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 --> 00:00:11,747 Speaker 1: from News Talk Z'B. 3 00:00:12,707 --> 00:00:15,667 Speaker 2: The twenty twenty five World Snooker Championship started at the 4 00:00:15,707 --> 00:00:18,987 Speaker 2: Crucible Theater in Sheffield last weekend. We'll run through until 5 00:00:19,067 --> 00:00:21,667 Speaker 2: next Monday. Great pleasure to welcome to the show. Chief 6 00:00:21,867 --> 00:00:26,347 Speaker 2: snooker writer for Totally Snookered, Michael Day. Michael, thanks for 7 00:00:26,427 --> 00:00:28,827 Speaker 2: joining us. First of all, where are we in the 8 00:00:28,827 --> 00:00:31,707 Speaker 2: tournament in terms of completed matches? 9 00:00:33,027 --> 00:00:35,627 Speaker 3: Thanks for having me on, Jason. Yeah, we're currently at 10 00:00:35,667 --> 00:00:39,947 Speaker 3: the second round stage. So actually the Championship as a whole, 11 00:00:40,547 --> 00:00:43,067 Speaker 3: we had ten days of qualifying before the main event 12 00:00:43,067 --> 00:00:45,427 Speaker 3: at the Crucibill Theater, so it's a real sort of 13 00:00:45,467 --> 00:00:49,387 Speaker 3: like month long extravaganza of snooker. But we've just completed 14 00:00:49,387 --> 00:00:51,227 Speaker 3: the first round, so that's the last stay too at 15 00:00:51,227 --> 00:00:54,867 Speaker 3: the Crucible, and we're currently at the last sixteenth stage. 16 00:00:55,187 --> 00:00:59,347 Speaker 3: That will carry on until Tuesday and then Tuesday Wednesdays 17 00:00:59,347 --> 00:01:01,867 Speaker 3: a quarterfinals and from there it will be the one 18 00:01:01,947 --> 00:01:04,387 Speaker 3: table set for the last four and semifinals. 19 00:01:05,107 --> 00:01:08,427 Speaker 2: Major shock on the opening day defending champion top seed 20 00:01:08,467 --> 00:01:11,187 Speaker 2: Kyron Wilson, who won last year, of course, against Jack 21 00:01:11,347 --> 00:01:15,907 Speaker 2: Jones knocked out by a Chinese qualifier in the first round. 22 00:01:15,947 --> 00:01:17,787 Speaker 2: How big a shock surprise was this? 23 00:01:19,827 --> 00:01:21,227 Speaker 4: It's incredible really. 24 00:01:21,827 --> 00:01:25,427 Speaker 3: Obviously we talk about the Crucible curse, so no first 25 00:01:25,427 --> 00:01:28,547 Speaker 3: time champion at the crucibill has successfully defended the title 26 00:01:28,627 --> 00:01:32,107 Speaker 3: the following year. But Kyron, I mean, he was my 27 00:01:32,187 --> 00:01:35,187 Speaker 3: tip for the tournament. He's been in fantastic form since 28 00:01:35,187 --> 00:01:37,507 Speaker 3: winning the world title last year. He's taken his game 29 00:01:37,587 --> 00:01:40,827 Speaker 3: up several levels, won four big ranking events this season, 30 00:01:40,947 --> 00:01:43,827 Speaker 3: and he really was, you know, a pick for many 31 00:01:43,827 --> 00:01:47,347 Speaker 3: people to win the whole tournament. But laypey Fan, the 32 00:01:47,347 --> 00:01:50,107 Speaker 3: player he played, is a really good young Chinese buyer 33 00:01:50,747 --> 00:01:53,307 Speaker 3: making his Crucible debut, and he actually won a tournament 34 00:01:53,427 --> 00:01:56,427 Speaker 3: earlier on in the season down there. I think he 35 00:01:56,507 --> 00:01:58,387 Speaker 3: was ranked in the seventies. That was a big shock, 36 00:01:58,467 --> 00:02:02,747 Speaker 3: but yet big upset. Kiroen was six three up. Laypey 37 00:02:02,827 --> 00:02:06,027 Speaker 3: Fan played exceptionally well. Kyron come back at him, but 38 00:02:06,347 --> 00:02:09,387 Speaker 3: I went to deciding frame and fair credit to Lay 39 00:02:09,427 --> 00:02:12,747 Speaker 3: because he stayed positive and it really was a big upset. 40 00:02:12,627 --> 00:02:14,267 Speaker 2: All right. Want to ask about a couple of other 41 00:02:14,547 --> 00:02:18,267 Speaker 2: players in round one, seven time winner ronege O Sullivan. 