Pink balls going down holes!! (World Championship)

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Product:	World Championship
Date:	12/05/02 (146 review reads)
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The World Championship's have been finished less than a week and this year they gripped the general public with a sensational final-the best seen for years.

Snooker is an incredibly popular sport in this country and the viewing figures for the final actually beat the F.A Cup final figures which is an amazing achievement especially seen as the final didnt conclude until nearly midnight,

The standard of Snooker is rising all the time highlighted by the fact the highest amount of century breaks were made this year including eight in the final itself.
The venue the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield is the 'Wembley' of Snooker and is widely regarded by the players as being the best and most atmospheric they play at.
As a sports fan in general i watched quite a lot of the action this year and heres my view of the proceedings;
FIRST ROUND
The funniest thing happened in the Jimmy White match when a streaker sporting a Sven Goran Erikkson mask ran around the table leaving the crowd,players and referee in hysterics.It certainly livened things up early!
Matthew Stevens and John Higgins were fast out of the traps with impressive victories collecting quite a few century breaks between them in the process but its not always best to peak early and often the player that plays himself into form by the time the final arrives,succeeds.
Perhaps the only shock to speak of in the first round was that of world number 9 Paul Hunter to the irrepressible Quinten Hann of Australia.
Hann is a real character who the crowd took to and is famed for his opening shots where he blast into the reds hoping to pocket one by fluke,whether this a clever concept or stupidity is open to question-the latter if you ask me!!
SECOND ROUND
Ronnie O'Sullivan the reigning champion made short work of Robert Milkins but was actually playing a faster player(is that possible).Milkins impressed me a lot actually and reminds me of Alex 'Hurricane'
; Higgins but perhaps needs to slow down a bit to fulfill his potential.
Ken Doherty a past winner was given a real fright by Mark King but scraped past him on a last frame decider.
Mark Williams the winner in 2000 was beaten by Anthony Hamilton but it was hardly surprising as Mark hates the venue and never looked at home.
Jimmy White the peoples favourite and surely the best player never to have won the title succumbed again this time to Matthew Stevens who continued to impress with his breakbuilding.Jimmy blotted his copybook in the process by wildly smashing a ball off the table after missing a pot but did apologise later.
John Higgins was sensational as he reeled off one century break after another to trounce poor Graeme Dott 13-2 who could only look on and marvel at his brilliance.
QUARTER FINALS
Stephen Hendry and Ken Doherty were involved in a great match which was full of quality.Most of the frames were won in one visit but it was Stephen who proved the stronger by a single frame.Stephen is the best player ever to have held a snooker cue and has won eight world titles and holds every record in the game. His game has been in decline in recent years but his huge experience and rock solid temperement still see him competing with the best.
'Rocket Ronnie' O'Sullivan made hard work of beating my pre-tournament tip Stephen Lee beating him 13-10.Stephen has a habit of his game breaking down at crucial times but in his mid twenties he still has age on his side in his quest to win the big one.
Peter Ebdon sneaked into the semi-finals hardly noticed with an easy victory over Anthony Hamilton.Hamilton fell behind early and never got on terms,he has loads of talent but i question his bottle as im afraid he lets his nerves get to him when it comes to the crunch.Ebdon seems to have really improved his safety play and had the measure of Hamilton at all times.
John Higgins was expected to beat Matthew Stevens but was brushed a
side by the likable welsh lad.Higgins failed to produce his earlier form and was punished heavily by Stevens for every mistake he made.Higgins was very gracious in defeat and will surely win another title or two in the future.Stevens has a great record at the Crucible but when his father died two years ago it really hit him hard and his game suffered.He showed in this match that he is back to his best and easily capable of going all the way.
SEMI FINALS
Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stephen Hendry were involved in a grudge match.Ronnie said before the match that he wanted to beat Hendry up badly and send him home packing.In my view this showed a complete lack of respect for an eight time world champion and only served to wind up Hendry into desperately wanting to win the match,i suppose it made great television but i dont think it should have happened.
The game itself was a classic with the two players taking turns to star as the match ebbed and flowed without either taking a grip on the match.Hendry's long potting was sensational and he went very close on two occasions to achieving maximum breaks.At 12-12 Hendry finally made a breakthrough by winning four frames on the bounce,breaking Ronnies's resistance taking it 17-13.Stephen denied it was a grudge match but his clenched fist on his cue extension as he left the arena spoke volumes,what it took out of him was debatable as it was the best snooker he had produced for many a year.
Peter Ebdon and Matthew Stevens produced a match of simular quality in the other semi with a record 18 consecutive fifty breaks in frames during the match.Ebdon took an early advantage but Stevens fought back and the pair couldnt be seperated.Ebdon pinched one frame after needing snookers and that turned out to be vital as he won all of the last three frames to win.The second last frame was particurly memorable as he potted an amazing pink under incredible pressure knowing he would lose if he missed.Ebdon is the toughes
t nut in Snooker and he ground out this result,he is one of the slowest players on the circuit but his determination is a joy to behold.Steven's is liked by the fans and players alike and i hope one day he lifts the title he so deserves.
THE FINAL
Hendry perhaps a little jaded started slowly and struggled to keep up with Ebdon but his experience more than anything kept him in it until Peter had a great session to go into the second day 10-6 ahead.Hendry upped the ante and started to whittle the lead away and things looked ominous when he pulled 14-12 infront,surely he would collect title number nine but we hadnt counted on Ebdon's famous grit!
Frames were exchanged and high tension scenes ensued and it became clear that Peter was the stronger mentally as Stephen started to miss quite a few balls.
Ebdon 17-16 in front had a great chance to win it but amazingly missed a simple black off the spot and Hendry took it into a decider.Amid nailbiting scenes both players missed chances before Ebdon finally served up a match winning break and clinched the title.
SUMMARY
Ebdon hasnt always been the most popular player due to celebrating wildly in the past including banging his fist on the table.I remember him upsetting Stephen Lee and Darren Morgan doing this in the past but hes really cleaned up his act and there was no such actions this time round.He isnt the most talented player(Ronnie O'Sullivan cruelly called him a workhorse earlier in the season)but he fully deserved this success due to his dedication and pure will to win.
For me Stephen Hendry should have won it but didnt produce his best form in the final possibly because he was drained after two epic victories over Doherty and O'Sullivan.
O'Sullivan hardly covered himself in glory in this tournament and most people were happy when he was beaten.
Two players to watch out for are Quinten Hann and Robert Milkins who will feature many times in the future.

Th
e best match in terms of quality was the Hendry/O'Sullivan game and the player id most like to see win next year is Matthew Stevens.

Snookers growing on me and this was the most enjoyable sporting action ive seen for some time!!!!!!

JAGO74

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