2020 World Snooker Championship

Sultan of Bling · 12-08-2020 8:09pm

Mysterypunter wrote:

You could be right, he has made a strong start, added to the fact that I have just backed Wilson at 6-5, McGill should be well in it . Also could have been 7-1, I saw the easy blue he missed. Best of 33 is a long slog

It seems to be a trait of his this tournament to get off to a flying start.

Even after the missed blue in the 7th frame he dusted himself down and made a great break in the next.

He certainly oozes calm.

The big question is can he stay calm the closer he gets to the prize.

At the moment the way he has performed in pressure situations so far this tournament the answer is a resounding yes.

tinpib · 12-08-2020 8:12pm

What was Ronnie saying to the ref just before Selby broke off in the this frame, the 5th? I tried turning up the volume but just missed it.

AllForIt · 12-08-2020 8:14pm

tinpib wrote: »

What was Ronnie saying to the ref just before Selby broke off in the this frame, the 5th? I tried turning up the volume but just missed it.

Didn't hear his exact words but it was about all the kicks.

Rothko · 12-08-2020 8:19pm

The bang of the cue would suggest that Ronnie does care about this.

radiata · 12-08-2020 8:20pm

Fairly poor standard from both players so far

AllForIt · 12-08-2020 8:27pm

Ronnie need to keep his cool, especially against Selby. If he does, he'll win this match I've no doubt. Kicks aren't helping in that regard.

Spudman_20000 · 12-08-2020 8:28pm

You'd miss Denis mentioning Vicky every 5 minutes all the same.

Joe_ Public · 12-08-2020 8:36pm

Mervyn Skidmore wrote: »

Anyone have any info about pocket sizes down through the years? I was watching some snooker from the 80s on YouTube and the pockets looked massive. These pockets this year look a little bit more generous too compared to a few years ago.

No info, just observation but these pockets look to be playing a bit tighter this tournament, certainly compared to recent years when they were getting generous to a near ridiculous degree (number of centuries a bit lower this year than last which gives one indication).

Lot of mentions of table conditions which both players, particularly Selby, seem unhappy with. Table is playing heavy, in part because of humidity, which in turn could lead to pockets playing tighter, more kicks, uneven bounces etc. Wouldnt be surprised if we see the Selby glove at some stage!

Arthur Daley · 12-08-2020 8:37pm

Spudman_20000 wrote: »

You'd miss Denis mentioning Vicky every 5 minutes all the same.

She was up in the balcony the other day but DT wasn't covering the match. Give him a chance there's plenty of time left.

~Rebel~ · 12-08-2020 8:40pm

tinpib wrote: »

What was Ronnie saying to the ref just before Selby broke off in the this frame, the 5th? I tried turning up the volume but just missed it.

They replayed it on Eurosport with the sound up, basically Ronnie saying he's never experienced kicks like that in his life, and the ref saying it's the same balls as earlier and everything, and that it's a bit weird alright.

Presumably the humidity and the static caused by it.

taytobreath · 12-08-2020 8:47pm

they changed out the balls

if Ronnie gets a sizable lead he wont give it up that easily i suspect

walshb · 12-08-2020 8:48pm

Ronnie playing very well..

~Rebel~ · 12-08-2020 8:52pm

It's funny, after Ronnie talking down his long potting so much yesterday, he's nailing them today!

Andrew00 · 12-08-2020 8:55pm

Game over

Say Your Number · 12-08-2020 8:56pm

Andrew00 wrote: »

Game over

Ronnie needs 13 more frames, there is a looooooooooong way to go.

~Rebel~ · 12-08-2020 9:07pm

Say Your Number wrote: »

Ronnie needs 13 more frames, there is a looooooooooong way to go.

Yeah, it's nuts how these long games can twist and turn literally overnight. That break, going away and sleeping on it, has seen plenty of players fall apart, and plenty more come back with renewed vigour.

Totally open still.

Sultan of Bling · 12-08-2020 9:16pm

Ronnie seemed to rush that pot on the last red.

radiata · 12-08-2020 9:16pm

Selby doing well to be only 2 frames behind with the way he's playing.
His highest break is 35 so far

AllForIt · 12-08-2020 9:18pm

Sultan of Bling wrote: »

Ronnie seemed to rush that pot on the last red.

He did.

edit: One think I notice about Ronnie over the years is he's a bit rash at times when that's the last attitude you need at pivotal moments.

