Reviewing of other first round matches!
Even before yesterday's pitch perfect final, we heard so much about the Robertson game, you could've been forgiven for thinking this was the only match of any consequence.
I think there are others though, that are just as worthy.
John Higgins vs Stephen Lee. This match was already mouthwatering, due to John Higgins being the inform player of the season, and Lee being a big name. (Add your own jokes.)
A PTC win on his first tournament back, the UK Champion, the Welsh Open champion. You can't really argue that Higgins has been tough to beat since his return. But he was edged by Murphy last week, and Stephen Lee's excellent match with Mark Williams was amazingly upstaged by the final on Sunday. But make no mistake beating Mark Williams this season would've already been impressive, even without Mark Williams making 4 centuries and a 50 break. This is going to be an immense match.
Mark Williams vs Ryan Day
The German Open champion may be seen as favourite, but Ryan Day has been winning matches himself recently. Beating Ronnie in Newport and Beijing may not be the achievement it would've been last season, but did anybody see Ryan Day's win over Jimmy White in Wales? You could be excused if you didn't, as it only lasted an hour. And Ryan was playing as good as almost anybody I've ever seen, even if it was only for one match. Every pot he made almost was a cross double. His long potting was immaculate. Everything came together for him on that day. He came in, won, and made it out in enough time to see the beginning and end of the double episode of Eastenders. If Ryan Day plays like that, he could have Williams in all sorts of trouble. But will he be able to translate best of seven form into Crucible first round form? If not Mark could kill him. Interesting one.
Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Dominic Dale
Foregone conclusion, you say? Did you also say that about the Stuart Bingham game in Telford? Dale in his career tends to play well for a tournament, then do bugger all for several years following. But he has qualified for the tournament this year. You would think that him being here for the first time in seven years, the occasion would get to him. But Ronnie has let things get to him, and when was the last time he won a match in a ranking event? He pulled out of a lot of the PTCs, and the last I can remember him winning was the World Open. (Though I risk standing corrected on that one.) Conventional logic would tell you that this is a foregone conclusion for Ronnie. But even Dale has won more matches in 2011 then Ronnie has.... Will Ronnie's poor form continue, and will his lack of match sharpness count? Or will his apology to the Chinese fan last week realise he needs to kick himself into gear. The only time I look forward to the petulant one playing is when he plays John Higgins, but I'm gutted both sessions of this is on when I'm 'working'. (Let's face it, I've typed all this out in the office, Crucible fortnight I'm really distracted.) This should go to Ronnie. But, it's really not a definite.
Those are three other matches I'm looking forward to. Some are a bit twiddle this year to be fair, but feel free to look forward to add comments to the matches already mentioned, and discuss other round 1 matches at The Crucible.
I think there are others though, that are just as worthy.
John Higgins vs Stephen Lee. This match was already mouthwatering, due to John Higgins being the inform player of the season, and Lee being a big name. (Add your own jokes.)
A PTC win on his first tournament back, the UK Champion, the Welsh Open champion. You can't really argue that Higgins has been tough to beat since his return. But he was edged by Murphy last week, and Stephen Lee's excellent match with Mark Williams was amazingly upstaged by the final on Sunday. But make no mistake beating Mark Williams this season would've already been impressive, even without Mark Williams making 4 centuries and a 50 break. This is going to be an immense match.
Mark Williams vs Ryan Day
The German Open champion may be seen as favourite, but Ryan Day has been winning matches himself recently. Beating Ronnie in Newport and Beijing may not be the achievement it would've been last season, but did anybody see Ryan Day's win over Jimmy White in Wales? You could be excused if you didn't, as it only lasted an hour. And Ryan was playing as good as almost anybody I've ever seen, even if it was only for one match. Every pot he made almost was a cross double. His long potting was immaculate. Everything came together for him on that day. He came in, won, and made it out in enough time to see the beginning and end of the double episode of Eastenders. If Ryan Day plays like that, he could have Williams in all sorts of trouble. But will he be able to translate best of seven form into Crucible first round form? If not Mark could kill him. Interesting one.
Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Dominic Dale
Foregone conclusion, you say? Did you also say that about the Stuart Bingham game in Telford? Dale in his career tends to play well for a tournament, then do bugger all for several years following. But he has qualified for the tournament this year. You would think that him being here for the first time in seven years, the occasion would get to him. But Ronnie has let things get to him, and when was the last time he won a match in a ranking event? He pulled out of a lot of the PTCs, and the last I can remember him winning was the World Open. (Though I risk standing corrected on that one.) Conventional logic would tell you that this is a foregone conclusion for Ronnie. But even Dale has won more matches in 2011 then Ronnie has.... Will Ronnie's poor form continue, and will his lack of match sharpness count? Or will his apology to the Chinese fan last week realise he needs to kick himself into gear. The only time I look forward to the petulant one playing is when he plays John Higgins, but I'm gutted both sessions of this is on when I'm 'working'. (Let's face it, I've typed all this out in the office, Crucible fortnight I'm really distracted.) This should go to Ronnie. But, it's really not a definite.
Those are three other matches I'm looking forward to. Some are a bit twiddle this year to be fair, but feel free to look forward to add comments to the matches already mentioned, and discuss other round 1 matches at The Crucible.
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