10.9.10

ON TO THE QUARTERS

It's a rather strange quarter-final line-up in what has been a rather strange tournament.

The overall standard of play has been lower than we're used to with a few exceptions. Some players are struggling with the humidity and what the atmosphere is doing to the tables.

Mark Davis, so much improved over the last year, faces Jamie Burnett with the winner to appear in their first ranking semi-final.

Davis has been a professional for 19 years, Burnett for 18, so this has been a long wait either way.

Graeme Dott has survived deciders against his fellow former world champions Ken Doherty and Mark Williams and now meets the player he beat in the 2007 China Open final in Beijing, Jamie Cope.

This is Cope's first ranking event quarter-final in two years. He has not made the step up since that China final but was impressive in finishing off Ding Junhui yesterday.

Matthew Stevens is also appearing in his first quarter-final in two years against the mega consistent Ali Carter.

Mark Selby is yet to play on the TV tables but will do so against Mark King.

For what it's worth after yesterday's less than successful tipping, I'll go for...

Davis v Dott
Carter v Selby

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

i think you will get 2/4 correct

kimball said...

Hi Dave,

when is the first cut?
After world open, or are more PTC-
tournaments involved?

Dave H said...

It's after the EPTC event in Bruges in early October

Anonymous said...

Out of interest on the technical front, can anything be done at short notice in situations like these to improve the playing conditions? It seems to be having a big impact.

kimball said...

THX

Anonymous said...

Dave, how do we know that these are your picks alone and not the "Russian mafia"?

Dave H said...

Already 0/2!

Anonymous said...

Hi Dave,

Please give up the tipping!

On another note, is it possible for players to take part in an PTC/EPTC event when they can no longer qualify for finals day?

This is with reference to Higgins and out-of-form players who have no wish to make to finals day?

Thanks, Joe

Anonymous said...

Joe. There are no stipulations regarding the PTC tournaments.
If there were, you would only have about 40 players in the last one.

Anonymous said...

so dave, did i guess correctly in my first post on this blog?

Anonymous said...

silence is deafening.