1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,547 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,907 Speaker 1: from News Talks EDB. 3 00:00:12,667 --> 00:00:15,147 Speaker 2: News TALKSB and Weekend Sport before three will get you 4 00:00:15,187 --> 00:00:18,267 Speaker 2: to Dunedin where this afternoon round twelve of Super Abi 5 00:00:18,347 --> 00:00:22,747 Speaker 2: Pacific has its conclusion. Pretty important match Highlanders against Mowana 6 00:00:22,787 --> 00:00:26,427 Speaker 2: pacifica a rare Sunday afternoon game. Paul Allison, Paul Miller 7 00:00:26,467 --> 00:00:28,307 Speaker 2: and Mark Ramby have to call for you from three 8 00:00:28,307 --> 00:00:31,307 Speaker 2: point thirty five on Gold Sport and iHeartRadio. We'll preview 9 00:00:31,347 --> 00:00:34,427 Speaker 2: it with Paul Ellison before three o'clock. But to the 10 00:00:34,507 --> 00:00:38,947 Speaker 2: UK where we've got our finalists at the World Snooker Championship. 11 00:00:39,107 --> 00:00:43,507 Speaker 2: Welshman and three time former champion Mark Williams and twenty 12 00:00:43,587 --> 00:00:47,707 Speaker 2: nineteen champion and world number one Englishman jud Trump played 13 00:00:47,707 --> 00:00:51,467 Speaker 2: out an epic semi final this morning, with Williams eventually 14 00:00:51,507 --> 00:00:53,347 Speaker 2: winning seventeen frames to fourteen. 15 00:00:53,387 --> 00:01:03,827 Speaker 3: Because many photographs as you want another Sam Seed remarkable, 16 00:01:06,627 --> 00:01:18,587 Speaker 3: falling on top of the world as great to see 17 00:01:18,707 --> 00:01:23,507 Speaker 3: jug convict lection Mike Williams because he was just oo 18 00:01:23,707 --> 00:01:27,027 Speaker 3: standing the world number one couldn't do much about this. 19 00:01:28,467 --> 00:01:31,787 Speaker 2: We have to play Mike Williams as that's what it 20 00:01:31,947 --> 00:01:34,947 Speaker 2: means to here you go. Mark Williams into the final 21 00:01:34,987 --> 00:01:38,987 Speaker 2: where he will face Chinese player Jao Hintong after he 22 00:01:39,067 --> 00:01:43,227 Speaker 2: beat Ronnie O'Sullivan seventeen frames to seven with a session 23 00:01:43,627 --> 00:01:46,267 Speaker 2: to spare in their semi final. Let's welcome back to 24 00:01:46,307 --> 00:01:50,467 Speaker 2: news Talks d B. Michael Day, chief snooker writer for 25 00:01:50,587 --> 00:01:52,867 Speaker 2: Totally Snooker. Michael, thanks for joining us up for a 26 00:01:52,947 --> 00:01:56,027 Speaker 2: second weekend in a row. Let's start with the semifinal 27 00:01:56,067 --> 00:01:59,347 Speaker 2: between Williams and Trump. Tell us about the swings and 28 00:01:59,387 --> 00:02:03,427 Speaker 2: the roundabouts of what looked like an epic semifinal between 29 00:02:03,467 --> 00:02:03,907 Speaker 2: these two. 30 00:02:04,787 --> 00:02:04,987 Speaker 3: Yeah. 31 00:02:04,987 --> 00:02:07,467 Speaker 4: Thanks having back on Jason. It was quite a remarkable 32 00:02:07,507 --> 00:02:12,187 Speaker 4: semifinal really. Going into the match, Trump held a quite 33 00:02:12,187 --> 00:02:16,147 Speaker 4: a significant headshead advantage over Williams from their previous encounters, 34 00:02:16,147 --> 00:02:19,587 Speaker 4: and Trump earlier on in the season beat Williams ten 35 00:02:19,667 --> 00:02:22,147 Speaker 4: nine on the final black in the Saudi Arabia Masters Final, 36 00:02:22,187 --> 00:02:23,947 Speaker 4: so there's quite a bit of history between