The draw.

Well I like your assessment and will like the final even more as I have backed Mark.

Trump could have trouble against Dale if the real dominic turns up.

Can get dale @6s if you fancy him,big price!
Think 4/1 wenbo is ridicules price against a totally out of form higgins.

Should be a cracking 17 days with anyone of up to 12 possible winners for me,lets hope its Allen though moondan!

My bet of the first round will be Hawkins to beat Selby, hawkins is a good solid match player who will out score selby as from what ive seen of selby lately he has gone in to his shell, he has become far to negative.

Lee has been in good form of late but he is good lay as he just can not perform at the crucible so I will be taking him on.

Potential for biggest shock in the first round goes to Brecel to beat Maguire, I first seen brecel play in the qualifiers last week,and I reckon this lad has a very bright future, He really did impress me and I hope he puts in a good performance.

My bet for outright winner falls to Matthew Stevens, I have just got a feeling he is going to have a good run this year.

The third quarter looks like the Group of Death.Any one of them including Chuang could come through.Whoever does emerge is going to be at the top of their game.For me Selby has a dream draw,nice players,all quiet,no stress,just turn up and play friendly snooker.

btw davy agree with you about brecel.Watched him through the qualifiers and two things struck me 1) he reminds me very much of the early Sir Stephen Hendry.Good looking kid ,amazing temperament,wonderful snooker action but nae personality 2)he loves the pressure of the last few frames,he thrived in those final frames against Holt and King.I'm confident that he won't be overawed by the Crucible.7/2 against a grumpy Mcguire could be a very good bet

anajumble..I never remember Hendry as a good looking kid..he had more holes on his face than a golf course!

Wonder how selby's neck will hold up if he gets to the 2nd week,i would be very wary backing him.
For an outsider,think wenbo is massive @150s.If,and it's not that big of an if,he beats higgins,he won't be much bigger than 33s.Always thought he was one for the big occasion,and with all the talk of ding might get to the holy grail before the dragon.
Looking forward to a 17 day feast!

hendry plays an exhibition in china these days and will fly back on friday, wonder if this might affect his form

don't understand the love for brecel, saw all his q-matches and while he was impressive with his positioning game he has a poor tactical knowledge, king shot himself in the foot during the last frames.

son of a gun.

Hendry may get some form back when he becomes a good loser, and we know that will never happen.
China does his ego good not to mention his bank balance, over there he is the absolute king of snooker.

Regarding his game, it went walkabout when he started missing the silly 3 footers not as they wrongly say in commentary his long potting.
Missing when he was amongst the balls damaged his confidence but he was at the right age so it was entirely normal.
Ronnie has been doing the same thing for a few years now, Higgins and Williams have suffered this season also.

the stunning,

I have just taken 170s on Wenbo, its not too far fetched for him to beat Higgins.
Several seasons ago he had Ronnie on the ropes at sheffield and went for a crazy 3 ball plant when he was 3 frames up, had he not done that he was odds on to send Ronnie home.
A Allen v Wenbo final would do me fine

Well done moondan,170s will look massive by 10pm saturday night i hope!Wenbo hasn't advanced as much as i thought he would when he first came on the scene,but he has time on he;s side so hopefully this week we will see the best of him,has a lovely draw if he can take care of the champ in round 1.

Stuart bingham @132 here is another strange price,really fancy him to take out hendry.

the stunning,

Yes Bingham is a first round banker and no surprise to see him have a decent run.
Very solid game and good to watch, bit of a mystery why he has not done better in the game.
Hendry in my opinion is the best I have seen but those days are long gone and its painful to watch him now struggling with his past and unable to rekindle some of his previous greatness except in the odd frame.
When he goes into the pack now its as if he is expecting a bad split and of course more often than not he gets one.

The closer it gets the more I am thinking I am just being stupid not backing Trump heavily.
I had him at 75s last year but watched him get silly and covered  John. It was still a good result for me but I am a great believer the balls dont forgive and maybe he will try to be too careful this year.
Anyway whoever wins will deserve it and I will enjoy every frame of every match I am sure you will do the same.

Its all about opinions and mine is Hendry will see off Bingham with ease, and Trump will be a major flop this time around!

Without question hendry was the greatest i ever seen,but his day is long gone.Always thought he would retire when he started falling down the rankings,in fact think he said as much when he was in his prime.Capable of beating bingham for sure but i can't see it,in fact think this may well be he's last appearance at the crucible which may be sad but time catches up with everyone and boy he has had some memories of the place.Would rather see him go out here than see him lose in a tiny cubicle of a qualifier next year.

I thnk its a selfish attitiude,why not play on till youre a ripe old age these are comparitively young man its how its always been the difference in snooker is that you find players just love to play its not just for money.Falling down the rankings is a natural progression,players should play on if they enjoy it,plus there's always hope of hitting some form out of nowher.Remember doug mountjoy at the age of 50 started playing brilliant and hardly missed a ball in 12 months,was really refreshing to see,if he can do it there's hope for white and hendry yet!!

15 Joined: 21 Oct 09 | Topic/replies: 1,295 | Blogger: the stunning's blog
Without question hendry was the greatest i ever seen,but his day is long gone.Always thought he would retire when he started falling down the rankings,in fact think he said as much when he was in his prime.Capable of beating bingham for sure but i can't see it,in fact think this may well be he's last appearance at the crucible which may be sad but time catches up with everyone and boy he has had some memories of the place.Would rather see him go out here than see him lose in a tiny cubicle of a qualifier next year.
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