Some incredible snooker from John Higgins and Ronnie O'Sullivan today has set up what will be their first ever meeting in the UK Championship.
They've been the two outstanding players of the decade so it's fitting they should meet in its last ranking event, even if it's in the semis and not the final.
Standards have improved over the years but so have conditions. The balls split far more easily than they once did on these super-fast cloths, which makes break building easier.
But the key word there is 'easier' - they still have to be knocked in and Higgins and O'Sullivan today produced between them some really outstanding stuff.
Bring on Saturday!
25 comments:
can't wait! Bit disappointed for Selby though...
I hope Selby is truly back. We'll see at the Masters I guess. For once, we don't have to wait eons for the next tourney!
Meanwhile, I wouldn't like to call either semi-final.
I would like to see a tournament played with slightly bigger pockets but a relatively slow cloth .The slow cloth would test players cue actions and cue ball control and bigger pockets would make for a more attacking game.
IMHO
Ronnie's scoreline against Mark flattered him in my opinion. Higgins won't miss the opportunities that Mark did and I'd expect him to beat Ronnie.
I will never understand how Selby has so many fans. He's the most boring, dull and unsporting player ever.
Also, Higgins is clearly the best player in the world for like 2 years.
higgins by two frames
ding by 3 frames
I expect Ding to carve out a 0-5 defecit....
anon at 8:40am
idiot.
that is all.
from a Selby fan
What do you mean Selby's unsporting?
What's that based on?
I think Ronnie may be threatening to play the sort of unplayable snooker he dished up in 2007 against Ding, and I think that will be the final. I hear you tipped Ding, it would be nice to have a link to your Betfair column as you used to give us one. The racing post tipped up Cope, Williams and Trump, but to be fair they were looking for value. Personally though if you look through the history of this event it has less shock winners than the World Championship. I can't wait for the next three days of snooker just ashame about the BBC scheduling for the final. The worry is this date clash could become permanent.
I bumped into Ronnie O’Sullivan in the queue for the sandwich bar in the Telford International Centre. He was going to buy a sandwich. I asked him how it was going and he said:
“Well, you know, I mean, I want to get a ham sandwich, sure I do, who doesn’t – but I’ve come to realise that there’s more to life than a ham sandwich. People expect me to always buy a ham sandwich and possibly a cola too, but you know, it gets me down always being expected to perform and eat the ham sandwich. I might stop eating ham sandwiches altogether – or take a break from it and eat egg and cheese instead. I like to mix and match, gives me a focus. Last year I really couldn’t face ham sandwiches at all. I would take one bite and not finish, sometimes I wouldn’t even swallow – but now I’m more focused and I usually eat the ham sandwich. It’s just who I am, you know, maybe I’ll put a slice of bread between two slices of ham – I’m ambidextrous like that, you know. I’m not saying I am the greatest ham sandwich eater that’s ever lived – that’s a label you lot have put on me, I just want to enjoy my life, and my ham sandwich and maybe a cola too. Hell, I think I’m going to drink lemonade in fact – it gets me away from my ham and cola prison. I don’t know, it’s just the way I am, you know.”
Meanwhile John Higgins came striding up to the counter, ordered a ham sandwich and ginger beer, paid the cashier and left without any fuss.
This may or may not have actually happened, but you get my point.
worldsnooker.com rules:) Live scoring showing matches from yesterday:)))
Selby is finished as a top player. His unsporting behaviour has taken its toll on his confidence, and he'll continue to drift down the rankings. He'll be out of the top 32 in 2 years time.
WTF are you on 2:17PM???????????
Is that all snooker player's eat then ham sarnies, lmfao!!!!!!!!!
Maybe that's why Ronnie's the best HAMbidextrous player weve ever seen!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ronnie will win by 6 frames
am with 8.40.
selby has the most shiftiest eyes ive seen.
dont much get what the big deal is with him
Paul Leo - very good!
If one were to rank the top 16 in order of being a nice guy, Mark Selby would be higher up the list than his official ranking of seventh
have to agree with that dave. he would certainly overtake ronnie :)
Anthony HAMilton is partial to the sarnies.
I see a few internet trolls have reared their head on this blog.
The web world are littered with such people sadly for them and them alone.
There is no need to assure anyone regarding Selby because he is palpably a tremendous player and a good guy.
A credit to snooker.
4.37pm - what a ridiculous comment. The door is behind you, please close it when you've left. Thanks.
What's with all this anti-Selby rubbish? He's great!
Have you all heard about the winner winning their weight in Pukka Pies? Hilarious!
8:18AM stop spaHAMing this blog, your a Joey and i claim my £5 thank's ;)
I reckon that would be a good top 16 list for you to do. It would be certainly put the cat amongst pigeons! Can imagine Ebdon coming in at 16! In all seriousness though, the players all seem affable enough.
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