2018 UK Championship

[tomwalker147]

Those Aramith balls are destroying the amateur game of snooker imo . Our local league - top division , 14 teams - lists 18 breaks above 30 after 10 rounds . Only 3 breaks above 40 . So that's 280 frames of snooker played with 18 breaks over 30 , highest 51.

It's shoite - all clubs are playing with the Aramith pro tourney balls or the 1G rubbish . Thick contacts on fine shots and just plain inconsistency of contact . These balls are not designed for real snooker tables , and make a mockery of fine cueists but they don't seem to realise it.

15 years ago that number of breaks would have been done in two rounds .

I go down to my local club for solo practice regularly- like to try and iron me many faults out , if I do a few line ups with the pro tourney Aramiths I get a few medium size breaks and an occasional 80+. Take my own SC down then I usually take about 1 line up to get going then knock a couple clearances or big tons in . Can't do that with the silly Hearn garbage balls . I'm in my 60's so I've played for forty + years and I've never seen the game in such a **** state . No wonder the local leagues are shrinking .

I get fed up even writing about it. When did it all go wrong? ?

Not to be harsh but your local league just isn't of a very good standard regardless of the balls used. Funnily enough I played on the star last night using Aramith balls and played superbly then had half a dozen frames on another table using SC's and made 88 (missed on the max) and 70, yes it took a couple of frames to adjust to the balls but 280 frames played and 18 breaks of 30+ is due to standard not just playing conditions. Balls used might be an excuse but not that good of one.

[Billy]

People making a big thing about Mark potting balls with his eyes shut tell me they don’t know much about what goes into potting. Neither do I to be honest, but while it’s certainly unusual to do it (and once the shot has been aligned correctly) even I know the pot is no more difficult just because his eyes are closed. It’s merely done as a test of his cueing, and if that’s sound you don’t reallly need your eyes once the shot has been lined up.

[Neil Taperell]

All hail the king …...the pretender has been beaten .

More like a mauling , was expecting a bit more from Jack Lisowski .

[adebisi10]

Who would expect 3 centuries from Maguire after 0-4 at the interval? Great match now

[Odrl]

Wouldn't be surprised if the supposed best prospect of the last16 turned out to be the least exciting match of the round. :wink:

Meanwhile, superb stuff from Maguire on the other table to pull it back to 4-3.

[Billy]

Wouldn't be surprised if the supposed best prospect of the last16 turned out to be the least exciting match of the round. :wink:

Meanwhile, superb stuff from Maguire on the other table to pull it back to 4-3.

He's battering him, isn't he? I suppose that's what can happen when you put a bruiser like Maguire on the ropes.

You wouldn't have even dreamt of saying so just ten minutes ago, but these are worrying times for Mark.

[Billy]

Why has Murphy suddenly turned into Clive Everton?? Ten minutes ago he decided to stop using his normal speech pattern and adopt that annoying matter-of-fact tone where the voice rises at the end of each sentence.

[vilkrang]

Stephen Maguire is playing on god mode at the moment. Very rarely seen anyone play this well, hope he doesn't flinch as the winning line comes near.

[RaveDave]

Why has Murphy suddenly turned into Clive Everton?? Ten minutes ago he decided to stop using his normal speech pattern and adopt that annoying matter-of-fact tone where the voice rises at the end of each sentence.

yeah I noticed that as well.

[vilkrang]

Oh Stephen what have you done. As I thought he might, flinched at the winning line. Can't see Williams losing this now.

Either way, what a match!

[Billy]

yeah I noticed that as well.

Good. I'm getting super-cynical in my old age. feared it was just me.

[Billy]

That'll teach me. When Maguire potted that last red into the middle I switched channels because I don't like to see my favourite players going out. Five minutes later I switch back to catch the interview and Mark's levelled. What the hell happened??

[vilkrang]

What a fantastic match. Best match of the tournament so far for me.

[fkhan]

Williams is OUT.

[Billy]

I have this ridiculous belief I can influence a match by watching/not watching - I probably need psychological help - so when Mark levelled at 5-5 from nowhere it was, in my mind, because I'd switched channels and wasn't watching it. I kept doing the same thing throughout that decider and it seemed to be helping Mark. But then when Maguire lost position on the final red I made the mistake of sticking with the game as I could see no other shot than a safety... and he knocks in a double to take the match!

Sorry, Mark