Minor Tournament discussion 2017/18.

ArmaniJeanss

The World Cup of snooker (2 player teams and they play a mix of singles and doubles) is on this week from China, with Eurosport providing a mix of live and recorded coverage.
Fergal and Ken playing for Ireland, but lost to a strong China team 5-0 in their first group game and will likely have to win their 4 remaining group matches to qualify.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_World_Cup_(snooker)

ArmaniJeanss

The China Championship, the second ranking event of the season takes place from Wednesday to Sunday.
Its starting at the last 64 stage with all the big names taking part and £150K up top.
Irish interest but two difficult openers for Ken (v Shaun Murphy) and Fergal (v Mark King).
Selected games live on Eurosport from Wednesday morning onwards.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_China_Championship_(snooker)#Main_draw

ArmaniJeanss

Ken beaten 5-4 by Murphy.
Fergal beat King 5-3 and has a winnable L32 tie against Kurt Maflin.

Joe_ Public

Looking at the frame scores, it seems like a game that ken let get away from him, Murphy probably not playing that well.

Gonna be closely monitoring the performances of Hossein Vafaie this year, a young player from Iran (who spent a few years in Ireland) who has shown plenty of promise. Up against Marco Fu later who, though Chinese or Hong Kong at least, has never played that well in events in China, so quite fancy Vafaei to come through this one.

ArmaniJeanss

Fergal beat Maflin in the L32 and Alan MacManus 5-4 in the L16.
£18K locked up which is a great start to the season and a quarter-final against Ali Carter tomorrow.

Zhoe Zelong v Shaun Murphy.
Ali Carter v Fergal O'Brien.

Ronnie v Luca Brecel.
Mark Williams v Li Hang.

Joe_ Public

Following a near 6 hour breeze against Angles McManus yesterday, Fergal unfortunately couldn't get it going today, going down 2-5 to a resurgent Ali Carter. Still a q/f is a very decent showing in a tournament where all the top players showed up. Should get him a few places in the rankings anyway.

ArmaniJeanss

Luca Brecel beat Shaun Murphy 10-5 in todays final, the £150K will shoot him up the rankings.
First European other than UK&Irish players to win a ranking event.

Joe_ Public

For a £150k to the winner tournament, found it a bit underwhelming to be honest. It lacked atmosphere which seems to be a general thing for the China based events, a lot of empty seats and people looking bored. One match was even disrupted because of someone yawning audibly in the crowd. Not that Brecel will mind anyway, should help his confidence no end, but he still doesn't convince me that he's anywhere near a top player just yet.

ArmaniJeanss

World Open live from Yushan China on Eurosport all this week. Another £150K to the winner event with most of the big names (bar Ronnie) playing.
Ken the only Irish qualifier, up against Steven Maguire in the L64.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_World_Open_(snooker)

Frankie Lee

Ding and Kyren Wilson in the final. Of the beaten semi finalists Luca Brecel has impressed and looks to have taken a step forward this season. Mark Allen has played well too. Ding and Wilson though have looked a class above in most of their matches and it should make for a good high quality final.

Frankie Lee

For the European masters in Belgium the week after next Ken Doherty and Hossein Vafaei have both qualified.

ArmaniJeanss

Thoughts on Kyren Wilsons shot?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENvj0gpVm2M

omb0wyn5ehpij9

I've never seen that before. As far as I know, it's not against the rules. But I wonder will the rules be updated as it's giving the player an advantage?

Joe_ Public

Nice imagination from Wilson there. I doubt it's something the authorities need to bother themselves about, after all the equipment is there to help the players and why should it matter how they use it? That'd be my thinking anyway.

I wonder what this will do for Ding now. He's the type of player you could see go on a run, rack up a few quick tournaments, and break out of the infuriating inconsistency that dogs a lot of this generation of players. Its never been a question of talent with him anyway.

zuutroy

Jaysus Ronnie played unreal stuff today. 98% pot success and over 80% long pots. Hope he can keep it up.

Joe_ Public

If I picked it up right from the guys in the studio afterwards, O'Sullivan missed 6 pots in total with 4 of them coming in the first frame alone. A total of 6 missed pots in a best of 17 ranking final - thats actually insane, even if pockets are on the generous side these days. I think the money clearly motivates him, it's almost an impossible task but deep down I'm sure he believes he has a sneak at the jackpot. Would be something if he managed to win the Northern Ireland leg.

