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?

[eirebilly]

I would love to see Williams win it, have always admired his skill around the table. Very nice lad as well, great laugh after a few pints.

[CaledonianCraig]

A solid start from John Higgins. He goes 2-0 up on Kyren Wilson. The youngster needs to keep this close for me as mental fatigue could be over the horizon for the veteran Higgins given the mental test of his match V Trump.

[CaledonianCraig]

Multiple chances for Wilson in the 3rd frame but he squanders them as Higgins weighs in with a break of 77 and he leads 3-0. Wilson needs a frame pretty quick.

[Duty281]

3-0. Wilson has had chances in all three frames, but not taken them. Higgins has punished accordingly.

Really worry for Wilson if he doesn't get on the board soon.

[CaledonianCraig]

Yet another frame where Wilson has had his chances but this time Higgins doesn't punish him and he gets his first frame on the board. The mid-session interval will feel a little better now for Wilson. He trails 3-1.

[CaledonianCraig]

A great steal from John Higgins. Wilson looked all ends up to take the frame with a 60+ lead but Higgins gets a chance and clears up with a break of 69. That will hurt Kyren Wilson. Higgins leads 4-1.

[CaledonianCraig]

Kyren Wilson back in again and just nearing the winning post and breaks down. Surely, not another Higgins steal on? I'd say not.

[CaledonianCraig]

And Wilson can breathe again. He takes the frame and trails 4-2.

[CaledonianCraig]

As I referred to earlier the commentators referring to now - fatigue and John Higgins. At this point he'd take any lead going into the next session with Wilson in again and on a max.

[CaledonianCraig]

No max then but Wilson's break looks set to pull him back to 4-3.

[CaledonianCraig]

Century up for Wilson who is looking far the fresher and has now relaxed. Higgins leads 4-3.

[CaledonianCraig]

Great mental strength from Higgins. He looked done for the session and out of the frame. Wilson broke down and Higgins somehow cleared and will lead 5-3 going into tomorrow's second session.

[CaledonianCraig]

Tonight the other semi gets under way with Mark Williams taking on Barry Hawkins. On form a tough one to call. The Hawk was great against Ding and thrives at The Crucible. Mark Williams has won the world title twice and you just feel he is savouring his rennaissance and has an icy temperament. For me Williams will come through and has been scoring very heavily at this tournament so far.

[CaledonianCraig]

I will go for Mark Williams to beat Barry Hawkins 17-14.

[No name Bertie]

I wouldn't mind seeing John Higgins winning the world championship and matching Ronnie O'Sullivan's tally of five. It might re-inspire O'Sullivan to keep on practicing to maintain tournament fitness. Higgins is about 7 months older than O'Sullivan.

I wouldn't mind seeing a Williams v Higgins final (with Higgins winning). However, Hawkins thumping of Ding in the Quarter-final, suggests that maybe Hawkins, aged 39, has the form, to win what would be his first world championship.

[CaledonianCraig]

Damage limitation in that session from Higgins. Even though he was below par and not scoring highly he still shared the session 4-4. He will take a 9-7 lead into tonight's session. Wilson has shown good bottle and temperament so far and isn't going to go away quietly.

[CaledonianCraig]

Barry Hawkins keeps his nose in front leading Mark Williams 9-7 with two sessions played. Both semis still in the balance.

[CaledonianCraig]

In last night's session John Higgins maintained his two frame lead over Kyren Wilson to take a 13-11 lead into their final session this afternoon.

Barry Hawking and Mark Williams have just started their third session with Hawkins 9-7 ahead.

[CaledonianCraig]

Top break off from Hawkins forces Williams into a long pot which he misses and The Hawk wins the frame in one visit with a century break. Impressive. Hawkins leads 10-7.

[CaledonianCraig]

Mark Williams struggling but somehow manages to win the second frame of the session. The Hawk leads The Pride of Wales 10-8.

[CaledonianCraig]

The third frame of the session sees an epic safety battle. Some really great shots by both players. Williams wins that safety battle and now has a chance to win the 19th frame.

