Snooker World Championships 2013

[OP Tom 1,190]

Round 1 so far:

[bold=win]

Shaun Murphy 10 (19) 5 Martin Gould

Barry Hawkins 10 (19) 3 Jack Lisowski

Mark Williams 6 (19) 10 Michael White

Ricky Walden 10 (19) 1 Michael Holt

Ronnie O'Sullivan 10 (19) 4 Marcus Campbell

I'm a little sad that Lisowski didn't win his match. I expected him to on the basis of his play this season. Think the pressure of the crucible got to him. :(

The Williams-White match too! Man that was a shocker... if you came to me from the future and told me White was going to win I would never have believed you..

EXCITED FOR TOMORROW.

[Damo R. 29,464]

Ronnie looked good, didn't seem rusty at all

[Lingwo 489]

Final predictions?

Both semi finals are a really tough to call. O'Sullivan looks on fine form but Trump did really well against Murphy. I still think O'Sullivan can beat him.

The other semi final is a tough call. I'm edging towards Hawkins though.

O'Sullivan Vs Hawkins - is my predication. Watch it be the exact opposite.

I may change my mind after the first sessions :laugh:

[Haggis 944]

O'Sullivan to win the tournament

[Zoom7000 146]

Ronnie was looking absolutely deadly in the last round against Bingham. That's the most lethal I've ever seen him. He completely whizzed through that match. Trump is very good, but Ronnie looks in a different class at the moment! Hawkins is my dark horse for the win, he did pretty impressively in the last round and to knock out Mark Selby, world number 1 who has been on some fine form until now, was a pretty impressive feat, but if Ronnie gets to the final, I can't see anyone beating him on current form.

[+Frank B. 6,820]

Snooker World Championship 2013: Ronnie O'Sullivan - this is my last farewell

Ronnie O'Sullivan chose the eve of his Crucible semi-final against Judd Trump to announce this World Championship will be his last.

Today the four-time champion tackles showman Trump in a match he is determined to win to reach another final in Sheffield.

But the 37 year-old, who has spent most of the last year in self-imposed exile from the sport, claims he only returned to action because he needed the money to pay overdue school fees.

He has vowed to retire, claiming snooker is bad for his health.

Asked if he would be in Sheffield for next year's World Championship, O'Sullivan said: "I've no intention to come back. If I find something else to do, you definitely won't see me.

"I've kept my cards close to my chest but there's no reason to keep them close now. This is my last farewell, it's my swansong. I'm happy; I'm done. I can't keep putting myself through being unhappy.

"I wish I could just smile it off, shrug it off, but it's not like that for me. I wish I had the attitude of players who come here and smile and enjoy it. I just beat myself up too much and it's not healthy."

O'Sullivan brushed aside Stuart Bingham 13-4 in the quarter-finals but Trump should provide a stiff test in the three-day semi-final, that precedes the two-day final.

"I'll be out there trying my nuts off," O'Sullivan said. "I'm a competitor and I hate losing. I will fight to the death. They'll have to scrape me off the table.

"I've got five days left potentially - it could possibly be three - and if I can't get through that then something's seriously wrong.

"The light at the end of the tunnel is it doesn't have to go on any longer."

He added: "I'll be honest, I still owe the school money for my children's school fees - I haven't paid the last two or three terms.

"I didn't know what was going to happen here but I've made a little bit of money now so I can go and pay the school fees now for the next two years.

"But really I don't think snooker is for me. This could be my last proper major event.

"I have signed a contract with my sponsor to play in 10 events so I'll play in those."

But O'Sullivan stated those events could include Legends tour events, and low-profile tournaments, and stressed there was no stipulation that he should appear at events such as the UK Championship, Masters or another World Championship.

Trump said he is not frightened of O'Sullivan and their clash promises to be a classic, just like Trump's 13-12 quarter-final victory over Shaun Murphy.

"I've got a good record against Ronnie," Trump said. "I've beaten him more times than he's beaten me, so hopefully I can go out and scare him.

"I think people are just scared of the name. The big stage is where I want to be. I'm not scared of the name."

