O'Sullivan faces Ding at Crucible

 

Ronnie O'Sullivan and Ding Junhui have been drawn together in the first round of April's World Championship.

 

That means one of the favourites for the title will not make it past the opening hurdle at The Crucible. O'Sullivan beat the Chinese teenager 10-3 in January's Masters final, when a rowdy Wembley crowd upset Ding.

 

Defending champion Graeme Dott takes on Ian McCulloch (I've beaten him :dance:) while teenager Judd Trump faces 2005 champion Shaun Murphy and Steve Davis plays John Parrott. It is the first time the experienced duo will meet at the Crucible Theatre in 16 years. In 1991 Parrott beat Davis 16-12 in the semi-final of the Championship, gaining revenge for an 18-3 thrashing from Davis in the 1989 final.

 

Dott lifted the trophy last year after beating Peter Ebdon 18-14 in the longest final in Crucible history. In making his debut at the event this year, Trump from Bristol emulates former champions Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O'Sullivan as the only other 17-year-olds to feature.

 

Northern Ireland's Mark Allen is another making his first appearance at the Crucible this year, and he faces 1997 winner Ken Doherty in his opener.

 

World number 66 David Gilbert from Derby is also a debutant. His reward for making it to snooker's elite event is a meeting with seven-time World Champion Stephen Hendry.

 

The Championship takes place from 21 April to 7 May and will receive full coverage on the BBC.

 

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP DRAW

 

First Round (Seeds in Bold)

 

Graeme Dott v Ian McCulloch

Anthony Hamilton v Marco Fu

Stephen Maguire v Joe Perry

Mark Williams v Joe Swail

John Higgins v Michael Holt

Barry Hawkins v Fergal O'Brien

Neil Robertson v Ryan Day

Ronnie O'Sullivan v Ding Junhui

Ken Doherty v Mark Allen

Matthew Stevens v Joe Delaney

Steve Davis v John Parrott

Shaun Murphy v Judd Trump

Peter Ebdon v Nigel Bond

Stephen Lee v Mark Selby

Ali Carter v Andy Hicks

Stephen Hendry v David Gilbert

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6467739.stm

Davis relishes clash with Parrott

 

 

Six-time world champion Steve Davis says he is looking forward to facing old rival John Parrott in the first round at the Crucible next month. The pair, who are both part of the BBC commentary team, have not met at the Crucible for 16 years, when Parrott won 16-12 in the semi-finals.

 

That avenged Davis's 18-3 win in the 1989 final - still a record margin.

 

"We've played a few times over the years and I'm looking forward to the game," Davis told matchroomsport.com.

 

Davis, 49, has not faced the 42-year-old Parrott, who won the 1991 world title, since the 2000 Irish Masters. "The day before the match we will be recording some link together for the BBC then playing each other, but it's not a personal thing. John won't say a word to me during the match," said Davis. "I'm pleased for him that he's got to the Crucible. He's got there on merit and it also helps his cause in keeping as high as he can in the rankings. You know what you get with established players and what they're capable of and you can't get a bigger stage than the World Championships."

 

The pick of the other first-round ties sees Ronnie O'Sullivan paired with China's Ding Junhui. "It will be interesting to see what happens after the Masters (when O'Sullivan thrashed Ding 10-3 in the final) and interesting to see if Ding can recover but I think he would," said Davis.

 

"I cannot think Ronnie would be too happy playing someone as dangerous as that in the first round but in some ways it doesn't matter who he plays as sometimes he beats himself."

 

The Championship takes place from 21 April to 7 May and will receive full coverage on the BBC.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6471043.stm

holy shit! Ronnie vs Ding

 

that's gonna be the best 1st rounder ever!

can't wait :cool3:

White misses out on Crucible spot

 

 

Jimmy White was left "devastated" after missing out on this year's World Championship after losing to Scotland's Jamie Burnett in the qualifying event.