the two. 37 00:02:24,587 --> 00:02:26,627 Speaker 4: Judd took an early lead in the match. He won 38 00:02:26,667 --> 00:02:29,587 Speaker 4: the first session five to three, extended lead to seventh 39 00:02:29,667 --> 00:02:32,707 Speaker 4: three so had a four frame buffer, but then Williams 40 00:02:32,787 --> 00:02:35,107 Speaker 4: was really strong in the second. The back end of 41 00:02:35,147 --> 00:02:37,507 Speaker 4: the second session, he won five at the last six 42 00:02:37,507 --> 00:02:39,667 Speaker 4: frames to level up at eight all. He then took 43 00:02:39,707 --> 00:02:42,867 Speaker 4: an advantage in the third session. He ended the session 44 00:02:42,947 --> 00:02:45,747 Speaker 4: I think it was thirteen eleven up, managed to then 45 00:02:45,827 --> 00:02:49,827 Speaker 4: extend that buffer to fifteen eleven, got to sixteen twelve. 46 00:02:49,947 --> 00:02:51,507 Speaker 4: She was on the hill and a little bit of 47 00:02:51,507 --> 00:02:54,987 Speaker 4: a blip Trump come back. He won two frames, but 48 00:02:55,347 --> 00:02:58,067 Speaker 4: Williams finished in style with a break of one hundred 49 00:02:58,067 --> 00:03:00,827 Speaker 4: and twenty three to win seventeen fourteen, And it really 50 00:03:00,867 --> 00:03:01,947 Speaker 4: was a fantastic match. 51 00:03:02,067 --> 00:03:05,507 Speaker 2: Tell us about Williams fifty years old now, so I 52 00:03:05,507 --> 00:03:10,387 Speaker 2: hope for for us older guard Michael not putting you 53 00:03:10,467 --> 00:03:14,027 Speaker 2: onto that brecket of course, but I mean that's quite old, 54 00:03:14,067 --> 00:03:17,347 Speaker 2: isn't it for a World Championship finalist. 55 00:03:18,627 --> 00:03:22,467 Speaker 4: He is the oldest Crucible finists of all time, so 56 00:03:22,507 --> 00:03:25,787 Speaker 4: he's already made history. Of course, if he was to 57 00:03:25,827 --> 00:03:28,227 Speaker 4: win the event, he would be the oldest World champion 58 00:03:28,267 --> 00:03:32,067 Speaker 4: of all time. Currently Ronnie O'Sullivan holds that record. Ronnie 59 00:03:32,507 --> 00:03:34,467 Speaker 4: was forty six I think when he won the tournament 60 00:03:34,507 --> 00:03:36,787 Speaker 4: in twenty twenty two, three years ago, so Williams would 61 00:03:36,827 --> 00:03:39,467 Speaker 4: completely smash that record if he was to win the 62 00:03:39,467 --> 00:03:42,387 Speaker 4: final as well, he'd be the oldest ranking event champion 63 00:03:42,707 --> 00:03:46,747 Speaker 4: in professional snuka history as well. And then it's a 64 00:03:46,787 --> 00:03:50,307 Speaker 4: few sort of poetic examples for the final. I mean, 65 00:03:50,347 --> 00:03:52,867 Speaker 4: if Williams was to become the oldest ranking event champion, 66 00:03:53,107 --> 00:03:56,267 Speaker 4: he would overtake Ray Riardon's records, so obviously a fellow 67 00:03:56,267 --> 00:03:58,987 Speaker 4: Welshman who passed away several months ago. So if Williams 68 00:03:59,067 --> 00:04:02,547 Speaker 4: was to beat all these records, you know, it does 69 00:04:02,587 --> 00:04:04,787 Speaker 4: seem very apt that he sort of does this now. 70 00:04:04,867 --> 00:04:07,387 Speaker 4: But Williams is a bit like a fine wine. Really. 71 00:04:07,427 --> 00:04:10,827 Speaker 4: He's already come into the event as the world number six, 72 00:04:11,267 --> 00:04:13,427 Speaker 4: so he's right at the top echelons of the sports still, 73 00:04:13,467 --> 00:04:15,707 Speaker 4: and he's just going to go even further reaching the 74 00:04:15,707 --> 00:04:17,067 Speaker 4: final regardless of what happens. 