While O'Sullivan and Trump start this afternoon, first-time Crucible semi-finalists Ricky Walden and Barry Hawkins begin their match this evening.

Kent man Hawkins, 34, ousted former UK and Masters champion Ding Junhui 13-7 in the quarter-finals, and Walden saw off 21-year-old Welsh qualifier Michael White 13-6.

Source: The Telegraph

[Damo R. 29,464]

Ronnie :)

[xxxxxx.xxxxxx 46]

The Rocket was a given from the very beginning - the best match has been Walden / Hawkins so far. Watching it now and although Walden is a 2 frames down it would be great to see a Walden O'Sullivan Final.

[Javik 3,700]

I mean no disrespect to his opponent in the final but Ronnie's going to walk it. It's a huge testament to his talent that he can take such a long break and return still playing such amazing snooker.

Also, credit must go to Judd. He got outplayed here but his tactical play has came on massively. Once he masters cue ball control (which is something that will come with experience) he will be hard to stop. He will win the title before too long but Ronnie just couldn't be stopped this time. I fear a very one sided final.

[JoeC 105]

That last frame before the end of tonight (frame 17) was stunning. Ronnie was so dominant but it looked like he was being overly cautious to try not to lose the frame. I know it was a massive frame, going into the night break either 1 or 3 frames ahead is a big difference, but I thought that when Hawkins was struggling with his safety shots (4/5 in a row at one point), Ronnie could have taken one on fairly safely and put the frame away.

I can't really see Hawkins winning it even if it's not been the walkover the half the media were hyping it as - Ronnie's just got too much class to turn on.

[Damo R. 29,464]

Ronnie O'Sullivan leads Barry Hawkins 15-10 heading into the final session of the World Championship final and needs three more frames to retain his crown.

[xxxxxx.xxxxxx 46]

And he's already let one slide. first time that Ronnie O'Sullivan hasn't won the first frame of a session afaik

[Damo R. 29,464]

could be 15-12 in a minute :/

[+Frank B. 6,820]

And that's a wrap - Ronnie O'Sullivan defends his title.

[Damo R. 29,464]

In my opinion the greatest of all time :yes:

[+Lovell 279]

I wonder if we'll see more snooker players taking it easy, it's always good to watch Ronnie on form.

[Lingwo 489]

I hope he doesn't retire completely. He is great to watch when on form and in my opinion the greatest Snooker player of all time. When he is happy and enjoying it he can beat any player easily with either hand. It's ridiculous. It's the best i've seen him play for years.

Every World Championship. Afterwards it always makes me want to go out and play Snooker.

[Damo R. 29,464]

Every World Championship. Afterwards it always makes me want to go out and play Snooker.

I used to play a lot in local tournaments, wish I played more

[xxxxxx.xxxxxx 46]

I used to play, but then the two main local snooker halls closed down. One has reopened as a "Styx" which is pretty much a sports bar. No full size tables and the snooker/pool tables and dart boards are a stones throw away from the bar, not my idea of a snooker hall im afraid. So as a result I have not played for years now :(

[McCordRm 388]

I actually had to Google this. I've played Pool a LOT, but had absolutely

no idea what the hell Snooker was. heh

[Damo R. 29,464]

I used to play, but then the two main local snooker halls closed down. One has reopened as a "Styx" which is pretty much a sports bar. No full size tables and the snooker/pool tables and dart boards are a stones throw away from the bar, not my idea of a snooker hall im afraid. So as a result I have not played for years now :(

A big one round here closed down a few years back which ruined my playing...all we got now is this run down gentleman's club that has a few tables

[xxxxxx.xxxxxx 46]

I need to travel 30+ miles to my nearest Rileys hall and the only time I play there is when i visit my relatives. Its pretty sad really. :(

[HSoft 400]

Miss playing snooker. Used to play it every dinner time. Most people here in the US haven't even heard of the game never mind trying to find a full size table to play on.

[Lingwo 489]

I used to play everyday when i was in school. That and pool. Then the place shut down and the only Snooker hall near me left, isn't the nicest of places to go but is the only place that has full sized Snooker tables.

[DClark 45]

Did not know Eli Roth played snooker.