Who will win this years World Championship ?

Who's your favourite for this years title ?

One of the seeds ? Or will it be a qualifier ?

Can't argue against JT but he's susceptible to "grinding".
Stephen Lee is the man in form but will it last? I can't see it.
Of course, the old guns are always there or there abouts at the WC.
Mark Allen is my outside tip to win the title. Having broken his duck in China, he could well win the world title as he likes the long format.
HOWEVER
I am going for Big Robbo. He's done it before and is back with a bang this year looking close to his best.

I am tipping Ding. I think that this is his year

Also have Allen as an outside tip.

Had a tenner each way on both Robertson and Ding

Ding is in form but he's too inconsistent (although he'll probably win it now I've said that). He got beat in the China Open by a relatively unknown Chinese player. He can beat Ronnie 5-0 one minute and lose to Robert Milkins 5-0 the next. (Sorry Milkins!!)

Thats true but i just have a feeling that he will do well and win it

A tenner on Robertson @ 9/1 will do for me

EdWoodjr wrote:A tenner on Robertson @ 9/1 will do for me

They are not bad odds for Robbo. Defo worth a few euros

Bet the price on Peter Ebdon goes down if he wins the China Open.......

Yes, it seems Ebdon is back and that's terrific news for insomniacs everywhere.

Ebbo v McLeod final!!

Gone for murphy. Solid...no pun int... player who has the all round...again no pun int... Ability to win again.

Ronnie can win if he wants it...bit does he ever? Ding seems to be inconsistent but Im not sure why hes always do focussed. Perhaps internal nerves tightening him up knowing he might have to make one of those...speeches again. Cant someone coach the poor guy in that area?

Robo's not technically the better player and uses his potting and raw aussie confidence to keep him going. Still thought he would be exposed over the longer distances but hes been there so good on him. Just seems to ride the game like a pub pool player with his ups and downs.

Williams selby allen trump of the rest. Higgins looks surprisingly off beat when hes usually so consistent. Things catching iup with him?

Summary of the Old Guards' Chances

Higgins is coming to the end of his career He's got nothing much left to prove. He'll say he wants more titles obviously but is he himself prepared to put all that work in? I can't see it anymore. Yes he'll be a huge threat at the WC but he hasn't played too well in over a year.

Same goes with MJW. He's not exactly been at his best for the past year or so and is probably still smarting from the semi-final against Higgins last year. So much talent, he could have won so many titles but I don't think he'll add to those World Crowns.

Ronnie..... If he puts his mind to it of course he'll win but to me he seems completely uninterested these days. The only reason he bothered in Germany is because he would have lost his Top 16 status. We all know if Ronnie turns up in the right frame of mind only 1 person can stop him (Higgins). Interesting character but for me, no chance if he has a tough draw.

Is hendry not playing or is he really not as good these days as anyone on that list. Cant believe that.

You can get 150/1 for Hendry which, on paper anyway, makes him little more than first round fodder. Having said that, Joe Johnson was a 150/1 shot back in 1986.

He's not qualified yet. No Top 16 place = Qualifying stages. Quali is soon though.

John Higgins will go out in the second round. Ronnie will leave in the quarters. Selby, Trump and Robertson will be near it but I think Murphy or Allen will win it.

Luca Brecel is still in with a chance to qualify as well

When are the qualifiers ?

Just now Kenny. Penultimate Round. David Gray and Ian McCulloch are now off the tour Who else will wear Burberry waistcoats?

I never realised they this close to the tournament

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_World_Snooker_Championship

You can follow them here, below the main draw. Igor is out too

Thanks TSC

Jimmy White wont make it again, shame as i love the guy but he is just not good enough anymore

About 5 years ago, after being drawn against ( and beating ) Jimmy White in a tournament, Mark Allen admitted that it was the draw he was looking for.
That pretty much says it all.

I honestly feel that Robbo, Murphy or Allen this year. Ding is the next name that i fell could go all the way

King-Brecel could be interesting

Rory McLeod won't be there!!!!

Phew, less boring LOL

TSC wrote:Rory McLeod won't be there!!!!

Absolutely devastating news. I very much doubt if the tournament will be worth watching now.

Ken Doherty is back

Trump or Selby.

But would also like to see one of the older players get far in the tournament.

Luca Brecel is through

Looking forward to seeing him. Is this the talent starting to shine though now?

He is pretty impressive for such a young lad TSC, it will be interesting to see how he goes in the longer format against the big boys but he doesnt seem to have any fear.

A full list of the last players to Qualify.

Ken Doherty
Dominic Dale
Luca Brecel
Stephen Hendry
Peter Ebdon
Jamie Jones
Mark Davis
Ryan Day
Cao Yupeng
Liu Chuang
Liang Wenbo
David Gilbert
Barry Hawkins
Andrew Higginson
Marco Fu
Joe Perry

Great to see Hendry and Doherty back on the big stage

eirebilly wrote:He is pretty impressive for such a young lad TSC, it will be interesting to see how he goes in the longer format against the big boys but he doesnt seem to have any fear.

Brecel could do in Snooker what Roger Federer has done in Tennis and that is dominate the game for many years with amazing gameplay that looks ridiculously easy.

