Snooker
- Thread starter The Uncouth
- Start date
Delboy99
Sire
...... watched a few of the closing frames in the Murphy v Lisowski clash last night and there was some decent stuff played there.Lisowski got off to a flying start only to be overhauled with a three frame Murphy burst. In the final frame Jack got a long Red out of this world shot followed by a Black which he rolled along the cushion at the black end and it virtually won him the match. Great shot and a very controlled temperament I may say. Left me quite impressed. 
The Hare
Mare
Update for the last game, Lam beat Grace
Perhaps this is Lisowski's chance for that first tournament win, had a tough draw so far though....... watched a few of the closing frames in the Murphy v Lisowski clash last night and there was some decent stuff played there.Lisowski got off to a flying start only to be overhauled with a three frame Murphy burst. In the final frame Jack got a long Red out of this world shot followed by a Black which he rolled along the cushion at the black end and it virtually won him the match. Great shot and a very controlled temperament I may say. Left me quite impressed.
The Hare
Mare
Well, Hawkins knows who he is now! These latest brand of young Chinese players have started well on Tour. I expect the guaranteed £20,000 helps them with money worries and at least 3 of them have started really well, Hopefully they avoid the troubles of those from last season.
Best of 9 today and the open draw has caused a few shocks with chances for the lower ranked players. Highlight is Selby v Lisowski, it is hard to see Jack getting past Selby who is clearly playing very well. I would have thought Ford would be closer to Xiao in the ratings, he's ahead of him on the Official rankings, playing well Ford this week. Fan Zhenyi another playing better than his rating but would need a big effort to beat Williams who fought back well against Ding last night.
Best of 9 today and the open draw has caused a few shocks with chances for the lower ranked players. Highlight is Selby v Lisowski, it is hard to see Jack getting past Selby who is clearly playing very well. I would have thought Ford would be closer to Xiao in the ratings, he's ahead of him on the Official rankings, playing well Ford this week. Fan Zhenyi another playing better than his rating but would need a big effort to beat Williams who fought back well against Ding last night.
The Hare
Mare
Wrong again! Williams now the second oldest ranking event winner after Reardon. Great effort from him as Slby subdued. Selby 6 semi finals in a row in knockout ranking events, Champions League group event not included, Now they head on to Brentwood in Essex today for the English Open. Their games held over to tomorrow for rest period so the draw for this will be a little skewed for a time.
There is an extra round for 2 wildcards, Ryan Davies and Bradley Ciwdriy that I have no ratings for then the remaining First Round games for top 16 players plus Slessor playing the winner of the wildcard game.
Delboy99
Sire
British Open victory provides 25th ranking title for Mark Williams.
Mark Williams captured the 2023 British Open title with a 10-7 triumph over Mark Selby in Cheltenham on Sunday.The Welshman prevailed from a mostly tight affair at The Centaur to collect the £100,000 top prize.
Success for Williams takes his total tally of ranking events to 25 – fifth on the all-time list.
His first on the World Snooker Tour was 27 years ago when he claimed home glory in the 1996 Welsh Open.
A year later, Williams emerged with his maiden British Open title, and he now has three in his collection having also won the tournament in 2021.
At 48, the world number ten is the second-oldest ranking event champion after countryman Ray Reardon.
Williams ultimately never relinquished his lead in the British Open final after establishing a 3-0 cushion early on.
A showdown between two of the sport’s all-time greats – who boast seven world titles between them – had been billed as a potential classic.
But when an out-of-sorts Selby fell 5-1 down, a runaway scoreline briefly appeared to be on the cards.
By that point, the Leicester man had mostly sat in his chair as his opponent reeled off breaks of 133, 110, 74, and 55.
Contributions of 98 and 73 for Selby, however, provided him with a degree of hope at just two frames down heading into the evening session.
An excellent 112 then reduced the gap to only one, but Williams was always able to keep his nose in front.
A scrappy exchange of frames ensued, but the key moment of the contest materialised in the 16th frame.
With Selby 56 points in front and poised to make it 8-8, Williams produced a trademark clearance of 69 to move to within the brink.
