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Post by Panda on Apr 27, 2009 19:22:56 GMT 1
Great match between Higgins and Cope. Higgins needed the last 3 but got them all to win 13-12. Notably in frame 24 Cope was laying a snooker behind the yellow but the ball went off course because of something in the slate beds and ended up fouling. It wasn't a free ball and Higgins was unable to clear up from it, but it did seem to put off Cope who played a poor shot to follow it up and Higgins cleared up. In the final frame, Higgins won the safety exchange and was just about to take on a red pot when there was a second member of the audience faint. Play had to stop to take care of them but on resumption, Higgins potted the red and made a frame-winning break and Cope didn't get to play another shot. It was a great comeback. It really showed what makes the difference between champions and also-rans (though Cope has the potential to be a major player in the future). Higgins was fantastic in those final 3 frames and that could launch him to another world title. If he faces Selby in the quarters, it should be a cracking match. The comeback also prevented me ending up with a reverse sweep for my semi-finalist predictions.
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Post by Panda on Apr 27, 2009 23:41:17 GMT 1
JOHN HIGGINS 13-12 JAMIE COPE Higgins produced a thrilling fightback from 12-10 down to book his place in the quarter-finals. The final session had everything, including 2 stoppages in play due to spectators fainting and Cope committing a foul when the cue ball rolled of its line along the slate of the table. After 21 matches, this was the first final frame decider in this year's championship.
ALI CARTER 8-13 NEIL ROBERTSON A very disappointing defeat for Carter who probably lost the match last night when he really should've won all 8 frames. As it was, Robertson took every chance he was given and quickly saw off a deflated Carter in the final session. Robertson is through to the quarter-finals for the second time and can't be written off. Carter's defeat means this is the 9th year in a row that both of the previous year's finalists have failed to reach the final again. Mark Williams was the last player to reach successive finals, in 1999 and 2000.
MARK KING 6-13 STEPHEN MAGUIRE King was able to stay in touch for a session and a half but a 133 break for Maguire this morning seemed to turn the match in his favour and he won every frame after that. If Maguire gets to the semis (or if Shaun Murphy fails to win the title) he will be guaranteed to finish the season as world #2.
GRAEME DOTT 10-13 MARK SELBY Selby had to see off a spirited fightback from the Scot to progress. Selby resumed this evening 10-6 up and that became 11-7 before Dott fought back to 11-9. The morning session saw a bizarre incident when Dott went in-off but blocked the pocket with his hand to save the referee having to fish the cue ball out of the pocket. Selby then picked up the cue ball to place it in the D but referee Alan Chamberlain called a foul as, according to rules, Selby should've played the ball from where it finished as it hadn't left the bed of the table. Confusion reigned... After his problems with depression last season and injury this season, Dott drops out of the top 16 but if he continues his recent good form into next season he should be back in the top flight very soon. He will be the only player to drop out of the top 16 this season as Jamie Cope's defeat means Mark King hangs onto his place.
Quarter-finals: Mark Allen v Ryan Day John Higgins v Mark Selby Shaun Murphy v Stephen Hendry Neil Robertson v Stephen Maguire
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Post by Panda on Apr 28, 2009 11:29:17 GMT 1
World Snooker have reportedly agreed a new 4-year deal for the World Championship to stay at the Crucible until 2014.
An official announcement is expected later today.
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Post by Earl Purple on Apr 28, 2009 11:53:04 GMT 1
They were saying that after the referee called foul on Mark Selby, Graeme Dott should have come to the table and hit the ball into the pocket, thus giving 4 away and restoring it to what would have been. The referee would also have called a miss but Mark Selby would have simply ignored the miss call, placed the ball in the D and played on.
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Post by Panda on Apr 28, 2009 12:00:23 GMT 1
They were saying that after the referee called foul on Mark Selby, Graeme Dott should have come to the table and hit the ball into the pocket, thus giving 4 away and restoring it to what would have been. The referee would also have called a miss but Mark Selby would have simply ignored the miss call, placed the ball in the D and played on. He should've done that but there was so much confusion at the time you can forgive him for not thinking of that straight away. Selby went on to win the frame so no harm was done in the end.
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Post by -Big Dan- on Apr 28, 2009 12:40:01 GMT 1
Stephen Hendry has just made a 147 in the 7th frame of his quarter final match against Shaun Murphy!!
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Post by Panda on Apr 28, 2009 12:52:20 GMT 1
That's the 9th 147 at the Crucible and Hendry's 2nd. His first one came in the semi-finals against Jimmy White in 1995.
