STAY IN TOUCH ! WHAT'S NEW IN SNOOKERLAND ?

[Clara White]

O sa rîdeţi, dar acum trei ani, Peter Ebdon a fost invitat sa "joace" intr-un fimuleţ BBC, o pastişă după STAR WARS, în care prietenul nostru trebuia să-şi folosească tacul de snooker pe post de ... spadă-de-lumină ( "light sabre" ), asemenea războinicilor eroi stelari !!!... Ia spuneti drept, vi-l imaginaţi într-o atare postură ?!... ( Informatia e strecurata in "The Daily Telegraph" de azi ... )

_________________
Laureată a Premiului Oscue - German Masters 2018, German Masters 2019, Masters 2022
Moral principles do not depend on a majority vote. Wrong is wrong, even if everybody is wrong. Right is right, even if nobody is right. ++ Fulton Sheen

[zsolt_tuser]

Nu mi-l pot imagina pe Peter Ebdon intr-o astfel de postura. Mai repede mi l-as imagina intr-o astfel de postura pe Quinten Hann.

_________________
"Computers are incredibly fast, accurate, and stupid. Human beings are incredibly slow, inaccurate, and brilliant. Together they are powerful beyond imagination."
Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

[Clara White]

* Daaa, dar se pare ca australianul prefera ... marchizii : de Queensberry ( pentru sportul cu mănuşi ) şi ... de Sade ( pentru alte ... sporturi ) !!!...

* La Dolphin Centre, in Darlington, pe 15 si 16 ianuarie 2005, Planet Snooker organizeaza o serie de meciuri de simplu si de dublu. Vor fi doua echipe de cite patru jucatori. Una ii va include pe Gary Wilson, campionul mondial Under 21, ex-campionul european la amatori David Lilley, profesionistul Michael Dunn si bossul de la Planet Snooker, Michael Rhodes. Cealalta se compune din Peter Ebdon, campionul mondial din 2002, Paul Hunter, triplul cistigator la Masters, Matthew Stevens, campionul Regatului Unit in 2003 si "senzatia chineza" Ding Junhui. Premiul este de 10 000 de lire.


* CUPA MOSCONI - SCOR FINAL : SUA-EUROPA 12-9

Thursday December 16 - evening session

Steve Davis/Niels Feijen 5 - 4 Charlie Williams/Tony Robles
Oliver Ortmann/Thomas Engert 3 - 5 Johnny Archer/Gabe Owen
Mika Immonen/Marcus Chamat 1 - 5 Earl Strickland/Rodney Morris

After Thursday evening session: Europe 1 - 2 USA (session score 1-2)

Friday December 17 - afternoon session

Mika Immonen/Marcus Chamat 5 - 0 Charlie Williams/Tony Robles
Steve Davis/Niels Feijen 5 - 3 Johnny Archer/Gabe Owen
Oliver Ortmann/Thomas Engert 4 - 5 Earl Strickland/Rodney Morris

After Friday afternoon session: Europe 3 - 3 USA (session score 2-1)

Friday December 17 - evening session

Mika Immonen 5 - 3 Johnny Archer
Niels Feijen 1 - 5 Charlie Williams
Steve Davis 4 - 5 Gabe Owen

After Friday evening session: Europe 4 - 5 USA (session score 1-2)

Saturday December 18 - afternoon session

Oliver Ortmann/Thomas Engert 4 - 5 Johnny Archer/Gabe Owen
Steve Davis/Niels Feijen 3 - 5 Charlie Williams/Tony Robles
Mika Immonen/Marcus Chamat 0 - 5 Earl Strickland/Rodney Morris

After Saturday afternoon session: Europe 4 - 8 USA (session score 0-3)

Saturday December 18 - evening session

Thomas Engert 1 - 5 Rodney Morris
Oliver Ortmann 5 - 1 Tony Robles
Marcus Chamat 5 - 2 Earl Strickland

After Saturday evening session: Europe 6 - 9 USA (session score 2-1)

