2017 and 2018 World Snooker Championship Thread

by CaledonianCraig Tue 18 Apr 2017, 5:04 pm

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?

by **88Chris05** Fri 27 Apr 2018, 12:42 pm

Yeah, I remember him talking about that, Beer. Thought he said that by 2016 he had it back under control, though? Yet still hasn't reproduced the form of old. Maybe his boyish face and that knock-off BoJo hair makes us all forget that he is 36 now, traditionally an age where even snooker players start finding it tough to keep up the standards of their peaks. Recently there's been a renaissance for a few of the older players, but maybe Robertson is just passed his peak.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 27 Apr 2018, 12:44 pm

Ali Carter leads Ronnie O Sullivan 5-3 after their first session whilst on the other table Mark Allen leads Joe Perry 8-6 though it looks a good bet that will soon be 8-7.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 27 Apr 2018, 1:12 pm

Joe Perry back level at 8-8 against Mark Allen at the end of their second session.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 27 Apr 2018, 2:34 pm

This afternoon sees Kyren Wilson and Jamie Jones get their Second Round match under way. On the other table Barry Hawkins resumes 5-3 ahead Lyu Haotian.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 27 Apr 2018, 3:00 pm

The Hawk now taking control and leads Lyu 7-3.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 27 Apr 2018, 3:28 pm

Hawkins now 8-3 up and surely looking good for a place in the Quarter-Finals. On the other table Kyren Wilson and Jamie Jones are level at 1-1.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 27 Apr 2018, 4:44 pm

Great grit from Lyu though and he has fought back and trails Hawkins 8-6.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 27 Apr 2018, 4:54 pm

And Lyu wins his fourth frame on the trot with sizable breaks and now trails by just one at 8-7. Hawkins looks bothered.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 27 Apr 2018, 4:56 pm

On the other table Kyren Wilson leads Jamie Jones 4-2.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 27 Apr 2018, 6:26 pm

Barry Hawkins takes the final frame of the session and will take a 9-7 lead into the final session against Lyu.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 27 Apr 2018, 7:33 pm

Ali Carter wins the first frame of the evening session and leads O Sullivan 6-3. On the other table Mark Allen looks like going into a 10-8 lead over Joe Perry.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 27 Apr 2018, 7:49 pm

A scrappy second frame in the evening intermingled with a good safety exchange and Carter takes it and extends his lead to 7-3.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 27 Apr 2018, 8:02 pm

The Captain moves into an 8-3 lead over Ronnie. Has the ship sailed for The Rocket? Whatever happens in the rest of this session Ali cannot be behind going into tomorrow's final session.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 27 Apr 2018, 8:13 pm

Mark Allen wins all three frames so far this evening and is now leading 11-8. O Sullivan with a sizable lead in the 12th frame and looking good to win his first frame in six.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 27 Apr 2018, 8:15 pm

And O Sullivan pulls it back to 8-4. Carter will be kicking himself as he had chances to make it 9-3.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 27 Apr 2018, 8:22 pm

Mark Allen on the brink of the QF's he leads Perry 12-8.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 27 Apr 2018, 8:44 pm

Carter feeding Ronnie chances and going off the boil. Ronnie pulls another frame back to trail 8-5.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 27 Apr 2018, 8:49 pm

Mark Allen seals a spot in the QFs beating Joe Perry 13-8.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 27 Apr 2018, 8:58 pm

Ronnie in first in the 14th frame and builds a lead before breaking down. Carter handed a chance of stealing the frame and he refinds his touch and takes it with a break of 51 and leads 9-5.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 27 Apr 2018, 9:07 pm

Better from Ronnie. Takes the frame with a big break and he trails Ali Carter 9-6. If he can win the final frame of the session I'd say he is right back in this. If Carter wins it he'll feel the match is his to lose. Crucial frame this.

by CaledonianCraig Fri 27 Apr 2018, 9:14 pm

And Ronnie takes the final frame with another good break. Carter takes a 9-7 lead into the final session. Given that Carter has won just one of the 17 matches he has played against Ronnie I would still back Ronnie from here.

by Guest Fri 27 Apr 2018, 9:40 pm

Out of jail at 9-7. Looked a goner at 8-3 down.

by CaledonianCraig Sat 28 Apr 2018, 10:09 am

This morning's matches sees Kyren Wilson resume 5-3 up against Jamie Jones. On the other table Hawkins resumes 9-7 up on Lyu.

by CaledonianCraig Sat 28 Apr 2018, 10:22 am

Lyu looks a really great talent. Rolls off a 91 break and pulls himself back to 9-8 behind Barry Hawkins.

by CaledonianCraig Sat 28 Apr 2018, 10:42 am

And Lyu strokes in a break of 100 and levels the match up at 9-9.

by CaledonianCraig Sat 28 Apr 2018, 11:17 am

A scrappy third frame of the morning is finally won by Barry Hawkins and he edges back ahead 10-9 and Lyu may be feeling the pressure as he misses a decent chance and The Hawk has built a lead of 50+ in the 20th frame. 11-9 looks on the cards.

by CaledonianCraig Sat 28 Apr 2018, 11:24 am

Lyu digs deep and got himself back into the frame but misses the brown and The Hawk clears up to lead 11-9.

