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The definitive list of great matches

Postby Tubberlad

Now don't get me wrong, I know well this isn't the definitive list just yet. I've compile what I believe to be the 'great' matches, but being the young lad I am, I don't have a great knowledge of the 80's and my 90's isn't perfect either. I'll also admit that many of the games I have put down from the 00's probably don't deserve the title 'great', although I believe them to be.

I'd like your help. What great matches have I forgotten about or not seen? What matches here don't cut it with these 'great' games. I love the game and don't mean to disrespect it by forgetting these matches, I simply don't have as broad a knowledge as is needed to fully understand the history, but I'd like to learn.

Anyway, these are my lists so far:

Definites
1982 World Semi-final: A Higgins 16-15 Jimmy White
1983 UK Final: Alex Higgins 16-15 Steve Davis
1985 World Final: Dennis Taylor 18-17 Steve Davis
1986 Mercantile Credit Classic Final: Jimmy White 13-12 Cliff Thorburn
1992 World Final: Hendry 18-14 White
1994 World Final: Hendry 18-17 White
1999 World semi-final: Hendry 17-13 O'Sullivan
2001 Masters Final: Hunter 10-9 O'Brien
2002 World semi-final: Hendry 17-13 O'Sullivan
2002 World Final: Ebdon 18-17 Hendry
2003 World semi-final: Doherty 17-16 Hunter
2004 Masters final: Hunter 10-9 O'Sullivan
2004 World Semi-final: O'Sullivan 17-4 Hendry
2006 Masters final: Higgins 10-9 O'Sullivan
2006 World first round: Bond 10-9 Hendry
2007 World quarter-final: Murphy 13-12 Stevens
2008 World semi-final: O'Sullivan 17-6 Hendry

Possibles:
1984 World Final: Davis 18-16 White
1986 World Final: Joe Johnson 18-12 Steve Davis
1991 Masters: Hendry 9-8 Hallett
1992 UK Final: White 16-9 Parrott
1993 UK Final: O'Sullivan 10-6 Hendry
1995 UK Final: Hendry 10-5 Doherty
1997 Masters Final: Davis 10-8 O'Sullivan
1998 Masters Final: Williams 10-9 Hendry
1998 World First round: White 10-4 Hendry
2000 World Final: Williams 18-16 Stevens
2001 World Final: O'Sullivan 18-14 Higgins
2001 UK Final: O'Sullivan 10-1 Doherty
2002 Masters Final: Hunter 10-9 Williams
2003 World Final: Williams 18-16 Doherty
2003 UK Final: Stevens 10-8 Hendry
2004 Player's final: White 9-7 Hunter
2005 Masters final: O'Sullivan 10-3 Higgins
2005 Grand Prix final: Higgins 9-2 O'Sullivan
2007 Masters final: O'Sullivan 10-3 Ding
2009 Masters fina: O'Sullivan 10-8 Selby
2009 World quarter-final: Higgins 13-12 Selby

Any suggestions? Would love everyone's input on this

Re: The definitive list of great matches

Postby Roland

Definites
1982 World Semi-final: A Higgins 16-15 Jimmy White
1983 UK Final: Alex Higgins 16-15 Steve Davis
1985 World Final: Dennis Taylor 18-17 Steve Davis
1986 Mercantile Credit Classic Final: Jimmy White 13-12 Cliff Thorburn
1992 World Final: Hendry 18-14 White
1994 World Final: Hendry 18-17 White
1999 World semi-final: Hendry 17-13 O'Sullivan (can't remember either 17-13 match)
2001 Masters Final: Hunter 10-9 O'Brien
2002 World semi-final: Hendry 17-13 O'Sullivan (see above)
2002 World Final: Ebdon 18-17 Hendry
2003 World semi-final: Doherty 17-16 Hunter
2004 Masters final: Hunter 10-9 O'Sullivan watched it but really can't remember that much about it
2004 World Semi-final: O'Sullivan 17-4 Hendry (2008 was better)
2006 Masters final: Higgins 10-9 O'Sullivan
2006 World first round: Bond 10-9 Hendry (only the end of the last frame, not a classic match before that)
2007 World quarter-final: Murphy 13-12 Stevens
2008 World semi-final: O'Sullivan 17-6 Hendry

I don't think every Hendry v O'Sullivan semi should be there because although fascinating, none were classics.

