22.4.11

THE CRUCIBLE'S EASTER PARADE

It seems unlikely to be a long Good Friday for Mark Williams, who resumes 7-1 up on Jamie Cope and is therefore able to wrap up victory with a session to spare this morning.

Cope is a fine talent but seems to let frustration get to him early when things aren't going his way.

This is a best of 25 so even at 5-1 down he had a chance of winning. 7-1 down to Williams, though, and it'll be a tall order but still not impossible.

Possibly the toughest second round match to call is Ali Carter v Graeme Dott, two players evenly matched, although Dott has been in three Crucible finals and, of course, won the title.

Carter blew away Dave Harold. Dott responded well when Mark King came from 7-3 down to trail him just 7-6.

I think this will be a good match and most likely close. They are two strong competitors who wear their hearts on their sleeve and are capable of producing high quality snooker under pressure.

Speaking of which, Judd Trump v Martin Gould lived up to its billing with an entertaining first session which Trump shaded 5-3.

These two are attacking, entertaining and get on with it.

The same can be said for Mark Allen, who is back in action following his emotional comeback against Matthew Stevens.

Allen, who has always struck me as a big occasion player, unafraid of the big stage, faces Barry Hawkins, who held off Stephen Maguire in the first round.

Apparently there's a glut of bank holidays coming up. With the above as well as O'Sullivan v Murphy, Selby v Hendry plus Higgins and Ding also in action, the extended weekend could be a green baize bonanza.

4 comments:

Betty Logan said...

Prior to the Carter/Dott match you could get 16/1 on Carter and 22/1 on Dott (22/1 on a player that has made three of the last seven finals), both well worth a bet each way. We all know the winner will come from the bottom half, but you try getting a good price on Ronnie, Higgins and Williams. You can get decent odds on Murphy, but he'll have to come through the toughest draw in the history of the game. Hendry could still do with beating Selby, otherwise he'll need a bit of help from Ding.

Anonymous said...

Dave are you gonna finally give up on the nickname "The Juddernaut" now Trump said he didnt think much of it?

I liked Joe Johnsons nickname for Martin Gould a lot better. "The Quiet Assassin". Maybe you should leave the nicknames to him.

Anonymous said...

dave, dont listen to 224

i already called him juddernaut when referring to him with friends

its great, even if he doesnt think so.

tho i do have a few better ones for him i think.....

the quiet assassin is almost as good as the silent one....and isnt any more original.

guess what players i call these names:

predator
screw-ball
violator
flash
t-rex
geronimo

JAMIE O'REILLY said...

Hi David. Another great day's play, in my view

Williams .v. Cope- Williams, resuming 7-1 up. Au you predicted in you're post, it was not a long Good Friday for Williams, but a good one. Credit to Cope for taking the match to a third and final session. Williams was too strong over all, ery impressively, was the fist man through to the quater-finals this year with a 13- 4 victory

Allen .v. Hawkins- An Impresive session, in parts, from both players. I feel that Hawkins just shaded the session slightly. Still anybody's, Hawkins, in my view, just about deseves his 5-3 overnight lead.

Trump .v. Gould.- Resuming 5-3 down, Gould did well will a 76 break, in the nith frame.5-4. At 7-5 up, Trump was lucky to win the pivital 13th frame on a re-spotted black, to lead 8-5. Gould, having had the chance to win the frame, prior to it going to a re-spotted black.

From there trump gained the next three frams, and deserves his 11- 5 overnight lead.

Gould lead Neil Robertson 11-5, at the same stage last year and Robertson won 13-12 before going on to take he title last year, Gould may be inspired by that thought. At 11-5 up though, Trump is a heavy favourite to go throughto the quater-finals this year.

Carter .v. Dott- A great first session. Good scoring. From 3-1 down, Dott mad a great 111 break. 3-2. Dott slole the last three, to go into this evening's session 5-3 ahead.

From 5-3 up, the 2006 champion, went on to lead 6-4. Carter won the next two frames to lvel, 6 all, at tonight's mid-session interval.

Carter won the next two frames with back-to-back century breaks. this game him a winning streak of four consecutive frames, and an 8-6 lead

It did not last long Dott, Gritty and Dtermined, diid fight back to take the final two frames of the session. Level all 8 all, overnight, going into tomorrow afternoon's final session. Level with 9 frames to play for a quater-final place. I can not wai for that one.

Also tomorrow, it is the start of Murphy .v. O'Sullivan and Selby .v. Hendry. I can not wait.

well done to all players in today's sessions.