Identify That Match!

SnookerEd25 wrote:Popular crowd favourite becomes the first from his country to get to a Ranking Event final, beating the defending champion in the semi to get there, but is annihilated by the reigning World Champion on the last day.

Ian Mcculoch vs Ronnie O'Sullivan Grand Prix final 2004? It was in Preston and Ronnie was the World champion.

Not McCulloch; a few Englanders had been to Rannking Finals before...

I clearly misread that :(

Juddernaut88 wrote:I clearly misread that :(

TVCATL

Hendry v Drago ... British Open? er ... 98???

Empire State Human wrote:Hendry v Drago ... British Open? er ... 98???

You’re pretty much there ESH; Hendry 9-1 Drago in the final of the International Open 1997

A former world champion plays a promising youngster in a tense deciding frame at the Crucible. It turns out to be youngster's best finish in the World Championship. Two audience members faint/require attention as the match reaches its closing stages.

Was this Terry Griffiths vs Jamie Burnett 1st round in 1996 I think? Griffiths won 10-9

good guess, but no, this match is more recent. And I don't think anyone fainted in that match. Fell asleep maybe, but fainted, no.

Doherty vs Hunter?

More recent still. I'll add that the promising star should've won 13-11 but for bungke-ing a roll up behind a baulk colour. The winner went on to be world champion that year.

Selby vs Sam Baird 2016 world championship last 16?

Selby vs Sam Baird 2016
This wasn't a deciding frame.,

But it was a second round match from another year.

Could it be 2010 Neil Robertson vs Martin Gould? Think Robbo trailed 11-5 or something and ended up winning 13-12 but Gould probably would have been around 27-28 so don't think that counts as promising star lol.

think the year before gould v robertson

John Higgins won it in 2009 so it's just a question of who did he play in 2nd round in 2009, I'm going to guess Andrew Higginson as I think he was sort of an upcoming star around that time and he was playing this morning so that was the first name I thought of lol.

Not Higginson.

I'll try Jamie Cope then?

Yes, Cope is the one. Cope played as well as I've ever seen him play, yet Higgins defeated him 13-12 and went on to take the title.

Two giants of the game contest the final of the last ever staging of this particular championship; a classic, it goes down to the deciding frame with the cagey veteran edging out the then young pretender...

Davis vs Hendry Classic final in 1992? Although Davis would have been around 34 so not sure if that would be considered veteran lol

Juddernaut88 wrote:Davis vs Hendry Classic final in 1992? Although Davis would have been around 34 so not sure if that would be considered veteran lol

Well, he’d been a pro’ for 14 years, so I think it counts

Well done Judders; Davis ended a run of four consecutive ranking Final losses to hendry with a 9-8 victory here - and well done for spotting the clue in the question

Crucible semi final. Both players shared their birthday during one of the days of the semi final.
The player who was favourite won the match.

Juddernaut88 wrote:Crucible semi final. Both players shared their birthday during one of the days of the semi final.
The player who was favourite won the match.

Ha ha, heard this on the snooker scene podcast recently.

Would that be considered cheating if I post the answer?

SnookerEd25 wrote:

Juddernaut88 wrote:Crucible semi final. Both players shared their birthday during one of the days of the semi final.
The player who was favourite won the match.

Ha ha, heard this on the snooker scene podcast recently.

Would that be considered cheating if I post the answer?

Nope not at all. Go ahead :)

Jimmy White and Steve James, 1991

SnookerEd25 wrote:Jimmy White and Steve James, 1991

Correct

Another defunct tournament; this one was staged on seven occasions but only it’s initial outing was granted full Ranking status.

The final saw a first major title for a fine ambassador of the sport, who defeated the reigning World Champion.

Was this one of those matchroom tournaments? I'll say Jimmy White vs Hendry 1993.