Victoria Bulgarian Open (European Tour 1) Discussion !!

Skullman wrote:

Alpha wrote:The fact that O'Sullivan could take a year out (with the exception of the Simon Bedford match) and win the World title that easily, combined with the fact that O'Sullivan and Higgins have won 6 of the last 7 World totles when they should both be winding down, shows how fluffy bunnies the "standard is so high" talk is.

They are winding down. Higgins won in 2011 with his B game (maybe because he can't find his A game as consistently due to age?) and ROS's long game was pathetic in this year's World's.

That's the problem. Higgins B game in 2011 was good enough to overturn O'Sullivan, Williams and Trump, and hold off Stephen Lee who was returning to top form. O'Sullivan may not have had much of a long game, but it says everything about how much of a difference that made when Marcus Campbell (despite Hawkins heroics) was arguably O'Sullivan's toughest opponent this year.

Wildey wrote:

Snooker Overdrive wrote:

Alpha wrote:The fact that O'Sullivan could take a year out (with the exception of the Simon Bedford match) and win the World title that easily, combined with the fact that O'Sullivan and Higgins have won 6 of the last 7 World totles when they should both be winding down, shows how fluffy bunnies the "standard is so high" talk is.

Or you could look at it the other way round. Shows you how exceptional these two are.

yes they are but so many players just flopped against them.

Just like they did in the 80s against Davis and 90s against Hendry

If you're good enough a player like those 4 exceptional players are and earn your reputation in the game, it's no fluke some players just flop mentally.

Ken Doherty 3-2 Oliver Lines
Marcus Campbell 2-3 Elliot Slessor
Martin O’Donnell 3-1 Michael Leslie
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-0 Michael Wild
Barry Pinches 1-0 Chris Norbury
Sam Baird 1-1 Joe Steele
Ian Burns 1-1 Fraser Patrick
Robbie Williams 2-0 Filip Cardoso
Mark Davis 1-0 Dimitar Mehandjiiski
Matthew Selt 1-0 Salim Otti
Judd Trump 1-0 Sanderson Lam

Andre147 PGC wrote:
Just like they did in the 80s against Davis and 90s against Hendry

If you're good enough a player like those 4 exceptional players are and earn your reputation in the game, it's no fluke some players just flop mentally.

But with Respect Hendry in the 90s did have up and coming players of the ilk of O'Sullivan, Williams, Higgins, Ebdon and Doherty to contend with. they were Tough mentally even back in the day.

i believe John Higgins best Form in winning the World Title was in 1998 followed closely by his Win in 2009 as for his Win in 2011 that was the weakest of the 4

SnookerFan wrote:It's a nice day. I'm trying to decide whether to whack Eurosport on, or whether to go for a walk in the park.

Dont Ruin your rep with exercise Stick the Box on and a Beer in hand

Saturday 8th of June

Approx 9.30am

Mark Williams 4-1 Vinnie Calabrese
Dominic Dale 4-2 Lee Page
Daniel Wells 4-1 Matthew Day
Ken Doherty 4-3 Oliver Lines

Higginson with a Higgins-like clearance. 1-1.

Saturday 8th of June

Approx 10.30am

Marcus Campbell 4-3 Elliot Slessor
Robert Milkins 4-0 Kashif Khan
Martin O’Donnell 3-3 Michael Leslie
Ronnie O’Sullivan 4-0 Michael Wild

Approx 11am

Barry Pinches 3-1 Chris Norbury
Sam Baird 4-2 Joe Steele
Ian Burns 3-3 Fraser Patrick
Robbie Williams 4-0 Filip Cardoso

Approx 12pm

Mark Davis 4-0 Dimitar Mehandjiiski
Matthew Selt 4-0 Salim Otti
David Gilbert 3-1 Michael Georgiou
Judd Trump 4-0 Sanderson Lam

