2020 World Championship Thread

[CaledonianCraig]

First topic message reminder :

How about a thread to discuss the 2020 World Snooker Championships at The Crucible.

The delayed tournament starts today with a limited audience allowed in to watch the matches. The draw is as follows:-

Judd Trump (1) v Tom Ford
Yan Bingtao (16) v Elliot Slessor
Stephen Maguire (9) v Martin Gould
Kyren Wilson (8) - BYE
John Higgins (5) v Matthew Stevens
David Gilbert (12) v Kurt Maflin
Jack Lisowski (13) v Anthony McGill
Mark Allen (4) v Jamie Clarke
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Mark Williams (3) v Alan McManus
Stuart Bingham (14) v Ashley Carty
Ding Junhui (11) v Mark King
Ronnie O’Sullivan (6) v Thepchaiya Un-Nooh
Mark Selby (7) v Jordan Brown
Shaun Murphy (10) v Noppon Saengkham
Barry Hawkins (15) v Alexander Ursenbacher
Neil Robertson (2) v Liang Wenbo

Anthony Hamilton who suffers from asthma and qualified for the tournament has withdrawn due to COVID-19 and the fact there will be fans attending. This means Kyren Wilson gets a bye through to the Second Round.

This year there are five players making their Crucible debuts those being Elliot Slessor (England), Jordan Brown (Northern Ireland), Ashley Carty (England), Alexander Ursenbacher (Switzerland - the first Swiss player to play at the Crucible) and Jamie Clarke (Wales).

[CaledonianCraig]

Another scrappy frame on the other table which Mark Williams takes to lead 8-7.

[CaledonianCraig]

And Yan's break of 93 gives him the 5-2 lead. Looking very good. Trump looking lost.

[CaledonianCraig]

Better from Trump this. At the table and building a good lead. He really needs this.

[CaledonianCraig]

A Trump break of 58 looks to have got him across the line then Yan counters. But Trump finally gets the frame and he will be relieved to get out of that session only trailing 5-3.

[CaledonianCraig]

Bingham wins the last tactical frame of the session and they go in all square at 8-8.

[CaledonianCraig]

This evening will see John Higgins resume at 8-8 against Kurt Maflin where they play to a finish. On the other table Mark Selby resumes trailing Noppon Saengkham 5-3.

[CaledonianCraig]

Maflin in with the first chance of the evening but runs out of position with 13 scored. A safety battle ensues.

[CaledonianCraig]

Higgins misses a long red into the green pocket and another chance here for Maflin.

[CaledonianCraig]

Maflin looks goes back into the lead at 9-8. On the other table Selby has reduced his arrears to a frame. He trails 5-4.

[CaledonianCraig]

Higgins placed in a tough snooker early on in frame 18.

[CaledonianCraig]

Higgins hits the red but Maflin is left with a great chance to make it 10-8.

[CaledonianCraig]

Maflin makes 25 but misses a mid-range red but gets lucky leaving nothing on. Higgins forced into safety.

[CaledonianCraig]

A tactical frame now. Who gets the first chance? 20 minutes in and still 9 reds on the table. Some great safety from Maflin.

[CaledonianCraig]

Long pots missed by both. Balls have run awkward. Finally, Maflin sinks a long red and has a great chance.

[CaledonianCraig]

And 10-8 it is. Maflin three frames away from the quarters. On the other table Selby on a run. A break of 120 and he now leads Noppon Saengkham 6-5.

[CaledonianCraig]

Higgins long game just deserting him this evening. A long red missed. Maflin in.

[CaledonianCraig]

Saengkham looking composed and a big break brings him level at 6-6 at the mid-session interval. Maflin on a break of 21 and building. 11-8 looks a good bet just now.

[CaledonianCraig]

Maflin on a break of 42 and runs awry on a positional shot on a red. Tries potting his way out of trouble but leaves the pot short. Higgins pots his first ball for 35 minutes.

[CaledonianCraig]

Higgins hunting down another steal. On a break of 30.

[CaledonianCraig]

What a pressure break. Higgins with a break of 78 steals another frame. Maflin leads 10-9. Fantastic match this.

[CaledonianCraig]

Higgins with upper hand in a safety exchange draws eight points in fouls. Searching for the first chance but Maflin is standing up to the test admirably.

[CaledonianCraig]

And we have rewrack.

[CaledonianCraig]

Five reds and five blacks for Saengkham but out of position and break ends.

[CaledonianCraig]

Maflin in with the first chance in frame 20.

[CaledonianCraig]

But Maflin runs out of position and can only add 13.

[CaledonianCraig]

Higgins can only make 22 though and he runs out of position. He can only nestle into the small pack of remaining reds. Safety ensues.

[CaledonianCraig]

A shot to nothing long red from Higgins and he has another chance.

[CaledonianCraig]

Loose shot from Higgins on 17 and he is out of position and the break ends. He has a handy 26 point lead with six reds left on the table. More safety play ensues.

[CaledonianCraig]

On the other table Saengkham back ahead 7-6 against Selby.

[CaledonianCraig]

Higgins nails a testing mid-range red and another chance to level at 10-10.

[CaledonianCraig]

And Higgins does take the frame and they head to their mid-session interval all square at 10-10.

[CaledonianCraig]

On the other table Selby building a possible frame-winning break which would take him level at 7-7. Much better showing this from Selby from the First Round.

[CaledonianCraig]

And 7-7 it is.

[CaledonianCraig]

Saengkham at the table again and on a growing break.

[CaledonianCraig]

A 50+ break from Saengkham and he edges into an 8-7 lead over Selby. Mid-session over on the other table and it is back to the action.

[CaledonianCraig]

Maflin in first but runs out of position on five and leaves a good chance for Higgins.

[CaledonianCraig]

However, Higgins poor positional play on 22 leaves a testing red which he misses. Another chance for Maflin.

[CaledonianCraig]

But he misses a red with the rest - pressure building on him you feel. Higgins pots a long red and follows it up with a tricky blue. Golden chance to go 11-10 up.

[CaledonianCraig]

A break of 44 puts Higgins 53 points ahead but leaves himself short on position and must play safe. Still hope for Maflin.

[CaledonianCraig]

Maflin misses a red to the middle by some distance and Higgins wraps up the frame. You can just see the cracks appearing in Maflin now. A real test of character as he trails 11-10 having led 7-4 and 10-8.

[CaledonianCraig]

And a long red from Maflin rattles the jaws but doesn't drop. Higgins in and looking to build a frame-winning break.

[CaledonianCraig]

However, he misses a brown with only seven points on the board. Maflin in amongst the balls with a good chance.

[CaledonianCraig]

Wow. Maflin runs out of position on a colour and is snookered on all colours on 25 and the break ends. He has a 10 point lead and still in the snooker on all colours.

[CaledonianCraig]

At the 5th attempt he hits the brown and his lead is now 2 points.

[CaledonianCraig]

A long red as a shot to nothing and Higgins rolls up behind the yellow. Maflin in more trouble.

[CaledonianCraig]

Lovely escape though gentling nestling on a red.

[CaledonianCraig]

Wow this time Higgins plays a sloppy safety and leaves a simple red for Maflin but no colour only safety to follow.

[CaledonianCraig]

Fabulous long red from Maflin under immense pressure. Chance now to level at 11-11.

[CaledonianCraig]

And a great break of 80 gives Maflin a much-needed frame. Great bottle and a bit of a steal. It is 11-11.

[CaledonianCraig]

And now Higgins is leaking mistakes. Maflin in and building a handy lead. The other table sees Selby draw level at 8-8 to complete that session.

[Sponsored content]