75 00:04:17,347 --> 00:04:20,267 Speaker 2: Did I read a piece you wrote that talked about 76 00:04:20,507 --> 00:04:26,427 Speaker 2: his ongoing concerns with eyesight issues. He's clearly overcome those. 77 00:04:27,947 --> 00:04:31,267 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's very bizarre because coming into the event, nobody 78 00:04:31,307 --> 00:04:34,267 Speaker 4: was talking about Mark sort of being a contender for 79 00:04:34,347 --> 00:04:37,347 Speaker 4: the title. The event before the World Championship was a 80 00:04:37,347 --> 00:04:40,187 Speaker 4: Tour championship. He lost first round ten to three to 81 00:04:40,267 --> 00:04:43,947 Speaker 4: Dingen WII, and he'd been talking about isoight issue, saying 82 00:04:43,987 --> 00:04:46,347 Speaker 4: that he'd been seeing like four balls at a time, 83 00:04:46,427 --> 00:04:49,747 Speaker 4: sort of bird vision, and he actually said that, you know, 84 00:04:49,827 --> 00:04:52,547 Speaker 4: whoever qualified with the crucill will be hoping to draw 85 00:04:52,627 --> 00:04:56,147 Speaker 4: him in the first round. So I don't doubt that 86 00:04:56,187 --> 00:04:59,147 Speaker 4: he's got I sight issues, but perhaps there's an element 87 00:04:59,187 --> 00:05:02,667 Speaker 4: of kidology in that. I mean, you know, he's certainly 88 00:05:02,707 --> 00:05:04,867 Speaker 4: blamed very well for someone who's seen four balls at 89 00:05:04,867 --> 00:05:10,027 Speaker 4: a time. Except I understand that he's got an appointment 90 00:05:10,067 --> 00:05:13,667 Speaker 4: in June to talk about like laser eye surgery, and 91 00:05:13,707 --> 00:05:16,267 Speaker 4: in his post match interview tonight, he's been talking about 92 00:05:16,267 --> 00:05:18,107 Speaker 4: whether or not to cancel that because he doesn't seem 93 00:05:18,107 --> 00:05:20,947 Speaker 4: to be doing too badly as it is. So we'll 94 00:05:20,947 --> 00:05:22,747 Speaker 4: see what happens with with the summer, all right. 95 00:05:22,867 --> 00:05:25,827 Speaker 2: So he's into the final Mark Williams, and he will 96 00:05:25,867 --> 00:05:30,907 Speaker 2: face Jiao Shintong, who beat Ronnie O'Sullivan seventeen to seven 97 00:05:31,107 --> 00:05:34,027 Speaker 2: with a session to spare in the first seam. He 98 00:05:34,067 --> 00:05:36,547 Speaker 2: want to talk a bit about Ronne O'Sullivan in a moment, 99 00:05:36,627 --> 00:05:38,987 Speaker 2: but Jao shin Tong tell us a bit about him. 100 00:05:40,747 --> 00:05:45,227 Speaker 4: Incredible story. Incredible story. Now, now Jao, he's been around 101 00:05:45,307 --> 00:05:48,667 Speaker 4: for several years, he's been part of this convey about 102 00:05:48,747 --> 00:05:53,627 Speaker 4: of young Chinese talent. He actually his big breakthrough was 103 00:05:53,667 --> 00:05:56,827 Speaker 4: winning the UK Championship in twenty twenty one. He beat 104 00:05:56,907 --> 00:05:59,707 Speaker 4: Luca Brissell in the final. He then won a ranking 105 00:05:59,747 --> 00:06:03,347 Speaker 4: event soon after that. UK Championship is the second biggest 106 00:06:03,387 --> 00:06:04,867 Speaker 4: event on the circuit by the way, so that was 107 00:06:04,907 --> 00:06:06,707 Speaker 4: a really big time for him to win. But he 108 00:06:06,947 --> 00:06:10,067 Speaker 4: was part of the match fixing scandal