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This years World Snooker Championships is nearly upon us once agian & one of my favourite sporting events of the calendar year.
What mood will Ronnie be in this year & going for his fourth world title ?
I think John Higgins has a good chance, as he likes the Crucible & the longer format & he is also going for his fourth world title.
The two best value bets for me at present lie with Mark Selby at 9/1, who never knows wnen he’s beaten & also a recent Masters winner & Shaun Murphy at 12/1, who is coming back to some of his best form again, enjoys the Crucible format & won the Premier League Snooker this season.
It is a tough one to call with possibly six or seven players capable of lifting Snooker’s big prize, but the value bets lie with Mark Selby & Shaun Murphy.
Agree with Selby, Ive backed him the last two years and on his day is a match for anyone, his exit to Higgins last year was unfortunate as Selby was in great form but Higgins just managed to edge him out in what was the best match of last years tournament in my view.
I’m also having a small bet on Jamie Cope at 40’s he too was a touch unfortunate last year in losing out to Higgins after taking him to a deciding frame, he’s up to a rank of 18 now making steady progress through the rankings, plays attacking snooker so i wont be falling asleep when watching.
Blackbeard to conquer the World
I actually think Mark Williams is a very live outsider at around 25/1. An ex world champion who seemed to have the world at his feet before losing his way. Slowly coming back to form and worth a nibble.
Agree with Selby, Ive backed him the last two years and on his day is a match for anyone, his exit to Higgins last year was unfortunate as Selby was in great form but Higgins just managed to edge him out in what was the best match of last years tournament in my view.
I’m also having a small bet on Jamie Cope at 40’s he too was a touch unfortunate last year in losing out to Higgins after taking him to a deciding frame, he’s up to a rank of 18 now making steady progress through the rankings, plays attacking snooker so i wont be falling asleep when watching.
Spot on about Selby & he’s got all the battling qualities required like Higgins, I’m not quite sure about Jamie Cope, although it’s reflected in the price.
Mark
Mark Allen may surprise a few at decent odds also.
He is an up & coming star of the green baize, but don’t quite think he’s ready to lift the world title.
I think in a couple of years, I could see the young Ulsterman winning trophies & winning the big one, but not this year.
The bookies also feel the same way & is reflected in his price at 20/1.
If you’ve put a bet on Mark Allen then, best of luck.
Mark
Mark Allen may surprise a few at decent odds also.
He is an up & coming star of the green baize, but don’t quite think he’s ready to lift the world title.
I think in a couple of years, I could see the young Ulsterman winning trophies & winning the big one, but not this year.
The bookies also feel the same way & is reflected in his price at 20/1.
If you’ve put a bet on Mark Allen then, best of luck.
Mark
I reckon he has to come of age on the big stage sooner or later.The boys got the talent for it.
The tanking he gave Ronnie last year showed what he can do at the worlds and i reckon 20s is a great bet.
I feel Ronnies going to take the title this year though.
Mark Allen may surprise a few at decent odds also.
He is an up & coming star of the green baize, but don’t quite think he’s ready to lift the world title.
I think in a couple of years, I could see the young Ulsterman winning trophies & winning the big one, but not this year.
The bookies also feel the same way & is reflected in his price at 20/1.
If you’ve put a bet on Mark Allen then, best of luck.
Mark
I reckon he has to come of age on the big stage sooner or later.The boys got the talent for it.
The tanking he gave Ronnie last year showed what he can do at the worlds and i reckon 20s is a great bet.
I feel Ronnies oing to take the title this year though.
It all depends on which Ronnie shows up. He likes the
longer format, enjoy’s the Crucible & his talent is awesome & if he’s on his A game then, know one can touch him, but I don’t think he’ll win it & I’ll stick with the
two best battlers in the current game Selby & Higgins, with Murphy the other to watch.Mark
It all depends on which Ronnie shows up. He likes the
longer format, enjoy’s the Crucible & his talent is awesome & if he’s on his A game then, know one can touch him, but I don’t think he’ll win it & I’ll stick with the
two best battlers in the current game Selby & Higgins, with Murphy the other to watch.Mark
I dont go along with the Ronnie being far far far better than everyone else that gets peddled a lot….not now anyway.I always feel he is ridiculous prices in some of the big events.Ronnie to me nowadays has been struggling with something….and to me its NOT concentration…which has been his downfall in the past.The top top players are all of pretty similair standard nowadays imo. i.e Higgins and Ronnie you couldnt pick a winner even if Ronnie brought his A game.Robertson,Selby and even Ding Junhui are all capable players too…but have quirks….Robertson sometimes is too attack minded(a bit like allen),Selby lets himself too often on the biggest stage of all…and Ding is a tremendous all-round player…but doesnt handle pressure too well. If any one of those 3 won a world championship anytime soon noone would be surprised.I think the margins at the top now are so slight anyone could literally win it.
