Jimmy White is only 58? Genuinely expected him to be pushing 70.
Redcafe Snooker
- Thread starter Ronnie O'Sullivan
- Start date
Hendry never stood a chance against Xu Si, he's not had a brilliant season but he has at least been playing regularly on tour and he did beat Doherty and Selt (from 0-3 down) at the English Open.
The match between Nigel Bond and Lee Walker finished at 1.06am, average shot times 29.3 and 34.7 seconds respectively. At one point Walker's AST was over 40 seconds. Bond won 6-4 (thank god).
I think if I was refereeing that match I'd struggle to stay awake. Walker's reputation as a slow player is drawing a lot of criticism for putting people off the sport, as is the new Mark Williams break, bouncing off the bottom cushion and leaving the white in behind the pack.
As for Jimmy White you would think he was a bit older, people forget he played in a World Final years before Hendry, in 1984 when losing narrowly to Steve Davis. To still be playing on the main tour 37 years later is an incredible achievement, whether helped by wildcards or not.
I was lucky enough to meet him a few years ago at a Snooker Legends event, I won a VIP ticket and alongside Jimmy (my hero growing up) I also met Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, John Virgo and others. Virgo was great company, especially being a United fan and I remember it was just after we'd signed Zaha; for the record, he thought the signing would be a successful one!
The match between Nigel Bond and Lee Walker finished at 1.06am, average shot times 29.3 and 34.7 seconds respectively. At one point Walker's AST was over 40 seconds. Bond won 6-4 (thank god).
I think if I was refereeing that match I'd struggle to stay awake. Walker's reputation as a slow player is drawing a lot of criticism for putting people off the sport, as is the new Mark Williams break, bouncing off the bottom cushion and leaving the white in behind the pack.
As for Jimmy White you would think he was a bit older, people forget he played in a World Final years before Hendry, in 1984 when losing narrowly to Steve Davis. To still be playing on the main tour 37 years later is an incredible achievement, whether helped by wildcards or not.
I was lucky enough to meet him a few years ago at a Snooker Legends event, I won a VIP ticket and alongside Jimmy (my hero growing up) I also met Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, John Virgo and others. Virgo was great company, especially being a United fan and I remember it was just after we'd signed Zaha; for the record, he thought the signing would be a successful one!
I've seen Jamie Wilson a few times now and I quite look the look of him as a player.
Physically, he's a bit gangly and awkward looking, but I really like his attacking intent and he seems to have decent mental strength to go for his shots.
He definitely needs to cut out out some unforced errors, and improve his safety play, but that applies to everyone of that style when they're 17. Hopefully he'll kick on and improve his results as he's the kind of attacking (anti-Lee Walker) player the game always needs.
EDIT: Hmm. The match went the same as yesterday's for the youngsters - Wilson played well for a 4-1 lead but then ended up losing 6-4. I'm enjoying watching some of the youngsters compete better than when they're fodder for the top players, but it's a shame they keep being pegged back and losing.
Physically, he's a bit gangly and awkward looking, but I really like his attacking intent and he seems to have decent mental strength to go for his shots.
He definitely needs to cut out out some unforced errors, and improve his safety play, but that applies to everyone of that style when they're 17. Hopefully he'll kick on and improve his results as he's the kind of attacking (anti-Lee Walker) player the game always needs.
EDIT: Hmm. The match went the same as yesterday's for the youngsters - Wilson played well for a 4-1 lead but then ended up losing 6-4. I'm enjoying watching some of the youngsters compete better than when they're fodder for the top players, but it's a shame they keep being pegged back and losing.
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Great comeback from Jamie Clarke tonight. Came back from 5-0 down to beat Jamie O'Neil 6-5.
Insane night . Lawler & Yuan playing for their tour survival. Match goes into decider , Lawler makes 49 and then Yuan makes 51 but missed the pink which would have won him the match . Lawler makes really great pots on pink & black to win
That was the maddest night of qualifying yet!
I think the quality will be ramped up a bit tomorrow, many more names enter the draw that have Crucible experience, players like Rob Milkins, Tom Ford, Noppon Saengkham, Mark King, Matt Selt, and Kurt Maflin.
Today the lineup isn't quite as strong, could do with a win for Igor Figueiredo as I have him in my Fantasy Snooker team!
I think the quality will be ramped up a bit tomorrow, many more names enter the draw that have Crucible experience, players like Rob Milkins, Tom Ford, Noppon Saengkham, Mark King, Matt Selt, and Kurt Maflin.