that rocked the 109 00:06:10,107 --> 00:06:13,787 Speaker 4: sport back in twenty twenty three. Didn't actually fix matches 110 00:06:13,827 --> 00:06:16,347 Speaker 4: in South but he was involved with players who did, 111 00:06:17,147 --> 00:06:20,347 Speaker 4: so he served a ban, a two year ban through 112 00:06:20,427 --> 00:06:25,027 Speaker 4: sort of like sort of like guilty admission and early 113 00:06:25,107 --> 00:06:27,307 Speaker 4: please and things like that. So he's actually come back 114 00:06:27,307 --> 00:06:30,507 Speaker 4: to the circuit. Back in September, he played on the 115 00:06:30,547 --> 00:06:33,947 Speaker 4: Amateur Tour. He's won his tourcard back, but that actually 116 00:06:33,947 --> 00:06:37,027 Speaker 4: doesn't activate until next season, so he's actually competing in 117 00:06:37,107 --> 00:06:39,947 Speaker 4: this event as an invited amateur, which is quite remarkable 118 00:06:39,987 --> 00:06:42,667 Speaker 4: to think that someone without a tour card can get 119 00:06:42,707 --> 00:06:45,507 Speaker 4: to the final, but quite incredible story. He's actually come 120 00:06:45,547 --> 00:06:47,747 Speaker 4: through the very first qualifying round, so even before the 121 00:06:47,827 --> 00:06:51,427 Speaker 4: TV cameras at the Crucibil He's won four qualifiers, and 122 00:06:51,627 --> 00:06:54,027 Speaker 4: to be honest, he's been comfortable in pretty much all 123 00:06:54,107 --> 00:06:58,947 Speaker 4: his games, even against Ronnie incredible story. Only the second 124 00:06:59,027 --> 00:07:02,187 Speaker 4: Chinese player ever to reach the final, and he's got 125 00:07:02,227 --> 00:07:04,307 Speaker 4: every chance of lifting the trophy over the next couple 126 00:07:04,347 --> 00:07:04,707 Speaker 4: of days. 127 00:07:05,147 --> 00:07:07,787 Speaker 2: I was watching a large part of the semi final 128 00:07:07,827 --> 00:07:11,627 Speaker 2: against Ronego O'Sullivan and Jaoshinng. It sounds like a silly 129 00:07:11,707 --> 00:07:13,987 Speaker 2: thing to say, Michael, but he's just such a lovely 130 00:07:14,107 --> 00:07:16,387 Speaker 2: player to watch, doesn't he. Just the way he moves 131 00:07:16,987 --> 00:07:20,067 Speaker 2: around the table, the way he plays as his shot. 132 00:07:20,187 --> 00:07:24,187 Speaker 2: He's a really quite esthetically pleasing snooker player, isn't he. 133 00:07:25,347 --> 00:07:28,187 Speaker 4: He certainly is. He definitely falls in the bracket of 134 00:07:28,507 --> 00:07:31,987 Speaker 4: a naturally gifted player. He makes the game look so simple. 135 00:07:32,947 --> 00:07:35,467 Speaker 4: He's a fairly sort of pacy player as well. He 136 00:07:35,547 --> 00:07:38,587 Speaker 4: plays aggressive shots, so it's very, you know, I pleasing 137 00:07:38,707 --> 00:07:42,387 Speaker 4: for the fans. And of course there is this backstory 138 00:07:42,467 --> 00:07:44,307 Speaker 4: that he has been banned, but I think a lot 139 00:07:44,427 --> 00:07:46,947 Speaker 4: of fans are very happy to see him back, you know, 140 00:07:47,067 --> 00:07:49,227 Speaker 4: and performing. This is what we've been hoped to, you know, 141 00:07:49,387 --> 00:07:51,627 Speaker 4: hoping several years ago when he burst onto the scene, 142 00:07:52,147 --> 00:07:53,867 Speaker 4: And this is only the third time he's been at 143 00:07:53,907 --> 00:07:56,667 Speaker 4: the Crucible. He'd only won one match out here for 144 00:07:57,267 --> 00:08:00,427 Speaker 4: I think was back in twenty twenty two. It's incredible 145 00:08:00,507 --> 00:08:03,547 Speaker 4: run and as you say, he really is, you know, 146 00:08:03,827 --> 00:08:04,747 Speaker 4: a fantastic player. 