOFT!" "This carpet is absolutely phenomenal!" The cat having zero interest in coming out from under the sofa.
I like that a snooker prodigy has the same rubbish back garden that I did, but with added perv fence.
Simple cut to the corner leading to white into the middle is the bane of every [average] pub pool player in the land. Good to see it gets the pros too.
Mega clear up from Williams here. Yan has gone to bits a bit.
Just remembered why I stopped betting on sport 8 years ago
Great post match interview from Williams too.
Do hope he wins it.
I bloody love him. I genuinely think he's the main reason I haven't deleted the Twitter app on my phone.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gray Fox
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/snooker/61241722
I missed this earlier.
Yeah I've not been a massive fan of ol' male pattern baldness, but I got a good giggle out of that. Maybe I have to like the cunt now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
Nah, I think you're safe. One joke doesn't make him not a total bore.
Average age of the semi-finalist is 42.75 :D
If Bingham had of beaten Judd, we would have a 45yr old, 2 46yr olds and a 47yr old.
I wonder if anyone at the top of the game is noticing this.
What's the issue? Three generational players all came through together so naturally they're going to skew the picture while they're around.
Nout wrong with being old I say. :panda:
All three won the title pre 9/11, which is daft when you think about it.
On the one hand it's quite cool, but on the other it's the sign of a moribund sport, of which snooker has so many and the BBC have been highlighting them all fortnight - Stephen Maguire being a 'magnificent player' (he hasn't been for fifteen years), Jack Lisowski 'coming of age' (he's thirty years old ffs) are among my favourites.
The sport is crying out for someone actually young to come along and be an indisputable number one, moving things on as Davis and Hendry did. Problem is no one in the UK can play it anymore since the smoking ban and while it's clearly very popular in China, their players will take time to come through and they also have the obstacle of being over 6,500 miles from home when they do, in a land where everything smells of milk (although I see they're now embracing that more these days, might be part of the plan).
Now I'm older than some football managers I'm delighted to see snooker dominated by the mid-40s, it means I've still got time if I put the practice in. Watched the quarters last night and Higgins was absolutely sleepwalking his way out until Lisowski made it 12-11 which woke him up suddenly. It's odd watching on the red button as they don't cut to studio between frames so you're just watching the two players sitting side by side trying to to acknowledge each other accompanied by the ambient sound of crisp packets being rustled.
Does the smoking ban actually matter to young people seeing as they've known nothing different? Feels like a 'old man yells at cloud' reason to fall back on for the decline in quality of snooker players.
The problem is more likely one of exposure and accessibility. In the case of exposure, as has been said, it's a lot of middle aged men so if a young person does see it what's gonna draw them in and think "Man I wanna be like that round bloke."
And then as we've discussed before, just the fact that it's fucking expensive and I'm not sure when I last saw a snooker table outside of a snooker hall so you need to actively seek it out.
I'd be interested to know what the snooker scene looks like for young people in China. Is it as simple as them being aware that it's a way to hey out of the country if they just put the hours in and have some ability for it?
Stephen Lee, despite being a complete crook, is/was making a small fortune out there coaching.
Isn't it more that the smoking ban effectively killed snooker clubs, and, as there are now far fewer clubs/tables/places you can play [snooker tables take up a huge amount of space better allocated to craft dining or, you know, housing] nobody really gets exposed to the game unless they really hunt it out? Young people not taking up cue sports is definitely a thing*. In our local pool league we were the young, carefree drinking team when we started out. 15 years later we remain the 'youngest' team, but have had to water down some of the other aspects.
*this is also probably linked to young people, in general, not going to the pub anymore.
I definitely concur with that. I was in the same boat re: pool, being the young team that tore up the league and as we progressed in age, no one younger came through. Most of us stopped playing completely, and the couple that kept it up are now on the IPA or Ultimate Pool circuits now.
I also played in a billiards league which was the same, only ten times worse for that problem and it doesn't even exist now. I was only ever a casual snooker player so don't know about the league situation but the club always had a decent amount of players, even if getting a table was never really an issue.
The use of space is a good shout actually, why have even a pool table (let alone a snooker table) maybe bringing you in a couple of quid an hour if it's younger people who aren't drinking much if you could have another table for drinks / food.
I've said this before so I won't bang on but I'd spend a lot more time even just by myself playing some snooker or pool in my free time if it didn't cost something like eight quid an hour in my local places before you've even had a drink or whatever.
This is a perfect time to point out that I played for a pub team in the local league once and won the game, so have retained a 100% record for 20 years. Like Sam Allardyce's England career but with fewer pints of wine.
I played sometimes as a teenager. There was a club off the main road out of town, hardly in prime real estate. A good schlep to get there if you didn't have a car, but people made the journey. You'd go upstairs in what seemed to be an abandoned building and there was a bar, a small pool room, and a large snooker hall with 10-12 tables populated entirely by working class men of all ages (and me, I guess). There would be quite a lot of teenagers at the weekend but we had no money, obviously, so the money to run the place came from the grown men buying drinks and these men wanted to smoke inside.
You stop them smoking in 2006 (I was 18), the place closes within months. The teenagers in the area now can't and don't play snooker. Now it's luxury flats.
The sight of smoke smouldering from a Regal King Size under the table lights is a very vivid memory of my youth.
Are those men not still going to pubs though? I mean, if you've got to go outside to smoke when you're having a pint does that not come into the same thing?
I dunno, it's a weird one. I dunno how you get young people playing it without trying to herd them into snooker / pool halls. The ones near me are busy enough and with younger people BUT that's on the pool tables, of which there are many more. When I play snooker I don't see many people younger than me doing it but then I walk back to the bar through all the pool tables and there are loads of them.
I'd be interested to know whether pubs which still cling on to a "50p for a game" pool table see many young people playing there as it's a much cheaper option and you can just do a few games for a couple of quid.
And also whether student unions still have their pool tables. The ones I went to in Glasgow used to but that may be another thing that's fallen by the wayside. Pool is the obvious gateway drug to snooker, right?
At school one of my friends lived in a pub so he had the key to the pool table and we'd play for free as it was the olden days when pubs closed in the afternoon and reopened later, the only step away from perfection was that he couldn't get the Spiderman arcade game to play for free as well. He was actually a dickhead but free pool, come on now
:D
I'd love even to have the space / money for a pool table. I'd never be bored again.
Smoking over the table? :nono:Quote:
Originally Posted by Ben
It's been covered, but the smoking ban closed a load of establishments where one would play it as it's almost impossible to make money from them now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
Yeah, that's fair enough.
Have the relevant snooker authorities in the UK had any bright ideas of what they might do about this in the intervening 15 years? I don't think Judd Trump wearing trendy trainers in the studio will cut it.
Are Higgins, Williams, O'Sullivan of 2022 worse than the players who were reaching the semi-finals in 2002 (the younger versions of themselves)? Because if the overall quality of snooker isn't dropping off, there isn't an issue, is there?
Is total tournament centuries a good measure? Because there's a positive trend there.
Toggle Spoiler
I'd say all three collectively are as good as they were then, but individually they've all been better than they are now. The quality of snooker is fine at the moment and as good if not better than it's ever been, but the problem comes when the established names do start to decline (age surely has to see to that at some point) and there's no one to take their place, which is absolutely what we're looking at happening.
The youngsters coming through (from the UK at least) are genuinely tragic - Jimmy White, as an example to back that up, has only just dropped out of the top 100 and given how bad he is and has been for years, he shouldn't be anywhere near it.
I'm not sure the quality of the player ranked 100 matters very much, in the late 90s you still had the likes of Dennis Taylor and Willie Thorne higher than White is now.
I think it's a case of the top 50 generally being much better than it's ever been. You're right in that for a while there's been a lack of real generational talent coming through. Maybe we were just spoiled by Hendry, Williams, O'Sullivan & Higgins all appearing at the same time?
Is there any other sport/game/discipline where there is 1 person under 30 in the world's top ten?
I've just checked darts actually and that's also 1/10 (Belgian, the snooker one is Chinese). The decline of British pubs theory is the one.
Get the public schools to put up some snooker tables. Everybody else will be too busy choosing between food and warmth for snooker to be an option so get the poshos involved.
Glad to see Williams on the board. How can the table not settling into the carpet for the one-table setup not be considered?
Trump looks on it.
There's always a chance when you try to bash one in but Williams got seriously unlucky with that shot there where the red rolled past the cue ball into perfect position for Trump.
Don’t know why he hit it that hard though.