 

White, a six-time runner-up at the Crucible, lost 10-4 in the penultimate qualifying round in Prestatyn. "There were quite a few close frames but I didn't perform at all," said 44-year-old White, who had led 3-2. "It will be hard to watch but it's just a game of snooker. I've lost before and I'll be back to try again."

 

White trailed 6-3 after the first session and only managed to win one more frame in the second as Burnett moved through. "I'm just devastated that I couldn't produce the form I've been showing in practice," said White. "I was 3-2 up and had two good chances in the balls but lost position and Jamie played quite well after that. He punished me but I struggled all day. It's very disappointing."

 

Burnett, said: "It was hard for me because I'm a Jimmy White fan but I had a job to do."

 

It will be only the second time in 26 years that White has missed snooker's showpiece event, having also missed out in 2001. White dropped out of the world top 32 after his first-round defeat at the Crucible in 2006. He has lost in the preliminary round in five of the season's six ranking events.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6412643.stm

McManus fails in Crucible attempt

 

 

Alan McManus failed to reach the World Championship finals for the first time since 1991 after losing his qualifier to Joe Delaney on Tuesday.

The Glaswegian fought back from 8-5 down to force a deciding frame but Delaney quickly got 41 on the board to wrap up a 10-9 win in Sheffield.

 

"I'm gutted to have lost," said McManus, twice a Crucible semi-finalist. "But I played well. The last frame was the toss of a coin - and I just didn't get a chance."

 

Delaney, who works in his family's upholstery business, will now make his debut appearance at next month's World Championship. "This is my best ever win and it's a dream come true to reach the Crucible," said Delaney, the world number 63.

 

Also going through to the blue riband event was Joe Swail, who came through a marathon battle with Dave Harold. Swail, a Crucible semi-finalist in 2000 and 2001, edged Harold 10-9 after more than eight-and-a-half hours at the table.

 

"I was gone at the end," Swail said. "In that last frame I was sat in my chair thinking about booking my holidays for when the Championship is on. I can't wait to be back at the Crucible. I always enjoy playing there and I'm under less pressure now I've won this match."

 

Ryan Day, who lost to Ronnie O'Sullivan in the second round last year, defeated Dumbarton's Marcus Campbell 10-5 to go through to the finals. Nigel Bond, the runner-up 12 years ago, ensured a 13th appearance at the Crucible, beating Glasgow's Jamie Burnett 10-6.

 

The 41-year-old made a top break of 128 to wrap up victory over Burnett, who had beaten Jimmy White 10-4 in the previous round.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6448325.stm

:lol: i feel like Ronnie coould win

... or get knocked out in the first round

you are laughable! what did you mean by i have beaten him? you defeated Ian McCulloch?

I did indeed :)

hahahahahaha massive! defeat Stephen Hendry or Ronnie O Sullivan and you will be the best

Champion Dott suffers shock exit

 

 

Graeme Dott became the first champion since Stephen Hendry in 2000 to suffer an opening-round exit after a 10-7 defeat to Preston's Ian McCulloch.

 

Dott looked tense all match and will have rued the missed pink that would have given him a 5-2 lead. McCulloch ground down the Glaswegian although he showed he is adept at heavy scoring too with a 15th frame 110. Dott claimed the 14th with an 85 and then reduced the deficit to 9-7 before McCulloch took a tense 17th.

 

The 29-year-old is in illustrious company, with John Spencer, Terry Griffiths, Steve Davis and Dennis Taylor also having exited at the first-round stage as champions.

 

Dott partly blamed Ian McCulloch's style of play for his first-round exit. "The way Ian plays frustrated the life out of me, but I beat myself really," said champion Dott. "I've never felt like that. I felt as though I was letting him beat me. I felt absolutely horrible, that defeat has ruined a perfectly good season. I didn't want to say anything before the event in case it gave Ian a boost."

 

McCulloch breathed a sigh of relief after clinching the victory. He said: "I like Graeme, I don't get any satisfaction about beating him. He didn't fancy beating me. He made it hard, I made it hard, but it felt really good going into the last session and felt like I could beat him. You don't become world champion if you're a muppet. Graeme has been a good world champion, but I'll take any win."

