World Championship 2011 draw: Adv. Robbo
1 Neil Robertson vs Marco Fu 16
9 Graeme Dott vs Ali Carter 8
5 Ding Junhui vs Peter Ebdon 12
13 Stephen Hendry vs Mark Selby 4
3 Mark Williams vs Jamie Cope 14
11 Mark Allen vs Stephen Maguire 6
7 Shaun Murphy vs Ronnie O'Sullivan 10
15 Ricky Walden vs John Higgins 2
Look at the bottom-half here, you have Mark Williams (2 time World Champ, China and Germany champ, UK finalist), Mark Allen (UK, Masters semi-finalist), Stephen Maguire (Wales finalist/champ), Shaun Murphy (Former World Champ, UK semi-finalist), Ronnie O'Sullivan (3 time World Champ) and John Higgins (3 time World Champ, UK champ, Wales finalist/champ). There's no question about how lop-sided this draw is.
So why advantage Robertson ? He's defending champion so knows how to get the job done. Backed up his world title with a win at the World Open as well as reaching world number-one. He has beaten Allister Carter, provisional QF opponent, in the last two world-championships as well as his win over Graeme Dott in the final last year should the Scot make it. Marco Fu in R2 is far too inconsistent to be considered a likely threat to Robertson, he has struggled in this tournament since reaching the semis 5 years ago.
Ding is the next big name in the top-half but his record in Sheffield is poor. It has to end some time but he may have to face Selby or Hendry to get out of that quarter, two players who hold their own strengths over Ding. Should Selby make it, his semi-final record is putrid and Robertson would fancy his chances. Should Ding make it, it would be his debut on the one-table set-up which brings it's own new pressures.
Robertson has a great chance of reaching another final here and with a 6 in 6 record, is in prime position to break the Crucible hoodoo and win a second world title !
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Bourne - Posts: 17471
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