2019 World Snooker Championship (Mod Note Post One)

Frank O. Pinion · 08-04-2019 10:17am #1

Mod Note: From here on out, any mention of Higgins match fixing stuff will result in a card, fair enough you don't like him but it's already caused enough derailment of this thread and it's really just boring at this stage

Only 12 days until the biggest Snooker event begins, but the qualifying rounds start in two days.

2019 World Snooker Championship Qualifiers
Wednesday, 10th April - Wednesday, 17th April
Eurosport Player

2019 World Snooker Championship
Saturday, 20th April - Monday, 6th May
BBC & Eurosport

Winner: £500,000
Runner-up: £200,000
Semi-Final: £100,000
Quarter-Final: £50,000
Last 16: £30,000
Last 32: £20,000
Highest break: £10,000
Maximum break: £5,000

Top half:

Mark Williams (defending champion) v TBD
David Gilbert v TBD
Barry Hawkins v TBD
Kyren Wilson v TBD
John Higgins (last year's runner-up) v TBD
Stuart Bingham v TBD
Shaun Murphy v TBD
Neil Robertson v TBD

Bottom half:

Mark Selby v TBD
Luca Brecel v TBD
Jack Lisowski v TBD
Mark Allen v TBD
Judd Trump v TBD
Ding Junhui v TBD
Stephen Maguire v TBD
Ronnie O'Sullivan v TBD

Top half looks like an "easy" path to the final for Robertson, with how good he's been playing lately. I'll be rooting for Williams to at least make the final again, although that's not very probable. Barry Hawkins in the top half would be a dark horse to go deep again. It'd be very surprising if Shaun Murphy got past the first/second round.

Bottom half is death. O'Sullivan, Trump, and Allen, three of the four best players all season (Robertson being the other), plus Selby who could grind out a decent run. Ronnie/Trump could meet in the QFs. Dark horse from bottom half is Luca Brecel, Stephen Maguire has no chance.

Bookies have O'Sullivan, Trump, and Robertson as 1st/2nd/3rd favourites. I'd agree with those three, but Robertson more of a favourite than Trump. Possibility of an O'Sullivan/Robertson final, which has already happened twice this season. Overall, O'Sullivan is the clear favourite, especially since his recent Tour Championship semi-final win over Trump. I do hope he wins, and gets his sixth World title, equalling Steve Davis' record.

zuutroy · 08-04-2019 12:03pm

Agree with all of the above. Can't wait. After 33 years watching on TV I'll finally be in the crowd for 3 second rounds to a finish, and one QF.

Ultimate Seduction · 08-04-2019 12:57pm

Highest break 10k
Maximum break 5k?

Frank O. Pinion · 08-04-2019 1:09pm

Ultimate Seduction wrote: »

Highest break 10k
Maximum break 5k?

Yes. If someone makes, say a 146 and no one makes a 147, they would win 10k. But if someone makes a 147, then they would get 10k for the highest break of the tournament, plus the 5k prize for making a maximum, for a total of £15,000. It's two separate prizes.

The "rolling prize" for a 147 stands at £5,000 as it was won at the China Open, but it could be "boosted" like last year, to try to get players to attempt a 147 at the Crucible.

Glenman · 08-04-2019 3:10pm

http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=743

The draw for the qualifers

Inviere · 08-04-2019 3:19pm

Ultimate Seduction wrote: »

Highest break 10k
Maximum break 5k?

I remember back when they got £147k for a mamimum....the difference sponsorship can make I suppose.

ArmaniJeanss · 08-04-2019 4:43pm

Glenman wrote: »

http://www.snooker.org/res/index.asp?event=743

The draw for the qualifers

Might be easier to read in this format, quicker to see everyones path I think.
http://www.worldsnooker.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/World_Championship_2019_Qualifiers_Draw.pdf

So we can see for example Ken has to win game 56, then beat the winner of game 55, and finally beat the winner of game 53v54 for a place at the Crucible.