How are people so bad at turning off their cunting phones lol
That shot though. :drool:
I dunno, but also it's a fucking pub game you mugs stop being so arsey. Not quite at rugby levels of "please be quiet for the kicker while he pouts at the ball really hard" but still.Quote:
Originally Posted by igor_balis
I literally said out loud "why did he hit it so hard?!", which got a proper "I wish my son wasn't such a weirdo" look from my momzQuote:
Originally Posted by Ben
What a legend though. Come on.
I fucking love Mark Williams
That yellow was a thing of beauty.
O’Sullivan vs Williams in the final would be tremendous.
Ronnie v Williams would be a lovely final if possible.
Crowd are properly behind Williams here.
Trump's popularity really suffers from being a dolt I think.
And spending the week running up to the tournament slagging off the sport because he wasn’t playing well. Ball bag.
The constant channel hopping the BBC do with this is an absolute fucking disgrace.
Get on Eurosport (if you have it), Joe Johnson talking you through each break is a soothing experience, and Jimmy White stumbling through his sentences in the studio equally so.
I can't cope with Eurosport for those very reasons.
And I wouldn't mind them switching channels so much if they did it in a sensible way, but they don't. Killing the end of that 22nd frame just now, for example.
This * 10000, the BBC coverage is truly hateful stuff. The bad dad jokes in the earpieces making the spectators giggle is up there with my least favourite things in sport. At least you don't have to hear the jokes on Eurosport.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
The snooker crowd laughing is up there with the Wimbledon crowd laughing in the pantheon of worst sporting mirth.
BBC fucking off a snooker World semi final mid frame for Gardener’s World is a new low.
Red button, Eurosport, online, I don't think it really matters these days.
It is also still on an actual BBC channel as well no? [BBC4?]
Tbf if it was 1996 it would be well annoying, gardener's world is well rubbish.
I just can’t fathom how Gardener’s World warrants bumping off the semi final of the Snooker World Championship.
Regardless, what a tremendous session.
Williams 😎
It'd be nice if the Eurosport coverage didn't have the sort of resolution that makes it look like an 80s rerun.
Yeah, BBC4.Quote:
Originally Posted by niko_cee
Am I the only one who likes the BBC commentators?
Nope, I do too. John Virgo is immense.Quote:
Originally Posted by Boydy
Thought you were more of a tennis guy, bro.Quote:
Originally Posted by Boydy
Proper dick Ronnie for the first hour, but that break was ludicrously good.
It takes two to tango to be fair to Ronnie.
I do like the blunt honest of Hendry.
:DQuote:
Originally Posted by Kikó
I wonder if that female snooker player who doesn't have too much time to practice as she runs her own business realises how bitter she's coming across every time she mentions it?
Huge last frame for Higgins this.
Immediately stuffed the break off as well. Though that pot is exquisite from Ronnie.
Ronnies "my tip is wrong" is about the same as Lewis Hamiltons "my tyres are bad" at this point.
Back on Eurosport vs traditional broadcasters, you don't get this on the BBC.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bnZCDcSu5A
These two frames have been pretty gutting. could easily be 13-13 but looking like 15-11. Boo.
Shut my damn mouth, what a couple of pots. Williams :wub:
Keep the faith Igor!
Massive frame that.
Oh no :(
Oh yes :D
Trump's head has gone.
Astonishing stuff this.
Williams has just been amazing every session I've watched so far.
I believe. Holy shit.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
First bit I’ve seen as I’m visiting the folks. Have they been in the shoebox all fortnight on the BBC?
Lisowski looked like he was gonna cry there cause his bezzie lost that frame.
Shaun Murphy is such a prick.
Absolutely. Can't stand the man.Quote:
Originally Posted by -james-
This one has got very tense. Trump should have had this 4 times over.
This has been great stuff.
That shot from Williams when he just smashed them all apart. :D
Trump seems to have recovered his long potting at just the right time.
Absolute madness.
Some fabulous attempts by Williams, but snooker players are just too good at getting out of snookers.
As I say that, imagine leaving a gap there. :face:
Also, this is a bit of a sad way for this to end.
Shite.
Unfortunately with no threat on anything other than the escape, you'll struggle to get anything in on a top player like this.
Trump just needs to keep rolling them up to the pocket.
When’s this done so I can collect my winnings?Quote:
Originally Posted by Baz
Monday [night].
No idea who I want to to win now. O'Sullivan has "being a dickhead" where his personality should be but Trump barely has one at all.
Ronnie for the record for me. Trump isn't offensive, but he just isn't anything really.
Trump spent the week running up to the tournament slagging off the sport, mainly because his own form was poor. I’ve got no time for excuse makers like that. Come on Ronnie.
Not like O'Sullivan doesn't have form for mouthing off about the sport, the venues he's in, people who aren't as good at snooker as he is, etc.
Just bin them both out for being turbofannies and bring back... I dunno, Williams and Robertson*.
* Specifically the mad hair version of Robertson though.
I don't know why really, but in recent years I've begun to really like Ronnie. Maybe it's because I know there will never be anyone like him ever again.
Ronnie mouths off all the time. The Trump interview was a toys out of the pram moment because he was asked why his form dipped this season. At least Ronnie is consistent with his bitching, not just when he’s having a bad run. I’d much have preferred Williams over either mind.
Grumpy cunts frow the West Midlands were a thriving race last time I checked.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
Oi.
I live there and can confirm.
Thrilling stuff this, O'Sullivan insisting the ball he moved a further 2mm for him to do a nothing shot.
I hope this hooks all the kids watching
Hope he misses again.
Incredible stuff this.
What was being said about Ronnie being a dick?
I'm quick to berate O'Sullivan for...well, being O'Sullivan, but I thought he had a bit of a point there. My eyes might have been playing tricks on me, but it looked like he could see the red before the first foul, then he couldn't until after all the pissing around.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
Trump losing that after having him at snookers required feels big, even in a match as long as this. My predictions are always terrible, but I could easily see O'Sullivan winning the next "mini session" 3-1 or 4-0 and already having an ominous lead.
I bet it also must be quite unnerving the sheer speed at which Ronnie can take a frame away from you.
Being 2 behind is not too bad in a first to 18, but then you make it 3 or 4 and suddenly it starts to get away from you.
I think he had a view of it again at the point he was adamant he didn't but it doesn't really matter much, I just thought it was a lot of palaver over a shot with not that much to gain from it. But then not being an obsessive psycho bell-end is probably why I'm a lazy slob and not a top sporting pro.Quote:
Originally Posted by igor_balis
"A match we might still be talking about decades from now."
Don't undersell it Rob.
Also what was it O'Sullivan got a warning for? A "gesture" did they say? I missed the end of the first session.
I've never understood why there's not a miss called if the fouling player is far enough ahead that his opponent needs snookers.
Two more phones going off in the first half hour. Eject them.
Big fan of these early re-rack calls.
This is amateur hour stuff at the moment.
My wife, who knows very little, just branded them both shite.
At this rate they might still be playing it decades from now.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
I reckon this ref might murder them before it comes to that.
Ffs :D
It would be a fucking horrible rule, the miss rule only exists to stop people deliberately fouling/not trying to hit the object ball. It would be ridiculous if someone like Selby was 90 points down and was able to lay a monster snooker then win the frame. If anything, there's an argument for not calling misses when people get close but don't hit it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ben
That's more the point isn't it, that it's a harsh rule when someone is genuinely in a tough snooker, but the reality is, as often showed, that a pro player can basically always hit a ball if it is even theoretically possible if all they are worried about is hitting it.
Would prefer if Ronnie didn't just run away with this.
I get your point but if it was the other way round in that situation (ie. the fouling player being behind) then a miss would be called.Quote:
Originally Posted by igor_balis
Every shot looks a bit of a struggle for Trump at the moment.
Trump in a slump getting humped.
Must be tough when you're not quite in the groove and you know the crowd is massively in favour of your opponent.
annoying cus you'd be pretty sure williams would be doing a lot better if he got past trump
In a strange way I think Ronnie would also be more reserved. I think he'd respect Williams more than he would Trump.
Yeah absolutely. To be honest, the fact he's dragged himself to a world championship final despite being out of form all season is testament to how trump has evolved from the #naughtysnooker carefree potter to a more seasoned matchplayer, but it's probably ruined the final as a spectacle. I guess it's Williams' fault for being so shit earlier in the semi.
I don't mind Ronnie, but I detest the Ronnie Crowd.
Heads have gone with that miss on the cut.
Yeah I went to the UK championship in York just before covid, and the O'Sullivan fans were loud and annoying enough to do my head in, despite him playing about two tables away from the Marco Fu masterclass me and my mate were watching.Quote:
Originally Posted by niko_cee
The crowd have been a shambles all the way through this weekend. All of this phone/shouting out nonsense should see them chucked out and their ticket resold.
Exactly. A capacity of 1,000 means there'll be plenty of takers so there's no need to placate this behaviour.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gray Fox
Yeah this looks over.