I dont go along with the Ronnie being far far far better than everyone else that gets peddled a lot….not now anyway.I always feel he is ridiculous prices in some of the big events.
Ronnie to me nowadays has been struggling with something….and to me its NOT concentration…which has been his downfall in the past.The top top players are all of pretty similair standard nowadays imo. i.e Higgins and Ronnie you couldnt pick a winner even if Ronnie brought his A game.Robertson,Selby and even Ding Junhui are all capable players too…but have quirks….Robertson sometimes is too attack minded(a bit like allen),Selby lets himself too often on the biggest stage of all…and Ding is a tremendous all-round player…but doesnt handle pressure too well. If any one of those 3 won a world championship anytime soon noone would be surprised.I think the margins at the top now are so slight anyone could literally win it.
Good post, his record since winning his 1st World championship would go along that he’s beatable, 3 titles in 9 years.
Genius –
yes
Most naturally talented player ever –
yes
Greatest ever player –
no
World Championship record – R1, R2, QF, SF, R2, SF, SF, R1,
W
, SF, R1,
W
, QF, SF, QF,
W
, R2.
The fact he has yet to win it twice in a row puts him behind both Hendry and Davis in my book.
Blackbeard to conquer the World
I dont go along with the Ronnie being far far far better than everyone else that gets peddled a lot….not now anyway.I always feel he is ridiculous prices in some of the big events.
Ronnie to me nowadays has been struggling with something….and to me its NOT concentration…which has been his downfall in the past.The top top players are all of pretty similair standard nowadays imo. i.e Higgins and Ronnie you couldnt pick a winner even if Ronnie brought his A game.Robertson,Selby and even Ding Junhui are all capable players too…but have quirks….Robertson sometimes is too attack minded(a bit like allen),Selby lets himself too often on the biggest stage of all…and Ding is a tremendous all-round player…but doesnt handle pressure too well. If any one of those 3 won a world championship anytime soon noone would be surprised.I think the margins at the top now are so slight anyone could literally win it.
Good post, his record since winning his 1st World championship would go along that he’s beatable, 3 titles in 9 years.
Genius –
yes
Most naturally talented player ever –
yes
Greatest ever player –
no
World Championship record – R1, R2, QF, SF, R2, SF, SF, R1,
W
, SF, R1,
W
, QF, SF, QF,
W
, R2.
The fact he has yet to win it twice in a row puts him behind both Hendry and Davis in my book.
No doubt though it comes down to eras you are around in….a bit like racing really.
There is no doubt Davis was ahead of his time….likewise Hendry when he burst on the scene with his attacking brand of snooker(a fact borne out with the stat that still holds the record for century breaks).
I just think these days the standard is so high that there is no what you would call standout player in the big tournaments….no matter what JP and Davis in the studio at the bbc say about Ronnie during every interval in play(by there reckoning then Selby must be superhuman for the way he came back and beat Ronnie at the masters)!.
I really hope Ronnie can win the worlds this year…but i probably wouldnt back him at 100/30 or whatever he is.
I reckon it should be closer to 11/2 the field…with Ronnie and Higgins perhaps joint favourites and Selby next.
"DalryBear":bgfnwruj wrote: It all depends on which Ronnie shows up. He likes the
longer format, enjoy’s the Crucible & his talent is awesome & if he’s on his A game then, know one can touch him, but I don’t think he’ll win it & I’ll stick with the
two best battlers in the current game Selby & Higgins, with Murphy the other to watch.Mark
I dont go along with the Ronnie being far far far better than everyone else that gets peddled a lot….not now anyway.I always feel he is ridiculous prices in some of the big events.
