Hats off to Martin Gould for reaching his first televised semi-final in Dublin today.
Gould beat Michael Holt 4-2, winning a scrappy fourth frame on the pink before making breaks of 96 and 100 to ease into the last four.
The Players Tour Championship Grand Finals came along just at the right time. Gould has just qualified for the Crucible and will be in Beijing too so has every reason to be full of confidence.
His deadpan demeanour belies an extremely attacking game. I note he'swatched back the first two sessions of his second round match against Neil Robertson but not the last, in which he'd lost eight of the nine frames.
This is what's known as taking the positives, and a positive frame of mind is absolutely crucial.
Gould is due to be in action on Monday mornuing in group 7 of the Championship League in Essex so if he does win the title would be advised to delay the celebrations.
12 comments:
There is something tantalising about Gould: he started out at the Crucible last year looking far and away the best player in the tournament, he moonlights as a casino croupier, and looks like he got lost on the way to the Harry Potter convention. He just needs to win something to break through the psychological hurdle and he could become one of the top players in the game. You really don't want him in the first round at the Crucible do you?
i think if holt doesnt win soon he will miss the boat like so many players. great talent but until u wins one its so hard to take that next step up.i think this event was his big chance .
I thought Gould had packed in the casino work and is now full-time pro?
I hope he can win this - his first TV semi is another step forward, but with the form he's shown, the title isn't out of the question.
Do you think he can make the top 16 this season, or will he just miss out? He should get past Walden in China but will then run into Higgins, and although he's got Crucible experience, I can see him getting a horrid first round draw (although I'm sure he's one of the players the top 16 are hoping to avoid themselves).
I disagree about Holt. Journeyman player with no mental strength, I'm afraid ...
Holt wont win anything of note. Hes an ordinary player
Maybe now he will appreciate the work Hearn is doing. I'd love to see him win something because his game deserves it.
Dave - have you been on the Irish Ale, as there is a couple of spelling mistakes, which is not like you
Well it wasn't to be for Gould, but he's earned 35k in total from the PTC, contested his first TV final and moved up the rankings this season more than any other player. Surely Gould is sold on the Hearn revolution now?
11 oo ordinary? not sure you can be ordinary or journyman if you are in the top 50 in your line of work. im sure the people who said this about holt must be in the top 10 in thier field . NOT. im sure your less than average at what you do .
Holt is in the same league as Pettman and Mc Cullough. Will never make top 16. just not good enough
4 01 . u are obviously a failed player from the preston area as u seem to be slightly bitter towards pettman and mc culloch . do u work in one of thier snooker clubs?
Holt has the potential and the game to win ranking events, but like so many other players, i dont think he has it between the ears, thats not an insult to him, but snooker is 90% mentality and 10% skill
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