2014 World Snooker Championship Thread

[The Special Juan]

First topic message reminder :

*Insert preview here*

[The Special Juan]

12-11 Selby. Massive, massive frame.

[The Special Juan]

12-12. Neil favourite now.

[CaledonianCraig]

I was working this morning so missed it. However, it seems like it is anybody's match now.

[The Special Juan]

Neil looks up for it tonight. He'll be hard to stop.

[The Special Juan]

Oh this is some match. I can't choose but my gut says Neil will sneak it.

[CaledonianCraig]

Very tough to call. I'd say Robertson has the big match temperament but every time he draws level Selby noses back ahead again.

[CaledonianCraig]

Selby looking very good now. Solid break-building and composed. Looks set for a spot in the final.

[CaledonianCraig]

Mark Selby is almost there now leading 16-14. Has Robertson got anything else in the tank?

[The Special Juan]

I think the tournament started a week early for Neil. He was really ill during the China Open and making the final there gave him little chance for a bit of R&R.

[CaledonianCraig]

Cracking break from Robertson to keep himself in the match and trails by one frame again at 15-16. My money would be on Selby just now though.

[The Special Juan]

Another ton!! Great stuff. Best Crucible semi-final ever?

[CaledonianCraig]

 Best Crucible semi-final ever?

I wouldn't go that far but it is one of the better ones in recent years.

[The Special Juan]

I can't think of many that match it, at least not recently. Ding v Trump a few years ago was a good match.

[CaledonianCraig]

1996? Ebdon 16 O'Sullivan 14

1999? Hendry 17 O'Sullivan 13

2000? Williamd 17 Higgins 15

Just a few.

[CaledonianCraig]

Certainly though in recent times it is one of the best. Selby strikes me as very much in the Ebdon mould. Very solid in all departments and tough match play snooker is his game.

[The Special Juan]

1996? Ebdon 16 O'Sullivan 14

1999? Hendry 17 O'Sullivan 13

2000? Williamd 17 Higgins 15

Just a few.

Then again, I can't remember what happened last week I think I remember that 2000 SF - good call.

[CaledonianCraig]

Well done to Mark Selby - good solid play and lets hope he gives Ronnie a real match. Commiserations to Robbo but he will be back.

[The Special Juan]

Well done Mark!! And unlucky Neil. Hey, ROS has to lose some time so why not this year? He's obviously favourite but I fancy the upset...

[CaledonianCraig]

Now can Selby take that final step to greatness? If he could take the title against Ronnie he'd leap up that list of all-time best players by a few slots probably putting him alongside the likes of Peter Ebdon - a player he is very similar to.

[The Special Juan]

Ha, I never noticed how many times Selby says "obviously" when he talks.

[CaledonianCraig]

I'd like to see Selby win it because it would be a shame if he was to go through his career without winning the world title. I do feel he now merits at least the one world title. Most of all though I just want to see a competitive final.

[Born Slippy]

Great performance by Selby but a marathon SF when ROS has had his feet up doesn't bode well. Selby looks in fine form but I think getting more than 12 would be a good showing.

Think Selby is a big step up on Ebdon. A much better potter, greater creativity and a better break-builder.

[CaledonianCraig]

Lets not down play Ebdon's talents and remember he did beat Hendry and O'Sullivan in crunch matches at The Crucible when they were playing at a very good to excellent standard - that is some feat. He also has a large total of centuries in his career so was a heavy scorer and tough match player, has won NINE majors, reached three world finals and won the coveted title once. Impressive when you consider he was in direct competition with Hendry, Higgins, O'Sullivan, Williams etc etc etc.

[CaledonianCraig]

About to get under way. Best of luck Mark. Hope it is a cracker.

[Duty281]

Hope Selby wins, but feel that O'Sullivan has two distinct advantages:

1) He's the better player.
2) He's had a nice relaxing break during Selby's tough semi-final.

[CaledonianCraig]

The test will be if he can stay with Ronnie after losing frames heavily like this first one. Selby has to put it out of his head and bounce back. O'Sullivan leads 1-0.

[Dave.]

Ebdon really suited the longer matches. People hated him playing slow to get under Ronnie's skin, but it worked!

The 5 minute 12 break!!

[NickisBHAFC]

Ronnie of to a great start!!! He's got this in the bag hasn't he.

[CaledonianCraig]

Ebdon really suited the longer matches. People hated him playing slow to get under Ronnie's skin, but it worked!  

The 5 minute 12 break!!

