Snooker world championships

Anyone been watching so far?

It started yesterday with some fans in attendance but from today it's behind closed doors after the UK government banned spectators from attending any live events.

They haven't followed football's lead by playing fake fan noise so it's a bit weird just having silence after someone knocks in a century but other than that I'm enjoying it.

I really like the world championships and enjoy the mixture in styles between some of the rapid frames that are over in 10 minutes and then being able to watch a long, drawn out frame that lasts over 30 minutes with lots of tactical safety play and then having sessions played over two days as well.

Great stuff.

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Originally Posted by Sir David Gray

Anyone been watching so far?

It started yesterday with some fans in attendance but from today it's behind closed doors after the UK government banned spectators from attending any live events.

They haven't followed football's lead by playing fake fan noise so it's a bit weird just having silence after someone knocks in a century but other than that I'm enjoying it.

I really like the world championships and enjoy the mixture in styles between some of the rapid frames that are over in 10 minutes and then being able to watch a long, drawn out frame that lasts over 30 minutes with lots of tactical safety play and then having sessions played over two days as well.

Great stuff.

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the one snooker tournament I always watch, albeit not so far this year.

I actually like the drawn out frames, watching guys potting ball after ball is good, but the tactics and skill required to keep getting out of bother and simultaneously trying to put your opponent in bother is fantastic

I had tickets for the semi finals this year 😢

Who is the new commentator? Not a fan of him.

Kurt Maflin comes close to getting a 147 but runs out of position and then gives the cue ball the middle finger. :faf:

I haven't seen any matches so far. Is it on BBC?

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Originally Posted by Sir David Gray

Kurt Maflin comes close to getting a 147 but runs out of position and then gives the cue ball the middle finger. :faf:

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One of the best incidents ever on world snooker 😂

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Originally Posted by DaveF

One of the best incidents ever on world snooker 😂

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That is funny :greengrin

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Originally Posted by Hibernia&Alba

I haven't seen any matches so far. Is it on BBC?

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Yep it's on BBC 2 at certain times of the day, other times it's on the red button.

Also on Eurosport too if you have that.

Kurt Maflin's reaction to running out of position was pretty unique.

John Higgins got the first 147 at the Crucible since 2012 earlier today.

Brilliant!

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Originally Posted by Sir David Gray

John Higgins got the first 147 at the Crucible since 2012 earlier today.

Brilliant!

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Fantastic. Higgins is an absolute legend of a man.

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Originally Posted by McS****y

Fantastic. Higgins is an absolute legend of a man.

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Are you saying John Higgins or Alex Higgins is the legend. If Alex I would have to agree if John I would disagree, John was banned for bringing the game into disrepute.


Higgins was cleared of the most serious charges – of agreeing to accept a bribe and agreeing to engage in corrupt or fraudulent conduct – but found guilty of failing to report the illegal approach and intentionally giving the impression he was prepared to act in breach of betting rules.

He was fined £75,000 plus £10,000 in costs and banned for six months

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Originally Posted by gorgiegreens

Are you saying John Higgins or Alex Higgins is the legend. If Alex I would have to agree if John I would disagree, John was banned for bringing the game into disrepute.


Higgins was cleared of the most serious charges – of agreeing to accept a bribe and agreeing to engage in corrupt or fraudulent conduct – but found guilty of failing to report the illegal approach and intentionally giving the impression he was prepared to act in breach of betting rules.

He was fined £75,000 plus £10,000 in costs and banned for six months

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I’m a big John Higgins fan, and was disappointed to see him go out last night. I remember at the time from the information available and that video he looked bang to rights and not even I could defend him. However I read an article years after (I’ll see if can find it again) that seemed to prove that what was seen in public was only a small part of the meeting and the full recording completely changed the context of what we all saw.

Anyway, if you had to choose someone to win a frame to save your life it would be John I’d choose every time. I still think he has one final world title left in him. Think he’s lost 4 world championship finals (and also won 4). If he’d won a couple of those defeats I think he’d be acknowledged as the greatest ever. Although Ronnie is the most talented ever.

Not a massive snooker fan any more though I used to be, that was when I was involved as a table fitter. Was trying to to think if there had been any massive changes to table set up etc in the last twenty odd years and the big difference is the under table heating which wasn’t used in my time on the pro circuit or anywhere else. Room temperature used to affect tables massively especially the rubbers, apparently heating now makes the tables, quieter, smoother and of course quicker than they ever were. Match tables always had steel block cushions as opposed to standard wooden blocks on normal tables which made them quicker anyway. Would love to have a knock around on a pro fitted table these days.

