World Snooker Championship 2018

[longeared]

Shoddy from Murphy considering he was 8-5 up, Hendry didn't sound impressed on commentary. We're also saved from seeing some of the more outrageous outfits in Murphy's wardrobe now.

That quarter of the draw has opened up now though. Perry, Allen, Wilson or Jones Jam in the semi finals.

[nmfnp1977]

I've not been able to watch much of the coverage thus far, but me and two friends will be in attendance this afternoon; this evening; and tomorrow morning.

[longeared]

They've had to take Bingham and Lisowski off as one of the lights above the table has broken. Never seen that before!

[nmfnp1977]

Ah, we wondered what was happening! We're on the other table and sitting to the side, so the screen is completely blocking Bingham / Lisowski.

[longeared]

Carter leading O'Sullivan 7-3. Ronnie's not playing well at all, he's missing long pots and his safety play is loose. His body language isn't great either, he's looking distracted and fidgety. Carter's never beaten Ronnie in a meaningful match and he isn't playing stunningly well himself, he's just capitalising on Ronnie's errors.

[longeared]

Ronnie found his potting boots after the interval and whipped through breaks of 79 and 104 in the time since Gardeners World finished. Carter still leads 9-7, he'd probably have taken that at the start tonight but the momentum is against him now.

[longeared]

Carter knocks Ronnie out and gives an emotional celebration. Absolutely astonishing, he's barely potted a ball since Christmas and now both the big favourites are out with the tournament not half done.

Went past the studio this afternoon while it performed its annual role as the main tourist attraction in Sheffield. Saw Steve showing Hazel a picture of something on his phone. Parrott had his feet on the desk. Also notable how much more chemistry there is when the pundits are with Hazel rather than smarmy Jason.

[SouthdownRebel]

She's one of the better sports presenters BBC has in my opinion. That was an enjoyable watch, there was a sense that Carter was in control but not so much that he could afford to ease up at any point. Glad he's through and it's nice to see an open draw without Selby and O'Sullivan.

[Kevin S]

Trump - Walden is quite a compelling match. Trump has just won the last frame before an interval to make it 9-9.

[Kevin S]

I think Judd has his mojo back now.

[Kevin S]

Well now. That was a very special 45 minutes of snooker from Trump.

[Kevin S]

Quarter finals, best of 25:

Mark Allen v Kyren Wilson
John Higgins v Judd Trump

Ding Junhui v Barry Hawkins
Mark Williams v Ali Carter


Two of the matches are at an interval after eight frames; it's Allen 4-4 Wilson and Ding 3-5 Hawkins

[Kevin S]

Trump v Higgins and Williams v Carter are underway.

[Kevin S]

Williams off and running with a table-clearing 135.

[longeared]

Hawkins absolutely bosses Ding this evening. Finishes 11-5 ahead and well on the way to the semis. Difficult to not see him in the final if he keeps playing like that.

[Kevin S]

The evening session for Wilson - Allen is into its final frame now, with Wilson 10-5 up.

[Kevin S]

And that one also is 11-5 after sixteen.

[longeared]

Good stuff from Wilson to end the session at 11-5. New territory for him this and they're not back on until tomorrow afternoon so hopefully he won't think about it too much overnight.

[Kevin S]

Not wanting to get ahead of ourselves, but Wilson has a decent head to head against Judd Trump. His first ranking final victory was an epic one against Trump a few years ago.
https://youtu.be/PW6bun28QbY

(Was 8-4 ahead in a best of 19, but Trump pulled it back to a deciding frame. Skip to 1:30:00 if you want to see it.)

[Kevin S]

However his most meaningful match against Higgins was a comprehensive 13-6 defeat in the QF here last year.

[longeared]

Wilson also beat Trump in the Masters semis earlier this year when Judd engaged in one of his regular examples of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

[Kevin S]

Oh, they're doing the third session of Hawkins - Ding alongside the Trump - Higgins match. Presumably they've done this because that match could be over quickly.

[Kevin S]

*hops over to Eurosport to watch Trump-Higgins*

[Kevin S]

Trump absolutely ruthless there in punishing a miss from Higgins in the opening frame of the session. Opens up a 6-3 lead.

[Kevin S]

Bloody hell, what a terrible frame from Ding that was.