2020 Champion of Champions - 2nd-8th November on ITV4

Chalk McHugh · 05-11-2020 9:35pm

Funny thing was after missing it he threw the balls in anger around the table and actuslly potted a red!

05-11-2020 9:36pm

Got caught up in that potential Maxi excitement - wonder did Mark Allen 'technically' concede the frame at the end, by hitting the balls with the cue.

Arthur Daley · 05-11-2020 9:49pm

Good stuff here tonight. Putting it up to Ronnie

waynescales1 · 05-11-2020 9:50pm

Mark Allen playing some good stuff here, looking very solid. Best I’ve seen him play in a while.

zuutroy · 05-11-2020 10:15pm

Ronnie seems to be trying to do a Selby here. Very unusual.

refusetolose · 05-11-2020 10:23pm

arguing now

Arthur Daley · 05-11-2020 10:23pm

What's this all about

zuutroy · 05-11-2020 10:24pm

This argument is creeping up a lot lately.

Arthur Daley · 05-11-2020 10:25pm

Head gone for Ronnie tonight

weemcd · 05-11-2020 10:25pm

O'Sullivan is probably out here after his arguing.

Chalk McHugh · 05-11-2020 10:26pm

NEEDLE!!

waynescales1 · 05-11-2020 10:28pm

Madness from O’Sullivan to instigate that argument prior to his own shot, always going to affect your concentration.

zuutroy · 05-11-2020 10:32pm

Great play by Allen. Seems like Ronnie only made 3 or 4 mistakes all night.

Chalk McHugh · 05-11-2020 10:34pm

Disappointing result but Allen played very well but Ronnie's head must have been gone to miss that last red. Allen cleared up very nicely. Two big semi finals to look forward to.

fran38 · 05-11-2020 10:37pm

Ronnie obviously pissed off to be losing so he lashes out. Fair play to Allen to stay calm. It'll be interesting to hear the opinions of both players.

weemcd · 05-11-2020 10:39pm

I can't stand Allen myself. But Ronnie was playing poorly after the first few frames. I wonder how valid his complaint was? And how much of it was just Ronnie being Ronnie.

Chalk McHugh · 05-11-2020 10:43pm

Mark Allen saying he wasn't going to be bullied by Ronnie and the referee told him 'i know you've done nothing Mark but just leave it.' Pretty much slated Ronnie there. Sounds like Ronnie was out of order.

Joe_ Public · 05-11-2020 10:58pm

If, as ronnie said, this had been happening for a few frames, then why wait so long to raise it and at such a critical point of the match? And the fact he started taking longer on shots instead of dealing with it was pretty immature imo. Happened with John Higgins recently and Higgins dealt with it quickly and in grown up manner. Did think allen was being bit fidgety with logo on his shirt for some reason but can't conceive he was deliberately trying it on. But Ronnie shouldn't have let it fester if it was genuinely bothering him, bottom line for me.

gormdubhgorm · 05-11-2020 10:58pm

Chalk McHugh wrote: »

Mark Allen saying he wasn't going to be bullied by Ronnie and the referee told him 'i know you've done nothing Mark but just leave it.' Pretty much slated Ronnie there. Sounds like Ronnie was out of order.

I saw it there when they replayed it in the studio.. Plus showed post match interviews. Ronnie complained Allen was doing numerous little things constantly to put him off. Taking off his badge etc. So Ronnie started playing shots slow (min per shot) until he felt Mark was quiet.

As you said - Ref was on Allen's side. And Allen's take on it was the Ref said he did nothing wrong. Plus Allen thinks, Ronnie will apologise to him in future.

Allen said it fired him up and made him more determined to win.

Was a great game. Hendry was way off in his pre match prediction said Ronnie would win comfortably.
I didn't think Allen would win either. I always underestimate him. I think it is because his lack of consistency and odd cue action. But he played great and was on for a 147. Broke down at over 100.

I say fair play to Allen, can't wait until he plays Ronnie again.

weemcd · 05-11-2020 11:00pm

Joe_ Public wrote: »

If, as ronnie said, this had been happening for a few frames, then why wait so long to raise it and at such a critical point of the match? And the fact he started taking longer on shots instead of dealing with it was pretty immature imo. Happened with John Higgins recently and Higgins dealt with it quickly and in grown up manner. Did think allen was being bit fidgety with logo on his shirt for some reason but can't conceive he was deliberately trying it on. But Ronnie shouldn't have let it fester if it was genuinely bothering him, bottom line for me.

