2013 Masters

Here's the draw: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_Masters_%28snooker%29

I thought I'd do something different and go through the contenders and rate their chances. I'll fail spectacularly but it'll be fun!!

Name: Neil Robertson
World Ranking: 5
Seeding: 1
Adjective I'd use to describe this player: Hard-hitting
Chance of winning: High. Robbo's looking somewhat back to his best and as defending champion I fancy his chances of defending the title. He knows how to win this event, which is probably the second hardest event on tour to win, and has taken to the Ally Pally well since the event moved from the Wembley Arena. He faces Ding in the first round who may or may not turn up. Robbo will have a good run here and will top the year-end rankings (not the end of season rankings).

Name: Ding Junhui
World Ranking: 11
Seeding: 10
Adjective I'd use to describe this player: Streaky
Chance of winning: Medium. Ding is undoubtedly one of the best players on the tour but can sometimes go walkabout mentally. He is as good as any other player but is fragile under pressure and is not in good form at the moment. Against Robertson in the first round I don't fancy his chances and think it will be another first round exit on the BBC this season for him.

Name: Mark Allen
World Ranking: 8
Seeding: 8
Adjective I'd use to describe this player: Controversial
Chance of winning: Low. Whilst no one doubts Mark Allen's ability, it's his off-the-table comments which have gathered more media attention than his on-the-table work. He's been at loggerheads with nearly everyone in the game (fellow players, Barry Hearn, China) and I think this has hampered his game. I'm a big fan of Mark but until he gets his head back in the game I can't see him winning one of the big prizes.

Name: Mark Davis
World Ranking: 16
Seeding: 16:
Adjective I'd use to describe this player: Dangerous
Chance of winning: Low. For years Mark Davis was a journeyman; close but no cigar when it came to the Top 16. However, with the introduction of more tournaments, crucially those of a shorter format, Mark has been punching above his weight and is now inside that elusive Top 16. Whilst he is a danger man over the shorter format as he proved at the UK Championship, he normally is found out over the longer format. Although up until the final is first to 6, the final is first to 10 so even if he does make the final, he will not win. I think he will get past Mark Allen in the first round though.

Name: Shaun Murphy
World Ranking: 4
Seeding: 5
Adjective I'd use to describe this player: Fluid
Chance of winning: High. This is the title Shaun wants above all. The chance to join those 7 players who have won the World Championship, the UK Championship and the Masters. Murphy's potting is excellent, his safety is up there with the best, he can win scrappy frames which has made him one of the elite players on the circuit and is simply awesome when in full fluid, especially with that wonderful, wonderful cue action. He may not be the most popular person with the snooker audiences but he is a dangerous player and one who I think will do very well in this tournament. Will he win it? He's definitely in the mix.

Name: Ricky Walden
World Ranking: 12
Seeding: 11
Adjective I'd use to describe this player: Nervous
Chance of winning: Low. Poor Ricky, he always looks so nervous!! Despite being a two-time ranking event winner (in China at the start of the season), he's underperformed in the big events in Britain; both of his major wins have come in China. He faces Murphy in the first round and although Ricky can beat anyone on his day, Shaun's in form after reaching the final of the UK Championship last month and although I'm a fan of Ricky and want him to do well, I can't see him winning.

Name: John Higgins
World Ranking: 4
Seeding: 4
Adjective I'd use to describe this player: Great
Chance of winning: Medium. John's chances are lower in this event compared to all other events because simply, for some unknown reason, he either reaches the finals or loses in the first round. This was perhaps due to the old arena which John admitted he didn't like, but there is something about the tournament which makes him susceptible to early losses. Make no mistake; if John Higgins brings his A game, he wins, but I can only judge him on his past record and despite being a 2 time winner, I don't see him winning, unfortunately for myself.

Name: Ali Carter
World Ranking: 15
Seeding: 14
Adjective I'd use to describe this player: Steady
Chance of winning: Medium. Ali's a dark horse for this tournament. A fully fit Ali Carter is a dangerous man. He's a former World Number 2, two time Crucible Finalist and two time major winner. When he plays at his best he's very difficult to beat. He tried to grind Ronnie in the World Final which was never going to work against a focused Rocket and would have had more of a chance playing his normal game I think. He faces Higgins in the first round which is winnable but a potential QF final match v Murphy might have Ali thinking about their last meeting...

Name: Mark Selby
World Ranking: 1
Seeding: 3
Adjective I'd use to describe this player: Consistent
Chance of winning: High. Despite being a two time winner of this event in 2007 and 2009 (with another final appearance in between), his recent UK Championship will let both Selby and his opponents know he can win on the big stage. Selby's won PTC events this year (including the last one in Munich) and has now, in my opinion, evolved into the complete all round player, second only to Higgins. People might complain about Selby's "slow play" but through sheer consistency he is rightfully the current world number 1 and I think he will make the final v Robertson.

