Fruit Machine Chat

It's upon us. Who do you fancy this year? Here's a brief run-down from yours truly, an avid snooker fan.

Ronnie O'Sullivan - Has had a very consistent year, runner up in Aberdeen, awesome in the UKs, and should have won the welsh. Definitely in with a shout.

Mark Selby - The Jester. Exceptional recent form has made him one the worlds best. Wins at the welsh and the masters this season have shown his true ability. Good showings elsewhere too, and again in with a great shout.

Stephen Maguire - On fire once again, winning in China & Northern Ireland and unlucky to come up against a focused Ronnie at the UK final. after a lean spell. Back to his mean best, and will be hard to stop.

Shaun Murphy - Winner in Malta, and finalist in china. Good showings elsewhere too show that he is back to his world title form. Could he win again? Maybe...

I do think the winner will come from these 4, who have dominated everything this season with superb snooker. As for some others...

Marco Fu - Hot and cold, but capable of beating anyone. Beat Ronnie to win the grand prix, though i don't fancy him to win.

Neil Robertson - Hugely disappointing season for my local player. the Melbourne Machine has been off form all year. Currently world number 7, another season this bad next year would take him out of the top 32. Shocking. Too much partying round these parts, not enough snooker focus. I'll be laying him for £25 on betfair.

John Higgins - Again a very poor year by his high standards after last years win. Can't see him winning it again this year.

Ding Junhui - No really great showings from Ding this year either, overshadowed by the all conquering top 4. Concentration and mental issues mean i think he'll miss out for now.

As for Hendry, Ebdon, Day, Doherty, Carter, Dott, Perry etc, i'd say none from this group will win.

Good luck all.

The rocket is far too short at 3/1, did i read somewhere that he has only won 1 tournament in the last 4 years?? (doesn't sound right to me)

I would probably go for a outsider e/w bet on a up and coming player, Ryan Day ranked (prov) 7th in the world and 40/1 at most firms represents sound e/w value to me.

You can get 4.4 for Ronnie on Betfair, but still far too short.

Well thats a bit better,

He will probably play like a demon for the first few matches and look unbeatable and then get bored and lose the next...

No one better than him though if he is on form.

go mark selby vastly improved

I backed the winner last year [Higgins] @ 10/1 at the start of the tourney, but was cheering Selby on in the final, i think Selby has got a great chance again this year, especially now he's won a couple of tournaments, he has played really well recently and won't fear anyone, i was in the bookies yesterday and looked at the odds and thought Robertson looked good value @ 16/1 so i've had £10 on him, really looking forward too watching this year

I'm going to opt for Selby myself. Last year there were no expectations on him but this time around with the season he's had people are expecting him to do the business. I hope pressure doesn't get to him, also, I haven't seen the draw yet - can he avoid Ronnie in getting to the final?

I'm laying on ronnie.

Gonna have a bit of a bet on williams and hendry for a bit of nostalgia

Selby and Ronnie for me. At his best O'Sullivan is unbeatable and Selby has a very good safety strategy possibly from playing pool. Maguire doesn't seem to flourish in long matches and is a lay at the price. For a long shot I would have a fiver on Liang Wenbo at 190.

always seems that a longshot makes the semi-finals and possibly beyond , the key of course is finding the right one! - i have backed Stuart Bingham outright and on the spreads , had me worried against Steve Davis but his part of the draw is as good as it gets , Murphy or Robertson in the Quarters is the toughest if he gets there - long shot , 175/1 , but worth a stab to me

best day of snooker so far today this year, even though my Robertson bet went down, some great matches, just watched Joe Swail Vs Liang Wenbo that was a cracker, great comeback from Joe but understandably he felt the pressure as they both did, and the chinese kid even punched the air at one point with the score 12-10 thinking he'd won and Joe got the snooker too peg him back further and force a deciding frame, then there was the maximum, absolutely awesome, that shot too free the red and pink was just brilliant. Ronnie is a legend and even if you don't like snooker you've gotta enjoy watching him, even if he does say some very silly things ops: ops: .


But perfection is a very hard thing too maintain and his next opponent Liang Wenbo played great in the early part of his match against Swail but struggled too get over the line, can't see him having this trouble in his next match, cause he won't be getting near the line, Ronnie all the way for me now, unstoppable in this form should he keep it up.

another 147 well done Ali Carter, hope O'sullivan had a bet too cover his 157k, unbelievable stuff

Amazingly Peter Ebdon missed the 15th black in the previous frame!

Don't be surprised if you see another before the end of the week.

My 4 to avoid in my opening post have all gone, which was good tipping by me :P

From my winners pot i have only Ronnie & Maguire left. I do have to say Hendry looks very good again, what a turn around. One of the best championships for ages this year, brilliant to watch.

had only just switched on and caught the tail end of the Carter maximum, Hendry got close too earlier so i heard froma mate, 14 reds 14 blacks (i think)