Looking at the replay of the incident. I think Ronnie has a point. Allen taking off his badge was a bit 'this match is over, I'm going home soon' for me. If he'd done similar earlier in the game Ronnie would be annoyed, but you just never know with O'Sullivan...

zuutroy · 05-11-2020 11:01pm

Steve Peters certainly earns his money with that particular client.

Arthur Daley · 05-11-2020 11:02pm

Think there might have been a bit to it. Fair enough Ronnie was gracious enough in his interview. Mark's logo did seem to be peeling off earlier in the match, he was fiddling a bit with it and Ronnie wasn't up for it at 3-5 down so he went off on one.

zuutroy · 05-11-2020 11:16pm

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

Just scanning through the frame and you can see Allen is standing up a good few times when O'Sullivan is shooting back down the table. I also noticed he's walking in for his turn in front of Ronnie while the balls are still moving. Not sure it's enough to warrant going off on one though?

Joe_ Public · 05-11-2020 11:58pm

The shot ronnie was talking about when the argument was in full swing, allen was definitely standing a bit close to the table, no question about it. But why he picked the moment he did to go off on one is hard to say as allen seems to be sitting quietly in his seat at that point, though the camera isn't on him so impossible to say exactly what triggered ronnie at that very moment. Ronnie only refers to the previous incident, at considerable length it has to be said, as they argue so there doesn't seem to be any suggestion of a further transgression by allen. Almost like it's still broiling in his mind and he eventually just erupts. Very nasty business all told, clearly longstanding bad blood there i would imagine.

zuutroy · 06-11-2020 9:18am

When Ronnie was down on the shot that led to the outburst, Allen was fiddling with his sponsor badge. ITV showed both in the one shot from another camera.

Joe_ Public · 06-11-2020 10:06am

There's definitely 2 or 3 occasions that last frame where allen is standing a bit close to the table as ronnie is striking. No question. The time allen fouls, he then stays standing behind the table, actually closer to ronnies side which definitely irks ronnie. So there's definitely an issue there which i think Ronnie should have raised earlier than he did, especially If, as he said, it was happening earlier in the match. Same with anto mcgill really.

Might be an idea if all players were instructed to sit down between every shot, just to avoid all doubt about this, at least as long as restrictions are in place and any movement at all can seem that much worse.

gormdubhgorm · 06-11-2020 1:17pm

Here is a clip of the Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Allen row.

Ref clearly says "I know you didn't do anything" to Allen @00:55

Blondini · 06-11-2020 1:43pm

Between his rant against the newer players a while back, and now this, I think Ronnie needs to up his meds or take a break from the game.

Joe_ Public · 06-11-2020 1:48pm

There's a couple of links below don't look great for allen frankly. I believe ronnie does not go about it the right way at all, but that's not an excuse for way mark is going on there. Disappointing really.

https://twitter.com/OOCSnooker/status/1324619622163906560?s=20

Chalk McHugh · 06-11-2020 2:30pm

All a bit of a storm in a teacup really. I don't really see why Ronnie reacted like he did. There was no need for it. It looked bad when he confronted Mark and it only ended up scrambling his brain which more than likely lead to him missing that simple red.

It's a bit much from Ronnie especially as he's been involved in two blatant cheating contoversies in the last couple of years that were a thousand times worse than this perceived mind games or play acting by Allen. Looks like just a bit of carelessness at worst from Mark.

gormdubhgorm · 06-11-2020 3:01pm

Chalk McHugh wrote: »

All a bit of a storm in a teacup really. I don't really see why Ronnie reacted like he did. There was no need for it. It looked bad when he confronted Mark and it only ended up scrambling his brain which more than likely lead to him missing that simple red.

It's a bit much from Ronnie especially as he's been involved in two blatant cheating contoversies in the last couple of years that were a thousand times worse than this perceived mind games or play acting by Allen. Looks like just a bit of carelessness at worst from Mark.

Very reminiscent of this craic between McGill and Clarke in the WC.

gormdubhgorm · 06-11-2020 5:48pm

Blondini wrote: »

Between his rant against the newer players a while back, and now this, I think Ronnie needs to up his meds or take a break from the game.

He just loves the attention I think. Annoying at times.

In fairness to him Ronnie really knuckled down and improved as a player. Since he got older and his family life became settled and he got professional help from outside snooker and within, he was able to fulfil his talent.
I never thought he would, to be honest.

However, Ronnie, will always be prone to the odd explosion or hissy fit. It is just in his make up.

