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Anthony Hamilton who suffers from asthma and qualified for the tournament has withdrawn due to COVID-19 and the fact there will be fans attending.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]

Gould just playing so calmly and no miss snooker reels off his 5th frame on the bounce to lead 6-1. Is another seed heading for a First Round exit? Maguire in a deep hole. Meanwhile, Brown at the table with a chance to level it up at 7-7 against Selby.

[CaledonianCraig]

Somehow Selby comes through a scrappy frame and leads 8-6.

[CaledonianCraig]

Selby finding a bit more fluency with a 50+ break to lead 9-6. A tense, scrappy frame on the other table is won by Maguire but he still trails 6-2.

[CaledonianCraig]

Martin Gould pounces on a risky red missed by Maguire and smacks in another century break (his fourth of the match) to end the session leading 7-2 and he has one foot in the Second Round. Very well played. Probably the best he has ever played at The Crucible.

[CaledonianCraig]

Jordan Brown drinking at the last chance saloon - at the table with a chance. He trails 9-6.

[CaledonianCraig]

But Selby gets the job done. He wins 10-6 but the form he displayed you feel Jordan Brown will be kicking himself at a lost opportunity.

[CaledonianCraig]

Tonight's matches sees Mark Allen resume his match 5-4 ahead of Jamie Clarke. On the other table Barry Hawkins starts his match against Alexander Ursenbacher - the first Swiss player to play at The Crucible.

[CaledonianCraig]

The quality continues in this match. Mark Allen hits another century (his 5th of the match equalling the Crucible record) and he leads 6-4.

[CaledonianCraig]

On the other table Ursenbacher wins the first frame - his first frame he has ever played at The Crucible.

[CaledonianCraig]

Jamie Clarke refuses to go away. A scrappier 11th frame which he wins and Allen leads 6-5.

[CaledonianCraig]

A frame littered with misses and one both will feel they had chances to win but it goes to Janie Clarke and he levels it at 6-6. The Hawk pinches the 2nd frame on the black to level at 1-1.

[CaledonianCraig]

At present it is Jamie Clarke looking the stronger. Tight safety and an error from Allen and Clarke is in with a break of 80 and leads 7-6. On the other table Barry Hawkins now leads Ursenbacher 2-1.

[CaledonianCraig]

Barry Hawkins goes into the mid-session interval leading Alexander Ursenbacher 3-1.

[CaledonianCraig]

Allen over-stretching and misses on 38. Clarke in with a chance to steal.

[CaledonianCraig]

Clarke back in the frame with a break of 42. And safety play ensues.

[CaledonianCraig]

Allen had his chances but it is Clarke who takes it to go 8-6 up. The debutant two frames away from a memorable victory over the No 4 Mark Allen.

[CaledonianCraig]

Hawkins wins the fifth frame on the black to lead 4-1.

[CaledonianCraig]

Clarke desperately unlucky when amongst the balls and Allen returns to the table and takes the frame and he badly needed it. Clarke leads 8-7. That could be a turning point in this match.

[CaledonianCraig]

On the other table Hawkins in command and looks set to go 5-1 up.

[CaledonianCraig]

Clarke showing signs of pressure gifts Allen a chance. He is building a handsome lead and it could be 8-8 shortly.

[CaledonianCraig]

But Allen misses a tricky red. He returns to his seat with a 42 point lead but Clarke now in with a chance of pinching this frame.

[CaledonianCraig]

Ursenbacher pinches the 6th frame to cut his deficit to 4-2.

[CaledonianCraig]

Great break by Clarke of 74 and he is one frame away from a famous win. He leads 9-7.

[CaledonianCraig]

Mark Allen with a break of 76 stays afloat. Clarke leads 9-8. On the other table Barry Hawkins leads Ursenbacher 5-2.

[CaledonianCraig]

After a bout of cagey play a chance falls to Clarke. A superb break under the circumstances of 48 and he is the box seat for now in this crucial frame.

[CaledonianCraig]

Another bout of cagey safety play. Clarke with a 42 point lead with five reds on the table.

[CaledonianCraig]

A delightful long pink from Clarke helps him on his way to a famous win. He has beaten world No 4 Mark Allen 10-8. The second big shock of the day after Shaun Murphy exited this morning. A mightily impressive win considering Allen scored five centuries.

[eirebilly]

Well there goes my prediction of Allen doing well this year...

[CaledonianCraig]

Well there goes my prediction of Allen doing well this year...

Amazing to think someone scoring five centuries in a match (a record for The Crucible) can get beaten 10-8. Just testament to the debutant Jamie Clarke. He remained unphased and stuck to the task in hand in what was a cracking match. It had it all. Centuries galore (six or seven), respotted black, frame won from a player needing three snookers and tense tactical frames.

