Topic: The Snooker thread

[Robinred]

Impressed with Jak Jones. Less impressed with the fact that the Crucible this last week has sounded like a TB ward.

[Schmarn]

Jones has him rattled needs to stay ahead. Needs to end 9-7 up or better tonight.

Bingham should have had a lead but you feel Ronnie will kick into gear tomorrow,

[voodoo ray]

He might have no c but he plays well at the ruible

[Booze And Glory]

Register on https://www.wst.tv/news/2024/january/22/2025-crucible-priority---register-now/

They will go on sale shortly after the tournament ends

Dont hang about

They sold out like hot cakes last year, looked all year and only tickets left for matches were £400 ones

They go onsale on the Sunday morning of the Final to those who have pre registered which is worth doing, as by the time they hit general
sale on the Monday there's very little left.

[slaphead]

That thing on Higgins is a great read. Bit disturbing reading the lengths and expense the news of the world were willing to go. Encouraging him to drink and piecing together words to, excuse the pun, frame him were 1 thing. But planning to send brazzers to his hotel room is something else. They really were a vile organisation. And it’s mad how that’s stuck with him. I never ever read the full story, I knew it was a set up job but reading that. Jesus

[paulrazor]

They go onsale on the Sunday morning of the Final to those who have pre registered which is worth doing, as by the time they hit general
sale on the Monday there's very little left.

yep

absolutely smashed broke after it so not a good time to need to buy, I went with my brother and he wants to go again but he has his wedding later in year so he has enough on too

[meady1981]

Not quite sure we’re seeing a 8th title Ronnie here.
Unless he’s marathoning it and slowly working through the gears.

Not sure how I feel about the tight pocket thing. Cant work out if it’s painful to see so many misses or more exciting that players are getting 3/4 chances each per game.

[kaesarsosei]

It feels like the table on the right as the commentators sit plays better than the other one. But Dennis Taylor also pointed out a quirk of that table in that nearly every break off was leaving two reds right beside the black which was bizarre.

The player I have been most impressed with is Jak Jones and he is actually unlucky to be only level. He will probably regret the fact that IMO he should be at least 9-7 up. If you had to pick a winner regardless of the names I think it would have to come from Wilson, Jones or Gilbert but I'd be amazed if any of them will do it.

[CheshireDave]

Not sure how I feel about the tight pocket thing. Cant work out if it’s painful to see so many misses or more exciting that players are getting 3/4 chances each per game.

Been wondering that myself. Snooker is one of the only sports when it can become more exciting when the standard drops a bit.

The thing with the tight pockets confuses me a bit. Do they not use the same pocket template for every tournament? When people say oh the pockets are tight are they talking a millimeter or a centimeter?

Maybe it won't be an issue when it gets down to one table anyway.

[Booze And Glory]

yep

absolutely smashed broke after it so not a good time to need to buy, I went with my brother and he wants to go again but he has his wedding later in year so he has enough on too

I was planning on going the opening day this year if there was any tickets left by the time I got onto the webpage last year, as I'm normally waiting over an hour, but was in after just 15 mins, and plans immediately changed as managed to bag tickets for both sessions of the final on Monday and the Sunday evening as well. Cost me way more than I was looking to pay, but well looking forward to it now, and may never get the chance to go to the final again.

[Knight]

Been wondering that myself. Snooker is one of the only sports when it can become more exciting when the standard drops a bit.

The thing with the tight pockets confuses me a bit. Do they not use the same pocket template for every tournament? When people say oh the pockets are tight are they talking a millimeter or a centimeter?

Maybe it won't be an issue when it gets down to one table anyway.

Yeah I'm confused by this. What makes a middle pocket play tight? And also, why are middle pockets 'harder' than corner pockets? There must, I imagine, be a really simple answer to this one re geometry but I'm too bad at this sort of thing to know what it is.

Re Ronnie's form - i've seen a bit of him in the 1st and 2nd round. That opening session yesterday wasn't representative of what he's been so far. And he's still at 4-4, can't believe he'll play worse in other sessions.

