UK Championship 2019 26/11 - 8/12 BBC/Eurosport

ArmaniJeanss · 25-11-2019 1:56pm #1

Butchered by Barry but still just about hanging on to it's status as second biggest ranking event, for viewers in this part of the world anyway.

Draw.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_UK_Championship

Seedings give a theoretical last 16 of
1. Ronnie v Ding.
8. Shaun Murphy v Kyren Wilson.
5. John Higgins v Bingham.
4. Robertson v Lisowski

3. Mark Williams v Maguire.
6. Selby v Gilbert.
7. Allen v Hawkins.
2. Trump v Perry.

Dream final of Higgins v Williams Ronnie v Judd a possibility.

Irish interest.
Ken and Fergal have winnable firstrounders but likely face Trump and Mark Williams in second round.
Youghal amateur player Ross Bulman faces Ronnie.

Gamblage
Generally available odds.

11/4 Judd Trump.
7/2 Ronnie.
11/2 Robertson.
10/1 Selby.
16/1 bar.

https://www.oddschecker.com/snooker/uk-championship/winner

TV coverage doesn't start until the second round at the weekend.

zuutroy · 25-11-2019 2:18pm

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

TV coverage doesn't start until the second round at the weekend.

Crap, I thought it was on Eurosport all week. Having withdrawals already with all the snooker that's been on lately.

Inviere · 25-11-2019 4:46pm

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

TV coverage doesn't start until the second round at the weekend.

Whats Hearn at with the likes of this? Get it on the bloody tv Baz!

Joe_ Public · 25-11-2019 9:38pm

This is the bbc, cant be bothered to show any snooker cos it doesnt suit them. Not even on the iplayer. Think eurosport might have first round matches on the player without commentary. Better than nothing anyway.

US2 · 26-11-2019 5:22pm

Why do BBC even bother pretending they show snooker? Highlights on at an ungodly hour then every night .

Joe_ Public · 27-11-2019 1:20am

Dave Gilbert first major scalp of tournament, big surprise way he's been performing.

Not such a big surprise to see Luca Brecel go down 5-6 to canny old Nigel Bond, really dived off the cliff of late has Luca, sad to see for such a gifted player.

Arthur Daley · 27-11-2019 7:41am

US2 wrote: »

Why do BBC even bother pretending they show snooker? Highlights on at an ungodly hour then every night .

Tune in the red button channel

The Nal · 27-11-2019 10:33am

Irishman Ross Bulman playing Ronnie tomorrow.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/snooker/2019/1126/1095328-ross-bulman-ready-to-take-on-the-rocket-in-york/

zuutroy · 28-11-2019 7:58pm

Eden Sharav has knocked Murphy out which opens things up a bit in Ronnie's half of the draw. Hope he's come to play this week and not mess around. I suspect maybe he has, but he lost to Dominic Dale the last time I thought that!

Joe_ Public · 28-11-2019 8:17pm

Surprising loss for murphy to a guy who hadn't won a single match all year before this. Kind of plateaud a bit since his early season purple patch it would seem.

Nice to get to see a bit of Ross Bulman, hope he can to himself justice here. Ken 4-5 behind to Mei Xeiwen, will be finishing up later on tonight i would guess.

Joe_ Public · 28-11-2019 8:48pm

Bulman actually getting chances here, but looks nervous. Entirely understandable.

The Nal · 29-11-2019 10:46am

https://twitter.com/SportingLife/status/1200160857558278144

Joe_ Public · 29-11-2019 11:35am

Wouldnt really defend ronnie on that but why take away the bonus? That was wrong thing to do imo. Hearn did the same in darts for the 9 darter and as far as i know there's only been one of those this season, or maybe thats just on tv? Either way, it smacks of just trying to save money while generating same level of publicity. Ronnie with all his millions is acting a bit of a dick but can see point he is making.

waynescales1 · 30-11-2019 2:31pm

Hawkins made a 147 in Round 1 for which Irvine said there was a 15k bonus?

The BBC may not be perfect but you cannot beat that camera angle.

Joe_ Public · 30-11-2019 2:38pm

I think she must have meant the prize for highest break because the rolling bonus for 147 is gone, replaced by a shared £1m bonus pot in the event of 20 being achieved, though nobody actually believes it can be achieved anyway. Ronnie certainly not helping anyway!

waynescales1 · 30-11-2019 2:47pm

Yeah you’re right, highest break.

Yeah, so they’ve to reach 20 147s without the player who has twice as many 147s as any other active player.

nkl12xtw5goz70 · 30-11-2019 3:42pm

The highest number of 147s ever achieved in a single season is 13. I can't imagine seeing 20 anytime soon. It's a way of replacing the rolling prize with what is probably a relatively small insurance premium.

nkl12xtw5goz70 · 30-11-2019 4:11pm

Two consecutive 6-0 wins for O'Sullivan as he moves into the last 32, where he'll play Saengkham or McGill. Can't see either of those players giving him much trouble either.

zuutroy · 30-11-2019 4:20pm

He was very normal in the interview. What's all that about?!

