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?

[Duty281]

Ah, just as I say Trump is really struggling, he strolls through frame 11.

[CaledonianCraig]

Full credit to Anthony McGill here. He was put through the ringer this mornning but he is battling away and putting in some great breaks of his own. He takes the 12th frame but still trails 9-3 at the mid-session interval.

[CaledonianCraig]

Trump levels it up at 6-6 against Walden. This match looks like it will be one of the closer Second Round matches. Those completed so far have been pretty one-sided.

[CaledonianCraig]

Ding definitely gone off the boil here. McGill must punish him.

[CaledonianCraig]

And Ding takes a very scrappy 13th frame to lead 10-3. He could still finish this tonight.

[CaledonianCraig]

Another scrappy frame which Ding snaffles up and leads 11-3. Two frames left to play this evening. If he wins them both he is into the QFs with a session to spare.

[CaledonianCraig]

Trump and Walden tied at 7-7.

[CaledonianCraig]

Walden back ahead 8-7 and Anthony McGill striving to win the 15th frame which would ensure they return tomorrow to complete the match.

[CaledonianCraig]

And McGill takes the frame and trails 11-4.

[CaledonianCraig]

Ding takes the final frame of the day to leave him on tge brink of the QFs. He leads 12-4. On the other table Walden and Trump end their session 8-8.

[CaledonianCraig]

Ding beats McGill 13-4 and Judd Trump finishes strongly to beat Ricky Walden 13-9.

[CaledonianCraig]

This evening Mark Williams resumes with a 10-6 lead over Robert Milkins in the last of the Second Round matches to be completed.

Tomorrow sees the Quarter-Finals get underway. The line-up is as follows:-

Mark Allen (Northern Ireland) V Kyren Wilson (England)

Ding Junhui (China) V Barry Hawkins (England)

John Higgins (Scotland) V Judd Trump (England)

Mark Williams (Wales) or Robert Milkins (England) V Ali Carter (England)

[CaledonianCraig]

Mark Williams eases through to the QFs beating Robert Milkins 13-7.

[CaledonianCraig]

The QF's getting under way this morning. Mark Allen takes on Kyren Wilson and Ding Junhui takes on Barry Hawkins.

[CaledonianCraig]

Barry Hawkins off to a good start against Ding. He leads 2-1 and the fourth frame a little more scrappy. On the other table Kyren Wilson leads Mark Allen 2-1.

[Duty281]

Wow, Kyren Wilson nearly stole the fourth frame from Mark Allen, but missed the crucial, final black after a succession of poor positional shots.

It's 2-2 at the break, not 3-1. Could be pivotal.

[CaledonianCraig]

Meanwhile, The Hawk has swooped to lead Ding 3-1 at the mid-session interval.

[CaledonianCraig]

Ding and Hawkins share the next two frames and Hawkins leads 4-2. On the other table Mark Allen and Kyren Wilson are level at 3-3 but Allen has the upper hand in the 7th frame.

[CaledonianCraig]

Fabulous clearance of 83 from Kyren Wilson to steal the frame and lead 4-3.

[CaledonianCraig]

Ding ends up trailing Hawkins 5-3 whilst Allen and Wilson ended up level at 4-4.

[CaledonianCraig]

This afternoon sees John Higgins play Judd Trump. On the other table Ali Carter plays Mark Williams.

[CaledonianCraig]

Mark Williams and Judd Trump go into 1-0 leads.

[CaledonianCraig]

Chances for both in the second frame but it is John Higgins who takes it to level it up at 1-1. On the other table Ali Carter pulls off a great clearance to level it up at 1-1.

[CaledonianCraig]

Trump with a great clearance of 59 gives him a 2-1 lead and Ali Carter weighs in with a century to go 2-1 up.

[CaledonianCraig]

Higgins gets in and misses chance again and Trump mops up in great style to lead 3-1.

[CaledonianCraig]

On the other table Mark Williams is looking good to level it up at 2-2.

[CaledonianCraig]

Things getting better for Trump now and leads 4-1. Mark Williams level with Ali Carter at 2-2.

[CaledonianCraig]

A break of 74 gives Higgins the frame and he trails Trump 4-2.

[CaledonianCraig]

Mark Williams with a big break and goes 3-2 up on Ali Carter.

[Duty281]

Seems like the position of tournament favourite is cursed. Selby and O'Sullivan gone. Ding 3-5 down. Higgins about to go 3-5 down, it appears.

[CaledonianCraig]

Seems like the position of tournament favourite is cursed. Selby and O'Sullivan gone. Ding 3-5 down. Higgins about to go 3-5 down, it appears.

Long way to go and is Higgins the favourite? I am not too sure if he is. As commentators have alluded any of the players left in now you could make a case for them.

[CaledonianCraig]

Meanwhile, Carter and Williams are level at 3-3 but Carter is at the table and on a break in the 7th frame.

[CaledonianCraig]

Carter edges back ahead to lead 4-3.

[Duty281]

Seems like the position of tournament favourite is cursed. Selby and O'Sullivan gone. Ding 3-5 down. Higgins about to go 3-5 down, it appears.

Long way to go and is Higgins the favourite? I am not too sure if he is. As commentators have alluded any of the players left in now you could make a case for them.

Well, before the quarters started, Ding was the narrow bookmakers favourite ahead of Higgins.

