2018 World Championship

Brian? · 26-04-2018 7:33am

Joe_ Public wrote: »

I think he’s around the 40s or 50s, but definitely in the top 128 anyway. White and Foulds had a good discussion on this and I wonder whether guys like that who are basically potting machines can ever develop the all round skills to challenge regularly in the major tournaments. Trump tried it and has reverted to type. Murphy has driven himself batty. Seems to me they don’t learn these skills in their formative years and critically compromised as a result.

Tactical play isn’t really a skill. You hit the ball the same way. It’s more of a mindset shift and can definitely be learned.

Ken Doherty would be a brilliant teacher for someone like Judd.

RebelButtMunch · 26-04-2018 8:32am

I'd like to see McGill do well today. There's something about his style of play that I like. Maybe it's a bit of an underdog thing.

spuddy90 · 26-04-2018 8:40am

I hope he does well too. He looked nervy lastnight, they reckon it was down to being the last first round match so he had a long wait. Also Ryan day seemed comfortable after coming out of qualifiers. Hard to see him being beat today

Joe_ Public · 26-04-2018 11:39am

Brian? wrote: »

Tactical play isn’t really a skill. You hit the ball the same way. It’s more of a mindset shift and can definitely be learned.

Ken Doherty would be a brilliant teacher for someone like Judd.

Sure that's probably true and it's not impossible, Alex Higgins did it around the turn of the 80s and would have been a more credible opponent for Davis but for the booze and fags. I just believe it is difficult, especially in the present time when young players are more and more conditioned to simply pot their way to victory and out of trouble. I remember the constant refrain in 2015 when Trump was apparently going to take over Ronnie's mantle, everytime he refused a pot it was "that's the new Judd Trump" but of course as soon as the ultimate pressure came down, he simply reverted to type and Bingham took him out.

No, it's not impossible to change, but I think it's very difficult and in, Trump's case, I'd worry the accumulation of defeat at Sheffield year after year has already left an indelible mark. He'll be 29 in a few months, still young but no youthful prodigy anymore. It's fascinating anyway. Would love to see him mature and fulfill all that potential.

Brian? · 26-04-2018 12:55pm

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Sure that's probably true and it's not impossible, Alex Higgins did it around the turn of the 80s and would have been a more credible opponent for Davis but for the booze and fags. I just believe it is difficult, especially in the present time when young players are more and more conditioned to simply pot their way to victory and out of trouble. I remember the constant refrain in 2015 when Trump was apparently going to take over Ronnie's mantle, everytime he refused a pot it was "that's the new Judd Trump" but of course as soon as the ultimate pressure came down, he simply reverted to type and Bingham took him out.

No, it's not impossible to change, but I think it's very difficult and in, Trump's case, I'd worry the accumulation of defeat at Sheffield year after year has already left an indelible mark. He'll be 29 in a few months, still young but no youthful prodigy anymore. It's fascinating anyway. Would love to see him mature and fulfill all that potential.

I don’t think Trump will change. For all this talk of potential, it already feels like he’s past his peak.

Joe_ Public · 26-04-2018 2:14pm

Brian? wrote: »

I don’t think Trump will change. For all this talk of potential, it already feels like he’s past his peak.

I'd say every year that passes it gets harder for him to win a world title, not easier. He's accumulating bad experience, not the good variety. I'm still hoping but know it's just pure optimism at this stage.

martyos121 · 26-04-2018 4:30pm

The ending to the McGill/Day match was incredible. McGill 9-8 up and it comes down to the black ball in the 18th frame, two brilliant safety shots and Day nearly flukes the black but leaves it in the jaws, and McGill pots it for the win.

Dramatic stuff.

Loafing Oaf · 26-04-2018 4:37pm

martyos121 wrote: »

The ending to the McGill/Day match was incredible. McGill 9-8 up and it comes down to the black ball in the 18th frame, two brilliant safety shots and Day nearly flukes the black but leaves it in the jaws, and McGill pots it for the win.

Dramatic stuff.

By what the commentators have been saying, I presume Ding would prefer to be playing McGill than Day, even though the former is the seed...

Joe_ Public · 26-04-2018 4:40pm

Dramatic match but truly shocking standard. McGill won't trouble Ding on that display, horrendous collapse from Ryan Day in the end.

taytobreath · 26-04-2018 5:48pm

McGill deserves to loose it to be honest

Permabear · 26-04-2018 5:49pm

This post has been deleted.

taytobreath · 26-04-2018 5:52pm

Was I just watching a replay

Snake Plisken · 26-04-2018 7:00pm

taytobreath wrote: »

Was I just watching a replay

Same here on the red button didn’t know if it was live or recording so stayed off this thread, dramatic stuff delighted for McGill!

Brian? · 26-04-2018 7:33pm

Joe Johnson is giving out yards about Trumps match play. He’s right.

Mysterypunter · 26-04-2018 7:36pm

Brian? wrote: »

Joe Johnson is giving out yards about Trumps match play. He’s right.

Joe Johnson is a loudmouth, couldn't watch Bingham and Lisowski coz of his biased views

Joe_ Public · 26-04-2018 7:46pm

Brian? wrote: »

Joe Johnson is giving out yards about Trumps match play. He’s right.

Yes he’s spot on. Nice to watch that pot on the last red but there was no need to hit it like that.

Brian? · 26-04-2018 8:03pm

Mysterypunter wrote: »

Joe Johnson is a loudmouth, couldn't watch Bingham and Lisowski coz of his biased views

I wouldn't call him a loud mouth at all. He's absolutely right about Trump though. Silly shot choices.

Snake Plisken · 26-04-2018 8:50pm

Mysterypunter wrote: »

Joe Johnson is a loudmouth, couldn't watch Bingham and Lisowski coz of his biased views

Is he still making fart noises with the Mic stand. Used to drive me mad watching Eurosport when he commentated on matches

zuutroy · 26-04-2018 8:51pm

How can Trump be so naive after 10+ years as a pro...?

Joe_ Public · 26-04-2018 8:53pm

That was bizarre even by trumps standards. Why not just roll blue in and take pink to middle? Just no sense to any of it.

taytobreath · 26-04-2018 8:53pm

There are no up and coming promising players this year really

Say Your Number · 26-04-2018 8:55pm

Trump making heavy weather of this,

Muppet Man · 26-04-2018 9:25pm

I've a lot of respect for this wakelin guy... Balls of steal.

Peter File · 26-04-2018 9:41pm

This may be controversial but Mark Selby is doing an excellent job in the eurosport studio. I know he is very rarely there for obvious reasons but he is frank and honest and very interesting.