2017 and 2018 World Snooker Championship Thread

[CaledonianCraig]

First topic message reminder :

I am surprised no topic up here yet for the World Championship so here goes a few days too late.

Mark Selby looks like a good bet for a third world title. Where will the main challenge come from? Perhaps Judd Trump, John Higgins, Ding Junhui and Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Selby looked very good in his opening match as did Higgins. O'Sullivan's mental demons have resurfaced again in time for The Crucible and will need to improve to win again.

Thoughts?

[CaledonianCraig]

And Hawkins takes it and takes an 11-9 lead into the interval. That will be a sore one to take for Maguire.

[CaledonianCraig]

Maguire MUST win this next frame for me.

[temporary21]

He needs 11-11 I think or he's gonna be too far back

[CaledonianCraig]

He needs 11-11 I think or he's gonna be too far back

Yes I agree.

[CaledonianCraig]

The Hawk looking good for the semis now. Looks odds on to go 12-9 up.

[CaledonianCraig]

Another fluke and The Hawk takes the frame (barring snookers) and will go 12-9 up.

[CaledonianCraig]

And 12-9 it is.

[CaledonianCraig]

Barry Hawkins seals his spot in the semi-finals again. Got good run of the balls tonight and scored heavier. Barry Hawkins will play John Higgins in the semi starting tomorrow.

[CaledonianCraig]

At 1pm Mark Selby and Ding Junhui begin their semi-final as we get down to the one table situation. My money would be on Selby to come through. He has been improving as the tournament has gone on and mentally he will be much fresher than Ding. Could be a cracker though.

[Hammersmith harrier]

I can't see anything other than a Selby/Higgins final.

[CaledonianCraig]

I can't see anything other than a Selby/Higgins final.

I'd agree. Selby off and running and on a decent-sized break in the opening frame.

[CaledonianCraig]

But Ding strikes pack with a clearance of 76 and goes 1-0 up. It will be interesting to see how this pans out as Selby hasn't really been tested so far.

[CaledonianCraig]

A carbon copy start to the first frame. Selby in with a good chance first and building a handy lead. Can he convert this time?

[CaledonianCraig]

He runs out of position on 68. Ding comes back to the table but Selby hot favourite to level this up.

[CaledonianCraig]

A cracking long pot from Selby and puts the frame to bed. 1-1

[CaledonianCraig]

Ding with another big break goes into a 2-1 lead. Already a much better start than he made in the final last year V Selby when he lost the first six frames.

[CaledonianCraig]

Selby in first yet again and on a decent break - frame at his mercy?

[CaledonianCraig]

And Selby with a great break of 99 takes the fourth frame to level things up at 2-2 at the mid-session interval.

[CaledonianCraig]

Once more Selby in first in the frame. Building a small lead.

[CaledonianCraig]

A chance here for Ding to steal this frame.

[CaledonianCraig]

Chance missed but the frame still in the balance though Selby is warm favourite.

[CaledonianCraig]

Tense frame this and should Selby lose it he will not be happy.

[CaledonianCraig]

Selby will be relieved. He takes the frame to lead 3-2 and is the first time he has been in the lead.

[CaledonianCraig]

Ding at the table in the 6th frame and on a break. Looks like 3-3 is on the cards.

[CaledonianCraig]

Careless mistake from Ding. Running out of position and eventually missing a tricky black. Now it is Selby's turn to pinch a frame if he can.

[CaledonianCraig]

But Ding can breathe again. Frame still in the balance.

[CaledonianCraig]

Another tense frame this. Ding with a handy advantage and warm favourite but Selby still in with a slim chance.

[CaledonianCraig]

Ding looking odds-on to take this frame now.

[CaledonianCraig]

A long, drawn out frame is finally won by Ding and we are back level at 3-3. A 39 minute frame.

[CaledonianCraig]

Ding winning the 7th frame comfortably and he leads 4-3 with one frame left to play in this session.

[temporary21]

The odds are starting to maybe swing a bit to ding. I was concerned he'd be tired and get swept away early

[CaledonianCraig]

Ding takes the final frame of the day with a break of 110 and he deserves the 5-3 lead at the end of this session. His control of the cueball today has been better and has even won tactical battles.