He then gained the snooker he needed in the next frame to create the opportunity for a match-clinching clearance.
“Unbelievable. I don’t think many people really gave me much chance beating him over two sessions” Mark Williams told the World Snooker Tour.
“I think all day I competed with him and probably outplayed him in the safety department, which is really good for me.”
“He’s the best in the world at it, and if I didn’t outplay him in the safety, I definitely competed with him.
“I potted some really good long pots and had a really good clearance to go 9-7. It was looking like 8-8 and he was the stronger person.
“I was flagging a bit, but just to compete with him over two sessions in a big tournament is unbelievable for me, at 48.
“It’s got to be up there with one of my best wins ever.”
Not only is Mark Williams back in the winners’ enclosure after a two-year absence, but this victory will also bring with it many additional rewards.
A place in the upcoming Champion of Champions is guaranteed, and the former world number one is also in a strong place to qualify for the prestigious Tour Championship later this term.
Selby missed out on what would have been a 23rd career ranking title, but he has generally been one of the most consistent performers across the last six or so months.
There is not much rest for either competitor, with the English Open due to begin on Monday in Brentwood.
Delboy99
Sire
Ding Junhui Docked Frame At English Open For Bizarre Reason.
Ding Junhui secured a 4-3 victory over Ma Hailong in his first match of the English Open last night, although he did not make things easy on himself after being docked a frame for an odd infraction in Brentwood.The Chinese star came into the event as one of the favourites, although he has failed to reach the final in this tournament since its inception in 2016.
He didn't get off to the best start this either, with his wardrobe choice causing him some trouble after his arrival at the venue.
Ding Junhui docked frame at English Open for odd reason
Ding Junhui is known for donning a brown waistcoast and trousers on tour, doing so once again for this match. However, he had forgotten that the English Open requires all players to wear a black waistcoat and trousers.
His match was delayed as a result, with the 36-year old sending out a friend to buy an appropriate outfit. After missing the first frame, it was handed to his opponent.
Despite this, he would rally from that point to secure the victory over his compatriot.
Speaking to the World Snooker Tour website after the match, Ding admitted that he had completely forgotten about the dress code in this tournament.
You get the sense he won't be making that mistake in the second round, where he will be joined by Ronnie O'Sullivan, who also won his opening match despite currently nursing an elbow injury.
With plenty of other big names still in contention, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.
Delboy99
Sire
Mark Selby hits out at scheduling before facing fine for English Open concession.
Mark Selby was tired and frustrated with scheduling before defeat to Martin O’Donnell at the English Open, for which he faces a fine for an early concession.The four-time world champion played the British Open final over two sessions on Sunday, losing out 10-7 to Mark Williams in Cheltenham before heading to Brentwood for the English Open.
Selby was due to play on Monday but his first round match was rescheduled for Tuesday afternoon, which he won to set up a second round meeting with Martin O’Donnell later on Tuesday evening.
World Snooker Tour described the 40-year-old having to play twice in the same day as ‘the best possible option in the circumstances’.
However, a visibly shattered Selby was beaten 4-2 by O’Donnell and conceded in the last frame after he missed a blue off the last red, despite not being at the snookers-required stage, which will result in a fine.
After beating Xing Zihao on Tuesday afternoon, the Jester from Leicester admitted he was struggling with fatigue after his exploits last week.
‘I feel alright, but tired, I know that,’ Selby told Metro.co.uk. ‘Long night the other night against Mark, obviously a tough final. Mentally and physically tiring.
‘They are long days concentrating and only having a day to turn around and come here to start again in the first round is quite tough. It felt flat out there, probably because I was more fatigued than anything else, but I felt flat.’
Following the conclusion of the English Open this coming Sunday, the Wuhan Open begins on Monday in China, which has concerned players who had hopes of doing well in Essex and having to be in Wuhan very shortly after.
While Selby’s defeat to O’Donnell means that is no longer an issue, he is not impressed with the scheduling of events and says it is inevitable that players will end up pulling out of tournaments in future.