Ronnie O'Sullivans latest tv interview is up there with the funniest ever. :greengrin

Cant do a link from twitter.

What a tense finish to McGill v Clarke going on now. Last frame and incredibly tense. Last 16 has seen some excellent matches.

Sent from my EML-L29 using Tapatalk

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Originally Posted by blackpoolhibs

Ronnie O'Sullivans latest tv interview is up there with the funniest ever. :greengrin

Cant do a link from twitter.

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I saw that. He has a point, since the likes of him & Higgins you’ve only had Selby and possibly Trump come through and look like they could dominate. The way he went over the top to make a decent point made him look a bit of a d**k though IMO.

The McGill - Clarke handbags was quite funny.

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Originally Posted by blackpoolhibs

Ronnie O'Sullivans latest tv interview is up there with the funniest ever. :greengrin

Cant do a link from twitter.

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Brilliant. :greengrin

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/53709660

Bit unfair on Anthony McGill with regards to the scheduling. He only finished just after midnight this morning whereas Kurt Maflin hasn't played since Thursday.

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Originally Posted by Sir David Gray

Bit unfair on Anthony McGill with regards to the scheduling. He only finished just after midnight this morning whereas Kurt Maflin hasn't played since Thursday.

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Maybe not - McGill's off to a flyer at 3-0 up. :greengrin

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Originally Posted by Sir David Gray

Maybe not - McGill's off to a flyer at 3-0 up. :greengrin

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Some match on the other table.

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Originally Posted by 3pm

Some match on the other table.

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Brilliant it was vintage Mark Williams. I wouldn't be surprised if O'Sullivan makes a comeback but 6-2 is a decent lead. O'Sullivan probably needs at least 5 frames from the second session to stand a chance.

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Originally Posted by Sir David Gray

Brilliant it was vintage Mark Williams. I wouldn't be surprised if O'Sullivan makes a comeback but 6-2 is a decent lead. O'Sullivan probably needs at least 5 frames from the second session to stand a chance.

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Williams looks good value at 11/2 to win the whole thing

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Originally Posted by Sir David Gray

Brilliant it was vintage Mark Williams. I wouldn't be surprised if O'Sullivan makes a comeback but 6-2 is a decent lead. O'Sullivan probably needs at least 5 frames from the second session to stand a chance.

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O'Sullivan goes one better and wins the second session 6-2. All square going into tonight.

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Originally Posted by Speedy

Williams looks good value at 11/2 to win the whole thing

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Maybe not :greengrin

Watching Anthony McGill isn't what I'd call entertaining but well done to him for making the semi :saltireflag

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Originally Posted by Hiber-nation

Watching Anthony McGill isn't what I'd call entertaining but well done to him for making the semi :saltireflag

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I can't see him beating Kyren Wilson but well done to him for getting to the semis.

Wilson v Selby final I think and Selby to win it. O'Sullivan could do it but it really depends on what Ronnie O'Sullivan turns up. If he starts as poorly as he did against Mark Williams there's no way he'll pull back that kind of deficit against someone as steady as Mark Selby.

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Originally Posted by Sir David Gray

someone as steady as Mark Selby.

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= someone as dull as Mark Selby. I find it a real trial to watch his matches. He's a great player and all, but its like snooker by mathematics. I do hope O'Sullivan beats him, for the sake of entertainment. I had no time for Ronnie back in the day but he's grown on me as the years have gone by and you can't but appreciate his talent - and that he's great to watch still. And at least this year you've not got the knobend supporters in the crowd.

Got to think Wilson will win the other semi. Been around for a few years now, this could be the big breakthrough from steady quarter/semi finalist at the Worlds to making a proper impact.

Great start for McGill as he takes a 6-2 lead.

O'Sullivan v Selby tonight.

There's a lot of chalk chat tonight. Seems to be causing a bit controversy.

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Originally Posted by G15 Hibs

There's a lot of chalk chat tonight. Seems to be causing a bit controversy.

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Not surprised, unless the rules have changed, I always thought that a foul would be called for doing that.

O'Sullivan-Selby nicely poised ahead of tonight's final session. It looked like Selby may have made tonight a formality at one point as he went 13-9 up but O'Sullivan won the last two frames of the session to set up an exciting finish tonight.

