World Snooker Championship

[Blue peter]

So, last year's winner out, the runner up in deep doo doo. Jak Jones 6-1 down to Zhao Xintong, who's playing top notch.

I’m glad top notch is playing well

 

[Drico]

Some of these players I only want to remain in the tournament to avoid them transitioning to punditry too early. Namely Wilson and Murphy. Especially Murphy, praying to all the gods he can make it through to the semis.

Not for the punditry reason but sad Milks didn’t make it this year.

Yes, there's more than a whiff of local club secretary about Wilson. Like Murphy, there's a sense that he's not content with merely becoming a world champion and that the real goal is to become a sort of de facto Daily Express-leaning ambassador "for the game". I prefer my champions to be ruthlessly focused on the table - their table - and vaguely anti-establishment. You get the impression that Wilson wants to be doted on by 62-year-old Aunt Doris and her snooker-loving constituency of retired colonels and Conservative Club treasurers.

 

[Cake]

Zhao Xintong to win it, for me. Maybe he won't if "the pressure of The Crucible" gets to him (he doesn't look bothered to me, might as well be on a practice table). Just needs to stop with the deceit and lying now he's done his time - there's no way he's 28... 18 tops and must get asked for ID in the pub.

 

[Drico]

Zhao Xintong to win it, for me. Maybe he won't if "the pressure of The Crucible" gets to him (he doesn't look bothered to me, might as well be on a practice table). Just needs to stop with the deceit and lying now he's done his time - there's no way he's 28... 18 tops and must get asked for ID in the pub.

A Zhao-Higgins final just to watch the heads fall off.

Scenes in the betting community.

 

[summerisle]

Zhao Xintong to win it, for me. Maybe he won't if "the pressure of The Crucible" gets to him (he doesn't look bothered to me, might as well be on a practice table). Just needs to stop with the deceit and lying now he's done his time - there's no way he's 28... 18 tops and must get asked for ID in the pub.

Watched him this morning, his safety play was a bit iffy. A better player might punish him more than Jones, and then we'd see what he's like under pressure.

 

[Cake]

And the commentators (particularly Parrott) have already disappeared up Williams' ringpiece...

 

[Buckers]

And the commentators (particularly Parrott) have already disappeared up Williams' ringpiece...

He is channeling his inner homosexual in case he encounters Seema Jaswal in a low cut top again.

 

[Buckers]

These Chinese lads are looking good this year.

 

[Rita_Poon]

Williams in the ascendancy here at 8-8

 

[blue to the bone]

Robertson wins 4 in a row. Only 1 back now

 

[Rita_Poon]

Wakelin struggling to buy a frame here.

 

[summerisle]

Hawkins v Vafael 9-9. Robertson v Wakelin 8-9.

 

[blue to the bone]

It's been a great start to the tournament

 

[summerisle]

It's been a great start to the tournament

Not for @Joey66 who'd bin the long matches.

 

[summerisle]

Hawkins out.