Approx 1.30pm

Shaun Murphy 1-0 Hammad Miah
Alan McManus 2-1 Liam Highfield
Luca Brecel 2-1 Rod Lawler
Andrew Higginson 1-2 John Higgins
Andrew Pagett 1-1 Stuart Carrington
Tony Drago v Joel Walker
Steve Davis 0-0 Fergal O’Brien
Ben Woollaston v Gerard Greene

Approx 3pm

Mark Williams v Dominic Dale
Daniel Wells v Ken Doherty
Marcus Campbell v Robert Milkins
Barry Pinches/Chris Norbury v Sam Baird
Ian Burns/Fraser Patrick v Robbie Williams
Martin O’Donnell/Michael Leslie v Ronnie O’Sullivan
Mark Davis v Matthew Selt
David Gilbert/Michael Georgiou v Judd Trump

Approx 5.30pm

Shaun Murphy/Hammad Miah v Alan McManus/Liam Highfield
Luca Brecel/Rod Lawler v Andrew Higginson/John Higgins
Andrew Pagett/Stuart Carrington v Tony Drago/Joel Walker
Steve Davis/Fergal O’Brien v Ben Woollaston/Gerard Greene
Mark Williams/Dominic Dale v Daniel Wells/Ken Doherty
Marcus Campbell/Robert Milkins v Barry Pinches/Chris Norbury/Sam Baird
Ian Burns/Fraser Patrick/Robbie Williams v Martin O’Donnell/Michael Leslie/Ronnie O’Sullivan
Mark Davis/Matthew Selt v David Gilbert/Michael Georgiou/Judd Trump

Martin O’Donnell 3-4 Michael Leslie

Leslie next up for Ronnie after the conclusion of the Higgins v Higginson Match

Jewell wrote:

Wildey wrote:But with Respect Hendry in the 90s did have up and coming players of the ilk of O'Sullivan, Williams, Higgins, Ebdon and Doherty to contend with. they were Tough mentally even back in the day

It's no coincidence that Hendry stopped dominating once players like Ronnie, Higgins, Williams etc got into their stride. But if you go back to the first half of the 90s, you'll find plenty of players flopping mentally against Hendry, with Jimmy White at the Crucible being a prime example of that.

It's not just Snooker though. This is something that happens in all sports.

its no coincident that Ronnie started winning World Championship Regularly once the standards dropped either

and Btw 90s players were stronger mentally than today.

Anyone knows who was the referee at Trump - Lam today?

Saturday 8th of June

Approx 11am

Barry Pinches 4-1 Chris Norbury
Sam Baird 4-2 Joe Steele
Ian Burns 4-3 Fraser Patrick
Robbie Williams 4-0 Filip Cardoso

Approx 12pm

Mark Davis 4-0 Dimitar Mehandjiiski
Matthew Selt 4-0 Salim Otti
David Gilbert 4-1 Michael Georgiou
Judd Trump 4-0 Sanderson Lam

Approx 1.30pm

Shaun Murphy 4-0 Hammad Miah
Alan McManus 4-1 Liam Highfield
Luca Brecel 3-2 Rod Lawler
Andrew Higginson 2-3 John Higgins
Andrew Pagett 2-2 Stuart Carrington
Tony Drago 0-0 Joel Walker
Steve Davis 1-0 Fergal O’Brien
Ben Woollaston 1-0 Gerard Greene

Approx 3pm

Mark Williams v Dominic Dale
Daniel Wells v Ken Doherty
Marcus Campbell v Robert Milkins
Barry Pinches v Sam Baird
Ian Burns v Robbie Williams
Michael Leslie v Ronnie O’Sullivan
Mark Davis v Matthew Selt
David Gilbert v Judd Trump

Approx 5.30pm

Shaun Murphy v Alan McManus
Luca Brecel/Rod Lawler v Andrew Higginson/John Higgins
Andrew Pagett/Stuart Carrington v Tony Drago/Joel Walker
Steve Davis/Fergal O’Brien v Ben Woollaston/Gerard Greene
Mark Williams/Dominic Dale v Daniel Wells/Ken Doherty
Marcus Campbell/Robert Milkins v Barry Pinches/Sam Baird
Ian Burns/Robbie Williams v Michael Leslie/Ronnie O’Sullivan
Mark Davis/Matthew Selt v David Gilbert/Judd Trump

