snooker world championship final

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never been to Coventry but when in Stroud recently enough I met the owner of Beer Gonzo, the region's foremost craft beer Mecca - did you end up there at any point?

Bless you, my friend :) Truth be told it always felt like I was writing an email to you here instead of a post on a public forum. <3

We did not end up there. Which is a shame, I now wish we did! We stayed at the Ramada, just outside of the ring road, and focused on the center mostly. On Coventry: the ruines of the bombed to shatters cathedral, the Herbert museum, the university district and the hipster 'Fargo' (Far Gosford) village, with vintage and antiques and 2nd hand book shops and stuff are nice and worth your while.

We were really curious - having wiki'd up our knowledge about Coventry: city heavily bombed during WW2 and rebuilt after - if the center was anything like Rotterdam (obliterated in the war and therefor pressed to reinvent itself, reborn into a futuristic, modern architectural miracle). Alas, it was not. Most of the center is made up of godawful white plastered mall alleys and streets, giving you no sense of direction, with half of the shops closed down; bricky and soulless, melancholy. We piously followed the guides and signs to Spon Street, a medieval street all of the city desperately pushes you towards, but it was a laughable, nigh on offensive, 'attraction'. Yes, there were some old buildings, but those buildings were closed and derelict and. Pubs with proud "this is the oldest pub in the city" signs while in a haunted, decaying state. Take better care of what you promote or declare heritage ffs.

You'll be spoiled for choice on restaurants though: loads of great, esp Asian (and beyond) restaurants. We had great grub three nights in a row: at a Lebanese, Bangladeshi and Indian restaurant. As always in England, nigh on achingly humble and friendly service, fantastic food.

So where's that cue ball going? ;)

I've been to that museum, it's great. The cathedral is also great. Not a mega fan of Cov in general tho.

Those were some fine posts btw LBI

I know there’s a second post but I can’t stop giggling at the centuries guy getting fucked out

As always in England, nigh on achingly humble and friendly service

I dunno you generally get decent service in a curry house tbf. And there are some ace ones in the West Mids in general

NV <3

Gyac, I specifically meant the Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Lebanese *in England* - my admittedly thoroughly flawed catch-all phrase was Asian - restaurants and their staff. They are so welcoming and great, almost embarrassingly so, while working their behinds off. No irony at all. "Centuries guy getting fucked out" is more akin to English pub and rests staff tbf :)

Yeah fair enough! I genuinely enjoy authentically surly service tbf, rather that than forced-sunshineyness of Pret staff

I dunno you generally get decent service in a curry house tbf. And there are some ace ones in the West Mids in general

I don't know Worcester tbh, have only ever driven through/by it as far as I remember. Pretty sure there's at least one ilxor who's Worcester-adjacent tho?

there is 1 who still lives there iirc. I haven't really lived there since I left for uni which was 25 years ago, so any curry houses I used to frequent probably no longer exist (just checked, the one I had the best idea of the address is now a pizzeria)

iirc the racecourse is currently underwater. this is a fairly common occurrence

"This is turning out to be way more of a Real England post than a snooker post, but such is life."

Lol, yes well done :)

Mr. Bond just trumped Mr. Trump 6-3 in the UK Champs. Bad night to be a Trump. #crossesfingers

Oh no Ronnio :(

Ha! Was juuust gonna post about this thinking I'm the only one rambling here anyway. Yeah, Ronnio out but Ding's deserved it! I'm wholly team Ding this tournament. Every single interview he states how much pressure there is on him from his homeland and you kinda feel for the guy? But he's getting better w/ every match this tournament, after a dreadful season start. Good on him.

Also, you simply love too see Gary Wilson - hampered by a badger's tail on the back of his skull, granted - being fucked up by Nigel Bond 6-5 after being 5-2 up.

Yes, for the uninitiated, the Nigel Bond. Partying like it's '99.

Amazing @ Bond!!

Also interesting how three Chinese players have made it to the quarters. First time this has happened?

Yes, for the uninitiated, the Nigel Bond. Partying like it's '99.

hampered by a badger's tail on the back of his skull

lol xp

Tbf it was endearing to see how he barely held himself together in the final frame, he's 54 and seen it all but he was shaking like a leaf.

xyzzz I def think this is the first time three Chinese players made it this far in a triple crown tournament.