He is good gboycott but he is no Ronnie and Ronnie could'nt dominat either

Shame Steve Davis didn't qualify

He wont ever agin Kenny. I was seriously suprised that Hendry and Doherty made it, to be honest.

Always liked Davis , but your right the game has grown past him now .

Oh he is a legend and i would say possibly the greatest ever player to play the game. The longevity he has had is special.

eirebilly wrote:He is good gboycott but he is no Ronnie and Ronnie could'nt dominat either

How do you know, as Brecel has not yet played V any of the current big stars of snooker yet in front of a TV camera. All I'm saying is that in terms of talent and pure natural ability he could very well dominate the game like what Hendry did in the 1990's and Davis did in the 1980's. There could in fact be a situation where the great rivalry of the 1990's between Hendry and Jimmy White reappears again, with Brecel playing Hendry's role of dominating the game with an iron fist by winning every single World Final he plays in with Judd Trump playing Jimmy White's role of being Brecel's unfortunate opponent who always picks up the runners-up cheque and medal.

No player will dominate the game (at least not for the next 10 years). There are too many good players to have just 1 person dominate them. Hey, I could list 10 players off the top of my head who will/should always be in with a shout of winning a tournament.

Throwing my hat in the ring here and going for Higgins. He's had a poor season but can turn it on for the worlds.

gboycottnut wrote:

eirebilly wrote:He is good gboycott but he is no Ronnie and Ronnie could'nt dominat either

How do you know, as Brecel has not yet played V any of the current big stars of snooker yet in front of a TV camera. All I'm saying is that in terms of talent and pure natural ability he could very well dominate the game like what Hendry did in the 1990's and Davis did in the 1980's. There could in fact be a situation where the great rivalry of the 1990's between Hendry and Jimmy White reappears again, with Brecel playing Hendry's role of dominating the game with an iron fist by winning every single World Final he plays in with Judd Trump playing Jimmy White's role of being Brecel's unfortunate opponent who always picks up the runners-up cheque and medal.

Given that i have watched snooker for the best part of 30 years and seen some quality players i would wager that Brecel wont dominate. He has not the same level skill that Ronnie and Hendry had at his age. You are completely wrong that he hasnt played some big names on TV as well. The Worlds is not the only televised event, many events on the mainland that he has entered have been televised as well. A great talent without a doubt but as TSC says right now there are at least 10 players that can win tournements at any given time and alot of them are lest than 10 years older than him so for the forseeable future i cant see any dominant player in the game.

Given that i have watched snooker for the best part of 30 years and seen some quality players i would wager that Brecel wont dominate. He has not the same level skill that Ronnie and Hendry had at his age. You are completely wrong that he hasnt played some big names on TV as well. The Worlds is not the only televised event, many events on the mainland that he has entered have been televised as well. A great talent without a doubt but as TSC says right now there are at least 10 players that can win tournements at any given time and alot of them are lest than 10 years older than him so for the forseeable future i cant see any dominant player in the game.

Well I have also watched Snooker for nearly 30 years as well and I to have seen many quality players I can see that in Brecel he will likely dominate the game like Hendry did in the 1990's by the game at an even higher than what it currently is played at.

You really see in Brecel the ability to dominate the game ala Hendry and Davis?

The boy is still young but he neither has Ronnie's extreme skill or a Davis and Hendry like determination. That coupled with the fact that there So many players around playing at such a high standard that they all could win a tournement.

To put it plainly, if any player is going to dominate the sport (for say 5 years) that means that they cannot have an off day for 5 years as the other players are of a standard that they will take control.

In short, the major tournements for the forseable future will be shared by several players with no one player dominating.

One last question gboycott, i have explained why i dont feel that Brecel (or anyone) will dominate, could you please tell me exactly what it is in Brecel that you feel will make him a dominant force?
I have seen him live several times and although he is a very good young player and a great talent i do not see that he will dominate the sport.

eirebilly wrote:You really see in Brecel the ability to dominate the game ala Hendry and Davis?

The boy is still young but he neither has Ronnie's extreme skill or a Davis and Hendry like determination. That coupled with the fact that there So many players around playing at such a high standard that they all could win a tournement.

To put it plainly, if any player is going to dominate the sport (for say 5 years) that means that they cannot have an off day for 5 years as the other players are of a standard that they will take control.

In short, the major tournements for the forseable future will be shared by several players with no one player dominating.

One last question gboycott, i have explained why i dont feel that Brecel (or anyone) will dominate, could you please tell me exactly what it is in Brecel that you feel will make him a dominant force?
I have seen him live several times and although he is a very good young player and a great talent i do not see that he will dominate the sport.

Just the way he maturely conducts himself both when playing the game and also just importantly away from the table. He just doesn't have any fear at all and walks around the table with the same kind of aura like what Ray Reardon did during his prime years in the 1970's.

Ok, fair enough. I have seen him live many many times and i have a different perception of him. I honestly believe that he will do well but i cannot see him or anyone dominating.

When he has played some big names in front of the camera's he has looked very nervous as well but that could just be due to his age.