Snooker Shoot Out

FR01 · 22-02-2020 10:29pm

Muppet Man wrote: »

Are you delighted because he won, or delighted cos he beat Ronnie

It was a great win though to be fair. Snooker on green won it for him. Sloppy start from Ronnie.

Ranked 103 in the world , when is this guy ever going to get a chance to play Ronnie yet alone beat him. That’s why this event works, everyone getting a chance.

By the way is everyone still of the opinion that the pockets are big ??

Tightest I’ve seen them play all week

Joe_ Public · 22-02-2020 10:39pm

Yes I've thought pockets have played a bit tighter than normal this week. The bed is also clearly playing faster so these just dont feel like regular tournament tables. For whatever reason, dont care to speculate.

FR01 · 22-02-2020 10:48pm

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Yes I've thought pockets have played a bit tighter than normal this week. The bed is also clearly playing faster so these just dont feel like regular tournament tables. For whatever reason, dont care to speculate.

Same Star table, same pocket templates, same temperature on the slate heater and the exact same Stratchan 6811 tournament cloth.

Joe_ Public · 22-02-2020 11:02pm

FR01 wrote: »

Same Star table, same pocket templates, same temperature on the slate heater and the exact same Stratchan 6811 tournament cloth.

I guess.

zuutroy · 22-02-2020 11:13pm

FR01 wrote: »

Same Star table, same pocket templates, same temperature on the slate heater and the exact same Stratchan 6811 tournament cloth.

More action and more brushing than a regular tournament table though. Dale reckons it's changing and I tend to trust him as a hardcore snooker nerd.

El_Duderino 09 · 22-02-2020 11:21pm

AllForIt wrote: »

If snooker stays exactly the way it is, i.e. largely UK based, then I'm happy with that. If it should go global I think it should do so on it's own merit's and not be changed to force it to do so. GAA isn't global and why should it. Is it any less worthy because it isn't. Why does everything have to be global anyway. If snooker becomes more popular worldwide - fine, if it doesn't, fine too. I don't ever see Snooker loosing it's popularity here or in the UK. I don't think Snooker is under serious threat for lack of global recognition. There are no pool events on TV here and I think a lot of western European pool players enjoy watching snooker and learn a lot from it. It's just the same thing basically. I think sometimes we forget what we have and try to fix things that aren't broken.

You mention golf and the main difference is golf's ability to draw major sponsors.

Snooker can only get betting shops to sponsor its events. The prize money is minuscule compared to golf and golf is a thriving global game. So I think gold was a terrible example of the point you’re making.

The future of snooker (if it has a future) is mostly in China. They probably have more snooker fans already, than Europe. If they can monetise that fan base, then snooker will most likely increasingly move over to China.

I suspect the game of snooker is much less healthy than you seem to think.

FR01 · 22-02-2020 11:41pm

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

You mention golf and the main difference is golf's ability to draw major sponsors.

Snooker can only get betting shops to sponsor its events. The prize money is minuscule compared to golf and golf is a thriving global game. So I think gold was a terrible example of the point you’re making.

The future of snooker (if it has a future) is mostly in China. They probably have more snooker fans already, than Europe. If they can monetise that fan base, then snooker will most likely increasingly move over to China.

I suspect the game of snooker is much less healthy than you seem to think.

Snooker was never going to be in the same league as golf either by viewing numbers or prize money. For a sport of its size having £15 million per season prize money is about as good as I believe it will get. Top players can pick and choose the events they want to play in, ie the worlds, the masters, the U.K. and next seasons Saudi event carry huge winners cheques totalling in and around £1.5million if you were to win all four.

The China market has been tapped as far as I think it can go, they was rumblings the of the worlds going there but a contract extension for it to stay in Sheffield put paid to that.

I believe professional snooker is thriving and the top players are duly rewarded very well.

However I fear the day that betting firms etc are no longer allowed to sponsor sporting events, that could well be a game changer for the worst.

ArmaniJeanss · 23-02-2020 4:31am

This tournament does a couple of things better than 'normal snooker'.

Lagging for (choice of) break is clearly better than a coin toss as it at least has some sort of snooker skill involved. It'd be a fairly minor change.

Must hit a cushion is something that would be a huge benefit in snooker ; being able to just roll behind a baulk colour is terrible and something that should have been done away with decades ago.

The shootout penalty for a foul (ball-in-hand) is worthy of debate as well. It may give too much advantage to a player but the normal rules aren't great either - oftentimes 4 points and putting the ball in the 'D' are of no material advantage.
Perhaps the 3rd foul per player in a frame being automatic ball-in-hand would be a good mix of the two formats.