Ultimate Seduction

Ronnie is 40/1 with the bookies to win the million pound bonus.. I havnt seen him as focused in a long time, think he wants that mill badly. Going to put a 5r on it later

Frankie Lee

Phenomenal stuff from Yan Bingtao today beating Ronnie 6-1. Ronnie didn't do too much wrong and the standard was very high.

Joe_ Public

Not taking too much away from Yan, but thought Ronnie looked a bit off today myself. When he didn't win the first despite laying a succession of good snookers, had an inkling it mightn't be his day. He's usually up for it when there's good prize money available, but have a feeling he might have that bonus in mind and he has put quite a lot in over recent tournaments. Was a good day to be playing him I think.

zuutroy

Yea, didn't see it but I don't think he's ever that bothered in China. Think they annoyed him over the shoes as well.

Arthur Daley

Murphy on the verge here to win champions of champions on itv4. Had some run of the ball tonight against Ronnie.

Selby was knocked out wednesday after flying back from his win in China last Sunday. Plays again in China tommorow/tuesday. Then Belfast tournament and the the UK at start of December. Some commuting at the top of the game now especially this time of year.

zuutroy

9-8 now. Turnaround in fortunes and mentality.

Doltanian

I felt Murphy deserved it in the finish and it was nice to see the underdog win.

Ultimate Seduction

Murphy definetley deserved to win it, his long shots were unbelievable, at the same time I've never seen someone get lucky so many times in a game. Also never seen Ronnie miss so many 'easy' or straight pots. Really enjoyed it

GreNoLi

Ronnie's won in China beating Trump in the final, not a shabby start to the seaon for him.

Joe_ Public

Really thought Ronnie would have a "rest" week this week, but seems cant help himself but keep on winning at the moment. Frames played this week: 50. Frames won: 41. Some going, considering you wouldnt exactly have classed most of his opponents as "numpties".

Ultimate Seduction

What channel will the northern Ireland open be on this week guys, Quest again or

Joe_ Public

Ultimate Seduction wrote: »

What channel will the northern Ireland open be on this week guys, Quest again or

Back to eurosport/quest it is. Shame itv doesn't have more of the rights as really enjoyed their champions of champions coverage.

Joe_ Public

Looking at the N.Ire draw, I doubt O'Sullivan could have asked for much better. Has a dream run until the last 16 and, on seeding, would be facing K.Wilson for a place in the last 8 and likely get tougher from there. Only thing I foresee is the increased focus on the £1m bonus which is the kind of thing that could drive him bonkers, but a fascinating prospect nonetheless.

Arthur Daley

Presume the waterfront is a better venue this year. The Titanic convention hall had a serious failing by having a fair bit of background noise every so often when planes took off from the Harbour airport. A no-no for snooker but the players persevered.

Will get up to it once or twice this week, easy and cheap enough to get up there to catch a few matches.

Ultimate Seduction

Arthur Daley wrote: »

Presume the waterfront is a better venue this year. The Titanic convention hall had a serious failing by having a fair bit of background noise every so often when planes took off from the Harbour airport. A no-no for snooker but the players persevered.

Will get up to it once or twice this week, easy and cheap enough to get up there to catch a few matches.

How much are the tickets to the semis? Was onthe world snooker website but couldn't find prices.

Arthur Daley

£25 per session saturday. £45 for the day. Just google northern ireland open snooker. On World snooker website not easy to find announcements more than a few days old.

Arthur Daley

Good action today, Murphy and Kyren Wilson out already, but wins for Jimmy and Ken.

Ultimate Seduction

Craige played some outstanding snooker yesterday, really looking foward to his next game now.

GreNoLi

Arthur Daley wrote: »

Good action today, Murphy and Kyren Wilson out already, but wins for Jimmy and Ken.

Trump joins them in petulant fashion.

Slippin Jimmy

GreNoLi wrote: »

Trump joins them in petulant fashion.

He's had a tough time lately. As the presenters said over on Eurosport last night, everyone has thought about doing it.

Joe_ Public

O'Sullivan looking a bit haggard and vulnerable here. Should be a frame down but that was a poor shot to go in off the black from Jones, had to realise the angle was taking him dangerously close to the pocket.

Arthur Daley

Carnage continued before if gets to the last 16 tonight. Mark King swiftly packed up this morning, as did Robertson. Then Ronnie goes out and now Higgins gone 3-4 despite 3 centuries in a row.

Jimmy was brutal today, and Ken really let it slip from his grasp from 2-0 and then 3-2 up losing one on respotted black.

