2018 China Championships

[JimMalone]

John Higgins vs. Mark Selby in the final, it doesn't get better than this.

They haven't met since their World Championship final, so I wonder if the succesful comeback of that match might give Mark Selby, who lead their H2H 8-5, a small mental advantage. But Higgo is too experienced in my opinion. An interesting stat with Selby is that he won 11 of his last 12 finals and among them was only one minor event, so let's say 10 of his last 11. But you could say that it's time that this "streak" is broken once again.

Both were not playing their best in the tournament, missing especially consistency. So it's hard to make a favorite, though I'd give a small edge to Selby, just because of his success in the last few years. So maybe a 10-8 win for the World number one.

[PatBlock]

I really like Foulds, but Zhao finishing directly over the red after potting the black was not bad luck, he simply didn't play it at the correct pace. When they land on'em perfectly it's pure genius, but when they mess up, it's bad luck??

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[Odrl]

Decent match in the end. Zhao had his chances in the last two frames, but Selby just held himself together a little bit better. :smile:

[the_unrepentant]

I went back to Triangle Pro, more messy but less miscues, for me anyway.

Selby really feeling it now....

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I did too then eventually just went back to normal Triangle which is still messy but I get better reaction I find.

[PatBlock]

and yet another shout-out for the Taom chalk on Eurosport. Yes, the pro's use it blah blah blah but they don't have to pay £15 a block for it like us mere plebs do.

I went back to Triangle Pro, more messy but less miscues, for me anyway.

Selby really feeling it now....

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[the_unrepentant]

and yet another shout-out for the Taom chalk on Eurosport. Yes, the pro's use it blah blah blah but they don't have to pay £15 a block for it like us mere plebs do.

[the_unrepentant]

Selby Fouling a red by tapping it with his cue while waving it around to work out the angles. Why do people do this? A bloke I play with regularly is a serial offender, always giving away fouls for it and even though it usually bodes well for me, I find it immensely irritating. Like I say, WHY??

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It's not something I do either but I've never seen that before. I doubt Selby will be a serial offender though!

[PatBlock]

Selby Fouling a red by tapping it with his cue while waving it around to work out the angles. Why do people do this? A bloke I play with regularly is a serial offender, always giving away fouls for it and even though it usually bodes well for me, I find it immensely irritating. Like I say, WHY??

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[the_unrepentant]

Selby's foul on the red was priceless! Good to see them both chuckling about that.

[Odrl]

That century by Zhao to cut Selby's lead to 4-3 wasn't too shabby.

Nice break, but why does he always have to go a couple of frames behind before he starts playing like this? :smile:

[JimMalone]

That century by Zhao to cut Selby's lead to 4-3 wasn't too shabby.

[DeanH]

yep I have noticed the mispronunciations all week!

Yuan SiJun often was called "Juan" (won) instead of "U-arn"; and Si Jun as "StJohn" (sin-jun)

[Odrl]

Not a great standard this morning, unfortunately. It only became a little more interesting when Lyu started coming back at the end, but even then he couldn't get any closer than 5-3. Not a great sign for Higgins that he made such hard work of the match, because Lyu was really struggling. Hoping for better this afternoon. :smile:

And just to restate my favourite complaint... The local referee must have said "Lyu Haotian" out loud a hundred times today, so I really don't know why the commentators can't just repeat it the way she says it. Why do they have to butcher it so badly? At least Hendon won't be commentating in the afternoon, so I don't have to hear him refer to Zhao Xintong as "Zhao Yintong" all day. :wink:

[Guitarnolife]

Poor quality but still interesting to watch. Decider would be great!

[fkhan]

Surprised (but in a pleasant way) that Zhao made the semifinals. Would never have thought this at the beginning if the tournament.

I think we'll have a Higgins - Selby final here and I'm certainly not opposed to it. :smile:

I fancy Higgins to win this tournament.