‘I’m not moaning about too many tournaments, it’s just the scheduling,’ he said. ‘We were moaning when there weren’t enough tournaments and now there are obviously a lot, which is great. But it’s the scheduling.
‘You do well in one tournament and then you’re getting punished for the next. You get to the final here, at best they move your game in China to Tuesday night and you’re not going to get there till Tuesday day. Physically what chance have you got?
‘You’re doing well in one and sacrificing another. It gives the players no choice but to pull out of a few tournaments. That’s not us moaning but they’re basically giving us no choice.
‘You want to go to a tournament knowing you’ve got the best chance of winning and having done the best preparation, and obviously you’re not going to be.
‘At the end of the day it’s not down to me and whatever the players say doesn’t seem to get acknowledged and whatever World Snooker want to do, they do.’
Former world champion Neil Robertson has also spoken out against the intense schedule, describing it to The Sun as ‘insane’ and ‘unacceptable’.
World Snooker Tour responded to the Australian’s comments with a statement reading: ‘This season we have brought four huge events in China on to our calendar.
‘This has been a massive boost for the tour and has increased prize money by several million pounds.
‘China is a highly significant growth area and the players will expect us to maximise those opportunities in the future.
‘A packed calendar can cause scheduling issues in any sport – for example the Formula One roster regularly jumps between continents.
‘Broadcasters in each territory often prefer events to be spread out rather than back-to-back.
‘But we work with our partners and broadcasters to find the best solutions and we always listen to feedback from the players.’
The Hare
Mare
Saw Robertson interviewed before the game. Said practise is going well. Concentrating on it and stopped taking the son to football, work back as a priority. Then played terrible against Sanderson Lam! Confidence must be low, Perry as a practise partner is also in poor form this season. Sure he will get his form back eventually, but thought he didn't look his normal self in the interview, a little pale and distant. It happens to all snooker players eventually, confidence is something you have to restore....... Allen, Neil Robertson and Jack Lisowski still a good way down this table. Robertson in particular is puzzling, makes one wonder if he will ever regain his previous status again.
Odd that you have to wear a black waistcoat, no wonder players are confused with all these little changes. Why not have the dress rules the same for each event, colour selecting is a little odd! I know some you have to wear a tie, others a dickie bow, others nothing but colour picking is mad. Ding battling on though.
Think Selby conceded the last frame when he could still win, so probably a fine. You have to have some sympathy with him, if they proceed in tournament eventually he and Williams needed 2 games in a day but that could have been saved for Thursday as Williams will if he keeps winning. TV probably.
So some symmetry now as we reach the last 32 tonight. Ronnie recovered from his injury and looked at his best, notice he was having fun in Macao last week when injured. Lisowski lost the plot today, his concentration wavered after losing the frame playing with the wrong hand on frame ball, Slessor seemed to get to him! Dream draw for O'Sullivan to semi finals at least.
Delboy99
Sire
Mark Williams has just one aim left in his career after ‘hardest final ever’ at British Open.
Mark Williams took his ranking title tally to 25 on Sunday night at the British Open and says the only thing he is still aiming to do in snooker is be in the top 16 at 50 years old.The three-time world champion remains one of the finest players in the game at 48 years old, proving it once again as he beat Mark Selby 10-7 in the final in Cheltenham to lift the British Open title for a third time.
The Welshman does not look like he’s nearing the end of his career but he is not setting himself goals to achieve before he does hang up his cue, other than one.
He wants to be in the sport’s elite top 16 when he hits 50, and given he is world number nine and in fine form after turning 48 in March, it looks like a goal that is very achievable.
‘There’s nothing, I’ve got nothing left to achieve or I’m trying to do. Just see if I can be in the top 16 when I’m 50, that’s the only aim really,’ Williams told Metro.co.uk.
‘If someone said to me today they can coach me at snooker and guarantee I’d be number one in 18 months, or a golf pro tell me I can get to scratch in 18 months, I’d pick the golf pro. I’d rather try and get to scratch than ever try and get back to number one.’
The record of oldest ranking event winner is held by fellow Welsh legend Ray Reardon who claimed the 1982 Professional Players Tournament at 50 years and 14 days, so that could be within Williams’ reach, but he is not overly fussed.
