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The China Open; Tournament review.

Postby SnookerFan

So, how do people see this tournament went?

Before this tournament, we heard a lot of talk about player's trying to save their form for The Crucible, and this being a less then significant warm up event. Personally, I think this has been proven wrong. Though, I was at work, and some of the matches were spoiled by moments of madness when I looked at snooker websites on work break, forgetting I was taping a match, and saw results, I still thoroughly enjoyed this year's China Open.

Mark Williams vs Stephen Lee was an excellent match, and it has to be one of the best of 9s ever. I'd put it in one of the best matches of all time, somewhere in the top-10. If we're talking best shorter frame matches, then it is in the top one. Though the qualifier won, there was no concept of Mark trying to save best form for The Crucible whatsoever. Four centuries, and a 50 break and he still loses. Mark Williams was trying. Hard.

And what a final. Again, the top seed threw everything he could into the match, and still lost. And Judd Trump surprised me with his maturity of play. The way he played against Martin Gould a couple of weeks back suggested Trump still wasn't the complete player, and was failing to live up to the hype. Not so here. Trump looked solid in break building, safety play and keeping his head. He is develloping into an all-rounder. He was a pleasure to watch this week, even if Murphy did all but let him win. Selby played excellently, and almost beat Mark Williams mentioned earlier to the 'harshest loss of the week' category. In five years time, when a new young poster comes on this site and asks us to post match recommendations, that will be one of them. The Perfect final.

We had Ding nearly lose to a Norwegian ranked 90-odd in the world, but come through. Why, oh why wasn't that match televised? That would've been the best days televised snooker ever. Also, we got Ding vs Hendry. A match that the Chinese take to their hearts. The Legend vs The Local Hero. Though, that match didn't live up to the hype, it was good to see Ding come through, and get to the semis. It took immaculate, entertaining safety play by Selby to win that match. Ding had no answer.

Sure there is a side issue of Neil Robertson and Judd Trump in the coming week. It didn't interest me before, and it does now. And not just because Trump won, but because of the relatively unnoticed fact. Ebdon crucified Robertson. Who in turn was crucified by Trump. :chin:

I do feel though, that people reading this site might think that this whole week was only about Trump and Robertson. It wasn't. Selby played a massive part. We had at least two perfect matches, as mentioned before. Higgins vs Murphy was none too shabby. What with the lighting keep appearing on the table, the continual usage of mobile phones, the Chinese referees and the reapparance of the Chinese Lady Ref, there was plenty of off table talking points here too.

The China Open. Warm up for the big one? Not taken seriously by the top players? Needs it's own identity? Not a bit of it. We can discuss identity all we want, but there is no substitute for good snooker. And that's what we got this week. If Barry Hearn thinks that short matches, asking players to play quicker on shots, bringing in models to parade around before or after frames, or any other gimmickry is going to make snooker more exciting, he should remember one thing. This tournament needed no gimmicks, it was one of the best tournaments of the year. And yet, how many people outside the hardcore snooker faithful even knew it was on....

Worth thinking about.

Re: The China Open; Tournament review.

Postby Monique

The Ding-Mafflin match was on television... I watched it.
And I don't agree that the chinese tournaments don't have their own identity. The setup of the arena, the audience behaviour, the best of 19 finals, the ceremonies are quite different from what we see in Europe and is enough to create a different feel about them.

Re: The China Open; Tournament review.

Postby Tubberlad

Monique wrote:The Ding-Mafflin match was on television... I watched it.
And I don't agree that the chinese tournaments don't have their own identity. The setup of the arena, the audience behaviour, the best of 19 finals, the ceremonies are quite different from what we see in Europe and is enough to create a different feel about them.

Very true, the China Open is a great tournament with a distinct feel to it. Far ahead of the Shanghai Masters in terms of prestige IMO

This has been a cracking tournament to go alongside many other cracking tournaments this year... we've been spoiled <ok>

Re: The China Open; Tournament review.

Postby Black2white

very enjoyable tournament :D as was mentioned lots of talking points, good quality of snooker overall, fantastic semis and the final was top-notch <cool> no Higgins or Williams (just tired of them :blush: ) in the bussiness end of the tournament
a young and very promising player won the trophy which is always great for the game :hatoff:
finally never watched as much snooker during a tournament BIG thanks to Eurosport coverage :D

Re: The China Open; Tournament review.