Joe_ Public · 30-11-2019 4:24pm

zuutroy wrote: »

He was very normal in the interview. What's all that about?!

And very businesslike in both his matches, not so much of the messing and occasional weirdness you see in early rounds of other tournaments. I conclude that its because he respects and loves this tournament more than any other, including the worlds so he's fully focused and behaving himself. So far at least!

Joe_ Public · 30-11-2019 5:26pm

Ah jaysus, marco in off the final black. Thats cruel. Does look to be coming back into a bit of form though which is nice to see.

Joe_ Public · 30-11-2019 6:03pm

Fabulous from marco, really hope he goes on to win it now!

waynescales1 · 30-11-2019 8:51pm

6-5 to Fu. You just don’t get twists and turns or drama like this in the best of 7s.

zuutroy · 01-12-2019 4:20pm

They really wrecked this tournament. The matches on TV so far have been pathetic. Would much rather see good players play longer matches than these drubbings. Ronnie and Judd have won an aggregate 24-1 in their first two rounds. Robertson flattered Williams by giving him 4 frames last night. He was playing very poorly.

nkl12xtw5goz70 · 01-12-2019 4:31pm

Agreed. The rounds of 128 and 64 are pointless, and it's no surprise that the top players resent having to play them. It's not good entertainment for the fans earlier to watch some young amateur getting a 6-0 drubbing from the likes of Ronnie. It benefits nobody.

Arthur Daley · 01-12-2019 4:44pm

There have always been early stages. And a fair few hammerings when it was first to 9. Although few whitewashes when you have to win 9. If the BBC didn't show the early rounds people would complain that the coverage was crap.

Back in the 80s/90s BBC coverage started at the last 16 and the matches were longer. I preferred that format myself for the UK. Sheffield shouldn't be the only time players routinely play long matches.

Joe_ Public · 01-12-2019 4:46pm

Really are just too many passengers on tour i believe. I see steve davis is back on his usual hobby horse of greatest ever standard but i for one anyway don't really see this great strength in depth. That fella who played judd the other day looked terrible and i see where he's drawn judd again in scottish open. Thats no good for anyone. Would prefer a 64 man tour with a competitive secondary tour but i guess barry knows best!

Joe_ Public · 01-12-2019 4:55pm

Arthur Daley wrote: »

There have always been early stages. And a fair few hammerings when it was first to 9. Although few whitewashes when you have to win 9. If the BBC didn't show the early rounds people would complain that the coverage was crap.

Back in the 80s/90s BBC coverage started at the last 32 and the matches were longer. I preferred that format myself for the UK. Sheffield shouldn't be the only time players routinely play long matches.

Can remember when there were around 10 qualifying rounds to get to the crucible, give or take! Think its a balancing act. Sure, give all players the opportunity to win matches and make money but, as we see with the champion of champions event, those small select events with the top players playing each other are what generate the most excitement. UK should never have been tampered with imo, but bbc pushed for it and hearn complied. Big mistake in my book.

Arthur Daley · 01-12-2019 5:02pm

Yeah, I think the coverage probably started at last 16 rather than 32, and a 2 day final first to 16. But still plenty of 9-1 9-2 etc.

Don't think it means any real difference to the players. Steve, Jimmy, Alex etc still had to turn up and play some no hoper in the last 64/last 32 for a week without tv cameras. And they were happy to do it.

Arthur Daley · 01-12-2019 8:57pm

Mark Williams 3-0 down and his form has gone off the boil from last year.

waynescales1 · 01-12-2019 9:00pm

The problem with putting Trump or O’Sullivan on the TV tables is that they will usually be drawn against duds in Rounds 1-2 because of the seeded draw. So all you end up with in Round 1-2 are televised drubbings.

However, there have been plenty of competitive matches in the early rounds. The organizers should televise the matches that appear most interesting on paper when the draw is made, i.e. Fu v Wilson, Hawkins v McManus, instead of just showing the highest ranked player.

Joe_ Public · 01-12-2019 9:51pm

I think its a bit lazy alright just to put Ronnie and judd on main tv table all the time. No one knows how matches are going to go, you gotta take a chance sometimes, though saying that i guess nobody wants to be the guy not putting him on the tv table and then seeing him lose to some outsider in a thriller!

Things must be bad for mjw to be getting pasted by one time prospect michael white.

Arthur Daley · 01-12-2019 10:02pm

Think they said earlier that 4 of the top 16 are gone already and MJW looks like being number 5. Although after that steal to make it 1-4 he might get the finger out now.

Joe_ Public · 01-12-2019 10:19pm

Yeah murphy gone, gilbert too and obviously 2 others, cant think off top of the head.

Could be one of those freak tournaments with lots of shocks. Which reminds me seeing Liang Wenbo v David Grace tonight, the year they came through their sections and met in the sf here. Without question one of the worst snooker matches I've ever seen and I've seen a few! Never seen 2 players stink a place out as they did that night.