Heads gone completely here.
I wonder if Judd Trump stays friends with Jack Lisowaki so he looks like the fun, zany one.
Shaun Murphy and his enormous forehead criticizing his cue action at this point is a bit lol.
He's in the final of the World Championship, which he's won before mate. I don't think that's his problem.
That twat who shouted "double it" should be out on his arse by now.
Probably won't even get an evening session tomorrow at this rate.
Me accurately calling Shaun Murphy a wanker years ago is probably my only TTH e-victory.:evictory:
It'll just be delaying the inevitable if Trump manages to drag it out that long. O'Sullivan isn't collapsing for long enough to lose this.
I only just found out that Ronnie has been wearing a mic the whole tournament for an upcoming Netflix documentary.
Not sure how I feel about that.
I don't see why Ronnie couldn't get to eight or nine of these, and keep winning well into his fifties.
Don't worry. The way Netflix edits will make it look as if he's winning the World Championship in Swindon.Quote:
Originally Posted by John Arne
I think he will now - his cue ball positioning somehow keeps getting better. I'll go for 10 before he retires.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
I’m sure it was Steve Davis that said it’s the eyes that go and that’s what gets you in the end.
Ronnie seems to be in good shape and hasn’t had one of his meltdowns lately. I see no reason why he hasn’t got another one in him.
Did he try wearing glasses?
At 46, Ronnie's eyesight should have gone by now if it was going to be a problem. I'm guessing they just get laser surgery these days.
Just tuned in to see Trump on the comeback trail, so he instantly played a catastrophic frame ending shot. Time to zone out and hope for a competitive evening session.
Very much game on after that. Huge opening frame tonight.
So what was the score that session then, 5-2 to Trump or something? Fair play to him either way.
6-1.
6-2
Hell of a showing then. Doing that twice in a row will be hard but who knows?
Looking pretty finished now.
How does ticketing for this work, do people buy a ticket for only the evening session of the final? Lol if so.
Always a chance if your opponent needs two, but if O'Sullivan wins one of these before the interval it's over.Quote:
Originally Posted by Spikey M
Think you get both sessions for the final, but they wheel out the old cunts if it finishes early for some exhibition shit.Quote:
Originally Posted by -james-
I jinxed it. You're all welcome.
If he wins the next one he's got a chance
Alright Ronnie, let him go ffs.
That hug was atleast 3 hours too long.
Trump looked so awkward. :D
I already thought O'Sullivan was a knobhead and I didn't even know his son is called Ronnie Jr.
Just spotted this on telly earlier this evening (presumably on because of the snooker being on) that did some big calculation over 50 or so years and had John Higgins as the best player ever. Though I suppose you could come up with a formula to prove anything.
https://www.rte.ie/brainstorm/2021/0...r-of-all-time/
I like the true respect it shows for Marco Fu.
Oh my.
Add him to the nonce thread.
Especially after that video of him invading Yan Bingtao’s house.
Because I wasn't ready for it all to be over so soon I've been watching a bit of the Seniors. In isolation these are clearly some excellent players but after watching the Worlds for the last few weeks every player looks so shit in comparison I'd fancy my chances. It's not helped that some of the seniors are younger than 3/4 of the final four of the big competition either.
Maybe snooker goes the way of wrestling and the older guys have longer careers now? Like, you don't hear them having coke and drink binges like they did in the 80s.
Really looking forward to this Netflix doc. If they get some archive footage and Last Dance it it could be immense.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/63316258
I wish he'd just retire and then go and live as a hermit somewhere. He's such a colossal bore.
He needs a nemesis to motivate him.
Does he not have enough money made by now to jack it in if he's that unhappy?
He's fine. He just gets asked questions after every single match he plays and he's bored shitless of that as he's been doing it for nearly 30 years.
Just watched quarter of an hour of Milkins Higgins and it might genuinely be the worst bit of professional sport I've seen all year.
Judd Trump calling his opponent shit after losing the other night was far worse than anything Ronnie's been up to.
They are just underdeveloped weirdos from spending 8 hours a day in dark rooms playing snooker from childhood, it would make anyone deranged
Please don't fling such labels at a character like Ronnie. Man's got more personality in his foreskin than all of you combined.
Sure, but that combination of charisma, narcissism and talking bollocks is a big case of diminishing returns for me, even from people who are really good at sport. It's why I think you have to be a proper retard to still be going :D :drool: what a legend when "Zlatan" calls some other player a pussy or something.
The mistake is with anyone paying much attention to this stuff rather than the people themselves. His comments seem fine and basically what we'd all say if we were forced into analysing our 9-5 every week.
I've turned into an unashamed Ronnie fan as I've got older. There's only ever going to be one of him, enjoy him while you still can, before snooker turns into David Bland vs Graham Dull forever.
O’Sullivan is blander and duller (off the table as that seems to matter) than anyone these days with the constant playing of the same old lament.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
He just insults opponents less directly and if he's having a proper pout slags off an entire generation of players for having the temerity to not also be the best ever.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
Young Thai woman hit a 147 few weeks ago. Perhaps the first women's 147 ever? At least one caught on camera.
https://youtu.be/8hkMmTpQu3Y
Jimmy White (ranked 89, aged 60) has made the UK Championship main rounds.
Maybe Ronnie has a point about the dozens of pros who he says are crap at snooker.
I addressed it at the time and he was bang on. The two up and coming youngsters Steve Davis put forward as a counter were neither young nor good and have done the square root of fuck all since.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
Matthew Stevens been very frustrating, Jimmy White told Radzi he "has a miss in him", and it's played out exactly like that.
Ding :cool:
6-0 :D
I'm really not sure how Ding has managed to fall to number 38, such a good player at his best.
If that thumb headed twat comes back from 5-0 I'm gonna fucking cry.
Fair play for calling the push shot though
Ding again. :cool:
Seem to be a lot of very one-sided games in this so far.
Gwan Fordy
Oh Fordy :(
How on earth did he miss that?
The second bester from Leicester
That was a bit unfortunate.
The ongoing 8th frame is a good example of the declining standards of snooker. Balls wide open from very early, and both players (Allen and Lisowski) just far too mentally weak and unskilled to take advantage, even given countless opportunities.
I'm impressed by the attempted mini-combover by Lisowski. Clinging onto hair for dear life.
Shaun Murphy continues to be thoroughly unlikeable.
This last frame is nice and tense.
Last frame feels like a bit of a race to the bottom.
Lisowski's arse went about three times there. Allen it was more of a problem of execution.
Some very average snooker going on here.
And why have Mark Allen’s fans always been feral?
Ding absolutely fucking Allen up
Random post but I play football with two snooker players so I thought I'd see if they were in this. One of them lost to Marco Fu and one lost to Ali Carter.
Who's the better footballer, father or son?
Ali carter and Marco Fu are not related.
:D I bet Ali Carter would be really offended by the thought of that, he's well brexitQuote:
Originally Posted by Kikó
Son now, but dad is about 50.Quote:
Originally Posted by igor_balis
Dings shitting the bed
Ding is fucked
Yeah, he's not looking great here.
All the "COME ON DING!" shite not helping either.
Although, saying that, he seems to have used a lifetime of luck to get a shot at this frame.
Allen's face as the ref kept fingering the ball there was classic.
This is proper snooker :cool:
Bloody hell, M Allen's missus had an interesting choice of attire
just seen baldy trump do a 147, fair play. not seen that many live (on telly i mean, i've only been to watch it live once)
Cracking frame from thepchaiya there.
Thepchaiya beat trump 5-4, with a deciding respotted black :drool:
Any day that Trump loses is not a bad day.
Just copped that the Mosconi is on :drool:
Stephen Hendry’s YouTube channel he’s started is quite good.
Got the Mosconi on. How in the fuck is Earl 'the Pearl' still playing?
I was surprised to see him there today too. He’s such a ballbag and doesn’t give a fuck that I actually like him. Still has the few genius shots in him just mixed up with a few more awful clangers now.
He must be in his mid 60's by now surely?
Always thought of him as the Ronnie of pool.
This Joe O'Connor bloke playing well in the semi against Robertson, couple of mad clearances.
He did it :cool:
Gary Wilson vs Joe O'Connor final, lovely stuff.
Proper bottle job in that final match from the yank.
No way? :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/64152359
What on earth has been going on here?
I read that most of the players involved haven't been sanctioned for directly match fixing. Likely a couple of them were and between that and the Liang Wenbo thing, the rest of them have been caught in the crossfire for not reporting it or being an accessory.
Look at the replies to this tweet, someone has posted videos of a Champions League game from last season where it's pretty blatant (commentator is fuming). It probably all stems from this.