[CaledonianCraig]

The second semi-final gets underway at 7pm with John Higgins taking on Barry Hawkins. A lot has been made of the possible resurgence of Higgins this year and this will be the acid test I think. If he wins with a fair few frames to spare with a century or two flung in then it will back up the theory he is returning to his best. A narrower win and the jury would still be out (for me) but also depends on what Barry Hawkins turns up. He has played well in patches so far and went off the boil for spells as well. If he can blend together a more consistent performance he may just manage to put enough pressure on Higgins to force errors. I'll predict a Higgins win 17-14.

[CaledonianCraig]

John Higgins looks set to take the first frame. The Hawk needs snookers.

[CaledonianCraig]

Higgins leads 1-0.

[CaledonianCraig]

Both players with chances in this second frame. Higgins now in the boxseat.

[CaledonianCraig]

Higgins takes the second frame and leads 2-0. I feel that Barry can't afford to fall too far behind here - if he does it will drain his belief and confidence and fuel John's. I don't see him as the type of player who will throw away a big lead.

[CaledonianCraig]

Hawkins shelling far too many chances so far. Higgins reciprocates. Hawkins in again - and misses.

[CaledonianCraig]

Higgins looking likely to go 3-0 up. Hawkins needs to settle - and fast.

[CaledonianCraig]

A frame Hawkins should have won disappears and Higgins leads 4-0 at the mid-session interval. The Hawk must win three of the next four for me to remain relevant.

[CaledonianCraig]

The Hawk finally finding his potting range and pulling his way back to just 4-2 down.

[temporary21]

Mark looks set to win the first 4 frames of this session. He could very well have lost the first 3. Grit of the highest order, and some luck

[TRUSSMAN66]

Shame if Selby wins............Not great to watch.........Effective that he is.

[88Chris05]

Have felt right from the off that Selby would retain the title, and sadly I can see him stamping his authority on this match further after the mid-session interval. Hopefully not, not because I have any axe to grind with Selby, but because I really want this to be Ding's year at last.

The sensations he caused between 2005 and 2007, making a Masters final and winning three ranking events before he'd even got out of his teen years, heaped pressure on his shoulders that he's never quite looked comfortable in handling until recently. He's been at the forefront of the snooker boom in China and his impact has been fantastic for the game globally, and would be even better if he could bag the title here. Moreover, though, he's just a phenomenal player when he's in the mood. Some might say that Jimmy White is still the greatest player to never win the world title, but I think Ding went past him a while ago, albeit at just thirty he's obviously got time on his side to pass that particular parcel back to Jimmy, as has Judd Trump.

Usually Higgins would be the guy you'd fancy to out-Selby Selby, but John has lost that extra few percent which he had a few years back, and I don't think his level is good enough to get by Selby over four sessions just now. If he were playing Ding in the final, it might be another story. That's assuming Higgins gets there; though he's got a lead and he's in a different class to Hawkins in general terms, I wouldn't be totally shocked if Hawkins found a way past him.

Big few frames coming up for Ding. He absolutely has to share the next four before the end of play, for me. At 9-7 he's still in it, albeit with work to do as Selby knows how to control a match and sap your chances to strike back once he has a lead. Any more of a deficit, though, and I can't see him doing it.

I think it'll be a Selby-Higgins final with Selby winning it.

[CaledonianCraig]

Selby now pegged back to 7-6 now by Ding. After watching the other semi's standard I would say the eventual winner comes from this match. I always feel with Ding it is all about self-belief.

[temporary21]

He's far from out of this.

I'd like it to be dings year too. I have a great respect for marks battling ability though, he is by far the hardest man to play in the long format right now

[VTR]

Selby now pegged back to 7-6 now by Ding. After watching the other semi's standard I would say the eventual winner comes from this match. I always feel with Ding it is all about self-belief.

Agreed, the standard in the other semi was pretty poor yesterday. The Ding/Selby half of the draw has been much stronger. The Higgins/Hawkins half was significantly weakened once Trump lost to McLeod who became practically a bye Maguire who then played appallingly in his quarter final. The winner of Selby and Ding will be match hardened for the final, whereas if Higgins makes it as looks likely he's had a pretty easy draw to get there

[temporary21]

Looking like a 9-7 advantage to selby

[CaledonianCraig]

Poor session for Ding and he ends it trailing Mark Selby 9-7. He is still well in this match though. You feel he needs to win the next session though.

[CaledonianCraig]

Controversy in that first frame won by Hawkins. Higgins leads 5-4.

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