Leslie takes the opener against Ronnie

Luca Brecel 4-3 Rod Lawler
Andrew Higginson 2-4 John Higgins
Andrew Pagett 2-4 Stuart Carrington
Tony Drago 2-3 Joel Walker
Steve Davis 1-3 Fergal O’Brien
Ben Woollaston 2-2 Gerard Greene
Mark Williams 4-0 Dominic Dale
Daniel Wells 0-1 Ken Doherty
Marcus Campbell 1-2 Robert Milkins
Barry Pinches 1-1 Sam Baird
Ian Burns 1-0 Robbie Williams
Michael Leslie 1-3 Ronnie O’Sullivan
Mark Davis 1-1 Matthew Selt
David Gilbert 0-0 Judd Trump

John Higgins vs. Luca Brecel is the next match on the TV table

Saturday 8th of June

Approx 1.30pm

Shaun Murphy 4-0 Hammad Miah
Alan McManus 4-1 Liam Highfield
Luca Brecel 4-3 Rod Lawler
Andrew Higginson 2-4 John Higgins
Andrew Pagett 2-4 Stuart Carrington
Tony Drago 3-4 Joel Walker
Steve Davis 1-4 Fergal O’Brien
Ben Woollaston 4-2 Gerard Greene

Approx 3pm

Mark Williams 4-0 Dominic Dale
Daniel Wells 2-2 Ken Doherty
Marcus Campbell 1-4 Robert Milkins
Barry Pinches 1-4 Sam Baird
Ian Burns 2-1 Robbie Williams
Michael Leslie 1-4 Ronnie O’Sullivan
Mark Davis 3-2 Matthew Selt
David Gilbert 2-2 Judd Trump

Approx 5.30pm

Shaun Murphy 0-0 Alan McManus
Luca Brecel v John Higgins
Stuart Carrington 0-0 Joel Walker
Fergal O’Brien 0-0 Ben Woollaston
Mark Williams v Daniel Wells/Ken Doherty
Robert Milkins v Sam Baird
Ian Burns/Robbie Williams v Ronnie O’Sullivan
Mark Davis/Matthew Selt v David Gilbert/Judd Trump

Wildey wrote:

Jewell wrote:

Wildey wrote:But with Respect Hendry in the 90s did have up and coming players of the ilk of O'Sullivan, Williams, Higgins, Ebdon and Doherty to contend with. they were Tough mentally even back in the day

It's no coincidence that Hendry stopped dominating once players like Ronnie, Higgins, Williams etc got into their stride. But if you go back to the first half of the 90s, you'll find plenty of players flopping mentally against Hendry, with Jimmy White at the Crucible being a prime example of that.

It's not just Snooker though. This is something that happens in all sports.

its no coincident that Ronnie started winning World Championship Regularly once the standards dropped either

and Btw 90s players were stronger mentally than today.

Ronnie has won two World Championships (2001,2004) in the period 1997-2004. And I also remember many people talking here that 97-04 was the strongest period ever in Snooker. And he destroyed the untouchable full peak Hendry in two UK Finals (1993,1997). At the first one he was 17 years old. Who else could do that?

I don't want to sound like a fanatic fanboy but People should accept that this man is a bucking legend. Even Stephen Hendry himself said many times that Ronnie plays a different level to anyone else. The only thing people can blame Ronnie for is that he was overall to inconsistent in his career and should have won much more. But you can say the same thing for Higgins and Williams too. And that's why I still rate Hendry and Davis as the very greatest players. But yet no doubt that peak Ronnie/Higgins/Williams played a higher level than peak Davis.