Possibles:
1984 World Final: Davis 18-16 White definitely
1986 World Final: Joe Johnson 18-12 Steve Davis memorable
1991 Masters: Hendry 9-8 Hallett all time classic
1992 UK Final: White 16-9 Parrott White played well but apart from significance of it being his only World/UK win not a classic encounter
1993 UK Final: O'Sullivan 10-6 Hendry aye
1995 UK Final: Hendry 10-5 Doherty aye
1997 Masters Final: Davis 10-8 O'Sullivan yes go on then
1998 Masters Final: Williams 10-9 Hendry aye
1998 World First round: White 10-4 Hendry ten years on from his previous win against Hendry, both were great matches so yes (changed my mind from before)
2000 World Final: Williams 18-16 Stevens probably my personal favourite ever match because from 13-7 Williams was AWESOME!
2001 World Final: O'Sullivan 18-14 Higgins high quality but not gripping
2001 UK Final: O'Sullivan 10-1 Doherty I took my dad to see this one to show him O'Sullivan - we weren't disappointed
2002 Masters Final: Hunter 10-9 Williams I wish I could remember...
2003 World Final: Williams 18-16 Doherty yep
2003 UK Final: Stevens 10-8 Hendry definitely not!
2004 Player's final: White 9-7 Hunter abso-bloody-lutely not! That match was rubbish! And it was rigged!
2005 Masters final: O'Sullivan 10-3 Higgins naa
2005 Grand Prix final: Higgins 9-2 O'Sullivan great performance but great match? Higgins has equalled that performance since in better matches
2007 Masters final: O'Sullivan 10-3 Ding classic for the wrong reasons but O'Sullivan was incredible that day
2009 Masters fina: O'Sullivan 10-8 Selby definitely
2009 World quarter-final: Higgins 13-12 Selby absolutely definitely



Missed matches:

2007 17-16 Selby v Murphy world semi
2007 6-5 O'Sullivan v Murphy grand prix semi
2007 9-8 O'Sullivan v Selby UK semi
2009 6-5 Robbo v Higgins grand prix semi
2007 5-1 O'Sullivan v Carter Northern Ireland 2nd round
1997 9-8 Hendry v O'Sullivan Liverpool Victoria Charity Challenge final
1988 13-12 White v Hendry Worlds 2nd round
1990 16-15 Hendry v Davis UK final
1999 17-10 Williams v Higgins World semi
2000 17-14 Williams v Higgins World semi
2004 9-8 O'Sullivan v Davis Welsh final
2008 9-8 Selby v O'Sullivan Welsh final
2008 6-5 Selby v Doherty Masters semi
2006 4-1 Hendry v O'Sullivan UK quarter
2005 9-6 Davis v Hendry UK semi
2005 9-5 Ding v Hendry China final
2008 13-12 Perry v Maguire World quarter
2008 13-12 Liang Wenbo v Joe Swail World 2nd round
1986 13-12 Joe Johnson v Terry Griffiths World quarter
1987 13-12 Joe Johnson v Stephen Hendry World quarter
1990 16-14 White v Davis World semi
1991 13-11 Steve James v Hendry World quarter
2006 13-11 O'Sullivan v Williams World quarter
2006 18-14 Dott v Ebdon World final
2005 13-11 Ebdon v O'Sullivan World quarter

among others :santa:

Re: The definitive list of great matches

Postby Roland

Anyone who watched it could see that Hunter wanted White to win more than White himself. Anyway, it was a diabolical match and one of the worst finals I've ever seen so it's laughable to include it in such a list.

