2016 World Championship discussion

[JimMalone]

Mark's after match interview was quite interesting.

"I got beat easily and, to be honest, deep down I knew I would, so I cannot really grumble," said the 41-year-old.

"I was playing, and feeling, brilliant. With the players left in, it was probably my best chance of winning the World Championship.

"But as soon as my tip split the night before, I knew then that my chances were gone. It was almost impossible. It didn't matter who I played."

So he basically admitted that he had zero chance due to his new tip. I know he is known for his blunt honesty but those are hardly the words of a confident man are they?

Anyway he should be back close to the top 10 after this tournament and certainly securing his top 16 ranking for a while. Hopefully he can keep working on his game and perhaps win another big event one day. I think he still has the game within him, it is just a case of if he can drag it out under pressure.

He will be ranked 13th after this World Championship, unless Wilson reaches the final, then Williams will be just 14th.
And if McManus wins the title and Wilson reaches the final, Williams will be 15th.

[Erwan_BZH]

This is the best scenario Ding could have dreamt of....A quick kill and a session to spare to give a much needed rest. This is absolutely perfect for him. Couldn't watch the end of the match yesterday night but what an impressive victory for the chinese. Sure, Willo's tip issue cost him the game and it is a shame as it ruined the show. Still a good result for the ol' Welsh to reach the quarters.

It's going to take some talent to knock Ding out of this tournament. Higgins looks favorite to win the Tartan Tussle but the battle is far from over imho...Alan won't go down easily and it is a match that could drag Higgo's down a bit. Ding will watch carefully the outcome from his sofa...

PS: crazy to think that if Ding wins it all, he'll go from 17th to SECOND in the rankings !!

[shmeeko69]

Ding is really benefiting from having to go through the quallies

I thought that would be his achilles heel due to all the extra matches and the Crucible burnout kicking in.

[Cov86]

Mark's after match interview was quite interesting.

"I got beat easily and, to be honest, deep down I knew I would, so I cannot really grumble," said the 41-year-old.

"I was playing, and feeling, brilliant. With the players left in, it was probably my best chance of winning the World Championship.

"But as soon as my tip split the night before, I knew then that my chances were gone. It was almost impossible. It didn't matter who I played."

So he basically admitted that he had zero chance due to his new tip. I know he is known for his blunt honesty but those are hardly the words of a confident man are they?

Anyway he should be back close to the top 10 after this tournament and certainly securing his top 16 ranking for a while. Hopefully he can keep working on his game and perhaps win another big event one day. I think he still has the game within him, it is just a case of if he can drag it out under pressure.

Hopefully he will learn to bring a decent spare tip as well. What a plonker.

[Hal]

I don't recall there ever being no play, usually just limited, and we had last Thursday with no morning session.

What is the reasoning behind the timings of the afternoon sessions though? Some days it's been 2.30pm, other days 1pm, with no obvious reason for the change.

The 1pm start is when there is only afternoon session and evening session that day. I think this happens every Thursday and it has been as this as far as I remember.

As for the change in order of the play, it is obvious. If the order of the matches pairing-wise was played by same pairs each session and both matches in one session went on to finish with session to spare, there will be no live snooker at all for one of the session on the 2nd day of the quarterfinals.

Yesterday evening session was absolutely terrible for me, there were times I wanted to quit watching. I was really looking forward to MJW match. But what a struggle, what a terrible run of balls he had once he got it. I was really dissapointed.
Ding played ok, far from anything special, bad sadly, it was more than enough yesterday. Fair play to him.

The second match was also not one I enjoyed. It seemed that Mark Selby will left Kyren Wilson of the hook, but in the end, he held his lead. But even Mark was struggling in this match, he is lucky to be still 4 in front, definitely worse player of the night.

I don't want anyone from top half to lift the title now, Selby or Fu (maybe Hawkins) for me. If someone else does, I will be happy for them, but I am not their fan.

[Rane]

Sorry I wasn't totally clear in my post before.

