It was a great match Ron, Bingham has really suprised me through this tournament. I knew he was decent but I didn't realise he was this good. It's very unusual to see a journeyman pro, turn into a top class player so late in his career. But fair play to him. The final should be another cracker, I'm hoping Murphy wins though as I had a punt on him at 9/4 at the start of the semi finals. The way Bingham played tonight though, has me worried
He's fit to handle the tight situations is Stuart. Nice fella as he is, he'd be a poor World Champion so I'd be supporting Murphy myself.
The way Trump was playing I thought he was going to pinch it. I think that would have made a better final but the fact that Bingham beat him means he must have played well over 33 frames..
Trump needs to tighten up his safety game or he won't be winning many World Championships. You can pot all you like, but if you can't play top class safety in the long WC games you won't be winning it
Trump is waisting his obvious talent. When he first burst on the scene in 2011 he got all the way to the final, only losing out in a close battle with one of the greats in John Higgins who was at the top of his game. Trump then dominated winning the UK championship and lots of other tournaments to get to world number 1. But the last few years, he's taken his foot off the gas, and hasn't put the effort in. There is no way a guy with Trumps talent should be world number 6. He should be dominating snooker
His one-off potting is immense and in fairness he seems to handle the pressure. The one weakness I see is his safety play. If he could follow in his idols footsteps, Ronnie, and get a worldclass safety game together he could dominate but without that he's simply a wee boy in the adults pool
I think his safety is very good, and has improved. He is just not potting the balls he used to 3 or 4 years ago.
One of my mates, who couldn't walk out of sight on a dark night, and loves a bar stool, once played Eddie Charlton in the local pub. He took the big man to the black. When ever his missus wants romance, he just thinks about the game and bingo......instant woodie.
This guy Bingham is a very controlled character. I expected him frankly to get blown away, but not for the first time hes proving me very wrong! His safety is impeccable and it keeps him in with the more naturally talented potters around. He mightn't win but he won't be disgraced.
The big lad from Rotherham wins this. Interesting story about your mate playing Eddie Charlton Cyc - and the sexual connotations. The only time I've ever associated Steady Eddie with sex is when trying to delay shooting my load for a couple of minutes - amazing what a mental review of Eddie's safety game can do for sexual longevity. I'm sure all these young lads who make the pornos are watching hours of Eddie Charlton before going on screen to perform. When getting to the vinegar strokes they just reflect on the percentage of Eddie's safety shots that end with the cue ball behind the baulk line
Murphy being gifted frames to rattle of 3 quick frames within 50 minutes. Ball run will have to get clued in and fast, he himself should have took the opening 2 and he simply must stick with Murphy going into tomorrow or it could be a precession! Murphy is cueing awesome. As good as I've ever seen him cue.
I'm hoping Murphy can keep racking up these frames this session. As I feel Binghams best chance is to keep the match tight , as this would pile pressure on Murphy's long pots. If Murphy has a lead he can play with less pressure and more freedom, which will hopefully see him play his best snooker. As there aren't many players who can stop Murphy when he's playing at his best
Just thinking how boring it must be for the one sitting down. How about a new tournament where they take it in turns to have (say) 5 shots each or (say) 30 secs at the table?
They run a premier league Ron in which a shot clock is used. They have "Snooker Shootout" held every January nowadays too where it is in operation and also its a one frame situation. Barry Hearne over the past few years has been slowly changing the whole organisation and for the good too. He has introduced a Q school where anyone can go and attempt to get their card for the PTC European tour events. He has also shortened the format of most tournaments too making them best of 7 frames. Even some of the majors, the Masters and UK championship format has been shortened with only the world championship remaining the same. I don't think they should change the world championship anymore as it's perfect now. A lot of the pros would, especially the better ones are not fans of shorter formats as they believe the longer the match, the more they will shine through where as in short formats it leaves then vulnerable to relative unknowns at times. This is exactly what Hearne wants. It grows the game that way by making theses results achievable and giving lesser lights a chance to shine.
