World Championship Snooker thread

[Patrick Bateman]

If he hadn't won the German Open then he'd have had to pre-qualify for the World Championship which is insane.

[Undertaker]

Jesus. WTF is Willie Thorne on. Talk about sucking up. If ''Ali gets out of this 4-5, he and his team should take a lot of credit.'' When have you ever heard anyone say that before? lol Just because dickhead Ebdon is looking for some glory.

[Drico One]

Do we really have to endure YET another tribute to Stephen Hendry?

Dear me. Shut the door after yourself, man. It's embarrassing at this stage.

I feel sorry for Steve Davis to be honest, having to take part in all of this nonsense. By now, it's almost an insult to the Nugget having some of the one-time world champions eulogising Hendry as the greatest ever. Well, lads, with all due respect, you've nothing to lose by making that point. Poor old Steve's been treated like Willie Thorne.

No wonder Ronnie wants a piece of the retirement action.

Drico.

[Undertaker]

Well Ronnie is about to win. Ebdon's advice to Ali was to try and stare him out when they shook hands. Sports psychology at its very best.

[Drico One]

The Captain showed a lot of grace, there.

It's easy to be graceful when you win, but it takes a bit of character to be when disappointed. His Ronnie retirement comment was fiendish.

Drico.

[Undertaker]

The Captain showed a lot of grace, there.

It's easy to be graceful when you win, but it takes a bit of character to be when disappointed. His Ronnie retirement comment was fiendish.

Drico.

Yeah he did. Maybe getting to the final proved to himself that he can still play and that's enough for now. I can't see him getting anywhere near another final though. Ronnie has been outstanding, whereas everyone else have plugged away or under-estimated their opponent. Robertson was unlucky to come up against Ronnie.

I can see next year being much tougher. There wont be all those seeds go out so early. Most of them were really poor.

[Drico One]

He probably won't reach another final - but he's been in two and that makes him one of the best 30 players of all time. You don't get many chances to win a world snooker title, so his fate is probably that of Matthew Stevens: a very fine player who just came up short twice. He'll be disappointed, but he's got a platform to contend for a few years yet. And it's not like he bottled a final.

I don't think anybody truly troubled Ronnie this year, which is a bit of a pity. He was head and shoulders in nearly every session, and always pulled away when anybody threatened him.

Drico.

[Patrick Bateman]

I can't help from thinking that Ronnie versus Trump would have been a fantastic final. Carter was far too defensive.

[Undertaker]

I can't help from thinking that Ronnie versus Trump would have been a fantastic final. Carter was far too defensive.

I think he let idiot Ebdon have too much influence on him.

[Drico One]

Trump's the only one ignorant enough to take on Ronnie. Thing is, Ronnie might have to look after his mind, but at least he's got one...

Drico.

[Undertaker]

Someones done their own commentary lol. John Virgo at about 2 minutes is ace.

[Patrick Bateman]

It must be that time of year again, Undertaker.

[Undertaker]

It must be that time of year again, Undertaker.

Yeah Snooker all day, every day for two weeks. Gutted Jimmy fell at the final hurdle but at least the Rocket is back. Marcus Campbell has had a good season as well, so to be turned over like that was a bit of a surprise.

[Drico One]

The draw suits Ronnie, this year. The bottom half is like something out of the Killing Fields, with Selby, Robertson, Ding, Allen, Maguire, and Williams.

I can't see anybody other than Trump upsetting Ronnie, unless John Higgins has found Doc Brown and a DeLorean.

The Captain would be a severe early test, but I don't think anybody other than Higgins or Trump thinks they can beat Ronnie.

Selby and Robertson should emerge from the bottom half - but you wouldn't bet on it. Selby is a superb match player, but he reminds me of Jimmy White in that it was apparent early on that he'd never put it together to win at the Crucible despite the obvious talent. Robertson is also a superb match player, but I'm not sure he believes he'd beat Ronnie. Selby's beaten Ronnie at the Crucible, so it might just be that the hardest part for him would be getting to the final, but there's just something about him that leads me to think he'll never win it.

Thinking about it, this is a big tournament for Trump. He's been completely under the radar, so I quite fancy him if he can cut out the silliness and concentrate on his game rather than his hair.

Drico.

[Undertaker]

Other than the Rocket, Mark Allen is my pick. Especially now he's sorted his head out and has a settled personal life.

Both Mark Williams and Peter Ebdon are on a very slippery slope towards the end of their career. Dott v Ebdon today was like pulling teeth.

I think it's next season where rankings are no more and 128 players start at round one.