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Post by redcgull on Apr 15, 2011 21:25:36 GMT 1
With the snooker world championships to start tomorrow i just thought id take a little while to go through the players and see if we can find the winner, and maybe win a couple of quid in the process...
To start with, Ronnie O'Sullivan... Quoted at 8/1. Odds which are big for the former world champ and potential winner. But the demons are never too far away, in another strange year for the Rocket. He actually was quoted as saying he would pull out of the Worlds as he didn't feel up to it. He then turned about and said he would. So who knows what frame of mind he is in, but one thing is for certain a tuned in Ronnie will take some stopping... But he gets bored quickly, and frustration is his Achilles heal... 8/1, but i cant see him getting past the quarter finals... Last 8 fiinsh...
John Higgins 5/1 fav... Has had an exceptional year after the death of his father, winning nearly everything in his sight so far since his enforced ban. You always get a hard and mentally tough match with Higgins at the crucible, and i don't think that this year will be any different... Semi finalist...
Mark Selby 6/1... The lad from Leicester will become a multiple winner of the worlds in my mind. He has the disciple, the mental strength and scores very heavy when in among the balls. Maybe the only thing that will make him miss out is that he puts so much into his matches will he suffer a bit of burn out come the end of the tournament with mental exhaustion. Semi finalist...
Mark Williams 15/2... Top of his game this year, and seems to be happy within himself, and playing the best he has for sometime. His one ball potting has always been exceptional, but this year he has added century breaks to his amour. Noted for just doing enough to just win his frames, he seems to be relishing the fact he is winning frames in one visit... winner...
Neil Robertson 9/1... Th curse of winning it and then defending it may undo Robbo hear, but his side of the draw is the easier. He still has the game and belief to win this and will do well. Seems to be on form to. Runner up...
The draw has thrown up one tougher side than the other... Top side has Robertson and Selby of the potential winners. The bottom half has all the big hitters... Higgins is due to meet O'Sullivan in the next. Murphy, Maguire, Williams and Stevens.
So i see a Robertson v Selby semi for one half and a Williams Higgins semi in the other... With a Williams victory in 2 weeks time...
Name the finalists 22/1... Highest break - Mark Allen 14/1...
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Post by ffctom_b on Apr 15, 2011 22:38:27 GMT 1
The one for me would be Trump, winner of the China Open recently, his first ranking event. He has all the tools to win at the Crucible, as a Junior he has broken nearly all of O'Sullivans records, his biggest problem is he is playing Robertson in the first round. Win that though and it's plain sailing to the final, could be worth an e/w shout at the 33/1 generally available.
Shaun Murphy also has a good record at Sheffield and could make the latter stages quite easily if his game is up to it thsi year and is available at 16's generally, but for me the final would be Trump against Higgins
My Full Opinion is on the blog
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Post by redcgull on Apr 17, 2011 14:28:01 GMT 1
Well Tom, i tip my hat to you... I thought that he had a chance but that he would just meet a better player in Robinson, especially in the first round. So the curse of the World Champion stirkes again...!!!
In watching the match, i was amazed at how open a game Trump played against Robbo. And to be honest if Robbo had brought his A game to the match would have beaten him with all the chances that he got. He isnt the finished article, and yeah the comparisons with O'Sullivan are all there to see, but i still think he is a year or two from winning the title... But win it he will...
I dont think Robbo should have said what he did after the match, maybe he just gets up his nose a bit really, but Trump is definitely a future winner, make no doubt about it...
Ding now looks in good from today and is making light work of Burnett, but its early days in this years championship and a lot of snooker to be played... Im looking forward to it....
Cheers...
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Post by ffctom_b on Apr 17, 2011 22:06:24 GMT 1
Agree with everything you said there really, just thought at 33'1 he was a bit of value in what is an open half of the draw, he can be too attacking for his own good at times, but at least he is backing himself to make the pots, makes the games more interesting
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Post by redcgull on Apr 19, 2011 11:57:59 GMT 1
So only a few days into the championship and there are a few taliking points already... Hendry is struggling and retirement seems inevitable... The Rocket looks like he is only interested in getting the 147 break... I also think we are going to have a lot more close final game shoot outs...
The standard already this year seems to be that of dont miss or i will clear up. But that sort of game brings its own pit falls. Dont miss snooker also means that you cant miss when the opportunity arises. And this is what makes the better games to watch.
Hendry struggled, but pulled out some brilliant pots just to keep him in the match. He won 10-9... McGuire struggled also but got back to 9-9 across only for Barry Hawkins to produce in the last, 10-9... I think you will see a few more matches like this, and if having a flutter, close games will be the way forward...
