The World Championship
We're now less than two months away from snooker's greatest event by far, and I thought I'd get your thoughts on a fortnight and a half that I can honestly say I prefer to Christmas. Much prefer. Christmas is overated, the World Championship is not.
What are your favourite memories of the Crucible?
All going well, I'll have a fair few more to look forward to, but right now I've got to say Ronnie O'Sullivan's performance in his second session against Hendry, World Championship 2008. Just a few days before that, I was a total I am a twat and was cursing as he raced ahead against Williams. Then he knocked in the most beautiful maximum to remind me that this was a player of serious ability in action, and two world titles was realistically a poor reflection of how good he was. I find Carter and Perry to be average players, I thought Hendry had enough bloody world titles as it was, so I said to myself, I really want Ronnie to do this now. The final was boring, but his performance against Hendry just blew me away. I'd never seen anything like that.
Least favourite memory?
I've always been a Matthew Stevens fan, and when Ronnie was knocked out in 2005 having been the raging hot favourite, Stevens now assumed that mantle. After a shaky semi-final against McCulloch, he was in a final against a relatively unknown qualifer called Shaun Murphy, and I was laughing. When he went 7-3 up, I said 'this is going to be easy', and 10-6 overnight meant I went to bed pretty happy. To see Murphy clawing it back, edging ahead made me sick to the pit of my stomach. Stevens got it from 14-16 to 16-16, and I believed again, but naturally, he lost the next two frames. bullocks.
Who would you like to win it this year?
Ronnie or Stevens, but neither will happen. I like Ding, for a supposedly weak minded player his achievements at this stage of his career are quite impressive, and I see him as a big contender. It would be nice to see Williams win a major again, and I think Selby is long overdue a win in the big two, so I wouldn't mind seeing him take the title. Still, Ronnie & Matthew (if he qualifies) all the way.
Who do you think will win it?
I think John Higgins & Mark Williams have that little extra quality right now, and I see them both as the main contenders. I'm not sure if it's possible right now, but a final between both would be great. I think Higgins isn't short of motivation, and he's lost just two games in 19 since his return. I also think Robertson, Ding and Selby will give it a good go, but are just that bit behind them right now.
Would you change anything about the World Championship?
No
What are you most looking forward to?
I've got my Easter holidays from school for the two weeks, and although I should be studying for the biggest exam of my life, realistically the World Championship is far more important to me, and I'll be glued to the screen as ever.
What are your favourite memories of the Crucible?
All going well, I'll have a fair few more to look forward to, but right now I've got to say Ronnie O'Sullivan's performance in his second session against Hendry, World Championship 2008. Just a few days before that, I was a total I am a twat and was cursing as he raced ahead against Williams. Then he knocked in the most beautiful maximum to remind me that this was a player of serious ability in action, and two world titles was realistically a poor reflection of how good he was. I find Carter and Perry to be average players, I thought Hendry had enough bloody world titles as it was, so I said to myself, I really want Ronnie to do this now. The final was boring, but his performance against Hendry just blew me away. I'd never seen anything like that.
Least favourite memory?
I've always been a Matthew Stevens fan, and when Ronnie was knocked out in 2005 having been the raging hot favourite, Stevens now assumed that mantle. After a shaky semi-final against McCulloch, he was in a final against a relatively unknown qualifer called Shaun Murphy, and I was laughing. When he went 7-3 up, I said 'this is going to be easy', and 10-6 overnight meant I went to bed pretty happy. To see Murphy clawing it back, edging ahead made me sick to the pit of my stomach. Stevens got it from 14-16 to 16-16, and I believed again, but naturally, he lost the next two frames. bullocks.
Who would you like to win it this year?
Ronnie or Stevens, but neither will happen. I like Ding, for a supposedly weak minded player his achievements at this stage of his career are quite impressive, and I see him as a big contender. It would be nice to see Williams win a major again, and I think Selby is long overdue a win in the big two, so I wouldn't mind seeing him take the title. Still, Ronnie & Matthew (if he qualifies) all the way.
Who do you think will win it?
I think John Higgins & Mark Williams have that little extra quality right now, and I see them both as the main contenders. I'm not sure if it's possible right now, but a final between both would be great. I think Higgins isn't short of motivation, and he's lost just two games in 19 since his return. I also think Robertson, Ding and Selby will give it a good go, but are just that bit behind them right now.
Would you change anything about the World Championship?
No
What are you most looking forward to?
I've got my Easter holidays from school for the two weeks, and although I should be studying for the biggest exam of my life, realistically the World Championship is far more important to me, and I'll be glued to the screen as ever.
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Tubberlad - Posts: 5009
- Joined: 02 October 2009
- Location: Ireland
- Snooker Idol: Ronnie OSullivan
- Highest Break: 49