Snooker

Jimmy White must beat Robert Milkins on Sunday to reach the World Championships at the Crucible. Alas, Steve Davis got beat in qualifying yesterday

Gutted about Steve Davis but not surprised in all honesty .

White fell at the last fence (so to speak)

But good news for fans of dour Scotsmen - Alan MacManus qualified!

The qualifying rounds are over and on Saturday morning my highlight of the sporting year gets underway at The Crucible Theatre in Sheffield .
In many ways this could be the most open championship for many years with a number of players in contention to do well.
Ronnie O'Sullivan heads to Sheffield with no match play at all to speak of this season. Can he turn on the style and repeat his triumph of 2012?
He has a tough draw as he faces the possibility of a rematch with beaten finalist of last year i.e Ali Carter in round two, old foe John Higgins in the quarters and anyone from former champions Shaun Murphy and Graeme Dott or former runner up Judd Trump in the last four.
Higgins has had a mixed season with form being somewhat erratic but as a four time former champion he has the knowledge that he has the game, the discipline and the stamina to last the course once again. A superb match play game gives him genuine chances once again.
Dott is a seasoned campaigner and could be a dangerous dark horse if taken lightly.
He is a former champion and beaten finalist and a gritty player who will make life tough for any opponent.
Shaun Murphy has had a solid season without ever really hitting the heights he reached when winning in 2005. He will need his safety game to be in tip top shape to win the key frames should he reach the later stages in my view.
Judd Trump has had an up and down time since his fantastic run to the final a few years ago when losing to Higgins in an enthralling final.
Match play discipline will be key for him, the ability to win the scrappy frames could be the difference between success and failure for him. He has an all out attacking style that will excite the crowd but could his strength turn out to be also be his weakness? Time will tell.
Dangerous outsiders in the top half of the draw include Marco Fu from Hong Kong, former champion Peter Ebdon and former runner up Matthew Stevens as well as the winner of the World snooker shootout - Martin Gould.

The bottom half of the draw is loaded with talent and class.
Former World Champion Neil Robertson has genuine high hopes once again after a very consistent season. It took an at the peak of his powers O'Sullivan to beat the Aussie last year and although he faces a very tough draw nothing will phase him.
World number one and UK champion Mark Selby heads to the Crucible on the back of a season where his world ranking tells its own story. A first round exit last year is something he will be keen to make amends for this time around and he should feel happy and relaxed with his form and more hopeful than ever that he can break his Sheffield duck.
Glasgow's Stephen Maguire has been in good form for a while and has reached the semi finals a few times down the years. He has had chances to make the final but just come up short. This years Welsh Open winner has a tendency to be his own worst enemy and loses his patience and his rag a little too easily when things are not going his way. At the Crucible this has to be a worry once again. If he can conquer this weakness he may well make the extra step or two he needs.
Former champion Mark Williams is not in the best of form but he knows what it takes to win at the Crucible although his last success was some years ago now.
Should he hit form he could be a big danger however.
Mark Allen could be the man to watch out for this year. He has had a fine season and loves the Crucible event. He tends to play some of his best stuff in Sheffield and is pretty fearless which makes him very dangerous. Potting and breakbuilding are now allied to a much improved safety game and he will be scared of nothing and nobody.
China's hopes rest with Ding Junhui with many millions back home doubtless desperately keen that he claims the title for the first time.
He has the game but stamina and temperament are the key concerns for him.
Can he stand up to the demands of the 17 day marathon of the mind?
Outsiders to watch out for in the bottom half include Matthew Selt although he faces Selby in round one and bright young prospect Jack Lisowski who I think could be a major talent in the years to come.

All in all this championship promises much.
Lets hope it really delivers and may the best man win .

So who's tipping who for the title ? I've already stuck £20 on John Higgins at 12/1, but I'm starting to lean towards that irritating fat shit Shaun Murphy at 18/1 or even Ronnie at 6/1. Open field, but fingers crossed Judd won't win. Arrogant twat.

This tournament is Neil Robertson's to lose, he has the easiest path to the Semis, with only possibly Maguire causing a threat.

Top half is wide open, we don't know how O'Sullivan will turn up, if he plays well like last year, he should go far. The likes of Higgins, Dott and Trump are off form, Murphy is still consistent, but I've seen him play much better than he is now in recent seasons. Some of the qualifiers could do danger in the top half, Fu, Gould, Mark Davis and the relatively unknown Sam Baird could all do damage.

Bottom half as I said I favour Robertson, but the bottom section of the bottom half, has Selby, Lisowski, Allen and Ding in it, all of which are capable of going on a good run. Will have to favour Selby from this section, with Allen second favourite, Ding doesn't have the best of records at the Crucible, while Lisowski could well beat Hawkins, but then could meet Selby which will be tough.

I think it will be Robertson v Murphy/Trump final(If one of them performs better)

Fantastic ovation from The Crucible crowd for The Rocket.This is going to be compelling viewing.First frame & Ronnie's in the balls with a frame winning break.

(18-04-2013 15:09 )The Robot Devil Wrote:  that irritating fat shit Shaun Murphy

Ah, a fellow non-fan! Not sure what's wrong with him, apart from a terrible smugness, and pseudo-chummy banter when allowed into studio interviews. "I was World Champion, you know" Yes, so was Joe Johnson and he's a bigger laugh than you ever will be.

John Higgins beaten 10-6 by Mark Davis in round one.
With Mark Williams already out that is 2 major seeds out.
Mark Allen behind against Mark King after their first session 4-5 so another shock could be on the cards.

If Ali Carter gets through to play Ronnie I am tipping the winner of that match to go on and win the title.
The reason is that I think the bottom half of the draw will be so tough to get through that the winner of that half could be burnt out by the time they reach the final.
Carter could beat Ronnie imo as its so early in the championship when Ronnie is more vulnerable.