Snooker season 2020/21

Joe_ Public · 31-01-2021 5:14pm

Needs to get out of this 3-5 and still some hope. Anything worse i think its basically good night vienna.

Joe_ Public · 31-01-2021 5:25pm

Carbon copy of recent grand prix final. Judd wins first, jack levels, then judd wins next four. Jack did rally that evening but far too little too late when pressure effectively lifted. Needs somehow to learn how to change the record.

eric hoone · 31-01-2021 5:48pm

waynescales1 wrote: »

Judd Trump’s matches are unwatchably one sided. Everyone on the tour is terrified of him.

I'd say only Ronnie and Robertson believe they can compete with Judd in a final

Joe_ Public · 31-01-2021 5:54pm

Excluding championship league, judd has been in 16 finals since 2018 and won 14 of them. Thats impressive by any metric, probably is more vulnerable earlier rounds as some say. Both finals he lost were v robbo.

robinwing · 03-02-2021 4:25pm

any thought on the shoot out ?

ArmaniJeanss · 03-02-2021 4:41pm

robinwing wrote: »

any thought on the shoot out ?

I think it'll suffer more than most events from the behind closed doors factor, as it's usp is a rowdy drunk crowd and how the players respond to playing in those boisterous conditions.

From a playing pov, nothing much in the 10 renewals to suggest it's anything other a lottery really. A few players have got to the business end on two or three occasions but that's probably just statistical likelihood.

Anyway thanks for the reminder, will definitely be watching as one of my favourite events. Hopefully some epic 60 seconds clearances in store.

Joe_ Public · 03-02-2021 4:58pm

Used to hate it but have come to terms with it past couple of years, can take it for what it is though would prefer it wasnt a ranking event, for all its not big money. No crowd mightnt be the worst thing that's happened it in one way.

robinwing · 03-02-2021 5:23pm

Was wondering will they add crowd " sound effects" like they did with the darts recently , would be bizarre

waynescales1 · 03-02-2021 5:32pm

robinwing wrote: »

any thought on the shoot out ?

A nonsense tournament. Will keep an eye out for the Irish lads to see if they can pick up some ranking points though.

Mysterypunter · 03-02-2021 5:46pm

robinwing wrote: »

any thought on the shoot out ?

Hit and hope, a novelty event, shouldn't be any ranking points on offer, I wonder how Eddie Charlton would have got on.

Joe_ Public · 03-02-2021 5:52pm

If you look at past winners, you'll see thepchaiya there but otherwise not many you'd label quick exactly - mcgill, holt, georgieu etc. Robin Hull won it too i think, one of slowest around. Its counterintuitive but don't think it necessarily favours quick players. Still, not sure "fast" Eddie would have ever taken to the format!

eric hoone · 03-02-2021 8:01pm

robinwing wrote: »

any thought on the shoot out ?

I see Ronnie, Judd and Robertson have given it the swerve this year. I'll dip in and out of it as you'd get sick of the format over the course of the 2 days

Genghis · 03-02-2021 11:39pm

robinwing wrote: »

Was wondering will they add crowd " sound effects" like they did with the darts recently , would be bizarre

Yes, according to latest Dave Hendon podcast crowd noise recorded on previous years will be used. Not sure if the system is smart enough to play the theme to pink panther on each pink

Will reserve judgement, presume it's the same idea as football crowd soundtrack, it might surprise.

Apparently the crowd noise will be low volume in arena, or sound louder on TV. Could actually be interesting to see if lack of a live, volatile crowd changes the quality of play (improves it).

The tournament really isa lottery scheme to parachute a lucky winner into a ranking position and/ or into invitational events. Nice to see one of the numptier players win it for sheer randomness.

Joe_ Public · 04-02-2021 2:22pm

Declan Lavery shows how not to play this event. Panicking with 15 seconds left on the clock and mucks up safety shot.

Joe_ Public · 04-02-2021 2:28pm

And Lavery wins it, was his opponent who got tangled up in the end. Good on him!

Joe_ Public · 04-02-2021 2:41pm

Playing on a carpet of ice. Fastest table i think i've ever seen.

eric hoone · 04-02-2021 2:56pm

Ken played well there

Joe_ Public · 04-02-2021 3:39pm

Disaster. Feel sorry for her.

