The Snookerbacker Blog

The Nugget - Better at Snooker than Comedy.

I thought it was an opportune moment to do a spot of reflection and deliver who and what I think have been the winners and losers over the course of the last two weeks (has it really been that long?)

This is my highly opinionated and biased World Championship Heroes and Villians, Winners and Losers.

Please feel free to add yours in the comments boxes.

HEROES & WINNERS

The Eventual Champion – Four cracking players in the semi-finals, whoever wins will top this list.

Steve Davis – Legend, can’t really say a lot more can you? Whoever wins, this is The Year of the Nugget.

Martin Gould – The Pinner Potter may be remembered by some as ‘that bloke with the little glasses that Robertson came back against’ but his snooker apart from that session was sublime.

Graeme Dott – From blasting Ebdon off the table to his current tussle with Selby, his top 16 place has been secured by virtue of fearless, attacking snooker.

Tactical Snooker/Dump Shots/Containing Safety – Big breaks and one visit frames are soooo Noughties, we want snooker not quickfire pool on a snooker table.

Liang Wenbo – Another that gets into the top 16 and he didn’t even need to win a match.

Snok – It’s Dutch for Snooker apparently…

'2 down with 3 to play'

Coventry Footie Shirt Man – A Crucible stalwart and something of a national institution. Soon everyone will become a Coventry fan.

Clive Everton & Neal Foulds – The dream team. Baffling why they are not the BBC’s pairing of choice. Superb analysis and stories from Clive, insightful punditry from Neal.

Leo Scullion – It WAS a touching ball. The Pulse confirmed it.

The Betfair Snooker Forum – Otherwise known as the retired comedians club, in the past this has been a hostile place where only the brave and thick-skinned survive, but with help from quality posters and more than a touch of humour, this is now a wonderful, fluffy place to be.

Mrs Snookerbacker – Surely the first lady of snooker deserves an honourable mention for her insightful take on the baize boys.

The BBC Red Button – The BBC has it’s knockers (oo er missus) but you can watch every ball live on the red button and with a spare laptop, you can watch the two table situation and pretend you have the best seat in the house.

'It wasn't that shot, it was the one before'. Willie loves a good catchphrase.

Richi Persad – Growing in confidence and seems a thoroughly good egg.

The Great WT – Top Drawer, as ever. A class act on and off the baize. A consistent performer and the Master of the Cliché. The Top Drawer Blog Icon.

Zhang Anda – Tipped by some as a future champion. Incredible performance to qualify and almost did the unthinkable and sunk Hendry.

Musical Walk-ons – Some better than others, shame Stuart Pettman didn’t have a good championship, I like Faithless. At last Ronnie has got a decent song, that last one was pants.

VILLAINS & LOSERS

Jamie Cope – Sulked away and was dumped out by Ali Carter and then had to watch Dott steal his top 16 place, he’s had better fortnights. He probably backed Gould to beat Robertson too.

Ronnie O’Sullivan – Even Selby is taking the mickey out of him now. His attempts to humiliate Leo Scullion being a low point in the championship for me.

John Higgins – John who? Used to be a decent player this fella.

To me, to you. The Belgian Ref has been chuckled out.

The Chinese snooker revolution – We’re still waiting, their promised days of total domination are not quite materialising just yet.

The Belgian Ref – After Michaela mistakenly picked up the cue-ball he decided to do it too. Michaela on duty in the semi-finals, the Belgian Ref, who looked a bit like one of the Chuckle Brothers is nowhere to be seen.

John Parrott commentating – Some things just don’t work, time to head back to the studio John, that’s your real strength.

Stephen Hendry – Down in the dumps at the moment and considering his future. Looked a shade of his former self when trounced by Selby.

147 cards in the audience – Some things are just plain wrong. Stop it before someone gets hurt.

Freeview Viewers – Only one table televised on freeview, bad form for lovers of the baize.

The Kick – Plenty of bad contacts this year. Climate change is kicking in.

Light Entertainment – The heady days of light entertainment could not have been further from our minds as Dennis Taylor and Steve Davis attempted to make everyone laugh by ‘recreating’ their big final. The one compensation was that it was free to get in.

Stuart Pettman – Silly hair and a performance to match. Won 1 frame before being sent back to Black Lace country.

AC/DC – I’ll only say this once, change Robbo’s walk on music back to the original NOW!

People who take mobile phones that are switched on into the arena – Bring back Capital Punishment I say.

Jimmy White – A stalwart on the losers list, this year he is on because he didn’t win it, again.

WINNER OR LOSER?

The Pulse – there is obviously only one way to decide the fate of The Pulse, winner or loser?

The best thing since sliced bread or a steaming pile of horse manure?