147 00:08:04,827 --> 00:08:08,747 Speaker 2: To watch a lot of about Ronnie O'Sullivan and his 148 00:08:09,907 --> 00:08:13,067 Speaker 2: I guess you'd call it a capitulation in this semi final, 149 00:08:13,187 --> 00:08:16,627 Speaker 2: but he changed parts of us Q. Can you tell 150 00:08:16,707 --> 00:08:17,867 Speaker 2: us about this, Michael. 151 00:08:19,307 --> 00:08:21,907 Speaker 4: Yeah, remarkable story, but it's kind of part of the 152 00:08:21,987 --> 00:08:24,907 Speaker 4: course with Ronnie. Obviously, he come into the event, he 153 00:08:25,027 --> 00:08:29,307 Speaker 4: not played for three months a tournament start of January, 154 00:08:29,347 --> 00:08:32,987 Speaker 4: the Championship League. He deliberately smashed this cup in frustration 155 00:08:33,627 --> 00:08:35,707 Speaker 4: and left the event with one match still to play. 156 00:08:36,427 --> 00:08:38,667 Speaker 4: She's not played on a circus since then. Come back 157 00:08:38,667 --> 00:08:41,627 Speaker 4: to the World Championship using a new que, so a 158 00:08:41,707 --> 00:08:44,747 Speaker 4: completely different brand to what he was using before. He 159 00:08:44,867 --> 00:08:48,467 Speaker 4: was using the titanium Farrell. So, titanium is quite a 160 00:08:48,507 --> 00:08:50,587 Speaker 4: new sort of thing for snooker players that we're seeing 161 00:08:50,627 --> 00:08:52,347 Speaker 4: a lot of the top professionals turning over to it. 162 00:08:53,467 --> 00:08:56,507 Speaker 4: It's a very different material to brass, which is what 163 00:08:57,627 --> 00:09:00,027 Speaker 4: Farrells are traditionally made of. In terms of snooker ques, 164 00:09:00,467 --> 00:09:02,747 Speaker 4: so Ronnie had been using that throughout the tournament, and 165 00:09:02,867 --> 00:09:05,147 Speaker 4: Ronnie did get to the semi finals. He played some 166 00:09:05,227 --> 00:09:07,307 Speaker 4: good stuff in the balls, but he never really looked 167 00:09:07,307 --> 00:09:10,307 Speaker 4: comfortable his long game. His Cuba wasn't ronne O solo 168 00:09:10,347 --> 00:09:13,907 Speaker 4: a esque. And after the first session of his semi 169 00:09:13,987 --> 00:09:17,027 Speaker 4: final with Joao, he took a really sort of drastic 170 00:09:17,107 --> 00:09:21,307 Speaker 4: action and went to visit que doctor in Sheffield to 171 00:09:21,467 --> 00:09:25,347 Speaker 4: change the feruh from titanium to brass, which I know 172 00:09:25,387 --> 00:09:27,667 Speaker 4: a lot of professionals I know, Neil Robertson was one 173 00:09:28,067 --> 00:09:31,667 Speaker 4: who he posted on social media today saying what a 174 00:09:31,747 --> 00:09:34,787 Speaker 4: crazy decision that was, and he just sort of come 175 00:09:34,867 --> 00:09:37,507 Speaker 4: and glued to knee. In the second session, Zau played fantastic, 176 00:09:38,027 --> 00:09:40,267 Speaker 4: Ronnie struggled and it was kind of a perfect storm 177 00:09:40,747 --> 00:09:42,787 Speaker 4: and really that was a session that did the damage 178 00:09:42,827 --> 00:09:45,227 Speaker 4: and it was too big of a mountain to climb 179 00:09:45,267 --> 00:09:46,427 Speaker 4: for him to beat Shao. 180 00:09:46,987 --> 00:09:49,787 Speaker 2: What does the future hold in for Ronnie O'Sullivan? Is 181 00:09:49,787 --> 00:09:55,867 Speaker 2: there any way to predict that, Michael's. 182 00:09:53,947 --> 00:09:56,667 Speaker 4: You could with Ronnie? You just don't know. I mean, 183 00:09:56,867 --> 00:09:59,707 Speaker 4: all bets are off the table with Ronnie, he did say. 184 00:09:59,787 --> 00:10:02,387 Speaker 4: I mean, he was very gracious when he lost the match. 