‘It’s different eras, they didn’t turn pro till they were 30-odd then,’ he said. ‘I’ve still got another two years before I get to his age to try and win one. The chances are very slim. If I’m around I’ll try, but the chances are very slim.’
Williams’ win on Sunday was thoroughly impressive, scrapping it out with Selby in an intense tactical battle and coming out on top.
He has won much longer matches than the 17 frames they played in Cheltenham, but he says it may have been the toughest game he has ever played.
‘That’s probably the hardest match, hardest final ever, between me and him. Neither of us gave an inch,’ he said,
‘It felt like the average frame was 40-45 minutes, it was taking forever. Balls were going on cushions, he was playing containing safeties, then I was, neither of us gave an inch.
‘I am proud of myself because maybe I didn’t out-safety him or out-play him, but I definitely competed with him. On some of the safety exchanges I was getting the upper hand and was getting the better of him. There’s not many people that can out-play Selby in the safety and tactical department, but I definitely competed with him 100 per cent.’
Williams is not one to show much emotion after a win or a loss, but there was a hint of it after beating Selby, partly because of recent nail-biting defeats in big matches, memorably in the World Championship and Masters semi-finals in 2022.
‘It was a big win for me, I’ve lost in a lot of finals and semi-finals closely,’ he said. ‘I wasn’t sure if I was going to win another tournament, so when that black finally went in, it wasn’t a massive celebration but I gave it a little bit of a clenched fist. I was happy!
‘I didn’t have doubts [about being able to win big matches], even when I was losing I was playing quite good stuff, just losing in the last frames.
‘Judd [Trump] in the semi-finals of the Worlds, that was an excellent match. He fluked two balls to beat me. Cross-doubles, he might have played one but he didn’t play the other one. So I was only a couple of shots away from nearly beating Trump over first-to-17 and he’s one of the young ones. Even though I lost I’m doing something right if I’m still competing with them.’
Williams has often downplayed his achievements, often saying he should not be put in the same bracket as his Class of 92 rivals Ronnie O’Sullivan and John Higgins, but his win on Sunday may have changed his tune a touch.
‘After winning I said I deserve to pat myself on the back and give myself some credit because I never really do,’ he said. ‘Maybe I am a lot better than I think I am, as a snooker player. Maybe I deserve to be called one of the better players around, maybe I should give myself more credit to look at what I have done and say, I am better than what I think.’
The Hare
Mare
Last 16 tonight and a lot of lower ranked Chinese players have made it through. Especially the 2 new professionals, He and Lu, Wakelin had a oink to the middle for match ball, smashed it and missed as he went for position on the next red and nevewr looked the same after as Lu won the next 3.
O'Sullivan was lucky as Si had many chances and missed some fairly easy pots.
Ding and Brecel meet again in the highlight.
O'Sullivan was lucky as Si had many chances and missed some fairly easy pots.
Ding and Brecel meet again in the highlight.
The Hare
Mare
An all Chinese half in the draw, Ronnie lost the plot against Zhang, Zhou was at his best against Carter, Liu battled past Williams and Ding beats Brecel again. Must have been inspired by Chinese National holiday week. Liu is impressive after just four tournaments and 18 years old finally seems China are producing competitive players again.
In the other half Higgins and Trump reached close to their best.
Quarter Finals are best of 9 today.
As mentioned earlier the new professionals have made a great start, Liu and O'Donnell still in this and Carty top 16 on one year rankings among with other Chinese last round loser He. A bit of new life entering the bottom of the game.
In the other half Higgins and Trump reached close to their best.
Quarter Finals are best of 9 today.
As mentioned earlier the new professionals have made a great start, Liu and O'Donnell still in this and Carty top 16 on one year rankings among with other Chinese last round loser He. A bit of new life entering the bottom of the game.
Delboy99
Sire
.... looks like Ding, Trump and Higgins are the pick of the bunch left here. Looks like Ronnie shot his lot again. Something wrong with his head I often feel. Stability seems to be missing a lot these days.