It's the first time there have been maximums at the Crucible in successive years.
After the previous eight maximums, the player who achieved it went onto win the match 7 times. Only Ronnie O'Sullivan has had a 147 at the Crucible, then gone on to lose.
Crucible 147s: 1983: Cliff Thorburn (v Terry Griffiths, 2nd round) 1992: Jimmy White (v Tony Drago, 1st round) 1995: Stephen Hendry (v Jimmy White, semi-finals) 1997: Ronnie O'Sullivan (v Mick Price, 1st round) 2003: Ronnie O'Sullivan (v Marco Fu, 1st round) 2005: Mark Williams (v Robert Milkins, 1st round) 2008: Ronnie O'Sullivan (v Mark Williams, 2nd round) 2008: Ali Carter (v Peter Ebdon, 2nd round) 2009: Stephen Hendry (v Shaun Murphy, quarter-finals)
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Post by Earl Purple on Apr 28, 2009 13:39:54 GMT 1
They were saying that after the referee called foul on Mark Selby, Graeme Dott should have come to the table and hit the ball into the pocket, thus giving 4 away and restoring it to what would have been. The referee would also have called a miss but Mark Selby would have simply ignored the miss call, placed the ball in the D and played on. He should've done that but there was so much confusion at the time you can forgive him for not thinking of that straight away. Selby went on to win the frame so no harm was done in the end. I think the rule should be changed though, or a player, seeing that the ball is going in off and that being a big advantage for his opponent might deliberately stop the cue-ball by the pocket or push it towards the baulk cushion to give his opponent a less simple shot. Even though such a player might be put in again, that could still work to his advantage, i.e. if the ball in the D would give his opponent a clear chance. In fact a player could deliberately move the cue-ball anytime it is going to land unfavourably for him, happily sacrificing the 4 points.
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Post by Panda on Apr 28, 2009 14:00:55 GMT 1
In fact a player could deliberately move the cue-ball anytime it is going to land unfavourably for him, happily sacrificing the 4 points. In those circumstances, I'm pretty sure the referee would have the power to award the frame to his opponent.
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Post by Earl Purple on Apr 28, 2009 17:12:23 GMT 1
Yes, but still playing from where the ball landed in the actual game may have been a disadvantage to Selby compared to playing from the D, so Selby should have had the right to play from that position as that is where he'd have played from had Dott let the ball run into the pocket.
Not saying we'd see this kind of thing in the professional game on TV but in the amateur game there could certainly be some "gamesmanship". I also don't think the referee necessarily has the right to default a player a frame.
A good rule, if a player deliberately nudged the cue-ball when it was going to land badly, would be to fine him the points then let his opponent place it anywhere on the table to continue. Not sure how it would work if a player moved other balls.
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Post by Panda on Apr 28, 2009 20:51:02 GMT 1
Yes, but still playing from where the ball landed in the actual game may have been a disadvantage to Selby compared to playing from the D, so Selby should have had the right to play from that position as that is where he'd have played from had Dott let the ball run into the pocket. Oh, I don't dispute that. It's something that possibly needs to be looked at and I think the referee could've used some common sense in the situation yesterday. I also don't think the referee necessarily has the right to default a player a frame. He definitely does. I've found this on the official World Snooker site's rules page: SECTION 4. THE PLAYERS
1. Conduct In the event of:
(a) a Player taking an abnormal amount of time over a stroke or the selection of a stroke; or (b) any conduct by a Player which in the opinion of the referee is wilfully or persistently unfair; or (c) any other conduct by a Player which otherwise amounts to ungentlemanly conduct; or (d) refusing to continue a frame; the referee shall either: (e) warn the Player that in the event of any such further conduct the frame will be awarded to his opponent; or (f) award the frame to his opponent; or (g) in the event that the conduct is sufficiently serious award the game to his opponentwww.worldsnooker.com/rules_of_snooker.htmAlso, the player who committed the foul can be asked by his opponent to play again from where the balls lie, although this is rarely seen these days as we have the "miss" rule (where the balls are replaced).
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ligerdog7
New Member
hollyyyyyyyyyyyy..... ages get bak post laters
Posts: 1
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Post by ligerdog7 on Apr 28, 2009 22:00:17 GMT 1
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Post by Panda on Apr 29, 2009 9:53:03 GMT 1
Still in. He's leading Ryan Day 9-7 in their quarter-final.