IIRC Judd Trump was suggesting that an organised crime syndicate had heavily leant on the Chinese lads, who have little to no support while they're over here with which to bat those approaches off.
Hopefully the powers that be are lenient then, other than for those who have blatantly/actively fixed matches.
vafaei is gonna Denmark 92 the whole tournament :drool:
Williams :cool:
Is he still fighting that wasp?
I think snooker is the single only reason I miss the BBC.
Gutted. Really wanted to see Williams win.
Been watching some of the Welsh open on Eurosport/iPlayer this week and O'Sullivan looks so measured and calm about everything. Number 8 could be in store in two months time.
Or he could just as easily strop off.
I'm kinda suggesting he's not going toQuote:
Originally Posted by Shindig
Judd is bringing it home.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
Some fairly epic jinxing from Yev.
:D
I watched most of it and he could not pot a ball.
Told you. Can't take owt for granted with him.
Even though he lost, he wasn't spitting the dummy out or anything, which was the point I was making, so we'll see.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shindig
yeah it's like when he got whitewashed by his mate ding at the UKs and he seemed just about the happiest i've ever seen him in the post-match interviewQuote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
I've been watching the qualifiers for the World Championships on Discovery+ this week. Jimmy White is on now and absolutely shitting it up (7-2 down) against some absolute no mark. Stephen Hendry lost 10-4 to James Cahill yesterday and I think all of the Womens are out too.
Stan Moody (the 16 year old) did win a match, but he's getting battered in the second round now.
I've been watching quite a bit of 'Stephen Hendry's Cue Tips' on youtube of late. https://www.youtube.com/@stephenhendryscuetips
Really good channel which only started 5 months ago. It's nice how Hendry usually plays a frame with snooker players, ex-snooker players and non-snooker players, and has a chat and a bit of a laugh with them like he's in a snooker club.
Also, Hendry is a surprisingly good interviewer. Shows a genuine interest and asks good questions.
+1 for that channel as well. It's about as good as it could be and better than I thought it would be.
The one with Steve Davis was great. Not sure if I have the stomach to watch a John Terry edition.
I skipped that one too, albeit the comments were fun.
Agreed. That one was beyond me too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
Annual audit of player ages at the WC is not looking good, unless you're Chinese. In the 16 seeded players the average age is 39.4 with one player (Brecel) under 30, and in the final 32 of qualifying, there are only 7 players under 28: Xu, Pang, Zhou, Page, Si, Wu and Fan.
Barry 'the Hawk' Hawkins misses out for the first time since 2005.
Ronnie is right. The standard of young players is decreasing drastically. Hardly any characters either. 20 years ago there were so many good players and characters. Even Quinten Hann was a good watch in his own bizarre interesting way. Now we've got boring Mark Selby and co. Over the years I've seen quite a few snooker clubs nearby close down. Could be a problem there.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
https://youtu.be/7wnrz4z0xfs
The smoking ban killed the profitability of snooker clubs and in turn the development of youngsters in the sport itself.
Chinese interest should have made up for that, but it simply hasn't. If I was being charitable I'd say it's a hard thing for their kids to excel at when it involves moving here to do it and if I wasn't, I'd say the Chinese might just be a bit rubbish at snooker.
Snooker strikes me as the kind of thing where you need to be pushed [by better players] to really get good/better. Without those gatekeeper players, or the ability to play them, it's hard to really improve beyond being very talented. That said, from my very local experience snooker actually has a reasonably strong club culture, unlike other 'cue sports' which are dying on their arse big time.
It's not just snooker though. It might be at the forefront, but I can see loads of other sports struggling for players in the future. Without going all old man on the world, you simply don't see kids playing sport in general life in the way that you used to. I don't blame them, if the tech we have now existed when I was young I'd never have gone out either.
Definitely. I peaked early on with snooker because of a lack of better players to learn from. I played exclusively with other lads my age and we were all 40-50 break players. I excelled more at pool because I was in teams with older lads who were/are on the tour.
It's probably Esports as well. A 13 year old that's very good at snooker is probably also very good at pwning noobs on Fortnite, and the latter is a much more efficient serotonin releaser and probably has a clearer pathway to making money.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
Robertson looking scary good
He is, but as the past has taught us that doesn't generally have much bearing on whether he'll win the whole thing.
Would be cracking if he got a 147 here.
Some good needle set up for Friday with Vafaei vs. Ronnie. :drool:
Nothing says fossil fuels burning the planet like Joe Perry v Robert Milkins in the crucibile last thirty-two.
They also pulled a similar trick just as we were going in to see dippy the dinosaur, as nothing gets people on your side like targeting snooker and free dinosaur exhibits for kids. They must be double agents hired by Shell
That’s the issue with what Vafaei was saying. All well and good saying Ronnie needs to make way for the kids but those kids are getting schooled by goofs like Perry and Milkins.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
These people are genuinely the thickest group going. They even picked a day when the 7PM live coverage was on BBC4. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
Oh fuck what did I miss? :D
Edit: fucking helmets
Them snooker tables cost a fortune, don’t they? Nice wee sentence incoming.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ben
Huge fan of the ref stopping fatty on the other table from getting up there
Hopefully they had seven colours of shite knocked out of them backstage.
Can imagine Higgins is fucking fuming he wasn't there to throw a snide punch while shouting hold me back.
The most powder anyone's seen around a snooker table since Jimmy White retired.
Ronnie still exists
If he's doing that whilst getting up early every morning going on mile long runs, fair play to him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Waffdon
Just Stop Oil are shit at picking targets. :D
the worst protest of this ilk is still when some XR dweebs started fucking with the trains a couple of years ago. trying to save the planet and you target public transport. nice one lads.
All in for Noppon here even though he's surely losing. A lot of players are objectionable but there's something about Lisowski in particular I can't get on with. Probably his face
Probably the fact he comes across smug as fuck but has fuck all to show for it (ie. zero professional event wins). Being best buds with "Judd" probably doesn't help him, other than getting stints on BBC as a pundit when he bottles another tournament in the mid-stages.
We are all Judd Trump. :cool:
I've not seen Trump recently, excited to see if the hair's still clinging on for dear life.
Maximum for Wilson.
The second session of Trump vs McGill this afternoon should be a cracker.
I still think Trump will edge it but it will be scenes if he doesn't. Proper toys out of pram stuff when he gets dumped out.
Poor Ryan Day saw his highest break payday evaporate in front of his eyes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
Has to be said, Trump has been magnificent here.
I've clearly cursed Judd and this is now looking ominous.
He's just had a massive reprieve. Can't afford to go 6-9 down.
EDIT: Never mind. That pink miss could kill him off.
We all hate Judd Trump
McGill was 9-6/9-7 down in the qualifiers and I really should have put a few quid on him, for a back out later on. He's an absolute fucker to beat.
Another black missed you'd expected him to have made. His goose is cooked now and it could well have been 8-8.
Thought he was a bit unlucky with a few things that slightly went against him but he’s been a bit useless since returning from the break.
McGill was 6/4 to win going into the break, Yev. I was tempted but assumed bookies knew best. Evidently not
Joe Perry looking like a pub player. He’s absolutely shot
On this, as a sporadic snooker watcher, the speed of McGill and Brecel's descents into balddom is quite something.Quote:
Originally Posted by wullie
Selby potentially getting MUDDED
Murphy's right in the shit here.
Fairly insane shot that.
That phone going off 10 seconds later would have been amazing.
:D
What's he looking at John?
Oh no . . .
Hand switch from Si. :cool:
Bye bye, Murphy. Prick.
Absolutely top trolling from Si to knock him off again.
Isn't that the guy who Murphy said shouldn't have been at an event because he was an amateur? After the guy beat him then as well?
Aye.
Thought he through it by going for that pink but made up for it with the safety. Was a bit unlucky with the cannon shot earlier anyway, was looking supreme in that final game up until then.
Excellent stuff. Though when he goes out they do seem to drag him in to do the punditry at first chance, so win some lose some.
I look forwards to the lack of handshake to get some needle into the Vafaei v Ronnie match.
Has to be said, in nearly 35 years of watching this I can't recall a first round of such quality, both in terms of standard of play and entertainment.
Bottom quarter could be a bit of a grind, but the rest of the draw should be good stuff from here on in. Wide open for Ronnie now with Trump and Murphy out.
Just checked the draw and I'd reckon McGill will be much longer odds to get to the semi's than he should be.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H46cBZEfB38
Barry. :cool:
Not a Man to get on the wrong side of.
I got £200 on my boy and am ready to write off the afternoon at work, let's go :drool:
I’m tempted by putting a little something on Jones at 9/4. I know there is still a long way to go but Robertson doesn't look comfortable playing him at all. Seems to be the year of upsets as well.
