2025 World Championships

[CueInAction]

This place is nearly dead nowadays. She as it used to be a great forum when busier 😢

Just got back from Si vs Gilbert. DG didn't get out the blocks until that pressure lifted when he was effectively done for at 9-4. But next 2 frames he looked as good as any player. Back to back centuries in a span of just over 20 minutes, every long ball sunk. Great to watch, just a shame it came too late

Other highlights, Si knocked in a cracking 98 first frame of the session. She he didn't make it over the ton mark as he 3 back to back in the 90s across both sessions

Other was Gilbert on for a 147. Start if the session, Rib Walker called a name out, picked at random, threw up a T-shirt and said £25k was on offer to him for a 147 being knocked in tonight. After about 7 blacks, Gilbert split 4 remaining reds perfectly and it looked to be a battle of nerve as the table was set up perfectly. I can't help thinking if that happened during that 2 frame down, he'd have took it easy as his control was spot on. Must have been real squeaky bum time for that guy in the crowd. Guess it's better he missed when he did than miss one of the colours. Just gutting it was a sitter as I've not witnessed a live 147

[CueInAction]

Anyone there tonight and see the old lady in the front row to the right of the players (their rights)? Saw her at mid session going up to the restaurant and she looked trashed.

About 2 frames from the end she was passed out snoozing front row. Went with my mate and he saw her out of the corner of his eye and said "I genuinely thought that was Eddie Izzard". Took every bit of my might to not cause a scene in hysterics after looking over. Would've been an awkward one when the cameras turned on me 👀🤭

[CueInAction]

Is it me or does anyone else think when Trump starts out at the WC everyone is already casting doubt and saying he must win X amount of world titles to be considered a great?

They have no issues with talking up Murphy or Ding who've won far less than Judd but somehow whatever Trump does go on to achieve in the game it'll never be enough for some!

Yeah it's a bit tiresome. This isn't an era for domination like Davis and Hendry. There used to be a huge gulf between to top 8 and say anyone from 32 down, maybe even below 20.

Nowadays we have a guy outside the top 32 knocking in 2 147s in the span of 5 frames, yet can't get through qualifiers. We've had a 147 in my old local league before!! Plus this year, we've could have an amateur win the WC fur the first time and was joint 2nd favourite!!!

Okay, the Xinting thing is a bit of a stretch 😂 Hard to call him and amateur despite it being true. Guys cue ball control is very much like Ronnie's. Expecting big things from him the next 2 seasons. Guarantee he'll be top 16 before his 2nd season ends

[MrRottweiler]

You'll never guess.... Same old - Virgo, Taylor, Davis, Doherty, Parrott, Hendry and Murphys been waffling away even though he's still in the Championship! Not heard from Neil yet so not sure if he would have taken the opportunity to head back to Oz for a visit maybe 🤔

The option to mute commentary and just have the sound of the arena would be worth paying for and I'm sure it's easily done. Or better yet record it with the commentary and have the option of turning it off during replays to leave the ambient sounds of the matches. The coughing would be a problem so there should be a Fishermen's Friends, Tunes and a Lempsip stand at every tournament

I enjoy listening to Dennis Taylor and JV because they're not getting any younger and still put in the effort but I like hearing commentary from active players as well like Mark Allen. People like Virgo have been around for as long as I can remember so it will be a sad day when they're not at the big three anymore. I remember having one of his VHS videos with him doing trick shots and impressions in the early 90s. Marion Ramsay (Hooks from Police Academy) was one of his guests and she was in police uniform. It's a shame players are more serious now and there's only a handful that will sometimes break the tension by making the crowd laugh like Selby and Williams.

[Billy]

This place is nearly dead nowadays. She as it used to be a great forum when busier 😢

That’s because of places like Reddit etc. That said, the only people whose comments are worth reading have remained here. The Reddit snooker sub(s) are full of the usual SM toxic arse’oles.

[Cue crafty]

The option to mute commentary and just have the sound of the arena would be worth paying for and I'm sure it's easily done. Or better yet record it with the commentary and have the option of turning it off during replays to leave the ambient sounds of the matches. The coughing would be a problem so there should be a Fishermen's Friends, Tunes and a Lempsip stand at every tournament

I enjoy listening to Dennis Taylor and JV because they're not getting any younger and still put in the effort but I like hearing commentary from active players as well like Mark Allen. People like Virgo have been around for as long as I can remember so it will be a sad day when they're not at the big three anymore. I remember having one of his VHS videos with him doing trick shots and impressions in the early 90s. Marion Ramsay (Hooks from Police Academy) was one of his guests and she was in police uniform. It's a shame players are more serious now and there's only a handful that will sometimes break the tension by making the crowd laugh like Selby and Williams.

I do like JV, he was always a supporter of Alex & Jimmy and he loves the way Ronnie plays the game. I was a kid watching Big break, and I remember him doing his impressions of players around the table, there was one where even Ray Reardon joined in wearing a beard, it was a classic.