185 00:10:02,467 --> 00:10:05,187 Speaker 4: I know he's very fond of Jao, and I believe 186 00:10:05,227 --> 00:10:08,827 Speaker 4: they practiced together. He did say afterwards that he'll be back, 187 00:10:08,907 --> 00:10:14,067 Speaker 4: he'll be stronger next season. Ronnie loves snooker. I know 188 00:10:14,147 --> 00:10:17,747 Speaker 4: all the things and rhetoric and everything he says. Ronnie 189 00:10:17,787 --> 00:10:20,787 Speaker 4: loves snooker. It will be a big disappointing to him 190 00:10:20,947 --> 00:10:22,587 Speaker 4: not winning an eighth to world time because it's the 191 00:10:22,627 --> 00:10:26,227 Speaker 4: only box he you know, really would love to tick 192 00:10:26,307 --> 00:10:28,627 Speaker 4: still and he's done everything else in the sport. I 193 00:10:28,747 --> 00:10:31,067 Speaker 4: think he'll be back, but it's just going to get 194 00:10:31,107 --> 00:10:33,267 Speaker 4: tougher and tougher for him because you've got new players 195 00:10:33,307 --> 00:10:37,387 Speaker 4: coming through. Ronnie throughout the tournament was really sort of 196 00:10:37,427 --> 00:10:40,547 Speaker 4: down be about his game, his performance is saying he 197 00:10:40,707 --> 00:10:44,587 Speaker 4: just doesn't feel great, and you know, Ronnie does need 198 00:10:44,667 --> 00:10:46,947 Speaker 4: to feel confident in his game because he's a perfectionist. 199 00:10:47,867 --> 00:10:49,787 Speaker 4: He'll come back. We'll see what I mean. Last season 200 00:10:49,867 --> 00:10:53,267 Speaker 4: Ronnie won five tournaments. This season, he hasn't even got 201 00:10:53,307 --> 00:10:56,347 Speaker 4: to one final, So you know, Ronnie's career is full 202 00:10:56,347 --> 00:10:58,907 Speaker 4: of ups and downs. But we'll see Ronnie back, and 203 00:10:59,107 --> 00:11:01,507 Speaker 4: it wouldn't be a surprise if we see him lifting 204 00:11:01,547 --> 00:11:03,027 Speaker 4: the biggest trophies in the sport again. 205 00:11:03,227 --> 00:11:06,227 Speaker 2: All right, let's Finnish with the final. Joao shouldn't tongue 206 00:11:06,427 --> 00:11:09,547 Speaker 2: into Mark Williams. What's your prediction about how this might 207 00:11:09,627 --> 00:11:10,027 Speaker 2: play out. 208 00:11:11,787 --> 00:11:14,187 Speaker 4: I think this is fascinating. It's the first ever actually 209 00:11:14,267 --> 00:11:17,387 Speaker 4: crucible final with two left handers, so there's a little 210 00:11:17,387 --> 00:11:19,907 Speaker 4: bit of history there as well. For me, it's a 211 00:11:19,987 --> 00:11:23,187 Speaker 4: coin flip, it really is. I think. Obviously you've got 212 00:11:23,227 --> 00:11:26,947 Speaker 4: the youth of Jozing Tong, first ever final, Mark Williams 213 00:11:27,147 --> 00:11:31,227 Speaker 4: experience fifty years old, it's fifth final for me, the 214 00:11:31,347 --> 00:11:35,227 Speaker 4: early session will be very very interesting day one. Joozing 215 00:11:35,267 --> 00:11:38,547 Speaker 4: Tong has come through the tournament pretty much without much 216 00:11:38,587 --> 00:11:42,427 Speaker 4: pressure at all. I mean this first round gave me one, ten, four, thirteen, ten, 217 00:11:42,627 --> 00:11:44,827 Speaker 4: thirteen to five and he beat Ronnie with seven with 218 00:11:44,947 --> 00:11:47,347 Speaker 4: a session to spare, so he's come through really sort 219 00:11:47,347 --> 00:11:50,907 Speaker 4: of comfortably. Whereas Mark Williams, he was in the quarter 220 00:11:50,987 --> 00:11:53,747 Speaker 4: finals against John Niggins, he was one ball away from defeat. 