Sunday December 19 - afternoon session

Mika Immonen 3 - 5 Rodney Morris
Niels Feijen 5 - 2 Johnny Archer
Marcus Chamat 5 - 3 Tony Robles

After Sunday afternoon session: Europe 8 - 10 USA (session score 2-1)

Sunday December 19 - evening session

Thomas Engert 2 - 5 Gabe Owen
Oliver Ortmann 5 - 1 Earl Strickland
Steve Davis 2 - 5 Charlie Williams

Afer Sunday evening session: Europe 9 - 12 USA (session score 1-2)
( Imi pare rau pentru STEVE DAVIS )

_________________
Laureată a Premiului Oscue - German Masters 2018, German Masters 2019, Masters 2022
Moral principles do not depend on a majority vote. Wrong is wrong, even if everybody is wrong. Right is right, even if nobody is right. ++ Fulton Sheen

[CristinaRo]

Daca joaca atat de bine americanii, de ce nu vedem nici unul in circuitul profesionist?

_________________
Laureată a Premiului Oscue - Masters 2010, Wuxi Classic 2012

[Clara White]

* În general, dacă jucătorii de snooker se lasă atraşi de biliard ( şi am documente foto cu STEVE DAVIS, JIMMY WHITE, MARK J. WILLIAMS, TONY DRAGO ), biliardiştii profesionişti pur-sînge nu prea vin la masa de snooker. Sau nu cu performanţe demne de luat în seamă. Am pus rezultatele de mai sus pentru că practicăm, unii dintre noi, biliardul – şi, pentru ca, oricum, măcar din curiozitate, desi adoratori ai Zeului SNOOKER, mai aruncăm o privire şi in ... “curtea vecină”. Cupa poartă numele ( poate ) celei mai mari personalităţi din istoria biliardului, WILLIE MOSCONI, plecat dintre cei vii în 1993, la 80 de ani. Am una dintre ultimele lui fotografii : rămăsese acelaşi “perfect gentleman” care a fost toata viata, cu acelasi zîmbet discret şi, se zice, cu aceleaşi maniere desăvîrşite, admirate de toţi. Americanul Willie Mosconi a deţinut 18 titluri naţionale ( între 1940 şi 1957 ) şi 15 titluri mondiale ( între 1941 şi 1957 – cu excepţia anilor 1943 şi 1949 ). A mai deţinut şi un alt record, încă neegalat : trimiterea in buzunare, într-un meci demonstrativ, a nu mai puţin de 526 de bile, una dupa alta !!! ( Daca Jimmy nu a avut multa vreme tacul lui si a jucat, in copilarie, cu bastonul in care se sprijinea atunci cind piciorul ii era in ghips, nici Mosconi, inaintea sa, nu avusese tac, desi tatal său era proprietarul unei sali de biliard : micul Willie juca sau, mai curind, jongla deja cu ... o coada de matura !!!... ) In 1961 a lucrat in calitate de consultant tehnic la faimosul film “THE HUSTLER”, unde a şi apărut intr-un rol episodic. Era renumit şi prin eleganţa sa vestimentară – i se mai “acordase “ şi “titlul” de “cel mai bine îmbrăcat domn din SUA” , aşa cum, în zilele noastre, Jimmy este considerat "cel mai elegant bărbat” din sportul britanic.

* Un articol de azi de pe site-ul TurkishPress.com mi-a lasat un gust amar prin ireverentiozitatea sa faţă de Eddie Charlton. Era vorba despre sportivii dispăruţi in 2004.

"Eddie Charlton

Died aged 75. Grindingly boring, defensive Australian snooker player whose matches lasted for hours and, it was said, "provided hypnotic relief for insomniacs". Nevertheless reached the world snooker final three times, however failed to put to sleep his opponents as he lost them all."

* Va puteti amuza, in schimb, la http://www.eurosport.co.uk/home/pages/v4/10/s10001/sport_lng0_spo10001_sto666723.shtml , unde apar "Tragic Moments in Sheffield" la WATTS BEST - Cruel snooker world.

