Who will win this years World Championship ?

First topic message reminder :

Who's your favourite for this years title ?

One of the seeds ? Or will it be a qualifier ?

World championship first-round draw:

John Higgins (Sco) v Liang Wenbo (Chn)

Mark Selby (Eng) v Barry Hawkins (Eng)

Mark Williams (Wal) v Liu Chuang (Chn)

Judd Trump (Eng) v Dominic Dale (Wal)

Shaun Murphy (Eng) v Jamie Jones (Wal)

Neil Robertson (Aus) v Ken Doherty (Ire)

Ding Junhui (Chn) v Ryan Day (Wal)

Stephen Maguire (Sco) v Luca Brecel (Bel)

Graeme Dott (Sco) v Joe Perry (Eng)

Mark Allen (NI) v Cao Yupeng (Chn)

Martin Gould (Eng) v David Gilbert (Eng)

Stephen Lee (Eng) v Andrew Higginson (Eng)

Ali Carter (Eng) v Mark Davis (Eng)

Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng) v Peter Ebdon (Eng)

Matthew Stevens (Wal) v Marco Fu (HK)

Stuart Bingham (Eng) v Stephen Hendry (Sco)

Right....

John Higgins (Sco) v Liang Wenbo (Chn) - Higgy

Mark Selby (Eng) v Barry Hawkins (Eng) - Jester

Mark Williams (Wal) v Liu Chuang (Chn) - Williams (but I sense a decider)

Judd Trump (Eng) v Dominic Dale (Wal) - Christopher

Shaun Murphy (Eng) v Jamie Jones (Wal) - Murphy

Neil Robertson (Aus) v Ken Doherty (Ire) - Robbo

Ding Junhui (Chn) v Ryan Day (Wal) - Depends which Ding turns up.

Stephen Maguire (Sco) v Luca Brecel (Bel) - Maguire

Graeme Dott (Sco) v Joe Perry (Eng) - Tough one. Dott. But most boring match ever no doubt.

Mark Allen (NI) v Cao Yupeng (Chn) - Allen

Martin Gould (Eng) v David Gilbert (Eng) - Gouldie

Stephen Lee (Eng) v Andrew Higginson (Eng) - Lee

Ali Carter (Eng) v Mark Davis (Eng) - Davis

Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng) v Peter Ebdon (Eng) - Ebdon

Matthew Stevens (Wal) v Marco Fu (HK) - Matthew

Stuart Bingham (Eng) v Stephen Hendry (Sco) - Depends which Hendry turns up. I'll have to say Bingham.

Ok, predo time is it

John Higgins (Sco) v Liang Wenbo (Chn) Wenbo

Mark Selby (Eng) v Barry Hawkins (Eng) Selby

Mark Williams (Wal) v Liu Chuang (Chn) Williams

Judd Trump (Eng) v Dominic Dale (Wal) Trump

Shaun Murphy (Eng) v Jamie Jones (Wal) Murphy

Neil Robertson (Aus) v Ken Doherty (Ire) Robbo

Ding Junhui (Chn) v Ryan Day (Wal) Ding

Stephen Maguire (Sco) v Luca Brecel (Bel) Maguire

Graeme Dott (Sco) v Joe Perry (Eng) Dott

Mark Allen (NI) v Cao Yupeng (Chn) Allen

Martin Gould (Eng) v David Gilbert (Eng) Gould

Stephen Lee (Eng) v Andrew Higginson (Eng) Higginson

Ali Carter (Eng) v Mark Davis (Eng) Davis

Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng) v Peter Ebdon (Eng) Ebdon

Matthew Stevens (Wal) v Marco Fu (HK) Fu

Stuart Bingham (Eng) v Stephen Hendry (Sco) Bingham

eirebilly wrote:Ok, fair enough. I have seen him live many many times and i have a different perception of him. I honestly believe that he will do well but i cannot see him or anyone dominating.

When he has played some big names in front of the camera's he has looked very nervous as well but that could just be due to his age.

Hardly surprising that he may look nervous in front of the TV camera but that is mainly due to his current age. I'm sure that after a few more matches in front of the camera, he will feel right at home like Joe Johnson eventually managed to do in 1986 after so many years finding it difficult playing a match in front of a camera.

Wenbo to beat Higgins? Really?

TSC wrote:Wenbo to beat Higgins? Really?

