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Not the 2020 Snooker World Championship thread

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stavros

Well-Known Member
It was due to start proper next Saturday, but obviously isn't, which a right pisser, if understandable.

It looks like the BBC are partially filling the gigantic hole it leaves in their schedules with repeats of classic matches, with next weekend starting with Davis-Knowles and Reardon-Higgins, both from 1982. Alas, it doesn't look like it'll be the whole matches, as I can only see two hours booked out for each match.

Anyway, this is the replacement for the thread I normally start each year to talk about it.
 
Shame they can’t run the tournament without the audience. Surely the players, ref and cameramen/women can stay 2 metres apart?

I suppose it’s the travel to get everyone involved there which is seen as an unacceptable risk. Shame, as we all need some entertainment just now.
 
MrCurry said:
Shame they can’t run the tournament without the audience. Surely the players, ref and cameramen/women can stay 2 metres apart?

I suppose it’s the travel to get everyone involved there which is seen as an unacceptable risk. Shame, as we all need some entertainment just now.
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It's a weird comparison, but that's what the world of pro-wrestling is doing.

One of the big companies, AEW, pre-taped a whole load of material that is supposed to take them up to mid-May, or something. Meanwhile WWE (neé WWF) have somehow managed to secure special dispensation from the governor of Florida to class them as an 'essential service', so they're holding matches in their Orlando training facility without a crowd, just the wrestlers, commentators, ref and tech crew.

I guess snooker couldn't really pre-tape stuff, the way AEW did, so I guess a call to Sheffield Council is in order.
 
More likely, an empty Crucible doesn't put enough money into Barry Hearn's pocket.

It's a bit cruel of the BBC to put two Henry-White finals on consecutive days, along with White's first final against Davis. White must be up there as one of the greatest athletes never to win the big one in their sport. Paula Radcliffe, Colin Jackson and the Netherlands football team are the others that spring immediately to mind.
 
I had thought the were being arseholes, and only putting the weekday matches on at 3pm, but a bit of investigation shows that they'll be on the red button that evening, from I think 7pm. That means I don't have to miss Davis-White on Monday, or Doherty-Hunter the following Tuesday.
 
stavros said:
More likely, an empty Crucible doesn't put enough money into Barry Hearn's pocket.

It's a bit cruel of the BBC to put two Henry-White finals on consecutive days, along with White's first final against Davis. White must be up there as one of the greatest athletes never to win the big one in their sport. Paula Radcliffe, Colin Jackson and the Netherlands football team are the others that spring immediately to mind.
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🤔

I love jimmy as much (more) than the next man and spent many a teenage year having my hopes and dreams dashed every time our pallid, clammy friend missed-black-off-the-spot while the smug Sweater-Shopped-basin-head took full advantage, but even I’m going to have to contest athlete, sorry
 
Davis was exceptionally poor last night, for the defending champion. I suspect he may be a single year wonder and we'll not hear much from him post-1982.

I'm looking forward to the Count vs the Hurricane this evening.
 
Higgins and White both smoking in the middle of frames, which kind of indicates how things have changed in less than forty years. At least Reardon waited until the final frame was lost before sparking up.

I'd never seen Higgins properly, but he had a very odd cuing style. He had a very short pull-back and no follow-through. It obviously worked for him, as he won two world titles, but surely no coach would allow that nowadays.
 
I didn't bother with Selby-Robertson from 2014 last night, because I remember watching it at the time. This evening's Davis-Johnson from the 1986 final was better.

Ted Lowe not only whispered; he also spoke a lot less than today's ex-pros doing the commentary.
 
Is anyone else watching these, or is it just me?

No holds barred attacked snooker from both Hendry and O'Sullivan today, from 2002. They didn't show all the frames, but of the ones they did show there was very little safety.
 
Shifting the bank holiday would've fucked up the snooker, had it gone ahead this year. The first Monday of May only means (to me at least) the second day of the WC final. Instead, I've got to work.
 
stavros said:
Higgins and White both smoking in the middle of frames, which kind of indicates how things have changed in less than forty years. At least Reardon waited until the final frame was lost before sparking up.

I'd never seen Higgins properly, but he had a very odd cuing style. He had a very short pull-back and no follow-through. It obviously worked for him, as he won two world titles, but surely no coach would allow that nowadays.
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I watched that the other day. And I had never noticed the action before either. It's so short that's why he put his whole body through it after hitting the ball to get power. Quality break to win it. I'd also forgotten that Reardon was a deadly long potter in his day. He's remembered as a tactician, but he wasn't afraid of taking on the big shots.

Thing I noticed, aside from the commentators barely saying a word, is that it really took a lot to get the crowd to applaud back then. Some cracking pots slammed in without a murmur.

Just watched Johnson vs Davis. Davis fell apart at the end. Surprised that he looked so mentally weak in that match. Johnson another who seemingly always had a fag on the go.
 
I scraped the bottom of the sports viewing barrel by watching it on catch up this afternoon.
I have also been watching it on a regular basis though.
 
It was noticeable how much Trump has matured in his play since 2015. He always had the headline shots in his arsenal, but he's more intelligent about when and when not to use them.
 
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