2013 World Snooker Championship

First topic message reminder :

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIRST ROUND

(Seeded players are in brackets)

(1) Ronnie O'Sullivan v Marcus Campbell

(16) Ali Carter v Ben Woollaston

(9) Stuart Bingham v Sam Baird

(8) John Higgins v Mark Davis

(5) Shaun Murphy v Martin Gould

(12) Graeme Dott v Peter Ebdon

(13) Matthew Stevens v Marco Fu

(4) Judd Trump v Dominic Dale

(3) Neil Robertson v Robert Milkins

(14) Ricky Walden v Michael Holt

(11) Mark Williams v Michael White

(6) Stephen Maguire v Dechawat Poomjaeng

(7) Mark Allen v Mark King

(10) Ding Junhui v Alan McManus

(15) Barry Hawkins v Jack Lisowski

(2) Mark Selby v Matthew Selt

I love watching Gouldie play. He's a really good player who I reckon will be back in the Top 16 next season. Ah, if only Pitiful Power Snooker and the Shoout-Out were ranking events!!

The sMurph's looking in fine nick. 10-5 against the potentially dangerous Gouldie. Aside from Mark Davis, I think Gouldie was the one the top players wanted to avoid.

And Christopher of course!!

So glad White beat Mark 'J'. Combined with Higgins being down, I now don't care who wins!

Not out yet

Why are the BBC showing Ebdon v Dott over Allen v King?

Oh, I didn't realise it was on BBC 2

Ah, vintage Ebdon. He is 6-6 with Dott and his highest break is 39!!

Dott has just fallen apart out there. He looked like he'd rather be anywhere else - even sharing a drink with Ronnie.

Let's not exaggerate I find it quite funny that (apparently) more players dislike Ronald than like him, but that's a topic for another time. Dotty's game has indeed fallen to pieces. Hopefully he can regroup and win the next four frames, else this match will be pulled off at 2:30.

I think Dotty just needs to win one frame and the pendulum will swing back his way. I can see this match not being completed until tonight.

That was a massive frame for Dotty to win from a snookers required stage. Hopefully that will settle him down and focus his mind as he leads again at 7-6. I can only see them fitting one more frame in before they get hauled off so we look set for a late finish tonight.

They've got just over an hour, so yes, one frame before the 2:30 matches. That was a massive frame for Dotty to win and hopefully that can spur him on to drag himself through the match.

4-4 on the Allen-King match. It's a bit scrappy to say the least.

Dotty I think getting very flustered/bothered by the amount of time Ebdon is spending out of the arena between frames. A 50 break from Dott and he looks very good to go into a 8-6 lead going into an extra session tonight.

King finishes 5-4 up but I don't think it will last.

Dott and Ebdon being "pulled off" will be by far the most exciting thing that happens in the match.

Actually if I'm being honest I really enjoy the attritional stuff more than the one visit break building but I guess I bit of both makes for the most fun.

Ebdon is a bit of a cult hero so that's why I can stomach watching him.


Come on John (and Stephen)!!

Oh I love a fluke.

Ah, John takes the first frame with a break of 92, albeit with a couple of wobbles along the way. 4-6. Now Mark Davis, how do you respond?

Ah Dechawat, unlucky. He can't quite join Fergal O'Brien's club of players who have made a century in their first frame at the Crucible but leads takes the frame.

2-0 Poomjaeng, 7-4 Davis.

This frame is the match for me.

Mags claws one back. 2-1.

5-7 now.

I am at work now but following scores online. Maguire always strikes me as a player without the mental aptitude to ever win a world title. I may be wrong but he just lacks something for me.

He reminds me of Ding. He's got the game to win it but isn't consistent enough over two weeks to win the title. I'd really like him to prove me wrong though because without Maguire, there's not much hope for Scottish snooker.

Yes I see where you are coming from but feel there is more chance of Dott and even Higgins winning it than Maguire. Just too inconsistent as you say and prone to mental collapses.

You will no receive no congratulations from me Mark Davis.

Higgins out I hear!

I wouldn't celebrate, the tournament is much worse without him.

The tournament may be poorer for Honest John's loss but word on the street is he's a few quid richer!!!!