Ebdon v Bingham - 6/1 v 11/2 in a 10-9 finish Dott v King - 8/1 v 9/1 in a 10-9 finish Allen v Stevens - 15/2 v 17/2 in a 10-9 finish
A lot is riding on the 1st round and nor all players are flying at the moment... So the frame score will be tight... Im looking at having a little bet on these but there will be some close calls for the rest of this tournament...
Ronnie for a 147, well with him only needing 3 frames today, 100/1 is what you can get for a maximum here... I doubt it, but he is playing like he will get one in this tournament... You never know...!!!
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Post by ffctom_b on Apr 19, 2011 14:50:12 GMT 1
yeah but ronnie being ronnie could quite easily turn up today and thrw it all away
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Post by redcgull on Apr 22, 2011 10:35:00 GMT 1
Ok, and so with nearly a week gone and now into the 2nd round this years World Championships is starting to take hold...
New comer to these championships Jimmy Robertson will have taken much heart from taking the first frame in his match with Mark Selby, but thats where it ended. Selby reeling off 10 frames for a very comfortable win... Still a strong contender to win it... 11/2 Next match Selby v Hendry
John Higgins is back to a venue that usually gets him results, and see him at his best. He didnt need to be anywherenear his best here to see off Stephen Lee, and a 10-5 victory sees him as 4/1 fav to win it... Next match Higgins v McLeod
As i posted earlier in this tournament, one side has a definate advantage if you take your chance. Judd Trump did that with his well deserved victory over the 2010 Champ Robertson. He is into his 2nd round match currently 5-3 up over the very gritty and determind Martin Gould... Trump has been cut down from 33's to a now still tempting 10/1... A semi final will only cut those odds further... Currently 5-3 up v Gould
The Rocket was up to his best in his first round match, but in saying that Dominic Dale is harldy a guide line as to how well he is playing. But saying that you can only beat what is put up in front of you and his comfortable 10-2 victory has him 2nd fav at 9/2... Next match v Murphy
Mark Williams is continuing his seasons form with another demolishion job in this years championship. A 10-5 victory will soon be followed up with another quick fire performance against a very poor Jamie Cope. A 5/1 shout, and with the draw bringing a mouth watering prospect of Williams versus Higgins/ O'Sullivan or Murphy in the semi's i think the winner of these will be the eventual winner of the tournament... My tip from the start Williams will still have plenty in the tank by the time the real questions will be asked... currently 7-1 up v Cope
Shaun Murphy, another one with the potential to win it again, is going about his buisness without much of a fuss. Easily outclassing Marcus Campbell 10-1. His next round match with O'Sullivan will bring out the best in him. Comment made by Murphy over O'Sullivans mood swings and withdrawals from previous tournament means that there will be a good competitive edge to this match...12/1 to win, but will be brought down with a victory over the Rocket... Next match v O' Sullivan
Ding Junhui, has agin gone under the radar and has progressed with the ease that he plays the game. A 10-2 victory has brought him in with a match up that he should progress in, Stuart Bingham. 11/2 is where he is at, but again its now getting to the serious end of the tournament, and this years has a quarter final line up of real quality... next match v Bingham Quarter final predicted line ups
Trump v Dott Ding v Selby ---------------- Williams v Allen Murphy v Higgins
Should be good veiwing...
Cheers...
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Post by ffctom_b on Apr 22, 2011 18:59:43 GMT 1
Trump, looking good for the quarters at 11- 5. Bottom half definately looks more interesting though, especially the Murphy/O'Sullican match, where there is a bit of bad blood between them.
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Post by redcgull on Apr 26, 2011 9:22:21 GMT 1
Quarter Finals -
Trump v Dott - A true clash of styles if there ever was. The gritty, dour and battling Dott versus the flambouyant, flash all out attacking game of Trump... This could be well worth the entrance fee to watch. Although Trump has played with all the flair he dos have a hard winning mentality and so Dott will have to score when amonst the balls. But also, if the frames do get a bit messy Trump will have to win these scrappy frames. A good battle is ahead... Prediction - Trump to just come out on top, winning by 2, 13-11
Selby v Ding - If the form Selby beat Hendry with turns up again here versus Ding, then we should start putting his name on the trophy. Records were broken and a standard that hasnt being supassed here yet in this years tournament. A total potting and break building master class from Selby was just to powerful for Hendry and should be enough to beat Ding. With Ding though he is a momentum player and will have taken a lot out of his comeback against Stuart Bingham. 12-9 down needing all the remaining frames to progress, Ding produced the snooker and determination of a potential winner. Prediction - Selby to march on, 13-9
Williams v Allen - Allen has bein out of sorts this year and although he is a fighter and never gives in its hard to make a case for him getting past Williams here. Mark has shown what we all know he can do, and seems to be back to his old style and swagger. With not a lot of energy spent so far in this tournament and Allen going through the mill a bit, its a Williams win again... Prediction - Williams 13-8
Higgins v O'Sullivan - What a match up we have here, with the potential of a classic Crucible match. The only problem i have though with this statement is that both the players have struggled to show any real true form. Higgins was slowly getting himself worked into submission by McLeod and didnt get anywhere near to his A game, but was to strong in the end. O'Sullivan was missing so many easy shots, and his safety wasnt up to the standard against Murphy either. Maybe Higgins was onto a no win situation and just struggled to get up for Rory, but O'Sullivan could have lost had Murphy punished him for his mistakes. A very hard match to call, but with Ronnie not playing as many tournaments this year and Higgins having a very good season, i have to lean towards John... Prediction - Higgins to take it in the end, 13-11
Semi final line up -
Trump v Selby ------------------- Williams v Higgins
Cheers...