For the change I meant that the order of play tomorrow is different from today.
Selby vs Wilson and ding vs Williams has been the on at same time twice but different tomorrow. It means someone plays tonight and first thing tomorrow and also someone plays two in a row tomorrow.

I just wonder why they change the order and don't keep the matches the same order throughout the quarter finals.

I don't want less snooker, far from it I love the long frame matches. Just bar last few years the final has been a bit one sided imo mainly due to one player being tired or late play on the Saturday night. I just wonder if both had a days rest it would be fairer.

And thanks for the qualifiers correction, I didn't know that. Didn't think Dott had been out the top 16 for that long.

I would back up starting one or two days earlier in order to get a restday or two build into the tournament. Kyren Wilson and Hawkins results yesterday left you thinking they could have needed a breakt. That said Wilson had all chances to come back last night. Unfortunately for him he didn´t take them.

[mikeyd100]

James Wattana. Whatever happened to him? Does he still play?

Yeah, he tried his hand in this years World Qualifiers.
He also plays under another name too - a Thai name.... dont ask me the reasons behind that though lol.

[Billy]

James Wattana. Whatever happened to him? Does he still play?

[gavpowell]

I don't recall there ever being no play, usually just limited, and we had last Thursday with no morning session.

What is the reasoning behind the timings of the afternoon sessions though? Some days it's been 2.30pm, other days 1pm, with no obvious reason for the change.

[PatBlock]

I don't want less snooker, far from it I love the long frame matches. Just bar last few years the final has been a bit one sided imo mainly due to one player being tired or late play on the Saturday night. I just wonder if both had a days rest it would be fairer.

You do have a valid point, but I'm torn between having fair snooker or no snooker for a day, always the junkie's dilemma I suppose.

Did there not used to be a day of no snooker during the worlds? The second Thursday or Wednesday?

Yes, I'm fairly sure you're right there.

-

[jonny66]

Did there not used to be a day of no snooker during the worlds? The second Thursday or Wednesday?

[Billy]

If it makes you feel any better, Ding has a positive record against Higgins over the years. He won their most important match to date, the 2009 UK final, and he has also won the last four times they've played, including in the World Championship last year. :wink:

Well I don't follow the stats, so wasn't aware of this, but it does make me feel slightly better. And as others have said, his day off has got to help, you would think.

[cebs]

Sorry I wasn't totally clear in my post before.

For the change I meant that the order of play tomorrow is different from today.
Selby vs Wilson and ding vs Williams has been the on at same time twice but different tomorrow. It means someone plays tonight and first thing tomorrow and also someone plays two in a row tomorrow.

I just wonder why they change the order and don't keep the matches the same order throughout the quarter finals.

I don't want less snooker, far from it I love the long frame matches. Just bar last few years the final has been a bit one sided imo mainly due to one player being tired or late play on the Saturday night. I just wonder if both had a days rest it would be fairer.

And thanks for the qualifiers correction, I didn't know that. Didn't think Dott had been out the top 16 for that long.

[Odrl]

I enjoyed the Selby-Wilson session tonight, very tense towards the end when both players had a chance to get a great result. Wilson was so close to getting back to 9-7, he must be frustrated at still being four frames behind...

Well done to Ding, he played quite well and took advantage of Williams' struggles. I have to admire Ding's composure though, I would have gone mental if I had to suffer so many kicks and big bounces in a single evening, whereas Ding handled it very professionally. Ridiculous conditions for any tournament, let alone the World Championship. :frown:

I'd argue there is. Higgins. And as a massive Ding fan I say that with a sinking heart.

If it makes you feel any better, Ding has a positive record against Higgins over the years. He won their most important match to date, the 2009 UK final, and he has also won the last four times they've played, including in the World Championship last year. :wink:

I don't think two qualifiers have ever made the final before, last one was Murphy from memory but can't recall before that.

Not quite. Three qualifiers have reached the final since Murphy in 2005: Selby in 2007, Dott in 2010 and Trump in 2011. :smile:

[Billy]

Ding is really benefiting from having to go through the quallies

There is no one left he can't beat [snip]

I'd argue there is. Higgins. And as a massive Ding fan I say that with a sinking heart.