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World Championship 2010: game-by-game preview

Postby Tubberlad

John Higgins v Barry Hawkins
Higgins is probably as the man to beat at this year's Championship, and with two wins in the last three stagings, it's hard to argue with that. Hawkins may cause him a few problems, the left hander is a classy player indeed, however, his search for a maiden Crucible win will go on for another year at least. Higgins 10-6

Mark King v Steve Davis
Steve Davis will this year make his 30th appearance at the Crucible, and I fancy him to mark the occasion with a hard-earned win. King is consistent, but unspectacular, and may come unstuck against the Nugget. Davis 10-8

Neil Robertson v Fergal O'Brien
Neil Robertson is a serious contender for the title, and has been dealt a relatively kind draw. O'Brien can play a bit, that goes without saying, but will have nowhere near the firepower required to gun down the Aussie. Robertson 10-4

Marco Fu v Martin Gould
You could never accuse this game of being the glamour first round tie, but for the Casino croupier, it could be a memorable clash. Gould is no mug, and put in a decent display against Mark Allen this time last year. Fu's career is in serious trouble, and needs to cop on fast... but his misery will go on at Sheffield. Gould 10-6

Ali Carter v Jamie Cope
An interesting clash between two very decent players who's main weaknesses lie in the mental stakes. It should be a good free-flowing game, with nice breakbuilding, but expect it to deteriorate as the finishing line draw near. It'll be a tight one, and I fancy Cope to shade it, but neither man will have the edge to go all the way. Cope 10-9

Joe Perry v Michael Holt
Perry has not impressed of late at all, and looks distinctly average in comparison to most of the top-16. Don't expect a classic, but the fiery Holt could have enough to gun down Perry. Holt 10-8

Ding Junhui v Stuart Pettman
Ding is a quality player, and I don't see him having any real problems with Stuart Pettman. Whether or not the Chinaman can go on to claim the title is another matter, but I feel he could go deep. A dark horse. Ding 10-5

Shaun Murphy v Gerard Greene
Yet again, Shaun Murphy has been dealt a very kind draw at the Crucible. Gerard Greene joins an elite list of an ailing Chris Small (2005), a well past-it James Wattana (2006), an inexperienced Judd Trump (2007), Dave Harold (2008) & Andrew Higgins (2009). Greene, the Kent born potter representing Northern Ireland, is nothing special, and Murphy should ease through. Murphy 10-6

Stephen Maguire v Stephen Lee
Neither of these men have a game that impresses me too much at the moment, to be honest. Maguire can bully the lesser players, but when facing top drawer opposition seems a pale imitation. Lee has had a lot of problems with his game in recent years, and although he may trouble Maguire, it's the Scot who should prevail. Maguire 10-7

Peter Ebdon v Graeme Dott
A fascinating clash between two players who nobody enjoys facing. They met in the final four years ago, and it was a drawn-out battle between two superior matchplayers. Dott won on that occasion, and I think his trademark grit will outdo the 2002 winner. Dott 10-8

Mark Allen v Tom Ford
Should to be open, high scoring, and decent quality fare. Ford did well in thrashing the disappointing Judd Trump, but Allen is made of tougher stuff. Expect a good performance from the newcomer, but Allen's bottle will win out. Allen 10-6

Ryan Day v Mark Davis
The six-reds World Champion Davis has had a strong season, and is playing well enough to cause Day problems. Day's game strikes me as being a little anaemic, but Davis' lack of guile may see him pipped to the line. Day 10-8

Mark Selby v Ken Doherty
A clash to be savoured, that goes without saying. Doherty won this event in 1997, and has restored his career somewhat this season. Selby looked excellent at Wembley when he deservedly overcame O'Sullivan in a thrilling final. Any matches between these two tend to only have the odd frame in it by the end, and this could be no different. Selby to come out on top of a cracker, but only just. Selby 10-9