Re: The definitive list of great matches

Postby Wildey

case_master wc wrote:"2006 4-1 Hendry v O'Sullivan UK quarter"

rofl

I want to think about this, i will give a full answer soon.


well it was something we have never seen before or very rarely seen...... potting balls is old hat <laugh>

Re: The definitive list of great matches

Postby Casey

2004 World Championship 2nd round Hunter 12-13 Stevens

A gripping match between two best friends, unfortunately this was another one that slipped away from Paul. Hunter was in the driving seat for most of the game but Matthew stayed with him and pinched it in a nail biting final frame. Some good banter between the players and an excellent atmosphere from the crowd made this a memorable match for me.

Re: The definitive list of great matches

Postby Roland

1996 - British Open final: Bond 9-8 Higgins

Bond played out of his skin to stick with Higgins who was the main rising star of the game at the time (O'Sullivan was already established). In the deciding frame Higgins knocked in what seemed a frame winning break only to hand Nigel a lifeline with a snooker required. It seemed like a lost cause but Bond held his nerve to get the snooker and cooly clear up to take his first and only ranking title.


I think I need to modify my earlier post...

Re: The definitive list of great matches

Postby Mal

Just looking through old threads - A few other matches that could be on here:
1989 Alex Higgins 9 - 8 Stephen Hendry Irish Masters
1983 Cliff thorburn 13-12 Terry Griffiths - WC (max, late finish and two grinders)
1996 Ronnie O'Sullivan 13 - 12 John Higgins - WC QF - Higgins had his chances to win just a ball away, full of drama and this followed on from O'Sullivan controversies with tournament officials and Robidoux
2008 Liang Wenbo 13 - 12 Joe Swail - Classic match - if Swail won he would have returned for a third spell in top 16 (at expense of compatriot Mark Allen) - Swail came from 12-8 down and from needing snookers at 12-10. In the decider, again needed a snooker, got it, controversy reigned when the cue ball was replaced in wrong place and then Swail had a chance to win, missing an 'easy' brown trying to get position. Some of the balls Wenbo potted were ridiculous and then when he returned to his seat not knowing he had fluked one! :scared: Swail also made some ridiculous shots, including one that Willie Thorne commented on saying it was a suicide shot one minute and then when Swail got it, said it deserved to win the frame :bowdown:
From this year (2010) ...Robertson - Gould...Davis - King/Higgins
At the Masters - Selby - Allen, great spirit, high quality encounter :D and Selby O'Sullivan - great comeback.

Re: The definitive list of great matches

Postby Alex0paul

Some other great matches that I believe have been missed;

2004 UK Semi final Gray 9-8 Perry. Two or three centuries each with Gray coming from needing snookers at 7-8 down to win with a total clearance in the FFD
2003 Doherty´s matches at the World Championship. Every match was a classic with great comebacks in the Last 16, Semi and Final and also had to stave off comebacks in the other two matches.
2005 UK Semi final Davis 9-6 Hendry Davis rolled back the years in the first session to lead 7-1, before just about getting over the line. Brilliant clearance when it looked certain that Hendry was going to pull to within one frame.

Re: The definitive list of great matches

Postby Steve K

I am relitively young when it comes to watching Snooker matches but the Higgins-Robertson Grand Prix 2009 match is still one of my personal favourites.

Re: The definitive list of great matches

Postby randam05

Steve K wrote:I am relitively young when it comes to watching Snooker matches but the Higgins-Robertson Grand Prix 2009 match is still one of my personal favourites.


I agree. I have only been watching since 2006/7. So for me that is one of the best. It had everything!

Re: The definitive list of great matches

Postby GrumpyMrDavros

Anyone mention the 1980 WC final ? I saw it and was gutted Higgins lost especially after Higgins led 7-3 and 9-5 but it was a truly great match between contrasts

Which also reminds me off the 1979 WC quarter final between Higgin and Griffiths with once again the Hurrican building up a great lead of 7-4 with both players on fire only for the Hurrican to blow it