 

Graeme Dott 7-10 Ian McCulloch

43-71 64-37 71-17 (61) 1-63 74-41 68-37 61-65 32-85 (51) 57-62 46-58 59-28 31-67 20-68 101-8 (85) 17-110 (110) 85-20 24-71

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6579661.stm

Parrott edges out colleague Davis

 

 

John Parrott booked his place in the last 16 of the World Championship with a final-frame win over friend and fellow TV pundit Steve Davis.

Six-time champion Davis trailed Parrott 6-3 but pegged the scores back to 6-6 before the 1991 winner pulled away again with breaks of 79, 80 and 64.

 

But "the Nugget" hung on and fought his way to 9-9, including a 96 in the 18th.

 

But an in-off from Davis in the decider allowed Parrott to get the necessary points he needed for victory.

 

Parrott praised Davis for his role in the match.

 

"It was some game," said the Liverpudlian.

 

"He's such a fantastic competitor, he can tangle you in knots at times. You can see why he still gets to the latter end of tournaments.

 

"Steve's matchplay is of the highest quality. He wants to beat me and I want to beat him."

 

Davis was equally impressed with Parrott's display.

 

"It was close, but I'm a bit flat after losing," he said.

 

"You try to pull yourself out of a hole at 6-1 down and then 9-6, but I still lost. I thought John played very well.

 

"It was a tough first-round match but I was excited as well. Your recovery rate gets better as you get older, I'm more philosophical these days when I lose because I just play for the enjoyment."

 

Steve Davis 9-10 John Parrott:

34-90 (90) 60-12 1-126 (126) 48-71 (65) 59-72 (55, 65) 29-63 33-72 111-4 (100) 81-13 65-58 70-0 (69) 77-15 (70) 28-79 (79) 0-80 (80) 31-88 (64) 66-39 89-12 96-15 (96) 34-66

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6580523.stm

Ebdon books second-round passage

 

 

Peter Ebdon booked a place in the second round at the Crucible after recording a 10-7 win over Nigel Bond.

Ebdon needed just one frame from the additional session and did enough in a scrappy 17th frame.

 

Earlier in the match, Derbyshire's Bond had a 5-4 advantage having been 4-0 behind at one stage.

 

Ebdon made two breaks of 60 and Bond made his own 60 to level at 6-6, before the 2002 champion grabbed four of the next five for a hard-earned victory.

 

Peter Ebdon said his win owed much to his opponent's bad luck.

 

"That was tough, really tough," he said. "Nigel brought experience into the match - I thought he outplayed me.

 

"Nigel had a lot of bad kicks and contacts, if he'd not then he'd probably have beaten me. That was the difference in the match.

 

"I've been playing well in practice and scoring heavily. Hopefully I can produce that form in the next round."

 

Peter Ebdon 10-7 Nigel Bond:

70-37 88-20 70-54 65-62 (62) 41-71 17-74 0-69 (68) 18-90 0-115 (114) 110-7 (60) 70-33 (60) 9-67 (60) 50-32 68-55 (57) 87-22 104-0 (104) 76-19

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6579611.stm

Stevens canters to easy victory

 

 

Delaney was never at the races

 

Matthew Stevens took little time to win the three frames he needed for victory against Joe Delaney and book himself a place in the last 16 at the Crucible.

Stevens opened up with a 48 and only needed a couple of visits each in the 11th and 12th for his win.

 

Irishman Delaney, who had qualified for the first time, had a mountain to climb after falling 7-2 behind.

 

Nerves and several fouls cost him dear in the first session, with Stevens rarely having to hit top gear.

 

Matthew Stevens 10-2 Joe Delaney:

73-21 80-6 (60) 56-15 74-41 73-25 (69) 1-73 97-20 (53) 71-25 64-69 (55 Stevens) 63-6 68-7 (65) 78-2

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6579933.stm

Hamilton eases past below-par Fu

 

 

Hamilton on top - but it was not pretty

 

Anthony Hamilton secured a spot in the second round of the World Championship with a battling win over Marco Fu.