Today the lineup isn't quite as strong, could do with a win for Igor Figueiredo as I have him in my Fantasy Snooker team!
Saengekham has withdrawn
Indeed he has! Lyu Haotian with a walkover to the final round of qualifying where he could meet Tom Ford, that would be a close match.
For once I agree with Judd . Snooker needs a revamp
He makes some valid points, as I always think he does TBH - he's one of the few players brave enough to speak his mind even if it dares to disagree with what Hearn wants to do.
I was discussing the whole waistcoat thing the other week with a mate - when a young Chinese player was ordered to put on his bow tie. I was saying how, given the 'lowbrow uncouth louts drinking beer and smoking' stereotype that snooker and darts used to have, it's surprising that it has such a strict, highbrow dress code in 2021.
But I'm a little worried about how far the whole 'appeal to the youngsters / 21st century market' usually goes. I get it to an extent, obviously, as you have to rely on attracting modern day fans as well. But not at the expense of alienating established fans, which can happen when change goes too far.
There should be room in the marketplace for all types of products - this whole 'everything has to be approved by / appeal to a young, diverse audience and anything that appeals to a different group is just old fashioned, stuck in its way, and needs to modernise' is alienating other valid sections of society who need some things to be targeted for them as well.
Snooker, like everything, certainly needs to do tweaks to acknowledge changing times, but I hope it doesn't take them too far.
Commentators ? Whats wrong with snooker commentators haha
Chang Bingyu goes through at the expense of Tom Ford. 3 centuries in the process, excellent performance.
Rob Milkins just made a superb clearance on table 2 to force a decider against Joe O’Connor.
Got to love the qualifiers for entertainment!
Rob Milkins just made a superb clearance on table 2 to force a decider against Joe O’Connor.
Got to love the qualifiers for entertainment!
Milkins wins, plays Maflin for a place at the Crucible. Intriguing match incoming.
To be fair, BBC commentators really are shit. That, and the broadcasting young guys more often, easy to agree with that. Rest, not so, I like a little bit of class with the clothes, adds some gravitas to the sport. At least to me.
Your request is denied, Trump.
I would appreciate some data from Which is seemingly easy to see that snooker is facing difficult future. Judd's stupid friends do not count. No hard fellings, Maguire.
Strong effort from Jamie Jones today - comfortable 6-3 win over 28th seed Michael Holt.
I'm not sure how others view him after his year ban for not reporting knowledge of a match fixing incident, but I've found myself quite enjoying watching him climb rapidly up the rankings after returning to the tour through Q School.
I think he's a top 32 player who could push for lower part of top 16, so I think he underachieved only reaching a high of 29 first time around. He's quickly got himself around the top 64 within his first season back, and I hope this time around he establishes himself inside the top 32, battling for top 16, as he's quite a decent player.
I'm not sure how others view him after his year ban for not reporting knowledge of a match fixing incident, but I've found myself quite enjoying watching him climb rapidly up the rankings after returning to the tour through Q School.
I think he's a top 32 player who could push for lower part of top 16, so I think he underachieved only reaching a high of 29 first time around. He's quickly got himself around the top 64 within his first season back, and I hope this time around he establishes himself inside the top 32, battling for top 16, as he's quite a decent player.
58 year old Jimmy White has been offered another 2 year invitational card for the main tour.
Unpopular opinion, I imagine, but I personally think it's once too often. He'll be 60 by the end of it - that's too old, given how poorly he's already been performing. There's a limited number of spots available - 128 - and the tour needs to be allowing room for more of the younger players that it needs to come through. Or, at least, giving some of the other ageing players who've fallen off the tour a chance, rather than keep allowing White to stay on despite his declining ability.
I like the invitational aspect for some of the older players for sentimental and nostalgic reasons, but there should be a cut off point age wise if they stop delivering results - as White has, obviously, otherwise he'd have earned his new tour card on merit based on rankings / one year performances.
It's competitive sport, and other players careers and livelihoods on the line as well who are competing for those 128 spots. Losing so poorly to 8 year retired Hendry really should have been the point that firmly established they've given him enough chances, and helped stretched out his career long enough. It was time for someone else to be given that spot on the tour.
Unpopular opinion, I imagine, but I personally think it's once too often. He'll be 60 by the end of it - that's too old, given how poorly he's already been performing. There's a limited number of spots available - 128 - and the tour needs to be allowing room for more of the younger players that it needs to come through. Or, at least, giving some of the other ageing players who've fallen off the tour a chance, rather than keep allowing White to stay on despite his declining ability.