Joe_ Public · 23-02-2020 12:44pm

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

This tournament does a couple of things better than 'normal snooker'.

Lagging for (choice of) break is clearly better than a coin toss as it at least has some sort of snooker skill involved. It'd be a fairly minor change.

Must hit a cushion is something that would be a huge benefit in snooker ; being able to just roll behind a baulk colour is terrible and something that should have been done away with decades ago.

The shootout penalty for a foul (ball-in-hand) is worthy of debate as well. It may give too much advantage to a player but the normal rules aren't great either - oftentimes 4 points and putting the ball in the 'D' are of no material advantage.
Perhaps the 3rd foul per player in a frame being automatic ball-in-hand would be a good mix of the two formats.

Wouldnt be totally against those being trialled in a regular tournament format. Striking a cushion would also curtail one of my great bugbears - the cowardly rolling up to the pack or a red. Or make it less easy anyway.

In the event of being snookered, a rule decreeing ball in hand if player fouls 3 times might be worth looking at i think. Might be some pitfalls but a trial would at least show you what they were.

nkl12xtw5goz70 · 23-02-2020 12:56pm

The shootout has combo rules from snooker and 9-ball pool (that's where they get lagging for break, ball must hit a cushion, ball in hand for fouls, and shot clock rules) with the raucous atmosphere of darts. It's no coincidence that Barry Hearn is heavily involved in all of those sports.

I'd be a snooker traditionalist. I don't want to see the game's format and rules compromised like this. The shootout is a bit of craic but I don't think it should be a ranking event.

Muppet Man · 23-02-2020 2:56pm

Ross Bulman out against anthony Hamilton. Never really got going. Pressure must be immense for him.

Brian? · 23-02-2020 2:58pm

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

This tournament does a couple of things better than 'normal snooker'.

Lagging for (choice of) break is clearly better than a coin toss as it at least has some sort of snooker skill involved. It'd be a fairly minor change.

Must hit a cushion is something that would be a huge benefit in snooker ; being able to just roll behind a baulk colour is terrible and something that should have been done away with decades ago.

The shootout penalty for a foul (ball-in-hand) is worthy of debate as well. It may give too much advantage to a player but the normal rules aren't great either - oftentimes 4 points and putting the ball in the 'D' are of no material advantage.
Perhaps the 3rd foul per player in a frame being automatic ball-in-hand would be a good mix of the two formats.

No thanks. All of that turns snooker into pool. Snooker is fine the way it is.

Joe_ Public · 23-02-2020 3:07pm

Muppet Man wrote: »

Ross Bulman out against anthony Hamilton. Never really got going. Pressure must be immense for him.

Not sure there was value in going for the early long pot but a good experience for him anyway. He's played ronnie this season, hawkins a couple of times - all goes in the bank.

FR01 · 23-02-2020 3:44pm

Disappointing to see the two young irish lads go out but they will take a lot out of the last few days.

I’m sure we will see a lot more of Hill in the coming seasons. Up to the National snooker Association to take care of these lads and help them further their careers.

Muppet Man · 23-02-2020 3:44pm

Aaron hill also out and he gave a good account of himself. Cracking opening red and was robbed not to get the black. He only had about 5 secs to sight and strike the cue ball on the opening red. Not sure how he got it. And then another long pressure red later in the frame. Unlucky not to do better.

Joe_ Public · 23-02-2020 3:48pm

Muppet Man wrote: »

Aaron hill also out and he gave a good account of himself. Cracking opening red and was robbed not to get the black. He only had about 5 secs to sight and strike the cue ball on the opening red. Not sure how he got it. And then another long pressure red later in the frame. Unlucky not to do better.

Yeah, couple of cracking pots there. Could have easily gone his way. Just a bonus for him really, big target is euro championships coming up for which he'll be one of the favourites. Tour card up for grabs there.

Chalk McHugh · 23-02-2020 6:48pm

Nice to see a couple of new young Irish snooker players for a change. Pretty mad how it's still Fergal and Ken flying the flag for us after nearly 30 years or whatever. However it's only a pub competition really so i certainly wont be reading anything into the two of them winning a couple of frames each. Hope to see them on the big stage in the not too distant future, though. The sport badly needs a new star to give it a boost here in Ireland and someone we Irish snooker fans can give our support to. Time will tell. A small crumb of hope at least.

zuutroy · 23-02-2020 7:54pm

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

This tournament does a couple of things better than 'normal snooker'.

Lagging for (choice of) break is clearly better than a coin toss as it at least has some sort of snooker skill involved. It'd be a fairly minor change.