Joe_ Public · 08-04-2019 5:49pm

Tough draw for Ken. Likely A Lee/Scott Donaldson/Mark King. Playing well enough recently to have every chance, but will need to be on form to make the finals. Fergal tricky draw too, probably Jackson Page/Mark Davis/Lyu Haoitian. Nothing easy there either, but has the craft and experience to make it if on his game. Fancy them both to win first games at least.

Frank O. Pinion · 09-04-2019 8:19am

Great write-up about the qualifiers:

http://www.snookerbacker.com/2019/04/08/world-championship-qualifiers-destination-crucible/

Joe_ Public · 09-04-2019 3:59pm

Frank O. Pinion wrote: »

Great write-up about the qualifiers:

http://www.snookerbacker.com/2019/04/08/world-championship-qualifiers-destination-crucible/

Good piece, though would have to quibble about the "second best stand alone event" of the season line. Not sure i'd regard it as a stand alone event in the first place, it's part of the world championship after all, but to say it's better than the masters or uk or any other event is just needless hyperbole imo. He also fails to mention that players fighting for their tour cards is a huge part of the appeal. Otherwise, a good read though.

tanko · 09-04-2019 8:18pm

How are the sixteen players who qualify automatically and how they line up in the first round decided?

Joe_ Public · 09-04-2019 8:44pm

tanko wrote: »

How are the sixteen players who qualify automatically and how they line up in the first round decided?

It's a random draw against top 16 seeds when qualifying is finished.

Frank O. Pinion · 09-04-2019 10:21pm

tanko wrote: »

How are the sixteen players who qualify automatically and how they line up in the first round decided?

The 16 seeds? The Top 16 ranked players on the tour, based on a rolling two year list, are the "Top 16" and automatically qualify for the World Championship each year.

The defending World Champion is always seeded #1, hence Mark Williams at the top of draw in the opening match. The highest ranked player in the Top 16, not including the defending champ is then seeded #2 for the World Championship. Ronnie is the official #1 ranked player, but he's not the defending World Champion, so he's seeded #2 for the tournament, at the bottom of the draw. Seed ranked #16, David Gilbert is drawn under Williams, seed ranked #15, Stephen Maguire is drawn above Ronnie, etc.

The 16 qualifiers are drawn randomly against the Top 16, like Joe said.

tanko · 09-04-2019 10:48pm

I know the qualifiers are allocated their opponents randomly.
How are the "top 16" players in the draw decided and their place in the draw.
Is it decided on rankings on a certain date?
Edit, have just seen the post above, thanks.

Exclamation Marc · 11-04-2019 8:39am

Am very excited about the tournament this year.

Have had tickets over the last few years but have had to cancel due to stupid cancer but am finally making it over this year (and in good health!) to three sessions of the final.

On a side note, does anyone know any good spots to put tickets up for sale? Have two single tickets (as my plus one can't go) but given that its a niche enough sport, they're not the easiest to sell and im not looking to tout them.

Roll on April 20.

zuutroy · 11-04-2019 9:37am

If your tickets are the final, I'd say you'll sell them no problem over there. Could put the word out on Twitter too maybe.

El_Duderino 09 · 12-04-2019 8:11am

The qualification rounds are under way. Results beginning to come in since last night. No big surprises so far.

It's actually quite gruelling work to make it through the qualification rounds. 3rounds of best of 19. Each match is as long as a final in lots of tournaments. It's no wonder the non seeded players get burnt-out early.

Has a non seeded player ever won it?

Scores here. http://livescores.worldsnookerdata.com/Matches/Index/14072/betfred-world-championship-2019-qualifiers

Frank O. Pinion · 12-04-2019 10:05am

With losing in the first round of qualifying, I believe Rory McLeod and Joe Swail are getting knocked off the tour. McLeod lost 10-8 to David Grace, who played as an "amateur" this season, but will be back on the tour next season. Swail lost 10-1 to Joe O'Connor.