John Virgo looks on his arse.
Mon the prince.
Jesus :D
His hairline is putting in some graft.
Lol at that. Ronnie living in his head rent free.
Hendry is outright offended by that. Quinten Hann has a stiffy, wherever he is.
I get the feeling he's poked the bear here.
The disrespectful angle is a red herring, it's just an insane thing to do. Perhaps worse still, having decided to do it, he did a piss poor job of it as well.
Think he might have crossed into Stephen Ames territory here.
The gammons up in arms and look at how he chucked that cue on at the end there. He'll flop his girthy 12 incher after the next frame and just take a piss right there and then.
Mark Selby will be looking at all this aggression in disgust.
Looks like his girthy 12 incher is a bit shy.Quote:
Originally Posted by Don
I fucking love how utterly obsessed with cock Taz is. Fair play dude.
The gammons are still seething with their little wieners.
13-2? Oof. Should have just gone home.
Everything has already happened on the golf course.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
Some very one sided matches going on today.
Jesus, I did not expect that.
The impeccably timed match fixing hearing is underway this morning.
si just missed match ball by a mile :eyemouth:Quote:
Originally Posted by Ben
The real question is when is he going to be the subject of a Rob Walker home invasion?
Still one of the most bizarre things I've ever seen. :D
But probably justified in light of his subsequent match-fixing rap.
jack borderline suicidal in the post game on Eurosport
This might be the most stupid approach to playing Ronnie imaginable from Brecel.
If it's more stupid than Vafaei's it must be some going.
Fair point, probably should have caveated that by saying "stupid approach from an otherwise good player".
That's a hell of a miss on the blue.
https://www.grandoldteam.com/forum/a...iss-jpg.50973/
The positional shot on the pink in the same frame was just as bad. The whole frame itself was pretty lol
So nice watching somebody I like (in John Higgins), who will have no problem dealing with Mark Selby's absolute bullshit.
EDIT: That isn't to say I don't think Selby will win, but he's not going to get in John's head with his wank as he does with other players.
He's such a boring cunt, which is quite out of the ordinary for a pool player.
This has been delightful so far. Hopefully it ends with the Crucible's first televised suicide.
Fucking hell. :D
Fuck showing me what a typical referee's day is like, I wanna know what Rob Walker gets up to...
I feel like Higgins is nailed on to win it all from here.
Ronnie looking very dodgy.
I might moan about this every year, but the BBC's coverage really is a sack of shit. Every single fucking session I have to change channel about 4 times to watch all of the same sodding match (missing bits along the way as adverts for wank on iPlayer HAVE TO FINISH) and come the evening, it's a complete crapshoot as to whether whoever is in charge of the snooker is allowed by whoever is in charge of BBC4 to stay with it when it inevitably overruns the ill sufficiently allotted timeslot.
I find the obvious back office tug of war between the two amusing "Snooker? This is an ARTS channel dear boy" - I assume the BBC4 man is having the last laugh tonight though as he's scheduled "The Crucible: 40 Golden Years" at 9PM. If they get pulled off for that I might actually go postal.
It’s pathetic. I’m watching on Eurosport this year. And they’re absolutely crucifying Brecel.
There's a fair bit to criticise about Brecel, but Ronnie has been absolute bilge in this match.
Another easy ball missed into that right middle pocket. Is it just a lack of concentration?
:D
Ronnie of 15/20 years ago would have walked out by now.
This is the worst standard of snooker I've seen at this tournament since the dark days of the qualifiers on Discovery+, maybe even worse.
Some cracking picks here https://wst.tv/crucible-walk-on-music/
Mark Allen -Can’t Stop, Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Ali Carter - Moves Like Jagger, Maroon 5
Robert Milkins - I’m A Cider Drinker, The Wurzels
Ronnie O’Sullivan - Drops of Jupiter, Train
Wu Yize - Generic Track
Thankfully Hossein Vafaei picked Hypnotize and he's now my best friend
Anthony McGill - Dancing On The Ceiling, Lionel Ritchie
Can't get my head around this one.
The McGill match throughout has been absolutely dreadful. Surprised if any of them have even hit a break of 70.
The BBC studio setup with all the gimps in the background trying to get into the shot is so annoying.
Ugh. Shaun Murphy again in the studio.
Ronnie not looking overly interested so far. He might wake up soon.
This is painful to watch, Ronnie is playing so badly and the commentators really need to start calling it.
One of the worst sessions I've ever seen from a player, that. I've seen better play the local snooker hall
Selby to win it all then. :sick:
He was bad enough yesterday, but I'd agree, that was something else. Don't think he got a break of 20.
Christ. 10-6 up to lose 10-13.
Brecel gave him loads of chances in the first 2/3 frames of the day as well. Almost seemed like Ronnie had somewhere else to be.
Selby to win it all then. :sick:
That pink shirt can barely contain Shaun Murphy's mantits.
I somehow hadn't noticed that and now I can't stop seeing it. :sick:Quote:
Originally Posted by 7om
If he was called Won Ni he'd have been hauled in for match fixing by now.
And everybody would agree he's just a fucking cunt rather than "Oh ho ho, Ronnie eh, what a character!"
Oh he's out. Lol.
Did he look like he couldn't be arsed / are we due one of his "I'd rather never play snooker again" interviews?
Nah, Mr. "None of the young players are any good." Applauded Brecel for being such a cool, smooth snooker playing guy that he loves watching.
Si couldn’t have handed McGill more frames if he tried. Absolutely brain dead time and time again
And vice versa from McGill. It’s a proper shit off at times.
The tournament has nose dived the last couple of days.
Every time I flick over Si breaks off well and is 30-40 ahead and then makes a stupid decision or plays a ridiculously risky shot and McGill either wins it or gets right back in. Think it’s over now after that last frame. What a tantalising semi final that promises to be
Not sure if you’re making this point, but I feel compelled to point out that Brecel is far from young.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shindig
It was more the juxtaposition between him spending time moaning about the other tour players and then being, "Super happy to be going home, Hazel. The guy who beat me is amazing." It's an improvement on him buggering off and sulking but he's so frustrating to listen to.
Yeah, he talks absolute shite.
His praise for Brecel was so over the top, it seemed sarcastic to me.
Fuck's sake, the switch from BBC4 to BBC2 there. I switched over to BBC2 and they're showing "The Irish League Show" on the NI version of the channel. Had to go onto iplayer to get the final frame of this.
He was right about the youngsters being shite, they are, but everything else is just nonsense.
Back from the pub and surprised to see Si still in this. Not getting McGill'ed would be some achievement.
Fair play to Si, that was immense.
If neither he nor Brecel shit the bed due to the occasion their semi-final should be a cracker. I'm also hopeful that Allen can run Selby close, albeit I think the latter will still win.
Si doing an interview with an interpreter now. I guess we're not getting that Rob Walker home invasion anytime soon if he doesn't speak any English. :(
He pots some incredible shots, it must be said. Very exciting to watch, if nothing else. He seemed to get to about 30-45 after potting a long red and then careless positional shots costs him and McGill got back in to put him under pressure with safeties. Clearly lack of experience doesn’t help the situation.
Thankfully Brecel seems to have similar issues so hopefully a cracker of a match. Couldn’t care less about the other
He lives in Sheffield which won’t help him much with their horrendous accentQuote:
Originally Posted by Boydy
Used to have this charming man, maybe it's a conscious effort to distance himself from Morrissey's bad racism. It ain't exactly the revolution will not be televised by Gil Scott-Heron, but Lionel is at least black I suppose.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
Yeah Eurosport is great, shame they have table two on "discovery plus", whatever the fuck that is.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ben
It's yet another subscription streaming service.Quote:
Originally Posted by igor_balis
How do you get Eurosport these days - Sky box only? I have a VPN so can watch BBC but there's no VPN app for my telly and I can't be arsed watching on a laptop.
Sky or IPTV, yeah.
Been reading a bit about Fred Davis.
In the 92/93 season he was ranked 181 in the world, whilst competing in the seniors tour. His last partly competitive year was 1980, where he reached the Irish Master finals, and the 2nd round of the World Championship.
What makes this pretty extraordinary is the Fred Davis reached the World Championship semi-finals in.... 1936. A pro for 64 years.
Here's a not-so-fun fact. I've met Fred Davis. I didn't know it at the time because I was so young but as a kid I played billiards and our team went to watch the U16 and U19 British Championships because a lot of our lads were playing in it (the Middlesbrough area was a hotbed for boys billiards talent in the 90's and 00's). One of the old blokes there turned out to be Fred I was later told (amongst other semi-famous names from old times). He died not long after I think.
Correlation does not imply causation. I'm sure your chance meeting was not the direct reason of his death, although it can't be ruled out.
