German Masters - QF, SF, F discussion

[PatBlock]

Very solid first frame from Selby. Looks like this is going to be a cracker.

-

[Odrl]

Here we go, Selby opens with a break of 82.

[Mr P]

Can I point you all in the direction of this; http://www.thesnookerforum.com/board...ad.php?t=29888

[hitandhope]

May the best Mark win.
(Selbs of course )

[Mr P]

Ther will only be one sad face and that will be spanner chops

Time will tell.

[hotpot]

Saggy face has no chance I'm afraid.

Ther will only be one sad face and that will be spanner chops

[Mr P]

Come on Williams , show him who,s the Boss

Saggy face has no chance I'm afraid.

[spike]

Unfortunately i was unable to see both Selby and Williams in action yesterday, but from what I have read it appears that both finalists look to be playing somewhere near their best. This is an intriguing final in many ways, especially as there is a contrast in styles and the fact they (both are very good at winning scrappy frames), especially in the case of Williams.

I think too that this could very well be a classic in the making, though I will give the nod to Selby on this occasion from what I have witnessed overall from both by the score of 9-7 to Mark Selby..

[cue1]

Come on Williams , show him who,s the Boss

The cheering squad will be backing you on this one, hotpot

Come On Mark J.!!! :snooker:

[Odrl]

I'm really looking forward to this one. As finals go, I think it's probably the best prospect of the season so far. Two very big names, and both playing really well on their way to the final. I can't wait to see the atmosphere with just the one table.

Selby's usual tricks don't work against MJW, as seen at few times they've played each other..

Well, no, I think Williams is pretty immune to any kind of mind games or controversial tactics. Selby's matches often involve a lot of fragmented, scrappy frames. It's often the case that the balls go awkward, particularly the high colours, or a red goes up the table and safety has to be played from the black end. There's a couple of reasons why this seems to happen with Selby. I think the first thing is his break-off shot. Quite a few times this week a red ended up near the black, making it tricky for the players to play position on it. Players then play back to baulk off the initial long pot, so there is a greater chance of not being on a colour, and even if they are, it's tougher to open up the table and really get a good scoring chance.

The early-frame safety is another thing... Selby is very good at playing safety with a lot of balls still on the table, which invariably means the high colours get tied up, or their paths to most pockets get obscured. And after long periods of safety, it's tough to get into a scoring rhythm anyway. Most of the time, I don't think Selby intentionally makes the table awkward, but he sure isn't in a hurry to resolve the situation either, especially against players like O'Sullivan, or even Ding yesterday. It's actually something I like about him, but I think this is a match where it won't necessarily give him an advantage, because Williams plays that game just as well himself. It's basically the way he scrapped himself to the UK final.

Having said that, I don't think that kind of game would be Williams' preference today. If you look at the way he's played in his previous matches, it's the opposite of Selby in many ways. He loves to play for the black on his first pot, even if it means having to play it slowly, or possibly leaving something on. And he has certainly been getting them in this tournament. The centuries have not exactly been flying in, but good breaks of 60 or 70 certainly have. And he scores so quickly as well, making a couple of those breaks in a row in no time. That's something Selby doesn't really have in his repertoire. But then again, when the balls are open, he has been very solid himself this week. Speed and fluency count for nothing in the end, a couple of carefully and methodically constructed breaks are just as effective. And they keep the opponent in his seat for a longer time as well.

Anyway, I don't wish to over-analyze it too much. I'm certainly looking forward to seeing how it goes. For the record, I'll be predicting Williams to win 9-7, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if Selby won by the same scoreline.

[hotpot]

Come on Williams , show him who,s the Boss

[Mr P]

Come on Selby!!!!!!!!

[doorag]

C'mon Williams!!

[João]

MJW will be a man on a mission after the UK final upset. Hats off to Selby though, he has played superb snooker for the most of the tournament.

[montoya10]

I don't read that much into what betting sites say, but, still??

Williams is the higher-ranked player, the in-form player, and Selby's game suits his style, as well.. I'm surprised that Selby is favoured this much.

Anyway, we will see how things will shape up tomorrow ourselves