snooker world championship final

final was too heavy-scoring for this one^ ;)

one thing bugs me

when he said 'great to beat the second best player in the final', murphy did a shocked face - this was all vaudeville, right?

yes

man fkn clearance by Ronnie to win the match and get into the Masters final.

RIP Steve Davis' career (he just announced he's retiring)

Alan McManus - thank you.

it was brilliant, was thinking of bumping this thread. that closing run of fifty breaks was magnificent, although his first won frame of the match was even better - one of the best centuries i've seen. who knew he could play like that?

meanwhile choker fu is choking

Gotta a tough-ish chance now.

my word, this is unlike him

On the colours now

Awesome

love these semi-finalists. ANYONE BUT SELBY

He has reached the SF before - two Asian players in the SFs for the first time

altho it'd keep this year's leicester theme going i spose xp

would loooooove a ding/fu final altho mcmanus has played so well it'd be a shame if he lost

McManus!

wow @ 8 centuries in 16 frames (Ding 5, McManus 3 at the moment)

Now Marco's only gone and rubbed his tip off :(

Shame really, its 8-8, back tomorrow so hope he can improvise in some way

McManus has got Ding in long safety battles: 9-8

stops the rot

that frame was quite a scrap and Ding just got the break. Ding was under a lot of pressure.

Now motoring on and on a 147 to make it three frames in a row.

Fails on the last black.

9th century in a SF - that's a record.

man alive, Alan won't let go although Ding has been reckless a couple of times since the break

black missed off the spot: 13-10, one more come back needed tonight

That is the worst safety ever

Four frame adv. You'd think Ding will get over the line but I've seen more unlikely comebacks.

no wonder theres been so many centuries if the pockets are oversized!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/36174937

ding has to win it now. has to.

if it's Ding v. Fu, deciding frame, that could be 35 x TON UP!

Expect Selby to win - a better break builder than McManus with as good a safety game.

Ding is a great break builder but not as complete match player as Selby - Selby would need to severely under perform for Ding to win this.

Wonder what the worldwide (i.e. China) viewing figures for Ding v. Fu would have been?

Solid comeback by Ding

Such a quality frame - Ding was 71 ahead, failed to put away a red that would've meant the end of it.

Selby then gets a sweet long red. Now 35 points and one snooker later, one snooker to go - very much on.

Nearly 70 mins in the end for Ding to get the blue and pink.

Selby didn't win it but this is top match play snooker from Selby. Ding was on a run of heavy scoring so we'll see what that has done to Ding. Two frames left tonight.

This was incredible safety play.

Its totally paid off - Ding looks shot.

10-7. Very weird end last night - everyone rather be in bed. That's the players, audience - both in there and at home.

Selby's brill match play drained us all, gets him a three frame lead which Ding will have to muster seven-century snooker to overcome.

Since when did they start playing 9-frame evening sessions in the final? Actually, I can remember them doing 7+9 (wasn't Taylor 0-7 vs Davis in '85 after the afternoon?), but not 8+9. Seems a bit harsh on Ding who could have had a night's rest at 7-9.

I was wondering about that - last session is usually too long so maybe reducing it might be a good idea.

I hate Selby's attritional play more than Ebdon's or Higgins' or any other "scrape him off the table" grinding wanker.

^^^

disspiriting match so far

worse than Ebdon?! That's cold!

why is he so fucking sad???!?!??!

has he just realised that life is meaningless or something

2017, from what I've seen so far:

- Higgins looks like he's BACK BABY and in the easier half of the draw (that 58 break, taking adv of a kick when Allen was about to make it 10-9 gave flashbacks from before the time he got corrupt). LOL it was funny Parrott talking up any strength in that half for Hendry to basically go 'u mad'. Doesn't mince words and he never talks anything up.
- Ronnie is looking good, enjoyed how he despatched that piece of thrash Murphy yesterday.
- That upper half is tough tho'. You'd say Selby or O'Sullivan to come through.
- I can't see O'Sullivan beating either Selby or Higgins in a final, they are the two players who play the kind of game that throws Ronnie off (as I might have discussed this over the years).

:-(

a strong ding is a strong championship, every legend fades

Ding-Selby is a terrific match, maybe better than their final...Ding is scoring heavier but unfortunately can't quite close the two-frame gap. He was about to square but missed the opportunity and Selby nailed him to the cross: 12-10

12-12. This is a great, great response by Ding. Could be the making of a World Champion.

His 13th century of the tournament, his nearest is on six.

Can't see the final session tomorrow afternoon :-(