World Snooker Championship 2022

[kingfox]

That time of the year again, the best sporting month of the year continues with the World Snooker Championship.

 

Draw has just been made...

 

1) Mark Selby vs Jamie Jones

16) Yan Bingtao vs Chris Wakelin

9) Barry Hawkins vs Jackson Page

8) Mark Williams vs Michael White

5) Kyren Wilson vs Ding Junhui

12) Stuart Bingham vs Lyu Haotian 

13) Anthony McGill vs Liam Highfield

4) Judd Trump vs Hossein Vafaei

 

3) Neil Robertson vs Ashley Hugill

14) Jack Lisowski vs Matthew Stevens

11) Luca Brecel vs Noppon Saengkham 

6) John Higgins vs Thepchaiya Un-Nooh

7) Zhao Xintong vs Jamie Clarke

10) Shaun Murphy vs Stephen Maguire

15) Mark Allen vs Scott Donaldson

2) Ronnie O’Sullivan vs David Gilbert

 

Three debutants this year in my long lost brother Ashley Hugill, Hossein Vafaei(Finally) & 20 year old Welsh talent Jackson Page.

 

Some mouthwatering first round clashes, Wilson vs Ding, Trump vs Vafaei, Murphy vs Maguire & O’Sullivan vs Gilbert, fingers crossed they deliver. Some decent looking matches involving the Welsh contingent too.

 

Robertson will no doubt be slight favourite, but for me this has potential to be one of the most wide open World Championships ever.

 

Discuss...

[EastAnglianFox]

Robertson v Wilson as an early Final prediction

 

Fancy Jamie Jones to shock Selby first up

[FOXYTALK]

At least Bingham and Hawkins are in the same half of the draw. Zzzzzzz

[Nalis]

My predictions below factoring in some surprises - despite what I said in the other thread I'm thinking Neil Robertson to win it.

 

1) Mark Selby vs Jamie Jones JONES (2R)

16) Yan Bingtao vs Chris Wakelin YAN (SF)

9) Barry Hawkins vs Jackson Page HAWKINS (2R)

8) Mark Williams vs Michael White WILLIAMS (QF)

5) Kyren Wilson vs Ding Junhui WILSON (F)

12) Stuart Bingham vs Lyu Haotian LYU (2R)

13) Anthony McGill vs Liam Highfield MCGILL (QF)

4) Judd Trump vs Hossein Vafaei VAFAEI (2R)

 

3) Neil Robertson vs Ashley Hugill ROBERTSON( W)

14) Jack Lisowski vs Matthew Stevens LISOWSKI (2R)

11) Luca Brecel vs Noppon Saengkham BRECEL(2R)

6) John Higgins vs Thepchaiya Un-Nooh HIGGINS (QF)

7) Zhao Xintong vs Jamie Clarke XINTONG (SF)

10) Shaun Murphy vs Stephen Maguire MURPHY (2R)

15) Mark Allen vs Scott Donaldson ALLEN (QF)

2) Ronnie O’Sullivan vs David Gilbert GILBERT (2R)

 

 

 

[Nalis]

Would love Allen to win it but he's on the tough side of the draw and I dont think he has the temperament over 2 weeks to win it.

 

On a random point, is it just me or does there seem to be a lot more Welsh players qualified than previous years?

[The Bear]

Can't see too many shocks in that first round. Hope Gilbert is one. 

[Steve_Guppy_Left_Foot]

Fancy Higgins at the prices. Been playing well this year and can grind it out. Rises to the occasion, 12s will do me. 

[The Bear]

1 hour ago, Steve_Guppy_Left_Foot said:

Fancy Higgins at the prices. Been playing well this year and can grind it out. Rises to the occasion, 12s will do me. 

He seems to have struggled at the thick end of tournaments this season, possibly down to fatigue. Lost every final he's been in. 

 

Doesn't bode well for a gruelling two week marathon like the Crucible. 

 

 

[isaidno]

Robertson favourite for me but for some reason all struggles at the crucible.

Tricky match for Selby. Saw Jamie Jones play in the quarters finals,  think it may have been 2012. Surprised he hasn't kicked on from there. 

[Bert]

Hopefully Hugill gets whitewashed. Wouldn’t be surprised to see Selby crash our first round. 

[Lionator]

Xintong already looks terrifyingly up for this. I have put money on him. 

[kingfox]

Very much of a mixed bag from Selby today, rusty start, found his groove, then tonight was a scrap. 
 

Good to see the youngsters in Zhao Xintong & Jackson Page going well, wouldn’t believe that was Page’s debut, looked like he had played the Crucible many times.

[Silebyfox_89]

I'm no style guru but Liam Highfield's barnet looks a little suspect to me 😂

[foxes_rule1978]

2 minutes ago, Silebyfox_89 said:

I'm no style guru but Liam Highfield's barnet looks a little suspect to me 😂

He definitely cuts that himself 

[Corky]

Murphy out 

 

To a professional this time so hopefully no tears

[The Bear]

6 hours ago, Corky said:

Murphy out 

 

To a professional this time so hopefully no tears

I notice he hasn't said anything about Michael White, who is technically an amateur at the moment. Though he's gonna be beaten by Williams. 

[rachhere]

Love this fortnight! Not ashamed to admit that I am a Ronnie fangirl - try and convince me of my errors all you want, but its some kind of intrinsic way of being.

[Arriba Los Zorros]

Has Mark Allen always been this fat? For a professional sportsman it's truly embarrassing. 

[Bert]

1 minute ago, Arriba Los Zorros said:

Has Mark Allen always been this fat? For a professional sportsman it's truly embarrassing. 

You only have to walk around a table. It’s not like he’s an athlete. 

[Arriba Los Zorros]

Just now, Bert said:

You only have to walk around a table. It’s not like he’s an athlete. 

Yeah but it must influence his technique and make it hard for him to play shots where you are stretching. Also keeping concentration under lights in a hot venue. It can't help his game, he needs to get it under control. 

[Lionator]

4 minutes ago, Bert said:

You only have to walk around a table. It’s not like he’s an athlete. 

One of the reason's Ronnie is still at the top is because he's physically fit imo.

[purpleronnie]

Higgins seems to have had a rebirth since get fit.

[Arriba Los Zorros]

Was expecting the table to buckle there with Allen climbing on it 😂😂 fat bar steward! 

[Facecloth]

8 minutes ago, Arriba Los Zorros said:

Yeah but it must influence his technique and make it hard for him to play shots where you are stretching. Also keeping concentration under lights in a hot venue. It can't help his game, he needs to get it under control. 

Always thought, prior to his indiscretions, that Stephen Lee had all the ability to go to the top, but he was always a chubster. Brilliant cue action, but must have really struggled to some of the more awkward shots.

 

Had a similar career to Allen, a few decent results but never reached the very top.

[Arriba Los Zorros]

Just now, Facecloth said:

Always thought, prior to his indiscretions, that Stephen Lee had all the ability to go to the top, but he was always a chubster. Brilliant cue action, but must have really struggled to some of the more awkward shots.

 

Had a similar career to Allen, a few decent results but never reached the very top.

Yeah I think it's unforgiveable to be in that shape as a top level athlete. Why bother putting all the hours in to practice, study tactics, when you're going to give your opponents an immediate advantage by being obese? Bizarre especially with all the money at stake at top level snooker.