McGill-Wilson starting their final session soon, Wilson is 13-11 up.

Great comeback from McGill here. Wilson won the opening frame to lead 14-11 but McGill goes into the mid-session interval at 14-14.

Best of 5 frames for a place in the final.

We're into a decider - lovely stuff!

Wilson wins 17-16.

That doesn't even begin to describe that final frame, unbelievable drama!

That frame!!!!

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Originally Posted by The Modfather

That frame!!!!

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Unreal, I've never seen anything like that before.

Sport at its very, very best.

Four frames in a row for O'Sullivan, 13-13 v Selby.

O'Sullivan chucked the 30th frame.

But not the 31st.

We're heading to another decider.

What a night of snooker.

Make a choice. 🤣

Amazing.

O'Sullivan's somehow managed that, wow what a way to end a fantastic day's play.

O'Sullivan must be huge favourite in the final.

That was a great day of snooker. Only caught the end of the first match but that 2nd match was superb.

Ronnie was on fire in those last 3 frames.

Great stuff.

What a day of snooker. That had everything. Incredible!

I had tickets for tonight’s session 😢

Selby certainly didn't miss O'Sullivan there in his post match interview!

What happened?

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Originally Posted by 3pm

What happened?

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He said that O'Sullivan blootering the balls every time Selby had put him in a snooker instead of trying to work his way out of it was disrespectful to him and to the sport.

He also felt there was gamesmanship going on with O'Sullivan standing in his line of vision as he was taking shots

Sounds upset. 😁

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Originally Posted by 3pm

Sounds upset. 😁

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Sounded a bit like sour grapes to be honest.

Probably more pissed off at him getting the luck.

Ominous signs for Kyren Wilson, 3-1 for O'Sullivan.

6-2 O'Sullivan after the first session.

Stephen Hendry reckons the match is over already.

7-2, this is in danger of being all but over with two sessions to spare.

O'Sullivan is the best player to ever pick up a cue, his biggest opponent has always been himself, when he's on it then he's unbeatable imo

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Originally Posted by Mon Dieu4

O'Sullivan is the best player to ever pick up a cue, his biggest opponent has always been himself, when he's on it then he's unbeatable imo

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Ain't that the truth!?

Wilson's just rattled off four frames in a row out of nowhere and it's back to 8-6 with 3 frames left tonight.

O'Sullivan has seemed out of sorts.

O'Sullivan halts the comeback and goes into tomorrow 10-7 ahead. Wilson had a chance to finish tonight 9-8 behind but couldn't quite manage it.

I reckon O'Sullivan should now have enough tomorrow.

Bit of an anti-climax so far.

O'Sullivan has won 5 out of 6 frames today and is now only 3 frames away with 12 frames left.

Just seen the score now.

Is there even much point for an evening session now? Ronnie just needs to win two more frames (well one more as he looks as if he is about to win this one)

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Originally Posted by hfc rd

Just seen the score now.

Is there even much point for an evening session now? Ronnie just needs to win two more frames (well one more as he looks as if he is about to win this one)

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I agree if a player's so far ahead I'm not sure there's much point in coming back for potentially one frame. Just get it done this afternoon.

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Originally Posted by Sir David Gray

I agree if a player's so far ahead I'm not sure there's much point in coming back for potentially one frame. Just get it done this afternoon.

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Exactly. It’s just pointless.

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Originally Posted by hfc rd

Exactly. It’s just pointless.

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The way Ronnie knocks them in it could be over in under 10 mins!

Great last few days of snooker , that McGill decider frame will take some beating

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Originally Posted by Squealing pig

Great last few days of snooker , that McGill decider frame will take some beating

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Best hour of sporting drama I've watched in a very long time, it was outstanding.

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Originally Posted by Squealing pig

Great last few days of snooker , that McGill decider frame will take some beating

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Yup.

I’ve never in my life been on the edge of my seat like that for a frame of snooker. Extraordinary stuff and I doubt we will ever see anything like that ever again.

And just like that it's over, O'Sullivan wins 18-8 for his 6th world title.

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Originally Posted by Sir David Gray

And just like that it's over, O'Sullivan wins 18-8 for his 6th world title.

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What a surprise 😂

The programme started less than half an hour ago

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Originally Posted by hfc rd

What a surprise 😂

The programme started less than half an hour ago

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I was technically correct earlier too, it took 8 minutes between the break off shot and for Wilson to need snookers although the actual frame took 10 minutes to end!