Former professional player, 44 year old Michael Judge from Dublin, had one of the surprise results of qualifying so far, defeating Peter Lines 10-9. Judge only received his spot in qualifying because Zhang Jiankang had visa problems.

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

Has a non seeded player ever won it?

Yes. Shaun Murphy in 2005. It was his first ranking title win. He was 150/1 at the start of the tournament. His ranking at the time was #48. He came from nowhere really, as he hadn't done much in the game. It earned him his nickname of, "The Magician".

Technically, a qualifier won in '72 and '79 as well, but they were different formats and number of frames. Only 3 non-seeded players have ever won the World Championship.

1972: Alex Higgins defeated John Spencer 37-32 in a best-of-73 (!) over six days, to win £400.
1979: Terry Griffiths defeated Dennis Taylor 24-16 in a best-of-47, to win £10,000.
2005: Shaun Murphy defeated Matthew Stevens 18-16 in a best-of-35, to win £250,000.

El_Duderino 09 · 12-04-2019 10:39am

Frank O. Pinion wrote: »

With losing in the first round of qualifying, I believe Rory McLeod and Joe Swail are getting knocked off the tour. McLeod lost 10-8 to David Grace, who played as an "amateur" this season, but will be back on the tour next season. Swail lost 10-1 to Joe O'Connor.

Former professional player, 44 year old Michael Judge from Dublin, had one of the surprise results of qualifying so far, defeating Peter Lines 10-9. Judge only received his spot in qualifying because Zhang Jiankang had visa problems.

Yes. Shaun Murphy in 2005. It was his first ranking title win. He was 150/1 at the start of the tournament. His ranking at the time was #48. He came from nowhere really, as he hadn't done much in the game. It earned him his nickname of, "The Magician".

Technically, a qualifier won in '72 and '79 as well, but they were different formats and number of frames. Only 3 non-seeded players have ever won the World Championship.

1972: Alex Higgins defeated John Spencer 37-32 in a best-of-73 (!) over six days, to win £400.
1979: Terry Griffiths defeated Dennis Taylor 24-16 in a best-of-47, to win £10,000.
2005: Shaun Murphy defeated Matthew Stevens 18-16 in a best-of-35, to win £250,000.

Great knowledge!

I didn't realise Murphy was a qualifier. Some achievement.

But the highlight from a post packed with highlights was this:
1972: Alex Higgins defeated John Spencer 37-32 in a best-of-73 (!) over six days, to win £400.

Best of 73! Christ alive. My Mrs wouldn't put up with the snooker on TV for a week on one match!

El_Duderino 09 · 12-04-2019 1:55pm

I was sorry to see Marco fu vs Luo Honghao. I like Luo because he's aggressive great to watch. He's beating Marco 6-3.

Fergal o brien 6-3 up against Jackson Page too.

xi5yvm0owc1s2b · 12-04-2019 7:28pm

Inviere wrote: »

I remember back when they got £147k for a mamimum....the difference sponsorship can make I suppose.

It has less to do with sponsorship than insurance. Back in the '80s and early '90s, tournaments would offer £147k for a maximum and then take out insurance against a maximum actually happening. In the rare event that someone did make a maximum, the insurer would pay out and cover the prize money.

This system worked as long as a 147 happened once in a blue moon. Before 1990, there had been just 8 maximum breaks in the entire history of professional competition, so it was a relatively safe bet for the insurer to take on that risk.

This all changed in the 90s, when the frequency of maximum breaks increased dramatically, thanks in no small part to Hendry, O'Sullivan, and Higgins. In 1999, there were 10 maximum breaks recorded in a single year. Faced with this, insurers became unwilling to insure against the increasing probability of a 147, and the prize money had to be reduced.

Joe_ Public · 12-04-2019 7:33pm

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

Great knowledge!

I didn't realise Murphy was a qualifier. Some achievement.

