2019 World Snooker Championship

[fkhan]

Selby vs Zhao might be difficult to watch tonight, if this opening frame is any indication...

Could the table's conditions be the reason

[Odrl]

Selby vs Zhao might be difficult to watch tonight, if this opening frame is any indication...

[wake_up_bomb]

If you keep continually emphasising...Sheffield is a nightmare, it's a marathon, you have to grind your way through it, I don't enjoy playing in it, it's boring and tiring...it's just completely the wrong mindset to begin with. It's hardly surprising that this can then impact on your performance.

[DeanH]

He played similar against a lower ranked player in the Welsh Open this year - throwing caution to the wind and going for everything. He won on that day, so i expect him to get through tomorrow

and lost to an even lower ranked player (Alexander Ursenbacher) two days later
of course that was a short format match so...

[The Boss]

He played similar against a lower ranked player in the Welsh Open this year - throwing caution to the wind and going for everything. He won on that day, so i expect him to get through tomorrow

[narl]

He was pretty arsey at the pre-tournament presser as well,

Nothing new for him.

[gavpowell]

Maybe it is just an off day. Maybe he's feeling under the weather. Whatever the reason he looks like he'd rather be anywhere else.

He was pretty arsey at the pre-tournament presser as well, so for all his talk about dedication etc. he doesn't come across as relishing the opportunity.

[ken147]

I think Ronnie is very frustrated with the table conditions. There were a couple of occasions where he went into the pack and there was not much reaction from the cue ball and also some heavy contact / kicks.

[Billy]

Definitely. Nobody with his mind right would ever think that Ronnie O'sullivan doesn't want to become World Champion - in any year.

You can't really blame folk for coming to this conclusion when he's performing (or not) as he is in this match. He's hitting the blue on the break, going top side of blue on the break, hitting safeties thick, missing simple pots...

Maybe it is just an off day. Maybe he's feeling under the weather. Whatever the reason he looks like he'd rather be anywhere else.

[sanman]

He is gonna lose

[vilkrang]

He most definitely can be arsed. He chooses what he enters, applies himself, and wins the vast majority of his matches. He is human. He's allowed to get nervous or have an off day and miss a few pots. For all his strengths, his b or c game is nowhere near his best.

I know he's human, just pointing out that he isn't in the frame of mind to challenge this year so I'd rather Cahill go through. Ronnie at the World's hasn't been great to watch since 2014.

[Mark187187]

Might be good for Cahill to just knock Ronnie out now as he clearly can’t be arsed this year.

He most definitely can be arsed. He chooses what he enters, applies himself, and wins the vast majority of his matches. He is human. He's allowed to get nervous or have an off day and miss a few pots. For all his strengths, his b or c game is nowhere near his best.

[Billy]

Ronnie was extremely lucky with that green though.

That's very true to be fair. Snooker gods at work.

[JimMalone]

I dont buy his "cant bother" tactics. Its more likely coping mechanism against expectations.

Definitely. Nobody with his mind right would ever think that Ronnie O'sullivan doesn't want to become World Champion - in any year.

[JimMalone]

Well that was a smack on the arse for Cahill. Took the frame for granted with that loose pot attempt on frame red.

Ronnie was extremely lucky with that green though.