I like the invitational aspect for some of the older players for sentimental and nostalgic reasons, but there should be a cut off point age wise if they stop delivering results - as White has, obviously, otherwise he'd have earned his new tour card on merit based on rankings / one year performances.
It's competitive sport, and other players careers and livelihoods on the line as well who are competing for those 128 spots. Losing so poorly to 8 year retired Hendry really should have been the point that firmly established they've given him enough chances, and helped stretched out his career long enough. It was time for someone else to be given that spot on the tour.
I think Dennis Taylor needs to be moved on. But I think Virgo and Hendry are excellent.
This is a good watch from a few years ago. Some nice shots from Sir Alex!
I'm pleased Alexander Ursenbacher and Luca Brecel have got through to the final round of qualifying - but gutted that they drew Ali Carter and Stuart Bingham, two of the very best players in these qualifiers. It's going to be really tough for either to progress past them.
I'd like Jamie Jones to get through as well, to complete what's been a very impressive return to the main tour this season. And I'm looking forward to a few of the other qualifiers, especially: Selt v Donaldson, Milkins v Maflin, Day v Walden, Xintong v Craigie.
I'd like Jamie Jones to get through as well, to complete what's been a very impressive return to the main tour this season. And I'm looking forward to a few of the other qualifiers, especially: Selt v Donaldson, Milkins v Maflin, Day v Walden, Xintong v Craigie.
Judgment Day(s) part one today, matches over 2 sessions (11:00 and 17:00 BST) and are best of 19 frames (as they all should be). Winners go to the Crucible.
Zhou v Highfield
Selt v Donaldson
Milkins v Maflin
Haotian v Bingyu
Dott v Pengfei
J. Jones v Li Hang
Lu Ning v Wenbo
Davis v J. Clarke
Difficult to call most of them and it will come down to who holds their nerve.
There's a lot of experience in that list and most players have qualified previously at least once.
I hope the Milkman wins, always liked him and the way he plays - saw him at the Crucible in 2013 when he knocked out Neil Robertson despite Robbo knocking in the tournament high break of 143.
Lots of Asian representation today (although there's only 3 playing tomorrow) and at least 2 guaranteed to get through.
Brecel v Bingham is a brutal draw for the final qualifying round - real shame one of them has to miss out but that's what happens when someone misses so much snooker and has to claw their way back (happened a few years ago with Ding - in 2015/16 he had dropped out of the top 16 and had to qualify, ended up reaching the final).
Zhou v Highfield
Selt v Donaldson
Milkins v Maflin
Haotian v Bingyu
Dott v Pengfei
J. Jones v Li Hang
Lu Ning v Wenbo
Davis v J. Clarke
Difficult to call most of them and it will come down to who holds their nerve.
There's a lot of experience in that list and most players have qualified previously at least once.
I hope the Milkman wins, always liked him and the way he plays - saw him at the Crucible in 2013 when he knocked out Neil Robertson despite Robbo knocking in the tournament high break of 143.
Lots of Asian representation today (although there's only 3 playing tomorrow) and at least 2 guaranteed to get through.
Brecel v Bingham is a brutal draw for the final qualifying round - real shame one of them has to miss out but that's what happens when someone misses so much snooker and has to claw their way back (happened a few years ago with Ding - in 2015/16 he had dropped out of the top 16 and had to qualify, ended up reaching the final).
Ken Doherty praising United and singing a song mocking Mourinho now.
First 8 qualifiers have been decided - Highfield, Selt, Maflin, Haotian, Pengfei, J. Jones, Wenbo, Davis.
I was pleased to see Jamie Jones get through. He's had a really good first season back on tour - already got back in the top 64 - and it hasn't finished yet. And a really good effort from Liam Highfield to beat Zhou Yuelong, who was actually up to #15 in the rankings having started the qualifiers as the top seed at #17. There was also a very good come back from Mark Davis, who started the final session 7-2 down to Jamie Clarke yet won 10-8 (I'd have preferred Clarke to get there but, still, a great effort by Davis).
The final 8 qualifiers will be decided tomorrow, and they could include some players that the top seeds would really hope to avoid - Bingham, Carter, Xintong, Day, Gould...
I'd like to see Ursenbacher and Brecel prevail but they start as big underdogs having got very tough draws against Ali Carter and Stuart Bingham.