1-0 Higgins

Judd

Saturday 8th of June

Approx 3pm

Mark Williams 4-0 Dominic Dale
Daniel Wells 3-2 Ken Doherty
Marcus Campbell 1-4 Robert Milkins
Barry Pinches 1-4 Sam Baird
Ian Burns 4-1 Robbie Williams
Michael Leslie 1-4 Ronnie O’Sullivan
Mark Davis 4-2 Matthew Selt
David Gilbert 4-2 Judd Trump

Approx 5.30pm

Shaun Murphy 1-0 Alan McManus
Luca Brecel 0-1 John Higgins
Stuart Carrington 1-0 Joel Walker
Fergal O’Brien 1-0 Ben Woollaston
Mark Williams v Daniel Wells/Ken Doherty
Robert Milkins 0-0 Sam Baird
Ian Burns v Ronnie O’Sullivan
Mark Davis v David Gilbert

Good clearance from Higgins.

2-0.

3-0 Higgins.

Luca has been very careless this match.

Luca in now

Higgins first man through to finals day from the bottom half.

Looked much better than he did in the latter part of last season. Let's see if keeps it up.

Could be Higgins vs. Murphy in the Last 16 which will definitely be on the TV table now that Trump has gone out. Can't remember a PTC to have this many big names at this stage, Williams, Ronnie, Higgins, Murphy and Robertson all still involved

Saturday 8th of June

Approx 3pm

Mark Williams 4-0 Dominic Dale
Daniel Wells 3-4 Ken Doherty
Marcus Campbell 1-4 Robert Milkins
Barry Pinches 1-4 Sam Baird
Ian Burns 4-1 Robbie Williams
Michael Leslie 1-4 Ronnie O’Sullivan
Mark Davis 4-2 Matthew Selt
David Gilbert 4-2 Judd Trump

Approx 5.30pm

Shaun Murphy 2-0 Alan McManus
Luca Brecel 0-4 John Higgins
Stuart Carrington 2-1 Joel Walker
Fergal O’Brien 2-0 Ben Woollaston
Mark Williams 0-0 Ken Doherty
Robert Milkins 1-1 Sam Baird
Ian Burns 0-1 Ronnie O’Sullivan
Mark Davis 0-1 David Gilbert

TheRocket wrote:

Wildey wrote:

Jewell wrote:

Wildey wrote:But with Respect Hendry in the 90s did have up and coming players of the ilk of O'Sullivan, Williams, Higgins, Ebdon and Doherty to contend with. they were Tough mentally even back in the day

It's no coincidence that Hendry stopped dominating once players like Ronnie, Higgins, Williams etc got into their stride. But if you go back to the first half of the 90s, you'll find plenty of players flopping mentally against Hendry, with Jimmy White at the Crucible being a prime example of that.

It's not just Snooker though. This is something that happens in all sports.

its no coincident that Ronnie started winning World Championship Regularly once the standards dropped either

and Btw 90s players were stronger mentally than today.

Ronnie has won two World Championships (2001,2004) in the period 1997-2004. And I also remember many people talking here that 97-04 was the strongest period ever in Snooker. And he destroyed the untouchable full peak Hendry in two UK Finals (1993,1997). At the first one he was 17 years old. Who else could do that?

I don't want to sound like a fanatic fanboy but People should accept that this man is a little kittens playing legend. Even Stephen Hendry himself said many times that Ronnie plays a different level to anyone else. The only thing people can blame Ronnie for is that he was overall to inconsistent in his career and should have won much more. But you can say the same thing for Higgins and Williams too. And that's why I still rate Hendry and Davis as the very greatest players. But yet no doubt that peak Ronnie/Higgins/Williams played a higher level than peak Davis.

Wouldn't say he destroyed Hendry in those 2 Uk finals in the 90s as he won them both 10-6 I think, but yeah I fully agree with the rest you've said there, and for me too Hendry will always be number 1 of all time, Davis 2nd and Ronnie 3rd.

Ronnie 2-1 up against Ian Burns, a player who recently really really has impresed me with his results.

All reds and blacks for Ronnie, 49 points...