Starts on Saturday. Final qualifying is happening NOW. Shame Reanne Evans didn’t make it.
What do we reckon? Trump is rightly the favourite - having a hell of a year and banged in another maximum the other week too.
Could be a year for one of the young Chinese lads you know. Xiao Goudong and Yan Bingtao have both booked their seats at the Crucible.
Anthony McGill’s finally made it in as a seed. He’s got the game to go all the way in Sheffield. Stephen Maguire’s back as well and he looks up for it. Ronnie and Ding are in #headsgone territory so don’t expect much from those lads.
It gets more impossible to call each year. I’ve plumped for Ballrun at 20/1.
It’s difficult to call, yes. I like watching Trump but he just sometimes lacks that killer instinct for me, too often ends up snatching defeat from the jaws of victory when that shouldn’t happen. That said, he is on form, and I didn’t see any of the China Open, which he won, so idk.
Yan gave a great account of himself against the Smurph. Shame it was a fluke that sent Murphy into the match winning opportunity because he was on the ropes for the last stretch.
Absolute classic last night between Fu and Brecel. Amazing comeback. Think Brecel’s a bit full of himself tbh so good that he took a right humbling.
Jester’s looking in top nick. Best player in the world by miles - will probably win it again. Bingham edged past EBDON in what would have been a torturous experience.
Not sure about all of this Ronnie stuff. Definitely implies he’s not in the right frame of mind to win it. I’m minded to side with Shaun Murphy’s assessment of it all to be honest. Can take into account Ronnie being a bit fragile on occasion but at the end of the day if he breaks the rules he gets a ticking off. He can’t just do what he wants. Either way their 2nd round match is going to be a banger.
Odd result but McLeod was always going to be a nightmare draw for Judd. He was either going to smash him up or get ground down and have a long, arduous defeat. The latter happened.
Reckon Maggi’s gonna do him in the 2nd round with a session to spare.