34 Days of back to back snooker begins today !

^^^^^

Or 'Gentlemanly' even

elgriff

Hendry my fav player but if you read what he has said, it seems he has been quite hesitant from day 1. Since the announcement, he was aggressively downplaying it and saying he wouldnt play much, and that seems to have actually dialled up. I really wouldnt be surprised if he doesnt pick up the cue.

Joe_ Public

Not surprised hendry didn't enter uk anyway. He'd have faced selby if he did and maybe didn't fancy that. Never been a fan of these wild cards but at least jimmy and ken turn up to play. What i find disappointing is this is the kind of thing i'd expect stephen to call out as a pundit. It seems selfish to me but then again being selfish was a part of what made him a great and i suspect this might be all about focussing on the crucible and concentrating on events leading up to it and playing into some form, if he still has it.

Joe_ Public

This should be stevens clearing up for the match here. He's had even more chances here than brecel had to beat trump.

Bingham , Murphy , Allen , Wilson (of the top players) and to a lesser extent Higgins & Selby (not counting Lisowski who's not really established) I feel are nearly always worth 'taking on' from a punting perspective; especially over the shorter format. Can't really have Judd there (maybe a couple of years ago) , or 'The Great One' .

Of those mentioned Bingham and Murphy are probably decent moneyspinners for those who 'oppose' them regularly . I might look into that a bit more in the future.

Perhaps there should be a darts, snooker tips/fancies thread for that purpose. Maybe a mod could set it up, or look into it, as it wouldn't interest everyone.

Matthew doing pretty well here; maybe another chap who's being staying away from the pub - just like Mark Allen, as a 'shrewd' poster observed a while back :pac:

Joe's a great 'shotcaller' imo. I like the way he tells viewers the likely shot the player will take, and how he's going to play it ie right/left hand side etc... Very informative for viewers who might find themselves a little more enlightened re trajectories/ path of cueball etc,,,He does seem to miss shots, or thinks the 'red won't go' etc,, when watching at home the red looks like it will indeed pot.

I like JJ - he knows his stuff

zuutroy

Love to watch Un Nooh

Those 'black cushion' pockets are very friendly imo... Couple of shots recently; in the space of 3-4 shots from Ron, both looked odds against to go in / drop...

Thought Fouldsy's mate said if you could buy a "spliff"

So it's "Desmond" (Tu Tu) - as darting 'legend' Chris Mason is wont to say - in the Rocket / Un Nooh match. Set up nice.

Rothko

Costly miss by Un-Nooh on that red to the middle. 3-2 to Ronnie.

ArmaniJeanss

I haven't seen the UK Championship draw mentioned.
https://www.eurosport.com/snooker/uk-championship/2020-2021/uk-championship-snooker-2020-draw-schedule-and-results-as-ronnie-o-sullivan-eyes-eighth-title_sto7998133/story.shtml

Couple of nasty ones for Irish players.
Leo Fernandez up against Ronnie.
Fergal has John Higgins.
Aaron Hill has a reasonable shot against Kurt Maflin.
Ken Doherty has Lu Ning.

Joe_ Public

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

I haven't seen the UK Championship draw mentioned.
https://www.eurosport.com/snooker/uk-championship/2020-2021/uk-championship-snooker-2020-draw-schedule-and-results-as-ronnie-o-sullivan-eyes-eighth-title_sto7998133/story.shtml

Couple of nasty ones for Irish players.
Leo Fernandez up against Ronnie.
Fergal has John Higgins.
Aaron Hill has a reasonable shot against Kurt Maflin.
Ken Doherty has Lu Ning.

There's no actual draw for uk as such, in that it's based on ranking, 1 v 128, 2 v 127 and so on. Ken playing pretty well of late so reward is getting a relatively good draw here.

Maflin very poor today - one wonders how he got this far? Maybe the 'main table' doesn't suit him for whatever reason/s. Carter not exactly on top form either; and in the highly likely event he gets over the line today; I think he'll be beat by whoever he faces in the semis.

Apparently Maflin only dropped 8 frames getting this far - not evident on today's performance.

4-3 Carter, and well ahead here, Still, lots of points left if Kurt can find a bit extra - Don't think so now - looks foregone...