The waterfront is an excellent venue for this. Yes it has a very high roof but it doesn't feel or sound cavernous during a game. Nice spot and friendly helpful staff.

dfx-

This QF between Li and Slessor is a tough slog to watch. Slessor is muttering away with every miss.

Typical frame is Slessor gets to 50odd and shuts down with safeties...Li plays with snookers, comes back and it's a pink/black ball frame.

Arthur Daley

So Yan Bingtao could break Ronnie's record for youngest ranking event winner if he manages to win this now

Joe_ Public

Fair play to Yan, clearly a young player of precocious talent, but I hope he doesn't get hyped up too much. Remember Ronnie beat Hendry, Davis, Doherty, McManus among others to win his first ranking title. Yan can only beat whats in front of him but he''ll reach the final not having faced a top 20 player. Not been a great advertisement for the current tour set-up this event, imho.

ArmaniJeanss

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Fair play to Yan, clearly a young player of precocious talent, but I hope he doesn't get hyped up too much. Remember Ronnie beat Hendry, Davis, Doherty, McManus among others to win his first ranking title. Yan can only beat whats in front of him but he''ll reach the final not having faced a top 20 player. Not been a great advertisement for the current tour set-up this event, imho.

In fairness all the top name players turned up so its not like it was a weak field if he wins, just happened that his path opened up.
In the final now against Mark Williams, so at least he has a world champion and current top 16 player to get past.

Joe_ Public

Yeah fair play to him as I said. Though off the top of my head Selby, Ding, Brecel, Bingham, Fu were among the no shows this week. Actually i did Yan a disservice because he has actually beaten a top 20 player this week, No 18 Ryan Day. Thats more than Williams who hasnt faced anybody above 25. Anyway, good start by Yan and could be interesting final in prospect. Think Yan has a tendency to start pushing the boat out a bit and Williams might be able to rely on his wiles to put him under pressure.

ArmaniJeanss

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Yeah fair play to him as I said. Though off the top of my head Selby, Ding, Brecel, Bingham, Fu were among the no shows this week.

Yeah, bit of lazy analysis on my part - i'd seen Trump, Ronnie, Robertson & Higgins on tv during the week and had assumed everyone had turned up but agree there were quite a few big absentees.

Joe_ Public

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Yeah, bit of lazy analysis on my part - i'd seen Trump, Ronnie, Robertson & Higgins on tv during the week and had assumed everyone had turned up but agree there were quite a few big absentees.

Too much snooker on imo but thats by the by. Its good to see fresh names at the business end of tournaments but a bit diminishing when you see so many of them. I do think Yan is a big talent but perhaps not in the Ding league. That said, he will have many years to prove me wrong about that!

zuutroy

I think it's good to see lots of snooker on. For years in the 2000's there was a half dozen ranking events a year and all the players were complaining that there weren't enough. Now they have the opposite problem. They really should get rid of the best of 7 thing though. It reduces it to very close to a lottery.

Arthur Daley

If we didn't have this number of tournaments would we get a ranking event in Ireland at all? I doubt it, it is a small market in terms of numbers but is obviously very important for the history of the game. So I'm happy we have the option to get to Belfast to see the majority of the top players play. If Barry earn has to run it best of 7 to the semis and open arena to make it wash it's face, then fair enough. It's a compromise. Really enjoyed it up there this week, but you know it's not Sheffield or the UK, because Sheffield is special and the UK is number 2.

But even in the UK with this new open format we will probably see plenty of bigger names go home early enough next week.

'Earn has snooker in a good place now by all accounts, but there are snags and compromises along the way.

Joe_ Public

Yes I get the counter-arguments, and its good that there's still an event on these shores (god how I miss the old Goffs!), but I also think there has to be some halfway house between more opportunities and the fact of players chasing their tails from week to week and looking half worn out in the process. And the fact is, as the BBC verified with a good report last year, players down the ranking order still cant make it pay, for all the extra opportunities they're being afforded. Still, I'd forgive it all if the UK had been left as a long format tournament. It's a shell of the once great event it used to be imo.

Ultimate Seduction

Didn't Selby do China, UK then back to China over 9 days. Thats ridiculous. I know the darts are very popular with small tournaments over a short format every other weekend but I don't think the same will work for snooker.

Arthur Daley

So final frame decider. Williams never ahead in the final. Yet

zuutroy

Ronnie with a 4-1 win today...Breaks of 72, 80, 101, and 112 along the way. Also had a 136 in the first round. He's in some form.