UK Championship Barbican York, 12th - 20th November BBC, Eurosport

Arthur Daley

New format for this, with two tables in the arena, and last 32 onwards, rather than the older format with many matches played across a 128 flat draw.

Jury will be out on this format change, and whether or not it can help restore the UK Championship to some of its former glory. Matches are still best of 11 up to the final next Sunday.

Personally, I'd like a best of 31 final across two days, and best of 17 semi finals on Friday, to recognise the historical weighting of the UK Championships, distinguish it from other tournaments, and get players in the frame of mind for multi session matches outside of Sheffield.

Sweet Talkin Romeo

Round Two on Eurosport atm

Allen looking very good here up against his mate Jordy Brown ,, 5-3 looking nailed on as Mark at the table and infinite snookers required, as i type

was flicking through channels, and noticed that they weren't showing any of Rnd1 matches this past day or two - for some unknown reason

Sweet Talkin Romeo

Allen has a right good chance now - Brown looked a cert to amass a framewinning break there, but missed pink to middle having had a 59pts lead,, Allen in now and has just potted the 4th of the five remaining reds

tricky red here on the cush - misses,,, frame still in balance,, 59-29 with one red left

Hon Mark

Sweet Talkin Romeo

Brown wins frame 9

Allen pots last red, but was faced with tough brown to middle he had to go for

misses, and concedes

5-4 Allen

Sweet Talkin Romeo

Brown misses another similar pink to middle earlier

to-ing and fro-ing after that, but Allen ultimately wins frame ten, to out by a 6-4 scoreline

hon Mark!

Craigie gets a surprising 6-2 win against Zhao - WD him 😊

Arthur Daley

Zhao really has fallen back so much in 12 months. Last year his big win in York had the commentary teams salivating at his prospects, but whatever he's done since then, it hasn't worked.

Arthur Daley

Jimmy up next tonight vs Ryan Day

C'mon Jimmy!

Sweet Talkin Romeo

watching Eurosport2 atm - no sign of the snooker coverage starting: some Formula 2/3/whatever programme still on :( was due to start @7.30

mon Jimmy !

thejuggler

It’s on BBC red button

Sweet Talkin Romeo

ta,

it's on Eurosport2 now an' all 😊

Arthur Daley

Really Jimmy could have won both of those frames. Not a free flowing match, plenty of errors from both players.

Arthur Daley

Not to be for Jimmy, just too many mistakes at this stage.

Good crowds in York, the set up looks great with the players having that long walk out into the crowd.

Always got good crowds in York leading up to Christmas, the venue is handy to the old city and its attractions. Will be good to see them keep up a bit of atmosphere during the course of the week.

Strumms

Jimmy potted some crackers some excellent long pots but missed some not too difficult ones and then kept running out of position…just when he looked like getting going.

just starting to look his age to be fair.

kirk.

Jimmy was surprisingly good think the easier pockets suited him

Just shows you the levels though .Dale looked a level above and there's levels above him

Arthur Daley

Again Sunday afternoon and the UK championship is not on BBC1 or BBC2. Red button only.

I know this may not matter to those under 50, or BBC3 audiences, but some viewers may not have red button tuned in or will not go online. It is all a reduction of coverage and profile for sponsors etc.

Interestingly ITV went in the opposite direction in recent months putting the mixed doubles on ITV1 from ITV4, which was noted and appreciated as a move which increases general exposure and profile.

ArmaniJeanss

It is on BBC1 at 14.30.

Arthur Daley

ok, it is greatly reduced though, every other year they'd start full coverage at 1pm Saturday.

ArmaniJeanss

I'd forgive them yesterday afternoon. They were obviously contractually committed to the Rugby League World Cup semi-final (and with England involved it was clearly a big event) and they are host broadcaster of that tennis tournament in Glasgow which also had Team GB involvement and is at the final stage.

I don't think it should be read as a downgrading of snooker - there was no case for putting first round games ahead of either of the sporting events they did show on BBC1/BBC2.

Scheduling was always going to be trickier this year with this event (and so many other sporting events and indeed TV shows) brought forward by 3 weeks to avoid the soccer.

Strumms

Robertson 0-4 down to Joe Perry, not getting a look in. Joe has impressed.

The Nal

Joe needs to go in for the kill here. Its his match if he does.

Odd that McManus is on the Beeb.

Sweet Talkin Romeo

McManus on the Beeb? am listening to him on comms on Eurosport 😁

mebbe he's double-jobbing; punditing on BBC & commentating on Eurosport? 🙂

The Nal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119869257#Comment_119869257

Ignore me Im an idiot. Ive Eurosport and BBC 2 next to each other in my Sky favourites and hit Eurosport thinking it was the Beeb. 🧐

Sweet Talkin Romeo

happens 😊

poor Joe - will he rue that pink one wonders? cracking red early doors from Robbo, but no more points accumulated,, another great long red just now!

worrying times for Gentleman Joe

Sweet Talkin Romeo

Brecel playing well - have had a lil ew on him @40s

Sweet Talkin Romeo

Gwan Fordey!

