All professionals can knock in long reds and make
big breaks off them but nobody does it quite like Ronnie O'Sullivan.
He has an aura about him, a style of play which
makes him intimidating. He intimidated Neil Robertson, himself usually so
mentally strong, yesterday afternoon and by the time the Australian had
regained his composure it was too late.
O'Sullivan is now well placed to win his fourth
world title but although it is day 13 of 17, we are only actually halfway
through the tournament in terms of frames won.
The four semi-finalists have each won 36 frames but
the eventual champion will need to win another 35.
Logic may dictate that O'Sullivan wins it from here
but it hasn't been a logical tournament.
If it was, Ali Carter wouldn't be in the semi-finals
after his frustrating season in which ill health has affected his form.
But Carter is a great fighter and he held off young
Jamie Jones well to reach a third Crucible semi.
His match against Stephen Maguire is likely to be a
good, competitive affair. Both of these players wear their hearts on their
sleeves and are prepared to dig in for the fight.
These are really long matches now: four sessions
with plenty of time for the psychological momentum to shift.
Maguire was here once before in 2007 where his 14-10
lead over John Higgins was overturned into a 17-15 defeat.
He will want to make amends for that and is playing
his best Crucible snooker since 2008.
Matthew Stevens hadn't shown much form coming into
the championship but is through to his sixth Crucible semi-final. His defeats
in the other three were all close, as were his two world final losses.
It's nine years since he's beaten O'Sullivan in a
ranking tournament so it doesn't bode well.
But it's been an unpredictable World Championship so
there's no reason to expect it to go to any script as we enter the final
strait.
19 comments:
O Sullivan seem to have a superb opportunity. Selby and Hingins are out, so he can win. But the others had bad days in the past, like Stevens or Carter. They come from nowhere and they know how important it is to play a semi at the crucible. I think they will be very dangerous and motivated. It's a big opportunity for them too.
O Noel, Belgium
How many times will Maguire bash the table in this match?
The interesting thing is that all four remaining players have attained veteran status, so we are guaranteed a final contested by two players over 30 years old and obviously another winner—the fifth one in six years. Every final since 2006 has had a player over 30 in it too. Its remarkable how the world champion age has suddenly started trending upwards in the last few years.
432, interesting it may be
what i say is that the game is at saturation point and the best play of the likes of hendry, higgins and osullivan are the benchmark that wont be improved upon. certainly not over a specific career, but maybe only for a season or two.
that would suggest that these players, along with williams at his best would be able to play to that standard into their early forties.
thing is, there are quite a few from that era, or crossed over from it who are more than capable. threee of them proving that by getting to the semis.
God, this is shit. One of the worst world championships I can remember. There has only been one stand-out match so far with the Carter/Trump match! If they go on about the PTCs raising standards again I'm going to explode.
Hi David.
Stat's, Yes, Stat's Of The Day - Today, is 3-5-2012. On 3-5-1999, Stephen Hendry, won his seventh world title, beating Mark Williams, 18-11, in the final. Thi, is the 13th anniversary, to the day, since this happend.
Today, is also the 8th anniversary, to the day, since Ronnie O'Sullivan, won the second, of his three world titles, beating Graeme Dott, 18-8, in the final, on 3-5-2004.
Another great day's play, in my view.
If I may borrow you're own title, to this piece, "ONE TABLE, FOUR PLAYERS." Great title.
Semi-Final 1 - session 1- Maguire .V. Carter - Both players stuggled early. Maguire pleased to be 2-0 up, with only a highest break of 21. Carter won the next two, A 91 Carter break, included, 2-all, at the mid-session interval.
Frame five, decided on the final black, went to Carter. He lead 3-2. Maguire won the sixth, with a 80-plus break,. 3- all. Carter won the next two frames, to lead, 5-3, over-night, going into tommorrow morning's second session.
Semi-Final 2 - Session 1 - O'Sullivan .V. Stevens - Stevens had chances, but O'Sullivan more consistent, but, not at his best. O'sullivan led 4-0, at the mid-session interval. What could stevens do?
Stevens won frame five and six. 4-2. Stevens missed a sitter of a red, in frame seven. O'Sullivan won the frame. 5-2. Stevens won frame eight, with an 80 break, the highest of the session, by either player. O;Sullivan leads 5-3, over-night, going into tomorrow afternoon's second session.
Tomorrow -
Semi-Final 1 - session 2 - Maguire .V. Carter - 10 am.
Semi-Final 2- Session 2 - O'Sullivan .V. Stevens - 2.30 pm.
Semi-Final 1 - Session 3 - Maguire .V. Carter - 7pm.
I can't wait.
agree with 10pm
the first few dats were excellent, but since the first thursday its been going downhill.
ronnie seems to be over the glandular fever he had when there were a few flights to get on to tournaments...
funny nobody mentions how he must be suffering when hes winning. obviously only an excuse when he loses.
i wonder if the GF will return in a short while when the ptc / wuxi are on..
