Snooker World Cup 2010

As this weekend is the start of the action term used loosely here at The Crucible Theatre for the snooker world championship. In spite of the fact that this game is played in doors and doesn't have action in the classic sense of the word, it is a sport for which I admire its participants. The game when it is played properly is an art form, delicate touch the application of side screw or top for positional play, knowing the geometry of the table, natural angles and so on. The players always having to think three four or five shots ahead. Making adjustments when break building. Then if it all goes wrong finding a decent safety shot.

Not only is this sport a highly skilful one but it has a level playing field, unlike The Premiership in football where you can predict who the top four teams will to a probability of 90%. All the players have the same starting point, a stick, a piece of chalk and a table with 22 balls on. The top sixteen players qualify automatically for it which leaves another sixteen places up for any person who makes it through the qualifiers. Never knowing who the final four places will be contested by.

But the thing I enjoy the most about it has to be the fact that Rocket Ronnie is an absolute pleasure to watch. Adept with both hands his break building skills and natural ability are second to none if he could only get his mental attitude right he would be unstoppable. But let's not forget John Higgins on his day plays beautiful and creative snooker.

The only downside to the whole show that the Crucible is the fact that the BBC will insist on putting a microphone in the hand of that fucking northern cock John Virgo. At the UK championship I watched a frame of snooker (can't remember who was playing) and of the fifteen ideas for shot selections he came up with only two were right. He won't shut up either and he's got one of those accents that cut through your skin like a blunt samurai sword. Is the beeb being PC? Fulfilling it's quota for presenters from all areas of the country, with which I have no problem but in the name of Steve Davis couldn't they get someone who no what they are chatting about. Sorry went off topic there. But that motherfucker makes my yogurt go off.

All in all the coverage by the BBC is excellent the commentary team is generally good with one exception (see above). Favourites include Denis Taylor, Ken Doherty, and Mr. 147 himself Willie Thorne. Then the between frame coverage or the back room team with the legends that are Parrott and Davis, accompanied by Hazel Irving and that bloke that presents the football league show whose name escapes me.

I suppose all that is left to do is to make my own humble prediction. The last four players in my opinion will be John Higgins, Rocket Ronnie, and Mark Williams and with any luck Stephen Hendry. But time will bare me out on this. As for the overall winner I will not say because it is so hard to choose. This blog has ended in a completely different place from whence it started, was going to talk about all he legends of the game but the train of thought got consumed by my unyielding detestation for allowing Virgo on our TV sets. Damn your squint fucking commentators eye, you've sapped any intelligent thought process I had at the start of this essay. I forgot to mention Hawkeye and how that better helps the viewer understand the wonderful game double DAMN!!