Viewing 2014 World Snooker Chamnpionship - April 19 - May 5

[Scaramouche]

OMG Shocking
Commenters on live website were slamming slow defensive game of Selby to put off Ronnie. Much like those who complained about Italy playing defensive to win past World Cups. But it is within the rules and Selby played whatever strategy it takes to best King Ronnie. Well played Selby. Ronnie only needs to win 2 more and can easily do it in next few years

Near the end of the match the stats showed that Ronnie had averaged 21 seconds per shot, Selby had averaged 26 seconds.

 

[conetip]

Mark found the formula to beat Ronnie, get points, then play safe, few more points then safe. You could see it rattled Ronnie and he was off his game.
Well done to Mark for studying his opponents weak points and then playing to them.

 

[Swighey]

the miss on the pink was the biggest mental choke I've ever seen in cue sports

Steve Davis' black was a bigger choke. Davis even pretty much said this on the BBC after that session. The miss on the pink was careless, we've all done it (in snooker or pool or whatever) just not at anywhere near this level. Ronnie didn't choke, he screwed the shot up. It wasn't the defining moment of the match by any stretch - looks so much easier on a table with only 3 balls but Selby was missing easy shots at that part of the match too (choke winner? oh no course not la la la....)

He got beat fair and square by the better player on the day(s). Davis and Hendry got beat in big spots when they were dominating too. Well done Mark Selby, would be a shame if he went through his career not winning the World Championship - he was looking like the best player in the world a good few years back and now he's done it.

OMG best player ever was a runner up one year in a World Championship final. Call the cops!

 

[AtLarge]

My compliments to Ivan Hirschowitz for his story "Selby conquers the world" on AzB's front page today. It's informative, well written, and seems to be accurate as to all the numbers (which is not all that common).

 

[Bob Jewett]

Something remarkable happened at the Championships that may have slipped by. Neil Robertson made a century (100 points or more) against Judd Trump to get to 100 centuries in the season. For Americans, this is kind of like hitting 100 home runs in a season. The previous high was 61 (Roger Maris?) held by Trump. There was a little controversy as Trump did not shake Neil's hand after the frame.

 

[Scaramouche]

Something remarkable happened at the Championships that may have slipped by. Neil Robertson made a century (100 points or more) against Judd Trump to get to 100 centuries in the season. For Americans, this is kind of like hitting 100 home runs in a season. The previous high was 61 (Roger Maris?) held by Trump. There was a little controversy as Trump did not shake Neil's hand after the frame.

In the season just completed Robertson had:
1 century every 8.17 frames

Lifetime he has had:
1 century every 13.58 frames

http://www.cuetracker.net/pages/players.php?ID=16&season=2013/2014


For Ronnie, the comparable stats are:
1 century every 8.83 frames
and
1 century every 12.21 frames

http://www.cuetracker.net/pages/players.php?ID=18&season=2013/2014

Mark Selby vs Ronnie O'Sullivan - Lifetime
http://www.cuetracker.net/pages/h2h.php?ID1=2&ID2=18

Does Pool have this sort of statistical stuff?

Stephen Henry went after centuries, but more as method of keeping his opponent in his seat for as long as possible; the records were a fringe benefit.
"If you can't kick your opponent when he's down, where's the fun in the game?"

 

[Bob Jewett]

... Does Pool have this sort of statistical stuff?
...

The closest pool gets is the info from Accu-stats such as TPA (Total Performance Average) and the contributing stats.

 

[AtLarge]

That cuetracker.net site has lots of good stuff!

I was wondering whether O'Sullivan's career century rate of 12.2 frames per century might be the best ever. But then I checked Ding Junhui, and he is at 11.1:shocked: I've got to watch that guy.

 

[Keith Jawahir]

No to both statements.

I have to say that the match was dictated by the centimetre perfect precision of Selby's safety game. There are only 4 people that can bring it to Ronnie unless he is in uber mode...Robbo, Selby, Ding and Hawkins. Today Mark proved why ALL the players are scared of his talent at laying traps and also extricating himself from them.
Crucible pressure outweighs any other feeling in cue sports. Ronnie can be excused for not rallying after being placed in so many predicaments by a wholly professional player of Mark's calibre. I would not call it choking.
When Mark ousted Neil in the semi final it set the scene for a game plan which proved superior. Ronnie had, does and always will have the greatest talent for potting that any player possesses. His safety game is also sheer class. Today he was faced with the determination of a player that knew what he had to do to prevent him from getting into a rhythm and allowing his devastating attack. Mark was simply able to defuse The Rocket.
Saying anything less is disrespectful to the countless hours that both have put into the game in their rise to the top.

Congratulations Mark! A well deserved win.

Take a look at Judd Trump. I'm pretty new to snooker also, so I'm still learning about the players. But Mark Selby and Ronnie are definitely top of my list right now. Hopefully watching all this snooker doesn't hurt my pool game too much

 

[Scaramouche]

That cuetracker.net site has lots of good stuff!

I was wondering whether O'Sullivan's career century rate of 12.2 frames per century might be the best ever. But then I checked Ding Junhui, and he is at 11.1:shocked: I've got to watch that guy.

Ding won 5 ranking tournaments this season.
Last time that was accomplished was 23 years ago, by a guy named Stephen Hendry.

http://www.prosnookerblog.com/players/d-f/ding-junhui/