 

Hamilton went into the final session with a 6-1 lead but the Hong Kong player reduced that deficit by winning the eighth and ninth with a 107 break.

 

That should have been the catalyst for Fu's recovery, but Hamilton scrapped to take next four frames, with the 11th decided on a re-spotted black.

 

The Nottingham player will now play Ian McCulloch in the last 16.

 

Anthony Hamilton 10-3 Marco Fu:

104-4 (84) 62-42 80-0 (80) 80-34 57-56 47-52 78-30 13-57 1-107 (107) 65-51 72-65 49-48 60-8

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6580327.stm

great,im happy about Dott a little bit worried about Steven Davis

Murphy battles past valiant Trump

 

 

Trump is rated as the brightest young prospect in the sport

 

Shaun Murphy booked his place in the last 16 of the World Championship but was made to work hard for his 10-6 win by teenage sensation Judd Trump.

The 2005 champion led 5-4 going into the second session but the 17-year-old bounced back, clinching the 10th and making an 85 break to take the lead.

 

But tension entered Trump's game and missed reds in the 12th and 14th and an in-off in the 13th proved costly.

 

Murphy made an 83 to win the match and set up a clash with John Parrott.

 

The Rotherham-based player praised his teenage opponent for an impressive debut.

 

"The amount of talent he showed me at times baffled me - it was a relief to beat Judd," said the 2005 champion, who now faces John Parrott.

 

"He was like Jimmy White when he first came here. He was just walking around the table and taking on pots.

 

"It was a relief to beat him, I think he'll be around for many years."

 

Trump said a poor safety game in the latter half of the match may have cost him victory.

 

"It's completely different out there in the arena than anywhere I've ever played, it took me by surprise," said the 17-year-old.

 

"I tried to block the TV cameras out and my supporters got behind me, but I think my safety play let me down.

 

"I slipped at the end and began missing balls, but I was happy with my play."

 

Shaun Murphy 10-6 Judd Trump

82-21 (81) 131-0 (96) 64-0 (52) 15-74 0-79 73-0 (73) 37-106 (86) 86-0 22-78 (57) 14-58 4-126 (85) 65-1 (50) 64-46 65-11 69-20 83-0 (83)

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6583849.stm

Super O'Sullivan eases past Ding

 

 

O'Sullivan won in 2001 and 2004

 

Ronnie O'Sullivan needed just under an hour to wrap up his win against Chinese snooker prodigy Ding Junhui.

Many expected a close match between the pre-tournament favourites but after O'Sullivan roared into an 8-1 lead in the first session it was all but over.

 

Ding pulled a frame back in the 10th but the Rocket responded with an 87 break in the 11th before wrapping up his victory with a 72.

 

O'Sullivan now faces either Ryan Day or Neil Robertson in round two. The victor revealed he did not feel sorry for friend Ding following the first-round trouncing.

 

"You are out there to do a job. As far as I was concerned, the shop opened up at 2.30 and closed at 5.30," he told BBC Sport.

 

"There is no place for feeling sorry for anyone, but I am a big fan of Ding, he is a friend of mine.

 

"I just hope that match stands him in good stead for next year."

 

He added: "I was up for it from the beginnning. I got off to a good start."

 

O'Sullivan said the possibility of playing Grand Prix and Welsh Open winner Robertson had not crossed his mind yet.

 

"I didn't really look any further than the game I have just played. I am pleased with the form I have showed and pleased to be in the next round," he said.

 

Despite the defeat Ding said the experience he gained on his first appearance at the Crucible was invaluable.

 

"Ronnie is a very good player and he deserved to win," said the 20-year-old. "It was a good match and I picked up some good experience.

 

"It's the best arena to play in and I'm still very young so I should have a lot of chances to play here."