Never understood why they increased the SF to best of 33 frames. Best of 31 frames was a fair step up from best of 25 to best of 35, but a best of 33 just feels like another final. If they were worried about a 7 frame final session that a best of 31 frame match might result in, then why not have 7-8-7-9 format?
7-8-7-9 would be a great format, it would ensure that someone would have to be leading after the first and second sessions. It always seems such a drag when you've had two sessions and the scores are level. Not so bad after the third sesssion because it's set up nicely for the last session.
Calling a miss on Stevens when he was snookered between the pink and the corner pocket was just plain ridicuous. There was only one path out of the snooker, and if you hit it with enough pace to reach the yellow then it would bounce up which it did. Stevens complied with the rule fully, and yet a miss was still called. In the end it didn't matter but incompetent call by the ref.
512, i am a qualified ref at a grade just under those on tv.
youre talking through your butt.
he could have hit it by hitting the same shot a bit softer, but he obviously didnt just want to hit it softly and leave it on.
it was difficult, but he missed it by 48 inches.
I'd forgorren about the glandular fever, looks like Ronnie has too.
Hi David.
Stat's, Yes, Stat's Of The Day -
Today, is 4-5-2012. On 4-5-1998, John Higgins, beat Ken Doherty, 18-12, to win his first world title. This happend, 14 years ago, to the day, today.
John Higgins won his third world title, on 4-5- 2009, beating Shaun Murphy, 18-9, in the final. This happend, 11 years ago, to the day, since he won his first world title, and, 3 years ago, to the day, today.
Another great day's play, in my view.
Semi-Final 1- Session 2 - 10am - Maguire .V. Carter - Carter, 5-3 up. Maguire won the next two frames, 5-all. Carter, the next two, the second of which, will a 118 break. He led 7-5 at the mid-session interval.
Frame 13, unlucky for the Scot. After playing for snooker's, Carter won the frame, on the black. 8-5. He increased this, to a four-frame winning streak, 9-5. Maguire made a superb 142 break, 9-6. Carter won a tight 16th frame, to lead 10-6, going into tonight's third session.
Semi- Final 2 - Session 2 - 2.30 pm- O'Sullivan .V. Stevens - O'Sullivan, 5-3 up. Stevens made it 5-4, and stole the 10th frame, on the black. 5-all. From there, well, O'Sullivan rained supreme in the session, playing sublime stuff. He won six stright frames, Two centuriy breaks, and two 90-plus breaks, included. O'Sullivan leads, 11-5, over-night, going into tomorrow morning's third session.
Semi-Final 1 - Session 3 - 7pm - Maguire .V, Carter. Carter, 10-6, up. Maguire made it 10-7. Carter won four stright frames, playing superb stuff. A 134 break included, to lead, 14-7. Maguire made a great comeback. Maguire's breaks of 70, and, 72, reduced Carter's lead. 14-9. Maguire won a close 24th frames. Cater in a great position. Maguire is not, though, out of it, yet. Carter leads, 14-10, over-night, going into tomorrow afternoon's fourth, and final, session.
Tomorrow's order of play -
Semi-Final 2- Session 3- O'Sullivan .V. Stevens - 10am
Semi-Final 1- 4th, and final session - Maguire - 2.30 pm.
Semi-Final 2 - 4th and final session - O'Sullivan .V. Stevens - 7 pm.
I can't wait.
528
I am a referee who has refereed several world championship finals, and it was a disgraceful application of the miss rule. I sincerely doubt you are qualified at a grade just below TV level, and if you are then I am very disappointed to see the standards of my profession sink to that level.
The Force is strong with you young Skywalker.
Looking at the provisional rankings, Carter is 17th and 400 points behind Bingham. He has really been shafted by this new policy of awarding 0 points to players who cannot participate due to illness. I can appreciate why they changed the rules because too many players were gaming the system for, but I think in the case of someone like Carter who has an ongoing well documented illness they could have made an exception. Dropping out of the top doesn't reflect his performance, it reflects his illness; he needs to win the world title now to get back in, and I don't think it's really fair.
1131, youre obviously talking rubbish and trying to act the big shot.
ask any top ref (on twitter if you dont know them personally) and see their view.
it sides with my opinion, and that of BM too.
Anonymous said...
Looking at the provisional rankings, Carter is 17th and 400 points behind Bingham. He has really been shafted by this new policy of awarding 0 points to players who cannot participate due to illness. I can appreciate why they changed the rules because too many players were gaming the system for, but I think in the case of someone like Carter who has an ongoing well documented illness they could have made an exception. Dropping out of the top doesn't reflect his performance, it reflects his illness; he needs to win the world title now to get back in, and I don't think it's really fair.
5:09 PM
----------------------------
while i feel for ali, theres no telling that he, or another player in future, could use a rule change to their advantage.... only needing half points to stay in a particular rank and so a flair up occurs.
im not saying ali would, but if the rules were different, he could.
it was only a matter of weeks ago ronnie had bad glandular fever and any match he lost that excuse was mentioned. now the season is all but over and theres no overseas events left, and hes winning, the commentators and snooker writers have swept it under ronnies magic carpet.
Post a Comment