Joe_ Public · 04-02-2021 5:15pm

Aaron hill up next.

Joe_ Public · 04-02-2021 5:32pm

Game over. Really shocking miss on that blue you'd have to say.

Arthur Daley · 04-02-2021 6:06pm

Mark Allen on his 4th cue this season. Bit of a different game these days alright.

Just made 142 biggest break seen in this event.

eric hoone · 04-02-2021 6:40pm

Wonder why Ronnie didn't play, seeing as he's there anyway as a pundit

eric hoone · 04-02-2021 9:36pm

Good day for the Irish players by and large

04-02-2021 10:29pm

A lot of these players who have never won anything; or anything of note, seem to have got to the latter stages of the German Masters at one time or another. Think the 'Sheriff' even won it before..

eric hoone · 07-02-2021 8:33pm

Anyone tuned in for the final session of the shootout? Who do you fancy to win it?

Arthur Daley · 07-02-2021 8:48pm

Been enjoying this over the last few days on Eurosport. Ad free on the app is nice.
Maybe it's the lack of boozy crowds in the background but the tone seems a touch higher this year. Though you can still get the odd arm full of tatoos, including one of the bleedin refs!

It's anyone's to win which is also refreshing. And a right few quid available this evening.

I'd go for whoever wins from Willo v Mark Allen part of the draw. Selby still in there too.

eric hoone · 07-02-2021 9:00pm

Arthur Daley wrote: »

Been enjoying this over the last few days on Eurosport. Ad free on the app is nice.
Maybe it's the lack of boozy crowds in the background but the tone seems a touch higher this year. Though you can still get the odd arm full of tatoos, including one of the bleedin refs!

It's anyone's to win which is also refreshing. And a right few quid available this evening.

I'd go for whoever wins from Willo v Mark Allen part of the draw. Selby still in there too.

Yeah Williams favourite for me

Joe_ Public · 07-02-2021 9:28pm

When i saw how fast the tables were playing on Thursday, i did think immediately of allen, for all it's a total lottery. No one loves a fast table more than the pistol. Love to see rob milkins win it, though.

Joe_ Public · 07-02-2021 10:33pm

Rob blew it there big time.

eric hoone · 07-02-2021 10:35pm

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Rob blew it there big time.

Yeah, too much pressure on that pink he missed

Joe_ Public · 07-02-2021 10:39pm

eric hoone wrote: »

Yeah, too much pressure on that pink he missed

Didnt need to play it, think he knew it as well but hadnt time to change his shot.

Joe_ Public · 07-02-2021 11:00pm

O'Donnell had ball in hand there and made 8!

ArmaniJeanss · 07-02-2021 11:21pm

It's great fun, though kinda glad I skipped the first 2 days bar a few frames.
Happy to see Williams querying the payouts, it really is ridiculously top heavy.
Could easily take £10K off the £50K and distribute it lower down.

ArmaniJeanss · 07-02-2021 11:23pm

Joe_ Public wrote: »

O'Donnell had ball in hand there and made 8!

Seen that quite a few times over the years.
I think many make a mistake on the placing of the white for the first shot - they leave themselves a straight red forgetting the game is about angles.

Snake Plisken · 08-02-2021 12:03am

Delighted for Ryan Day can't believe he is down at 50 in the rankings

zuutroy · 08-02-2021 12:03am

The ever salty in defeat Selby in attendance.

Arthur Daley · 08-02-2021 12:35am

If the prize is top heavy, which it is, then it doesn't really matter too much if it's a ranking event, nobody is getting a major advantage out of it, bar the winner and it's a bit much to begrudge one of those guys their 50 grand payday. I think it achieves a fair balance overall. I've become a fan of it this year.

mrunsure · 08-02-2021 2:42pm

eric hoone wrote: »

Wonder why Ronnie didn't play, seeing as he's there anyway as a pundit

He was live on BBC One on Saturday morning, talking about cooking with his partner.

mrunsure · 08-02-2021 3:06pm

The Championship League resumes today. Trump, Williams, Selby, Lisowski, Ford, Hawkins and Wilson in action today and tomorrow. On Free Sports.