[Peabee]

Not quite sure we’re seeing a 8th title Ronnie here.
Unless he’s marathoning it and slowly working through the gears.

Not sure how I feel about the tight pocket thing. Cant work out if it’s painful to see so many misses or more exciting that players are getting 3/4 chances each per game.

They've been using these tables all season apparently. May be why certain players haven't done as well this season? Players were calling the pockets "buckets" last season as they were so giving.

[Peabee]

Yeah I'm confused by this. What makes a middle pocket play tight? And also, why are middle pockets 'harder' than corner pockets? There must, I imagine, be a really simple answer to this one re geometry but I'm too bad at this sort of thing to know what it is.

Re Ronnie's form - i've seen a bit of him in the 1st and 2nd round. That opening session yesterday wasn't representative of what he's been so far. And he's still at 4-4, can't believe he'll play worse in other sessions.

https://www.reddit.com/r/snooker/comments/1cgyi7y/all_the_talk_of_the_tight_pockets_this_year_heres/

RE the tighter pockets. I think it's the rubber along the cushion and tapered into the pocket. Even less than a mm can make a big difference.

For the middle pockets vs corner, the pocket openings are rounded. In the corner pockets, they can bounce off each corner and go in more easily than the middle pockets, which are 180.

[paulrazor]

I was planning on going the opening day this year if there was any tickets left by the time I got onto the webpage last year, as I'm normally waiting over an hour, but was in after just 15 mins, and plans immediately changed as managed to bag tickets for both sessions of the final on Monday and the Sunday evening as well. Cost me way more than I was looking to pay, but well looking forward to it now, and may never get the chance to go to the final again.

oh good for you, I am sure you wont regret it

Yeah I'm confused by this. What makes a middle pocket play tight? And also, why are middle pockets 'harder' than corner pockets? There must, I imagine, be a really simple answer to this one re geometry but I'm too bad at this sort of thing to know what it is.

Re Ronnie's form - i've seen a bit of him in the 1st and 2nd round. That opening session yesterday wasn't representative of what he's been so far. And he's still at 4-4, can't believe he'll play worse in other sessions.

Definitely seems sloppy so far, even if he got past Ryan Day handy enough he wasnt playing that well

They've been using these tables all season apparently. May be why certain players haven't done as well this season? Players were calling the pockets "buckets" last season as they were so giving.

They dont half go on about the pocket size but I dont mind it being harder, as I said on Friday I dont mind a tactical battle at times, would be boring if every frame someone rattled in a century

[Peabee]

oh good for you, I am sure you wont regret it Definitely seems sloppy so far, even if he got past Ryan Day handy enough he wasnt playing that well
 They dont half go on about the pocket size but I dont mind it being harder, as I said on Friday I dont mind a tactical battle at times, would be boring if every frame someone rattled in a century

Yeah, hence why players who rely on potting heavily over safety, like Brecel and Si, did well last season but not this season.

[Gerard00]

This has been a real scrappy affair and to be fair to Judd I think he's had the old cliched 'bad run of the balls'. Credit to Jak Jones as hes kept it that way and kept the pressure on him throughout the match always managing to keep his nose ahead.

I think Ronnie wins it but would also be good to see someone new win it too.

[Robinred]

This has been a real scrappy affair and to be fair to Judd I think he's had the old cliched 'bad run of the balls'. Credit to Jak Jones as hes kept it that way and kept the pressure on him throughout the match always managing to keep his nose ahead.

I think Ronnie wins it but would also be good to see someone new win it too.

I’m not convinced Trump has had any more ‘running’ than Jones to be honest. I think Trump is playing more cautiously than usual; Jones always plays well against him, and I genuinely think Trump is conflicted as to the best approach. Jones has been a very mature mixture of brave when needed, and very shrewd with his safety.

[Peabee]

Oof. 2 more frames needed for Jones.

Trump's pot success is only 85%...

[paulrazor]

Yeah, hence why players who rely on potting heavily over safety, like Brecel and Si, did well last season but not this season.