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Post by ffctom_b on Apr 26, 2011 9:42:12 GMT 1
I agree with you here Red,
Think Selby wins the tournament if he carries on in the same form of the Hendry match, he was just unplayable in that game!
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Post by ffctom_b on Apr 27, 2011 23:07:37 GMT 1
Got to give cerdit to Ding, he seems to have matured a lot since I saw him last, could easily give Trump a agood game in the semi's as he has the all round game to trouble him, but hoping Trump can just edge it . The other semi should be a classic and I can see Williams just scrapping past Higgins, although it will be nip and tuck the whole way. Williams v Trump final for me, but the best bet for the semi's would be to look at the market for century breaks as I feel all 4players are in good enough form for us to see quite a few in the semis
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Post by redcgull on Apr 28, 2011 9:52:31 GMT 1
Spot on tom... With what seemed unbeatable snooker versus Hendry, Mark Selby struggled to hit anywhere near the form he showed in the previous round. I do think that he played a bit cautious and didnt really have a go at a Ding, who is susceptable to being put under the cosh. At 10-6 Selby knew he was still in the match and came out all guns blazing, and to be fair Ding could well of crumbled... Selby taking the first 4 frames to level at 10 across, Selby was now tha favourite for the match and a semi final place. Ding had no answer...
But Ding showed that he is still learning and getting better at the pressure frames. Although im not totally convinced of his tactical game and his attempts of getting out of snookers could be improved on, he is another player who scores very heavily when amongst the balls. He showed a bit of class to shut out Selby to take the next 3 frames for a well earned 13-10 victory...
This now sets up a very intriguing match between Ding and Trump. This young lad is showing no signs of slowing down, and the way he dispatched Dott here 13-5 tells us he is very much here to win this years tournament and not just make numbers up. Both Trump and Ding will not have a better chance of making a final, with this only being Trumps 2nd appearance at Sheffield, and Ding having never gone this far in the Worlds Championships before... If Trump keeps up this relentless potting game then he will take some beating. If he all of a sudden thinks, my god im in the semi finals of the Worlds, he might tense up a bit and freeze. But you just cant see him changing his game and i can see him getting past Ding here to reach the final. To counter that though, Ding will have to use his experience to get past Trump. He has the game and temperment and the longer format will help him build up momnetum. But if he dos get ahead of Trump by 3/4 frames early Trump will do very well to get back at him... Trump so far this year has been the front runner with explosive starts. The challenge to Ding is to be ahead going into the final session...
Although Mark Williams was made to work a little for his victory over Allen, it was quite a regulation win. 13-5 seems a bit of a land slide, but to be fair to Allen it was the close frames that cost him most. Williams has this uncanny knack of nicking tight frames on the black or pink. 40 behind with 43 on and he almost seems certain to take it. Not a many big breaks as the other quarter finals but the standard was just as high... Williams will take some stopping...
The Higgins v O'Sullivan match brought us the tension that we expected. Both seemed intent in giving nothing away to the other, and at 8-8 we could tell this would go all the way. But Ronnie missed a few easy pots, made a couple of bad decisions when in the balls, and eventually the class of Higgins started to punish him...
Higgins ran out a bit in the end taking 7 of the last 9 frames, mostly with clearances when Ronnie was still in the frame. This shows us that John still has ths capacity to dig in when needed and will give Mark Williams a good run for his money...
Semi predictions - Trump to edge his way into his first Worlds final, 17-13 Williams to sneak through in the the end, 17-15
Its an interesting match up, and whichever combo gets to the final, we will have a good final...