2ndcoming · 09-02-2021 5:04pm

Have this on in the background, it's really noticeable that it isn't a tv broadcast, just an internet stream. Lagging and jerking like a bad dodgy box. Borderline unwatchable.

Joe_ Public · 10-02-2021 11:17am

Fergal v Aaron Hill in first round of Welsh Open next week. Interesting match, both will be desperate for a result with season running out of events. Looking forward to it. Ken up against Kurt Maflin.

zuutroy · 10-02-2021 12:57pm

Ronnie playing Carter and Selby in the same day. Surprised he didn't just withdraw!

zuutroy · 10-02-2021 10:58pm

Watched Ronnie and Selby there...3-1 Ronnie with 3 centuries. Best I've seen him play in about 2 years. No stats and I only joined halfway through the first frame but he missed one ball in live play.

mrunsure · 10-02-2021 11:00pm

zuutroy wrote: »

Watched Ronnie and Selby there...3-1 Ronnie with 3 centuries. Best I've seen him play in about 2 years. No stats and I only joined halfway through the first frame but he missed one ball in live play.

I've seen all of Ronnie's four matches today and he's been impressive in all of them.

waynescales1 · 11-02-2021 10:47pm

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Fergal v Aaron Hill in first round of Welsh Open next week.

Dunno what to make of that, bit frustrating I think. An Irish player guaranteed to be knocked out in the first round. I'd like to see Aaron show us what he can do at this stage, a lot of 1st round exits lately.

Joe_ Public · 11-02-2021 11:41pm

waynescales1 wrote: »

Dunno what to make of that, bit frustrating I think. An Irish player guaranteed to be knocked out in the first round. I'd like to see Aaron show us what he can do at this stage, a lot of 1st round exits lately.

No, not ideal, doubt they'd be ecstatic about it themselves, then again its a sight better than drawing judd or robbo so it is what it is! There was a piece on aaron on the world snooker site recently, said he's been doing a bit with ken lately, tough season but sounded confident and like he's enjoying the experience anyway. Important he doesnt drop the head. Hopefully we get a stream on one of the betting sites, think its a match they'll both fancy they can win.

Joe_ Public · 14-02-2021 10:21pm

RIP Doug Mountjoy, one of the seminal figures of the game from the peak of its 1980s popularity. An old school pro who made the journey from coal pit to pro snooker, famously toppled Hendry to win the Uk title in 1988. So sad to lose him on the eve of the Welsh Open at the age of 78.

Arthur Daley · 14-02-2021 11:26pm

Yes Doug came back to win in 88 ten years on from his win at the UK in 78. It was a real rebirth of his career. He then went on to win the next tournament as well the Mercantile Credit Classic to prove it wasn't a fluke.

Might have won the World Championship in 1981 if he hadn't run into the nugget emerging at full steam.

Hadn't seen him in years I think he had a go at some early seniors tour events about 10 years back.

Joe_ Public · 15-02-2021 12:02am

I think he was still coaching up to pretty recently and was very well regarded. There's just something about the 80s guys that sets them apart, like beloved characters from a popular soap opera. I remember doug for his frilly shirts and the brown outfits - one time he played thorburn and the headline was "cliff grinder v doug brownsuit". But he was a fine snooker player, 3 successive centuries in that final against hendry at a time when centuries werent so common or easily scored. They could really churn out the pros in the valleys back in those days!

Arthur Daley · 15-02-2021 12:59pm

I was watching Doug's interview after he beat Hendry in the UK in 1988. He was 46 and said 'you don't expect to win things at my age'.

With the obvious exception of Ronnie, who is a freak of nature, it made me wonder if the class of 92 (or anyone else hitting their mid 40s) will win anything more. Ronnie has just turned 45, between them Higgins and Williams haven't won a sizeable ranking event since Williams won the World Championship in 2018, when they were turning 43. I was a bit surprised at that, as Higgins has been in a good few finals, including last month's Masters, but actually he hasn't won a ranking event since the 2018 Welsh Open.

I suppose if anyone can buck the trend it's those three, but we might assume they'll win plenty more, and we might find they too are having to give into father time now.

Snooker season 2020/21

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