World Snooker Championship 2023

Snake Plisken

Here we go draw below begins this Saturday through to bank holiday Monday

https://twitter.com/WeAreWST/status/1646421169954758656?s=19

Snake Plisken

Thanks to @ArmaniJeanss first round draw

Ronnie O'Sullivan v Pang Junxu

Ding Junhui v Hossein Vafaei

Luca Brecel v Ricky Walden

Mark Williams v Jimmy Robertson

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Judd Trump v Anthony McGill

Jack Lisowski v Noppon Saengkham

Robert Milkins v Joe Perry

Shaun Murphy v Si Jiahui

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Mark Allen v Fan Zhengyi

Stuart Bingham v David Gilbert

Ali Carter v Jak Jones

Neil Robertson v Wu Yize

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Kyren Wilson v Ryan Day

John Higgins v David Grace

Gary Wilson v Elliot Slessor

Mark Selby v Matthew Selt

ArmaniJeanss

Top half looks marginally tougher, although Ronnie and Judd have had poor enough seasons (albeit Judd has done damage in the non-ranking events). Section 3 in particular looks weak enough, with Robbo not liking the venue and Mark Allen losing his form recently.

Rough odds for anyone who gambols.

4/1 Ronnie. 6/1 Trump, Selby, 7/1 Robbo, 9/1 Murphy, 14/1 Allen, 16/1 K Wilson, 18/1 Higgins, 20/1 Williams, Ding. 28/1 bar.

Tomaldo

Is the Rocket worth backing 4 to 1, Murphy has found form lately 9/1, Allen has lost a lot of weight, will that help him 14/1 or maybe K Wilson 16/1. Asian players have been knocking on the door, but aren't some of them are banned

StevenToast

Ronnie O'Sullivan could win it or could get beaten in the first round.

The magic of the man. You just dont know what he will do!

Arthur Daley

Never really like Ronnie on alternative years. He only defended the title once.

Backing Selby this time.

Genghis

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120472388#Comment_120472388

I have backed him. Still have a few quid in the snooker bet wallet from his win last year, so going again.

In relation to form, fully agree he could drop on day one or win on 1 May with a session to spare. I listened to a Eurosport podcast - the best interview I think I eve heard with him, and I feel he is very much up for it. I also think he has been strategising with tip / elbow issues to appear more out of form than he is, possibly even happy he was not in the Tour champs, etc (out of limelight). He also took time to create a massive distraction with the WST attach a few weeks out. All part of his preparation to deflect from defending/ eighth.

I am also putting a few quid on Allen, yes poor form recently but in great shape this season if has had time to recover / rebuild. Never been in better form for it, but maybe more likely in a few years if he keeps the form going.

Outsider is Lisowki. I went e/w on him because, you know! But it would be like him to make the WC the one he breaks his duck on.

Didn't bet on Robertson, Ding, Williams or Judd, but think they are all possibles.

ArmaniJeanss

Schedule for the weekend, final session in bold

Saturday

10:00 Ronnie O'Sullivan v Pang Junxu. Stuart Bingham v David Gilbert

14:30 Luca Brecel v Ricky Walden. Neil Robertson v Wu Yize

19:00 Ronnie O'Sullivan v Pang Junxu. Ali Carter v Jak Zones

Sunday

10:00 Ding Junhui v Hossein Vafaei. Stuart Bingham v David Gilbert

14:30 Mark Williams v Jimmy Robertson. Neil Robertson v Wu Yize

19:00 Luca Brecel v Ricky Walden. Ali Carter v Jak Zones

Monday

10.00 Ding Junhui v Hossein Vafaei. Mark Allen v Fan Zhengyi.

14:30 Mark Williams v Jimmy Robertson. John Higgins v David Grace

19:00 Robert Milkins v Joe Perry. Mark Allen v Fan Zhengyi

Arthur Daley

Crucible eve. Surely one of the best times of year.

Let's join Eddie Charlton for 5 mins as he takes us on a tour backstage in 1989.

https://youtu.be/0SfvX-O6UFw

Loafing Oaf

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120472247#Comment_120472247

Rough odds for anyone who gambols.

I only gambol when I've won the bet😝

My only bet this year is a treble on the three Marks to reach the semis

The Nal

Im excited.