There was an embarrassing - bordering on thinly veiled racist - segment Saturday night on the beeb with Alan McManus and Steve Davis discussing Ding's qualities but mostly pitfalls. They questioned whether Ding had 'fire in his belly', because he "wasn't strutting around the table like a peacock" like many Western (=UK) players. The two men noted that it was often Chinese players who showed "a lack of passion and emotion". "Does he really want to win this?" Mind, Ding had already qualified for the final at this point.

When he was easing past Maguire yesterday, predictably the commentariat (including the above) couldn't say otherwise than that Ding was relentless, "a machine". Turns out he wanted it enough after all! Fuck that shit, and I'm glad Ding punished their dumb meanderings.

Don't we all remember the exuberant strutting 'round the table like a peacock of Bond, Williams, Higgins etc etc. C'mon.

Commentary on sports is 'root canal without anaesthetic' levels of horror, with plenty of racism. Real ticking time bomb as more Chinese players get into the latter stages of main events.

Well done Ding (and Maguire for getting into a final, he must be on his way back after a fairly blistering start to his career iirc). Really should win a world title now.

Commentary on sports is 'root canal without anaesthetic' levels of horror, with plenty of racism. Real ticking time bomb as more Chinese players get into the latter stages of main events.

― xyzzzz__, Monday, December 9, 2019 10:13 AM (eight hours ago) bookmarkflaglink

Otm on all accounts. For all the wrong reasons I expected better from Steve Davis though.

Hazel's "we've just received breaking news*" about this new Saudi Arabia tournament deal was ominous, as she left it at a "this will cause some varying opinions" type of remark. No word on if women can even visit this new tournament, for one.

* ten minutes later they aired a pre-recorded interview w/ snooker's boss about it

catching up on old bookmarks and on the saudi arabia thing it’s worth reading hazel southwell on formula e in riyadh.

Though at times grating (and ridiculously long), that was an interesting read, thanks.

What's been your favourite moment of 2020 so far? 💭

Ours: Stephen Maguire defying the laws of physics #DafabetMasterspic.twitter.com/Fpm97SgRlR

— World Snooker Tour (@WeAreWST) January 13, 2020

Just seen this desperately painful image. pic.twitter.com/lHD2UP91y9

— Tre Vorba-Stard III (@TreborRhurbarb) May 7, 2020

:'-(

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/53485482

"Maybe they have to start doing a test on crowds at some point and I've heard people say they're treating the snooker event a little bit like lab rats - you've got to start somewhere, start with snooker players.

"Less insurance to pay out for Anthony Hamilton than there is for Lewis Hamilton."

No audiences after all! Poor Hamilton.

Saw Higgins get a 147 earlier today - the first at the Crucible for eight years! Had no idea it had been so long...

Yeah I was surprised at that stat.

Loathe the tinned applause. Yesterday I saw a match where tinned applause sounded from the other table! Beckettian madness.

He lost tho'. Not seen a min so far but looks like there are some new faces coming through

Lol

I love him pic.twitter.com/tqvupRr5UV

— Your Mum says Black Lives Matter (@judeinlondon2) August 9, 2020

ha, that's great

gf roled off the sofa laughing when we caught that yesterday :D

he's not even wrong, mind.

I think you could draw an analogy to men's tennis in that the trio of Higgins, O'Sullivan, Williams were really special with Selby the only one who has shaken things up, he is younger by a few years.

If you're generous you could say Selby, Trump, Ding and Robertson have shown they can produce snooker as good as the original trio. But there's a lot of second or even third tier players. Yesterday's McGill vs Clarke match a case in point. It should not be possible to have that as a second round WC match, and yet.

Selby, Trump, Ding and Robertson are all in their 30s? Selby and Ding pushing 40? Trump might be late 20a

I mean I could look each one up lol

You're right, mixed up the age thing w/ players stinking at snooker.

That Gould guy I did look up. He's 38, while looking 55!

enters the arena to The Ace of Spades so he's not all bad

the arena... of snooker

True. Can't believe the trite garbage they choose as entering music. Can't believe not even Ronnie ever fucked w/ that by blasting the Duck Total Toilet music or whatever.

Of that quartet only Selby has really looked like pushing that trio out of it (in my tennis analogy he is a bit like Wawrinka). Robertson didn't push on.

Judd is 30 and Ding is 33. I think the latter might get one world title at most. The former could benefit from the gap between retirements and guys in their 20s not coming through.