* Şi pentru că am vorbit de Jimmy, iar în Snookerland e liniste si pace ( adică nu sunt noutăţi ! ) şi e Crăciun, o să vă "tratez" cu un citat din cartea lui. Ca să-l cunoaştem un pic mai bine.

“I tell people, when they ask, that I am a purist. A strange kind of purist, because I mean that when I have to choose between a tactical shot and one from the HEART, I will usually go for the HEART. To me, that is stretching the limits and is pure. Letting go is a pure discipline : in thought; in sex; in invention; in spirit. In a way, you could say I have a great curiosity to see what will happen. Safety is an option I use more and more now – but safety is boring. I think the audience, too, thrill to the unexpected, the dangerous play. It’s what made players like Alex [ Higgins ] and me household names and so exciting to watch.”

_________________
Laureată a Premiului Oscue - German Masters 2018, German Masters 2019, Masters 2022
Moral principles do not depend on a majority vote. Wrong is wrong, even if everybody is wrong. Right is right, even if nobody is right. ++ Fulton Sheen

[Smaranda]

[Clara White]

* Cam sunt la curent si cu greşelile revistuţelor noastre - multe, aici nici o noutate. De pilda, in numarul din 30 aprilie a.c., "ProTV-Magazin" inversa fotografiile si notitele biografice ale lui Jimmy si Ronnie, informa eronat despre data de nastere a celui dintii etc. Departe de a fi "reliable" - mai degraba re-LIE-able !!!

* Din "The Belfast Telegraph" de azi, luni, 27 decembrie, aflam ca miercuri dimineata incepe, la Dungannon, un mini-turneu in memoria regretatului jucator profesionist Barry McNamee ( 1970 - 2002 ), originar din aceasta localitate si ucis, pe strada, de un sofer neatent. Barry a devenit profesionist in 1995 si a fost al 3-lea in clasamentul Irlandei de Nord. Primul "BARRY MCNAMEE MEMORIAL TROPHY" a fost organizat in august 2003, la initiativa celui mai bun prieten al defunctului, Patrick Wallace si cu participarea intregii suflări a snookerului nord-irlandez. Anul acesta, cum KEN DOHERTY, nu va fi prezent din pricina ca, impreuna cu dulcea-i nevestica, Sara, isi petrece sarbatorile in Australia ei natala, starul competitiei se numeste JOE SWAIL. Mai participa, printre cei 24 de snookeristi inscrisi, MICHAEL JUDGE, PATRICK WALLACE, campionul anului 1999 la Under 19, RODNEY GOGGINS si campionul amatorilor 2004, MARK ALLEN. Turneul nu ofera cine stie ce premii - invingatorul va pleca acasa cu doar 1 000 de lire mai bogat. Dar in aceasta ocazie, nu banii conteaza.

* TANGENŢE : Golferul scotian SAM TORRANCE, un veteran care a participat pina acum ( are 51 de ani ) la peste 1 000 de turnee si care e socotit unul dintre cei mai importanti reprezentanti ai epocii moderne a acestui sport, isi declara dragostea pentru ... snooker. Cu ceva timp in urma, petrecea pina la 7 ore pe zi la "Divina Masa", dar nu s-a considerat destul de bun ca sa treaca la profesionistii iubitului nostru sport. Spune el intr-un recent interviu : "I have several friends on the snooker circuit, including JOHN PARROTT, STEPHEN HENDRY and JIMMY WHITE. CLIFF THORBURN was also a good friend of mine for a long time. PARROTT and HENDRY are both bandits ( ) on the golf course."

* Ştiaţi că in 1959, JOE DAVIS a incercat sa lanseze o varianta (si) mai complicata a snookerului, asa-numitul SNOOKER PLUS ? Joe Davis voia sa mai adauge alte doua bile colorate : una mov ( cu valoare de 10 puncte ) si una portocalie ( cu valoare de 8 puncte ). Vede-se ca n-a prea reusit ...

