The Crucible Curse - and Neil Robertson
Neil Robertson on April 16th will become the 18th man to have a go at breaking the so-called Curse of the Crucible, where no first time
Previous champions have seen their curse fruitioned like this
1978 - Spencer - Rd1 lost 13-8 to Mans
1979 - Reardon - QF lost 13-8 to DN Taylor
1980 - Griffiths - Rd2 lost 13-10 to S Davis
1981 - Thorburn SF lost 16-10 to S Davis
1982 - S Davis - Rd1 lost 10-1 to Knowles
1983 - A Higgins - SF lost 16-5 to S Davis
1986 - DN Taylor - Rd1 lost 10-6 to Hallett
1987 - Johnson - FINAL lost 18-14 to S Davis
1991 - Hendry - QF lost 13-11 to James
1992 - Parrott - QF lost 13-12 to McManus
1998 - Doherty - FINAL lost 18-12 to J Higgins
1999 - J Higgins - SF lost 17-10 to Williams
2001- Williams - Rd2 lost 13-12 to Swail
2002 - O'Sullivan - SF lost 17-13 to Hendry
2003 - Ebdon - QF lost 13-12 to Hunter
2006 - Murphy QF lost 13-7 to Ebdon
2007 - Dott - Rd1 lost 10-7 to McCulloch
One stat that surprised me was that only 6 of 18 made the one table situation in their defence of the title, and that four of the remaining ten were dismissed first time out, - of those 18 champions - 8 won the title at their first time in the one table situation. - Neil's title was done with experience however.
And so to Neil's prospects
Neil's quarter draw suggests nothing against why he cant go to the one table set up for a third successive year, with the experience now regular of the 33 and 35 frame matches, and knowing how to win three session matches as well, I would say Neil should reach the semis - but the same has been said in the last few years. Its Shaun Murphy who was the last got beyond the first week as the reigning champion. - However, the semi-final might not be so kind, and if he did make it there, a lead of 10-6 at the halfway stage would be desireable.
Personally thoughh, I think Trump winning today can only help Robertson, as he knows nothing less than his best will do.
Previous champions have seen their curse fruitioned like this
1978 - Spencer - Rd1 lost 13-8 to Mans
1979 - Reardon - QF lost 13-8 to DN Taylor
1980 - Griffiths - Rd2 lost 13-10 to S Davis
1981 - Thorburn SF lost 16-10 to S Davis
1982 - S Davis - Rd1 lost 10-1 to Knowles
1983 - A Higgins - SF lost 16-5 to S Davis
1986 - DN Taylor - Rd1 lost 10-6 to Hallett
1987 - Johnson - FINAL lost 18-14 to S Davis
1991 - Hendry - QF lost 13-11 to James
1992 - Parrott - QF lost 13-12 to McManus
1998 - Doherty - FINAL lost 18-12 to J Higgins
1999 - J Higgins - SF lost 17-10 to Williams
2001- Williams - Rd2 lost 13-12 to Swail
2002 - O'Sullivan - SF lost 17-13 to Hendry
2003 - Ebdon - QF lost 13-12 to Hunter
2006 - Murphy QF lost 13-7 to Ebdon
2007 - Dott - Rd1 lost 10-7 to McCulloch
One stat that surprised me was that only 6 of 18 made the one table situation in their defence of the title, and that four of the remaining ten were dismissed first time out, - of those 18 champions - 8 won the title at their first time in the one table situation. - Neil's title was done with experience however.
And so to Neil's prospects
Neil's quarter draw suggests nothing against why he cant go to the one table set up for a third successive year, with the experience now regular of the 33 and 35 frame matches, and knowing how to win three session matches as well, I would say Neil should reach the semis - but the same has been said in the last few years. Its Shaun Murphy who was the last got beyond the first week as the reigning champion. - However, the semi-final might not be so kind, and if he did make it there, a lead of 10-6 at the halfway stage would be desireable.
Personally thoughh, I think Trump winning today can only help Robertson, as he knows nothing less than his best will do.
- PLtheRef
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