But the highlight from a post packed with highlights was this:
1972: Alex Higgins defeated John Spencer 37-32 in a best-of-73 (!) over six days, to win £400.

Best of 73! Christ alive. My Mrs wouldn't put up with the snooker on TV for a week on one match!

In one of his books Clive Everton describes that 72 final as among the best standard of snooker he has ever witnessed, reckoned Higgins only missed 3 pots he should have made during the whole match. I dont think any of us not of that generation ever had the privilege of watching Alex at his best.

Regarding the qualifiers, i suppose it is relevant that in previous years they were held well in advance of the finals, for years in Prestatyn in early January so it isn't like now where they've got to come through 3 long matches then straight into the two week crucible marathon. Got to be a big disadvantage though Ding did do alright from the qualifiers a couple of years back iirc.

xi5yvm0owc1s2b · 12-04-2019 8:56pm

Speaking of maximums, this piece of snooker history happened last month when 19-year-old Thai player Nutcharut Wongharuthai made a 147 break.

This is believed to be the first 147 ever achieved by a woman.

I wouldn't be surprised to see her in a future World Championship.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gluZ6R6QlY

Joe_ Public · 12-04-2019 9:48pm

Marco Fu beaten by Luo Honghao, first big name out really, though not so much of a shock given Marco's eye troubles of late. Also see Angles McManus in a bit of a dogfight with No.1 ranked female Ng On Yee, 7-6 ahead. Reminders of Ken struggling to beat Reanne Evans a few years back.

tanko · 12-04-2019 9:50pm

Was Joe Johnson unseeded when he won the world championships in 1986?

xi5yvm0owc1s2b · 12-04-2019 9:54pm

tanko wrote: »

Was Joe Johnson unseeded when he won the world championships in 1986?

No, he was ranked number 16 at the time.

Frank O. Pinion · 12-04-2019 9:58pm

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Marco Fu beaten by Luo Honghao, first big name out really, though not so much of a shock given Marco's eye troubles of late.

Marco, with his recent form, had no chance of getting out of that group, with Luo Honghao and Tom Ford.

This is it · 12-04-2019 10:00pm

Any of this on TV?

Dante7 · 12-04-2019 10:07pm

This is it wrote: »

Any of this on TV?

Eurosport player app

mickdw · 12-04-2019 10:07pm

It's often forgotten than Johnson got to the final the following year too.

xi5yvm0owc1s2b · 12-04-2019 10:14pm

Hardly recognized Anthony McGill today ... he has completely shaved his head.

El_Duderino 09 · 13-04-2019 12:10am

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Marco Fu beaten by Luo Honghao, first big name out really, though not so much of a shock given Marco's eye troubles of late. Also see Angles McManus in a bit of a dogfight with No.1 ranked female Ng On Yee, 7-6 ahead. Reminders of Ken struggling to beat Reanne Evans a few years back.

What's the story with Marco's eye? I've never found him a great player to watch. I like him though.

Would support him in general but Luo is great to watch. So agressive and attacking is support him getting through now.

Dante7 · 13-04-2019 12:27am

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

What's the story with Marco's eye? I've never found him a great player to watch. I like him though.

Would support him in general but Luo is great to watch. So agressive and attacking is support him getting through now.

I think the gravitational field from his watch caused one of his eyeballs to tilt off axis.

xi5yvm0owc1s2b · 13-04-2019 9:12am

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

What's the story with Marco's eye?

He has retinal degeneration in his left eye.

Brian? · 13-04-2019 9:21am

I have my fingers crossed that someone younger wins the Worlds this year. It’d would be great to see a new name win. I think Trump is the only possibility of that though. He hasn’t the nerve for it though.

Joe_ Public · 13-04-2019 10:27am

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

What's the story with Marco's eye? I've never found him a great player to watch. I like him though.

Would support him in general but Luo is great to watch. So agressive and attacking is support him getting through now.

