snooker

[MarkN]

I haven't watched snooker much for a few years, but I've tuned in for the final and am enjoying it a lot. But then I do like Selby. Heck, I started watching in the 80s so I'm used to slow play. I'll take a long tortuous exchange of snookers over frame after frame being settled in one visit every day. Murphy's playing some amazing shots here, but I think Selby is in his head. If Murphy can win this he'll have had to earn it.

[Death's Head]

Quite surprising from Murphy given his dismantling of Kyren in the semi but as people have said Selby's more than happy to take his time over shots and draw him into a safety game. I was kind of backing him after he took down my boy Yan Bingtao earlier in the tournament but I'm not sure he can get into Selby's head enough. Got the crowd on his side though!

[the_debaser]

So good to have the crowd back. Even the idiots shouting come on Shaun aren’t that annoying. 

[Death's Head]

Sweet wrappers and all.

[Silent Runner]

A few very wild shots from Mark in this frame so far. 

[Death's Head]

I'd love to see a decider here. I do feel a bit for Selby, he's pretty much only got his wife on his side. 

[John0]

Got to feel for Murphy a bit, made some great pots in those last few frames and that red on the cushion was so close. Kinda glad Selby took it over the line though  deserved overall.

 

Was a great final! As others have said haven't watched much snooker for a few years but thoroughly enjoyed that.

[Silent Runner]

Good final and a good tournament, pleased Selby won it. But that red that Shaun missed was such a tricky shot to take on.

[Darren]

I liked the fact that Murphy used his speech as an opportunity to audition for a commentary job. Him and Virgo are going to have each other in stitches.

[Death's Head]

He's easily cued himself up (ha ha) for punditry. He speaks very well, as your mother might say. 

 

That said, for pure hilarity you can't match John Parrot and Jack Lisowski in the practice room yesterday. It was pure Partridge and Sidekick Simon as Jack set up his favourite shots and then utterly failed to pot them. 

[Gotters]

Very good 3 part documentary on iPlayer at the moment called the Gods of Snooker

 

First part charts the move of the Worlds to the Crucible from their not televised era in random snooker halls in the 70s mainly thru the story of Alex Higgins, so much of that era I didn't know about and you can see how Higgins still annoys Reardon in interviews he's doing for this.

 

Second part is the rise of Steve Davis & Matchroom, again I'd never realised the split in the game in the 80s at this time and how much Barry Hearn grated on those outside his Matchroom team who couldn't get in (Higgins at the time and still seemingly Tony Knowles).

 

Not watched part 3 yet but no reason to expect a decline in quality - it's a great doc.

[Fry Crayola]

Aye, watched the first episode during the week and really enjoyed it.

 

I'm also enjoying how much young Steve Davis looks like James Acaster.

[englishbob]

Gods of Snoker is bloody great isn't it

[Lucky]

@Gotters The 3rd episode is good too.

A lot about Jimmy White who was nuts too by the way.

I thought a young Steve Davis looked like a young Rodney Trotter.

 

This 69 break from Higgins they spoke about in Episode 1 is just insane.

Some terrible positional shots followed by the most amazing pots. Shots that players nowadays certainly wouldn't take on.

One missed pot would have been game over.

 

[GamesGamesGames]

3 hours ago, Lucky said:

@Gotters The 3rd episode is good too.

A lot about Jimmy White who was nuts too by the way.

I thought a young Steve Davis looked like a young Rodney Trotter.

 

This 69 break from Higgins they spoke in Episode 1 is just insane.

Some terrible positional shots followed by the most amazing pots. Shots that players nowadays certainly wouldn't take on.

One missed pot would have been game over.

 

 

Different class. Was lucky enough to watch Higgins practice when I was a little lad. Outrageous.

[kensei]

The thing about old snooker clips is you realise how much less the commentators talk, and how much better that was. There's an art to allowing the tension to build that really suits snooker. 

 

That 69 probably denied Jimmy White the World Championship. I think if he'd have got that one, think he'd have ended up with a few more. 

[Fry Crayola]

On 18/05/2021 at 20:56, kensei said:

That 69 probably denied Jimmy White the World Championship.

 

Hey, the man knew how to party.

[Silent Runner]

Last frame between Ronnie and John Higgens today was a banger. Got it to a respotted black from an almost impossible position. Higgens must be furious with himself. 

[Orion]

This whole tournament is mental. Ronnie, Williams and Higgins in the last 4 for us boomers.  Along with Trump who is a beast when he gets rolling.

 

Loads of fun for fans!

[the_debaser]

Yeah I was rooting for Lisowski earlier on in the tournament just for a change, but the semis have been great. 

[Chosty]

Williams' fightback has been amazing. Just one frame away from victory after being 7 frames down.

 

I can't remember a year where both semi finals have been so good/tense.

[the_debaser]

Trump blew it there. He’s been pretty sloppy in the last 2 sessions. 

[Chosty]

Woah, down to a decider. Amazing match.

[Silent Runner]

Haha - no way Williams just landed that fluke then missed the blue. Crazy stuff. 

[jonamok]

Looks all over now. Great match.

[jonamok]

Then again...

[Silent Runner]

Back-to-back doubled reds from Trump - nerves of steel stuff. Reckon that's the match.

[jonamok]

Now it’s done.

[jonamok]

Quality snooker that. Wanted Williams to win, but Trump a worthy winner.

[Silent Runner]

That's a pity - hoped Williams would pull it off. Great stuff though.