The World Snooker Championship it is over for some days now and so is the 2016/2017 snooker season: a time for despair for many of us: snooker followers, bloggers, journalists and so forth.
The query “And now what?” involves thoughts, is not it? In order that’s why I considered sharing just a few of the highlights of this yr’s World Championship.
I have not executed this in years, so for these of you who’ve forgot or don’t know what doing an “after” piece is all about, here is the bloody, bloody fact: what you’ll learn subsequent are simply my views. It is my flip to be bias.
A particular version
2017 marked the fortieth anniversary from when snooker graced the Crucible Theater with its presence. It has been one hell of a journey, one that’s certain to proceed for a minimum of 10 years as we had been assured simply earlier than the kick off, of this yr’s version when World Snooker Chairman, Barry Hearn signed the papers.
“The house of snooker” will stay in Sheffield, on the Crucible Theatre a spot so tiny and claustrophobic, however one which guards so many beautiful and painful recollections nonetheless. It is really paradoxical how a spot so small can seize so many nice moments.
The fortieth anniversary received some nice protection from the BBC, a celebration celebration earlier than the beginning of the brand new World Championship, some superior TV-shows, plus a re-play of “The Rack Pack” – a movie that presents (in a really bizarre mixture of unhappy and humorous) the “change of guards” from Alex Higgins to Steve Davis.
I’m what you’d name “old style”, so I am unable to however be overjoyed by the truth that snooker has discovered such an awesome and comfortable place because the Crucible for its residence and that for 40 years this has been the stage the place snooker’s been the winner.
“Shocks on the rocks”
Most likely that the largest shock of the event was the truth that one of many greatest favourites to win the title this yr, Judd Trump suffered an out-of-this-world defeat from world quantity 54, Rory McLeod.
McLeod, whose final main victory was recorded again in 2015 when he received the Ruhr Open, beat Trump 10-8 within the first spherical.
A match that I assume proved to Trump what the expression “nerves of metal” is all about.
Marco’s comebacks
Marco Fu has been a really robust contestant and his type this season might be his greatest thus far. So in all probability isn’t truthful to say I used to be shocked to see him battle his approach by means of matches, performing a couple of comeback.
The primary got here when he was 7-1 down within the first spherical, towards Belgium’s greatest Luca Brecel. What an awesome efficiency for the Hong Kong man! He went on and received the match 10-9.
The second piece of historical past occurred within the subsequent spherical, the place he confronted the mighty Neil Robertson. This snooker encounter was stuffed with a number of errors and unhealthy missed, as the person himself was going to state after the match and though the lads went hand in hand for more often than not, every part modified when Robbo went 10-8 up.
Ultimately although, Fu managed to win 13-11. He received overwhelmed within the quarters although, 13-3 by the reigning world champion, Mark Selby.
Break of sample for Ding
Ding Junhui loved a fairly good run throughout this yr’s World Championship, however his most notable efficiency should positively be the victory he obtained in entrance of his idol, Ronnie O’Sullivan.
“The Chinese language Sensation” hasn’t beat O’Sullivan in 10 years! So to do it right here, on the Crucible, within the quarter-finals of the World Championship should actually be one thing price remembering. Not only for the lad, but additionally for us.
I assume all of us keep in mind the time when Ding ended up in tears after shedding to O’Sullivan, again in 2007 within the Masters’ closing. 10 years later, the scholar was overcomes his grasp.
146 – the brand new 147
I do not learn about you, however I’m a sucker for max breaks. It will get me all heat and fuzzy inside. So the truth that this yr we did not have a 147 on the Crucible was a bit unhappy.
Nevertheless, we had the subsequent smartest thing, which is a 146 fantastically cued by the one and solely Ronnie O’Sullivan within the match towards Ding Junhui.
Curiously sufficient we have not had a most break on the Crucible since Stephen Hendry’s 147 from 2012 – the yr he really retired type skilled snooker.
Selby will get 3 out of 4 & joins elite group
Selby hasn’t simply retained his world title, however has additionally recorded a fairly particular deal: he received three out of 4 World Championship finals!Which, regardless of not being everybody’s cup of tea is a fairly superior factor.
Plus, the truth that he defended his title additionally places him subsequent to snooker’s elite: Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan.
These three gents are the one ones to have received back-to-back world titles.
Classic Higgins
Again in 2011 Higgins received the World Championship in a splendid approach. He loved an incredible season, profitable the 2010 UK Championship and the 2011 Welsh Open so I assume it was solely regular to finish that season in grand fashion. Plus, should you effectively keep in mind he had one thing to show after the six-months ban.
Since then although, his type has been oscillating and though this season he captured the Champion of Champions title, he did not appear to regain his very good cuing fashion.
However this World Championship we had a really good shock from the Scotsman.
Though not at his greatest, he was robust, decided, his lengthy potting was simply very good and he reached the ultimate the place he battled like a lion.
Certain, it was a time when every part got here to items, however it was with none doubt a classic Higgins working across the snooker desk this yr.
Snooker conquers Social Media
I’ve been running a blog about snooker for nearly seven years now and I’m so completely satisfied to say that this yr was in all probability the perfect in regard to how snooker was current and promoted by means of Social Media.
Both we’re speaking about Fb, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube – snooker was there. World Snooker even determined to make use of Fb as a device for broadcasting the World Snooker Championship in elements of the world the place the transmission wasn’t obtainable – which by all means is nice publicity for the game itself.
Snooker reached information territories and flooded all Social Media channels with photos, quick movies, LIVE classes, information and so on.
Every part was there up for grabs. Each minute of the World Championship received protection from the officers, in addition to from us – the snooker blog-sphere – and the snooker followers from all around the globe.
The snooker household received collectively as soon as extra and shared distinctive moments, concepts, jokes and so forth. It actually was an incredible yr for snooker to interrupt the web. I dare to day snooker conquered the web for 17 days 😉
So that is it, grosso modo I’ve acknowledged my case (of which I’m sure, as Sinatra mentioned in a really well-known music – I will allow you to guess which one) of my highlights for this yr’s World Snooker Championship.
And now what? – the identical query arises. Now it is your flip! Write me about your favorite/worst moments, the highlights, the humorous elements … no matter springs to thoughts. I’ll be sure you learn all of them.
Images credit score: World Snooker
