One of the great competitors, Australian Neil Robertson, can tell a lot about what is wrong with the Crucible Theatre, but English traditions are very strong, so as always since 1977, the cult building in Sheffield will host the World Snooker Championships from Saturday.
| Ronnie O’Sullivan continues to enjoy snooker (Photo: AFP) |
Neil Robertson, who won the World Cup in 2010, finds that the space in the Crucible Theater is very small. This is also true, because the theater, which seats almost a thousand people, can only accommodate two tables at a time, which is extremely inconvenient for the players. But with only one semi-final and final table remaining, Robertson wants to get to the final matches. According to the contract, the World Cup will definitely stay here until 2027.
Defender Mark Selby who recently surprised sports with a thought-provoking statement: He has mental issues. He is the Englishman, who recently won his fourth World Cup title, whose main strength lies not in his style of play, but in his mental strength.
Ronnie O’Sullivan He is already 46 years old, but he is still among the top contenders. The six-time world champion, whose biography is expected to be published in Hungarian this year, is fighting for his seventh world title. The Englishman, considered by many to be the greatest player of all time, has recently been playing without pressure, driven solely by his love of snooker. He doesn’t skimp on anything, which may be why he started as world number one again in Sheffield. If you can get the seventh, you will catch up Stephen Hendry atop the Crucible leaderboard all time.
“Age eventually catches up to me, but I still enjoy it and have an appetite for it,” O’Sullivan said. “It still gives me a good feeling when I can play.” I still enjoy this lifestyle. I haven’t won as much in the last two years, and there are signs that maybe I’m not as strong anymore, but I still feel like my game is OK.”
By the way, Hendry.
The Scottish legend returned to action a year and a half ago, but he hasn’t been able to achieve the same level he was in his prime. He didn’t even start in qualifying for the current World Cup, by his own admission the game didn’t go quite enough, and he didn’t want to be a slapping machine. His free pass, which he was given upon his return, is now expiring after the World Cup, and it’s not certain he will continue.
And speaking of legends. Jimmy White He said goodbye in the first round of qualifying, the former world champion who also pushed the brakes 147 Graeme Dot He fell in the last round. The 1997 champion will not be on home plate Ken Doherty no.
Judd Trump, John Higgins, Kieren Wilson along with several people Chow Hsien Tung (Zhao Xintong) is also ranked as a candidate. The 25-year-old Chinese player, who won the UK Championship last time, is a huge talent and isn’t anymore Ting Chun Hui Ding Junhui is the best snooker player in his country. However, Ting also qualified.
We can see one of the most famous players, a two-time finalist Matthew Stephens, Which saw Ali Carter bye in qualifying. He is standing at the table Hussein Fafaei As the first Iranian to appear in The Crucible.
Vafaei just came out against Ronnie O’Sullivan the next day after the English legend made somewhat disparaging comments about his less successful players, calling them unimportant. Vafaei did not hide his feelings: “What kind of legend is he who speaks of others like that?” – he told the Metro. – We’re still good friends, but it just doesn’t work out. It might make him feel good, but I think people should treat him the same way. I do the same, I treat him the way he deserves.
Only Welsh Michael White So is Welsh Jackson page Successfully won all four qualifying matches among first-round players. In addition, White will start as an amateur, and this is only the second time in World Cup history (the first was James Cahill in 2019, who outright defeated Ronnie O’Sullivan in the opening round).
The draw for the first round took place on Thursday. The highlights have already been given, Mark Selby As the first defending champion Ronnie O’Sullivan He plays second in the world. The two can only play each other in the final match. The featured players from the 16 first-round pairs were automatically seeded based on the world ranking list, and the 16 players from the qualifiers were paired with them.
Selby with Jimmy Jones from Wales, O’Sullivan with David Gilbert from England. A tough battle awaits both of them.
English can be ranked among the best results in the first round Keren Wilson And the Chinese Ting Chun Hui, English Judd Trump And the Iranian Hussein Fafaei English Shaun Murphy and scots Stephen Maguire interview.
On the first day of the game, according to tradition, Mark Selby will also be at the table, and by the evening it will be clear whether he will make it to the second round.