I know Steve Davis wasn't best pleased losing to DT in the 1985 worlds, but when they reinacted it with a Wig and extra big glasses, that showed everyone a lighter side to snooker.

In these current times, more humour wouldn't go a miss would it. 😉

[Billy]

It’s not the WC unless all the regulars are there. Hazel, SD, JP, DT and JV, (and SH, KD to a slightly lesser degree) and long may they continue

[snookerfollower]

I think Judd should be a multiple world champion by now - in 17 years since he's really wasted a lot of chances to lift the trophy. The greatest player of his generation tag won't be sealed until he wins at least one more in my opinion regardless of his success in other ranking events.

[Nifty50]

FRB got his sunglasses on today and has opted for England colours as opposed to normal Coventry. He’s on the Murphy match.

[cueman]

I think Judd should be a multiple world champion by now - in 17 years since he's really wasted a lot of chances to lift the trophy. The greatest player of his generation tag won't be sealed until he wins at least one more in my opinion regardless of his success in other ranking events.

If he were to see the WC as a priority I'd agree with this sentiment. However, in order to win what he has since winning it back in 2019, he's basically gone full pelt in everything. With the WC being more of a marathon, I think by the time April comes around, Trump is basically running out of energy to last the distance.

He's come into this fresher than he has for a while but I still think his game is not suited to the format of the WC.
To make a parallel to athletics, Judd is a sprinter and by far and away the best over shorter distance. However he's not and never will be a marathon runner, if he wins one more world title he'll have achieved the maximum his game is cut out for IMO. He'll never win 4 or 5 as the pundits often say he needs to be considered a great.

[vmax]

I think Judd should be a multiple world champion by now - in 17 years since he's really wasted a lot of chances to lift the trophy. The greatest player of his generation tag won't be sealed until he wins at least one more in my opinion regardless of his success in other ranking events.

To be world number one shows a greater consistency than just winning one tournament out of the blue like Joe Johnson did. I would consider Jimmy White a greater player than Joe and Joe would never consider himself to be a greater player than Judd or even Ding yet Joe is down as a 'world champion' for winning just one tournament that carried the tag of world championship.
And it's harder now, the only consistant opposition Hendry had was Jimmy White, Steve Davis had was nobody, RayReardon had was John Spencer, Joe Davis had was billiard players, Judd has the whole of the top 16 to contend with and don't forget the class of '92 is still here after 30 years so longevity is also a factor that previous 'greats' didn't contend with during their decade of success.

[snookerfollower]

To be world number one shows a greater consistency than just winning one tournament out of the blue like Joe Johnson did. I would consider Jimmy White a greater player than Joe and Joe would never consider himself to be a greater player than Judd or even Ding yet Joe is down as a 'world champion' for winning just one tournament that carried the tag of world championship.
And it's harder now, the only consistant opposition Hendry had was Jimmy White, Steve Davis had was nobody, RayReardon had was John Spencer, Joe Davis had was billiard players, Judd has the whole of the top 16 to contend with and don't forget the class of '92 is still here after 30 years so longevity is also a factor that previous 'greats' didn't contend with during their decade of success.

Two words; Mark Selby - he's won 4 in the time Judd's been classed as a top player so it's more than possible. Why aren't we seeing those numbers from Judd - because his safety game has never been up to scratch. You can con your way to a win a Best of 7. Best of 9 or Best of 11 with mediocre safety but it's going to get found out in the long matches at the crucible. He can't be considered a great until he wins at least 1 more in not in reality 3 more titles. He's got plenty of time to do it in though as players careers now seem to run into their fifties.

I agree 1 doesn't make a great player, but only the greats get 2 or more World Championships in their career.

[itsnoteasy]

To be world number one shows a greater consistency than just winning one tournament out of the blue like Joe Johnson did. I would consider Jimmy White a greater player than Joe and Joe would never consider himself to be a greater player than Judd or even Ding yet Joe is down as a 'world champion' for winning just one tournament that carried the tag of world championship.
And it's harder now, the only consistant opposition Hendry had was Jimmy White, Steve Davis had was nobody, RayReardon had was John Spencer, Joe Davis had was billiard players, Judd has the whole of the top 16 to contend with and don't forget the class of '92 is still here after 30 years so longevity is also a factor that previous 'greats' didn't contend with during their decade of success.

I'm sure Trump has said be puts more importance on being number one than world champion.
Hendry dominated the 90s decade, that decade had Ronnie, Higgins and Williams for eight tenths of it. Its a bit harsh to say there was only Davis and White.

[akofb]

I swear that every match you hear one of the commentators say that a player that has just missed a shot or gone in off is sitting in their chair "giving a wry smile". Why are all smiles wry there this year!?

[itsnoteasy]

For all his faults, if watching O'sullivan cueing like a dream, strutting round the table doesn't make you want to get your hand on the green baize, I don't know what will.