28.4.09

A GOLDEN DAY

Well it's been my duty to report various things on this blog that have highlighted how professional snooker has failed to make the most of its great potential.

But today is arguably one of the best in the sport's history.

Stephen Hendry made his ninth 147 break. The iconic Crucible Theatre has had its World Championship contract extended. And Mark Selby and John Higgins served up a session of snooker of such quality that it had to be seen to be believed.

Credit to the players and the organisers for keeping so many entranced by what is shaping up to be one of the best World Championships there ever was.

25 comments:

Matt said...

It's fantastic I agree. The first round may not have had the shocks or the classic matches, but what it has done is set up what could be the best second week ever.

The semi-finals will have a hard job topping what for me was a real golden year in 1999 when each of the 'big four' made it through, but whatever happens it will still be well worth a watch.

Anonymous said...

jp and davis got it spot on when they said the 1/4s is the best line up collectively there has been.

roll on next monday night

jamie brannon said...

gutted to miss most of selby and higgins nearly five centuries in there, but my uni work has had to be prioritised.

jamie brannon said...

just read hattenstone, i can see Dave why you dont like it as it does slag the game off, but i have to admit it is well written and I find it amusing in parts. Some of the best journalism you read you don't neccesarily have to agree with. You still have not anwsered my question about whether you think Ronnie is best to watch out of todays players? We can forget the question about all sport, as I dont know how much other sport you watch.

Dave H said...

He is at times, yes, but not all the time

As for all sport, I'm not sure how you could compare him to, say, Usain Bolt as they are obviously doing completely different things

Lynne (50) said...

As mcuh as I'm enjoying this year's championships I think the generosity of the tables is devaluing it just a tiny bit. But the coverage on the BBC is superb on the red button. The tournament is flying by so quick as well

Anonymous said...

out of order post that one....if you do care for this blog you wouldnt say such a thing, no matter how ill your feelings are towards people

Claus Christensen said...

Is it anything more than myth all this fuzz about hole sizes? Are there any measurable differences that could dispute the greatness of the breaks we've seen so far? I've seen plenty of balls that didn't go in as well... What a magnificent tournament, which Hendry took to new heights this morning, and what a conclusion it'll be tomorrow.

Anonymous said...

10:18pm you're post will be deleated in the morning bye, oh and by the way santa how did hendry take it to new height's? Sure enough he had a 147 but how many have been made in the last few year's why did this one take it to new height's?

SupremeSnooker.com said...

This is a truly wonderful World Championship. I could nit-pick at various things that aren't quite right, but there are plenty of positives.
Mark Allen's great victory over Ronnie, Selby playing out of his skin, Hendry's 147 (not something I thought I'd ever see again from him!) and today's great news that the World Championship is staying put for at least the next five years.
As for a cherry on the cake, I was glad that Clive Everton got to commentate on the 147 and it's been wonderful to hear him again throughout the World Championship.
I haven't got a clue what's going on at the BBC. I was under the impression that Ken Doherty would play a big part in the coverage like he did in The Masters, but I haven't seen or heard him at all. Clive, who was previously been demoted, has been commentating on many of the more high-profile contests (not that I'm complaining).
I hope common sense will prevail.

Anonymous said...

All of the matches are really hard to call. Vintage Murphy last night. What's going on with Clive, I thought he would have disappeared by now. What's the point of bringing Ken in just for the last matches?

Anonymous said...

Got to admit I raised an eyebrow at the way a few balls fell after hitting the jaws (2 from the 147, namely, the one in which Virgo said "No" half way through the break which was a good 1/2 ball off, and the final black. But in saying that, I agree the general level has far exceeded previous tournaments.

And also agree - and I cannot believe i'm saying this - hearing Clive commentate is only good news for TV snooker watchers.

Congrats.com to all running the event, and look forward to seeing some more quality play today as a guest of 'Snookers top manager'(sorry Clive, but could'nt resist it) Brandon Parker.

And Hattonstone? What a donk!


Tony B

stuartfanning said...

Clive is allowed to commentate up to and including the quarter finals but from the semi's they are bringing in that excellent experienced commentator Ken Docherty! Crazy isn't it?

Anonymous said...

i do not think its crazy

i like Kens commentary more than i like clives

everyones different (although on here with the snooker scene connection you will obviously find a less balanced view about clive from his "fans")

Anonymous said...

I've never been a "Fan" of Clive Everton, and I understand that everyone is different, but 9.30am poster needs to wake up and smell the coffee.

Tony B

Devil's Advocate said...

Some people are never satisfied are they?

Irrespective of who is (or isn't) in the commentary box (and I say that as someone who would prefer CE to remain on the BBC team), yesterday's snooker was out of this world, arguably some of the best seen at The Crucible.

Loads of centuries, close, high quality matches and a maximum break from the games greatest player - perosnally speaking I don't think you could ask for much better - after all, it is the players who make the World Championship what it is, not commentators or administrators

I'm sure people like Clive Everton would rather be talking about the excellent snooker on display yesterday rather than the commentary situation.

Anonymous said...

"what is shaping up to be one of the best World Championships there ever was"

yes, since Monday afternoon perhaps. Before that, we'd seen it all before.

jamie brannon said...

Fair enough Dave, do you mean when he is not in full flight then there are others that are better to watch? I agree comparing sport to sport is a little futile, but we all do it. I mean you often hear the discussion as to who is the best sportsman on the planet, usually seen as Woods. For the record I consider Bolt a genius but others may disagree.

Anonymous said...

youd be as well giving Jamie your phone number dave so that he can just ask you all these "off topic" questions hes been following you from topic to topic on to ask.

Anonymous said...

Jamie is a boot-licker

jamie brannon said...

what you on about people here talking about clive everton so there off topic as much as me, but who cares Dave doesnt seem too. Okay I will probably have annoyed him with my Ronnie talk and to appease everyone I will go a week without mentioning the R word! However what I have never done is reduce this blog to infantile name calling such as boot licker. Im not hurt by it or anything but it makes this brilliant blog look silly.

Anonymous said...

i agree Jamie (3rd time in a week)

the name calling is terrible. the words themselves arent bad (most of the time) but in certain cases like above the only part of the post is to insult.

banter is ok usually but posting just to insult isnt required imho

Anonymous said...

what a tremendous match the selby-higgins clash was.

Shame selby had to go out the way he played but 12-11 up against higgins - somehow you knew higgins is not dead and finished and he proved his mettle.

Anonymous said...

Regarding Selby - can anyone remember a player who played that well and lost before? I can't! John Higgins is simply phenomenally good and he should win at a canter now, as Selby would have done had he come out of that match alive.

Anonymous said...

Ken Doherty's fingerprints are all over this year's championship.

He has obviously allowed John Higgins to utilize his 2003-go-5-frames-behind-1st-against-player-on-form-before-mounting-hellofaComeback-to-win-on-deciding-frame trademark.