Arthur Daley · 01-12-2019 10:29pm

Barry Hawkins and Kyren Wilson are the other two

Joe_ Public · 01-12-2019 10:48pm

Thats actually 4 top 10 players gone, let alone top 16. Judds half looking a little thin as things stand.

Joe_ Public · 02-12-2019 3:55pm

Bond giving trump a game here. Havent seen judds long game so askew for a long time.

The Nal · 02-12-2019 4:05pm

Mark King giving Robbo a game too. Good to see. Think King has been on the piss since he won in Northern Ireland 3 years ago!

Joe_ Public · 02-12-2019 4:32pm

Judd possibly looking a bit jaded here, been on the go a lot lately and just wonder if its beginning to catch up. Would be massive shock all the same, though long way to go yet in fairness.

Joe_ Public · 02-12-2019 4:51pm

Bond gone favourite here. And not inclined to choke like some of the whizz kids, too long in the tooth for it.

waynescales1 · 02-12-2019 5:43pm

The man with the golden cue!

Joe_ Public · 02-12-2019 5:44pm

Judd underperformed but that was epic. Well deserved.

Joe_ Public · 02-12-2019 5:46pm

Fifth top 10 player gone, 6 top 16. Carnage!

nkl12xtw5goz70 · 02-12-2019 9:44pm

This Higgins/Burns match is beyond dire. Around an hour for the first frame. Neither man can pot a ball.

zuutroy · 02-12-2019 10:04pm

Torture. Saengkham and Un Nooh played 10 frames in shorter time than these 3.

gormdubhgorm · 03-12-2019 12:47am

waynescales1 wrote: »

The man with the golden cue!

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Judd underperformed but that was epic. Well deserved.

I stopped watching at Judd 3 Bond 2. It looked turgid so I switched off. It was not licence to thrill anyway!
I forget which one of the commentators said each shot seems like a battle for Bond.

Personally he reminds me of a cross between Mr Bean in appearance, and Fergal O'Brien in playing style. I had to look up when he played Hendry in the world final knew it was early 90's ish. Hard to believe it was 95.

Fair play to Bond though I honestly had forgotten he was still playing! He must really love the game. But he won't get much further the way he plays very 80's in his approach to the game.

Joe_ Public · 03-12-2019 1:04am

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

I stopped watching at Judd 3 Bond 2. It looked turgid so I switched off. It was not licence to thrill anyway!
I forget which one of the commentators said each shot seems like a battle for Bond.

Personally he reminds me of a cross between Mr Bean in appearance, and Fergal O'Brien in playing style. I had to look up when he played Hendry in the world final knew it was early 90's ish. Hard to believe it was 95.

Fair play to Bond though I honestly had forgotten he was still playing! He must really love the game. But he won't get much further the way he plays very 80's in his approach to the game.

He's never dropped off the tour, fair achievement for a guy of 54. I wouldn't underestimate him, played a decent match today, wont win it out obviously but sf a possibility way draw is working out.

Just shows its a sport guys can play competitively into 50s and, sometimes, even beyond if they keep the hunger. Reminds me of when a 58 year old Cliff Wilson beat the sports new prodigy by the name of Ronnie o'sullivan in this event in 1992!

gormdubhgorm · 03-12-2019 1:29am

Joe_ Public wrote: »

He's never dropped off the tour, fair achievement for a guy of 54. I wouldn't underestimate him, played a decent match today, wont win it out obviously but sf a possibility way draw is working out.

Just shows its a sport guys can play competitively into 50s and, sometimes, even beyond if they keep the hunger. Reminds me of when a 58 year old Cliff Wilson beat the sports new prodigy by the name of Ronnie o'sullivan in this event in 1992!

I looked up you tube there to see Bond's reaction to the win.

He gave some good insight as to why he is still playing basically because he cannot see himself doing anything else!

He does a lot of coaching around Europe for world snooker and seems to prefer that than practicing himself!

It would be a great story if he kept going a bit longer this tournament.

Joe_ Public · 03-12-2019 1:51am

gormdubhgorm wrote: »

I looked up you tube there to see Bond's reaction to the win.

He gave some good insight as to why he is still playing basically because he cannot see himself doing anything else!

He does a lot of coaching around Europe for world snooker and seems to prefer that than practicing himself!

It would be a great story if he kept going a bit longer this tournament.

I'd imagine practising must get pretty difficult beyond a certain stage, the discipline you need to keep doing it. Ronnie says he does 8-10 hours a week but he can get away with that because he's ronnie o'sullivan. Keeping the hunger is the thing, williams is one guy doesnt seem to have it this season and its showing.

The Nal · 03-12-2019 4:04pm

https://twitter.com/WorldSnooker/status/1201860483017560065

waynescales1 · 03-12-2019 4:40pm

Did he go on to win the frame from that shot?

UK Championship 2019 26/11 - 8/12 BBC/Eurosport

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