Championship League - ITV4 June 1st-11th

zuutroy

Dark times when I'm starting a thread for this, but hey it's televised snooker for the first time in months!

https://wst.tv/championship-league-to-start-june-1st/

Wonder will the boredom inspire Ronnie to pick up the bat?

zuutroy

Good heavens, he is playing it!

https://wst.tv/osullivan-and-trump-among-championship-league-field/

Pighead

zuutroy wrote: »

Good heavens, he is playing it!

https://wst.tv/osullivan-and-trump-among-championship-league-field/

Wow. Surprised by that! 'Only' twenty grand for the winner. Didn't think that would be enough to tempt him. Also the format is the type he hates given he will have to play three 'numpties' in the group stages.

Genghis

Might indicate an interest on Ronnie's part in a serious run at the delayed World Champs.

Format of the Championship League is good for match practice, the money is not a factor.

Genghis

Good overview of the format by Angles McManus

https://alanangles19.wordpress.com/2020/05/31/your-viewing-guide-to-championship-league-snooker/

Loafing Oaf

Judd looking gudd here

zuutroy

World championship will be so strange like this. Maybe they'll do every 2nd seat in every 2nd row or something?

DelBoy Trotter

ITV really need to sort out the brightness and contrast of the main camera view!

Daniel Wells and Elliott Slessor....

I wonder are these some of the numpties Ronnie diplomatically never mentions by name

zuutroy

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Daniel Wells and Elliott Slessor....

I wonder are these some of the numpties Ronnie diplomatically never mentions by name

Probably not Slessor as he holds a winning record over Ronnie. Undefeated if I'm not mistaken!

zuutroy

zuutroy wrote: »

Probably not Slessor as he holds a winning record over Ronnie. Undefeated if I'm not mistaken!

Didn't know that but maybe Ronnie has him in that category anyway
Well he's slightly better than Wells anyway.

Thanks for starting the thread. Good to see snooker back on the box.

What's with Wells' bleached hair.
Must be in the same stable as the "Spaceman" :pac:

Should be showing the Dave Gilbert match
Playing Jackson Page - an up and comer but has done very little so far.
Wells and Slessor will hardly be involved at the business end

Rothko

Deleted User wrote: »

Should be showing the Dave Gilbert match
Playing Jackson Page - an up and comer but has done very little so far.
Wells and Slessor will hardly be involved at the business end

Yeah, I was surprised that they weren't showing the Gilbert match.

Rothko

Rothko wrote: »

Yeah, I was surprised that they weren't showing the Gilbert match.

A strange set up, hard to know what to make of it alright.
Maybe there's TV times quotas or somesuch for players.
Slessor on again now in control in frame 1 against Judd.
Wells was also on in the last match against some bald journeyman whos name escapes me.

I want to see the angry farmer meself

Peter File

[Deleted User] wrote: »

A strange set up, hard to know what to make of it alright.
Maybe there's TV times quotas or somesuch for players.
Slessor on again now in control in frame 1 against Judd.
Wells was also on in the last match against some bald journeyman whos name escapes me.

I want to see the angry farmer meself

They were always going to show Trump same as if Ronnie is playing.

Peter File

Peter File wrote: »

They were always going to show Trump same as if Ronnie is playing.

True, but they could have showed Dave earlier on.. They would have known Slessor would be playing Trump. It's the earlier scheduling I'm a bit annoyed by. Why are Slessor and Wells getting two TV matches and none for Gilbert.
I'm surely not alone thinking this.

zuutroy

I guess they only have a good camera setup on table 1 so they just decided to show all matches from one group rather than swapping them in and out.

It looks like possibly Slessor could snatch defeat from the jaws of victory here... Only himself to blame

zuutroy

zuutroy wrote: »

I guess they only have a good camera setup on table 1 so they just decided to show all matches from one group rather than swapping them in and out.

That's good thinking there Z. Very plausable alright

Reckon Slessor will get 40 odd here,
and then leave Judd an easy opportunity for a framewinning break.
He's missing too many easy ones.
That was a great black by Trump under the cosh in frame 1.

Some poor fare we were treated to today..

Only 1 quality player Judd. He couldn't have lost to Slessor there if he tried.

Rothko

Deleted User wrote: »

Some poor fare we were treated to today..

Only 1 quality player Judd. He couldn't have lost to Slessor there if he tried.

Yeah, it wasn't great although you'd have to take into consideration that some players haven't had much chance to practice lately.

ArmaniJeanss

Here's a list of the groups and what day each is played.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Championship_League
Not a particularly appealing prospect tomorrow (Group 3 & Group 9). Nothing much in any of the groups to set the heart racing, and the second phase won't start until next Tuesday.
Better than no snooker, I suppose.