Outright to win it - Higgins 15/8 Ding 5/2 Williams 3/1 Trump 7/2
Semi result Higgins 4/6 to beat Williams 6/5 Ding 8/13 to beat Trump 5/4
Will a 147 be made in this years tournament - Yes - 4/1 No - 1/7
Cheers... And enjoy...
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Post by ffctom_b on Apr 30, 2011 21:55:44 GMT 1
The one for me would be Trump, winner of the China Open recently, his first ranking event. He has all the tools to win at the Crucible, as a Junior he has broken nearly all of O'Sullivans records, his biggest problem is he is playing Robertson in the first round. Win that though and it's plain sailing to the final, could be worth an e/w shout at the 33/1 generally available. Shaun Murphy also has a good record at Sheffield and could make the latter stages quite easily if his game is up to it thsi year and is available at 16's generally, but for me the final would be Trump against Higgins My Full Opinion is on the blog I should have backe my final predo, would be quids in now
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Post by redcgull on May 2, 2011 13:31:50 GMT 1
Oh tom, if we only had the hind sight in our lives... I agree, Trump was always one to win this tournament in the future, and i like many others thought that he wouldn't get past Robinson. But to be fair to the boy he hasnt looked back since. He has been a joy to watch and the potting of the 'dont miss' variety is amazing... Fearless and brave, he dos at times looks reckless, but he just keeps getting them, and thats his main strength.
Higgins is a differnet propostion but with a overnight lead that he has, this is where the demons will catch him out if they ever do. Higgins could grind out or out pot you for 4 frames and the interval would only bring its own nightmare of what am i to do... But Higgins knows that Trump is playing such an attacking game he cant let him get off to another flyer today.
Its been a great tournament so far and may well go down as one of the best we have had for some time... I did predict a Williams final and eventual winner, but Higgins showed why he is still one of the best players out there to beat him. Not over yet, but like you Tom, it was always worth a e/w call on Trump... Nevermind, lets enjoy watching the snooker and may it turn out to be a classic...
Cheers...
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Post by ffctom_b on May 2, 2011 22:30:01 GMT 1
You were right Red, experience told in the end, but Trump will definately be World Champion one day!
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Post by redcgull on May 3, 2011 10:27:07 GMT 1
John Higgins the 2010 Snooker World Champion...!!!
It what turned out to be an enthralling final with nearly every frame having a twist or sub plot to it, John Higgins managed to beat the quiet remarkable potting machine that is Judd Trump. This really was John Higgins with his back to the wall, with the pressure that Trump put him under. Its not just the tactical or break building qualities that make Higgins one of the best players of the game but his never give in attitude to what ever is thrown at him. Judd Trump will rightly so feel a bit confused that the World Champion tag eluded him this time, he will feel very different in time to come thats for sure. His style and standard of play would more than likley won him his 1st World Champion title. But he hadnt counted on the tanacity of Higgins.
Trump has opened the world to snooker followers and that can only be a good thing. He also sounds like a lad that truly believes in how he plays the game and how he will continue to play for the immediate future as well. He just simply blew away Johns safety game by taking on and getting some remarkable pots. His ability to back himself to get what he goes for scared the living daylights out of Higgins and were it not for lack of concentration and maybe a few long pots too many, Trump would be waking up to the line of World Champion...!!!
This tournament has blown away the old gaurd and in a few years time the game of snooker will be getting better. The dourness of Dott, the grinding of Ebdon the frames of waiting for a mistake may have all changed because of Trump. His 'brand' of snooker will light up a game that was just stagnating. Alex Higgins, Jimmy White, Ronnie O'Sullivan and now Judd Trump, bums on seats we will now get. Players following the way that Trump plays will undoubtingly lead to a more popular game. Ronnie couldnt do it on his own then, and maybe not now, too fragile a mind is he now. But just imagine if Judd and Ronnie came out in the same era...!!!
But its Higgins who will take the title, its Higgins who showed that its not all pot, pot, pot. Its Higgins who has showed us just what a great game this is when the players show off the skills that the are gifted with. A really great final and one that will be hard to surpass. The scoreline didnt get the last frame 1.30am finish. It didnt even have 100 break v 100 break, players clearing up in one visit match. It simply had 2 players trying there damdness to win in the pressure cooker that is the Crucible. Trump backing himself to pot anything that goes. Higgins having to clear up in the knowledge that one missed pot and Trump takes another frame.
Higgins now joins an elite band of winners with his 4 titles, now the 4th ranked player. Only Hendry 7 times, Davis 6 times and Reardon 6 times are ahead of him. Trump will learn form his experience and will win one, and many more. Hendry and all ahead of him will be watching out for him now...
Experience won the day, and it will win in the future. Congratulations to Higgins, and thank you Judd Trump...
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