Who will win this years World Championship ?

First topic message reminder :

Who's your favourite for this years title ?

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

CaledonianCraig wrote:Lets see now. Ronnie has been to The Crucible 19 times and won three world titles so is averaging a title every six and a bit years. At that average to equal Stephen's seven titles it will take him another 24 years and to make it to ten as gboycottnutt predicts it will take him a total of 43 years by which time he'll be 79. Still think it is possible?

Well Phil Taylor managed 13 World Titles playing in the WDC/PDC World Darts Tournament over a period from 1995 to 2010, so anything is possible in a sport that isn't physically demanding. In terms of skill and ability, Ronnie is to snooker what Taylor is to darts.

Yes but Phil Taylor DOMINATED the sport for long spells unlike Ronnie. Taylor averaged a world title every one year and one month whilst Ronnie averages one world title one every 6 years two onths so please don't even think about putting Ronnie alongside Phil.

CaledonianCraig wrote:Yes but Phil Taylor DOMINATED the sport for long spells unlike Ronnie. Taylor averaged a world title every one year and one month whilst Ronnie averages one world title one every 6 years two onths so please don't even think about putting Ronnie alongside Phil.

But Ronnie is now more mentally focused and more relaxed than he ever was, so it really is possible that he could win many more world titles and thus overtake Hendry's record by the end of his playing career.

gboycottnut wrote:

CaledonianCraig wrote:Yes but Phil Taylor DOMINATED the sport for long spells unlike Ronnie. Taylor averaged a world title every one year and one month whilst Ronnie averages one world title one every 6 years two onths so please don't even think about putting Ronnie alongside Phil.

But Ronnie is now more mentally focused and more relaxed than he ever was, so it really is possible that he could win many more world titles and thus overtake Hendry's record by the end of his playing career.

I have listened to that line from Ronnie fans for two decades now. All this mental focus must have evaporated in the final frame today when he missed a sitter of a blue (frame ball) and ended up losing the frame. At this rate he won't even get passed Robbo in the quarter-finals.

well if he wins this one- he certainly has a chance yes! bt time isnt really on his side .

However on the other hand no other player since ronnie has come close to his level of peak , so yeah he does have a shot at getting a few more world titles.

Ronnie seems to be badly judged on here. I am really not even his biggest fan , i slate him like the rest when he says crazy stuff- but at present its others saying crazy stuff and he is playing nice snooker! so good luck to him

Point is:-

Ronnie is the most naturally-gifted snooker players ever but in all-round snooker player packages he comes up short (in my book) against Davis and Hendry and even John Higgins. He doesn't have their dedication, all-round consistency, powers of concentration and mental strength when the going gets tough. That is why I am confident he won't even pass five world titles never mind seven.

Point is simply that there is no point in 'constantly' judging him as he is what he is and a legend of the modern game- not a dominant force but the massive draw in world snooker. it doesnt acheive anything talking about what we all know time after time(yeah he disrespects the game sometimes, yeah he isnt mentally able to sustain his ability like hendry,blah blha blah!)- I feel as though 90% on here want to see him loose- I love snooker and a full flight ronnie is a joy to watch. something I wanna see! simples

Yes and some people want to see players showing respect and dedication to the sport and not resort to nasty snide comments and mind games that Ronnie uses. It is even worse when he does it because it is not necessary considering his talents. His fans are also a distasteful disgrace so plenty there to dislike. Fantastic player but lots of reasons why it is enjoyable watching him get beaten.

CaledonianCraig wrote:Yes and some people want to see players showing respect and dedication to the sport and not resort to nasty snide comments and mind games that Ronnie uses. It is even worse when he does it because it is not necessary considering his talents. His fans are also a distasteful disgrace so plenty there to dislike. Fantastic player but lots of reasons why it is enjoyable watching him get beaten.

When has he had to resort to such remarks/comments?

I never expected Ronnie to be in with a shot after last year but he has played much better this time round, even though he's 3-5 down he's playing very good. Not sure Robertson can keep up this level, but he's playing nice stuff.

I'm retiring! No I'm not! Yes I am! No I'm not!

Bore off Ronnie, it was a shock the first, second and third time but not the tenth.

CaledonianCraig wrote:Yes and some people want to see players showing respect and dedication to the sport and not resort to nasty snide comments and mind games that Ronnie uses. It is even worse when he does it because it is not necessary considering his talents. His fans are also a distasteful disgrace so plenty there to dislike. Fantastic player but lots of reasons why it is enjoyable watching him get beaten.

he polarises opinion abit doesnt he- abit like woods does for golf. (not quite in the same dramatic way but there are certain parralells)

I am much more in the moment and try not to judge anyone on the past, he seems chilled and he is a credit to the game this event- so i hope that continues

'I'll send Stephen Hendry back to his sad little life in Scotland to think again' in the late 1990's and promptly got his butt-kicked.