Am I right in saying Brecel has never won a match at the crucible outside of 2023?

This has been a real scrappy affair and to be fair to Judd I think he's had the old cliched 'bad run of the balls'. Credit to Jak Jones as hes kept it that way and kept the pressure on him throughout the match always managing to keep his nose ahead.

I think Ronnie wins it but would also be good to see someone new win it too.

I am not convinced on Ronnie but maybe he will come good

Stuart Bingham isnt a walkover either

[Peabee]

Am I right in saying Brecel has never won a match at the crucible outside of 2023?
 I am not convinced on Ronnie but maybe he will come good

Stuart Bingham isnt a walkover either

Yeah. Mad record.

[paulrazor]

Yeah. Mad record.

I knew he would go out in the first round this year, the odds werent good enough to back it and I didnt really pay much attention to the first 3 days or so

But mind you going out in the first round as the defending champion for the first time can happen to the best of them, ask Steve Davis

[Schmarn]

This is a great match tactically. Jones has somehow got Trump to tighten up and miss pots he would normally make by playing excellent safety. Jones has missed some bad balls himself but he’s definitely got into Trump’s ahead about the run of the ball.

[Booze And Glory]

Higgins struggling against Wilson this morning, just can't get going

[kaesarsosei]

https://www.reddit.com/r/snooker/comments/1cgyi7y/all_the_talk_of_the_tight_pockets_this_year_heres/

RE the tighter pockets. I think it's the rubber along the cushion and tapered into the pocket. Even less than a mm can make a big difference.

For the middle pockets vs corner, the pocket openings are rounded. In the corner pockets, they can bounce off each corner and go in more easily than the middle pockets, which are 180.

Holy shit that's a fantastic link, cheers.

Not a shadow of a doubt about it now, and I liked this comment in that Reddit thread:

"My theory is they will make the pockets tight at the crucible then when worlds move to Saudi they will be gaping chasms, create mirage of better snooker etc etc"

[kaesarsosei]

There's a potentially legendarily tough snooker being setup in the Trump match here.

[paulrazor]

There's a potentially legendarily tough snooker being setup in the Trump match here.

Was surprised he conceded

[Booze And Glory]

Was surprised he conceded

Think he realised if the Yellow went it was all over, and had the yellow not gone he'd have been put in a snooker
that was impossible to get out of.

Great Win for Jones

[Schmarn]

With Trump out I just wonder if Ronnie puts his foot on the gas now. He’ll never have a better chance of an 8th. That’s not to discount Jones in a potential semi but I can see a natural let down after such a huge win.

[Booze And Glory]

Higgins fought back well there, he was struggling before the match on the other table finished

[BER]

Snooker really is more entertaining when it's shit. Hilarious frame going on between O'Sullivan/Bingham.

[DelTrotter]

Wow, shocker from Bingham for an easy frame and will now lose it

[gazzalfc]

Ronnie is in his own head there.

Should have just potted it

[voodoo ray]

That really was very odd.

[kaesarsosei]

Disagree massively, I think he did the right thing by not taking the pot. I think his positional shot was poor and he wasn't on the red anyway.

[Ray K]

Ronnie is in his own head there.

Should have just potted it

Very sporting though. Thought the black wasn't spotted correctly so gave up the pot.

[gazzalfc]

Very sporting though. Thought the black wasn't spotted correctly so gave up the pot.

I kind of get it. But the ref was happy with the black placement. Bingham wasn't particularly arsed. Should have just potted it and been done with it

[Peabee]

I kind of get it. But the ref was happy with the black placement. Bingham wasn't particularly arsed. Should have just potted it and been done with it

The guy is a perfectionist, which clearly applies to the balls being on their spot too. 

[voodoo ray]

Whatever, it definitely seemed to rattle him for the rest of the frame.

Oddness going on in the winter gardens too by the looks of it.

[meady1981]

What’s the winter gardens?

[TheShanklyGates]

Who had Dave Gilbert and Jak Jones as the first two confirmed semi finalists?