221 00:11:54,107 --> 00:11:56,507 Speaker 4: Let's not forget deciding fray John Higgins rattle with the 222 00:11:56,507 --> 00:11:59,547 Speaker 4: blue so Mark Williams could have been at home days ago. 223 00:11:59,747 --> 00:12:03,427 Speaker 4: So I think for Jow the test will be if 224 00:12:03,507 --> 00:12:06,187 Speaker 4: he goes a few frames behind to Mark Williams. If 225 00:12:06,227 --> 00:12:09,187 Speaker 4: he does, the pressure may be too much Mark Williams 226 00:12:09,227 --> 00:12:12,867 Speaker 4: maybe too Wilie to let him back in the game. 227 00:12:13,307 --> 00:12:16,747 Speaker 4: I think the first is really important. They play seventeen frames. 228 00:12:17,267 --> 00:12:20,707 Speaker 4: I think needs to be in front personally from win match. 229 00:12:21,307 --> 00:12:23,187 Speaker 4: But I've just got a feeling Williams is going to 230 00:12:23,267 --> 00:12:26,267 Speaker 4: do it. I think his name's on the trophy. What 231 00:12:26,347 --> 00:12:29,147 Speaker 4: we've seen throughout the tournament, He's been in really close matches. 232 00:12:30,187 --> 00:12:32,307 Speaker 4: But as I say, it is a coin flip, and 233 00:12:32,667 --> 00:12:34,547 Speaker 4: I just hope it goes all the way seventeen or 234 00:12:34,587 --> 00:12:37,947 Speaker 4: and we have an absolute twitch fest and the decider. 235 00:12:37,707 --> 00:12:40,187 Speaker 2: Absolutely a fast and adding final and prospect well on 236 00:12:40,307 --> 00:12:42,267 Speaker 2: behalf of everybody in their fifties. I would like to 237 00:12:42,307 --> 00:12:45,467 Speaker 2: say that I'm behind the Welshman Mark Williams, but I 238 00:12:45,587 --> 00:12:48,227 Speaker 2: just can't wait to see how it all plays out. Michael, 239 00:12:48,267 --> 00:12:50,547 Speaker 2: great to get your expertise. Thanks so much for joining 240 00:12:50,587 --> 00:12:52,627 Speaker 2: us across New Zealand. We'll look forward to a fast 241 00:12:52,667 --> 00:12:53,627 Speaker 2: and adding final ahead. 242 00:12:53,987 --> 00:12:55,387 Speaker 4: Thank you, Jason, it's been a pleasure. 243 00:12:55,587 --> 00:12:57,227 Speaker 2: I've been great to have you on. Michael. Thanks. Indeed, 244 00:12:57,267 --> 00:13:01,147 Speaker 2: there is Michael Day Chief Snooker writer for Totally Snookered 245 00:13:01,307 --> 00:13:05,067 Speaker 2: so our twenty twenty five World Snooker Championship final Welshman 246 00:13:05,187 --> 00:13:11,067 Speaker 2: three time former champion Mark Williams and Chinese player Xiao 247 00:13:11,347 --> 00:13:14,547 Speaker 2: Shintong best of thirty five frames, so over a couple 248 00:13:14,587 --> 00:13:17,227 Speaker 2: of days. It starts tonight, New Zealand. 249 00:13:17,307 --> 00:13:21,147 Speaker 1: Time for more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine. Listen 250 00:13:21,267 --> 00:13:24,467 Speaker 1: live to News Talk set B weekends from midday, or 251 00:13:24,587 --> 00:13:26,507 Speaker 1: follow the podcast on iHeartRadio