[CaledonianCraig]

He builds a very handy lead before breaking down but plays a good safety. Williams calling the shots in this frame.

[CaledonianCraig]

And Williams takes the 19th frame and he now trails Barry Hawkins by one frame at 10-9.

[CaledonianCraig]

Hawkins in with a golden chance but can't take it. Williams in with a chance to steal.

[CaledonianCraig]

And that is a great steal from Mark Williams and that will hurt Hawkins. He goes into the mid-session interval level at 10-10 when he looked odds on to be 11-9 down.

[CaledonianCraig]

Hawkins takes a scrappy 21st frame to re-assert himself in the match and edge back ahead 11-10.

[CaledonianCraig]

And Hawkins gets in first in the next frame and he is building a handy lead here.

[CaledonianCraig]

Solid stuff from The Hawk. He takes the frame to re-establish a two frame lead at 12-10 with a huge 133 break. He now cannot be behind going into the final session tonight.

[CaledonianCraig]

And back comes Mark Williams. He weighs in with a break of 103 and seals the frame and hauls it back to 12-11.

[CaledonianCraig]

Mark Williams looked good to take the final frame but broke down on 50. The Hawk in with a chance to land a real blow to Williams.

[CaledonianCraig]

And that could be a telling steal for The Hawk. Barry Hawkins swoops to steal the final frame of the session which is shared 4-4. Barry Hawkins takes a 13-11 lead into the final session this evening.

[Duty281]

What a miss on the black. The difference between 13-11 and 12-12 is mammoth.

Hawkins will 'only' need four of the available nine frames tonight.

[CaledonianCraig]

John Higgins and Kyren Wilson play their semi to a finish shortly. Higgins leads 13-11.

[CaledonianCraig]

Higgins in with the first chance but breaks down on 40 and Wilson pounces to pinch the frame with a none visit clearance. Higgins leads 13-12.

[CaledonianCraig]

A scrappy frame which saw both players with chances and Higgins takes it to lead 14-12.

[CaledonianCraig]

Wilson just getting a little ragged and pushing the boat out a bit more and offering up Higgins chances. Higgins in again in frame 27 with a golden chance to make it 15-12.

[CaledonianCraig]

Higgins with a total clearance of 136 takes the frame and he leads 15-12.

[CaledonianCraig]

Higgins with chances in the 28th frame but Wilson just with the upper hand. Favourite for the frame at present.

[CaledonianCraig]

And Wilson keeps his hopes alive by taking the frame before the mid-session interval. Higgins leads 15-13.

[CaledonianCraig]

The first frame after the mid-session interval I feel is a must win for Wilson. Win it and it is anyone's match but lose it and he will go three down with four to play. Too big an ask for me that would be.

[CaledonianCraig]

A superb break of 100 from John Higgins and he on the brink of another World Final. He leads Kyren Wilson 16-13 and needs one more frame for victory.

[CaledonianCraig]

Higgins in first again in the 30th frame and building a break.

[CaledonianCraig]

John Higgins closes out the match in style with a break of 94 to win 17-13 and takes him into his 7th world final.

[CaledonianCraig]

What an epic shot to start that break from Mark Williams. One of the best shots I've seen. Misses a black when nearing the winning post though. Still he is warm favourite to win this frame.

[CaledonianCraig]

And Mark Williams takes the frame and trails Barry Hawkins 13-12 now.

[CaledonianCraig]

Mark Williams will be kicking himself. He had his chances to draw level but Hawkins takes the frame to lead 14-12.

[CaledonianCraig]

The next frame is very scrappy. Both players have had their chances but you feel it is vital Williams wins this.

[CaledonianCraig]

Tense and tight frame this one. Chances missed by both.

[CaledonianCraig]

Hawkins goes for a mightily difficult last red down the cushion and leaves it in the jaws. Golden chance for Mark Williams which he takes to haul himself back to 14-13.

[CaledonianCraig]

Another tense, tight frame and Williams looked set to level it up and missed an easy red. However, Hawkins cannot punish Williams. The frame is still in the balance.

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