Joe_ Public · 12-08-2020 9:18pm

Need to rewind but did ronnie assume red to middle didnt go? Very odd he'd miss something like that.

Mervyn Skidmore · 12-08-2020 9:26pm

How come they don't have a fake audience laugh for Ken and Dennis's bad jokes?

AllForIt · 12-08-2020 9:31pm

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Need to rewind but did ronnie assume red to middle didnt go? Very odd he'd miss something like that.

Not sure myself either, but I think he just didn't want to be bothered with it and went for the long one instead.

Say Your Number · 12-08-2020 9:42pm

Selby so close to a good snooker there.

radiata · 12-08-2020 9:42pm

Some good safety play in that frame

corny · 12-08-2020 9:45pm

The fact O'Sullivan excels at safety play seems to be a surprise to the commentators on the BBC. Baffling.

AllForIt · 12-08-2020 9:48pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Selby the curmudgeon trying get inside Ronnie's head by chasing a hopeless cause there. Hopeful he'll get blown away by dynamic and exciting snooker, the antithesis of turgid safety battles.

Yeah, you get the sense that Selby just wanted to drag it out there.

Andrew00 · 12-08-2020 9:51pm

Big chance now FOR Selby

Sandor Clegane · 12-08-2020 9:52pm

The commentating on Eurosport is shocking.

12-08-2020 9:53pm

Sandor Clegane wrote: »

The commentating on Eurosport is shocking.

Joe Johnson: "It's in...it's out...it's on...it isn't on". First rate punditry.

Selby getting away with murder here. 5-3 would be an injustice.

lawrencesummers · 12-08-2020 9:54pm

Joe Johnston is comical on Eurosport.

It was annoying my yesterday but today I’m just being entertained by his complete lack of an iota about what’s happening.

In the last 51 break he called Ronnie going into the pack off the green only for him to play for a clearly available red, quickly followed up by the declaration of a plant being on that he must be playing for only for Ronnie to go into the pack, and then telling us twice as the red was rolling for a miss at the green pocket that it was in.

Is actually entertaining how fawkng terrible he is.

Sandor Clegane · 12-08-2020 9:58pm

If Selby can nick this one he'll be delighted, going into tomorrow 5 - 3 down the way he's played is a serious result.

Andrew00 · 12-08-2020 10:00pm

Bottler.

Say Your Number · 12-08-2020 10:00pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Selby the curmudgeon trying get inside Ronnie's head by chasing a hopeless cause there. Hopeful he'll get blown away by dynamic and exciting break building, the antithesis of turgid safety battles.

Is 3 snookers that big a hopeless cause, one good safety shot could make that up, he's struggling against a player who has made a better start, don't blame him for giving it a shot.

AllForIt · 12-08-2020 10:02pm

Ronnie does play those red pots from pink area to the baulk pockets a bit on the cavalier side.

Peter File · 12-08-2020 10:06pm

Have they increased the volume on the fake crowd noise this evening?

Sultan of Bling · 12-08-2020 10:08pm

Joe johnson.......sweet jesus

forumdedum · 12-08-2020 10:08pm

Selby will beat Ronnie. Poor standard of snooker and Ronnie simply too reckless. Selby safety play to win the day.

Joe_ Public · 12-08-2020 10:09pm

Enthralling session of snooker, enjoyed every shot of it. Ronnies only 5-3 up and I'm struggling to figure out why that is, kind of classic Selby i guess.

Arthur Daley · 12-08-2020 10:09pm

Peter File wrote: »

Have they increased the volume on the fake crowd noise this evening?

It sounds a bit better today with the one table. It was a bit muffled up to now

Rothko · 12-08-2020 10:10pm

Selby should definitely be very relieved that he's only two frames behind.

Augme · 12-08-2020 10:15pm

Typical Selby really. He should be 6-2 or 7-1 down. That kind of session will play on Ronnie mind I feel and it will bring back all the worries he has facing Selby. He's like a a dog that just keeps snapping at your ankles and won't go away.

weemcd · 12-08-2020 10:19pm

Ronnie should have put that last frame away to go 6-2. Still played the better snooker but Selby won't make the same mistakes tomorrow (I would imagine.)

There's still a lot of twists and turns with this one, I'll be glued to every frame tomorrow.

AllForIt · 12-08-2020 10:35pm

weemcd wrote: »

Ronnie should have put that last frame away to go 6-2. Still played the better snooker but Selby won't make the same mistakes tomorrow (I would imagine.)

There's still a lot of twists and turns with this one, I'll be glued to every frame tomorrow.

