Crucible 2023

In fairness, very gracious and genuine words from Selby.

 

Well done Sh*ithouselby, this is the best Final that you never won.

Brilliant from Brecel, I'm really pleased to see him win it.

 

As a fan of Ronnie, who - due to his unreal longevity - I've had the privilege to watch from near enough day one, it's superb to have seen this real emergence of Brecel.

He's been there for a while, clear talent, but the usual question marks whenever a player plays in the fashion he does. But what a couple of weeks. Classic matches. The comeback the other day, managing to knock out Ronnie himself overhauling a huge deficit, and to beat Selby in a final is a task in itself. Not everyone's cup of tea, Mark. He plays a different game. But he's one of the best there's been, regardless. His 147 says it all.

So yeah, enthuses me that Luca has come out on top and that playing in the manner he does is still 'the' way to win.

All I've known since being a little lad is snooker with Ronnie. Always wondered if I'd stop watching when he packed in. But Brecel might keep me interested.

 

Have you ever been? Same as @Redhelen I've done both and a lot better with the commentary. Still so much better in person than on TV.

 

Been twice, both times with an earpiece. I like the info, the way they build the tension and so on.

Great question though.

Have you been, @dreamboy3000?

 

I've been to the Cruicible on a few occasions, but never used an ear piece. I don't feel like I'm missing out watching in silence. Maybe it's different for people to enjoy that experience for some sports that you wouldn't use at say Football.

 

You wouldn't, but then you're shouting or singing or talking to your mates a lot at football which you can't at snooker.

 

Brilliant to get up and watch the final three frames this morning, safe in the knowledge that it wasn't going to be sucked into the Selby black hole sun. To be fair, Mark played well but Luca continued playing his own game confidently and didn't let his opponent dictate the run of play. How many sports do you get where both the winner and runner-up get hugged by the referee? Wish it happened in football!

Headsets: Misself and Kaht Junior have been every year for about twenty years up until the last couple. We never favored headsets because we thought it a joy to watch without distraction and be able to work out for yourself what was going on. There again, I never sing or shout at the footie (except for 26th April 1997) so maybe I'm strange!

Agree with you Whitey about Luca taking the game forward. But I'd add in Si Jiahui - provided he can reproduce what he showed this year.

 

What I want to know is. Who puts the 20p piece in the light meter. ? Chuffin players don't.

 

And what I want to know is whatever happened to Kirk Stevens, and his all white Marty Hopkirk type suit.

 

I’ve been umpteen times and never felt the need for the headset. For me that’s no different to watching it on the telly! For me going to watch live sport is about feeling the atmosphere, a sense of occasion. The last thing I would want to do is block out that just to hear Dennis Taylor’s inanities.

 

Look at (fill in wife's name) she's sat up there. Goes to every tournament with him. Camera pans to her and everyone glances up. She goes red and thinks thanks Dennis.

 

He’s a right Jeb.