RIP SNOOKER

Quite the opposite you only have to read the forum,won one of the greatest matches seen in years he's also had one of the best clearences ever seen and everyone was glued to the match on a Saturday afternoon,that game in itself will have
given a major boost to snooker that waa definitely needed.Everyone will be watching out for Selby versus ding matches in the future at the worlds,instead of gutless wonders two top class players at last,think we've got some great snooker ahead of us!!

Can see Ding and Selby being a 'big 2' for the next 7 odd years with Trump just behind them and the odd resurgent cameo from ROS. Just need a few more in the pelaton. Liang, Robbo and Wilson are decent enough but...

Got to add Mark Allen to that chasing group. Actually one my favourites to watch...

Snooker has always been about contrasts and the great rivalries built on the back of them. Davis v Higgins pretty much made the 80s, even though it was only a proper rivalry for 2 years in which Higgins managed to beat him in the UK, the masters, the Irish masters and the team world cup which was a big thing at the time. It was perfect in terms of how different they were as personalities and as players, it didnt need to be hyped, it simply promoted itself.

The game has a lot going for it now, but it needs something similar, a ying to Selbys yang. Ding v Selby should offer some compelling narratives in the coming seasons, but i still feel that Trump offers the greater possibilities, if he can somehow overcome his obvious frailties. No disrespect to J.Higgins but how much more compelling would it be if we were witnessing a Selby v Trump final now? It would be the icing on the cake for a very good tournament.

The fact is that there are very few potentially great players coming through, certainly no UK ones anyway. Trump still has the x factor, the game needs him to get his mojo back very soon imo.

Trump has the x factor for who?? I find him him very boring , just a ball basher with no brain and his personality is even worse , snooker is really in trouble if it's the likes of Trump we are depending on

It would probably do J.Trump a lot of good if he got a really tough draw here. It would probably have him focused from the start. A couple of years ago I remember he beat T.Ford here in R1, and he ended up scrambling over the line 10-8 after losing a big lead. Afterwards, he said he got bored with how Ford was playing and knew he could step-up when he needed to. Maybe, after going 4-0 up against R.McLeod he totally switched off and then couldn't switch back on when he needed to. There was a feature on M.Selby last night on BBC snooker, and among his many qualities listed was the fact that he treats all opponents the same whether they are a qualifier or a top player. This is something Trump doesn't do, he takes too many liberties, and it's something he really needs to address if he is to become a really top player, and produce top draw performances here on a consistent basis.

"just a ball basher with no brain," As his father Donald would say - "very unfair!"

Snooker as it once was is gone. Stolen by Hearn and his crew who promote showtime rather than classy matches.

I wonder who would have made the final stages of this championships if the setup of the tables was strictly adhered to.

Anyone on any day can beat anyone and its no coincidence that Ronnies long game and the resurgence of many careers has come about in the time frame of easy tables.
Anyone who believes there is not a connection is naive in the extreme.

Trump had some discomfort in his shoulder and just bad luck but I have no doubt he will make next season more exciting and I have little doubt that along with Ding there will be challenges to the number 1 spot and Ronnie and John will be a further year into decline and out of the 16 relatively quickly.

The most interesting situation for me is China and how it promotes its powerbase.  I have little doubt that Hearn signing snooker up to another 10 years at the crucible has more to do with china's growing confidence and their unlimited funds. Interesting times ahead.

gobelins • April 30, 2017 9:18 AM BST
It would probably do J.Trump a lot of good if he got a really tough draw here. It would probably have him focused from the start. A couple of years ago I remember he beat T.Ford here in R1, and he ended up scrambling over the line 10-8 after losing a big lead. Afterwards, he said he got bored with how Ford was playing and knew he could step-up when he needed to. Maybe, after going 4-0 up against R.McLeod he totally switched off and then couldn't switch back on when he needed to. There was a feature on M.Selby last night on BBC snooker, and among his many qualities listed was the fact that he treats all opponents the same whether they are a qualifier or a top player. This is something Trump doesn't do, he takes too many liberties

here here

judd has always dealt with the underdog tag better imo

despite what he has to say about this in the media, being the fav for a tournament and fav in a match is a HUGE negative for him

whereas selby is just a completely different beast, much more focused and rounded, the complete player that judd will never be imo

Pandora.

For snooker lovers big incessant breaks are tedious and after a while lack any excitement or awe.

The 80s was not about Davis doing one chance snooker he was more a 30 break a good safety finished off with a 40, yet it was the decade that was snooker loopy and its stars were from a different galaxy than today's black hole lot.

Snookers rulers would do well to ponder that.

Selby has more chance of keeping snooker healthy and when you go to one of his matches you know its an evening out and not an early night with a cup of cocoa only to toss and turn wondering why you were such an idiot to spend your money on phoney tables that youth club kids would compile century after century after 6 months tuition.

Is there anywhere in London where you can pay to play on a modern 'match table'? They are 'Star' tables aren't they? Would be very interesting to have an hour or two on one just to end my curiosity.

ccd,

The cloths that are used today are so thin that it has to be changed every 3-5 days in tournament play. You might get a week out of it in club conditions but its costly.
The difference is mainly on the cushions as it enables easier access for the balls to pocket where slide has made a huge difference.
This was trialed at the welsh championships some seasons ago and has made players so frightened of leaving a red in the open off the break.
Its been sold as improvement in players but in fact its more about the ease of access to the pocket for the ball.

I cannot remember the year the cushions were first trialed with the thinner cloth but it was a stonking success as Andrew Higginson compiled a 147 in the tournament.
Hope my memory is right, but certainly it was the welsh championships and it began the resurgence of so many careers.

Very interesting. I want a go on one!

ccd,

It would add 20-30 points to your averages.

At one time tables were donated to local good causes you could email world snooker.

Improve by 20-30 pts and only last a week ??, Strachens recover their table with cloth from the World Championship roll each year, play on it a few times a year and is a beautiful table to play on, but nothing out of the ordinary scoring wise at all, and cloth as good to play on just before recover as 12 months prior, it is just the one table and admit it wont get as much use as a snooker centre.

I want someone to rent a small space in central London, buy a match table, recover the cloth frequently and provide a high-end snooker experience for the connoisseur. £15 an hour or something. No noise and distractions. Wouldn't be a hard business to run...

Trebor,

I meant that it is accepted that the superfine cloth of today has improved the averages 20 to 30 points since the 80s.

Davis and co like to put everything down to player improvement but as Dennis admitted this afternoon thinner cloths and lighter balls have much to do with it along with extensions etc etc.
My information is that this ultra thin cloth has a very limited life and is certainly not used other than in top tournaments and the expense is significant and has to be replaced in days.

Usually the same cloth is used for both the semi's and final but it seems today the cloth was replaced on the cushions overnight but no explanation for why.
Perhaps there should be because both players were complaining about the response off them today when no complaints were made throughout the semi's and some great snooker was played.
Too much tinkering goes on and thats a sad fact.

I agree. Boring no name

Bland

Davis summing up on BBC after frame 13 he thinks its over all ready

Think they must've washed the cloth before the final,laughable..