42 00:02:18,507 --> 00:02:21,747 Speaker 2: This is this thirty third consecutive edition of the tournament. 43 00:02:22,107 --> 00:02:26,147 Speaker 2: He says, though, despite battling stage fright and nerves over 44 00:02:26,187 --> 00:02:28,787 Speaker 2: the last couple of years, how did he looking around one? 45 00:02:30,307 --> 00:02:32,547 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's an interesting one because we haven't seen Ronnie 46 00:02:32,587 --> 00:02:35,347 Speaker 3: since the start of January. He was playing in the 47 00:02:35,467 --> 00:02:39,027 Speaker 3: Championship League Invitational and he actually snapped his queue deliberately. 48 00:02:39,787 --> 00:02:41,547 Speaker 3: I'll hear that he actually chucked it in the toilet 49 00:02:41,587 --> 00:02:43,667 Speaker 3: as well, and so we've not seen him on the 50 00:02:43,707 --> 00:02:46,947 Speaker 3: professional circuit since then. Coming back using a new queue, 51 00:02:47,027 --> 00:02:49,427 Speaker 3: which is quite big for Ronnie because his old Q 52 00:02:50,027 --> 00:02:52,787 Speaker 3: he'd won world titles with. It was a bit of 53 00:02:52,787 --> 00:02:55,827 Speaker 3: a sketchy performance in the first session from Ronnie his 54 00:02:55,907 --> 00:02:59,987 Speaker 3: opponent Ali Carter. It wasn't on top gear either, But 55 00:03:00,067 --> 00:03:03,827 Speaker 3: the second session Ronnie was exceptional. He made three centuries 56 00:03:03,827 --> 00:03:06,907 Speaker 3: in space of four frames seventy, a couple of fifties, 57 00:03:07,627 --> 00:03:09,627 Speaker 3: and from a position of where it was five to four, 58 00:03:10,027 --> 00:03:11,627 Speaker 3: where it's looking like it could be a tight finish, 59 00:03:11,747 --> 00:03:14,147 Speaker 3: Ronnie just he just ran away with the match and 60 00:03:14,187 --> 00:03:17,467 Speaker 3: it was a very very impressive performance. And you know, 61 00:03:17,747 --> 00:03:19,747 Speaker 3: all of a sudden, we're talking about a potentially eight 62 00:03:19,787 --> 00:03:20,947 Speaker 3: Tweld title for the Rocket. 63 00:03:21,587 --> 00:03:25,067 Speaker 2: Is he still pretty popular with snooker fans. 64 00:03:25,187 --> 00:03:29,227 Speaker 3: Ronnie O'Sullivan, oh, one hundred percent. You know, he is 65 00:03:29,267 --> 00:03:31,867 Speaker 3: the flag bearer. He is, you know, he is the 66 00:03:31,907 --> 00:03:32,467 Speaker 3: top draw. 67 00:03:34,027 --> 00:03:34,267 Speaker 4: Yeah. 68 00:03:34,307 --> 00:03:38,067 Speaker 3: I mean he does say things in the media and 69 00:03:38,107 --> 00:03:40,667 Speaker 3: sometimes his actions are a little bit unhelpful for the 70 00:03:40,707 --> 00:03:43,187 Speaker 3: sport perhaps, but you know, when he gets on the 71 00:03:43,227 --> 00:03:45,747 Speaker 3: table and he performs like he did in the second 72 00:03:45,787 --> 00:03:48,547 Speaker 3: session of his open real match, we just were reminded. 73 00:03:48,587 --> 00:03:50,227 Speaker 3: While we love Ronnie, you know, he's been at the 74 00:03:50,227 --> 00:03:52,867 Speaker 3: top of the sport now for over three decades. You know, 75 00:03:53,427 --> 00:03:58,467 Speaker 3: he's just an absolute Hollywood sporting superstar. Yeah, and I mean, 76 00:03:58,507 --> 00:04:01,667 Speaker 3: you know, he's forty nine years old. Now, most sports 77 00:04:01,667 --> 00:04:03,747 Speaker 3: people would be you know, they'd be retired and have 78 00:04:03,787 --> 00:04:05,747 Speaker 3: their feet up and point and slippers and all that. 79 00:04:05,827 --> 00:04:08,267 Speaker 3: But but Ronnie, at times, even though he's not as 80 00:04:08,267 --> 00:04:11,547 Speaker 3: consistent as he was in the past, at times he 81 00:04:11,707 --> 00:04:14,307 Speaker 3: just looks as best as he's ever been before. And 82 00:04:14,787 --> 00:04:17,107 Speaker 3: hopefully he'll be around for many more years yet. 83 00:04:17,067 --> 00:04:19,507 Speaker 2: Neil It's types. So another upset in the final round 84 00:04:19,507 --> 00:04:23,627 Speaker 2: my match qualifier Ben Wallaston beating Mark Selby teen eight. 