 

Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-2 Ding Junhui:

84-36 (58) 99-3 (50) 110-1 (109) 84-41 123-0 (66, 63) 32-104 (103) 70-69 133-0 (63, 70) 71-33 13-74 95-21 (87) 72-13 (72)

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6581837.stm

O'Brien stumbles to Hawkins win

 

 

O'Brien punched the air in the final frame

 

Qualifier Fergal O'Brien clinched a place in the second round of the World Championship with a tense 10-9 win over world number 12 Barry Hawkins.

Resuming at 4-4, O'Brien opened up a 7-5 lead, with an 82 break in the 12th.

 

A 48 in the 15th took O'Brien to within a frame of victory at 9-6 up but with the finishing line in sight, O'Brien's potting fell apart under pressure.

 

Hawkins took the next three, with a 129 in the 16th, but missed a black in the 19th allowing O'Brien to seal victory.

 

Victorious Fergal O'Brien said the emotions felt during the deciding frame caused him to punch the air in delight.

 

"I had a Peter Ebdon moment in the last frame," said the Irishman, referring to the player's reaction at beating Stephen Lee 13-12 in 2001.

 

"It was such a relief to win, potting the difficult red was a great shot to do it with."

 

"I played well all day and in those situations you've got to fight."

 

Hawkins was disappointed to have suffered bad luck in the final frame, having fought back from 9-6 down.

 

"The bounce off the top cushion I got was ridiculous, it took me out of position and then I missed," said the Dartford player.

 

"I fancied clearing up when I got in the balls in that last frame, but the luck wasn't with me.

 

"I haven't played well all season, but it's horrible having come back from 9-6 down to level at 9-9 and then get beaten."

 

Barry Hawkins 10-9 Fergal O'Brien

75-47 (58) 85-1 57-58 60-56 5-63 29-69 (69) 79-46 27-90 (63) 9-120 (120) 17-97 (51) 70-1 (70) 28-80 (80) 19-68 (68) 69-64 (O'Brien 64) 42-50 129-0 (129) 86-15 (78) 83-27 (66) 27-71

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6581657.stm

Allen stuns former champ Doherty

 

 

Allen is making his debut at the Crucible

 

Qualifier Mark Allen stunned former champion Ken Doherty 10-7 to reach the second round of the World Championship.

 

The 21-year-old from Northern Ireland had led 6-3 after the first session after breaks of 92, 95 and 74.

 

Doherty started the second session well, levelling at 6-6 and then at 7-7 with a break of 135 - the highest of the tournament so far.

 

But Allen held his nerve and won the next three frames, the last after a tense safety battle, to win through.

 

Frame scores (Doherty first):

6-92 (92) 27-95 (95) 13-93 40-65 55-17 54-21 4-88 (57) 63-50 1-74 (74) 59-25 74-22 74-14 15-82 (76) 135-0 (135) 16-110 (69) 43-76 4-85 (50)

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6585441.stm

of course,i was watching it and i thought Doherty will lose even more

Maguire beat Joe Perry

Hendry - Gilbert 1-2

Maguire seals comfortable victory

 

Maguire could face Mark Williams in round two

 

Stephen Maguire took less than an hour to wrap up his comfortable 10-3 over Joe Perry in the first round of the World Championship at The Crucible.

Resuming with a 7-2 lead, Maguire surged further ahead by taking the first frame of the session on the pink.

 

An out-of-sorts Perry made a break of 56 to take the 12th frame, and keep his faint hopes alive.

 

But Perry broke down on 33 in the final frame to let Maguire in, and the Scot sealed the win.

 

Maguire's long-potting remained at a high standard throughout the match, while his aggressive break building and shot selection simply overpowered Perry.

 

It was only Maguire's second win at The Crucible in four visits, but the 26-year-old looked to be approaching the form he showed when he first burst on the scene in 2004.

 

Stephen Maguire (Sco) 10-3 Joe Perry (Eng):

74-20 (66) 31-57 79-51 (Maguire 64, Perry 51) 70-32 (58) 45-63 92-13 83-3 (83) 124-0 (124) 68-1 (68) 56-40 81-6 75-30 (56) 64-37

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/snooker/6586303.stm

today still first round,i want to see Ronnie finally in second round