Today’s 888 Welsh Open final features two players who could easily have been beaten before now.
But for John Higgins missing a pink with the rest and Stephen Lee failing to pot a green after being disturbed by a mobile phone, Ding Junhui could have departed Newport earlier in the week.
And it seems like a long time since Sam Baird had blue and pink to beat Mark Selby 4-2 in the first round.
Ding played well against Shaun Murphy, who struggled to reproduce the form that had got him to the semi-finals.
It is Ding’s first full ranking final since the 2010 China Open. After a relatively unproductive 2011/12 campaign this is more like it from the Chinese no.1.
Selby’s win over Ronnie O’Sullivan last night was hard earned in a match low in quality though high in commitment.
Mark Williams summed it up best on Twitter when he said that, for whatever reason, Selby seems to get under O’Sullivan’s skin.
This was not the confident, flowing Ronnie we saw against Judd Trump. He was clearly edgy from the first frame onwards and never really found his best game.
However, he was disciplined throughout. He played the right way but just couldn’t get going.
According to reports in today's newspapers, O’Sullivan had placed an edge of pressure on himself before the match by making a few derogatory comments about Selby, to the effect that he didn’t want to play him because he is so slow, which Selby answered in kind with a few comments of his own.
But he didn’t lose because Selby slowed it down. O’Sullivan failed to pot a ball in the opening frame and barely improved. It was just one of those nights for him.
Selby certainly enjoyed the better running but also potted a greater percentage of pressure balls. Ultimately winning is the objective for any player.
The final seems likely to be close. Ding beat Selby in their last major meeting at the Crucible last season and his safety game was excellent in that match, as it will have to be today.
Selby started the season well but tailed off. Ding has done little of note. They have both come good this week and let’s hope they give us a final to remember.
29 comments:
I expect there will be the usual Selby bashing after last night. Personally I think he's great and think the final will be close. WS has Selby's post match comments but none from Ronnie, does anyone know what he said last night?
Last nights match was truly dowr stuff.I know these things sometime happen in matches no matter who is playing,sometimes the balls just run awkward.That said though this does seem to happen more often in Selby's matches more then it does with anyone else. He does seem to get bogged down.
I also disagree with what he said afterwards bout trying to play like Ronnie he'd never win. The yr he played in Premier League with the shot clock he played fluent good snooker and reached final.so maybe he does himself no favours when he gets bogged down.
Disappointing result last night. Dont think Selby adds much to a final, unless its against O'Sullivan. At least you have the grudge factor to create some excitement then.
Hard to call a winner. I know its a cliche but it really is down to whoever plays well on the day. If they both play poorly Selby will probably win it. If they both play well I'd fancy Ding's superior cueball control to prevail.
Looks as if O'Sullivan will play Trump in round 2 at the Crucible. Probably, along with Higgins as the player he would have wanted to avoid.
Winning is not the ultimate objective, you should try and play attractive snooker too. Everything yields to economics and if players don't entertain the paying public then eventually they won't pay you.
Personally I liked it. Good tension and proper matchplay.
@Kildare Cueman
Actually Ronnie will play Mark william, who's the easiest person he could have apart from Carter.
snooker is a game.
winning (within the rules) is the ultimate objective of every game.
I don,t want to be knocking Selby but that match last night was dire stuff.A root canal would have been more pleasing then what was served as snooker.Terry Griffiths saw no problem with Selbys play but i was in a pub last night and the customers looked for it to be turned off as the whole thing was a complete bore.
Then the rules need changing don't they 1.03pm
I bet there were a few sighs from the Chinese fans when Selby came through the semi. Considering they are 7 hours ahead I guess they'll have to pull an all-nighter now. Does Ding still live with his mother? I bet she'll be forcing the coffee down him now.
10.09am
ronnie never said a word at the press conference. he just sat their eating a pie. think it was humble pie.
Anonymous said...
Winning is not the ultimate objective, you should try and play attractive snooker too. Everything yields to economics and if players don't entertain the paying public then eventually they won't pay you.
12:05 PM
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dont talk absolute nonsense.
147 said...
I don,t want to be knocking Selby but that match last night was dire stuff.A root canal would have been more pleasing then what was served as snooker.Terry Griffiths saw no problem with Selbys play but i was in a pub last night and the customers looked for it to be turned off as the whole thing was a complete bore.