85 00:04:23,667 --> 00:04:26,907 Speaker 2: I think there was Wollaston's first match victory at the Crucibile. 86 00:04:26,987 --> 00:04:27,787 Speaker 2: Tell us about that one. 87 00:04:29,187 --> 00:04:32,027 Speaker 4: Yes, another really interesting match that Mark. 88 00:04:32,067 --> 00:04:36,147 Speaker 3: Selby's had a really rejuvenating season, won three events, so 89 00:04:36,227 --> 00:04:38,787 Speaker 3: a bit like Cora and Wilson. He come into the tournament, 90 00:04:38,827 --> 00:04:41,467 Speaker 3: as you know, one of the real serious contenders for 91 00:04:41,507 --> 00:04:44,867 Speaker 3: the title. But he actually drew Ben Willison, who's a 92 00:04:44,907 --> 00:04:47,387 Speaker 3: fellow Leicester player, so they're both from the same cities. 93 00:04:47,427 --> 00:04:49,427 Speaker 3: They knew each other very well, and I actually think 94 00:04:49,427 --> 00:04:51,947 Speaker 3: that was a bad draw for Mark because obviously when 95 00:04:51,947 --> 00:04:54,187 Speaker 3: you play someone you know very well, a mate or 96 00:04:54,227 --> 00:04:57,947 Speaker 3: a practice partner, can sometimes take the intensity away. For 97 00:04:57,987 --> 00:05:00,827 Speaker 3: Ben Williston, he'd not been at the crucill for twelve years. 98 00:05:00,867 --> 00:05:04,427 Speaker 3: This was his second appearance. We qualified and Selby just 99 00:05:04,507 --> 00:05:08,827 Speaker 3: did not perform. It was a very very strange, scrappy 100 00:05:08,867 --> 00:05:11,627 Speaker 3: performance from him, and the fair credits to Ben Woodiston. 101 00:05:12,227 --> 00:05:14,187 Speaker 3: He managed to get the job done ten eight and 102 00:05:14,307 --> 00:05:16,547 Speaker 3: that's a really big win for him and it'd be 103 00:05:16,547 --> 00:05:19,427 Speaker 3: interesting how he gets on for the remainder of the competition. 104 00:05:19,827 --> 00:05:22,787 Speaker 2: World number one Judd Trump, he didn't have any issues 105 00:05:22,787 --> 00:05:26,667 Speaker 2: study five centuries I see here during a team four 106 00:05:27,027 --> 00:05:30,147 Speaker 2: round one victory. Would Trump be favorite to win the 107 00:05:30,147 --> 00:05:30,587 Speaker 2: whole thing. 108 00:05:30,627 --> 00:05:34,987 Speaker 3: Now. Yeah, again, it's another really interesting point because he's 109 00:05:35,027 --> 00:05:39,227 Speaker 3: the runaway world number one. He's won three massive events 110 00:05:39,227 --> 00:05:42,507 Speaker 3: this season. Second half of the season his form has 111 00:05:42,547 --> 00:05:44,987 Speaker 3: been a little bit more patchy, but he comes in. 112 00:05:45,067 --> 00:05:47,267 Speaker 3: He was a tournament favorite, and it was a bit 113 00:05:47,307 --> 00:05:49,707 Speaker 3: weird because several of the players were sort of being 114 00:05:49,707 --> 00:05:51,587 Speaker 3: talked ahead of him. But you've got jud Trump. Like 115 00:05:51,587 --> 00:05:54,307 Speaker 3: I say, he's the world number one, and his performance 116 00:05:54,347 --> 00:05:58,707 Speaker 3: against Julia Long was fantastic. He made five centuries. He 117 00:05:58,747 --> 00:06:02,107 Speaker 3: actually equaled the record for the most centuries made by 118 00:06:02,107 --> 00:06:04,587 Speaker 3: one player in a round one match. That just proves 119 00:06:05,147 --> 00:06:07,747 Speaker 3: how well he is playing. He's actually up to ninety 120 00:06:07,787 --> 00:06:10,827 Speaker 3: eight centuries for the season, so if he gets two 121 00:06:10,947 --> 00:06:13,587 Speaker 3: more at the Crucible over the coming days, he actually 122 00:06:13,627 --> 00:06:16,387 Speaker 3: pockets one hundred thousand pounds bonus. So he's also got 123 00:06:16,387 --> 00:06:19,667 