Snooker World Championship

Turi! Turi! Turi!
Been watching much of this?

Glad to see my man Williams back on form; he won the China Open last month, his first ranking tournament in a couple of seasons. And he thrashed Hamilton 10-1 in the first round of the World Championship.

Rocket Ronnie (not Ago) looks fresh and focussed too. He could play Williams in the quarters.

Hendry's out. Out out out! Bond beat him 10-9 tonight on a re-spotted black. Good stuff. I like Bond. I like his long face.

You're a narcist! :p

Shit! Did I miss Fantasy Snooker????

Good to see the snooker back on aint it. How I love my boring sports of snooker and darts. And I'm just pleased there's a sports thread I can contribute to.

I haven't been watching as much as I'd hoped. I haven't caught up with the draws yet and probably wont until the quarters to see potential matchups. I should catch the live afternoon sessions in just over an hour but it's going to be background to me doing work.

Ronnie claims to be enjoying his snooker again, which is pleasing for me because I like the fella but we know how temperamental he can be. Imagine another clash with Ebdon?

And yes I'd love to see Williams back to his championship best.

Aha, the draw predictor:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/draw_predictor/default.stm

Ronnie can only meet Ebdon in the final. I hope he doesn't. I'd like to see a Doherty and Williams final; both are on form right now. I prefer not to support Ronnie; he has enough fans as it is, and I didn't like the way he shook Harold and the ref's hands the other day (with his left hand). He seems only to have time for snooker and his own depression, and not for his opponents.

Williams against Ronnie in the quarters would be too hot to handle for me to watch. Williams, when at his best, is the only player I've considered unbeatable by anybody. Apart from, perhaps, Hendry. He has the mentality to steam forward. And, if you ever notice, he rarely makes it to the final of a tournament and loses.

I dont think Shaun Murpheys gota chance this year last year was lucky punch for him.

Lucky? Perhaps, but he played beter than anybody else, so I wasn't complaining that he'd won. Doesn't look to be on the same form as he was last year, though. Difficult to pick a winner this year; I'll go for Williams.

I say this every BBC tournament, but I am sick of Willie Thorne. How can 11-5 to Williams not be a fair reflection of the match? Selby did play well, but not well enough to be less than 11-5 down at the end of the session. There is no fairer reflection, Willie Thorne, than the score itself. Golly fucking gosh.

Williams through.

Ronnie could be next.... the first time I'll have seen them on TV play against each other.

Now it's starting to look interesting. I should think Ebdon will edge out Gray to face Murphy in the Quarters. Bond should show age and experience to get past Dott but the young lad has a wee lead. Williams should also expect to face O Sullivan in the Quarters.

Stevens and Doherty is a big matchup. I haven't a clue who'll win that but it should be highly competitive.

And where's that cheeky little hot referee. Haven't seen her for a while. Ooooh them gloves and my ba...

Micheala Tabb hasn't been seen since Mark King said in an interview that she was hot. That was a few years back. She's probably under his floorboards.

Day showed some maturity against Ronnie today; but I don't think he'll keep it up over three sessions. These long matches rarely have consistent upsets.

I'll go for Doherty over Stevens.

I wish she was under my floorboards.

Ronnies been quite lucky to not have faced optimum opponents yet. He'll really need to raise his game against Williams.

I just realised it wasn't last year but two years ago Dott was in the final. He has a bit more experience than I give him credit for. But if he gets to the semi's I can't see him beating the winner of Ronnie/Marcus.

Don't know about you Mick, but I've got Ebdon taking on the winner of Williams/O Sullivan in the final.

Ebdon looks very, very strong indeed. And Murphy's doing himself no favours in their session this afternoon. But me? I can't see anybody but Doherty in the final.

Doherty and Williams? That would be awesome; like in 2003--what a tournament and final that was. My favourite yet. Doherty played more frames than anybody else in that tournament; if he wasn't coming back from 12-7 down to beat Hunter 13-12, then he was ahead of Higgins at 10-2 only to win 13-12. And Williams beat him 18-16 in the final.

That's my boy.

Speak of the devil...

Michaela Tabb's apparently just given birth to a second child. it came out in a waistcoat and dickie-bow. Doctors had to provide the little one's cue.

And moving on...

O'Sullivan's moved it up a gear. Really turned it on. Playing at his best, I'd say. 10-6 to him going into the final session. He needs three frames. Come on Mark! Come on Mark! Come on Mark Mark Mark Mark!!!!

Dott beats Robertson 13-12. Good match, by the sounds of it. I wanted the Aussie to win, because I find Dott perhaps the most boring player ever to watch...far more painstaking than Ebdon, who I actually find fascinating. Dott's that little yappy terrier who always jumps about when you walk into the house, desperate to be noticed; all you have to do is kick it in the teeth and it soon shuts up.

Williams has played far worse than he did last night and lost the match; he's one of the most aggressive players I've ever watched, and because of that I find it almost painful to watch him at times, especially against somebody like Ronnie.

Ronnie and Ebdon in the final? I'd predict that, but I want Fu to win the tournament.

Just finished watching Interactive: Dott 16, O'Sullivan 8. Haven't seen Ronnie play that bad in a while. Sometimes I find it far more fascinating to watch him play bad than good.

Now that Dott needs but one frame to go through, I'd love to see Fu make it to the final. Doubt it, though.

Dott's got some fire in him. I like it. He's usually quite reserved but I love to see him frustrated. It shows passion and his desire to win. Something too many players, and sports stars lack. Now he's just needing the one frame I hope he goes on to win the tournament.

Mick, I'm afraid I've been missing far too much of the event this year. Just been far to busy and even missing the highlights.

Yes, I must admit Dott has won me over. I usually find him lacking the killer instinct for me to love someone. I too would love him to win.

I was backing Dott to beat O'Sullivan before the match, wish i had put a bet on now, i was hoping Fu was going to beat Ebdon, but he has played well Ebdon all competition and deserves to be there in truth.

Ebdon 5 - 11 Dott

Six hours forty-five for eight frames of grinding snooker. Clive Everton, as always, put it best: "It hasn't been attractive snooker by any means, but because of what's at stake, it's been absorbing."

Just found out Clive is six foot four too. That's taller than me! Though I was pleased to learn he is a bit shorter sitting down.

I didn't need a bloody late night. I've got two exams today. I probably shouldn't have had that bottle of wine too but it was a very good way to relax.

Ebdon - Dott. Not quite one for the ages. In fact some of the quality was very poor. Yet it was still compulsive viewing. You could see how the pressure affected both men. I didn't realise that was the 5th major final Dott had been to with this his first win. No wonder he's a choker with that in the back of his head. Yet he prevailed and I'm happy for the lad.

Yeah, a grinder if I've ever saw one. Absorbing to watch, though neutrals can be forgiven for changing channels, I think. I wanted Ebdon to win by the end, because I wanted a tight finish and for him to start screaming at frame ball; but Dott gave me a good bellow instead!

Worst World Champion ever? Until he proves otherwise, yes.