_________________
Laureată a Premiului Oscue - German Masters 2018, German Masters 2019, Masters 2022
Moral principles do not depend on a majority vote. Wrong is wrong, even if everybody is wrong. Right is right, even if nobody is right. ++ Fulton Sheen

[Clara White]

* UN AN NOU FERICIT SA VA DEA DUMNEZEU LA TOTI SI SA FITI VESELI !

* "Interesante" cuvinte in "The New Zealand Herald" din 31 decembrie '04, referitor la momentele memorabile ale anului sportiv abia incheiat : " Ronnie O'Sullivan. He recovered from 0-5 to win the world snooker title 18-8. His effortless skill, either left or right-handed, makes a mockery of this most precise sport."
"Mockery" ?!...

* Iata cum au evoluat lucrurile la "The Barry McNamee Memorial Trophy" :

SFERTURI

Joe Swail - Dermot McGlinchey 5-1
Mark Allen - Rodney Goggins 5-3
Julian Logue - Colm Gilcreet 5-3
Kieran McMahon - Patrick Wallace 5-2

SEMIFINALE

Joe Swail - Mark Allen 4-5
Julian Logue - Kieran McMahon 1-5

FINALA

MARK ALLEN - Kieran McMahon 6-1

Deci noul campion mondial de amatori a continuat sa faca impresie buna.

_________________
Laureată a Premiului Oscue - German Masters 2018, German Masters 2019, Masters 2022
Moral principles do not depend on a majority vote. Wrong is wrong, even if everybody is wrong. Right is right, even if nobody is right. ++ Fulton Sheen

[Clara White]

* ANDY HICKS recent intervievat : CINE RIDE LA URMA RIDE MAI BINE

Destinatia de vacanta preferata : Kefalonia, Grecia, unde merge de trei ani incoace. Hobby : golful si plimbarea cu ciinele sau. Echipa de fotbal preferata : era Liverpool, mai nou e Plymouth Argyle. Idolul in snooker : Jimmy White. Formatia preferata : Oasis. Actorii preferati : Morgan Freeman si “Jumatate”[ imi asum in intregime "raspunderea" poreclei !... ] Moore. Mincarea favorita : cea chinezeasca. Ce bea Andy ? Bere si vin rosu. Cartea preferata : romanul “A Time To Kill” al lui John Grisham. Ce masina conduce ? Un BMW ( si el, ca si Jimmy, Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis, Ian McCulloch !!! ) Cit se antreneaza ? Nu mai mult de 2-3 ore pe zi. Punctul maxim al carierei de pina acum : prezenta in semifinalele Campionatului mondial in 1995. Momentul cel mai dificil : atunci cind a pierdut meciul cu Dave Finbow ( tot in 1995 ) acasa, la Plymouth. Ce le-ar spune incepatorilor ? ( Si aici o sa-l “las” pe Andy sa “le zica” pe limba lui : ) “Attack the balls and always think ahead. Keep practising at a young age even if you aren’t allowed. I wasn’t allowed to play snooker at school as they classified it as a leisure sport. I was recently asked to present an award at my old school, so I told them what I thought about their rules after the award ceremony. I definitely had the last laugh.”

* Iata ce scrie "The Scotsman" de azi, 2 ianuarie, despre "Scots prodigies who can become stars in 2005" : din snooker, un singur nume :

JUDD TRUMP

Judd Trump is 15, and looks even younger. But already he is being feted as the most promising snooker player to emerge since Ronnie O’Sullivan - and potentially he could prove to be better.

Having already given up his early sporting career as a promising goalkeeper in order to concentrate on snooker, by nine Judd had recorded his first century break in practice, and by ten he had done it in competition. At the same age he won the English under-15 championship.