Did Selby make a break over 50?

Ronnie lost at least 2 frames he should have won.

Selby won't be that happy overnight I don't think, despite that manageable looking scoreline.

Augme · 12-08-2020 10:41pm

AllForIt wrote: »

Did Selby make a break over 50?

Ronnie lost at least 2 frames he should have won.

Selby won't be that happy overnight I don't think, despite that manageable looking scoreline.

He won't be happy but he will be very relieved.

Mysterypunter · 12-08-2020 10:43pm

lawrencesummers wrote: »

Joe Johnston is comical on Eurosport.

It was annoying my yesterday but today I’m just being entertained by his complete lack of an iota about what’s happening.

In the last 51 break he called Ronnie going into the pack off the green only for him to play for a clearly available red, quickly followed up by the declaration of a plant being on that he must be playing for only for Ronnie to go into the pack, and then telling us twice as the red was rolling for a miss at the green pocket that it was in.

Is actually entertaining how fawkng terrible he is.

What I'm going to say about Joe is funny in a calamitous way, kind of tragi comedy. He played Steve Davis in 2 successive World finals, won the first and lost the second, I'm not quite sure of the time line, but some time around then, Joe was making a fitness video, and had a heart attack

thankfully he survived to entertain for many more years, I always remember his white suits years ago, cool out

Chalk McHugh · 12-08-2020 10:43pm

I can't help thinking Ronnie will be the more dissppointed player tonight. It kind of reminds me of the final between them when Ronnie was on top and looked like finishing the second session by leading 11-6 but Selby somehow managed to win the final frame and limit the damage to 7-10.

Ronnie said it in his book that it effected him badly and he didn't sleep well that night even with a three frame lead. And he only needed eight more frames to win back then. Now he still needs 12 more frames and it is eerily similiar to that last frame of that session all those years ago.

That last frame tonight was sickening as a Ronnie fan. I'm sure all posters that support him on here will agree so imagine how he feels himself? Especially as he revealed all about how Selby mentally derailed him in that final.

6-2 was looking like a good lead and i was sure he was going to do it. But Selby the torturer supreme found a few bamboozling snookers and has no doubt sewn a few seeds of doubt in Ronnie's vulnerable mind. I hope Ronnie has Steve Peters or some other wise men in his ear now because it's easy to see him grimacing with regret already in his dressing room.

I look forward with a little trepidation to tomorrow's session.

Mysterypunter · 12-08-2020 10:44pm

Ronnie is hammering Selby 5-3.

zuutroy · 12-08-2020 10:50pm

For the first time in many years I think he's almost unflappable in this tournament. He seems to be able to put the bad frames and the bad shots out of his mind almost immediately. There's been no pushing the boat out even after quite a few straightforward misses in the earlier rounds. I can only remember maybe one or two times where he didn't play the right shot or took on a pot with too high a risk/reward ratio. I think today's play by and large was good enough to get beat The Torturer if he can maintain it.

lawrencesummers · 12-08-2020 11:25pm

Mysterypunter wrote: »

What I'm going to say about Joe is funny in a calamitous way, kind of tragi comedy. He played Steve Davis in 2 successive World finals, won the first and lost the second, I'm not quite sure of the time line, but some time around then, Joe was making a fitness video, and had a heart attack thankfully he survived to entertain for many more years, I always remember his white suits years ago, cool out

At least he never went into coaching, because if a young player was taking advice from him they wouldn’t get far! His ability to read the table isn’t great to say the least!

Chalk McHugh · 12-08-2020 11:38pm

Out of all the BBC/ITV and Eurosport snooker pundits and commentators i find most of them are good, many are entertaining and some are exceptional. The only two i don't particularly enjoy are Dennis Taylor and Joe Johnson. Dennis just talks a lot of childish nonsense, embarrasing people in the crowd like Patsy Fagan and Selbys wife every single time, waffling about golf and repeating the same stats and stories over and over. Joe Johnson just never shuts up. There is an art to sometimes staying silent and letting the viewer follow whats happening in peace. Clive Everton was a master at it. Most snooker fans are fairly knowdgeable but the likes of Joe Johnson sounds like he's commentating to a new audience of school kids who only tuned in for the first time. Usually if Dennis is on BBC you might be lucky with Johnson not on commentary on Eurosport at the same time but ive been caught with that most dreaded choice a few times over the course of this championship and once or twice the mute button came to the rescue.

2020 World Snooker Championship

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