Not a bad start from Si jiahui :cool:
Brecel’s play style really looks like it’ll suit him.
What, his style of being shit?
Both of these are going under the Selby bus in painful style, so let's hope Allen can do something about that.
Brecel going for that double there is absolutely head in hands stuff.
Yep, Allen needs to step up here.Quote:
Originally Posted by niko_cee
Now Brecel isn't playing someone in Ronnie who looked like they were actively trying to lose I'm on the Brecel hate bandwagon. His game management for a 'top' player is genuinely the worst I've ever seen.Quote:
Originally Posted by niko_cee
Mark Selby would absolutely ruin him without even blinking.
That psychologist will genuinely be the best of his profession ever if he can get Jimmy back to the Crucible, let alone putting him a position to win it.
And fair play to this chap for rubbishing the wellbeing/mental health nonsense.
Si Jiahui’s long potting in all of these games so far have been ludicrous
If Si plays this well should he make the final, I'd even give him a chance against Selby. But, a very long way to go yet.
Who was it and what was he saying?Quote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
It was a psychologist who has been working with Jimmy White and the patsy interviewer started trotting how having to look after your mental health/wellbeing was paramount. He cut her down (albeit politely) citing that if you want to be an elite sportsperson your mental health will inevitably suffer from the rigours that involves and you need to be able to both accept that and deal with it.Quote:
Originally Posted by Boydy
I'm always a bit wary of these sportspeople (seems to be a favourite of female tennis stars, but by no means only them) who seem to completely disengage with media duties and so on because of 'mental health'. Ben Stokes as well, took a year out because of it. If you want to take a year out then just take a year out. You think people who work in warehouses and coffee shops don't have mental health struggles? They don't have the luxury of not doing parts of the job whenever they feel like it. It always seems self-absorbed and disingenuous.
That escape from Si was something I'd end up trying to do [ie hit and hope].
I'm inclined to agree and I'd also say that it's preposterous to expect that performing in the top 0.00001% or whatever of people in the World at your chosen pursuit won't be very tough mentally. It's akin to working in a coal mine and expecting not to get dirty.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
Got to admire Hendry's ability to put a positive spin on the fact that either of these can miss anything at any given time, and lo and behold Brecel misses an easy pink off its spot instantly.
Maybe just use the rest instead of playing with the wrong hand?
Oh for god's sake. :face:
Thank christ this is the last frame of the session, all gone to absolute shit.
:roflol:
What in the flying fuck was that on the yellow.
Yeah, this is a shambles, but a shambles that I think will provide great entertainment as we get to the business end.
And that pink. Hendry is going to punch someone here.
The chip shot, then that yellow, then the shot choice on the pink a real grandstand finish to that in shit-off terms. That level of lols can get a bit wearing over the best of 33 though.
Selby at 5/4 is looking like free money. :sick:
Just stuck £50 on in an attempt to curse him.
Nicknames are pretty wank all round but “The Pistol” is dreadful.
Murphy on the comms again :sick:
I never thought I'd be cheering on Mark Allen, but there we have it.
He looks like he’s not well.
The blue in the 11th frame and the subsequent break :drool:
Not even two frames completed after nearly 2 hours. Let’s hope Si destroys whoever in the final.
Yeah, was about to ask, did this session start at 2? 1 frame completed. Yikes.
I kinda like the grind skills of Selby. Very old school while still being able to smash in centuries when they want.
10 hour sessions at 90 minutes a frame let's have it.
2:30, I think. I've just put it on and they've only played two frames? Last night ended 5-3, right?Quote:
Originally Posted by niko_cee
Si is so good to watch. Hopefully turns into the new star that the sport needs.
I'm loving the contrast between the two semi finals.:lol:
We’ll be here in 10 years time wondering why Mark Williams has bottled it and “Ronnie” winning with a highest break of 127.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
Wait, the other game is 7-6 after two sessions? What the fuck have they been doing out there?
Allen and Selby should be kicked out and this other semi being made into the final. Pretty pathetic snooker, especially from Selby.
Si is awesome.
The amount of shots I seen Selby back out of earlier today rather than take the pot on was hilarious. Night and day to these two lads. Albeit it’s probably going to work out and he’ll grind Si to death
Has the coverage on bbc2 just flicked back a frame for everyone else?
This is quite brilliant.
Not outright the most pure quality snooker we’ve ever seen but after the suicide-inducing bollocks earlier on, it’s about the best thing we could have wished for.
These two are so fun to watch. Pot some ridiculous stuff at times. If Brecel gets this to 14-10 come end of session I reckon he could do it.
Brecel is the better chance of the champion from this side of the draw. Although it would be amazing to see the Chinese boy that Murphy said should be nowhere near a pro table lift the trophy.
Si really could do with winning this last frame. 15-9 sounds a lot nicer than 14-10. I suppose this is coming at a good time for him anyway as he seems to always start new sessions well.
I was a bit taken aback when they just went off at 6 or whatever it was. Is that a new thing or am I just a bit too part-time with my following of it?Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
This is clearly going to happen. He's broken Allen's mind already. I suppose the thing Si might have going for him is the exuberance of youth. He won't be backing down [as Allen has done too many times already] and Selby isn't really playing well enough in the non-grind phase to capitalise on everything.Quote:
Originally Posted by Waffdon
I wonder if a tailor will get his hands on young Si before the final, if he makes it.
Some of these shots he’s going for. Fuck me. No respect for his opponent whatsoever :lol:
Not working out as much now though
He’s had a lot of luck with the white ball when he’s missed throughout. I don’t care though, I’m just enjoying this before Selby fucks us all up the arse in the final.
Fuck me, that miss on the green.
Huge difference for the match, oh shit . . .
That miss on the green after the brilliant brown. Fuck me.
He’ll be thankful for the end of the session. Hopefully he finishes it off tomorrow as not a chance Brecel beats Selby.
Si selects his shots more aggressively than I used to on world snooker championship 2005 on the PS2.
Shite refereeing. Suits the match I guess.
Mark Selby with Murphy on comms. NOPE.
Haha. I turned it on to check if they’d completed a frame and Selby took on a brown instead of playing safe. About fell off my chair. Absolutely nae danger I’m spending my morning listening to Murphy though
If this match goes close tonight they could genuinely end up finishing at 5am.
Think Si’s bottle may have crashed. I think that’s 7 frames in a row he’s lost. At least 3 of them he missed an easy pot or took on an outrageous shot
This is some bottle job, bigger than Ronnie's
He’s gonna end up losing 13 frames in a row having been up 14-5 and cruising lol. Thought starting afresh today would have seen him back on it but his safety play is just awful and he’s never not gonna attempt these risky pots.
Taking that black on was absolute insanity.
I've gone from feeling sorry for Si to just thinking what a fucking loser.
The blue fucking hell. He's done.
Yep. Bar Jimmy White's famous 10 frames lost in a row, you normally get a bit of ebb and flow when a player comes back from so far behind to level but Si just doesn't look like he has anything left in him to make that happen.
Ronnie sounded a bit ott in the Eurosport studio yesterday when he was saying that missed green could be career defining let alone match defining, but I do sorta see his point. Si will remember this tournament for his disintegration more than an amazing run to the semis, you'd imagine.
Brecel probably always had a much better chance in the final anyway, but coming off winning a million frames in a row might make him even more likely to beat one of the Marks, which probably makes this a better outcome
Yeah, this has been pretty pathetic. Hopefully he somehow shows us something and gets a deciding frame but not a chanceQuote:
Originally Posted by igor_balis
Watching his career and probably life go down in flames here to some bald dwarf from Belgium.
At least he done us a favour and donned Shaun Murphy again
calling it now - he gets a nice little 50-60 break then misses an easy frame ball
I was wrong, thank god. fair play, like.
That was very good, get in son. Final frame decider please.
He’s alive!
I think if he does squeeze a win here he might be fine in the final. Today would have been his blip you’d think rather than doing it in two consecutive matches.
Silly twat.
Mon' the 4am finish tonight it is then.
Yeah, bit mental to be going for that red when it was effectively match ball. Still took a good pot from Brecel afterwards but come on.
Hell of a match. He's still stupid young, that'll either break him for a few years, or spur him on to sort out the wildness. Trump/O'Sullivan etc had the same issue when younger.
He needs a mental coach really, look what it did from Ronnie. Turned him from an arrogant, lager swilling cokehead into an arrogant, vegan eating runner.
These pockets are massive. That black literally hit half way up the cushion.
Does Shelby not want to win or something.
I'm convinced Selby gains more enjoyment from dragging people down to his gritty game, than he does actually winning.
Standard has been shocking in this frame.