1:03 PM
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you were in a pub
which showed snooker on its tv
and "the customers" (does that mean all of them) asked for it to be turned off?
its quite clear from your posts on here that you are a ronnie fan
ronnie was ghastly last night and missed 18 pots in the first 4 frames and left it safe 15 times.
the match was dire from when ronnie was terrible.
i suspect your story about being in a pub is made up.
Anonymous said...
I bet there were a few sighs from the Chinese fans when Selby came through the semi. Considering they are 7 hours ahead I guess they'll have to pull an all-nighter now. Does Ding still live with his mother? I bet she'll be forcing the coffee down him now.
1:57 PM
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the chinese fans i know are honourable and would appreciate selby is a gentleman who can play to a very very high standard, scoring and safety play.
they will also know that selby would never ask one of their own for oral sex at a press conference.
so, wind your head in. ronnie lost, life goes on. nobody got hurt and the fans of snooker can appreciate good players and good people!
David,
Is Phillip Studd set to become a permanent fixture on Eurosport?
Ronnie and trump doin all they can to make snooker into a lucrative sport and selby comes along to laugh at it.
The purists will give way eventually to shot clock, because thats what we need in a few of these events, let the boot be on the other foot.
Phil is doing the World Open for Eurosport
1,36pm, Yes the rules need changing to accommodate the every need of Ronnie O'Sullivan to ensure he always wins and nobody ever tries too hard or dares play hime safe, thus disarming him.
The entire sport would be dead if Ronnie retired and we hope he doesn't and if he did, then Mark Selby playing slowly would be to blame.
Also Judd Trump should be banned even though he isn't slow and doesn't play safe but its the truth to say he might knock Ronnie out by being a marvellous player.
This would destroy the whole ethos of the game as Ronnie is the only hope, especially when he makes it to the venue as he so nearly did in Bendigo last July.
The long journey was to blame for his absence there, so could we please have all the tournaments played in Chigwell in Ronnie's kitchen?
I really hope Phillip isn't a replacement for you or Mike Smith.
I was never a fan of his BBC Radio 5 updates
Anonymous said...
Ronnie and trump doin all they can to make snooker into a lucrative sport and selby comes along to laugh at it.
The purists will give way eventually to shot clock, because thats what we need in a few of these events, let the boot be on the other foot.
5:18 PM
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on the contrary
i think we should have an event that makes playes take 25 seconds at least between shots.
weve had the other gimmick events to help ronnie win.
now we should get one where hes out his comfort zone
mind you, he prefers the power snooker to the shootout.
i wonder if thats cos hes paid to appear ( if he is, that is ;) )
still, when ronnies gone all his fans can then change their mind and go back to real snooker, but for the time being hes not the same player he was 3-10 years ago and his fans all think it unfair that other players are different to him
amazing that
the player i like plays at 18 seconds a shot and doesnt like playing v players who play at 28 seconds a shot, so we should change the rules.
grow UP
Rob Walker- "you've won the UK twice. Youve won the Welsh. Now theres only one big one left"
ha ha ha.
TG Ding won. a victory for pure snooker over spoiling.
Amazing how comments here always end up being about Ronnie.
Anyway, well played Ding. Wanted Selby to win, but I'm man enough to admit my favourite was second best today.
Amazing how comments here always end up being about Ronnie.
Anyway, well played Ding. Wanted Selby to win, but I'm man enough to admit my favourite was second best today.
10:28 PM
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its not that amazing
most of these blogs posts are reposted or linked on the ronnie site...meaning a lot of his fans are on here
I think Philip Studd is excellent.
Although I'm still waiting, hopefully, for him to do his famed Ted Lowe impersonation!
I think you need to see off this Janie, Dave, you don't someone cheerleading for your professional rivals on your own blog.
Cant listen to eurosport at all. commentators just waffle on and on. Its particularly irritating when the player is on his backswing and theyre firing out some stat or other or whats on the other table. No clue.
in fairness 338, dave is not like that.
far be it from me to bumlick him, but he is in a different league to any commentator on ES snooker.
even the so called expert ex snooker players are clueless
and yes dave, before you start, i would be willing to put my money where my mouth is for charity.
id put up at least a £1000 to have a go and have it recorded and see who calls the correct shot, me or Dozy Joe, or Mallets Mallet.
Dave will be saving money on the Andrex this week. Every little helps in these hard economic times.
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