Speaker 3: that little bit of added pressure as well. Yes, he's 124 00:06:19,747 --> 00:06:23,027 Speaker 3: rightfully the favorite. There are question marks. Obviously he's won 125 00:06:23,107 --> 00:06:27,707 Speaker 3: this before, but there are question marks around his reliability 126 00:06:27,747 --> 00:06:31,547 Speaker 3: over longer matches, multi session matches, and he's got Sean 127 00:06:31,667 --> 00:06:35,107 Speaker 3: Murphy in the last sixteen so that's a real blockbuster tie. 128 00:06:35,667 --> 00:06:38,707 Speaker 3: If he can get past Murphy, then I think, you know, 129 00:06:39,987 --> 00:06:41,307 Speaker 3: he could go all the way and get the second 130 00:06:41,347 --> 00:06:42,027 Speaker 3: World crown. 131 00:06:41,947 --> 00:06:42,307 Speaker 4: All right? 132 00:06:42,347 --> 00:06:45,147 Speaker 2: And who else, Michael, who else has We've talked about 133 00:06:45,147 --> 00:06:48,027 Speaker 2: a couple of players who are still there, but who 134 00:06:48,107 --> 00:06:51,027 Speaker 2: else that we haven't mentioned might yet go deep deep 135 00:06:51,107 --> 00:06:51,907 Speaker 2: into this tournament. 136 00:06:53,347 --> 00:06:56,307 Speaker 3: Well. One of the running stories throughout the tournament, even 137 00:06:56,347 --> 00:07:00,427 Speaker 3: from the very first qualifying round was China's Jaubzing Tong 138 00:07:00,987 --> 00:07:05,787 Speaker 3: and now now is a former UK champion, former top 139 00:07:05,827 --> 00:07:10,227 Speaker 3: six player, but he was involved in the Chinese match 140 00:07:10,267 --> 00:07:13,787 Speaker 3: fixing scandal from a few years ago. He wasn't found 141 00:07:13,867 --> 00:07:17,387 Speaker 3: have fixed any matches himself, but he was evolved in 142 00:07:17,707 --> 00:07:19,467 Speaker 3: the scandal and he was banned from the sport for 143 00:07:19,507 --> 00:07:22,427 Speaker 3: two years. So he actually come back at the start 144 00:07:22,427 --> 00:07:25,667 Speaker 3: of this year on the amateur circuit, managed to get 145 00:07:25,667 --> 00:07:27,867 Speaker 3: his professional tour card back, so he's actually competing here 146 00:07:28,027 --> 00:07:29,387 Speaker 3: at the cruci Will as an amateur. 147 00:07:30,427 --> 00:07:32,547 Speaker 4: He won four qualifying rounds, so. 148 00:07:32,587 --> 00:07:35,387 Speaker 3: He's coming through the sort of labyrinth of preliminary ratches 149 00:07:36,147 --> 00:07:39,867 Speaker 3: at the Cruise. We beat Jack Jones quite comfortably really 150 00:07:40,147 --> 00:07:42,147 Speaker 3: to get into the last sixteen, and as we speak 151 00:07:42,227 --> 00:07:45,067 Speaker 3: now he's winning his last sixteen match against Laypey Fan 152 00:07:45,547 --> 00:07:48,187 Speaker 3: the player beat Kayan Wilson. So I think Chao zing 153 00:07:48,227 --> 00:07:52,187 Speaker 3: Tong is somebody who I've seen like Ronnie O'Sullivan. He's 154 00:07:52,227 --> 00:07:54,627 Speaker 3: li liken him to like a Luke Littler of snooker, 155 00:07:54,667 --> 00:07:57,387 Speaker 3: even though he Chao's a few years older than Luke. 156 00:07:57,507 --> 00:08:01,387 Speaker 3: So very interesting what happens with Jiao. Obviously, we've never 157 00:08:01,427 --> 00:08:04,547 Speaker 3: had a Chinese World champion. This year we've had a 158 00:08:04,587 --> 00:08:07,067 Speaker 3: record number of Chinese players at the Crucible. 159 00:08:07,067 --> 00:08:07,667 Speaker 4: We've had ten. 160 00:08:08,187 --> 00:08:10,987 Speaker 3: Previously it was six, so that perhaps sort of shows 161 00:08:11,027 --> 00:08:13,467 Speaker 3: you with the direction of you know where snook is going. 162 00:08:13,827 --> 00:08:16,307 Speaker 3: But we've got so many other great players. They're like 163 00:08:16,307 --> 00:08:18,427 Speaker 3: I say, We've got Murphy, We've got Luca Prissell, you 164 00:08:18,507 --> 00:08:22,147 Speaker 3: won the tournament two years ago, Dingen Wii and another 165 00:08:22,267 --> 00:08:25,547 Speaker 3: top Chinese player class ninety two is still there, John Higgins, 166 00:08:25,587 --> 00:08:26,427 Speaker 3: Mark Williams. 