UK Championship 2021 - 23/11 to 05/12. Eurosport and BBC

eric hoone

Great win by Astley

Joe_ Public

The cocked hat to clinch it! Not sure did he exactly play it, but it's always on playing it like that. Fully deserved it. Played well and looking forward to hearing his thoughts on what robbo said yesterday.

Arthur Daley

Another one bites the dust

waynescales1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118221771#Comment_118221771

Yeah, maybe the crowd will even boo their opponents like the darts fans do for Sherrock.

Joe_ Public

Just watched a 5 minute interview with Astley by Rob Walker. No mention of robbos comments yesterday, not a single question about the hottest topic of the last two days. Great stuff.

That brown Astley potted to clinch the match, just remembered that was after robbo put him in again after a foul. Didn't see Astley potting it, but did think at the time it was a really poor decision by robbo. Doubt many, or any, other players would have done the same in that position. Wasn't a difficult safety shot.

Joe_ Public

David Lilley to take out Trump for the "amateur" hat trick? Actually beat Si Juahui in the final of the inaugural Q Tour tournament last weekend so should have a bit of confidence anyway.

Sandor Clegane

Delighted for Robbo tbh after the comments he made.

Muppet Man

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118221422#Comment_118221422

In hendrys defence tip chai was pretty flawless. 5 centuries in 6 frames. Not many chances for hendry in the match.

Joe_ Public

Ken getting a proper spanking from Sam Craigie but Mick Judge holding his own against Mark Allen. Have that on in the background and Allen looks very ropey, may be a chance for another shock there.

Muppet Man

Trump doing what he does best in final frame victories. Some unbelievable shots as usual

gormdubhgorm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118221700#Comment_118221700

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118223364#Comment_118223364

Yeah, I only belatedly copped that bit like an eejit.

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118223536#Comment_118223536

Michael just fell apart very quickly missing some easy pots, some dreadful positional play and Mark Allen getting his **** together.

Joe_ Public

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118224037#Comment_118224037

Yeah Allen picked it up, Mick made a few mistakes and unfolded very quickly. Ken still just about alive v Craigie, not a great day for us all told.

Strumms

Ken doing alright having been 4-0 down, 5-3 now, at least the scoreboard will be respectable...

finished 6-3 as I type.

Arthur Daley

Not a fan of that new bbc intro. Old one was perfectly fine.

I see Ronnie weighed in on the Amateur debate. No doubt the BBC will debate it plenty today.

I see Shaun is explaining himself there now

Joe_ Public

Just caught the bit with Shaun apologising which is fair enough. I'm sure he still believes he's in the right but it's done now. Boy, it was great publicity while it lasted though! World Snooker saying ticket sales doubled after Shaun got beaten and the story went viral so they not going to be too distraught over it!

Arthur Daley

Just caught Hendry half thinking to himself mmmm... as he was answering that 'there is no such thing as bad publicity'

Arthur Daley

Then again York seems a great spot for this tournament leading into December. Must get up to it soon and make a weekend of it.

Joe_ Public

For two days snooker was all over the airwaves, not just the sports channels, but Radio 4, GMB etc. And that for a match that wasn't even broadcast! You really can't buy that kind of publicity, albeit of negative kind! But seems only way snooker gets into the news agenda.

Have been to York but not for snooker, stunning town and countryside.

Joe_ Public

Good from Williams but should be 2-0 here really.

Arthur Daley

Monster kick for Ronnie there and he didn't get white cleaned. Maybe something in what John Higgins was saying about the Triangle chaulk.

waynescales1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118231743#Comment_118231743

What did the Rocket say about amateur participation?

Joe_ Public

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118232136#Comment_118232136

He had a laugh about it basically. Because he, Ronnie, doesn't take snooker too seriously anymore, he doesn't get bothered by this stuff, but it's different for the likes of Shaun and Ronnie reckons it'll only get worse. So basically, suck it up and just get on with it. To be honest, I'm not sure there's much love lost there so I've a feeling he's trolling Shaun a bit.

Arthur Daley

https://extra.ie/2021/11/26/sport/sport-extra/ronnie-osullivan-shaun-murphy-amateurs

waynescales1

Yeah looks like he actually didn’t say anything about it at all. Get on with the game and stop worrying about things you can’t influence is decent advice for anybody.

Joe_ Public

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118232228#Comment_118232228

Think so. Sounds like the kind of basic stuff Steve Peters would be drilling into him, control the controllables etc. Not that Ronnie himself isn't liable to a good old rant every now and again, but generally he does take defeat well and is often hardest on himself.

Joe_ Public

Interesting discussion on Kyrens rather unorthodox cue action. One thing I've noticed that they didn't mention was when Kyren brings back his cue arm, he releases it very gradually, for around an inch or so, before pushing it through the cue ball. Don't think I've ever seen any other player do this and I've even tried myself and it feels horrible. Guess he feels it works for him, so that's what matters.

waynescales1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118232271#Comment_118232271

Can you imagine the stuff O’Sullivan would be coming out with if it wasn’t for Peters. Would he even still be playing.