Postby SnookerFan

Monique wrote:The Ding-Mafflin match was on television... I watched it.
And I don't agree that the chinese tournaments don't have their own identity. The setup of the arena, the audience behaviour, the best of 19 finals, the ceremonies are quite different from what we see in Europe and is enough to create a different feel about them.


Where did you watch it from, out of interest? I had Eurosport on, and it was the only match being televised live in the UK. I think Wild found a Chinese stream, with Chinese commentary. But as far as Eurosport goes, it wasn't shown live over here.

Re: The China Open; Tournament review.

Postby SnookerFan

Black2white wrote:very enjoyable tournament :D as was mentioned lots of talking points, good quality of snooker overall, fantastic semis and the final was top-notch <cool> no Higgins or Williams (just tired of them :blush: ) in the bussiness end of the tournament
a young and very promising player won the trophy which is always great for the game :hatoff:
finally never watched as much snooker during a tournament BIG thanks to Eurosport coverage :D


What needs to be mentioned, is that the onset of it being on Eurosport and Eurosport 2 was a definite boost. I must confess, when I had the week off to watch the World Open, I didn't find it very enjoyable this year. But part of that was because I was officially homeless as of two weeks before that, so I was really down anyway.

But, if tournament quality remains the same next week, I deinitely think of having China off. It really was one of the best of the season, for me.

Re: The China Open; Tournament review.

Postby Monique

SnookerFan wrote:
Monique wrote:The Ding-Mafflin match was on television... I watched it.
And I don't agree that the chinese tournaments don't have their own identity. The setup of the arena, the audience behaviour, the best of 19 finals, the ceremonies are quite different from what we see in Europe and is enough to create a different feel about them.


Where did you watch it from, out of interest? I had Eurosport on, and it was the only match being televised live in the UK. I think Wild found a Chinese stream, with Chinese commentary. But as far as Eurosport goes, it wasn't shown live over here.


I can't remember but it was one of the 3 Eurosport/Eurosport 2 channels I have. I get Eurosport2 in Ducht on a Belgian channel, Eurosport in French on a French channel and Eurosport International in English also.

Re: The China Open; Tournament review.

Postby SnookerFan

Monique wrote:
I can't remember but it was one of the 3 Eurosport/Eurosport 2 channels I have. I get Eurosport2 in Ducht on a Belgian channel, Eurosport in French on a French channel and Eurosport International in English also.


I only got British Eurosport, and Eurosport 2. Probably different in different countries. Pity, because Williams vs Lee needed a solid match to follow it, and to be honest, I don't even remember what the match that followed it was, it was that much of a downer.

Still, can't complain. Truly excellent tournament.

Re: The China Open; Tournament review.

Postby randam05

Snookerfan :hatoff:

Very good summary there and couldnt agree more about every point made. It was a FINE tournament.

I prefered the German Masters and UK championship this season, but it has definitley been the third best of the season. We have really been treated and I think its certainly down to the PTCS in all honesty. Every qualifier (other than lawler and wallace) seems to be on super form too!

Really enjoyed the week and I have been overloaded with snooker this season! Not long already till the worlds now! :shock:

Re: The China Open; Tournament review.

Postby SnookerFan

randam05 wrote:Snookerfan :hatoff:

Very good summary there and couldnt agree more about every point made. It was a FINE tournament.

I prefered the German Masters and UK championship this season, but it has definitley been the third best of the season. We have really been treated and I think its certainly down to the PTCS in all honesty. Every qualifier (other than lawler and wallace) seems to be on super form too!

Really enjoyed the week and I have been overloaded with snooker this season! Not long already till the worlds now! :shock:


The PTCs, despite their lack of ability to entertain viewers, have certainly shaken the rust off the players. We are in for a very, very entertaining World Championship.

Re: The China Open; Tournament review.

Postby SnookerFan

You know what I neglected to mention, somewhat stupidly?

Li Hang's decent run. It seemed to go unnoticed, but he knocked out two world champions. Credit to the guy, he had a great week. :D