I was pleased to see Jamie Jones get through. He's had a really good first season back on tour - already got back in the top 64 - and it hasn't finished yet. And a really good effort from Liam Highfield to beat Zhou Yuelong, who was actually up to #15 in the rankings having started the qualifiers as the top seed at #17. There was also a very good come back from Mark Davis, who started the final session 7-2 down to Jamie Clarke yet won 10-8 (I'd have preferred Clarke to get there but, still, a great effort by Davis).
The final 8 qualifiers will be decided tomorrow, and they could include some players that the top seeds would really hope to avoid - Bingham, Carter, Xintong, Day, Gould...
I'd like to see Ursenbacher and Brecel prevail but they start as big underdogs having got very tough draws against Ali Carter and Stuart Bingham.
Jamie Clarke seemed to have a lot of backing yesterday on social media for some reason, must have been some money thrown on him at the bookmakers. Personally I was delighted to see Davis come back, fantastic effort from so far behind. I don't think Clarke came out glowing from his clash with Anthony McGill last year at the Crucible.
I was disappointed to see Milkins lose, especially so convincingly.
The lineup today is brutal, Ryan Day v Ricky Walden could easily be a last 16 match in the main draw and Walden is having a real renaissance having (hopefully) put his back troubles behind him (no pun intended). That's one to watch, Day will start favourite but Walden could easily win that.
But of course the game of the day is Brecel v Bingham and the latter will start favourite, I also think the mental side of Brecel's game is his downfall - when things aren't going his way I don't see the fight required to reach the very top.
I was disappointed to see Milkins lose, especially so convincingly.
The lineup today is brutal, Ryan Day v Ricky Walden could easily be a last 16 match in the main draw and Walden is having a real renaissance having (hopefully) put his back troubles behind him (no pun intended). That's one to watch, Day will start favourite but Walden could easily win that.
But of course the game of the day is Brecel v Bingham and the latter will start favourite, I also think the mental side of Brecel's game is his downfall - when things aren't going his way I don't see the fight required to reach the very top.
More an outrageous fluke than brilliant shot surely.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/1463...mpionship-louis-heathcote-extraordinary-shot/
https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/1463...mpionship-louis-heathcote-extraordinary-shot/
No way he meant the pot. Hitting it is probably a 1/30 at best, potting 1/1000+
It's extremely rare to see a player try and use the jaw to get out of a snooker like that. There is not a cat in hells chance he was trying to pot that, the first thing I thought on the night was that's probably the biggest fluke I've ever seen.
Yeah, I agree it was clearly a fluke.
The match was ultimately decided in the final frame decider by a more traditional fluke from Day - mis-hitting a safety on the penultimate red that looked like leaving Heathcote in to win before it went in the middle pocket instead. Day was on his way back to his chair probably thinking he was out before clearing up to win.
Not glowing, no, but, TBH, I ended that game feeling worse towards McGill than Clarke.
If Clarke was deliberately getting in his eyeline then obviously he was more out of order and McGill had the initial right to complain. But that's not been proven either way.
What was more clear - to me anyway - was that McGill took the complaints too far and went on too long. That was poor from the more experienced player. And I suspect he was using some of that experience, as well as his frustration at being some way behind a debutant qualifier, in an effort to stir up himself and to disrupt Clarke. It worked perfectly for him if so. But it soured the win for me and, because of that, I was pleased Wilson beat McGill in that classic S/F.
Quite clearly meant to hit it, not pot it of course. But once it hits, the *fluke* was kinda ordinary. If that makes sense. The shot was great, the fluke was nothing special.
Maybe it doesn't make sense, but in my weird mind, it does, I promise!
Maybe it doesn't make sense, but in my weird mind, it does, I promise!
First round draw is today at 11am, live on World Snooker Facebook & YouTube pages, seeds being:
1: Ronnie O'Sullivan
2: Judd Trump
3: Neil Robertson
4: Mark Selby
5: John Higgins
6: Kyren Wilson
7: Shaun Murphy
8: Stephen Maguire
9: Ding Junhui
10: Yan Bingtao
11: Barry Hawkins
12: Mark Williams
13: Mark Allen
14: Jack Lisowski
15: David Gilbert
16: Anthony McGill
So the only change to last year is Bingham drops out (but has qualified anyway) and McGill comes in (made the semi-finals last year as a qualifier).
As usual the defending champion (so Ronnie) will be on Saturday 10am, then to a finish at 7pm.
I always think the pressure on the defending champion, already big, must be doubled by knowing your first round fate will be decided on day one when some players won't even hit a ball until Wednesday, with the round not concluding until Thursday evening.
