2014 World Snooker Championship Thread

[The Special Juan]

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[Nachos Jones]

What a shame that break broke down. That was quality from Ronnie.

Selby's highest break 38... Agreed CC, not scoring nearly as well as required to pressure Ronnie.

[CaledonianCraig]

Disappointing standard so far in this final. Selby top break 38 and Ronnie has scored heavier but not playing brilliant yet he is still walking off into the distance as he looks set to go 7-3 up. That really frustrates me as in the old days he would have been punished far more heavily for his mistakes.

[CaledonianCraig]

This chance in days of old the likes of Hendry would have gobbled chances like these up but can Selby?

[Nachos Jones]

Ronnie has the aura around him now, especially at the worlds, than he did many years ago. I actually think that only Neil Robertson was the only one capable of beating Ronnie should they have met in the final.

[CaledonianCraig]

Selby can't gobble the chance up but that edges his highest break up to 42. Back in with a sniff.

[CaledonianCraig]

Not so much that Nachos more that there are far fewer players now playing at a level high enough to challenge Ronnie over the long format.

[Nachos Jones]

I am not so sure CC, he has that swagger and confidence that I think gets to the other players. Hendry and Davis had it as well. Easily worth a few frames every match. Should be 7-3 now.

[CaledonianCraig]

He does have the mental edge over players around today as they fear his game so much whereas players of years gone by were much stronger mentally in crunch matches hence Ronnie never ruled as he does now. In plenty of frames even here at The Crucible in matches he has won easily he has handed out plenty of chances but his opponents have lacked the mentality or mental strength to exert any pressure on him.

[Nachos Jones]

Aah sure CC if he was playing Robbo, Robboi would not allow that mental edge to affect him and would also deploy the 'cough' tactic when behind

[CaledonianCraig]

Hmm maybe but Robbo couldn't mentally wear down Selby so what chance could he have had against Ronnie? Robertson is a great player but I wouldn't put him in the same league as past greats such as Stephen Hendry, John Higgins, Mark Williams or players of that ilk and era.

[Nachos Jones]

No, he is not in that league by a long shot but like Ebdon, is a very unpredictable shot player and that's what gets into Ronnies head. His ability of long potting also puts Ronnies safety under pressure more than that of Selby.

Just my thoughts though and probably totally wrong

[CaledonianCraig]

It would be very interesting if Selby could claw his way back into this and be level at say 12-12 going into tomorrow's final session and see how Ronnie reacts under REAL pressure.

[CaledonianCraig]

No, he is not in that league by a long shot but like Ebdon, is a very unpredictable shot player and that's what gets into Ronnies head. His ability of long potting also puts Ronnies safety under pressure more than that of Selby.

Just my thoughts though and probably totally wrong

Good point Nachos.

[CaledonianCraig]

Another frame gifted to Ronnie??

[Nachos Jones]

I just feel that some players, like Ebdon and Robbo, have the better playing style to frustrate and beat Ronnie. Even though Selby is a better player than Robbo and beat him, I feel that Robbo would have stood a better chance against Ronnie in the final.

[CaledonianCraig]

O'Sullivan in cruise mode and looking set for an 8-3 lead. Selby yet to post a break of 50+.

[Nachos Jones]

Selby will be lucky to get out of this 10-6. 11-5 looks the more likely though.

[CaledonianCraig]

I just feel that some players, like Ebdon and Robbo, have the better playing style to frustrate and beat Ronnie. Even though Selby is a better player than Robbo and beat him, I feel that Robbo would have stood a better chance against Ronnie in the final.

Yes I see what you are saying as Robbo has that added ingredient - he has been there and done that before being a World Champion before. Selby on the other hand has strived hard without reaching that pinnacle. I do feel for Mark though as it must be tough to want something so badly and work so hard to reach this final and then not perform to anything like the standard he knows he can.

[CaledonianCraig]

Boy did Mark Selby need that. A 50+ break but could and should have been more. Looks like a warm favourite for this frame now and will trail 8-4. You feel Selby has to win three out of five after the interval (at least) to rekindle his hopes.

[Nachos Jones]

I really hope for Selby, I really do but I honestly cant see him beating Ronnie. If he gets close then Ronnie will simply up the gears.

[CaledonianCraig]

I really hope for Selby, I really do but I honestly cant see him beating Ronnie. If he gets close then Ronnie will simply up the gears.

Yes likewise. I, at the very least, I want Ronnie to at least get tested to some degree. The disappointing thing is Selby has been world No.1 until recently but the standard he has shown here just strengthens my belief that snooker is not as strong in talent as it was years ago.

[Nachos Jones]

To me, snooker was at its strongest between 97 and 2006. That to me was when any number of players had the quality to win tournaments, its really dropped off the last few years with too many players showing so much promise and not delivering on the big stage. Ronnie, to me, is the last of the big tournament players.

[CaledonianCraig]

Agreed Nachos. Phew Mark will be mightily relieved to get this frame in the bag and haul it back to 8-5.

[Nachos Jones]

Massive, massive frame for Selby there.

