Snooker

That's what swung it, yes. But the direct protests gained significant visibility for the suffragette cause, even if some of that was what we might today call 'negative publicity'.

 

Yeah but did they even trend on Twitter?

 

Yes, and had the Suffragette movement not been mobilised, visible and determined for a pretty long time the whole cause would have taken a even longer than it did to bring about change. As it was, it wasn't until the equality act of 1928 that all women got the right to vote – 15 years after Emily Davison jumped in front of the King's horse and ten years after the end of WW1.

Just Stop Oil are going to be divisive in the here and now because of their tactics, but I think future generations will look back, from the perspective of being the ones dealing with the consequences of today's laidback 'it'll-never-happen' attitude, and think that chucking a bit of orange powder on a snooker table was an incredibly small gesture.

The argument that anyone who cares about the environment has to opt out of absolutely everything that has a carbon cost is, frankly, ludicrous. It's just an argument to excuse inaction. The world is going to change a great deal in the next 20 years and even more so in the next 50. The question now is whether we harness and steer that change and mitigate the consequences, or whether we just allow it to happen, shrug and allow the least well-off (as usual) to bear the brunt of those consequences.

 

I think it's quite ironic, considering what I would assume is the left leaning attitude of these protestors, that the only way I can feasibly think to solve the climate crisis quickly is to implement some sort of authoritarian rule. Unless you forcibly make people cease doing things like driving/buying petrol, getting on planes, forcing businesses to be cleaner etc.. it is human nature that not everyone will conform, especially if there is money to be made. That's why ultimately, whilst I understand why they are doing these things, the way they're doing it and human nature in general will render it all pointless. Sorry, probably a negative looking approach but just my thoughts after yesterdays events. Which brings it back to the snooker vaguely...

 

They probably said the same thing about the slave trade.

 

I think it’s probably a mistake to draw the climate debate along left-right lines, unless you see it purely as Culture War fodder. I don’t think it’s especially left wing to engage in disruptive protest.

I agree though, that if the aim is to nudge the Overton Window back in a direction that is more constructive / positive for humanity as a whole when it comes to the climate debate then it’s probably not an effective approach.

Anyway, let’s hope they can get a replacement table from Argos and get the action back under way on the baize.

 

Tournament will be over if my recent 'click and collect' experience with Argos is any guide.

 

Did they?

 

Dunno. I'm old but not that old.

 

Stopping snooker?

Finally these protesters do something I can get onboard with.

 

Better get out of a snooker thread then.

 

*ontable

 

Apols.

 

What superb performance this afternoon by Luca Brecel. He was trailing Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-6 overnight in the quarter final, he's only gone out and won 7 frames on the trot to get to the semi final.

 

Ronnie chucked it.

 

Did look that way. I saw an interview on Eurosport last night and he didn’t appear himself, ignoring the question and answering another one instead. It was clear from the first round he wasn’t in winning form.

Not much else to watch in the tournament. Shame we can’t have an Bracel vs Si final. That might have been interesting. A Selby/McGill final doesn’t bear thinking about.

 

Up in Sheffield last night watching McGill and Si, my mate and I left at 11-11 as it was a poor quality grind fest. Obviously then missed McGill hitting a 130 break…

Not so bad though as we’re back at 1pm today for the first semi final. Slightly gutted Ronnie was crushed yesterday as we would have seen him. However, I think he mostly gets through on reputation now and it might even be better to watch Brecel play in his current form.

 

I've not been to the Crucible since 2017, I'd like to go back one day. The previous year I saw Ronnie get beaten by Barry Hawkins.

 

Loved watching Brecel since his comeback vs ronnie. Absolutely outstanding natural ability. Maybe even more than the Rocket himself.

Well deserved title. Never wanted a non Englishman to win before but he's been a joy to watch.

 

Yep, was ready to switch off as per usual when Ronnie lost but he’s been fantastic to watch. I doubt his attacking no matter what style will change the game overall much, but we can only hope.

 

Fine margins.
Mark Selby had a good chance to go all level but 2 miscues to lose and a then a miscue early in the last frame and it’s gone.
Brecel quite emotional … well deserved winner.

 

Fair play Luca, deserved winner, incredible play all tournament from him considering at one point he went back to Belgium on the lash. Selby too, a true champion and not as boring as some would want you to think.

Looking forward to him hitting the Crucible curse in 2024!

As for Ronnie, glad he lost, think I saw a better match in semi between Brecel and Si to be honest.

 

Great final, I enjoyed that. I thought Selby was going to power through at the end there.

 

So I've been a bit under the weather this week and have had plenty of time to watch the Masters Snooker at Ally Pally .
The standard has been absolutely shocking. I swear I could have had a chance in some of those frames. Even the great Ronnie O had a stinker and won.
I'm watching the match now between Allen and Selby and it's mistake after mistake.
What's going on?

 

Mistake, mistake, mistake, 147, mistake, mistake

 

Two 147's now in this tournament, which is very unusual, especially for The Masters where there have only been 3 in total before this year.

Having come closest to ever seeing a 147 on TV when Ken Doherty missed the final black in the 90's, I have now in less than a year seen Mark Selby do one in the world final and the two in this tournament. Coming along like buses now for me.

 

With great timing I must say!

 

That’s right, make it all about you.

 

One of the greatest snooker stats, is how many live televised 147 breaks I have seen. Just in case there's any element of doubt, it's 3 now.

 

Diamond is right though, not seen so many mistakes in a match at this level as far as I can remember