I'm happy for Davis. Got a lot of time for players like him who keep plugging away year after year without getting any real glory.

Duty281 wrote:Higgins out I hear!

Splendid. I can enjoy it now.

The Special Juan wrote:I wouldn't celebrate, the tournament is much worse without him.

Quite the opposite, and his offensive comments about Davis after the game just prove how up himself he really is. "He hasn't played at the business end of tournaments before so he doesn't get nervous" - what tosh. Go stuff your face with some more pork pies you nonce.

Azzy Mahmood wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:I wouldn't celebrate, the tournament is much worse without him.

Quite the opposite, and his offensive comments about Davis after the game just prove how up himself he really is. "He hasn't played at the business end of tournaments before so he doesn't get nervous" - what tosh. Go stuff your face with some more pork pies you nonce.

Do you have a link to that?

A Ronnie fan I take it Azzy? Take a look at some of his obnoxious views eh?

Higgins didn't quite say that Azzy. He was attempting to blame his defeat on old age when he realised Davis is older and suggested that maybe Davis didn't have as many grey hairs because he hadn't played "at the business end of tournaments".

Still pretty cretinous as it must be far more nerve racking playing matches when each win/loss really affects your livelihood as opposed to just whether you'll pick up another tournament victory.

Getting away from Sir John, tonight's matches look a bit tasty. The possibility of Carter v Ronald in Round 2 is especially delicious.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/22252914

"You can't just put it down to age because Mark is older than me, but maybe he hasn't been at the business end of tournaments so he hasn't got the grey hairs I have now."

3 semi-finals this season says otherwise Johnny boy

I can take or leave Ronnie, I'm more of a Robbo / Dominic Dale / Mark King man myself

I think Snooker has a new cult hero to join Dominic Dale and Angles McManus.

Step forward Dechawat Poomjaeng!

Mark King? Do you share the same hairdresser or something? (Sorry for the cheap joke)

(I thought it was two semi-finals?)

Dave. wrote:I think Snooker has a new cult hero to join Dominic Dale and Angles McManus.

Step forward Dechawat Poomjaeng!

And Dave Harold? I love Dechawat's hairline. It's glorious.

I wonder if Robbo has it in him to win a second world title?

The Special Juan wrote:Mark King? Do you share the same hairdresser or something? (Sorry for the cheap joke)

Nah, I like Dale for the hair and waistcoats, and King for his lack of ability and his uncanny resemblance of Mark Strong, the great British actor

He's the form player CC. The winner of his half (which includes Selby) is the winner of the tournament for me.

I've just googled him Azzy. They have pretty much the same skull shape

The Special Juan wrote:

Dave. wrote:I think Snooker has a new cult hero to join Dominic Dale and Angles McManus.

Step forward Dechawat Poomjaeng!

And Dave Harold? I love Dechawat's hairline. It's glorious.

Of course.

The Special Juan wrote:He's the form player CC. The winner of his half (which includes Selby) is the winner of the tournament for me.

Certainly has a chance then. Selby I see much in the same mould as Maguire - always the bridesmaid at The Crucible but never to be the bride in my opinion. Another who fails to deliver when it really matters.

You may right but I'd rather wait until his career is over before I make any judgements on it. Unlike Mags, Selby has a final to his name. I can't (and obviously shouldn't) make excuses for him but last year he had a bad neck injury and in.... 09(?) he was outstanding against Higgins and lost 13-12 in the quarters. Plus with the Masters and the UK already sewn up this year he's got the motivation to succeed, but I hope it doesn't inflict too much pressure on him. Maybe two years ago I'd have agreed with you but Selby's a different player these days to the nearly-man of a few years ago.

The battle of the left-handers has been entertaining stuff. Not often a match involving Mark King comes into that category.

Allen's impending defeat is massive.

Graeme Dott came through a very sticky spell to beat Peter Ebdon 10 -6 sealing the win with a century break. Dott looked far better this evening.

Whilst Dotty is gritty, I don't think he's a grinder. He's a really good break builder when he's in amongst the balls but I don't think he's the type to smash into them off the pink. Anyway, that's a terrific win for him.

Ding's looking very good this morning. I think he and Fu will be fired up this.