Stephen Hendry v Zhang Anda
Ironically, the best known player in the draw will take on the unknown quantity Zhang. To be fair to the Chinaman, his wins in qualifying against the likes of Parrott, Higginson & Walden can only impress, but Hendry is a different animal. Hendry won't make it 8, but will have enough to make round two. 10-6 Hendry

Mark Williams v Marcus Campbell
Williams hs put down a strong season, and should have no problems with Campbell. The Welshman could be a darkhorse if he builds momentum. 10-4 Williams

Ronnie O'Sullivan v Liang Wenbo
One thing's for sure, if O'Sullivan's going to win this year, he'll have to do it the hard way. Liang is the first round draw from hell, and the Chinaman has the firepower of the US army and then some. Still, O'Sullivan is more than his attacking match, and his superior tactical game will catch Liang out. 10-7 O'Sullivan.

Re: World Championship 2010: game-by-game preview

Postby Tubberlad

Of course he's a pretty good player Sonny, any man who makes the Crucible knows how to play the game.
I'm rating him in context with the other players... and in that respect, he's not up there as one of the better players.

Re: World Championship 2010: game-by-game preview

Postby Roland

Yes Murphy is clear favourite and could have had a harder draw but if he's not on his game then Greene is no mug. I've seen him play live a few times and he's impressive.

Re: World Championship 2010: game-by-game preview

Postby Tubberlad

Sonny wrote:Yes Murphy is clear favourite and could have had a harder draw but if he's not on his game then Greene is no mug. I've seen him play live a few times and he's impressive.

As I say, I don't doubt he's pretty good. Saw him live myself against O'Sullivan at the Irish Masters in 2005, and only lost 6-4. Worth adding, O'Sullivan played very well that night.

However, if Murphy could have picked who he wanted to play, I'm guessing he wouldn't have minded getting Greene at all.

Re: World Championship 2010: game-by-game preview

Postby Wildey

rocket_ron wrote:very good article here Tubberlad, very well explained and faultless analysis.
agree with you on John higgins being the man to beat, also agree on if ronnie is to win he is gonna have to do it the hard way


Greene in 4 previous appearances since his first in 1999 has won no match and 19 frames in total.

1999 lost 10-2 Higgins
2003 lost 10-3 Ebdon
2005 lost 10-9 S Davis
2009 lost 10-5 Carter

Re: World Championship 2010: game-by-game preview

Postby Wildey

rocket_ron wrote:not a very good record for greene then, i wonder if it will play on his mind


and to top it off 2008 Qualifier he lost 10-2 to Mark Davis in 2007 10-6 to Dave Gilbert and 2006 to Neil Robertson 10-6 (so he must be crap ;) )

i think tubber is right on this to be honest.

Re: World Championship 2010: game-by-game preview

Postby Tubberlad

It's bound to play on his mind Rocket, you can be sure of that. Take Barry Hawkins, a very decent player. I fancy him to challenge Higgins, but his past at the Crucible will put him under the cosh, and therefore I can't see him winning.

2006: Lost 10-1 to Doherty- nothing he could do, Doherty was awesome.
2007: Lost 10-9 to Fergal O'Brien- Barry's a better player IMO, but Fergal stuck with him and came through.
2008: Lost 10-9 to Carter- deserved to win this. He was coming back at Carter like a train from something like 8-3 down, and pulled it to 9-9. They were then hauled off the table, his momentum was gone, they played the frame off-schedule, Carter won and eventually made the final.
2009: Lost 10-8 to Dott- one of the grittiest displays I've seen from Dott, and that's saying something. You'd have had to claw him off that night.

Re: World Championship 2010: game-by-game preview

Postby Tubberlad

rocket_ron wrote:doherty that year was awsome, i can remember that for sure. im starting to warm to selby but i really really want doherty to go far

I actually think Doherty should have won the title in 2006, he outplayed Marco Fu but couldn't seem to get the two frame cushion at any stage, and Fu ran out 13-10 in the end.

