Rishi Persad, presenting the Betfred.com World Championship for the BBC, made a particularly pertinent comment on his blog for the corporation’s website.
“Despite what some marketing people may say, the very essence of what makes a sport attractive is the action it provides and the men and women who provide it.”
Rishi’s absolutely right. In snooker, as in all sports, PR types obsess about everything on the periphery without realising that what really matters to people is what happens on the field of play, especially when the big guns are in action.
Tonight, two legends of snooker will cross cues. Stephen Hendry and Mark Williams have appeared in 12 world finals between them. Theirs is a match to relish.
It started yesterday and Hendry looked sharp early on, building a 4-1 lead before letting things slip a little. Williams came back to lead 5-4 and set up what should be a fascinating finish.
Barring a very strange set of results both Hendry and Williams will be safe for the elite top 16 next season.
But they are both proud men and great champions and defeat will be a bitter disappointment for whoever fails to make it to ten frames.
The whole session is live tonight on British Eurosport2 and the BBC red button and I for one can’t wait.
This is an authentic clash of the titans and one not to be missed.
15 comments:
Rory is a disgrace for Crucible.
He is doing like Robidoux in 1996.
Playing when 5 snooker needed...
...
Hendry must win tonight.
i hope he will be fighting to the end.
C'mon Stephen!!
mtfh
I'm not sure I can bear to watch tonight. Feel similarly about Selby v. Walden. Seems a lack of natural justice that some quality players are doomed to go out in the first round.
Just a shame that Dott's match is on at the same time. I'll have to catch the highlights of Hendry/Williams.
I saw Stephen make a 40 break at the age of 12 when he played a match at the Bo'ness Snooker Club.
That was a real "man's" club!
ive played against him on his own table
If you posted under your own name folks might believe you :-)
i couldnt care less who believes me
many folk from his club would have played him
bottom right table in the left hand side of the club.
billy snaddons table was next to it.
club isnt there now as last year or so
as i said, i couldnt care less who believes me.
just because you posted using a name doesnt mean your post isnt a lie. you could easily been told that story by someone else and claiming it as your own. difference is i took your word about your post and you didnt about mine just because its not got a wee name next to it.
hmm
Why don't you post under your own name?
Simple question!
i dont want to
simple answer
What a thriller of a match! Happy to see Hendry win it. Too bad they had to clash this early.
Anon 6:54 - nice one..
i wasted 2 hours of my life yesterday watching this dodgy battle between king and mcleod
as i said
mtfh
as i said
Pot black.
Rishi Persad is the BBC's way of making sure the British people get a lesson on multiculturism in all aspects of broadcasting and is disproportionate numbers. There are 1000s of older expert British snooker players who would love that job of commentating on snooker and they are real experts on the game as well. How much of an expert is Rishi Persad on snooker? because I suspect he was chosen for his Asian "representation" not his snooker knowledge.
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