Then in March this year came his first 147, in an under-16 tournament in Leicester. He was only 14 years, 208 days - 255 days younger than O’Sullivan when, 13 years earlier, he recorded his first competitive maximum break. In the world under-21 championship in Ireland, the precious English prodigy progressed to the semi-finals and looked odds on to become the youngest winner, only to lose 8-7 to Thailand’s Kobkit Palajin.

If Judd doesn’t make it, another one of the West Country dynasty might. Younger brother Jack, 12, is the English under-13 champion.

_________________
Laureată a Premiului Oscue - German Masters 2018, German Masters 2019, Masters 2022
Moral principles do not depend on a majority vote. Wrong is wrong, even if everybody is wrong. Right is right, even if nobody is right. ++ Fulton Sheen

[Mrs. Hendry]

[zsolt_tuser]

Si Hendry a facut oarecum asemanator ca Schumacher castigand 7 campionate si nu cred ca cineva s-a plictisit urmarindu-l.

_________________
"Computers are incredibly fast, accurate, and stupid. Human beings are incredibly slow, inaccurate, and brilliant. Together they are powerful beyond imagination."
Albert Einstein (1879 - 1955)

[Clara White]

"Perlele" n-au lipsit nici in 2004. Iata-le pe unele dintre cele selectate de "The Daily Telegraph" de ieri. Cit ii priveste pe locuitorii din Snookerland, mai importante sunt doua:

1. "There are a lot of similarities between myself and Jonny Wilkinson."
( Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins proves he is still capable of losing touch with reality. [Jonny Wilkinson e capitanul nationalei de rugby.])

2. "Lindsey is very good at what she does."
( Paul Hunter on plan B, a between-sessions visit to his hotel room with fiancée Lindsey Fell to relieve stress, on his way to beating Ronnie O'Sullivan in the UK Masters final. )


Dar nu ma pot impiedica sa citez si citeva dintre celelalte : majoritatea, evident, din fotbal...

"It is better than violence or tackling from behind."
( FIFA's Sepp Blatter reckons the Faria Alam sex scandal shows the human side of football. [ Dl. Blatter stie el ceva engleza, dar ... "to tackle" inseamna, e adevarat, "a placa", insa mai inseamna si, sa spunem, " a aborda"... ] )

"He comes into the dressing room and sits down in the corner with his hands on his knees. If you didn't know who he was you would think he was a cleaner."
( Chelsea defender Celestine Babayaro's assessment of the club's owner, Roman Abramovich. )

"What the f**k's a rhetorical question?"
( Steve Bruce, the Birmingham manager, fields a post-match query. )

"Last night I also told my wife I loved her but that doesn't necessarily mean it holds true this morning."
( The Coventry chairman, Mike McGinnity, who had described manager Eric Black as the club's "messiah" before suddenly replacing him with Peter Reid. )

"Bloody hell, it's cold here!"
( The first words of Jose Antonio Reyes on landing in England in January after signing for Arsenal. )

"I'm so unlucky right now that if I fell into a wheelbarrow of boobs I'd probably come out sucking my thumb."
( Manager Ian Holloway laments Queens Park Rangers's run of bad fortune. )

"We have a host of athletes who, if they get it right on the day, have a great chance of being on the podium. Equally, if they don't, they won't get on the podium.''
( Dave Brailsford, performance director for the British Olympic track cyclists, before the Athens Games. )

"I couldn't sleep last night, partly because I was so excited and partly because there was a cockroach the size of my fist in the room."
( Decathlete Dean Macey at the British Olympic holding camp in Cyprus. )

"I've been walking to the pub and everything."
( Former England bowler Phil Tufnell on his preparation for a 500-mile charity walk. )

"This achievement we have achieved is a great achievement."
( An eloquent Michael Vaughan, the England captain, on his side's first Test series win in the West Indies since 1968. )

"I threw the kitchen sink at him. He went to the bathroom and brought back the tub."
( Andy Roddick after his defeat by Roger Federer in the Wimbledon final. )