Just downed chicken tikka and chips with a cheesy garlic bread, popped an edible, and settling down for an evening of the worst snooker ever.
Let's fucking have it.
DS :D
I'm not even sure I want Mark Allen to win now, he's been a disgrace so far this evening.
Is Mark Allen on the take? He’s been piss poor.
Probably made enough to cover his takeaway and child support yearly bill, so lads not arsed.
That was a tragic mini-session from Allen.
The Mrs turned to me at some point during this match, the shot having cut to the camera in the commentary booth and said, that guy sounds like the guy from the snooker show that was on when I was a kid.
Will not believe it is the very same John Virgo. And that's already more entertaining than anything that's happened in this match.
Big Break? Loved that show as a kid.
I will asphyxi-wank myself to death tonight if Mark Selby loses from 16-10 up.
The referee needs to tell this twat to hurry the fuck up. Gamesmanship levels here now.
Such a shame Jim Davidson turned out to be such a cunt.Quote:
Originally Posted by 7om
One best not revived as modern day would likely have Alexander Armstrong hosting with everything falling flat.
They generally don't let working class comedians on TV now. No culture wars in Jim's heyday so presumably he was just another prick in the TV industry rather than a cancelled prick.
Selby’s lost his head here.
That geezer in the front is definitely asleep
I used to love Big Break, doesn't seem to be repeated from what I can see though whereas the glory years of Bullseye are on a double bill every night at 11pm on Challenge. Top flight mullets and polo shirts on show or your money back
What a frame that was.
This is great. So much tension.
I can’t tell if that yellow was deliberate or not.
@Dark Soldier how’s the edible gone down with this top snooker mate
I fell asleep for the last frame but up to that point, engrossed.Quote:
Originally Posted by 7om
Quite looking forward to this final. If it goes the way we all fear then it'll be horrible, but if it doesn't then it'll be an absolute cracker.
Selby's firmware needs an update, that smile was a bit Arnie in T2.
Not content with the Triple Crown nonsense, do we now have a hall of fame?
That was such a bad safety shot from Luca. :D Bring it on.
Google tells me the Snooker Hall of Fame was founded in 2011, and I was pondering when I was reminded of the Premier League one recently whether we're all a bit too cynical to try and start something like from scratch in this day and age. Or whether it just feels like too American a concept for us (compared to cricket say where individual grounds have their own ways of charting memorable performances.) The NFL Hall of Fame is a thing people actually care about but it also started 60 years ago when there was possibly a bit more earnestness about the whole affair and now it's just a thing that's been there, to most people, as good as forever.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
Well that was a pretty emphatic start.
I do believe the beautiful bald Belgian bastard has Selby a touch rattled here. :drool:
Well, this is delightful. I'm sure the depressed from Leicester will come back at some stage, but for now I'm loving it.
Thr molester from leicester struggling here. I wonder if he shouts 147 when he cums.
:lol:
There's no sight in sport like Mark Selby playing on with four snookers required.
That shot Luca Brecel just played - I've never seen anything like it.
I couldn't believe it, it was like a sort of nine ball exhibition shot.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
Selby defo dips his balls in his missus' mouth screaming 'maximum break'
Was excellent in every area while maintaining his lunatic attacking style. Astonishing performance.
Some outrageous pots from Brecel here. His confidence must be sky high.
And so begins the boring one grinding Brecel down.
Enjoying the crowd being fiercely pro-Brecel. Hopefully someone sacrifices their seat to shout some verbals and trigger a mental breakdown.
The front row of seats has been consistently empty through the latter stages. Are they prohibitively expensive or something? Every other seat seems full.
I was wondering that too. Maybe corporate seats and no one bothers to turn up to those until the final day/session?Quote:
Originally Posted by Ben
I had a look for tickets to the final and couldn't see much available at all, so I'm with Boyd and going for corporate types flanging out.
It looks like there's people in those seats now?
"I was in a final here a few years ago you know"
Fuck off Shaun.
He’s boring as fuck but this is one of the greatest 147s.
That was never in doubt from start to finish. What a final.
Fair play to the boring cunt.
Script writers have been in overdrive across the sports today.
Great scenes.
Shithouse Selby with the crowd pop. Amazing.
Went downstairs for about 20 minutes, came back to the crowd going mental .Lovely stuff.
Thought that was the last frame of the session the way Selby was hyping the crowd.
Wouldn't put it past Selby to have deliberately failed to clear up there to have nice half hour of grinding here.
The pockets are huge on this table. That brown would never have dropped on a club table, even the good ones.
The red down the line earlier as well.
Selby showboating with full length doubles now, whatever next?
It's Star I think, they make shitty snooker tables.
This has got Brecel coming out tomorrow, missing some outrageous attempts and getting ground to death written all over it.
I feel like for Brecel to have played this well and only be one frame in front will get to him.
Hard to see Selby being stopped from here.
BBC have no latest score or any reference to it at all on their whole sport front page.
We’ve chastised the TV schedule this year but the website is even worse. Often there was no live page and recap articles were littered with errors (wrong scores and spelling mistakes). Compare that to the WSL which gets shoved down our throats on there. So I checked viewing figures of both.Quote:
Originally Posted by Giggles
The snooker on BBC2 last weekend peaked at 1.4m viewers (before getting punted to BBC4, then iPlayer), whilst the WSL brings in a lofty 500k per live match.
The BBC coverage of it is poor however it's currently the main story on the sport page when I go to it.
It’s appeared on the world version now, 12th.
Rough old shot to get started from Brecel there. Might be enough around the cushions to stop Selby putting away the frame but probably enough for him to get a healthy start here.
Well I'm glad that didn't go the way I feared. Very good from Brecel.
And then that fluke. :D
This is some insane snooker.
The lads on fire right now. Where has he pulled this from?
He probably doesn't feel pressure as Belgium is such a nothing country. What does it actually offer bar a failing national football team, overrated chocolate, mayo with fries and Poirot?
Fuel for the wife beaters of Northern England to smack their missus about.
I thought this started at 14.00. Slightly annoying.
Those first 4 frames were about as good as it gets.
Selbys done well to make it his kind of match at the minute. Properly ground the momentum out of Brecel.
Liquid snooker. :drool:
What a clearance. What a man.
so Selby has to win 8-2 now. brecel did really well in that last mini-session to not let the jester back into it.
It's been a long time since I've seen someone almost laugh Selby off in this manner.
Monumental effort. As long as Brecel needs more than one frame though, Selby is very much in it, but if Luca plays like that again tonight, it's done.
How has Murphy managed to bag himself a commentary spot in the final session of a final. Fuck me.
Unpopular opinion I know, but I quite like him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Waffdon
His railing against Dennis Taylor's "a lapse in concentration" was bang on.
Unpopular opinion I know, but I quite like him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Waffdon
His railing against Dennis Taylor's "a lapse in concentration" was bang on.
For the first time in possibly ever I'm rooting for Mark Selby. Still don't like him but there's fuck all else on tv tonight so let's stretch it out a while
Yeah, I want Selby to grind out a few frames now but ultimately lose so it goes on a bit longer.
I think Selby will take it. He has that experience of getting over the line. Luca needs to get 1 from victory very soon.
Yeah, if Selby wins the first after the break it gets proper nervy. He's 3.7 on Betfair at the moment too.
3.85 on the exchange. Stuck a fiver on him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
He was 5/1 before the session. I could have easily cursed him with a tenner. Sorry to all.
Brecel needs another interval here.
Current session long pot success 33%. Eek.
Selby looking ominous here. Sort your shit out, Luca.
Might not be quite heads gone yet but it's a big wobble.
The tide is turning. Selby about to shithouse his way to the title.
He's got it to the type of game he loves. Brecel was potting his way out of it before but he's being kept cold.
Every round following the same pattern of someone throwing away a comfortable lead by the looks of it
Yeah, the whole tournament's been like women's tennis. Someone gets on top and just peels off clusters of frames on the bounce as the other can't mentally deal with it, then the tide turns and it goes the other way.
I was just typing that Brecel needs one of Selby's break-the-pack-open shots to not leave him something on and it's happened there. He really needs to just get on the table for a bit. Sitting in your chair absolutely powerless when you had it all under control must be brutal.
Yep, heads gone.
Every long pot attempt is getting further and further away lol
Was there anyone in the 'good old days' as relentless as Selby in terms of patience and ability to sucker people in with his percentage containing safeties? People like Peter Ebdon were dull but I don't think anywhere near as mentally tough. Davis I guess.
Some of the pots Luca is taking on now are daft. Surely he has to start playing a bit more controlled.
Selby doesn't just beat you either like a Ronnie would. He takes you apart bit by bit.
If he doesn't win another frame from here, which I'd suggest is quite likely, this is Jimmy White levels of bottling.