[The Special Juan]

Selby looks like he's turned up now. Better late than never...

[CaledonianCraig]

Much better from Ronnie. Picked them off beautifully and extends his lead back out to 9-5. A century on its way?

[The Special Juan]

2009 was a great year. Higgins was unplayable at times and the overall standard was superb.

[The Special Juan]

I suppose the question is "will this match go to the final session"? It doesn't look like it.

[CaledonianCraig]

2009 was a great year.  Higgins was unplayable at times and the overall standard was superb.

Yes but around that 2005 time from then on the excellence got more sporadic due to a stack of legends losing their edge and nobody coming through to replace them.

[CaledonianCraig]

I suppose the question is "will this match go to the final session"?  It doesn't look like it.

Good point.   

[Nachos Jones]

TSJ, 2009 is a bit of an exception to the rule for me, great quality but the consistent high standard has not been seen since 2006 in my opinion.

[The Special Juan]

Sorry Nachos, I didn't mean it directly in response to your comment above. I was just looking at the graphic on the screen for the number of centuries per year at the Crucible and 2009 is way ahead.

[CaledonianCraig]

I think it is no great surprise that standards have dropped though. Since 2005 Stephen Hendry's standards dipped as did others become less of a threat like Mark Williams and now in recent years John Higgins game has deteriorated. Nobody has replaced those stars so inevitably standards will dip. Those players were players who could win frames at one visit and there seems to be very few of those players around now at the top.

[The Special Juan]

I hope those who had the cheek to question the validity of Hendry's 7 titles have been watching these last 3 World Championships...

[CaledonianCraig]

I hope those who had the cheek to question the validity of Hendry's 7 titles have been watching these last 3 World Championships...

Spot on.   

[Nachos Jones]

Mark Williams is up there as one of the best snooker players I have seen. Him and Higgins were simply a class above for many years. As good a player as Ronnie is, he could not live with those two in their prime.

[Nachos Jones]

I hope those who had the cheek to question the validity of Hendry's 7 titles have been watching these last 3 World Championships...

Nobody can question Hendry's 7 world titles. He simply blew all away.

[CaledonianCraig]

Selby simply MUST win these last two frames of the evening and even if he does get it back to 10-7 his chances are still pretty slim. If Ronnie wins one of these last two it is all over. I am working tomorrow evening so at this rate I won't be missing any meaningful snooker.

[The Special Juan]

Mark Williams is up there as one of the best snooker players I have seen. Him and Higgins were simply a class above for many years. As good a player as Ronnie is, he could not live with those two in their prime.

Williams at his very best was better than Higgins or O'Sullivan. He did what neither of those two ever did which was dominate a season - 2002/3. Although past his very best at that point, Hendry was hammered in all 3 big events by Williams.

[CaledonianCraig]

When Hendy was in his prime he had the beating of the very best players of his generation at The Crucible such as John Higgins, Mark Williams, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Jimmy White, Steve Davis and Peter Ebdon. We are now into a period of Ronnie dominance but the likes of over the hill Higgins, Hawkins, Carter, Selby, Robertson and Ding doesn't have the same air of impressiveness.

[The Special Juan]

I know you and I shall disagree about this forever CC but my view is that although today's best (Selby, Robertson, Ding) aren't as good as ROS, Higgins and Williams (plus Hendry), they aren't any worse than Doherty and Ebdon.

[CaledonianCraig]

Ebdon was better than Selby (for now definitely). Ebdon won the world title, won more majors and beat Hendry, O'Sullivan and Higgins at The Crucible when those great players were in their prime but here Selby is being swatted aside in similar circumstances by a Ronnie not firing on all cylinders. Ding can come back when he's done something at The Crucible. Robertson I wouldn't put ahead of Ebdon yet either though he is close.

[CaledonianCraig]

Ebdon mixed it with the very best with success in a much tougher era than we have now and won the world title in that era - that says a heck of a lot about him.

[The Special Juan]

Ebdon mixed it with the very best with success in a much tougher era than we have now and won the world title in that era - that says a heck of a lot about him.

Don't get me wrong, he was a good player but I think he overachieved in his career. A player made for the World Championship if ever I saw one, though.

[CaledonianCraig]

He was (much like Selby) a very good tough match player and had balls of steel. Also no mug in amongst the balls and to win a world title beating Hendry in the final that is some achievement in itself Now this is Selby's chance to equal that sort of feat and he doesn't look like doing it.

[The Special Juan]

Wasn't the final dead scrappy?

[The Special Juan]

Not that I'm trying to take anything away from Ebdon's achievement at all. A great result. I'm just being nostalgic.

[CaledonianCraig]

Wasn't the final dead scrappy?

Well checking the stats they both hit four centuries apiece so wasn't too shabby.

[The Special Juan]

That's not bad. I must be thinking of another Ebdon final then (not the 2006 final which was probably the worst one ever).

[The Special Juan]

Amazing stickability from Selby. If anyone else was playing as ordinary as this, ROS would be hammering them.

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