Ronnie to me nowadays has been struggling with something….and to me its NOT concentration…which has been his downfall in the past.The top top players are all of pretty similair standard nowadays imo. i.e Higgins and Ronnie you couldnt pick a winner even if Ronnie brought his A game.Robertson,Selby and even Ding Junhui are all capable players too…but have quirks….Robertson sometimes is too attack minded(a bit like allen),Selby lets himself too often on the biggest stage of all…and Ding is a tremendous all-round player…but doesnt handle pressure too well. If any one of those 3 won a world championship anytime soon noone would be surprised.I think the margins at the top now are so slight anyone could literally win it.
I think if Ronnies’s on his A game then, he would win it again, but his temperament is always questionable & that’s why Hendry & Davis won some many titles, because they had it big time in the psychological side of the game. I totally agree that there isn’t much in it between the top players & O’Sullivan hasn’t dominated the game like alot of people thought.
Mark
I dont go along with the Ronnie being far far far better than everyone else that gets peddled a lot….not now anyway.I always feel he is ridiculous prices in some of the big events.
Ronnie to me nowadays has been struggling with something….and to me its NOT concentration…which has been his downfall in the past.The top top players are all of pretty similair standard nowadays imo. i.e Higgins and Ronnie you couldnt pick a winner even if Ronnie brought his A game.Robertson,Selby and even Ding Junhui are all capable players too…but have quirks….Robertson sometimes is too attack minded(a bit like allen),Selby lets himself too often on the biggest stage of all…and Ding is a tremendous all-round player…but doesnt handle pressure too well. If any one of those 3 won a world championship anytime soon noone would be surprised.I think the margins at the top now are so slight anyone could literally win it.
Good post, his record since winning his 1st World championship would go along that he’s beatable, 3 titles in 9 years.
Genius –
yes
Most naturally talented player ever –
yes
Greatest ever player –
no
World Championship record – R1, R2, QF, SF, R2, SF, SF, R1,
W
, SF, R1,
W
, QF, SF, QF,
W
, R2.
The fact he has yet to win it twice in a row puts him behind both Hendry and Davis in my book.
The stats don’t lie & Ronnie hasn’t dominated the game like alot of folk thought. I agree that he’s the most
naturally gifted player to pick up a cue, afterall someone who can hit 147’s with both hands is incredible, but the best all round player in snooker was Stephen Hendry in my opinion & took the game to another level than Reardon in the 70’s & Davis in the 80’s.Mark
Does anyone fancy any of the underdogs to get past the seeds in the 1st round? Other than Carter vs Jamie Cope it looks pretty much straight forward on paper for the big guns but there’s always a couple of shocks any thoughts?
Blackbeard to conquer the World
Does anyone fancy any of the underdogs to get past the seeds in the 1st round? Other than Carter vs Jamie Cope it looks pretty much straight forward on paper for the big guns but there’s always a couple of shocks any thoughts?
I think Ronnie has a tricky first round match v Wenbo & if he’s complacent then, he could be in for a nasty surprise. I think apart from that, most of the top players have easier paths to the second round.
Mark
I actually think Mark Williams is a very live outsider at around 25/1. An ex world champion who seemed to have the world at his feet before losing his way. Slowly coming back to form and worth a nibble.
Looks like you got a bit of value there, Williams top price 14’s now after winning the China Open.
Blackbeard to conquer the World
Does anyone fancy any of the underdogs to get past the seeds in the 1st round? Other than Carter vs Jamie Cope it looks pretty much straight forward on paper for the big guns but there’s always a couple of shocks any thoughts?
I think Ronnie has a tricky first round match v Wenbo & if he’s complacent then, he could be in for a nasty surprise. I think apart from that, most of the top players have easier paths to the second round.
Mark
Certainly a match I’m looking forward to watching, Ronnie could be vulnerable after getting knocked out of the China Open by Tian Pengfei, i saw the last frame and O’Sullivan missed some shockingly easy pots, although I’m not sure if that will affect his confidence or not as it’s hard to predict what sort of mood he’ll be in.
I really like Wenbo another player who has made good progress through the ranks 77-66-40 and now 27 his attacking style is very entertaining but possibly lacks the defensive game which Ronnie could take advantage of. +3.5 frames in the handicap market might be a good option to play.
Blackbeard to conquer the World
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