Sweet Talkin Romeo

humbug , spoke too soon 😪

2 apiece now, Tom had great chance there to go 3-1 up at t'interval

Sweet Talkin Romeo

Higgins there for taking - very poor overall, despite his narrow lead,, that black he missed earlier in frame a prime example of his poor form this evening 😋

Brian?

Higgins looks like a broken man this season. Every time I’ve seen him play he’s been way off it. Missing easy balls and safety mistakes.

I don’t think his heart is in it anymore after losing all the finals the last 2 years. I wouldn’t be surprised if he announces his retirement

gormdubhgorm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119871476#Comment_119871476

Yeah, he might have been better off getting beaten in SF’s instead. His comments after one of them that he might not just be good enough anymore.

Personally I think the way Higgins plays drains him. He always stays in frames. It knackers him these days.

Even Jimmy White referenced Higgins after his own qualifying match v Dale. White said he thought of how John Higgins plays ‘match play snooker’ stays in games even when not playing well, sometimes finds a way to win.

Strumms

Match starts with O’Sullivan refusing to shake Steven’s hand, insisting on a fist bump. Matthew stands hand extended, Ronnie with fist extended… Given for hours there hands will in contact with a table. O’Sullivan being O’Sullivan.

Scrappy snooker from both, table having a few weird rolls.

Sweet Talkin Romeo

Gwan Maffyu! - decent chance here early in frame 4 😊

Sweet Talkin Romeo

goes for a brown in baulk does Matt - hits blue on way down table ☹️ break over

Sweet Talkin Romeo

6-2 to number one - finishes off with a century

Matthew weren't up to much really

a few surprising misses from Ronnie, but will put that down to lack of competition from his opponent - hard to concentrate when it's just too easy 😂

gormdubhgorm

RO'S giving Stevens a lesson. But Stevens threw away a lot of chances.

gormdubhgorm

It is getting to the stage where why bother interview Ronnie? All his interviews are the same.

Murphy asked him a good question if you don't enjoy it why do you keep coming back?

Ronnie said 'Otherwise I get bored'. And Hazel, Murphy and Doherty were kind of looking at him as if to say this fella is not all there.

The Nal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119873396#Comment_119873396

Ronnie enjoys snooker as much as Ali enjoyed boxing. Can't stay away.

You don't ball your eyes out crying after winning like he did in Sheffield if you dont care or dont enjoy it. Telling himself its just for fun etc is all Steve Peters. Keeps Ronnie on track.

Sweet Talkin Romeo

was watching that BBC interview - funny alright 😂

bit annoying when Ronnie was about to elucidate on summat or other (can't remember exactly, could've been about how he's feeling etc,,) ; anyway Spud jumps in and interrupts The Great One with some rudimentary question 😒

Joe_ Public

Thought it was an alright interview as these things go with him. Can definitely see the mental process at work there and seems to be working for him as well. A step up from the Mr Robot of 2-3 seasons ago anyway!

gormdubhgorm

Is this ‘energy drink’ sponsorship a new thing? I assumed it was only Robertson as he was supposedly sick the last day. But they all seem to have it laid out beside the table. In the little over priced cans.

Personally that stuff would sicken me. All sugar too sweet. Might as well be a few pints a frame like Bill Werbunik instead, it would be as healthy!?

Sweet Talkin Romeo

looks like Irn Bru/Lucozade or something that concoction

saw Robbo cracking open a tinny of it yesterday,, figured he was the only one, but seems like half the players are drinking the stuff

bit strange alright

Joe_ Public

It's a Red Bull vitamin drink of some sort and i imagine they will be pushing it hard and encouraging players to imbibe copiously with a view to getting them to upgrade as main tournament sponsors in the near future.

gormdubhgorm

Parrott and Davis are a good mix on commentary I think. They are ‘playing’ every shot in the Yan/Zhou match.

Elon Musk

Ronnie to win it in second gear.

gormdubhgorm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119873735#Comment_119873735

That company could send Ronnie to space as well if he gets really bored. 🤔.

I don’t get that drink at all Marketing greater than taste I think.

Joe_ Public

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119873736#Comment_119873736

Had to laugh earlier when the yellow was close to centre pocket, Parrott going on for several minutes how difficult it was "given these pockets" and in the end, Yan just casually tapped it in with barely a moments thought. I have some respect for Davis as an analyst, not a lot for Parrott tbh.

Joe_ Public

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119873793#Comment_119873793

Never tried it. Am an old school lucozade man myself, though can't seem to get the old bottles that had the paper wrappers on them!

Sweet Talkin Romeo

confident black there from Zhou!

gormdubhgorm

I wonder what the viewing figures in China are for this? Edgy misses from both Zhou and Yan.

gormdubhgorm

I don’t think Zhou will get much further in this, I think Yan is a better all rounder.

Joe_ Public

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/119873856#Comment_119873856

Given that 20m supposedly watched a stream of Dings qualifier against Rob Millions, I'd say it's safe to assume at least that or even several million more.

Sweet Talkin Romeo

Shaun Murphy pretty much a permanent fixture in studio,, thought I heard Joe Perry on comms last night for the Beeb - doesn't bode well for their chances, imo

certainly seen the negative effects before for Shaun, when he got beat after doing a few stints punditing/commentating, while still in comp,,

I'm backing whoever is up against Murphy next round ;)