Bingtao, Robertson, Maguire and Gilbert also in action on Saturday, with their matches all concluding on Sunday.
1: Ronnie O'Sullivan
2: Judd Trump
3: Neil Robertson
4: Mark Selby
5: John Higgins
6: Kyren Wilson
7: Shaun Murphy
8: Stephen Maguire
9: Ding Junhui
10: Yan Bingtao
11: Barry Hawkins
12: Mark Williams
13: Mark Allen
14: Jack Lisowski
15: David Gilbert
16: Anthony McGill
So the only change to last year is Bingham drops out (but has qualified anyway) and McGill comes in (made the semi-finals last year as a qualifier).
As usual the defending champion (so Ronnie) will be on Saturday 10am, then to a finish at 7pm.
I always think the pressure on the defending champion, already big, must be doubled by knowing your first round fate will be decided on day one when some players won't even hit a ball until Wednesday, with the round not concluding until Thursday evening.
Bingtao, Robertson, Maguire and Gilbert also in action on Saturday, with their matches all concluding on Sunday.
Ding vs. Bingham is the standout tie, but then whoever Bingham drew that would probably have been the case.
To be honest I do fancy most seeds to win, normally the qualifiers come in with plenty of bo19 matches under their belts but this year they've only had one each, with the other matches being single sessions. Plus none of the top players stand out as being particularly struggling for form.
Carter vs. Lisowski is another one to watch, that could easily go 19 frames.
I fancy Walden to beat McGill and face Ronnie in round two, be interesting to see how much of a match he gives him if that is the case.
Yep, I was just going to post most of that summary myself.
Ding vs. Bingham is the standout tie, but then whoever Bingham drew that would probably have been the case.
To be honest I do fancy most seeds to win, normally the qualifiers come in with plenty of bo19 matches under their belts but this year they've only had one each, with the other matches being single sessions. Plus none of the top players stand out as being particularly struggling for form.
Carter vs. Lisowski is another one to watch, that could easily go 19 frames.
I fancy Walden to beat McGill and face Ronnie in round two, be interesting to see how much of a match he gives him if that is the case.
As a fan of Lisowski, I was gutted to see him draw Carter - who I make the slight favourite given his experience and stronger mental game (and the extra pressure of being a seed in the first round may further effect Jack).
But I'm not particularly fond of Ding, so that's a great draw for me and a huge draw for the 1st round standards. It could easily be a Q/F or S/F match.
For potential upsets, other than those two, then, yeah, Walden beating McGill is a real possibility. With maybe Gould v Bingtao as well, and Selt might push Hawkins all the way?
Of the 'most likely to win it' group (top 5 + Higgins), I think Neil Robertson maybe has the toughest draw in Liang Wenbo. I can see that going close. Although maybe that's just my pessimistic attitude as I'm a fan of Robbo while Wenbo's probably my least favourite player on the tour so I'd hate to see an upset there.
And I'm pleased Judd has got a relatively good draw as I was a bit worried with the way he's starting tournaments slowly, and was hoping he'd avoid the likes of Bingham, Carter, Gould and Walden in the 1st round.
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Any players people fancy to win the tournament who aren't favs? Thinking of sticking £10 somewhere.
Not a Judd fan but agree with him 100%. Snooker had a major uphaul during the 10s with all the new players coming in and they've done sweet f.all to raise the profile of the game except for more tournaments on the circuit.
He's right about the BBC and their coverage. Sick to death of hearing about the 1985 Dennis Taylor final. The old guys have too much control and are slowing everything down.
Waistcoats/clothing outdated.
Commentators outdated.
Pundits outdated.
0 marketing or hype before World Championships. You get the usual BBC stuff couple days before. Even when the tournaments over, every year it's embarassing how it gets half a page on the 3rd or 4th last page on back of newspaper.
It's strange because it's a sport in which you have to be quiet through out the game that's fine but there is so much more they can do to raise the profile.
Betfred doing £2 per ton on a £20 backing for an outright winner. I do matched betting, so I'd only reasonably need 2 tons from any player to turn a profit... is there any reason not to go with Judd on this? The answer would be Ronnie, Ronnie's a slightly less initial loss mind you, so I'd start profiting after 1 ton as opposed to needing 2 with Judd.... outside of being massively upset, I don't see Judd not reaching the semi's on that draw.
What the hell has happened Robertson’s hair?
Has it always been like this?
Playing well nonetheless.
Has it always been like this?
Playing well nonetheless.
This is silly.