167 00:08:26,707 --> 00:08:27,387 Speaker 4: We really do. 168 00:08:27,427 --> 00:08:30,507 Speaker 3: Have a stacked tournament and it's shaping up to be 169 00:08:30,627 --> 00:08:33,027 Speaker 3: possibly one of the most exciting world championships and years. 170 00:08:33,187 --> 00:08:35,987 Speaker 2: Absolutely even hearing the names that it makes you look 171 00:08:36,027 --> 00:08:37,627 Speaker 2: forward to the week you here it in just to 172 00:08:37,667 --> 00:08:41,467 Speaker 2: finish Michael, the tournament itself, the World Snooker Championship, the 173 00:08:41,547 --> 00:08:46,347 Speaker 2: sitting at the Crucible Theater in Sheffield. Still plenty of prestige, 174 00:08:46,467 --> 00:08:50,227 Speaker 2: still plenty of interest. Tickets relatively hard to come by, 175 00:08:50,307 --> 00:08:50,787 Speaker 2: are they. 176 00:08:52,147 --> 00:08:53,947 Speaker 4: They're like gold dust, they really are. 177 00:08:54,027 --> 00:08:57,227 Speaker 3: They get pretty much sold out pretty much a year 178 00:08:57,227 --> 00:08:57,787 Speaker 3: in advance. 179 00:08:59,027 --> 00:08:59,827 Speaker 4: It really is. 180 00:09:00,307 --> 00:09:02,107 Speaker 3: If you've never been to the Crucible, it is a 181 00:09:02,227 --> 00:09:06,107 Speaker 3: very very special atmosphere. It is like a cauldron, especially 182 00:09:06,107 --> 00:09:09,307 Speaker 3: in the early rounds where you've got two tables. If 183 00:09:09,347 --> 00:09:11,147 Speaker 3: you're in the front row, you could actually stick your 184 00:09:11,227 --> 00:09:14,267 Speaker 3: arm out and you know, touch the player. It's such 185 00:09:14,267 --> 00:09:19,067 Speaker 3: a fantastic atmosphere. It's it's an electric atmosphere. Obviously there's 186 00:09:19,107 --> 00:09:22,827 Speaker 3: there's talks and conversations whether the Crucial will will still 187 00:09:22,827 --> 00:09:25,267 Speaker 3: host this tournament because the contract runs out in twenty 188 00:09:25,307 --> 00:09:28,787 Speaker 3: twenty seven, and we've had bosses of the sport talking 189 00:09:28,787 --> 00:09:31,747 Speaker 3: about this last year. In this year, it would be 190 00:09:31,787 --> 00:09:34,507 Speaker 3: a big pity if you know, it was to leave 191 00:09:34,507 --> 00:09:39,547 Speaker 3: the Crucible. But the fans absolutely love it. The players 192 00:09:39,707 --> 00:09:42,547 Speaker 3: it's you know, the players is mixed bad because you know, 193 00:09:42,627 --> 00:09:46,387 Speaker 3: the pressure. The facilities probably aren't what you would expect 194 00:09:46,427 --> 00:09:48,747 Speaker 3: for a World Championship, but that adds to its character. 195 00:09:49,147 --> 00:09:51,427 Speaker 3: And that's what makes it such a unique test in 196 00:09:51,787 --> 00:09:53,267 Speaker 3: the snooker and sporting world. 197 00:09:54,107 --> 00:09:55,867 Speaker 2: Michael, thank you so much for joining us across New 198 00:09:55,947 --> 00:09:57,987 Speaker 2: Zealand and giving us some really great insight into the 199 00:09:58,027 --> 00:10:01,547 Speaker 2: World Snooker Championship. We look forward to the second round matches, 200 00:10:01,587 --> 00:10:04,427 Speaker 2: onto the quarters and the royal business into the tournament. Again, 201 00:10:04,467 --> 00:10:05,827 Speaker 2: thank you for your time this afternoon. 202 00:10:06,987 --> 00:10:08,947 Speaker 4: Thank you, Jason Over really appreciate it. 203 00:10:09,507 --> 00:10:12,707 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 204 00:10:12,787 --> 00:10:16,107 Speaker 1: to news talks at b weekends from midday, or follow 205 00:10:16,107 --> 00:10:17,747 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.