World Snooker Championship

[Drico]

Fell over the line, but you give yourself that option when you go 5-0 up. Trump fought like a world number one, but this is some month for Selby. Great to see him back. Triple Crown title 10. All-time great (elite division).

 

[Rita_Poon]

both are.

 

[Drico]

The thing that amazes me about Selby is his fortitude and resilience. We know he's a master tactician and we know he has an all-round game that is probably superior to anybody ever. But the way that match went tonight - most people would crumble. Most players would cave in. All of the greats have, pretty much. Davis lost 7-0 and 8-0 leads to Alex Higgins and Dennis Taylor in UK and world finals. He nearly lost from 12-4 against Jimmy in 1984. Even Hendry effectively bottled the 1999 black-ball respot Masters final to Williams. Ronnie was never renowned for his mental strength and lost from unassailable positions (including to Selby). John Higgins - probably the only real rival to Selby as a total matchplayer - collapsed from having a big lead over the same man in the 2017 world final to a shocking defeat, stretched out on the rack. It's really only Mark Williams who compares, mentally.

Fate really threw it at him tonight - and mad things started to happen. All the ingredients were there for the final, understandable collapse (the bad karma sportsmanship boomerang, missed blacks off spots, a blown title-winning chance, Trump with the big mo). But he always seems to find a way to dig it out. I mentioned earlier I could still see it going 9-8 and Selby falling over the line. We've seen it so often. The moral of the story is you really can't let him get a run on you. He tends to do maximum damage when he does - 10 frames in a row at one point against Trump today (the last five two weeks ago, the first five today). That translated into two titles.

I say he fell over the line - and it felt like that - but he actually won two of the last three frames. Seemingly, when he falls over the line, he's still moving faster than his opponent.

 

[Rita_Poon]

head to head Trump leads 10-9.

 

[Drico]

head to head Trump leads 10-9.

Styles make matches.

 

[Rita_Poon]

Selby freezes Saengkham out completely, not a ball potted in a 4-0 loss. Shame about the maximum that was very close indeed.

 

[summerisle]

This Chinese chap is playing some amazing shots, 2 centuries, Wilson in a bit of a pickle, 3-1 down

 

[Drico]

Selby freezes Saengkham out completely, not a ball potted in a 4-0 loss. Shame about the maximum that was very close indeed.

Not potted a ball. Incredible. He can't keep this form up - he beat Hossein Vafaei, a really awkward customer in the past - 4-0 yesterday as well. McGuigan was despatched 4-1 and was victim to a trademark steal having all but won frame 1. It's basically like somebody switched on the Selby Dominator mode having mislaid its keys for the last few years.

These shortish matches make it odds against Selby continuing this run, but something clearly seems to have changed in his mindset regardless of what happens over the next day or two. I found his slide - punctuated by occasional reminders of his greatness - perplexing and fascinating over the last few years. He seems to be on the upward swing again. He won't necessarily want to peak too early this season, though. If he can replicate anything like his current form in April, he'll be in the box seat over the long haul.

 

[Librarian]

Enjoyed this

 

[summerisle]

Not potted a ball. Incredible. He can't keep this form up - he beat Hossein Vafaei, a really awkward customer in the past - 4-0 yesterday as well. McGuigan was despatched 4-1 and was victim to a trademark steal having all but won frame 1. It's basically like somebody switched on the Selby Dominator mode having mislaid its keys for the last few years.

These shortish matches make it odds against Selby continuing this run, but something clearly seems to have changed in his mindset regardless of what happens over the next day or two. I found his slide - punctuated by occasional reminders of his greatness - perplexing and fascinating over the last few years. He seems to be on the upward swing again. He won't necessarily want to peak too early this season, though. If he can replicate anything like his current form in April, he'll be in the box seat over the long haul.

I notice Selby lost 5-2 agains tChang Bingyu who was banned from snooker for two years for fixing a match.


https://x.com/Nick_Metcalfe
https://x.com/Nick_Metcalfe

 

[Drico]

I notice Selby lost 5-2 agains tChang Bingyu who was banned from snooker for two years for fixing a match.


https://x.com/Nick_Metcalfe
https://x.com/Nick_Metcalfe

Yes, as I said, impossible to keep that level of form up. No bad thing for him, though. It's April when you need to be playing like that now that he has his triple crown title in the bag. Mark Allen could do with this title this weekend, mind.

 

[Rita_Poon]

That plant by Wakelin there was supreme.

 

[Drico]

Mark Allen looked healthier when he was overweight.

He seems to have fallen off a cliff, form-wise.

Be nice to see Wakelin win a title.

 

[summerisle]

Mark Allen looked healthier when he was overweight.

He seems to have fallen off a cliff, form-wise.

Be nice to see Wakelin win a title.

He gave away his new cue to a kid when he lost. It must be very frustrating when the tools of your trade are not doing what you expect them to do, which is perhaps why he looks as he does.

 

[summerisle]

Match over now, Wakelin 8-2 up.