Re: World Championship 2010: game-by-game preview

Postby Roland

thetubberlad wrote:
rocket_ron wrote:doherty that year was awsome, i can remember that for sure. im starting to warm to selby but i really really want doherty to go far

I actually think Doherty should have won the title in 2006, he outplayed Marco Fu but couldn't seem to get the two frame cushion at any stage, and Fu ran out 13-10 in the end.


I could say the same about Mark Williams!

Re: World Championship 2010: game-by-game preview

Postby Tubberlad

Sonny wrote:
thetubberlad wrote:
rocket_ron wrote:doherty that year was awsome, i can remember that for sure. im starting to warm to selby but i really really want doherty to go far

I actually think Doherty should have won the title in 2006, he outplayed Marco Fu but couldn't seem to get the two frame cushion at any stage, and Fu ran out 13-10 in the end.


I could say the same about Mark Williams!

He did play pretty well that year :chin:
But it was probably the best I've seen Doherty play

Re: World Championship 2010: game-by-game preview

Postby Rocket_ron

thetubberlad wrote:But it was probably the best I've seen Doherty play

tubbs me too, due to me not watching snooker till 1999 i missed on dohertys good years, i would have loved to have watched 1997 and 1998 championships

Re: World Championship 2010: game-by-game preview

Postby Tubberlad

I agree with three quarters of that GJ....
But I think O'Sullivan has one last effort in him. This is his last major chance IMO, and I hope he makes the most of it. Becasue three world titles is a crying shame for a man of his ability, like him or not.

Re: World Championship 2010: game-by-game preview

Postby Rocket_ron

thetubberlad wrote:I agree with three quarters of that GJ....
But I think O'Sullivan has one last effort in him. This is his last major chance IMO, and I hope he makes the most of it. Becasue three world titles is a crying shame for a man of his ability, like him or not.

yes i thought 4 or 5 would be his achievement

Re: World Championship 2010: game-by-game preview

Postby Wildey

bottom line is we haven't a clue what will happen. who would have thought Allen would beat Ronnie last year or King beat Selby in 08 that whats cool about those 17 days it is never that predictable.

Re: World Championship 2010: game-by-game preview

Postby GJ

wildJONESEYE wrote:bottom line is we haven't a clue what will happen. who would have thought Allen would beat Ronnie last year or King beat Selby in 08 that whats cool about those 17 days it is never that predictable.


i did say allen would win that one

and i was <laugh> at and mocked

<laugh>

Re: World Championship 2010: game-by-game preview

Postby Alex0paul

wildJONESEYE wrote:bottom line is we haven't a clue what will happen. who would have thought Allen would beat Ronnie last year or King beat Selby in 08 that whats cool about those 17 days it is never that predictable.


I got both of those and again was mocked especially about Selby losing.

Re: World Championship 2010: game-by-game preview

Postby GJ

ok i was joking bout higgins he will beat barry in round 1

Anyway being serious for a change

i think there will be

quarter 1 - 1 seed losing in round 1

quarter 2 - 2 seeds losing in round 1

quarter 3 - 1 seed losing in round 1 not who you may think though <laugh> ;)

quarter 4 - 1 seed losing in round 1

i cant give anything else away as it would ruin my strategy to be WC predictor this year <cool> :D

Re: World Championship 2010: game-by-game preview

Postby Casey

GJtheaussiestud wrote:
wildJONESEYE wrote:bottom line is we haven't a clue what will happen. who would have thought Allen would beat Ronnie last year or King beat Selby in 08 that whats cool about those 17 days it is never that predictable.


i did say allen would win that one

and i was <laugh> at and mocked

<laugh>



Not only did I say Allen would win but I nailed the correct score as well - A pick that led me to World Championship glory <cool>

Re: World Championship 2010: game-by-game preview

Postby Wildey

Alex0paul wrote:
wildJONESEYE wrote:bottom line is we haven't a clue what will happen. who would have thought Allen would beat Ronnie last year or King beat Selby in 08 that whats cool about those 17 days it is never that predictable.


I got both of those and again was mocked especially about Selby losing.

better luck than judgment or wishful thinking call it what you want hardly the same as a dead cert predict.


   

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