Yeah Luo is definitely good to watch, possibly a bit reckless at times but that just adds to the attraction. Should have beaten Ronnie earlier this season so definitely has the game if he can put it together.

Joe_ Public · 13-04-2019 10:34am

Brian? wrote: »

I have my fingers crossed that someone younger wins the Worlds this year. It’d would be great to see a new name win. I think Trump is the only possibility of that though. He hasn’t the nerve for it though.

Think you could be right on that. My own unsubstantiated theory is that younger players nowadays are geared up to play shorter matches and dont have the mentality for longer battles that players of previous generations had. Not sure, but thats how it seems to me anyway. I personally dont believe trump lacks bottle and he has the best record of any player against ronnie so wont fear meeting him in qf. My fear for him would be that match would be so hyped and potentially draining that it would leave him vulnerable for sf after. That half of draw is very intriguing it has to be said.

Brian? · 13-04-2019 1:02pm

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Think you could be right on that. My own unsubstantiated theory is that younger players nowadays are geared up to play shorter matches and dont have the mentality for longer battles that players of previous generations had. Not sure, but thats how it seems to me anyway. I personally dont believe trump lacks bottle and he has the best record of any player against ronnie so wont fear meeting him in qf. My fear for him would be that match would be so hyped and potentially draining that it would leave him vulnerable for sf after. That half of draw is very intriguing it has to be said.

I don’t think Trump lacks bottle, as in courage. I just think his concentration slips too often. The longer a match goes on the more those little slips begin to matter.

Ronnie and Robertson are on a different planet to everyone over the last few months, I can see Trump cracking against either.

Joe_ Public · 13-04-2019 2:44pm

I dont think Trumps worlds record is too bad. He's let a couple of leads slip in last sessions, including once to Robbo a few years back, which is slightly worrying, but the defeat to McLeod is the really only bad stain on his crucible record. He's lost matches to Higgins, Carter, an inspired Bingham, Ronnie, Ding - no list of shame by any standards. Plus, he's got a 12-13 head to head against Ronnie which is the best around and he's beaten Robbo in most of the important matches they've played. Doesn't mean he'll beat them if they meet over next couple of weeks, but dont think it means he'll be "cracking" against them. There's lots of pressure on him to be fair, but he definitely looks a bit more capable of coping with it this time than in previous years.

Said before, i'm not convinced by robbo as well as he's been playing. I dont think he beat anybody he shouldn't have in winning the Indian and China Opens and he didn't win either final he played against Ronnie. That's good form but it's not "different planet" form imo. I'd still say Trump has had a better season overall than Robbo, whatever the rankings say, might not be a lot between them but I'd slightly favour Trump myself if they met, which would have to be the final.

mdwexford · 13-04-2019 2:59pm

Exclamation Marc wrote: »

Am very excited about the tournament this year.

Have had tickets over the last few years but have had to cancel due to stupid cancer but am finally making it over this year (and in good health!) to three sessions of the final.

On a side note, does anyone know any good spots to put tickets up for sale? Have two single tickets (as my plus one can't go) but given that its a niche enough sport, they're not the easiest to sell and im not looking to tout them.

Roll on April 20.

You could sell them on viagogo or else the Crucible box office will try and resell them for you over there, for a fee of course.

Brian? · 13-04-2019 3:31pm

Joe_ Public wrote: »

I dont think Trumps worlds record is too bad. He's let a couple of leads slip in last sessions, including once to Robbo a few years back, which is slightly worrying, but the defeat to McLeod is the really only bad stain on his crucible record. He's lost matches to Higgins, Carter, an inspired Bingham, Ronnie, Ding - no list of shame by any standards. Plus, he's got a 12-13 head to head against Ronnie which is the best around and he's beaten Robbo in most of the important matches they've played. Doesn't mean he'll beat them if they meet over next couple of weeks, but dont think it means he'll be "cracking" against them. There's lots of pressure on him to be fair, but he definitely looks a bit more capable of coping with it this time than in previous years.

