'05 World Championship - Who'll Win?

celticfc

So... only one day to go 'till it starts, Anyone got any predictions...?

Links to the main bookies are here


Paddy powers' current odds:

R O'Sullivan 5 - 4

S Hendry 9 - 2

M Williams 9 - 1

J Higgins 10 - 1

S Maguire 12 - 1

P Hunter 14 - 1

M Stevens 16 - 1

P Ebdon 33 - 1

K Doherty 33 - 1

G Dott 40 - 1

S Lee 50 - 1



This is the order of play for the first week or so...

Order of play at the Crucible
(All times BST - * = to a finish)

Saturday 16 April
1000
R O'Sullivan (Eng) v S Maguire (Sco)
D Gray (Eng) v A Hamilton (Eng)

1430
S Davis (Eng) v G Greene (NI)
M Stevens (Wal) v A Hicks (Eng)

1900
R O'Sullivan (Eng) v S Maguire (Sco)*
A McManus (Sco) v D Henry (Sco)


Sunday 17 April
1000
C Small (Sco) v S Murphy (Eng)
D Gray (Eng) v A Hamilton (Eng) *

1430
P Hunter (Eng) v M Holt Eng
A McManus (Sco) v D Henry (Sco)*

1430
S Davis (Eng) v G Greene (NI) *
M Stevens (Wal) v A Hicks (Eng) *


Monday 18 April
1000
C Small (Sco) v S Murphy (Eng) *
K Doherty (Ire) v B Pinches (Eng)

1430
P Hunter (Eng) v M Holt (Eng)*
J White Eng v F O'Brien (Ire)

1830
J Higgins (Sco) v M Selby (Eng)
K Doherty (Ire) v B Pinches (Eng) *


Tuesday 19 April
1000
M Fu (HK) v A Carter (Eng)
J White (Eng) v F O'Brien (Ire) *

1430
J Higgins (Sco) v M Selby (Eng)*
S Hendry (Sco) v N Robertson (Aus)

1830
M Fu (HK) v A Carter (Eng)*
M Williams (Wal) v R Milkins (Eng)


Wednesday 20 April
1000
P Ebdon (Eng) v Q Hann (Aus)
S Hendry (Sco) v N Robertson (Aus)*

1430
S Lee (Eng) v T Drago (Ma)
M Williams (Wal) v R Milkins (Eng)*

1830
P Ebdon (Eng) v Q Hann (Aus) *
G Dott (Sco) v I McCulloch (Eng)


Thursday 21 April
1400
S Lee (Eng) v T Drago (Ma)*
Hendry/Robertson v Gray/Hamilton #

1830
O'Sull'n/Maguire v Fu/Carter #
G Dott (Sco) v I McCulloch (Eng)

(# - Second round matches - best of 25)

eirebhoy

My money's on Hunter. Really think he'll do it.

Repli

Don't think it will be Ronnie O Sullivan after his game today, I'd say Williams will do it this year..

charba

but that could the game that decides it, he did pick up well after the risk of being dumped out!

I think it's time for the reign of Hendry VIII!!!!

RedRules5

Congrats to Ken for his magnificant performance yesterday. Unfortunately I didn't see much of it, to come from 5-2 down and win 10-5 is pure class. Hope he continues this form for the rest of the tournament and who knows what might happen.

Amz

Fair play to Ken, I reckon he'd have liked his next game to be almost straight away given the form he showed. Would like to see him do well, but can't really see him winning.

eirebhoy

I watched Doherty's full match live on BBC interactive and the first session was woeful. Both Pinches and Ken play really defensive snooker and rarely take big risks. The first frame lasted the best part of an hour and after that Doherty did take a few more long shots on but kept missing. He basically gifted Pinches the first session and he was lucky they had to stop the first session after 8 frames rather than 9.

The second session they had a re-rack in the first frame and I though "here we go again" but Ken just dominated from there on in. Nobody would have beaten Ken in that second session.

I think Doherty should really just go into matches with a 2 or 3 frame handicap because there is nobody better than him at coming from behind. The commentators keep mentioning the fact that players usually feel more pressure when they are behind but I don't think thats the case. No with me anyway. When I'm losing in a game of snooker I play much better. Same with Fergal O'Brien. Must be an Irish thing.

If Lee beats Drago I'll win a few quid. I had Ronnie, McManus, Carter, Murphy and Lee in a 5/1 accumulator. Lee has to win, Drago's bloody crap.

Badabing

I'm going for Jimmy White or should i say praying for him to win, although he will have it tough against Matthew Stevens.

miju

Im goin for Jimmy as always he's gotta win it he's just gotta :-(

py2006

Ronnies head isn't with it this time round. I am not sure he will win. I think it will be Mark Williams