The Crucible Countdown !!!!

Saturday 15th of April -Monday 1st of May at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield

THE COUNTDOWN CLOCK

For the last 2 years this tournament has belong to Mark Selby can someone losen his tight grip on the trophy this year.

After Missing out on a crucible spot last year Mark Williams is back and with two Ranking event wins during the season 15 years after his last can he win a 3rd World Title?

Ronnie O'Sullivan been trying to add a 6th for the last 4 years could he manage it this time?

Or Can someone like Judd Trump, Ding Junhui or Even Kyren Wilson claim the title?

Seeds

Ronnie O'Sullivan (26th appearance)
John Higgins (24th appearance)
Mark J Williams (20th appearance)
Marco Fu (18th appearance)
Shaun Murphy (16th appearance)
Allister Carter (16th appearance)
Mark Selby (14th appearance)
Neil Robertson (14th appearance)
Barry Hawkins (13th appearance)
Ding Junhui (12th appearance)
Stuart Bingham (12th appearance)
Mark Allen (12th appearance)
Judd Trump (9th appearance)
Kyren Wilson (4th appearance)
Anthony McGill (4th appearance)
Luca Brecel (3rd appearance)

Qualifiers

Graeme Dott (19th appearance)
Matthew Stevens (16th appearance)
Stephen Maguire (15th appearance)
Joe Perry (15th appearance)
Ryan Day (13th appearance)
Robert Milkins (8th appearance)
Ricky Walden (7th appearance)
Jimmy Robertson (4th appearance)
Xiao Guodong (3rd appearance)
Stuart Carrington (3rd appearance)
Jamie Jones (3rd appearance)
Jack Lisowski (2nd appearance)
Liam Highfield (Debut)
Lyu Haotian (Debut)
Chris Wakelin (Debut)
Thepchaiya Un-Nooh (Debut)

The Draw is Live on Facebook Live and Eurosport Player at 10.00am on Thursday 19th of April Live at the Crucible

And Then the countdown really begins

Last 32 Draw

Mark Selby v Joe Perry
Mark Allen v Liam Highfield
Kyren Wilson v Matthew Stevens
Shaun Murphy v Jamie Jones
John Higgins v Thepchaiya Un-Nooh
Stuart Bingham v Jack Lsowski
Luca Brecel v Ricky Walden
Judd Trump v Chris Wakelin
---------------------------------------------------------
Ding Junhui v Xiao Guodong
Anthony McGill v Ryan Day
Marco Fu v Lyu Haotian
Barry Hawkins v Stuart Carrington
Mark J Williams v Jimmy Robertson
Neil Robertson v Robert Milkins
Allister Carter v Graeme Dott
Ronnie O'Sullivan v Stephen Maguire

Do the draw now I say!

Not too much deadwood in the qualifiers which is nice

Alex0paul wrote:Not too much deadwood in the qualifiers which is nice

Who would you say is the easiest draw ?

Im thinking jimmy robbo or highfield

GJ wrote:

Alex0paul wrote:Not too much deadwood in the qualifiers which is nice

Who would you say is the easiest draw ?

Im thinking jimmy robbo or highfield

Jimmy Robbo is not really a good player but he is quite experienced now. Its his 4th appearance. And he wasn't far away from beating Allen last year. The occasion of playing in the Crucible won't affect him. So he might be even a tougher draw than some of the more talented players where the occasion and tension could play a big part.

I have to say Highfield the easiest draw followed by Wakelin.

Highfield by a long way. I'll be amazed if he gets more than 4 frames

Fair analysis

In terms of toughest draw there are a good few

Day
Perry
Lisowski
Maguire
Dott

I expect Lyu to run someone close

Joe Johnson doing the draw.

Brecel,Fu,McGill and Carter imo are the most vulnerable in the Top16. Even though Carter is quite experienced at the Crucible. But have the feeling that at least two of those 4 will be out in the first round.

Robbo tends to lose in round 1 alot so wouldn't shock me to see him lose his opener .

GJ wrote:Robbo tends to lose in round 1 alot so wouldn't shock me to see him lose his opener .

Jinxing already

Decent set of qualifiers, those first five names listed in Dott, Stevens, Maguire, Perry and Day could all do damage.

Good to see Walden back after his injury problems, happy to see Xiao and Lisowski qualify, will be interesting to see how Lisowski handles the occasion this time considering how well he's playing.

About time Un-Nooh qualified, win or lose he's one player you want to see do well because he's so good to watch when flowing. Haotian went walkabouts after bursting on the scene at 14 years old, starting to show his potential again.

I'd put the likes of Carrington, Wakelin and Highfield in the same bracket, underachievers, somewhat underrated and are all capable of producing the goods. In Wakelin and Highfield's case of course it will all depend on how they handle the occasion.

Milkins and Jimmy Robbo are the only qualifiers that leave me feeling meh.

I'd ideally want Dott to draw Brecel, Carter, Fu or McGill

Alex0paul wrote:

GJ wrote:Robbo tends to lose in round 1 alot so wouldn't shock me to see him lose his opener .

Jinxing already

I have low expectations for him.

Kyren is a different story

I want Neil vs Jimmy in a Battle Of The Robertsons.

I wouldn't put Carrington,Wakelin or Highfield into the same bracket. Carrington can be a very high scorer on a good day. Against Wenbo last year he made 3 centures on the trot. I also remember that he played a very good match in the 1st round against a strong Trump in 2015. His peak level is definitely higher than Wakelins or Highfields. If Carrington plays well he might do some damage. While with Wakelin or Highfield you'd really think that their opponents would have to play the worst match of their lifes to lose the match.

Wakelin just beat Murphy 6-0 in the second biggest tournament

Alex0paul wrote:Wakelin just beat Murphy 6-0 in the second biggest tournament

The Shootout.

Alex0paul wrote:Wakelin just beat Murphy 6-0 in the second biggest tournament

I think Murphy didn't even make a single 40 break in that match. However. I'd agree that you should never underestimate your opponent. But kinda sure though that many seeded players would want him as an opponent. Next to Highfield of course.

I just don't rate Carrington at all. He is this generation's Rod Lawler, only more dull.

Really glad the likes of Ebdon, Fergal, McLeod etc didn't qualify.

If Day plays like he has recently he's clearly the toughest draw.

I'd back Day to beat Fu, Carter, Williams, Wilson, Bingham, Brecel and McGill

Its a shame Ford isn't there for the comedy value

Day has won some big close matches in recent time. So you don't have that guarantee anymore like in the past that he will choke.

GJ wrote:

Alex0paul wrote:Not too much deadwood in the qualifiers which is nice

Who would you say is the easiest draw ?

Im thinking jimmy robbo or highfield

thats Ronnies Draw sorted then

Wildey wrote:

GJ wrote:

Alex0paul wrote:Not too much deadwood in the qualifiers which is nice

Who would you say is the easiest draw ?

Im thinking jimmy robbo or highfield

thats Ronnies Draw sorted then

Who do you rate as more of a contender Neil or Kyren ?

Cloud Strife wrote:Really glad the likes of Ebdon, Fergal, McLeod etc didn't qualify.

I like Fergal cause hes from the hood but agree on the other 2. Feels like Ebdon has been qualifying the last few years just to deny somebody else the spot.