^^^^

Ta for that.. At least 9 groups.. Must be a lot in and out of the top 64 involved so.... Better than nowt though :pac:

Genghis

It's 16 groups of 4, 64 players. 2 groups play per day, one per table. So round 1 is 8 days.

Round 2 is then 4 groups of 4, comprising the 16 round one winners. They take 2 days to run through, same as above, 2 groups per day.

Final round is then the 4 group winners from round 2.

Realistically I guess this will be a bit tedious / predictable until round 2 but some good potential from there on in to the end. For certain it will be interesting to see which groups make table 1 Vs table 2.

For anyone making the final 4, you play 9 matches, decent match practice.

Michael Holt the only standout player in his group. Mark Davis past it, less said about Joyce the better. Couldn't pick Heathcote out of a lineup

The other group has far more potential with the excellent Lisowski and the talented Belgian Brecel. The relative unknown Robbie Williams and the mediocre Ollie Lines - whose probably more recognised than his talent deserves because of his association with Jack and Judd - complete the lineup.

I really hope the latter group gets the cameras today if itv4 are showing it. Kojak just over now so hopefully it's up next and will watch some of it depending on the games.

^^^^
Coverage just started. Waiting for the schedule to be announced. Angles And Neal doing punditry. Don't recognise the female presenter.
Jack and Luca the last match.
Jack and Ollie lines coming up after the break....

Ollie Lines has a gilt edged opportunity of taking the opener here in what's been a nervy first frame.

Edit - just missed.... Lisowski's for the taking

1-0 to Lisowski

It's like Judd - Slessor over again. Lines missing easy ones. Lisowski's misses not being punished at all. looks like a 3-0 on current showing.

Jack 60 ahead here with 5 reds left

^^^^

Correction - he was 49 ahead; but it looks academic regardless

And that was all she wrote: 2 - 0 to Lisowski

No update on the other match. Hopefully Davis can beat Joyce

One nil to Davis. Joyce in front frame 2 per comms in the other group

An atrocious miss there by Ollie on a 97 out of a hundred red

And in a surprise to no one a straight 3-0 demolition job by Lisowski, who didn't even play anywhere near his best.
Too many whipping boys in this comp - probably why the matches are only 4 frames long at most.. Give the journeymen a chance with a shorter format..

Brecel very disappointing so far. Ranked 37! - was surprised to hear that.
R Williams very good and takes the first convincingly

Just in - from 1 nil down Joyce beats Mark Davis 3-1 in the other group.
1-1 here between Luca and Williams. Early days frame 3.

2 apiece Brecel-Williams. Honours even there. Fair result overall I thought

Brecel and Lines just started there.

According to Ken on co-comms Gilbert was the standout player yesterday. Hope he does well in this comp. Very likeable and humble fella by all accounts - proper player as well

Robbie Williams a handy enough player; holding his own against Lisowski here.
1 - 0 to Lisowski.
Reckon he'll beat Lines easy

Williams gone off the boil
Lisowski 2-0 up and in control frame 3

Williams 26 ahead, 25 left in frame 3. Jack playing on

And Williams manages to draw
2-2 at the finish.

If he beats Lines here he could top the group depending on how Lisowski does against Brecel next

Currently well ahead in frame 1

Loafing Oaf

Deleted User wrote: »

And Williams manages to draw
2-2 at the finish.

Take That Lisowski!:P

Loafing Oaf

Loafing Oaf wrote: »

Take That Lisowski!:P

:pac:
Gone now I think. Brecel through on a countback of sorts - highest break decided group-winner in the end. Both finished level on 5 points after their 3 matches.

Think Mark Joyce through as well.

Wasn't the greatest day of snooker ever.

Peter File

Very quiet today!!
We have a good game coming up after the O'connor v Walker game with Selby on 4 points up against Liang Wenbo on 6 points.

Peter File

Peter File wrote: »

Very quiet today!!
We have a good game coming up after the O'connor v Walker game with Selby on 4 points up against Liang Wenbo on 6 points.

Well yesterday's card was brutal.

Also, the novelty factor has worn off. Should get better in the knockout stages. That said; the next match should be very interesting indeed. A draw will be no good to the "jester", he might even get some banter going to try and put his opponent off :pac:.... but I don't if Liang speaks any English.

So long Mark
Good to see Liang come through

fran38

Deleted User wrote: »

Well yesterday's card was brutal.

Also, the novelty factor has worn off. Should get better in the knockout stages. That said; the next match should be very interesting indeed. A draw will be no good to the "jester", he might even get some banter going to try and put his opponent off :pac:.... but I don't if Liang speaks any English.

Never saw the 'Jester' in Selby tbh. Boring **** like most snooker players.

fran38

fran38 wrote: »

Never saw the 'Jester' in Selby tbh. Boring **** like most snooker players.

He got that nickname early enough in his career.. Totally unsuited to him now alright..