[CaledonianCraig]

No matches this morning but this afternoon sees an earlier start and Barry Hawkins will resume 7-2 up on Alexander Ursenbacher. On the other table a Second Round match gets under way with John Higgins taking on Kurt Maflin.

[eirebilly]

I just keep waiting for Mark Allen to do something at the Worlds CC. He has it all but there seems to be some block in him on the big stage.

[CaledonianCraig]

I just keep waiting for Mark Allen to do something at the Worlds CC. He has it all but there seems to be some block in him on the big stage.

For me he is much like Ronnie O'Sullivan. A great talent who can score centuries for fun but drop him into a match against top notch match play players who don't get intimidated and he has problems.

[Soul Requiem]

I just keep waiting for Mark Allen to do something at the Worlds CC. He has it all but there seems to be some block in him on the big stage.

He's a good player but he doesn't have the tactical nous to ever go deep at the Worlds, he can blitz guys like Hawkins over shorter formats but over 25 frames (he normally wins the first round match) that isn't possible, he's improved over recent years but not enough to bridge that gap. The worlds is an oddity in that sense and prior form in Sheffield is usually more important than current form elsewhere.

[Duty281]

Well Murphy's out, so that's my pick for the final gone. Let's try for some second round predictions:

Trump 13-7 Bingtao
Gould (presume he gets through) 10-13 Wilson
Higgins 13-6 Maflin
McGill 12-13 Clarke
Williams 13-9 Bingham
Ding 8-13 O'Sullivan
Selby 13-5 Noppon
Hawkins (presume he gets through) 7-13 Robertson

[CaledonianCraig]

Kurt Maflin takes a 5-3 lead from his first session against John Higgins and on the other table Barry Hawkins has cruised past Alexander Ursenbacher 10-2 to reach the Second Round.

[CaledonianCraig]

Well Murphy's out, so that's my pick for the final gone. Let's try for some second round predictions:

Trump 13-7 Bingtao
Gould (presume he gets through) 10-13 Wilson
Higgins 13-6 Maflin
McGill 12-13 Clarke
Williams 13-9 Bingham
Ding 8-13 O'Sullivan
Selby 13-5 Noppon
Hawkins (presume he gets through) 7-13 Robertson

My predictions:-

Trump 13-6 Bingtao
Gould (if through) 13-9 Wilson
Higgins 13-11 Maflin
McGill 9-13 Clarke
Williams 13-9 Bingham
Ding 7-13 O'Sullivan
Selby 13-10 Noppon
Hawkins 10-13 Robertson

[CaledonianCraig]

This evening's matches sees the completion of the final First Round match. Stephen Maguire in need of divine intervention me thinks as he trails Martin Gould 7-2. On the other table Mark Williams stars his Second Round match against Stuart Bingham.

[CaledonianCraig]

Very scrappy first frame. Maguire looking flat and missing crazy shots. Gould has missed plenty as well but looks set to go 8-2 up. Maguire looks like he just wants to be put out of his misery.

[CaledonianCraig]

And 8-2 it is. On the other table Stuart Bingham looks set to pinch the first frame from Mark Williams.

[CaledonianCraig]

Mark Williams takes the first frame on the other table whilst Maguire's torture goes on. More missed chances and kicks. He looks like he is going to explode and as if he wants to be somewhere else. Gould nowhere near as fluent as yesterday but at present - no need to be.

[CaledonianCraig]

Gould in command with a 49 point lead in the frame. 9-2 beckons with six reds left on the table.

[CaledonianCraig]

And 9-2 it is. Gould a frame away from a Second Round match-up against Kieran Wilson.

[CaledonianCraig]

A break of 50 from Bingham gets him over the line to level it up at 1-1 against Mark Williams.

[CaledonianCraig]

A great long red sets Maguire off on a crazy maximum attempt. 9 reds and 9 blacks and counting.

[CaledonianCraig]

Maximum still on ....11 reds and 11 blacks.

[CaledonianCraig]

And runs outs of position on the 13th red. The break of 96 prolongs the match. Gould leads Maguire 9-3.

[CaledonianCraig]

And Martin Gould puts Maguire to the sword to win 10-3 to win his first match at The Crucible since 2011. Gould the far better player of the two and that was with Maguire seemingly coming here in great nick and confident. Much deserved and surely his retirement plans will be shelved. On the other table Bingham leads Williams 2-1.

[CaledonianCraig]

And Bingham looked set to win the 4th frame but leaves the black over the pocket. Williams potted it and we have a re-spotted black. Both players have had golden chances in this frame. Who will win it?

[CaledonianCraig]

Hilarious viewing as for this - in the commentary box is Dennis Taylor and Steve Davis.

[CaledonianCraig]

Bingham gets the double kiss to set it up for Mark Williams to pot it and level the match at 2-2.

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