World Championship Qualifiers

zack01

I'm heading to Sheffield tomorrow week for the final round of qualifiers for this years championship, i've been attending this round of matches for the last twenty years at least, right back to when the final rounds used to be held in the Redwood Lodge in Bristol.
I find this round to be the most exciting, it's the final ranking event if the season, it sometimes can be make or break for a players season and sometimes even their career, the amount of matches that go to the final frame are always high and the tension is incredible.

The Sports Institute in Sheffield where it's been held this year and indeed last year is first class, you can view several matches at once and even from your position high up it the balcony you can really feel the pressure the players are under.

As of yet I've no idea who will be playing who as there is a couple of rounds before the final round of matches but looking at the draw I fancy Ken Doherty to qualify for the crucible, he could possibly play Tony Drago to qualify, Jimmy White however will have his work cut out though, if he wins his first two matches he'll have to beat Ryan Day to reach the crucible.

Whatever happens it promises to be an exciting few rounds of snooker!

califano

Sounds interesting. I agree that this stage is pretty huge for reasons you've mentioned.
Just wondered roughly how much this yearly sojourn costs?.
I'd say you know all the best diggs at this stage!.
Could you give a summary on your chosen route to get to the venue and how the charges add up, hotels, admission etc?.

zack01

Taking the car over this year, it's not a bad drive from Holyhead to Sheffield.
Plenty of accommodation in Sheffield, I normally stay in the novotel, you can book online and get a good rate, expect to pay £35 plus a night, all the press guys and World Snooker staff stay here so there's always a great atmosphere around the bar!
The reason I'm taking the car again this year is that if you had to change a flight time or date just like I had to last year you won't be hit with a huge charge like I was. It's also handy to have the car to get around Sheffield.
If you are flying, I recommend flying into Manchester and getting a train to Sheffield, the train station is in the airport.

I havnt a clue what the admission cost is, I get my pass from a pal in World Snooker, but I can't imagine it being that much.

It's a great few days of snooker and well worth the trip, a sort of agony and ecstasy week if your a pro snooker player.

oneillMan999

Some crackers already! I agree Zack, the world champs qualifiers can make or break some players, its snooker in its purist form! They really should sort out a live stream for the final round of matches.

zack01

They talked about providing a live stream but with six tables in use it was'nt really going to be a runner.

ebbsy

I see Johal was deducted a frame for returning late from mid session I think-is that the standard penalty ?

califano

Thurs 10am Fergal O'Brien v Paul Davison

GL Fergal!

zack01

Winner to play Matthew Stevens, it's not a bad draw for Fergal.

califano

zack01 wrote: »

Winner to play Matthew Stevens, it's not a bad draw for Fergal.

Ah its a tough challenge though!. I must say fair play to Stevens and Williams for their revival in the game. They must have knocked the good life on the head to grind some sustained sessions on the practice tables in order to get their games back in very good order.
I suppose just to hope Stevens wobbles.

zack01

I was being a touch sarcastic! Fergal will do well to beat Paul Davison, and if he does as you said he'll be up against a resurgent Stevens, Stevens has been playing well this season and a good run in the Worlds could see him back in the top sixteen.

Sad to see Wattana beaten tonight, that defeat sees him off the main tour next season, i doubt that we'll ever see him playing again on the main tour unless he goes to the qualifying school and wins a place, but like many of the pros from the early '90s his best days unfortunatly are behind him.

oneillMan999

zack01 wrote: »

I was being a touch sarcastic! Fergal will do well to beat Paul Davison, and if he does as you said he'll be up against a resurgent Stevens, Stevens has been playing well this season and a good run in the Worlds could see him back in the top sixteen.

Sad to see Wattana beaten tonight, that defeat sees him off the main tour next season, i doubt that we'll ever see him playing again on the main tour unless he goes to the qualifying school and wins a place, but like many of the pros from the early '90s his best days unfortunatly are behind him.

Ole Fergal could grind anyone into the ground so id give him every chance.

I dont think we`ve seen the end of Wattana just yet, he loves the game and is easily good enough to make it back on the main tour.

califano

Judging by the live ticker that Jamie Burnett James Wattana final session was the definition of grim!. I was thinking Burnett was trying to lose it. Seemed he didnt get a break over 10 all evening until he knocked in a century or close to one late on.

And my heart!. Backed Dunn in the Baird game and thought i was seeing things when Baird needed 3 snookers in the decider with just the colours on, and got them only to miss the black:eek:

zack01

Yeh Burnett finished off with a ton, Wattana struggled throughout the match and apart from the odd glimpse of quality he really is a shadow of the player he once was.

Good win for Dunn, a lot of people in the game fancy Sam Baird to be a top player in the future, he plays out of the South West Academy, an almost identical set up to the Academy in Sheffield so expect to see a lot of him in the coming seasons.

Today the qualifiers really begin to get going with the higher ranked players making their first appearance.I'm off over there tomorrow morning, i expect quite a few 10-9 finishes and a lot of heartache before the qualifiers finish on Sunday night.

zack01

O'Brien wins 10-4, Matt Stevens next.

califano

Thats some margin, should be going in bouyed up and ready to lay down the fire.
That was some night of snooker with so many matches down to the decider. What a legend Steve Davis is for the comeback to win in his decider.

And what a bone crusher for Nigel Bond to go down in the decider with Paggett getting the snooker required!.

I think you missed the action boat Zack, i sense blowout wins for the weekend ahead, unlucky there:pac:

Tin_Cup

Great to hear about Fergal but tough next match versus Stevens

califano

9-9 when Fergal makes a 59 break only for Stevens to come to the table and win on a blackball game.

Tin_Cup

Fergal lost on a black ball game 10-9 to Stevens.

Unlucky Fergal!