Said before, i'm not convinced by robbo as well as he's been playing. I dont think he beat anybody he shouldn't have in winning the Indian and China Opens and he didn't win either final he played against Ronnie. That's good form but it's not "different planet" form imo. I'd still say Trump has had a better season overall than Robbo, whatever the rankings say, might not be a lot between them but I'd slightly favour Trump myself if they met, which would have to be the final.

I’m talking only about recent form, last few tournaments. Serious form, who knows if it’ll carry through.

Joe_ Public · 13-04-2019 4:00pm

I think one thing can be said for certain is Neil Robertson will likely never get a better draw if he's to add his name to the illustrious list of two time winners. Winning the china open effectively switched him from where Trump is now, probably having to beat Ding and Ronnie and that's just to get to s/f. I'll be taking Higgins myself to come out of top half, but that's going against current form as things stand.

Exclamation Marc · 13-04-2019 11:29pm

https://twitter.com/WorldSnooker/status/1117191508711571456?s=19

Tricky journey and he might not make it but would be fantastic to see!

Joe_ Public · 14-04-2019 12:04pm

Shankill's Mick Judge currently 4-0 against Xiao Guodong, one of the more experienced chinese players on tour. Was there the year Ken beat him at the crucible, the last time i'd say we witnessed three Irish (as in republic) players making the finals. Not greedy so would settle on two making it this time!

El_Duderino 09 · 14-04-2019 5:00pm

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Shankill's Mick Judge currently 4-0 against Xiao Guodong, one of the more experienced chinese players on tour. Was there the year Ken beat him at the crucible, the last time i'd say we witnessed three Irish (as in republic) players making the finals. Not greedy so would settle on two making it this time!

It's 4-4 now.

And fergal o brien is 3-1 down. Hope they can rally. Would be great to see them in the finals.

El_Duderino 09 · 14-04-2019 5:11pm

I hadn't noticed that all the first round games are finished. Second round under way but no results in yet.

Joe_ Public · 14-04-2019 5:20pm

El_Duderino 09 wrote: »

It's 4-4 now.

And fergal o brien is 3-1 down. Hope they can rally. Would be great to see them in the finals.

Fergal 1-5 down, not looking likely, Davis was a tough draw. Mick still in it, high break so far including first round remains 53! Gonna try and grind his way to next round looks like.

Joe_ Public · 14-04-2019 8:22pm

Mick Judge is really grinding the feck outta Guodong, 7-4 ahead now and inching his way to the finish line. Went a bit mad with a 51 break a few frames back, but its more the snooker version of death by a thousand cuts. Or three or four per frame anyway! Fergal did well to pull it back to 3-6 in his match to be resumed tomorrow. Still some hope there.

Dante7 · 15-04-2019 1:36am

Michael Judge is through to judgement day after winning 10-9. He will play James Cahill and the winner will be the first ever amateur to play in the World Championship in the crucible.

El_Duderino 09 · 15-04-2019 12:05pm

Ken is 3-1 down against Scott Donaldson.
Jimmy white is 3-1 up against Ali Carter.

A P · 15-04-2019 12:45pm

Unfortunately due to exams I can't make my planned visit to the Crucible this year so in case anyone is interested, I have some single tickets to offload for the price I paid for them.

This is what I have right now (all for the second week):

Tuesday Quarters Table 1 10am
Tuesday Quarters Table 1 7pm
Wednesday Quarters Table 1 all 3 sessions
Thursday Semis 7pm
Friday Semis 2:30 & 7pm
Saturday Semis 10am & 2:30pm
Sunday final both sessions
Monday final afternoon session

I've offered them to some friends too so they might not last long. If anyone is interested in one or more sessions, feel free to send me a PM and I'll let you know what I have left. Can meet in Dublin City Centre for handover.

2019 World Snooker Championship (Mod Note Post One)

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