Was bugging me for a while if that was Luciana Berger in the crowd so I checked Twitter and apparently it is. John Woodcock is there too apparently. Probably a couple of the twats whose seats were empty last night.
In his head he's probably thinking he's never going to out-shit Selby so he has to keep going for it but I'm with you, he needs to start shitting it out a little bit if only to try and disrupt Selby's rhythm a bit because he's not wasting any openings at the moment.Quote:
Originally Posted by 7om
Yeah, Ronnie machine guns you. This is like Guantanamo Bay.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gray Fox
He needs to keep taking them on and pot them, no chance he beats Selby from here by trying to out safety him.Quote:
Originally Posted by 7om
He needs to keep taking them on and pot them, no chance he beats Selby from here by trying to out safety him.Quote:
Originally Posted by 7om
Like a shark smelling blood here. Brecel desperately needs an interval.
Look at that long pot attempt. He hasn’t potted a ball in however many frames and he goes and gives Selby the table immediately. He’s just being stupid at this point.
We'll see what he's made of now.
At this point Selby is deliberately leaving long pots on, safe in the knowlege that Brecel is going to miss them.
Come on ya bald bastard.
This looks a bit more like it.
Missing a long pot and losing a safety battle have the same end result. At least with the former there's a chance he comes out on top, even if it's only 33%.Quote:
Originally Posted by 7om
Virgo and Hendry's commentary is so good. Must be the best pair.
If he doesn't get it here he won't get it at all.
Absolutely. Best in any sport for me. Well, of the ones I watch at least, which is admittedly only about four.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimmy Floyd
Virgo is beginning to lose a step but still very good. Hendry is by far the best.
Virgo might be clownish at times but he has just the right blend of passion for the sport and knowledge, he called that key safety that Selby had in this frame absolutely spot on.
Beautiful stuff this.
What I like about Brecel is his pace of play, just gets down over the shot and plays it, and he's shown that you can win that way.
Virgo is about to have a heart attack.
Fair play to him, incredible stuff and a brilliant tournament all around.
What a bloke
Fair play to him, as soon as he got a proper opening he played some really good stuff again. It's always nice to see a new winner of these things as well.
What's the deal with Selby's wife?
Sounds like she's had some bad news health wise.
that was fucking quality
If that's his Missus he's doing great off the table too.
She looks absolute filth. Coke fuck binge on the cards for him tonight.
You just know these guys get up to all sorts with that trophy the night of winning it. I bet it’d look radioactive under a black light.
I don't like to see happy Belgians, but it's hard to not enjoy that. Got to love an underdog. Even if it is a Faux-French one
brad maddox likes thisQuote:
Originally Posted by 7om
The snooker thread will have to do for this. And sorry about a TikTok link. But fucking hell.
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGJCGEtJY/
Your man sitting down does appear to look and gesture slightly in the direction the bottle comes from.
Apparently the player sat down was being heckled throughout and this was one of his guys getting some payback. Now the pot has been held up and there’s chaos.
The biggest disgrace in that video is the fact you can play a ball along the cushion like that and sink it.
Some form he’s in.
Is the UK Championship not on any BBC channel in the evenings?
Seems like it's only iPlayer. Pretty poor form that they can't punt Top Gear re-runs off BBC Three at least. Also it's quite bizarre that they don't deem it worthy of any channel in the evenings when it's in its usual BBC Two slot on an afternoon.
Doris has gone to bed by 7pm.
Snooker really is the perfect background TV.
Feels like continually getting into winning positions to then almost, or perhaps here actually bin them off is all a bit contrived to suit the "I don't care me" narrative Ronnie is always bleating on about.
He's such a fucking bore. Just retire and stop complaining then.
The documentary on Amazon about him is worth a watch. It gets tedious as fuck hearing him saying this every few months but after the doc I have a new understanding of why he's like that.
That's just who he is and anyone who likes snooker and wants him gone needs to give their head a wobble.
EDIT: Exactly that DS.
I'm very pro-Ronnie. Find him completely compelling at all times. After he's gone it'll die off.
Yeah there's nobody left in the game that generates the clicks he does. Game has been dying on its arse for a while. The doc is genuinely one of the best sports based ones I've seen and a real insight into the mental struggles a player has during a match
If you watch any of Hendrys youtube channel, the amount of pros he has on who say "I grew up playing in X club, but it's gone now, so I just have my own table" is quite sad.
The rona killed the last dedicated snooker club we had in this town, with the only thing around now being a guy who took over a Rileys as they were about to tear it down.
We have one still local but its just full of 60+ year old men drinking two bitters all day and knocking some balls about. Massively depressing.
It's possible to both like watching him and then roll your eyes out the back of your head every time the cunt opens his mouth.Quote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
I'm not saying all sportsmen have to pretend they love their jobs because of PASHUN (I actually respect when they admit it's just a job) or that money immediately rids you of mental health issues but being very successful does give you more options for how to try and be happy and not just slag off folk who aren't as good as you. By all means talk about your issues but stop bleating about how hard done-by you are. I am very much one of the mid-tier (at best) snooker fans in here though so that possibly explains why I find him less fascinating.
But yeah he is basically the only big draw now I imagine.
We've discussed it in here before so I won't waffle further but if I'd had an affordable pool/snooker place even when I was young I'd have been there all the time. And would be now but, again, it's extortionate.
To be clear on the above: I don't think snooker would be better without him, but it wouldn't lose anything if he'd stop whining either.
Get what you mean.
I'm a big fan of him, but it just feels like the "dunno how I won that I was playing SHIT" act is a bit of, well, an act, which is now being supplemented by managing the games to look that way. I obviously know that's not the case, but there is the feel that that is what is happening.
Might give the documentary a look.
I am possibly a bar barometer those on top of my passing snooker fandom because I generally find a lot of people in a given sport who are "outspoken" and get the "he's calling it like he sees it!!!!" responses, even in sports I like, to just be cunts.
Judd :cool:
Yeah he's just like IBRA in that they are both genuinely astounding sportsmen, massively box office, very charismatic, but ultimately prats with very annoying fans.Quote:
Originally Posted by Ian
Whatever one's opinion of him, it's pretty funny that at 47 he can just piss his way into major finals while apparently trying to lose half the games.
Some top quotes after the semi as well.
Good final this
He's just different gravy.
Outrageous.
Those last three frames were incredible, Ding was bang in form.
Thirty years since he first won the UK championship and he wins it again. Incredible.
The youngest winner and the oldest winner of the tournament.
My favourite Ronnie fact is that in the 1992 Grand Prix qualifying rounds, at the age of 17, he played against (and beat 5-1) Fred Davis, who was 79 at the time and had competed in the 1937 World Championship.
Three favourite Ronnie moments for me, excluding the obvious.
One is this 92 clearance, which is the single best break in snooker I've ever seen:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLk71tnNxOU
His absolute destruction of Ding in the 2007 Masters final. Think he lost the first 2 frames and won 10-3.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcas2TZXLH4
And then this, which I think has to rank up there with one of the most incredible finishes in any sport, when he took the last three frames against Selby to win 17-16 in the Covid World Championship.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbVahZgpmeU
It was impressive enough when I thought he'd lost his cool when doing the hitting and hoping stuff, but when I stumbled across an interview he'd done on Stephen Hendry's Youtube channel a few months prior where he said he'd never lose to Selby by being ground down by him again and I realised it was all intentional, it took it to a whole new level.
I rewatch that 92 break every so often. Its probably the best moment I've seen on a snooker table. Incredible.
Likewise, I couldn't resist watching it again then when posting it either. Willie Thorne (RIP) going spastic over him continually taking the lower valued colours just makes it all the more beautiful.
“He’ll do well to get 20 here”
The sport is finished when he is.
:DQuote:
Originally Posted by Yevrah
"What's he going to do now?"
I put on the Mosconi cup, first time I've watched it in maybe 10 years. Team Europe chap has just sunk a ball into the heart of the pocket, it's hit the bottom of the pocket, bounced back up and out onto the table. Could never do it again if he tried.
Any time an extension is called many members of the crowd are scream-clucking the word EXTENSION as loud as they can and we've just had a hearty rendition of Sweet Caroline between frames. This is not the Mosconi cup I remember.
Class 147 from Ding there.
Quite an unusual one, I can't remember seeing many maxes that featured a two-ball plant midway through, and also can't remember one against O'Sullivan. I'm sure it might have happened at some point but I can't remember one.
It also struck me while watching it in the form of a heavily edited 4:40 clip that we will never see the likes of Ronnie's famous five minute one again, not necessarily because no one is capable of it (I'm sure some would be) but because the referees don't go fast enough. The ref in the famous ROS one is racing around like a man possessed.