The Masters

Stuart Bingham ran riot over Shaun Murphy in the evening match to win 6-0.

A lot of one sided matches in the Masters this year with a sprinkling of 6-5s in there as well.

Anyway on to the semi finals

Mark Williams v Jack Lisowski

Judd Trump v Stuart Bingham

A surprising last 4, obvs hoping for a Trump-Lisowski final. EuroSport telegraphed things at the start of the Bingham-Wilson match when they tipped Bingham to repeat history of his previous Masters win. I don't like him any more than Tubs Murphy, but at least he's less of a publicity-mad mouth-piece.

Yeah not terribly enamoured with the line up really. Aside from the O'Sullivan v Williams match I have not been as engrossed as I usually am. Maybe I am just a grumpy old girl

Is it just me but bbc snooker coverage is terrible, about time Taylor and Virgo pensioned off and new blood brought in, same with Hazel Irving.I used to enjoy it but now it's awful .
Have to agree with Snooks O'Sullivan v Williams great game,sadly part ruined by Dennis Taylor's poor commentary.

Wow Williams 4-0 up on Lisowski

(14-01-2023 13:32 )baywatcher Wrote:  Is it just me but bbc snooker coverage is terrible, about time Taylor and Virgo pensioned off and new blood brought in, same with Hazel Irving.I used to enjoy it but now it's awful .
Have to agree with Snooks O'Sullivan v Williams great game,sadly part ruined by Dennis Taylor's poor commentary.

problems is that most of the people who should be commentating at there age are still playing and winning so not get new blood in commentators lol

(14-01-2023 15:12 )HannahsPet Wrote:  

(14-01-2023 13:32 )baywatcher Wrote:  Is it just me but bbc snooker coverage is terrible, about time Taylor and Virgo pensioned off and new blood brought in, same with Hazel Irving.I used to enjoy it but now it's awful .
Have to agree with Snooks O'Sullivan v Williams great game,sadly part ruined by Dennis Taylor's poor commentary.

problems is that most of the people who should be commentating at there age are still playing and winning so not get new blood in commentators lol

Think EuroSport have the edge because they use a non-player alongside a player. That said, Dominic Dale is a bit bland.

Stunned at the whitewash this afternoon. Williams aiming tomorrow for his first Masters win in 20 years!

The BBC coverage suffers somewhat through not utilising people like Alan McManus and Joe Perry both of whom I think are insightful and closely aligned enough to the modern game to compliment others already there.
McManus is with Eurosport and ITV.
Big error from the BBC imo.
Shaun Murphy is divisive albeit not seemingly on this forum. Away from here he appears to be a Marmite type figure. Personally I don't think commentary is really his bag.

Dennis Taylor is very bland and not particularly insightful. Steve Davis although my hero is better in the studio analysis bit than in commentary while John Parrott is arguably better in the box.

Hazel Irvine for me is one of the most outstanding sports presenters of any era.
An absolute model professional, very rarely caught out and highly composed and articulate in all she does. Her work for multi sport events like the Olympics is especially impressive and I think she does a superb job on snooker too.

So to the bone of contention where I am likely to be in a hopeless minority.
John Virgo.
For all the 'Wheres the cue ball going?' and such like I am of the opinion he is an outstanding commentator who has always been able to see shots ahead of time in line with the era of play.
I tend to think it is important to look beyond the catchphrase and focus on what he is trying to tell you. Yes there will be a bit of old stories and catchphrase which some love and some loathe. But for me he combines it with insight and recognition of player error both in judgement and execution which for me is pure common sense.
There is a bit of the Mary Poppins spoonful of sugar element to this.
If you prefer the insight then he offers that as the spoonful of sugar and the stories and catchphrases go down with it. If you prefer the stories and catchphrases that is the spoonful of sugar and the insightful judgement goes down with it.
He has adapted his judgement in line with how the game is played and that is no mean feat.
He has not made the fatal mistake of being stuck in the 1970s and 80s.
The notion he has failed to move on I reject wholeheartedly and I will miss him when he retires.

"He's 65 points behind, with 65 on, BUT FOR ME HE'S JUST GONE FAVOURITE"

Sorry, Snooks, I admit I changed my mind about Clive Everton, but Virgo is a no-no.

Anyway, relieved Trump put Bingham away so smoothly. He needs to win more of these big events too. Should be a good result either way.

have to say was a pretty good final 10-8 to trump

trump came back from trailing 8-7 to win last 3 frames to win 10-8 Williams played well in his first masters final in 20 years