But, yes, any of the 8 have a viable chance.

[88Chris05]

Worrying signs for Ding so far this evening. Down 3-7 to Hawkins and keeps passing up opportunities when he gets in first.

[88Chris05]

Another frame where he gets a reasonable chance and doesn't take it. Hawkins playing excellently, mind you. Has potted everything semi-difficult or better right in the heart of the pocket and punished Ding's mistakes.

8-3 now. Ding badly needs this last frame of the mini-session. The way they're both playing, a big-ish lead for Hawkins going in to tomorrow's final session looks very possible. If Ding can somehow get to 7-9 at the end of this session he'll have done well. And as someone who wants him to win the whole thing, I'd bite your hand off for it.

[Duty281]

Allen having a torrid time, but he's clinched a frame just before the interval after a terrible miss from Wilson. 7-5, not 8-4, he's hanging in. But he needs to play a hell of a lot better after the interval.

Very surprised at the Ding-Hawkins score. Wide open tournament!

[88Chris05]

Ding still playing poorly, and 5-9 down. Two frames left, and he could really do with winning both of them. Winning at least one, however, is an absolute, non-negotiable must. 7-9, he'd be right back in it. 6-10, he'd be in big trouble, but there'd still be a semblance of hope. But 5-11? Forget it.

Come on Ding. I like Hawkins and all, but really want this to finally be Ding's year.

[CaledonianCraig]

I think the pundits were near the truth earlier. Ding is desperate to win the world title. He has been close before only to be denied by Selby. Now Selby and O Sullivan are out he realises this is a golden chance and that is added pressure.

Credit to The Hawk for his standard of play but Ding has been a disappointment in this match so far. I agree if je doesn't win this last frame he is sunk.

Wilson also making light work of Mark Allen leading 8-5.

[Duty281]

Mark Allen missed two crucial shots - had he landed them, it could be 7-7. Instead, he missed both, and it's 9-5.

Actually a close game, but the scoreline not reflecting it.

[CaledonianCraig]

And another big Hawkins break seals the final frame of the session. This one is done and dusted. Hawkins leads 11-5.

[88Chris05]

I'm almost at a loss for words in regards to that session from Ding. So poor in this match having been so superb in his first two. He's just totally fallen apart there.

Mind you, while he had some help from his opponent, Hawkins put in a very good performance there. 11-5 and I agree, done and dusted.

The Higgins-Trump match is huge now. Whoever comes through that is going to be a red-hot favourite, what with Ding (presumably) out. As good as Hawkins is, I don't think he's quite good enough to go all the way, and while Williams' renaissance has been impressive, likewise I just don't think he's quite back at the level to win it outright.

[Duty281]

Hawkins hits a century to finish Ding off. Trump pulling further clear of Higgins.

[CaledonianCraig]

A Higgins fightback from 7-3 down sees him end all square at 8-8 after this morning's session. By the Hawkins presser Ding sounds like he capitulated 13-5. His mentality under scrutiny again. Well played The Hawk but like you Chris I doubt he can go all the way.

[CaledonianCraig]

Can Mark Allen display more heart than Ding? He resumed like Ding 11-5 down. He already looks well on his way to winning the first frame of the session. Still he will need an almighty miracle to get out of this match as winner.

[CaledonianCraig]

Wilson on the brink of his first world semi-final. He now leads Allen 12-6.

[CaledonianCraig]

And Kyren Wilson completesca very impressive 13-6 win over Mark Allen to reach his first Crucible semi. Congratulations to him. Allen out of sorts but Wilson was solid in all departments.

[CaledonianCraig]

Mark Williams resumes this evening leading Ali Carter 9-7 and John Higgins resumes level at 8-8 against Judd Trump. A big night for Judd. Win tonight and it could be pivotal on winning him a world title I reckon.

[88Chris05]

Higgins edges Trump 13-12 having been 3-7 down at one point. Trump has a history of blowing big leads against Higgins; 2011 World Championship, 2012 China Open and again today.

An excellent, absorbing match, although both players twitched on a few easy pots near the end. Higgins was a little fortunate after missing a simple red in the decider when on a forty-odd break that he didn't leave anything for Judd, considering how many reds were still on the table.

Higgins versus Wilson and Williams versus Hawkins in the semis, then. You'd fancy Higgins, over a four-session match, to have too much nous for Wilson and unlike Trump, Wilson (probably) can't outscore Higgins in the balls, so Higgins SHOULD come through to the final...But you never know, Wilson was excellent against Allen and will likely have exorcised a few demons from that Masters final loss against him.

The other semi is harder to call. Williams is in his best form for fifteen years, but Hawkins was absolutely superb against Ding; completely dominated the (then) tournament favourite. His form has been very consistent through the rounds, whereas Williams, despite being very good against Carter, struggled at times against Milkins.

I'll go for that world champion experience to come through in both semis, but really wouldn't be surprised to see Hawkins put Williams out. That one, I think, is going to be very, very close.

[Duty281]

Wonderful game between Higgins and Trump, good tournament overall.

I have to make Higgins a strong, strong favourite for glory now. He'll surely have too much combined experience and tactical ability for any of the three remaining competitors; the longer format will suit him immensely.

The other semi-final should be close. I think I give Hawkins the tentative nod over Williams.

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