Name: Stuart Bingham
World Ranking: 10
Seeding: 9
Adjective I'd use to describe this player: "Purple"
Chance of winning: Low. At the UK Championship there was a lot talk about Bingham being the most in-form player in the land. It was true then but not now I feel. Despite having some good results on the BBC over the past 18 months I think Bingham's purple patch is over. He'll be in the Top 16 for a while longer I'm sure but do I see him as a major contender for this title? No and I reckon Selby will send him home in the first round, although if he beats Selby he'll have a run...

Name: Mark J Williams
World Ranking: 6
Seeding: 6
Adjective I'd use to describe this player: Enigmatic
Chance of winning: Low. Is there a snooker player in such a rut as MJW? He's in arguably the worst form of his career; falling down the rankings every update (he was World Number 1 not that long ago!!) and hasn't won anything for nearly a year now. Of course MJW on top form is a dangerous opponent for anyone but the fact is he's not and his first round opponent, Matthew Stevens, will know this and will look to capitalise on this. I think he will and a first round exit looms for one of the game's greats.

Name: Matthew Stevens
World Ranking: 13
Seeding: 13
Adjective I'd use to describe this player: Rejuvenated
Chance of winning: Medium. Matthew is one of the game's great underachievers, despite being an ex-UK and Masters Champion. If he hadn't gone walkabout during the middle of his career who knows how many titles he'd have ended up with? The introduction of the PTC's and the general increase in matches has helped Matthew tremendously in getting back to near his best. In this tournament, I think he will beat Williams in the first round and will have a good chance of reaching the semi-finals. He's a dark horse for this title.

Name: Stephen Maguire
World Ranking: 7
Seeding: 7
Adjective I'd use to describe this player: Underachiever
Chance of winning: Low. People make talk about Ronnie, for all his talent, being the game's biggest underachiever but I think that title goes to Stephen. For such a brilliant player, all he has to really show for his career is a solitary UK Championship victory many years ago. He's shown signs of making a comeback, especially this year with some PTC finals, but I don't see him threatening the top players this time around and with a fellow countryman who's returning to form in this first round, Stephen might be lucky to escape first round defeat.

Name: Graeme Dott
World Ranking: 14
Seeding: 12
Adjective I'd use to describe this player: Dogged
Chance of winning: Low. One of my favourite quotes about Graeme Dott is this: "Dogged Scot. Once forgot to don pants for match." No word sums up Graeme Dott like "dogged"; this man has reached 3 World Finals (winning 1) with sheer grit and determination. He's been in such poor form recently that I wouldn't have given him a hope v Maguire but he reached a PTC final a few days ago (losing in the final against Selby) which makes me think he can win his first round tie. He's not great over a short format but this match is 50-50 and either player can win it.

Name: Judd Trump
World Ranking: 2
Seeding: 2
Adjective I'd use to describe this player: Flair (is flair an adjective? I don't care)
Chance of winning: High. Judd Trump. The ex-World Number 1. The current World Number 2. Last year's UK Champion. This year's Shanghai Masters finalist. I can throw as many sentence fragments as I want in this paragraph but in short, Judd Trump is dangerous no matter what the format, no matter what the tournament, no matter what the opponent. Can he win this title? Yes. Will he win this title? Possibly. He's not my favourite to do so but he could quite easily blitz everyone in his way. I think he'll reach the semi-finals at least.

Name: Barry Hawkins
World Ranking: 17
Seeding: 15
Adjective I'd use to describe this player: Journeyman
Chance of winning: Low. For years Barry was hovering about the Top 16, much the same as Mark Davis, but never really made it in. He's been in and out over the past 2/3 years and is in this event due to the circumstances surrounding Stephen Lee. Therefore, there is no pressure on him but unfortunately for Barry he's drawn Trump in the first round. He can win against Trump but on TV at the Masters? I don't see it and I think the current Australian Open Champion leaves us in the first round.

My prediction: Robertson beats Selby in the final 10-8 (although it could just as easily be the other way around).

Incredible write up TSJ, gret stuff. Can't disagree with a single word of it.

I'm hoping for a Matthew Stevens win, expecting a Mark Selby win, and think Ali Carter has a great chance.

I really miss Ronnie and Stephen Hendry though, two huge losses for viewers.

Thanks Azzy It's a tough one to call this year which makes it that much better.

I miss them too. Ronnie for his genius and Stephen because, although he was never at his best for the last few years before he retired, he could suddenly rattle off some "vintage Hendry" frames and pull a 147 from nowhere.

