Barry Hawkins produced an assured performance to move to within the brink of a place in the World Snooker Championship semi-finals after dominating the opening two sessions against Ding Junhui in Sheffield. Ding had been instilled as the tournament favourite after the early exits of both Mark Selby and Ronnie O’Sullivan[Read More…]
Tag: Ding Junhui
World Snooker Championship Quarter-Final Preview
After the lacklustre first-round preview here that yielded only nine correct predictions, redemption of sorts has been achieved following round two’s action in the World Snooker Championship in Sheffield. The second round provided seven out of eight accurate tips, with Ronnie O’Sullivan the only wrong punt after his shock 13-9[Read More…]
Can Ding Junhui Handle Favourite’s Tag?
Following the unexpected demise of Ronnie O’Sullivan on Saturday, Ding Junhui has been elevated as the favourite for this year’s World Snooker Championship in Sheffield. O’Sullivan crashed out in a dramatic 13-9 defeat to Ali Carter, the first time that he has ever lost to the 38 year-old, to prolong[Read More…]
World Snooker Championship Second Round Preview
Well, it’s fair to say that the first round predictions didn’t go according to plan. There were a few near misses, like with Shaun Murphy, Ryan Day, and Graeme Dott bowing out in tight affairs with Jamie Jones, Anthony McGill, and Ali Carter respectively. But there were also some shockers,[Read More…]
Birthday Boy Barry Hawkins Through Turgid Test
Barry Hawkins is through to the second round of the World Snooker Championship after a hard-fought 10-7 victory over Stuart Carrington on Monday. With the match finishing just short of passing midnight, Hawkins was able to celebrate the final moments of his 39th birthday – well, by answering questions in[Read More…]
China Open: Last 16 Preview
Mark Selby remains on course for a morale-boosting defence of his China Open title after emerging unscathed from his opening few rounds in Beijing. The “Jester” has only made three appearances in the quarter-finals of ranking tournaments this season in what has been the world number one’s worst spell in[Read More…]
Mark Allen Loss Damages World Championship Hopes
Mark Allen finds himself in a precarious position in the world rankings after losing to Ding Junhui in the first round of the Players Championship on Monday in Llandudno. Allen may have broken his major duck earlier this season when he superbly captured a maiden Masters crown in January but[Read More…]
Gibraltar Open: Preview and Draw
Gibraltar is the next stop on the calendar as the players head to the Iberian Peninsula for a bit of sun and baize, with the Gibraltar Open set to get under way on Wednesday. The Gibraltar Open is one of the last surviving events that follows the pro-am guise of the[Read More…]
Ronnie O’Sullivan Amazes But Seeds Stumble in Welsh Open
Ronnie O’Sullivan continued his quest for a record-equalling fifth ranking event in a season with another dominant display to reach the third round of the Welsh Open on Wednesday. The Englishman, playing his first match since capturing the World Grand Prix title on Sunday, rarely looked troubled despite his opponent[Read More…]
Mark Selby Starts Well in Welsh Open
Mark Selby and Stuart Bingham were among the winners as the final event of the Home Nations series began on Monday with the opening day of the Welsh Open in Cardiff. The World Grand Prix had been just a few short hours old as play in the third longest running[Read More…]