Wenbo did beat Ken Doherty in his debut at the Crucible 4 years ago.

You know my wild predictions TSC

I actually think that he will beat Higgins

lol I do. We'll see, it's a tough task. He's not had a good season at all but neither has John (by his standards).

Anyone thinking Ebdon can grind his way to victory?

Me TSC, i think that with the run of form Ebdon is having and his ability to frustrate Ronnie to pieces he will get the win.

Yeah I was thinking that too but we seem to have a more relaxed Ronnie nowadays. I think it will be a strange game but a good game.

Jamie Jones certianly has a chance v Murphy at a big price.

Allen and Lee are my picks for the tournament.

Ronnie does look relaxed, i will give you that TSC but i just feel that agaisnt Ebdon he always struggles and Ebdon is still on a high. Could be a long close match.

Judd Trump is now the bookies clear favourite

It could well happen but if I think he'll be like Ronnie; susceptible to grinding. Plus I think, until he was a top class safety game (and he's not far off of it). Hendry got away with it but nowadays I don't think anyone can.

Bang on TSC, we saw that when Trump met Higgins in the final. He is an amazing player but when it comes down to the players who can matchplay he will struggle.

Not sure what Williams has against the Crucible. Atrocious though if they take disciplinary action just for having an opinion.

Higgins or Robertson for me.

As long as Higgins doesn't win I don't mind.

Wenbo will take Higgins first round Duty

Never!!

Luv ya TSC
Its going to happen

Is it online anywhere?
Down under can only rely on those posting onto Youtube

Going to help you out Taylorman

Higgins needs to get his act together and quick.

I fancy the Juddernaught to plough through them this year but agree that it is wide open. Normally I want Ronnie to lose in the first round but I've tickets for next weekend and I don't fancy sitting through an Ebdon borefest!!

I think the Hendry v Bingham clash is an intriguing clash in that I remember Bingham knocking Hendry out in a massive first round shock a few years back and now it's Bingham as the seed so maybe chance for Stephen to gain some revenge.

I also notice from the draw there is a potential Murphy v Lee clash in the second round. Now that would be a biiiiiigggggg match.

Nice snooker pun.

I came up with the Juddernaut :/ Then the BBC ripped me off lol

Ken is looking in some fine form. he did well to nearly get a max

All the pressure is on Robertson , Ken can just play his game and your right he looks in good touch .

Ken is my favorite player of all time so i hope that he does well

Brilliant 3 ball plant from Ken

Yes i like him aswell , i think he is a good comentator aswell he doesn't try and over analize things

He is one of the best pundits, its just that horrible Dub accent that i cant stand

Robbo looking good for a 3-1 MSI lead here now.

Yes Robbo has come into the game now hasn't he , not really playing that well though

Its poor quality really but i think that Robbo will up the game and leave Ken behind.

I think your right but lets hope not

To be honest, i am just happy that he made it

Hendry may do well though, the fact that he had to Qualify may give him some confidence in his game.

Would you say Hendry or Davis were the best ever ?

As a massive Hendry fan i would have to say that Davis is probably the best of all time. He has won more titels than Hendry and is still very competitive at over 50. He adjusted his game whereas Hendry did not.

KingKenny7Heaven wrote:Would you say Hendry or Davis were the best ever ?

When they were each in their prime in the 1980's and 1990's respectively then yes, but for the best ever player to have played the game now has to be John Higgins as he seems to have it all, combining the best elements of Davis's big match temperament and tight solid safety play together with Hendry's break-buildng ability and potting.

As a massive Davis fan i would agree , i didn't like Hendry at the start but he grew on me and i think it really is to close to call .

Hendry is a legend and i feel that he could have won alot more had he adjusted his game and learnt some safety play. Its great to see him on the big stage though

I always got the feeling Hendry was trying to hard to liked ( ie Jimmy White ) and he thought playing safe would somehow be a negative thing . Steve got the likeability thing with the Steve Interesting Davis character .

Steve Davis is actually very funny, he comes across as this straight boring guy but he is seriously funny.

Yes he is , ive met him a few times at events and from the little conversation i had with him he has a dry sense of humour

Ken making a match of this. He is 3-2 down but has outscored Robbo

Hendry looking on great form witha 4-1 lead.

Go on Stephen!!!!!!!

147!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well done Hendry

STEPHEN HENDRY HITS A 147!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fantastic

Absolutely brilliant