Has had run-ins with a number of players such as Ebdon, Dott and Selby with snide comments as well.

His conceding a match before it was over V Hendry, tea towels over his face, crude gestures with microphones, oh I could go on forever but you get the picture.

Ryan Day is playing like he wants to retire... 5-2 up to 11-5 down! Shocking.

Matthew was fantastic tonight. Robbo v Stevens semi-final will be a hard one to call.

I would definitely fancy Robbo to win that one.

lol has robbo allready won then

Has Stevens already won then

replace the will with would

mystiroakey wrote:lol has robbo allready won then

Well got my fingers crossed and 'The Thunder From Down Under' does hold the advantage against Ronnie so just being presuming besides it has been four years since Ronnie got past the quarters.

Id say he is slight favorite at the moment, but only slightly tipping the scales

Id say the opening frame of tomorrows session could decide the entire match Ronnie wins it hes back in , but Robbo wins it and i dont think Ronnie comes back from 3 frames down

the beauty of the world champs is that even being 3 down isnt game over

true but imo Robbo would just be able to maintain the gap , which would then frustrate Ronnie and then he doesn't play aswell

Against any other player Robertson would win from 3 frames up, but his record against Ronnie isn't good.

Hey im rooting for a Ronnie world title number 4 so i hope your right

You all know I dislike Ronnie for a number of reasons but here's a genuine question:

Will Ronnie be able to get all those centuries needed to break Hendry's record?

All the talent in the world but the simple answer i think is No

I think yes. A lot of tournaments and if Ronnie put his heart in it (which he won't) he could make 50 a season and over take him in 3 years.

Thats the problem though isn't it Ronnie's heart isn't really in snooker anymore , i can seriously see him quitting at any moment

Maguire looking like a slight favourite for the tournament for me. Playing incredible.

Same old story. "I'm retiring. No I'm not."

We'll see tomorrow. If Robbo gives him a hiding then he may well have a hissy fit and quit. Promises to be a good game though.

Half 2 and 7 tomorrow, don't miss it.

Looking forward to it .

Haven't looked back over the other posts so haven't read what the opinion on Hendry calling it a day is ?

Great that he produced a awesome display beating Higgins and of course the first round 147 , but to go out with a poor display against Maguire is a shame .

It is a shame. He is the greatest and I fully understand why he did it.

TSC wrote:It is a shame. He is the greatest and I fully understand why he did it.

So do I as Hendry has been the game's greatest winner so it was an understandable decision. What I find a bit scary and uncanny about the World Championship this year is that the greatest player who has ever played at Crucible Stephen Hendry makes his final ever appearance as a player, whilst at the same time the talented youngster Luca Brecel who has the potential to one day take over Hendry's mantle as the king of the Crucible makes his first competitive debut as a player in snooker's most famous venue.

There is no way Ronnie is out of the match against Robbo. He could very well have been if they played another session last night after Robbo stole the last frame which visibly hurt Ronnie.
After a nights sleep i expect Ronnie to put it all behind him and play well today. I still dont see anything between them but Robbo has the better all round game and he also has the 'cough' if he starts feeling the pressure

The Whirlwind turns 50 today.

Thats true, Happy birthday Jimmy

blimey he looks old for 50 doesnt he!

Anyway, todays action is going to be very interesting. Can Ryan Day make a fightback against a resurgent Stevens? He has a lot of work to do but i think that Stevens experience will see him comfortably through.

Come on Ali!! I like Jamie Jones but I like Ali Carter. But which is better?

Did you know?

There were 14 years between Alex Higgins and Jimmy White.
There are 14 years between Jimmy White and Ronnie O'Sullivan.
There are 14 years between Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump.

So just now there's an 8 year old somewhere who's the next crowd entertainer.

Where did you dig this up TSC

John Parrott said it last year I think (or at the UKC). Scary isn't it?

And there was 14 years. between John Spencer and Alex Higgins.
Oh hold on, Spencer was quite dull so he doesn't count.

14 years between the most exciting players?

Its a funny thing to read

I cant wait to see Stevens in the Semi finals of the worlds again

Me too. It's definitely not a foregone conclusion that Robbo/Ronnie will beat Stevens.

Stevens is on form and looking very good. He is the type of player that will capitulate to Robbo/Ronnie or push them all the way and sneak a victory.

Typical. He's not the type of player that would stuff them then :/

Who was the last qualifier to win the WC? Pieman in '05?

Nah, he is not the type to stuff a player of Robbo or Ronnies quality. My opinion though.

Yeah i think that pieman is the last qualifier to win.