Arthur Daley

Carter will face Ronnie if he beats Ding tonight

Arthur Daley

Arthur Daley wrote: »

Carter will face Ronnie if he beats Ding tonight

Just saw that Arthur - was too lazy to check earlier :pac:

I didn't realize it was Grace/Bingtao on the other side of the draw - I wouldn't have been as quick to write Ali off against either of them

waynescales1

Woeful miss on the red to middle from Ding, looking like 4-2 now.

zuutroy

All too common spineless performance from Ding.

waynescales1

zuutroy wrote: »

All too common spineless performance from Ding.

Ding’s deterioration is a shame I think, because at his best he is sublime and he’s a likeable fella too.

O’Sullivan v Carter tomorrow. Can’t see Carter now without thinking of the barging incident at the WC 3 years ago.

Rothko

zuutroy wrote: »

All too common spineless performance from Ding.

A shame too because he started the match so well.

Chalk McHugh

Been dipping in and out this week but as poster said already once again Ding folded like a cheap tent. From 2-0 up and in first with a good chance in the third he just gpt steadily worse and exited with a whimper. For such a good player this has happened too many times.

Chalk McHugh

Be good to see Carter v Ronnie. Ali is a spikey little geezer who will be well up for this one. 'Shouldergate' will be mentioned a few times by Foulds and Hendon no doubt but it's all in the past. Can see Ali giving Ronnie a good workout (not with his fists) but not being able to deliver a knockout blow.

Saw Judd escape earlier in the week when looking like losing to Brecel. I've lost count of the times Judd has come from behind and won a Home Nations match 4-3. Brecel had two or three chances to finish Judd off but messed it up. I have not seen any of his semi final opponent David Grace (and know very little about him) but Judd has used his get out of jail card already so should win this one comfortably enough.

Perhaps we can look forward to a Sunday Sizzler: World Num 1 v World Num 2. The Rocket v The Bristol Pistol!!

Arthur Daley

Ronnie really taking the mick playing on when he needs 10 snookers in frame 3.

He wouldn't be at if he wasn't playing Carter.

zuutroy

He's doing it all week.

Arthur Daley

They mentionned on commentary he did it in one frame against Matthew Stevens but they are scratching their head politely as to why he is at it here. It's not for table time.

weemcd

Ronnie is not at the races at all. Carter has not played particularly well but he's winning frames.

If Ronnie doesn't come out and knock in a few centuries after the interval I'd say he's toast. This type of match suits Carter down to the ground.

Chalk McHugh

I see Ali is 3-2 ahead. Was watching the hurling. Ronnie in the balls in frame six with a generous kiss on the pink.

weemcd

Ronnie looking better here since the interval. This one could go all the way.

Joe can appreciate a good shot - the bloke with the 'clap' button should perhaps get a signal from him.

Rothko

weemcd wrote: »

Ronnie looking better here since the interval. This one could go all the way.

I had a feeling he'd improve after the interval. Sometimes the break is helpful for the losing player.

Ronnie played that long red with 'safety in mind' (right hand side according to Joe) - he didn't go gung ho. Ronnie wants this!

Chalk McHugh

What a red to set Ronnie on his way here and a great clearance (what a blue!) to win 5-3. Brilliant to have the Rocket back in tomorrow's final!

Rothko

Nice final clearance by Ronnie and a good way to end the match.

David Grace 13/2 - had to have a go at that price

Chalk McHugh

[Deleted User] wrote: »

David Grace 13/2 - had to have a go at that price

If you have me 10/1 i woukdn't take it. It's all set up for a clash of the titans. Judd to win.at his ease

Chalk McHugh

Chalk McHugh wrote: »

If you have me 10/1 i woukdn't take it. It's all set up for a clash of the titans. Judd to win.at his ease

I know what you mean Chalk

Felt like a bet in this - but would it be a 'procession' , or could the World number 67 'go close' perhaps. Couldn't get any sort of 'read' on it, so just went for the big (albeit undervalued ) outsider.

I'm hoping Ron wins myself, regardless of who he faces; though can appreciate your / and many others wanting to see the 'Clash of the Titans' :pac:

I make it 10/11 Ronnie , 20/21 Judd - a pickem (should Trump progress).

If I was to stick my neck out, could be 6-5 either way

Come on Ron!

Chalk McHugh

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I make it 10/11 Ronnie , 20/21 Judd - a pickem (should Trump progress).

If I was to stick my neck out, could be 6-5 either way

Come on Ron!

Final is best of 17 but i know what you mean. I think Judd has won the last few finals between them so Ronnie will be keen to reverse that and as much as he rabbits on about 'just being happy to be playing' we know how competetive he really is and how he hates to lose to the top players like Judd or Selby. Hard to look past Judd all the same. He is playing at the peak of his powers and usually brings his A game to finals and especially against Ronnie. So Judd 9-7 for me which would be three 9-7 Northern Ireland Open final wins on the spin v Ronnie.