I can't think of anyone off the top of my head who can boast having beaten the three modern day legends at The Crucible when they were in top form (Hendry, J.Higgins and O'Sullivan) which Peter Ebdon done - that is some feat.

[VTR]

Ronnie is of course a great player but his cockney @rse lickers that shout out "Come on Ronnie" every time his opponent misses really should be shot

[VTR]

Ebdon really suited the longer matches. People hated him playing slow to get under Ronnie's skin, but it worked!  

The 5 minute 12 break!!

Its quite funny that when Ebdon broke onto the scene at the 1992 World Champs he was considered to be a great entertainer and flamboyant shot maker. Fair to say he reinvented himself!

[CaledonianCraig]

Selby can't go on feeding Ronnie chances like he did in second frame otherwise this match could slip away from him very quickly. O'Sullivan leads 2-0.

[CaledonianCraig]

Ebdon really suited the longer matches. People hated him playing slow to get under Ronnie's skin, but it worked!  

The 5 minute 12 break!!

Its quite funny that when Ebdon broke onto the scene at the 1992 World Champs he was considered to be a great entertainer and flamboyant shot maker. Fair to say he reinvented himself!

Ebdon was a hardened and very tough match player. Consistent and mentally tough hence he could hang tough with the very best players even when they were in form. That is a highly commendable string to his bow so to speak.

[VTR]

Ebdon really suited the longer matches. People hated him playing slow to get under Ronnie's skin, but it worked!  

The 5 minute 12 break!!

Its quite funny that when Ebdon broke onto the scene at the 1992 World Champs he was considered to be a great entertainer and flamboyant shot maker. Fair to say he reinvented himself!

Ebdon was a hardened and very tough match player. Consistent and mentally tough hence he could hang tough with the very best players even when they were in form. That is a highly commendable string to his bow so to speak.

Agreed - his win in the final of 2002 was a gritty and very skilled performance under immense pressure

[CaledonianCraig]

Unless Selby wakens up and toughens up then this final could be virtually all over by the end of today. Missed chance in the second frame and sloppy safety in third and Ronnie punished him.

Commentators already bugging me though - Virgo saying Ronnie has the cueball on a string shortly after Ronnie had lost position on two successive shots.   

[CaledonianCraig]

Very early days I know but you kind of feel this is a must win frame for Selby and it looks to have slipped away. Ronnie leads 4-0 at the interval?

[CaledonianCraig]

Selby gritted his teeth there and dug himself out of a hole to get his first frame on the board and trails 3-1. Time for an interval.

[DP]

Selby really needed that. 4-0 at the interval and he's in big trouble.

Will sound obvious, but if he takes the next frame, fingers crossed will be a good final, rather than Ronnie just bullying him.

[CaledonianCraig]

An excellent chance this for Selby to take the frame but as I type has he ballsed it up? Yes he has.   

[CaledonianCraig]

A very scrappy frame this but tense and growing in importance. Both have had their chances.

[CaledonianCraig]

Mark got lucky there to get away with that frame and back to just one behind at 3-2.

[CaledonianCraig]

The luck evened out there as Selby got unlucky with a potted black and from it Ronnie has mopped up. O'Sullivan leads 4-2 and can't be behind going into tonight's session.

[CaledonianCraig]

Selby in with another chance and you feel he could really do with a sizeable 50+ break. He is not scoring heavily enough at the mo.

[CaledonianCraig]

A good frame for Mark to win but is still yet to score heavily which is a worry. O'Sullivan leads 4-3. I wonder if Mark has ever failed to score more than 37 is seven frames V Ronnie yet still win three frames?   

[CaledonianCraig]

However this scrappy last frame goes Mark Selby will be delighted with the scoreline considering how low he has scored. Ronnie in a strange way will be happy with the scoreline as well if he leads 5-3 as he has gone off the boil in the last few frames.

[CaledonianCraig]

Wow Mark gifts the final frame to Ronnie and Ronnie leads 5-3. I still feel he (Selby) will be delighted with that considering how poorly he scored.

[Nachos Jones]

I am just watching the snooker final now and I am amazed at just how much Ronnie looks like a young Carl Sagen. Its probably already been said but only just now have I noticed it.

I hope Selby wins though

[CaledonianCraig]

O'Sullivan looks certain to go 6-3 up so Selby will need to dig in deep again.

[Nachos Jones]

I already think that Selby has too much to do. I know that sounds strange since its so early in the match but Ronnie is a great front runner and rarely will he give up a lead. I think that Selby will just hang in there at best.

[CaledonianCraig]

I would agree with that Nachos. And even more so when Selby is just not scoring at all when getting in.

[Sponsored content]