Snooker

[Gareth]

Any of the qualifiers have come through 2/3 best of 19 frame games last week which is a leveller in these first round games.  Doubt Wilson is anything like the last seed to get binned in this round

[cdbearsfan]

Yes, the current qualifying format is great for providing upsets in the First Round. In the nineties, the utter maniacs had the qualifiers six months before the event.

[cdbearsfan]

Very enjoyable matches tonight.

[Rory]

Random little thing, but I was at Paul Hunter's last Crucible match, vs Robertson, who I think was making his first appearance.

I'm pretty sure I was the only person in the whole building rooting for Robertson.

[Brazilian Villain]

Random little thing, but I was at Paul Hunter's last Crucible match, vs Robertson, who I think was making his first appearance.

I'm pretty sure I was the only person in the whole building rooting for Robertson.

Not surprised, I find it hard to warm to Robertson. Same with Selby and Allen, although I'll support the latter as he's Irish.

I also can't bring myself to cheer for someone called Jak Jones or Zak Surety.

[The Man With A Stick]

I find Selby a lot more likeable these days since opening up about his mental health struggles.  Would much rather save my contempt for Murphy and Carter.  Quite fancy Selby to go far this year as he's looked in good nick lately.

[edgysatsuma89]

I find Selby a lot more likeable these days since opening up about his mental health struggles.  Would much rather save my contempt for Murphy and Carter.  Quite fancy Selby to go far this year as he's looked in good nick lately.

Yeah, his style of play isn't my bag, but I reckon he's a decent bloke.

[Rory]

I find Selby a lot more likeable these days since opening up about his mental health struggles.  Would much rather save my contempt for Murphy and Carter.  Quite fancy Selby to go far this year as he's looked in good nick lately.

Murphy is a complete arse.

[edgysatsuma89]

I find Selby a lot more likeable these days since opening up about his mental health struggles.  Would much rather save my contempt for Murphy and Carter.  Quite fancy Selby to go far this year as he's looked in good nick lately.

Murphy is a complete arse.

Ooo yes. I really dislike him.

[Brazilian Villain]

I'm hoping Higgins wins his match as a) I like John Higgins, and b) Joe O'Connor reminds me of Ralf Little.

[cdbearsfan]

It's mental that in 2025 a World Championship Quarter-Final could be between John Higgins and Mark Williams. Like turning on Match of the Day and seeing that Tom Finney is still banging them in.

[Rory]

It's mental that in 2025 a World Championship Quarter-Final could be between John Higgins and Mark Williams. Like turning on Match of the Day and seeing that Tom Finney is still banging them in.

That trio of Williams, Higgins, Ronnie has changed snooker as much as Federer, Nadal & Djokovic changed tennis.

Crazy to think that Davis won his last World Championship aged 32; Hendry aged 30. And they were kind of elder statesmen by then.

Now, snooker players don't even hit their prime until they're 30-odd.

Just think how much one of the three could've won if he hadn't had the other two as contemporaries.

[Rory]

Random little thing, but I was at Paul Hunter's last Crucible match, vs Robertson, who I think was making his first appearance.

I'm pretty sure I was the only person in the whole building rooting for Robertson.

Not surprised, I find it hard to warm to Robertson.

Think it was mainly because of four factors:

- Hunter was local, so always had loads of support at the Crucible
- Hunter was dying of cancer
- Robertson was very young, so had no established fan base
- Robertson was Australian, so any fans he did have at that point were likely thousands of miles away

I was no fan of Hunter. Excellent player, but I hated the whole 'Beckham of the baize' bullshit. However, it was very sad to see him that day. He was so thin, clearly didn't have the energy for a best-of-19 match, and kept having to take little breaks to lean on things and catch his breath.

I don't know how many of you have been, but there's no mistaking body language and atmosphere at the Crucible, you're just so close. I saw Higgins's comeback against Maguire in the 2007 SF, and wish I'd gone out and placed a bet after the first frame.

I was four rows back, maybe 12ft from Maguire and you could sense his tension. Every time he went to his seat you could hear him berating himself under his breath and see him flinching in anger. No way was he ever winning that match.

Fascinating character study, and so apt that it all takes place in a theatre.

[Villa Lew]

Big grudge match today between O'Sullivan and Carter starts this afternoon.

[Brazilian Villain]

Zak Surety trailing 7-6 but has made four centuries which is a new record in a debut match at the Crucible.