Welsh Open match discussion

[cueman]

Ronnie appears really annoyed with the way the match is going.

Selby is going to drag things out. Not good viewing really.

Yep, did anyone catch what O'Sullivan said at the end of the 4th frame? He said "f***ing boring S**t. I think he'd have said it so that Selby could hear.

I said before the final started that I hoped Selby wouldn't get up to his sly old tricks and yet again he does it. For the good of the game I really hope that he suffers with a loss of form because I don't think he is good for the game at all. He is suffocating to watch and it would ruin the game as a spectator sport if everyone played like he does.

[Ekphantos]

I found the Hendry-Selby match more entertaining.
I wonder what O'Sullivan was writing during the 2nd (?) frame.

[dantuck_7]

Ronnie appears really annoyed with the way the match is going.

Selby is going to drag things out. Not good viewing really.

[dantuck_7]

Any idea what ROS is up to when Selby is at the table?

[The Boss]

Ronnie is the complete player and enjoys the safety battles because he's so good at them

[cueman]

When you hear Ronnie talk though, he usually says he doesn't like to get involved in the tactical side of things, so perhaps Shaun expected to win that battle and he expected Ronnie to have a go at anything. Either way, its part of the game so nobody should be surprised at the way any player plays, regardless whether its a strength or weakness of theirs.

[Ekphantos]

Even at the Grand Prix earlier in the season Ronnie didn't play so much safety against Shaun, but realised yesterday that he had to compete with him in the safety dept to stand any chance of winning.

The point is, he doesn't talk about playing safe more often, which is what you seem to refer to and which I wouldn't find strange, but he talks about the way O'Sullivan played his safeties.
I would think, if a player tries to play safe, he always concentrates on getting a good safety, no matter who he plays. So this seemed odd to me.

[dannyd0g]

What should be noted is the amount of respect that Ronnie paid me on the table.
Every time he was playing safe he concentrated on putting the cue ball in the precise position that would make it as tough as possible for me.

This part of Murphy post match interview seems rather riciulous to me.
It is the nature of safety play to make it as tough as possible for the opponent. Is he so desperately wanting respect? I guess nobody considers him an easy to beat opponent anyway nowadays, so what's the point?

Yes i agree, its bad form really to spell it out, I'm sure everyone noticed anyway, he didnt really need to publically emphasise this point so pointedly. Also the bit about Ronnie getting the better chances - as others have said that was because he earnt them through his safety play. Once again he comes off badly on the things he says ..

Apart from that though, i was beggining to warm to him yesterday. After seeing that clip about his childhood again, and seeing him suffer another loss, he is starting to seem more human and likeable

[cueman]

I think Murphy is just pointing out that Ronnie doesn't always show such respect to his opponents and sometimes relies on them giving him easy chances. Even at the Grand Prix earlier in the season Ronnie didn't play so much safety against Shaun, but realised yesterday that he had to compete with him in the safety dept to stand any chance of winning.
I don't think there is much in what Shaun said.

[Ekphantos]

What should be noted is the amount of respect that Ronnie paid me on the table.
Every time he was playing safe he concentrated on putting the cue ball in the precise position that would make it as tough as possible for me.

This part of Murphy post match interview seems rather riciulous to me.
It is the nature of safety play to make it as tough as possible for the opponent. Is he so desperately wanting respect? I guess nobody considers him an easy to beat opponent anyway nowadays, so what's the point?

[April madness]

Order of play today

Sunday 17 February

1.30pm

Final

Ronnie O'Sullivan v Mark Selby Ref: Eirian Williams

8 frames

7pm

Final

Ronnie O’Sullivan v Mark Selby Ref: Eirian Williams

To a finish

The Final will be the best of 17 frames (8/9)

[rivercard]

"I feel the only real difference was that Ronnie got the better chances"

That's not a very clever statement.. Murphy should show more respect towards Ronnie, God gave him all that talent after all.

I just hope that Selby doesn't get up to his old tricks of the world final where he started to really slow the play down. He has more gamesmanship tricks than any other player I've seen, he's a sly fella, no doubt, I hope Ronnie dishes out a masterclass in how to play the game.

Agreed.

[Anastasia]

I'm sorry that semi-final Hendry vs Selby was not a final . Both players was play excellent snooker and there was many funny moments too .
Only the end dont like me

[Caroline]

His conduct around the table and his looks always reminds me of a kind of animal - Fox.

I just hope that Selby doesn't get up to his old tricks of the world final where he started to really slow the play down. He has more gamesmanship tricks than any other player I've seen, he's a sly fella, no doubt, I hope Ronnie dishes out a masterclass in how to play the game.

[dannyd0g]

Ronnie's and Selby's superior safety play helped them get them through their semis (of course they also had to capitalise on the chances their safety created).

If they continue to be in-form with their potting aswell as their safety it could be one of the best ever finals..