Arthur Daley

Tight couple of round one matches first up, day one. Pang could give Ronnie a match, and not a lot could seperate Bingham v Gilbert.

Round One not a gimme like it could be at times in the past.

Loafing Oaf

Bingham and O'Sullivan on this morning, Carter apparently back with a bang, really is a sport that gives hope to us mid-forties guys...

gormdubhgorm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120472255#Comment_120472255

Allen is great value each way. Long sessions suit him. Wilson I am not sure - he can be a bit flaky IMO and looks for excuses.

gormdubhgorm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120480264#Comment_120480264

Robertson was the last fella to win it in his 20's?

loyatemu

tough run to the final for Allen if he gets through round 1 - potentially all former champions and long-match specialists.

Pick of the first round could be Ding-Vafaei, though if Ding shows up in the mood he should have too much for Vafaei.

It's been a while since we had a shock winner - Williams in 2018 was a surprise but he had won it twice before; Bingham would have to be the last really unexpected champion. Lisowski maybe, he looks great when he's on form but can he do it for 17 days?

gormdubhgorm

Nerves getting to Pang I think, playing the man/venue and not the table. Fluffing loads of chances. Ronnie just has to wait for errors. Ronnie 3-0 - so this frame is a big one to get Pang into it. Edit 4-0 now. Think match is over as a contest already unless Pang switches on.

Arthur Daley

Can't be missing blacks off the spot Pang. The inexperience showing through this morning.

Rothko

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120480362#Comment_120480362

Trump was 29 when he won it

waynescales1

Pang pulls it back 9-6, O’Sullivan looks like he’s about to fall asleep. Will he able to get this over the line.

Arthur Daley

Ronnie struggling to get it done. 9-7 now

Arthur Daley

Brian Wright (Coventry city guy) first sighting this year.

He must be paying a pretty penny to sit in his usual seats beside the players these days. Think the front rows are Century club.

loyatemu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120482432#Comment_120482432

done now - 10-7

waynescales1

The absolute hack of O’Sullivan in the studio, haha! Last person I saw in a similar state was Eamon Dunphy when he’d show up on RTE pissed or hungover. How do you win a snooker match in that state.

hawaii501

You would usually take whatever Ronnie says with a pinch of salt when he's playing bad but he did look fairly wrecked in the studio so definitely believe him when he says he's sick.

Snake Plisken

Ali Carter vs Jack Jones should be a good watch tomorrow night Jack leads 5-4 and played well against Carter didn't leave the nerves get to him

gormdubhgorm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120482379#Comment_120482379

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120482468#Comment_120482468

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120482521#Comment_120482521

Amazed it ended up so close I stopped watching.

--

I looked at Jimmy White's predictions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cwn_s03g3ZY

Gas how clued in and/or enthusiastic Jimmy is about each match. Really loves the game still after all this time.

McGill - Lisowksi - Murphy - Kyren Wilson - seem to be Jimmy's outside picks.

The match he is really looking forwards to is Gary Wilson v Elliott Slessor (both practice partners)

He thinks final on paper will be O'Sullivan v Selby.

Arthur Daley

Slow enough play in Ding v Vafaei. Still 3 frames to play and the next session is less than 90 mins away.

Bingham finished off Gilbert handy enough 10-4, considering it was tighter at 6-4 early on this morning.

gormdubhgorm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120483853#Comment_120483853

That Ding Vafaei match has been an odd one. Ding could have been three - nil only for that pink fluke by Vafaei. But in fairness to that point Ding was 'ball run Ding'. Missing loads of chances getting luck. But then after that Vafaei wakes up picking out plants etc looking compose.

Rothko

New record set by Neil Robertson today as he manages to complete two 146 breaks in a single session.

Btw, his thread seems awfully quiet so far, give it's the World Championship.

ArmaniJeanss

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120485118#Comment_120485118

We are roughly where we are last year. World Snooker Championship 2022 — boards.ie - Now Ye're Talkin' Post #30 was on the evening session on the Sunday.

I think the thread only livens up when there the top players are involved in a close match, and/or when the second round gets going. And eventually we get the posters who give out relentlessly about the size of the pockets or call Selby 'Slowby'. Bless 'em.