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Ssb - wednesday in york
The Judd Trump-Ronnie O'Sullivan match lived up to its billing with a wonderful afternoon's entertainment.
It seems whenever these two meet there simply aren't enough frames to savour the majestic potting, break-building and drama they serve up between them.
O'Sullivan was unlucky to suffer that kick in the deciding frame because it looked like we were heading for a re-spot finish.
Afterwards there was another retirement threat from O'Sullivan, who first said he would quit the game after losing to Ken Doherty in the 1994 UK Championship quarter-finals at the age of 18.
I've heard it many times since but one thing I would say is that whenever Ronnie has said it, I think he has believed it.
He may well want to walk away but perhaps the fear is this: if he does quit and still doesn't find what he's looking for without snooker, what then?
He talked about the lonely life on the snooker circuit, which it certainly can be. After the best part of 20 years slogging around I can well understand why Ronnie isn't looking forward to more of the same.
Something tells me he won't be short of offers as he searches for a partner, though.
Trump has ridden his luck this week - as often happens to players who end up winning the title.
The same could be said for Ding Junhui, who survived a second successive deciding frame finish to see off Matthew Stevens, who was nicely in during the last but missed a black off its spot.
At night, John Higgins didn't look his old self but Stephen Maguire was superb in building a 5-1 lead. Higgins started to come back at him but Maguire held on well to win 6-4.
It's about time he won another major title. His last was three and a half years ago but Maguire looks highly tuned in this week.
Neil Robertson is having a cracking season and did for Graeme Dott 6-3 in last night's other match.
The second round is completed today. Mark Williams stuttered against Joe Jogia and faces in Ricky Walden a player who has seen his confidence return.
Shaun Murphy will have to contain Martin Gould, for whom confidence is at an all time high having joined the top 16 and won £25,000 in the recent Power Snooker.
Mark Selby will be favourite against Marco Fu but Ali Carter v Mark Allen is harder to call.
Meanwhile all the off-table nonsense continues to swirl around. Mark Allen has been reported to the WPBSA's disciplinary committee following his outburst on Monday, not for his comments but for the language he used.
If every player who swore in press conferences, interviews or on social media was fined then World Snooker could fund at least one full ranking event.
And I'm always a little wary of the old catch-all charge 'bringing the game into disrepute.'
I've been waiting years for someone to bring snooker into repute.
More...
It seems whenever these two meet there simply aren't enough frames to savour the majestic potting, break-building and drama they serve up between them.
O'Sullivan was unlucky to suffer that kick in the deciding frame because it looked like we were heading for a re-spot finish.
Afterwards there was another retirement threat from O'Sullivan, who first said he would quit the game after losing to Ken Doherty in the 1994 UK Championship quarter-finals at the age of 18.
I've heard it many times since but one thing I would say is that whenever Ronnie has said it, I think he has believed it.
He may well want to walk away but perhaps the fear is this: if he does quit and still doesn't find what he's looking for without snooker, what then?
He talked about the lonely life on the snooker circuit, which it certainly can be. After the best part of 20 years slogging around I can well understand why Ronnie isn't looking forward to more of the same.
Something tells me he won't be short of offers as he searches for a partner, though.
Trump has ridden his luck this week - as often happens to players who end up winning the title.
The same could be said for Ding Junhui, who survived a second successive deciding frame finish to see off Matthew Stevens, who was nicely in during the last but missed a black off its spot.
At night, John Higgins didn't look his old self but Stephen Maguire was superb in building a 5-1 lead. Higgins started to come back at him but Maguire held on well to win 6-4.
It's about time he won another major title. His last was three and a half years ago but Maguire looks highly tuned in this week.
Neil Robertson is having a cracking season and did for Graeme Dott 6-3 in last night's other match.
The second round is completed today. Mark Williams stuttered against Joe Jogia and faces in Ricky Walden a player who has seen his confidence return.
Shaun Murphy will have to contain Martin Gould, for whom confidence is at an all time high having joined the top 16 and won £25,000 in the recent Power Snooker.
Mark Selby will be favourite against Marco Fu but Ali Carter v Mark Allen is harder to call.
Meanwhile all the off-table nonsense continues to swirl around. Mark Allen has been reported to the WPBSA's disciplinary committee following his outburst on Monday, not for his comments but for the language he used.
If every player who swore in press conferences, interviews or on social media was fined then World Snooker could fund at least one full ranking event.
And I'm always a little wary of the old catch-all charge 'bringing the game into disrepute.'
I've been waiting years for someone to bring snooker into repute.
More...