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Suzy's Shootout Diary

Postby footygirl

BLACKPOOL DAY 1

IT is up at the crack of dawn - that is 5am to you for me to travel to Blackpool for day one of CaesarsCasino.Com Snooker Shootout. Yes, I knlow the things I do for you guys
Still I do enjoy it and everything for once goes well travelling fropm Durham to Blackpool on the train, notwithstanding the three changes I had to make at Leeds, Manchester Piccadilly and Preston before arriving at Blackpool at lunchtime
And for once there is good news abouit the tennis as I clamber on and off trains with luggage as Andy Murray comes through his semi final against David Ferrer in four sets to set up an Australian Open final showdown with Novak Djokovic. Come on Muzza!
Blackpool is different to Melbourne in temperature, but scores better in entertainment as the snooker shoot out gets underway in the Blackpool Tower, the spiritual home of ballroom dancing. The rules are different in terms of time allowed on shots, foul strokes etc but it still takes two to tango and there were a few who danced their way into the draw for round two.
If Ronnie and John Higgins's was a quickstep, then surely Steve Davis enjoyed a smooth waltz past Peter Ebdon, while three Scotsmen foxtrotted their way out of the tournament. Leading the exodus was Stephen Hendry, who fell to Fergal O'Brien, Jamie Burnett followed him out, losing to Andrew Higginson- minutes later joined by Stephen Maguire who lost to Tom Ford.
But three Scotsmen made their way through to the second round as Marcus Campbell, John Higgins and Alan McManus eliminated Jimmy Michie, Mark Williams and Michael Judge, while in the last match of the night Mark King advanced to round 2 by kncocking out Jimmy Robertson.
And the bell tolled for Masters champion Ding Junhui who fell to Dominic Dale, Ali Carter put paid to Jimmy White, while Mark Allen, Stephen Lee and Nigel Bond also progressed.
Tomorrow sees the rest of the draw completed and tomorrow night the second round gets underway after an FA Cup style dra, on appropriately enough FA Cup weekend.
Who will suffer the knockout of knockouts tomorrow. Well as they say in the movies, to be continued. And if you are asking me to predict a winner, my advice would be to stick a pin in.

Suzy Jardine - Blackpool.

Re: Suzy's Shootout Diary

Postby GJ

Excellent as usual suz and good quality effort overall

Re: Suzy's Shootout Diary

Postby vodkadiet

Suzy

Any chance of kicking Barry Hearn in the balls for creating marmite like this instead of real tournaments?

Another thing, are Ronnie's kids with him this weekend?


The game of snooker :rip:

Re: Suzy's Shootout Diary

Postby Wildey

vodkadiet wrote:Suzy

Any chance of kicking Barry Hearn in the balls for creating marmite like this instead of real tournaments.

Another thing, are Ronnie's unfortunate offspring with him this weekend?

next season theres going to be 9 main Rankers first time in about 10 years.

Brazil will have a Tournament for the First Time.

after 15 years theres a World Cup

Barry Hearn is turning this sport around yes there's a few trial and error things but to get to the right formula you got to try things out.

Re: Suzy's Shootout Diary

Postby Tubberlad

I didn't watch it yet! I've no doubt it's very far from the snooker I really love, but it sounds like a bit of a laugh, and something to perhaps draw in a few fans. Which is a good thing. I hated power snooker, but I think in principle this sounds a bit less mind boggling.

I bought a few ciders tonight for a night in tomorrow. Worse ways to spend it :)

Re: Caesarscasino.com Snooker Shoot Out Discussion !!!!!

Postby footygirl

BLACKPOOL DAY 2

WELL what are the highlights of Blackpool- the golden mile - the pleasure beach, louis tussauds. Trust me I have been here before.

Oh and there is the big dipper. And of course this tournament- while being a big hit with fans is something of a rollercoaster for the players, yesterday a win, today a defeat - and sometimes in a dramatic climax. Namely Rory McLeod who with time running out managed to sink a miracle black ball to pinch victory against Tony Drago. Drago who was given a rousing reception from the fans- we could hear the singing in here in the press room looked like he was heading into the third round draw only for McLeod to fluke the black with the last second of time remaining.

Even more dramatic was the match between Neil Robertson and Alan McManus, McManus too having a healthy lead before Robertson launched a last ditch bid for victory- and Masterminded his escape. Charging round the table a la "Big Break" Robertson squeezed the black in striking the cue ball with one second of the allotted 10mins remaining. He started and he certainly finished.

