Murphy should never have taken that red on.
Selby could easily get to Hendrys seven.
He shouild have played a canon - and then run for cover easily if it didn't come off.Did Murphy actually look closely at it? If it was touching the cushion I could understand it but it’s a hospital shot when it’s a fraction off like that
Maguire always seems on the verge of losing his temper whenever I see him play.Weirdly, my snooker appetite after Worlds is actually increasing, and it's always like that.
Sadly, some best of seven garbage will be the first tournament probably. It's incredible just how much better long format matches are. At least we have such tournies once or twice per year.
Well done Mark. Enjoyable final, and the whole tournament. Murphy surprised me greatly with improved tactical play, his and Selby's coach must have had something to do with that. Robertson probably the biggest loser. Oh wait, Maguire. That guy is one big bowl of disappointment.
The World Seniors have started today.
The age range is 40+ which I think is too low given that you've still got top 16 players like O'Sullivan, Higgins, Williams, Bingham, Hawkins, that are well in their 40's.
I think, in Snooker, 'seniors' should be a bit older than that - especially if they're still on the main circuit (on merit, not by invitation like White and Hendry). Mark Williams won it in 2015 when he was 40 but still a top player, which is a bit unfair to the rest of the seniors.
This year, the only one of the 16 that I'd question is Igor Figueiredo, who's 43 and has just guaranteed himself two more years on the main circuit on merit. Unfortunately he's on course to play Hendry if they both win their first match and, as I'm eager to see as much of Hendry during this comeback as possible, that's a bit of a bugger that he's drawn a genuine main circuit player in the senior tournament.
Yeah, it's a funny one.I don't really watch the seniors to be honest, but shouldn't they just make it invite only, or exclusive to players not on the tour? I don't begrudge journeymen like Figueiredo trying to make a bit of easy money but hardly seems in the spirit of the tournament when you have John Parrott playing
God I can't imagine Cliff Thorburn has sped up in his 70s. Not sure how many people want to watch that.Yeah, it's a funny one.
It does seem to be invitational, and Figueiredo is a late replacement - but the people who withdrew were Cliff Thorburn, Tony Drago and Bob Chaperon - who are aged 55-73 - and replaced by Tony Knowles and Patsy Fagan, who are in their 60's and 70's, but also Figueiredo who is just 43 and still on the main circuit so he's a real outlier in all that.
There's one or two others in their 40's - David Lilley and Lee Walker (and Walker has already lost) but I do think it should be for the older players or those 40+ who aren't on the main circuit on merit and are younger than some top 16 players. In Snooker terms, a 43 year old isn't really a 'senior'.
Been watching the world cup of Pool and the level has been so bad . Once you have seen snooker this feels like proper amateurs playing
Pool is different though. They dont simply aim for the pocket but at sections of the pocket to cheat angles for the cue ball.Been watching the world cup of Pool and the level has been so bad . Once you have seen snooker this feels like proper amateurs playing
I've been watching quite a bit of this - neither of those shots should be missed at that level.
To be fair the standard this year is way down on normal, the players for some reason seem very nervy.
GB's A team got really pushed by the ladies from Belarus a couple of nights ago but came through.
Our C team - the legendary duo of Appleton & Boyes - won last night having only entered because of a withdrawal. It's great to see them back!
It's interesting from a tactical point of view and after the snooker season has finished it always proves quite a change!
Yeah I have enjoyed it a lot because of the format but the quality as you say has been below par . Boyes & Appleton just won their QF 9-1 which is absolutely incredible considering Appleton could barely pot a ball yesterday. It's a fun sport overall but even Phil Yates seems to be feeling like us that how can they be missing these balls
Appleton & Boyes won't have been expecting to play so I assume that's why he was a bit rusty, they've not played as a pair on TV for a long time but at their peak there have been few better at the game.
Would be amazing to see them win it.
GB's A team got really pushed by the ladies from Belarus a couple of nights ago but came through.
I watched that and Belarus did really well to fight back from 0-2 to 3-2. In the end their dry breaks was what cost them.
On now Mark Allen v Reanne Evans
Reanne 12 times women's world champion Mark Allen's ex and a daughter together.
Yeah, I agree. The open draw is a good thing to have as a change but I wouldn't like it to happen at many tournaments as the seeded format - and knowing who plays who next - is my favourite.It was a good match, not necessarily in terms of quality but certainly with edge and excitement.
But I'm afraid Reanne bottled it! She had a tough red along the bottom cushion which at 2-1 up she really didn't need to take on - especially with the rest of the table being there for the taking.
That miss felt like it was the start of a big turnaround and that turned out to be the case.
Match of the round is tonight with Murphy v Selby in a repeat of the World Final.
I think the open draw is a good feature, do generally prefer the seeded format however it's nice to have a change and this is the only tournament other than the Shootout that's open (ranking event wise).
Yeah, I agree. The open draw is a good thing to have as a change but I wouldn't like it to happen at many tournaments as the seeded format - and knowing who plays who next - is my favourite.
The Allen - Evans game was tense and dramatic but the quality was generally quite poor. The commentators / pundits talked as if it was good quality as well but Allen, especially, was way below par and was there for the taking if Evans had played to a high enough standard herself - same with Mann v Trump - but both failed to take advantage.
I thought Evans was out of order not to do the fist punch at the start. There's obviously plenty of animosity felt by both but Allen was professional enough to go through with the expected etiquette of Snooker. And was a lot more dignified about it. As McManus said at the start, with so many on the tour you every so often play against someone you really don't get along with off the table but you both have to behave professional during the match. I thought that was poor by Evans and not thing to do in Snooker.