Ive noticed Wilson’s cue action before and yes it does look very strange. Just shows you there is no perfect cue action, look at the way Trump lines up the cue ball.

Joe_ Public

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118232461#Comment_118232461

Peters definitely been a massive factor for him and I imagine doesn't come cheap. Benefit of being a top player is you can invest in good support system, its so much harder for lower ranked guys who really need the guidance but haven't the money to pay for it. Bit of a vicious circle really.

I think Kyrens action is probably to do with making sure not to decelerate through impact, so probably good logic to it. I've seen Judd as a junior when he had a much more orthodox cue action so always curious to know when and why he evolved the way he did. Obviously he's hitting straight through the cue ball but it does look really odd. I remember him poking fun at Kyrens cue action when they were both trading blows a few years ago.

Joe_ Public

That's as good as it gets for Si Juihai, goes down 6-4 to Dominic Dale. He can now leave the building as he doesn't belong there anymore!

waynescales1

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118232521#Comment_118232521

The whole thing was blown way out of proportion by the media and social media. I doubt the subject of amateurs competing in professional tournaments even crossed most people’s minds before Murphy spoke up.

Joe_ Public

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118232577#Comment_118232577

Never a topic of conversation before, even when Ronnie lost to James Cahill at the crucible. Last snooker story to cut through to main news agenda like this was the furore after Selby lost to Ronnie in the sf. The "sore loser" tag is one obvious common denominator in both, just seems to rile people up the wrong way.

Too true about the whole amateur thing. Did anyone care before? I doubt it - well, apart from lower ranked players, maybe; but rarely ever hear from them anyhow.. Sounds like manufacturing dissent to me. Good for garnering clicks and coin from a non-existing 'controversy'..

Missed out on Murphy's rant and his apology, but I caught the tail end of the beeb's afternoon coverage, and fair play to JP, he said at least he wasn't very amateurish today (referring to Murphy's contributions in the studio) 😁 Don't think Shaun knew how to react.. That was at the very end of the show, just before the outro music came on... Saved by the bell, I guess, as regards having to come up with a good comeback ..

waynescales1

Creative safety shot there by Mark Allen, didn’t deserve to catch the bump and put O’Connor right among the balls.

Arthur Daley

Another point around Shaun's rant is that as a first round loser he would have travelled to York and received no prize money. I know he's hung around and has his BBC work so he's doing alright.

But it highlights to himself and Robertson what it is like to spend a few days getting to an event and not even getting the price of a cup of coffee for it.

I heard a suggestion on Dave Hendon's podcast that losing first rounders could receive a ton per frame. I think this is a great idea, if you lose 5-6 you get 500 notes. Lose 0-6 and you get nothing. The remaining prize money would need to be adjusted but I think it's a fair day's pay for a fair day's work.

Bazza won't wear it, I know. Hard taskmaster that he is. He's not likely to turn socialist in his old age.

waynescales1

An interesting idea but that would work out at about an extra £20k overall prize money. That’s an awful lot to ask a sponsor to contribute for players who didn’t win a single match.

Arthur Daley

In the overall budget of £1m for the UK they could find the room no doubt.

Joe_ Public

Always believed it was a mistake to have a tour of 128 players anyway. Too many just aren't good enough and some of those who are get too easily locked into cycles of defeat, earning no money and getting disillusioned. A 64 tour would have been optimal, i think, with a strong secondary tour where players could get used to winning matches and earning decent money before making the leap up. Hearns capitalist instincts, seizing the opportunity, losers get nothing etc, was counter productive in too many ways imo. I can't see how anybody outside top 50 could be earning a living from snooker earnings alone, even at 50 it has to be a stretch.

A very good safety from Wakelin there, in leaving white close to black cushion. Tempts Trump into a horrible go at a red to middle. They're 'all there' now for Chris. Great chance for him to go 3 frames to 2 up against the ace....

Brian?

Wakelin should be banned for the shoe and dickie bow combo.

Joe_ Public

Match been played on wakelins terms but Judd still just keeping head in front.

Poor Ding walloped 6-3 by Sam Craigie, down to 25 in the rankings now, his lowest since 2007 and masters spot looking highly unlikely.

Joe_ Public

In fairness, not sure this is actually favouring wakelin at all. He's even more frazzled looking than trump.

Joe_ Public

Hossein looks like he's in practice mode for the shoot out here. Sprinting around the table. Good start.

Brian?

Hossein on fire. I’m a huge fan of him, great attitude

Joe_ Public

Focus and determination so good from Vafaei tonight, Selby well and truly punished for sloppy error. Just can't fathom why vafaei should be hovering down the 60s, way much better than that.

waynescales1

Dave Hendon really overuses the phrase “class of ‘92”.

eric hoone

Great stuff from Vafei

Joe_ Public

That was even better than the first 4 frames he played against Ronnie in the German. Fluked a red, but has been near flawless. Can't think of any genuine error he has made.

Brian?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118237023#Comment_118237023

He’s down that low because he’s not allowed live in the UK and can’t enter a lot of tournaments. He’s easily a top 16 player IMO.

waynescales1

The speed that Vafaei is playing at, queuing under Brendan Moore’s arm there at one point! Ref would want to get a move on!