EDIT: Hold the phone. Lyu plays on for snookers and Hawkins inexplicable goes in off the pink and Lyu clears up the pink and black to nick the frame. It is 10-10 at their interval. Incredible stuff.

by CaledonianCraig Sat 28 Apr 2018, 12:06 pm

Hawkins takes the next frame to settle himself down a bit and leads 11-10.

by CaledonianCraig Sat 28 Apr 2018, 12:16 pm

Hawkins upping his game at just the right time here. Weighing in with a big break of 132 and extends his lead to 12-10 and leaves him a frame away from a place in the QFs.

by CaledonianCraig Sat 28 Apr 2018, 12:30 pm

Barry Hawkins found his touch when he most needed it as inexperience and perhaps nerves done for Lyu. Hawkins wins 13-10 and reaches the QFs. No doubt we will be seeing a lot more of Lyu though for years to come. On the other table Kyren Wilson leads Jamie Jones 8-5.

by CaledonianCraig Sat 28 Apr 2018, 12:51 pm

Kyren Wilson now in total control and leads Jamie Jones 10-5.

by CaledonianCraig Sat 28 Apr 2018, 1:12 pm

And Kyren Wilson wins the final frame of the session and is cruising into the QFs as he leads Jamie Jones 11-5.

by CaledonianCraig Sat 28 Apr 2018, 2:55 pm

Carter misses a yellow with the rest and Ronnie punishes him to pull it back to 9-8. On the other table John Higgins has won the first frame against Jack Lisowski.

by Duty281 Sat 28 Apr 2018, 2:59 pm

Sheer, world-class brilliance from O’Sullivan in that frame.

by CaledonianCraig Sat 28 Apr 2018, 3:09 pm

Despite a break of 60 Lisowski still loses the second frame. Higgins leads 2-0.

by CaledonianCraig Sat 28 Apr 2018, 3:21 pm

Ali makes a statement of his own. A break of 63 helps him take the 18th frame and he re-establishes his two frame lead at 10-8.

by CaledonianCraig Sat 28 Apr 2018, 3:30 pm

John Higgins now leads 3-0. Carter with a slim advantage in the 19th frame as a safety battle ensues.

by CaledonianCraig Sat 28 Apr 2018, 3:40 pm

A low scoring and scrappy 19th frame this and very tense.

by CaledonianCraig Sat 28 Apr 2018, 3:47 pm

And Ali Carter looks odds on to go 11-8 up. On the other table Higgins leads Lisowski 4-0.

by CaledonianCraig Sat 28 Apr 2018, 3:48 pm

Shoulder barge between the two. Ref tells them to calm down.

by Duty281 Sat 28 Apr 2018, 3:50 pm

Generally foolish to write O'Sullivan off, but I feel that 11-8 in a first-to-13 match is too far a gap to bridge, particularly with Carter playing as decently as he is.

Stupid antics from O'Sullivan there.

by CaledonianCraig Sat 28 Apr 2018, 3:52 pm

And Carter does go 11-8 up.

by CaledonianCraig Sat 28 Apr 2018, 3:54 pm

Duty281 wrote:Generally foolish to write O'Sullivan off, but I feel that 11-8 in a first-to-13 match is too far a gap to bridge, particularly with Carter playing as decently as he is.

Stupid antics from O'Sullivan there.

The thing is Carter has won once V Ronnie in 17 previous meetings. Does Ali have the mental strength to get over the winning line here? That is the big question for me here.

by CaledonianCraig Sat 28 Apr 2018, 3:58 pm

Ronnie in first in a frame you feel he must win. One visit win perhaps?

by CaledonianCraig Sat 28 Apr 2018, 4:02 pm

No not quite a one visit win but a sizeable break before he breaks down. Handy 50+lead and he's back in again. Ronnie looking odds on to pull it back to 11-9 at the mid-session interval.

by CaledonianCraig Sat 28 Apr 2018, 4:05 pm

And a break of 71 makes it 11-9.

by CaledonianCraig Sat 28 Apr 2018, 4:16 pm

Meanwhile, on the other table Higgins is now 5-0 up on Jack Lisowski.

by CaledonianCraig Sat 28 Apr 2018, 4:36 pm

Ronnie looked to be coasting to the frame win but throws Ali a lifeline. Still looks like a very tough chance under extreme pressure though. Higgins leads 6-0 on the other table.

by CaledonianCraig Sat 28 Apr 2018, 4:40 pm

That is a magic clearance under the circumstances and position of the balls. Carter pinches the frame on the black ball and leads 12-9. Immense break.

by Duty281 Sat 28 Apr 2018, 4:42 pm

Ruthless. One of the breaks of the tournament.

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