"I went over to see the horse and the woman who was selling him had the greatest legs I'd ever seen. I'm a great legs man and I couldn't resist."
( McCain explains the story behind the purchase of Amberleigh House. )

_________________
Laureată a Premiului Oscue - German Masters 2018, German Masters 2019, Masters 2022
Moral principles do not depend on a majority vote. Wrong is wrong, even if everybody is wrong. Right is right, even if nobody is right. ++ Fulton Sheen

[Clara White]

De data asta, dintre cele culese de BBC

Mai intii snookeristii :

"I don't get on with baldies - especially fat ones like the one next to me."
( Snooker star Quinten Hann on rival Mark King. The pair met in the boxing ring the following month with eventual victory going to Hann. )

"Maybe I should put myself forward for "I'm A Celebrity - Get Me Out Of Here". Then again, all the other guests would leave!"
( Former snooker star Alex Higgins thinks of ways to make a comeback. )

Si altii :

"Hello my sharks, welcome to the funeral !"
( Claudio Ranieri to the press before Chelsea's Champions League semi-final second leg with Monaco. )

Tot cu Ranieri :"You're being sacked in the summer !" ( Charlton fans to Ranieri. )
"No, I will be sacked in May! " (shouting back to them).

Prostie gazetareasca : "Why are you always in red? Is it your lucky colour?"
( Local journalist to Formula One star Michael Schumacher before inaugural Chinese Grand Prix. )

Sir Bobby Robson : "He's the only man I know who could start an argument with himself." (On Craig Bellamy )

"You couldn't score in a brothel !"
( Welsh fans to Wayne Rooney. )


Miercuri, 5 ianuarie

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN ... (RE)INCEPE BALUL. Mîine, joi, la Sands Centre din Carlisle, are loc prima etapa din THE PREMIER SNOOKER LEAGUE. In ( sorry ! ) premiera, se va aplica REGULA CELOR 25 DE SECUNDE – atit este timpul acordat fiecarei lovituri. ( Bine spunea un jucator mai ... plinuţ : “Păi mie îmi trebuie aproape 25 de secunde doar ca să mă ridic din fotoliu şi să ajung pînă la masă !...")
Iata si ce parere are STEVE DAVIS : “Having the 25-seconds shot clock means we are moving into uncharted territory. Nobody knows how games will pan out and if the players will be found out. If the game is speeded up, there is more margin for error and there will be closer frames.” Trebuie spus ca aceasta regula draconica se aplica ( deocamdata ? )numai in Premier League ( singurul turneu care se desfasoara dupa sistemul LIGA ), nu si in turneele obisnuite. Asa ca alde Peter, Graeme si altii pot sta linistiti.

Dupa cum va amintiti, sunt meciuri de cite 6 jocuri, victoria inseamna 2 puncte, egalitatea 1 punct si conteaza numarul de jocuri castigate. Fondul total al premiilor e de un sfert de million de lire.

Cei 7 jucatori care participa la editia 2005 Betfred.com Premier League Snooker sunt : Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Williams, Stephen Hendry, Paul Hunter, Jimmy White, Steve Davis si Marco Fu.

Ce scrie la istorie ? 2004 : Stephen Hendry; 2003 : Marco Fu; 2002 : Ronnie O’Sullivan; 2001 : Ronnie O’Sullivan; 2000 : Stephen Hendry; 1999 : John Higgins;1998 : Ken Doherty ; 1997 : Ronnie O’Sullivan; 1996 : Ken Doherty; 1995 : Stephen Hendry; 1994 : Stephen Hendry; 1993 : Jimmy White; 1992 : Stephen Hendry; 1991 : Stephen Hendry; 1990 :Steve Davis; 1989 : Steve Davis; 1988 : Steve Davis; 1987 : Steve Davis