Chalk McHugh

Chalk McHugh wrote: »

Final is best of 17 but i know what you mean. I think Judd has won the last few finals between them so Ronnoe will be keen to reverse that and as much as he rabbits on about 'just being happy to be playing' we know how competetive he really is and how he hates to lose to the top players like Judd or Selby. Hard to look past Judd all the same. He is playing at the peak of his powers and usually brings his A game to finals and especially against Ronnie. So Judd 9-7 for me.

Best of 11 :pac: I don't know why I thought that.

In that case I like Ronnie that bit more (Judd mentioned safety not a big aspect; but he would) . I see Ronnie not going all out, and win 9-6 or 9-5 playing patiently, as he has does a bit the last while. Might chance a yoyo or 3 on both those.

Chalk McHugh

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Best of 11 :pac: I don't know why I thought that.

In that case I like Ronnie that bit more (Judd mentioned safety not a big aspect; but he would) . I see Ronnie not going all out, and win 9-6 or 9-5 playing patiently, as he has does a bit the last while. Might chance a yoyo or 3 on both those.

That would be brilliant. There's some good sport on tomorrow (Munster and Ulster football finals, Liverpool v Leicester) but Judd v Ronnie in a big snooker final trumps the lot (pardon the pun). It really is a mouthwatering prospect.

Chalk McHugh

Chalk McHugh wrote: »

That would be brilliant. There's some good sport on tomorrow (Munster and Ulster football finals, Liverpool v Leicester) but Judd v Ronnie in a big snooker final trumps the lot (pardon the pun). It really is a mouthwatering prospect.

True enough. Ronnie & Judd is the snooker Real - Barca!
No Sky Sports here, and indifferent about Liverpool or Leicester. Neither of those GAA clashes are marquee encounters either - no Kerry, Tyrone, or Armagh teams involved. Without looking at the odds I'd say Cork and Donegal are both 2/5, or shorter.

I'll have a look now to see how wrong I am :pac:

Come on Ron!!

Chalk McHugh

[Deleted User] wrote: »

True enough. Ronnie & Judd is the snooker Real - Barca!
No Sky Sports here, and indifferent about Liverpool or Leicester. Neither of those GAA clashes are marquee encounters either - no Kerry, Tyrone, or Armagh teams involved. Without looking at the odds I'd say Cork and Donegal are both 2/5, or shorter.

I'll have a look now to see how wrong I am :pac:

Come on Ron!!

You're right but the Munster final has the added significance of Tipp playing in their Bloody Sunday jerseys and all of the history of that. Hopefully Cavan can really put it up to Donegal but im not sure. And i'm a Liverpool fan and have Sky so all in all it's a good, lazy day plonked on the sofa. But Ronnie and Trump is the highlight for sure.

Arthur Daley

The Northern Ireland Open in it's brief life has always given us a good/noteworthy final

In 2016 it was Mark King beating the Hawk
2017 Mark Williams rebirth that led him on to the win in Sheffield at the end of that season
2018 Judd started his march to dominance, and his world title at the end of that season
2019 was Judd and Ronnie again in a tight one

Chalk McHugh

Chalk McHugh wrote: »

You're right but the Munster final has the added significance of Tipp playing in their Bloody Sunday jerseys and all of the history of that. Hopefully Cavan can really put it up to Donegal but im not sure. And i'm a Liverpool fan and have Sky so all in all it's a good, lazy day plonked on the sofa. But Ronnie and Trump is the highlight for sure.

Snooker is always more enjoyable in the evening, esp on a weekend with lots of sports on. Hope it lasts till after 10 at least

champchamp

Anyone else's colour way off on eurosport?
Pixellated balls?

The Nal

Haha

https://twitter.com/daveg147/status/1330409565695987719

champchamp wrote: »

Anyone else's colour way off on eurosport?
Pixellated balls?

No, my balls are fine.

Arthur Daley

Ronnie at this carry on of not conceding from a hopeless position against Judd now.

Chalk McHugh

Arthur Daley wrote: »

Ronnie at this carry on of not conceding from a hopeless position against Judd now.

Pure nonsense. And putting Judd back in for that swerve shot again? Bonkers. Judd on top early doors.

champchamp

Eurosport 1 showing ski jumping now, is anyone else the same?

Arthur Daley

It is FTA on quest