snooker world championship final

Ah well

it's centurific

I'm betting on a final frame decider at 5 AM tomorrow morning :-)

ok, maybe not

I'll be going to my very first live snooker tournament in November, in Coventry. As a spectator, not a player :) Am already trying to think of what shirt to wear to that televised event. I do know this: it will not be that 'Neanderthal morphs into snooker player' one that's all over the screen this tournament. Nor will it be 'Keep calm and watch snooker', ugh. Recommendations are welcome though.

― Uptown VONC (Le Bateau Ivre), Monday, April 29, 2019 10:42 PM (six months ago) bookmarkflaglink

http://www.championofchampionssnooker.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/ManBetX-Champion-of-Champions-Draw.jpg

IT. IS. TIME.

We got tickets for the semi-final Saturday night, and the draw is somewhat unlucky; would've loved to see Ronnie, or Jimmy, obv. But it's all good.

The tournament means precisely nothing but it's my first and likely only live snooker match ✓
First televised tournament with a woman playing against men ✓
Outrageously expensive train tickets (London-Coventry 55 quid wtf) ✓
The tournament is broadcast by ITV4 ✓
I'll be the guy wearing the ... shirt (undecided) ✓

Stoked for the madness.

(semi-final draw is winner group 2 vs winner group 3)

:D keep us all updated!

Selby vs Trump, you have to pick one lol

Sad, sad lol :D

I'm rooting for Thepchaiya, actually!

I've no idea about the atmosphere (if any!) around such an event. My dream is Steve Davis being there, spinning obscure, scratched Les Rallizes Denudes or V/Vm 7"s to get the crowd going and failing spectacularly. But more likely it will mostly be a cesspool of nerds with acne lacking social skills and a penchant for crazy stats of yore. Which, also, is totally ok with me. Will keep you posted :)

Lol yes do :) (and yeah Rail prices are ridiculous, hoping the thing will be thoroughly nationalised by this time next year)

You're not kidding, Comrade! We decided on rail this time, a first, going to England. It felt like somewhat of an experiment? Instead of flying to Brum or Leeds/Bradford or what have you, we quite consciously decided on Eurostar, zipping through the tunnel, not adding to our footprint. The train was great btw, but it's disappointing being back. In terms of costs, most def (pls to elect Jebedia Cromwryn as PM now and nationalise the rails ffs! these hyper-capitalist prices are in.sane.), train tickets are priced outrageously (I have lived in Todmorden for a year, five years ago, which does not represent England, nor Yorkshire, I know, but man... have prices risen since then), and also just the in-your-face aura/nazism of 'Englishness'. Union Jacks hanging behind windows even more than before... Idk...

BUT. This is a snooker thread. So WHERE'S THE CUE BALL GOINGGGG? (had second thoughts abt packing a cd-r of my first "album", something me and my brother threw together when we were young, a terrible demo that only had the title going for it: 'The Day John Virgo Killed The Game'. I didn't pack it, and doubt that fuckface will be there anyway. Canb always throw a usb-stick at him).

Once in a lifetime! :)

https://i.imgur.com/xBk5HL4.jpg

Were we unlucky for not booking the Friday night (a Ronnie vs Neil R. cracker) vs the Saturday semi of Allen vs Trump? Nah. It was truly a "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times" experience. A shambles and fantastic rolled into one.

The snooker was mediocre, at best. The spectacle around it made it completely worth while though. Even if it involved several way too drunk and loud and obnoxious lads and m8s. I realize there is no point in banging on about the sheer number of drunk English attendees embarrassing themselves, but I was still taken aback. The bald guy lower right in the picture, seated before us, earned himself a stern look of the ref because he had a loud lager hiccup during play. He kept telling people around him he expected Trump to make a second century, in that drunk "I am trying to whisper but don't realize I'm failing miserably"-voice: 'Back to back centuries m8', 'back to back centuries', 'back to back centuries telling ya', 'this'll be back to back centuries!'. Obviously we didn't pay the shambolic 10 quid for the commentary earpiece, but the narrator of duty, Stephen Hendry would've narrated the scene as thus: "There were no back to back centuries". Guy left after frame three, threw up in the lounge of the Ricoh Arena, returned and was then removed from the audience when Trump had just made it 4-4, when they played 'Rebel Rebel' during the 2 mins ITV gambling commercial break in between frames, because he had shouted "Shot!" after break-off and after the frame was shouting 'Gmon Ronnie! Gmonn ya fuck! Back to back centuries!"

An older couple - she in her seventies and completely with it, him 85 and struck by severe Parkinsons - sat opposite of us on our bench before play where we were enjoying a beer. We struck a conversation. She told us her husband had been watching snooker on the telly all his life, and it was his wish to once see it live. For his 85th birthday she arranged tickets for this semi-final. She had arranged with the venue that they'd enter through a backdoor, as a surprise, so he'd not realize what the surprise was, or where he was, basically. Surrounded by MASSIVE Ronnie posters and a snooker table in the lobby and a merch stand w/ godawful t-shirts with "snooker players do it with one feet off the floor", she put a plastic straw in his Guinness and said: "We're sitting here now, and he *still* doesn't know what his surprise birthday gift is." He just looked at us, staring, and indeed did not have a clue where he was. When he wheeled his walker to the toilet, 15 mins before showtime, he ignored or forgot the specific and thrice repeated instructions of his wife to use the disabled toilet. Ten mins later I was in the mens - there was a huge line just before the game started - and he was standing there, trousers and underpants at his ankles, in front of a urinoir, lost in himself. Later, when we seated, and just before the start, I saw him and her and they were seated front row. I hope he finally then understood where he was, what his surprise gift was. And that he remembered it, or *knew it*, if only for a short while.

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

Tl;dr the snooker was fine, even more in awe of the players keeping composure in these circumstances (the buzzing drone of camera's and lights is something else in itself), four days in Coventry was neat (though I'd recommend Coventry to others for two days at most). The Herbert museum was nice. It had an exhibition on about Coventry of yore (yore seemingly meaning anything beyond the '00s. There were DOS pc's and Amiga's and Specials 7"'s on display). They also had this, which I could not interpret in any other way as a 'Vote Labour' appeal. Good on them:

https://i.imgur.com/ekF7Ein.jpg

Finally, the snooker merch stand. Saddest. Merch. Stand. Ever.

https://i.imgur.com/AZL5zB6.jpg

35 quid for a snooker ball SIGNED by KYREN WILSON to sock a drunk lad in the face? Don't mind if I do Clive, don't mind if I do.

Best trip ever.

content this quality cannot go ignored

top, top work

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