Urmatoarele etape :
Ianuarie :
13 – Charter Hall, Colchester
27 – Rothes Hall, Glenrothes, Scotia
Februarie :
10 – Glades Arena, Kidderminster
24 – The Anvil, Basingstoke
Martie :
3 – The Assembly Room, Derby
17 – Cresset Centre, Peterborough
24 – The Auditorium, Grimsby
Aprilie :
7 – The Corn Exchange, Ipswich
14 – The Dome, Doncaster
Mai :
7 & 8 – Civic Hall, Trowbridge

_________________
Laureată a Premiului Oscue - German Masters 2018, German Masters 2019, Masters 2022
Moral principles do not depend on a majority vote. Wrong is wrong, even if everybody is wrong. Right is right, even if nobody is right. ++ Fulton Sheen

[CristinaRo]

Deoareca Clara nu aspus cine joaca astazi 6 ianuarie, iata:

Jimmy White - Stephen Hendry
Steve Davis - Marco Fu

Urmate, pe 13 ianuarie, de:

Mark Williams - Paul Hunter
Ronnie O'Sullivan - Jimmy White

Meciurile vor fi transmise de Sky Tv.

_________________
Laureată a Premiului Oscue - Masters 2010, Wuxi Classic 2012

[Clara White]

* ... iar meciurile incep de la ora 19.00 GMT !!! ( )

* In “The Guardian” de azi, 6 ianuarie, Jimmy avertizeaza acea minoritate turbulenta dintre fanii sai ca, daca se va repeta agitatia resentimentara/vindicativa creata anul trecut la Masters, atunci cind idolul lor l-a invins pe Stephen Hendry, el, Jimmy, se va retrage din competitie. Ba si din sport ! ( ce GEST ! I'm so proud of him !) “Even darts players are getting angered with shouting. […] Ronnie O’Sullivan has got to be the favourite. He’s the world champion and can play shots in [an average time of ] 14 seconds.”

Jimmy se declara nemultumit de inceputul acestui sezon competitional : “The season has been frustrating because I have had health problems [ un puseu de sciatica + revenirea unora dintre vechile dificultati la piciorul sting, dificultati datind inca din copilarie, ca urmare a unei cazaturi si sudari defectuoase a oaselor ]. I feel OK now but I haven’t had much time to practice.”

Jimmy crede ca nu are nimic de dovedit, nimanui. Asa s-a intimplat si anul trecut, la Players Championship, cind, zice el, “There were the doubters who sat there with their cigars but I stuck a finger up at them with that win!” ( Ei, sa recunoastem : il deranjasera ei, “the doubters”, pentru ca se ... indoiau de capacitatea sa de a obtine victoria, dar … looking back in ( that ) anger …de recent abstinent tabagic, inclin sa cred ca il deranjeaza acum si gindul la trabucurile lor !!! … Va reamintesc ca Jimmy s-a lasat de fumat pe data de 10 noiembrie : ”I have been smoking all my life, so if I can stop that I can do anything!” – poate si sa cistige titlul mondial ?... And why the hell not ? Nu ca asta ar schimba ceva din dragostea cu care si asa e inconjurat pretutindeni ... )

* In "The Daily Mirror" de azi, Steve Davis isi mai domoleste indoielile referitoare la noua regula a celor 25 de secunde : "It's a brave, interesting move. The shot clock will appeal to a younger audience and will give, perhaps, a more exciting feel to the game. [...] To be honest, though, you play to the rules of the game rather than to the clock. What this will do is sort out the quick thinkers from the quick players, because it does not necessarily follow that the fastest players will do best in this."

( Interesanta distinctia intre "quick thinkers" si "quick players" ! Puţintel si rautacioasa ?... )

* Ora 20.45 ( GMT ) STEPHEN HENDRY - JIMMY WHITE : 3-3 ( = cite un punct pentru fiecare )

* Ora 23.00 ( GMT ) STEVE DAVIS - MARCO FU : 1-5

_________________
Laureată a Premiului Oscue - German Masters 2018, German Masters 2019, Masters 2022
Moral principles do not depend on a majority vote. Wrong is wrong, even if everybody is wrong. Right is right, even if nobody is right. ++ Fulton Sheen