| krishna |
Posted
on 23-Dec-02 07:35 PM
Snooker is one of my favorite sport and I love watching and playing it. Matthew Stevens, the Welshman is my favorite player, by whom I have had lots of inspirations to play the game. Though he hasn't won any ranking tournaments for a long time now, he is right there on the top of the world ranking list with his amazing display of tactical as well as quick fire snooker. Every now and then, a player of some calibre comes in and defeats Stevens with their best snooker day that they have had in their career.
Talk about stamina. Matthew Stevens is well capable of producing snooker at its highest level. His match against the reigning world champion John Higgins in the 2001 Embassy world Championship which he lost (17-15) and his amazing Semi-final in which he was on his way to win the glory, got bogged down on the best of 35 frames by 18-17. He was (16-14) ahead at one time and was one his way to winning the frame when sheer bad luck came on his way that his 64 break wasn't enough to clinch the frame and he lost the frame and match to the eventual world champion Peter Ebdon.
During the end of 2001, the Welshman lost his father who was an inspiration to him. It seemed that Matthew would not return to the Snooker scene again, but he came with a bang knocking breaks of 145 and 141 to win the Benson and Hedges world championship and was on his way to win the UK when another fine performance from the Brit Robert Milkins stunned Stevens (10-9) when Matthew was leading at one stage (9-7). He has been surrounded by bad lucks. The regning world champion Peter Ebdon quoted him as one of the best player never to win the Embassy World Champion, his thrilling performance against the world champion Higgins in the 2002 Embassy WC only left Higgins nothing but praises to Matthew and told him to win the championship for his father but he wasn't able to do that because of another fine performance in the semi-final from Peter Ebdon.
In the likes of the no. 1 player Ronnie O' Sullivan, Peter Ebdon, Stephen Hendry, John Higgins, Matthew Stevens stands as a figure of worry to the top players whenever he is at the snooker board with his best cue actions (the Seven times world champion Stephen Hendry's favorite), his powerful body language around the board and his stamina for long matches. Matthew stands as the figure of inspirations to any youngters coming into the professional level.
My hats off to the young man. His back was completely against the wall when he was dismantled in the semi-final when he was about to win and at the same time the dreadful incident of loosing his father, he came back firing on left and right cylinders. He still stands defiant and firm in performing snooker at its highest level. Still waiting for the maximum (a break of 147), I wish Matthew Stevens good luck in the next year's Embassy World Championship. I hope he wins it this time and proves to every one that he is the best young player at the snooker scene right now.
We love you Matthew, Keep going.
Krishna..
|
| krishna |
Posted
on 25-Dec-02 08:29 PM
Another potential candidate for winning the Embassy World Championship'03 is the world no. 1, two times world champion, and the world record holder for the fastest maximum ever made, Ronnie O' Sullivan.
O'Sullivan made an unbelievable start to his professional career. He won is first 36 matches and 74 victories in his first 76. He also holds the record for 4 of the 5 fastest 147 ever made. His 147 against Mick Price in the first round of the 2000 Embassy WC will surely take some beating in terms of speed. It took just 5 minutes and 24 seconds to compile.
During the 2002 championship, he was surely on his way to defending the title. In the quarterfinal, it looked as though O'Sullivan would go down to World no. 5 Stephen Lee, but it was not to be for Lee as the sudden change of gear from O'Sullivan, when it was 10-10 which O'Sullivan Won 12-10, made the difference and he was an overwhelming favorite to win the glory for the second time in a row.
He met the seven times world champion Stephen Hendry in the semi-final. The last time these two met in the semi-final of the 2000 championship, they made the highest no. of tons ever made in the match. And it was expected to be a thrilling finale. It sure kept the expectations.
During the first session, Ronnie lead 5-3. But during the second session, the seven times world champion was determined not to let Ronnie go out of his sight. He made 3 magnificent tons to reply Ronnie and lead 9-7. Ronnie hit back and it was all square at 12-12. The large capacity crowd, millions of viewers on TV witnessed one of Snooker's greatest matches. Two naturally talented players ever to hold the cue, went after each other and it was like a boxing match, century after century, blow for blow.
Stephen Hendry's blistering display of outstanding snooker, left Ronnie despairing in frustration just when it seemed it was Ronnie's day. Hendry, proved why he is the seven times world champion by playing some unbelievable snooker to win the match 17-14. Ronnie gave everything he had to defend that title of his, but it was not to be for the crowd favorite.
But he is current world no. 1 and will surely take some beating if he is to be denied the Embassy WC for 2003. Wonderful cue action, beautiful control of the cue ball, magnificently quck fire snooker, and his ability to change gears all of a sudden, puts Ronnie O' Sullivan a very strong favorite to win the title for the second time.
|