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Post by Panda on Apr 29, 2009 10:05:34 GMT 1
Shaun Murphy 9-7 Stephen Hendry The match will be remembered for Hendry's fantastic 147 but it seemed to take him a long time to get going last night as Murphy took control of the match, helped by a 137 total clearance in the first frame of the evening. He won the first 4 frames of the session to lead 7-5 but the 4 were shared and it's still all to play for going into the final session.
Mark Allen 9-7 Ryan Day A very tight match with the lead changing several times. Allen did lead 6-3 before Day won 4 in a row to lead 7-6. Allen then won the final 3 frames of the evening to lead 9-7. The match has seen plenty of high break-building, including 2 centuries for Allen, as we near the tournament record of 68.
John Higgins 4-4 Mark Selby An amazingly high standard in the opening session of this one. Selby took a 3-0 lead with 3 centuries, but Higgins came roaring back and a 141 in frame 7 put him 4-3 ahead before Selby levelled with a break of 96.
Neil Robertson 5-3 Stephen Maguire Not quite the standard of the other matches but Robertson had the better of the opening session with breaks of 76, 105 and 98. Maguire wasn't at his best but a break of 75 in the final frame kept the match close.
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Post by Panda on Apr 29, 2009 10:10:17 GMT 1
Earl Purple and myself were discussing an unusual incident in the Selby-Dott match the other morning. The white was going in the pocket after Dott played a shot so he blocked the pocket with his fist to save the referee having to fish the ball out. Selby picked the ball up to place it inside the D and was penalised by the referee because the ball hadn't actually left the table and so Selby should've played it from where it finished up. It opened a debate as to whether players could effectively cheat to put their opponents in a worse position but a look through the rules suggests referees have the power to stop anything like that.
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Post by Panda on Apr 29, 2009 13:10:32 GMT 1
SHAUN MURPHY 13-11 STEPHEN HENDRY Murphy sees off Henry's brave challenge to move into the last 4. Murphy fluked frame ball in the first frame of the final session to move 10-7 ahead. Hendry fought back and got within one frame at 11-10 but breaks of 81 and 110 got Murphy over the line. He faces either Neil Robertson or Stephen Maguire in the semis.
John Higgins 8-8 Mark Selby This session was a mirror image of the first! Higgins won the first 3 frames to go 7-4 ahead, then Selby won 4 in a row to lead 8-7 but Higgins won the final frame on the black, having almost blown a 60-point lead and they will start tonight's final session level. Referee Colin Humphries fell ill during the session and had to be replaced after 2 frames by Alan Chamberlain.
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Post by Panda on Apr 29, 2009 23:42:02 GMT 1
MARK ALLEN 13-11 RYAN DAY Day could never quite wipe out Allen's overnight advantage and a century in the final frame sealed Allen's place in the semi-finals. He will attempt to become the first player from Northern Ireland to reach the final since Dennis Taylor in 1985.
NEIL ROBERTSON 13-8 STEPHEN MAGUIRE Robertson becomes the first Australian since Eddie Charlton in 1982 to reach the World Championship semi-finals. Maguire was second-best throughout the match and a 124 from Robertson in frame 19 put him in touching distance of victory.
JOHN HIGGINS 13-12 MARK SELBY Another last frame comeback by Higgins! Selby started the evening well, winning the first 2 frames to lead 10-8 but after that the nerves and tension seemed to get to him and he didn't manage another break of over 50. The final frame had 2 re-racks before Higgins took the match with a break of 75.
Semi finals:
Mark Allen v John Higgins
Shaun Murphy v Neil Robertson
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Post by Panda on Apr 30, 2009 19:48:31 GMT 1
Mark Allen 2-6 John Higgins A scrappy first session in which both players initially struggled to cope with the table conditions. So much so that the balls were changed during the interval. After that, Higgins seemed to adapt while Allen continued to struggle. Higgins won the last 3 frames of the session to lead 6-2. Allen will probably need to win at least 4 frames in the second session to stand a realistic chance of making the final.
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Post by Panda on Apr 30, 2009 23:06:43 GMT 1
Shaun Murphy 4-4 Neil Robertson An even first session with no-one yet taking a stranglehold. Murphy twice opened up a 2-frame lead but on both occasions Robertson won the next couple of frames to level the scores. Play was held up before the start of frame 6 due to a mysterious buzzing noise in the arena!
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ligerdog7
New Member
hollyyyyyyyyyyyy..... ages get bak post laters
Posts: 1
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Post by ligerdog7 on May 1, 2009 4:55:38 GMT 1
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