Must hit a cushion is something that would be a huge benefit in snooker ; being able to just roll behind a baulk colour is terrible and something that should have been done away with decades ago.

The shootout penalty for a foul (ball-in-hand) is worthy of debate as well. It may give too much advantage to a player but the normal rules aren't great either - oftentimes 4 points and putting the ball in the 'D' are of no material advantage.
Perhaps the 3rd foul per player in a frame being automatic ball-in-hand would be a good mix of the two formats.

Usually on the ball AJ but I couldn't be having any of that except maybe the lag for break, maybe.

Chalk McHugh · 23-02-2020 8:17pm

Fairly vociferous crowd in for the final night in Watford. Once players get into the last 8 they will all fancy leaving town with 50 grand in the back pocket. How bad?

zuutroy · 23-02-2020 8:22pm

Hoping its one of the ones that won't cost us a Trump v Ronnie match at the Players'.

Chalk McHugh · 23-02-2020 8:24pm

I'm not sure i'd go to this Shoot Out if i got free tickets and accomadation. At least at home on tv you can hit the mute or change over for a bit. Only fun but like a few on here i see myself as a traditionalist and if i'm paying hard earned money to watch this great sport it wont be to the infamous Shoot Out.

Joe_ Public · 23-02-2020 8:29pm

Still a few could knock ronnie out i think. Zhou Yeulong only has to reach the final.

zuutroy · 23-02-2020 8:33pm

Yea Zhou in the final, or McGill, Woolaston, Holt win and they overtake him.

Joe_ Public · 23-02-2020 8:36pm

Still probably in Ron's favour, but not by very much.

Joe_ Public · 23-02-2020 9:11pm

Seems to me, and only very general observation on watching a few games, that key to this format is patience. Attacking players not necessarily the best approach and results seem to bear it out. Maybe this year an anomaly though.

Chalk McHugh · 23-02-2020 9:22pm

'Mike Dunn's a good billiards player,' says Neal Foulds. Words i didn't think i'd ever here again about a current player.

Chalk McHugh · 23-02-2020 9:35pm

Rubbish safety from Lines. The Sheriff of Pottingham has always had a nice, compact cue action. Feathers the ball too much though.

FR01 · 23-02-2020 9:57pm

Chalk McHugh wrote: »

Rubbish safety from Lines. The Sheriff of Pottingham has always had a nice, compact cue action. Feathers the ball too much though.

Different strokes for different folks, Hamilton feathers to suit his timing, Higgins normally strikes on the fourth, Ebdon changed his timing to striking on 8+ and duly wins the U.K. and world championship.

Chalk McHugh · 23-02-2020 10:04pm

FR01 wrote: »

Different strokes for different folks, Hamilton feathers to suit his timing, Higgins normally strikes on the fourth, Ebdon changed his timing to striking on 8+ and duly wins the U.K. and world championship.

I remember Ebdon was excrutiating to watch feathering the ball so much. Higgins i never noticed to be honest. Only two i did was Ebdon and Hamilton. I meant Hamilton feathers the cue ball so close ive seen him hit the cue ball by a mistake. He actually did it in the Northern Ireland Open semi final or final at a crucial moment. It was ridiculous to lose a big game like that.

zuutroy · 23-02-2020 10:05pm

Ronnie an underdog to get in now I think.

Chalk McHugh · 23-02-2020 11:36pm

Crowd seem more subdued than previous years. I wonder will this ranking tournament remain for many years to come? Personally i wouldn't miss it if it ended tomorrow.

Joe_ Public · 23-02-2020 11:57pm

Good on the hitman anyway, happy for him, one of the game's good guys.

Chalk McHugh · 23-02-2020 11:59pm

Congrats to Holty. Seems a decent skin. That's the end of the Shoot Out for another year. Time for 'real' snooker again.

FR01 · 24-02-2020 12:03am

Well done Michael Holt. I’ve got a lot of time for Michael Holt, his own worst enemy and critic at times but a very popular lad on the tour.

Joe_ Public · 24-02-2020 12:12am

Chalk McHugh wrote: »

Congrats to Holty. Seems a decent skin. That's the end of the Shoot Out for another year. Time for 'real' snooker again.

Not long to wait, players championship tomorrow. Not sure is holt expected to field again tomorrow against judd, not sure of match schedule.

FR01 · 24-02-2020 10:18am

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Not long to wait, players championship tomorrow. Not sure is holt expected to field again tomorrow against judd, not sure of match schedule.

Holt plays Trump Tuesday evening 7pm

Snooker Shoot Out

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