The total prize money is 2,395,000 pounds (1.1 billion forints), the reward for the winner is 500 thousand pounds (227 million forints).
SNOOKER, WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, SHEFFIELD
To reach the round of 16 (according to the branch plan) *
Mark Selby (England, 1) – Jimmy Jones (Wales)
Jinping Tao (China, 16th) – Chris Wakelin (English)
Barry Hawkins (England, 9) – Jackson Page (Wales)
Mark Williams (Wales, 8) – Michael White (Wales)
Keren Wilson (English, fifth) – Ting Chun Hui (China)
Stuart Bingham (English, 12th) – Liu Hao Tin (China)
Anthony McGill (Scotland, 13) – Liam Highfield (England).
Judd Trump (English, fourth) – Hossein Vafaei (Iranian)
Neil Robertson (Australian, 3) – Ashley Hugill (England)
Jack Lisowski (England, 14) – Matthew Stephens (Wales)
Luca Bresel (11th Belgium) – Nopon Saengkham (Thailand)
John Higgins (Scotland, 6) – Thepchaya Un Noh (Thailand)
Zhao Hsintung (China, 7) – Jamie Clarke (Wales)
Shaun Murphy (England, 10) – Stephen Maguire (Scotland)
Mark Allen (Northern Ireland, 15 years old) – Scott Donaldson (Scotland)
Ronnie O’Sullivan (England, 2) – David Gilbert (England)
* The matches continued until the tenth frame was won in the first half.
Daily division of the first round program
Saturday 16th April
11.00 am
Mark Selby (England, 1) – Jimmy Jones (Wales)
Zhao Hsintung (China, 7) – Jamie Clarke (Wales)
15.30
Barry Hawkins (England, 9) – Jackson Page (Wales)
Ronnie O’Sullivan (England, 2) – David Gilbert (England)
20.00
Mark Selby (England, 1) – Jimmy Jones (Wales)
Shaun Murphy (England, 10) – Stephen Maguire (Scotland)
April 17, Sunday
11.00 am
Anthony McGill (Scotland, 13) – Liam Highfield (England).
Zhao Hsintung (China, 7) – Jamie Clarke (Wales)
15.30
Mark Williams (Wales, 8) – Michael White (Wales)
Ronnie O’Sullivan (England, 2) – David Gilbert (England)
20.00
Barry Hawkins (England, 9) – Jackson Page (Wales)
Shaun Murphy (England, 10) – Stephen Maguire (Scotland)
Monday 18th April
11.00 am
Anthony McGill (Scotland, 13) – Liam Highfield (England).
Mark Allen (Northern Ireland, 15 years old) – Scott Donaldson (Scotland)
15.30
Mark Williams (Wales, 8) – Michael White (Wales)
Neil Robertson (Australian, 3) – Ashley Hugill (England)
20.00
Stuart Bingham (English, 12th) – Liu Hao Tin (China)
Mark Allen (Northern Ireland, 15 years old) – Scott Donaldson (Scotland)
Tuesday 19th April
11.00 am
Jinping Tao (China, 16th) – Chris Wakelin (English)
Neil Robertson (Australian, 3) – Ashley Hugill (England)
15.30
Stuart Bingham (English, 12th) – Liu Hao Tin (China)
John Higgins (Scotland, 6) – Thepchaya Un Noh (Thailand)
20.00
Jinping Tao (China, 16th) – Chris Wakelin (English)
Jack Lisowski (England, 14) – Matthew Stephens (Wales)
Wed 20 Apr
11.00 am
Keren Wilson (English, fifth) – Ting Chun Hui (China)
John Higgins (Scotland, 6) – Thepchaya Un Noh (Thailand)
15.30
Judd Trump (English, fourth) – Hossein Vafaei (Iranian)
Jack Lisowski (England, 14) – Matthew Stephens (Wales)
20.00
Keren Wilson (English, fifth) – Ting Chun Hui (China)
Luca Bresel (11th Belgium) – Nopon Saengkham (Thailand)
Thursday 21st April
14.00
Luca Bresel (11th Belgium) – Nopon Saengkham (Thailand)
20.00
Judd Trump (English, fourth) – Hossein Vafaei (Iranian)