Rescue acts too came from Mike Dunn and Fergal O'Brien in fact just like the rollercoaster on the Pleasure Beach those who were on their way up yesterday where plunging downwards tonight. Davis, Higgins, Dale all bowing out. Davis supplying some hi-jinks along the way in his match against Mark King when trailing 112-0 with no realistic chance of recovering chose to banter and run his shot clock down. This of course gave ball in hand to King who took the green to finish the match.

Meanwhile Ronnie O'Sullivan crusies onwards. Also through are Nigel Bond, Marcus Campbell Robert Milkins, Stuart Bingham , Ryan Day and Ken Doherty.

Right bed time. Well Kim took the ladies title in Melbourne. It is mens final tomorrow. Andy Murray plays Novak Djokovic for the Australian Open title. Come on Muzza- prove I can predict a winner or two.

Suzy Jardine - Blackpool

Re: Suzy's Shootout Diary

Postby footygirl

THE WORLD IS ENOUGH FOR NIGEL

NIGEL Bond won the inaugural CaesarsCasino.Com World Snooker Shootout with a final victory over Robert Milkens in the final.

The popular Bond, who claimed the 1996 British Open crown on a respotted black didn't have to go through the traumas of a decider of a blue ball shoot out here in Blackpool, should the scores have been tied.

Bond, who had seen off the challenges of Mark King and Marcus Campbell to progress to the final was confident and relaxed throughout against Gloucester's Milkens and a break of 38 was to prove decisive to the Darley Dale professional lifting the crown at the Tower Arena.

Great credit should also go to Milkens who had held his nerve to oust pre-tournament favourite Ronnie O'Sullivan in the semi finals but was unable to maintain the momentum against the former Crucible finalist.

Suzy Jardine - Blackpool





Suzy's Diary



Final day here at Blackpool and get up to the news that England got thrashed by Australia at Brisbane in the ODI and to crown it all Andy Murray slipped to a straight sets defeat in the Australian Open final at the hands of Novak Djokovic.

And then...my shower conks out- not amused at all. Today had better improve quickly that is all I can say- and it is off along the road to the Tower Arena wondering if the regular mistake of my occupation will be made. Countless times I have been mistaken for a Sunderland FC Offical in the Stadium of Light press room- some journo once asked if I could direct him to the toilet. Arghh just because I have long hair, wear a skirt/dress. And before anyone asks- yes I do know the offside law, like I know the rules of snooker (Mastered them despite the fumes I was breathing in while painting my fingernails) - Or do people not register that with a pass that reads media that I might be a member of the fourth estate.

Still it looks a good day as the tournament reaches it's climax with round 3, quarters, semis and finals to be played and Mark Selby feels the heat as he is whitewashed by O'Sullivan who looks for all the world as though he will win it. I slip into the arena and work in the press seats and hear Marcus Campbell being called Chris Moyles by the fans. Neil Robertson though is the man who is dancing to his tune as the world champion is sent packing by Marcus who then faces Nigel Bond in the semis. But it is Bond who scares the living daylights out of the Scot as he moves into the final, to face Robert Milkens who ousted Ronnie O'Sullivan.

To the final - Michaela refereeing and it is Bond who seals the title to a tremendous ovation from the Blackpool fans, who have really embraced this tournament, let's hope it returns next year as the kids have also seemed to enjoy it judging from the amount that were in the arena and queuing to get into the arena. Brilliant entertainment.

Report filed, time to put away the bucket and spade- oops that should read laptop and pad and pack up and head home. Now where is the nearest bar.



Suzy Jardine - Blackpool

Re: Suzy's Shootout Diary

Postby SnookerFan

vodkadiet wrote:Suzy

Any chance of kicking Barry Hearn in the balls for creating marmite like this instead of real tournaments?

Another thing, are Ronnie's kids with him this weekend?


The game of snooker :rip:


Dude, are you one of Ronnie's kids or something? :roll:

Re: Suzy's Shootout Diary

Postby Wildey

SnookerFan wrote:
vodkadiet wrote:Suzy

Any chance of kicking Barry Hearn in the balls for creating marmite like this instead of real tournaments?

Another thing, are Ronnie's kids with him this weekend?


The game of snooker :rip:


Dude, are you one of Ronnie's kids or something? :roll:

rofl rofl