Agree with Mark and the head. Just wish he'd learn to keep quiet a bit. Nowt wrong with being arrogant, its just been bad publicity for MA.

Fantastic write up! So hard to call this one and snooker in general these days (the PTCs have really sharpened up the lower ranked players). Going to go for Murphy to win this one.

Mark Allen is very similar to Joey Barton. Fantastic talent, wasted by not focussing on his game and keeping himself out of trouble. A real shame.

Azzy Mahmood wrote:Mark Allen is very similar to Joey Barton. Fantastic talent, wasted by not focussing on his game and keeping himself out of trouble. A real shame.

Aye, nothing wrong with talking yerself up, but he's dropped some clangers. Hope he doesn't be another Alex Higgins.

Top article TSJ

I cant help but hope that MJW still has one more tournement win left in him

Anyone who refers to themselves with an initial - JJ Abrams, Mark J Williams etc - deserves nothing except public scorn.

Robbo looking very sharp here, Ding looking.... disinterested?

I had Robbo down to win this but i really want Williams to win

I'd like to see MJW win one more big one before he retires too but he's just in such bad form at the moment it's unlikely, but not impossible. He's just glad Ronnie's not there.

Neil might be sweating a bit here. Ding's not dropping off and not going away; if anything he's looking better now (and as I type this he misses a sitter).

Ding ahead now at 4-3, he's 2 away and Robbo's game has gone missing.

He's in again! Forgive the pun but.... this is a ding-dong first round match. Robbo's on the verge of embarrassing me!!

This is almost the Ding of old.

Top match; at least 3 centuries so far. Robbo pulls one back for 5-4. 1 behind with 2 to play.

Robbo just about still in it, Ding 40 points ahead with 74 left.

Robbo clears up after a great long pot and we're into a decider. Robbo has the momentum but anything can happen, as the cliche goes.

Robbo first in after a very poor break-off shot from Ding.

And Robbo makes a wonderful break of 80-odd to wrap the match up. Ding only had one shot in that final frame (the break-off) and it cost him. What a wonderful comeback from Robbo (never in doubt!!!)

Really well played Mark Allen. He looked as good as I've seen him in ages tonight, except a bit out of shape!!

Two excellent results. Ding getting knocked out, and Mark Allen looking like the player he ought to be. Great start to the tourney!

This might be a gritty match!!

Solid start so far TSJ, great pink just now from Ali.

It was a very good shot in the early part of the match. John was unlucky with that kick; what a frame to win.

Nah it wasn't so much the kick, it was just a poor shot.

What a fluke!! Decent chance for Ali in the second now.

Errrrrrr......

Should be 2-0 but instead is 2-0 down. Luckily he has the best temperament in the game so I wouldn't rule a comeback out.

Great stuff, I love watching John Higgins when he's losing

Even 4-0 up you'd be on your guard though, Higgins is a terrific player. Just hope Ali can keep this up.

Ali is in again with a great chance. The next frame is the match for him.

A true champion responds and John makes a century after an awful miss from Ali. It's 2-1.

Not sure I'll ever consider John Higgins to be a 'true' anything, other than a true fraud and cheat. But he can play the game, hat off to him.

2-2! It really should be 4-0 to John but he's done well to haul himself back into it. This is a tough match for me considering I'm a big fan of both players. On second though though, I'm a big fan of most players.

John's long potting has been fairly decent today. It's 3-2 to him now and Ali's on a slippery slope.

Now then..............................

It's 4-2; shame he missed a chance for the century.

Higgins is playing very well, Ali really has to do something quickly.

This looks like 4-3 after Higgins missed a tricky red. A very good break from Ali considering he hadn't potted a ball for a few minutes shy of an hour. Ali's hanging in there at the moment.

I sense a re-rack.

Good frame for Higgins to win; a very tactical one. He leads 5-3 with 3 to play.

Ah Higgins wins 6-3 with a break of 65. Ali was in first in that frame and after a break of 54 he made one careless error and let Higgins in after another miss/badly judged shot. Higgins clears up to win the frame as he does best.

When he's in full flow around the table, Maguire's one of the best players to watch. He has such a fantastic break building brain.

He's so ugly though, he really puts me off the games!

It's that round head of his I think. Dott's no looker either, poor guy, and his voice is just odd.

Judd today. Hopefully he's sorted out that ball-bashing thing.

As much as I don't like Dott, I really don't like Maguire, so I was happy last night. Hopefully Judd can smash in a quick 6-0 win

That's interesting. I don't know a single person who actually likes Maguire. Poor guy

Come on Barry! Judd hits the ball too hard and it bugs me.

Actually on second thought I'm not big on Hawkins either. Come on Judd!