I doubt there will be another Ronnie type player as gifted, within the next 30-40 years. So we should be thankful he is still playing and still producing good stuff.

06-11-2020 8:59pm

1 apiece. Selby having the best of it so far. Robbo playing Selby at his own game so far; strangely enough, as 'Angles' alluded to earlier on.

waynescales1 · 06-11-2020 9:24pm

Yeah, even though it’s 2-2 I feel if the pattern of this match continues Selby has the advantage. Robertson could do with playing a little more aggressively.

06-11-2020 9:30pm

Dead right.. Robbo the 'better' player (speaking generally) nowadays, and a heavy break builder - last frame prime example. He should play a bit looser early on - Selby not guaranteed to 'cash in'. Don't think he even had a ton in the Wilson match.

06-11-2020 9:40pm

Don't think I've seen Mark miss a roll in from close to the black cushion this week. Really is a master tactician all around. Plays the reds dead weight to give the ball every chance of going in, with the seemingly friendly cushions/felt/angle of drop, or whatever, and gravity taking over at the end.

Really has that side of the game down. Neil deffo needs to get them opened up earlier on, as the longer the frame - to point out the obvious - the more one fancies the jester to steal it. Hope Neil wins.

Chalk McHugh · 06-11-2020 9:57pm

Very high quality match. Hendry seems a little in awe of Selby's game in commentary. And he doesn't give praise out willy nilly.

Chalk McHugh · 06-11-2020 10:21pm

Selby seemed to be pointing to being hampered by the green as an excuse for missing that easy red. Poor excuse Mark. No need for that.

Rothko · 06-11-2020 11:02pm

Both Selby and Robertson are playing fantastic tonight. Impossible to predict a winner here.

Chalk McHugh · 06-11-2020 11:06pm

Brilliant match. Two top players playing close to their best.

waynescales1 · 06-11-2020 11:14pm

Neil Robertson’s cue action really is a tremendous feat of engineering.

Chalk McHugh · 06-11-2020 11:17pm

That was an insane red to help Robbo get another century. Incredible double. What a match!

Rothko · 06-11-2020 11:18pm

Yeah, unbelievable shot on that 14th red.

gormdubhgorm · 06-11-2020 11:30pm

Chalk McHugh wrote: »

That was an insane red to help Robbo get another century. Incredible double. What a match!

Rothko wrote: »

Yeah, unbelievable shot on that 14th red.

It was like a Mark Williams shot at the pace he played it. I started laughing.
Selby looks like getting another century.

It is like watching a computer game. I am starting to wonder is the table playing easy???

Rothko · 06-11-2020 11:30pm

Going to a decider. I think it always looked like it was going this way.

06-11-2020 11:31pm

So far the takeaway for me from this comp from the players' perspective is some excellent play by the World's number 1, a fantastic 'return to form' for Mark Allen, Selby and Robbo back to their best (although Mark's been out of the doldrums for a while I suppose, and Neil's been pretty good as well of late) , Kyren Wilson not really up to the mark, and Shaun Murphy all over the gaff.

All in all, one of the best, high quality comps for quite a while.

Tables playing like a dream - this could well account for the quality.

An enthralling match atm, which should go down to the wire if Mark capitalises here, and tomorrow looks like it could be a 'match for the ages' (on paper at least).

The big story, unfortunately will be Ronnie's shenanigans - but that's all it is: a story.

Snooker fans will just remember the high quality, and no story can take from that.

A little early for a comp synopsis, but what the hey :pac:

Now sit back and watch the decider. Am warming to Selby, and wouldn't begrudge him winning tonight. He's a lot less ponderous, so that's a plus.

gormdubhgorm · 06-11-2020 11:34pm

waynescales1 wrote: »

Neil Robertson’s cue action really is a tremendous feat of engineering.

He is real calculating in his shots on top of that. I remember him saying he analyses opponents weak/strong side of the table for certain shots.
Machine like when he gets going.

waynescales1 · 06-11-2020 11:34pm

Shame there’s only one frame left...

Rothko · 06-11-2020 11:35pm

Deleted User wrote: »

The big story, unfortunately will be Ronnie's shenanigans - but that's all it is: a story.

I hope not. Love watching Ronnie play of course but I hate all that crap that he gets up to. It takes away from the game.

gormdubhgorm · 06-11-2020 11:36pm

Hendry calling for a safety exchange the world has gone mad! Never mind covid!

2020 Champion of Champions - 2nd-8th November on ITV4

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