We're down to single figures in days until the greatest snooker event on earth kicks off.
Thirty-two players fighting it out at the Crucible for the prestige of the Betfred.com World Championship.
OnCue has been bringing you day-by-day build-up, already looking at at the fortunes of the some of the biggest names in the hat.
But today, it's time to take a look at the two Crucible debutants.
Thursday, 7 April 2011
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
Crucible Countdown: 10 days to go
Over the past few days, I've been casting my eye across the chances of the tournament's title favourites.
There's one man I've forgotten; Ronnie O'Sullivan.
It's difficult to know where to start with the Rocket, but today OnCue focuses on the most naturally-gifted player ever to pick up a cue.
What can we expect from Ronnie at the Crucible this year?
There's one man I've forgotten; Ronnie O'Sullivan.
It's difficult to know where to start with the Rocket, but today OnCue focuses on the most naturally-gifted player ever to pick up a cue.
What can we expect from Ronnie at the Crucible this year?
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
Crucible Countdown: 11 days to go
Closer and closer we roll to this year's Betfred.com World Championship.
We're down to just 11 days to go.
With the chances of Neil Robertson and John Higgins already assessed, OnCue continues its Crucible Countdown today with a closer look at another of this year's title front runners.
Only one player has picked up more ranking points this season than the current world number one Mark Williams and he's back performing to the levels which saw him lift the title in 2000 and 2003.
He's already being widely-tipped to capture his third championship this time round.
We're down to just 11 days to go.
With the chances of Neil Robertson and John Higgins already assessed, OnCue continues its Crucible Countdown today with a closer look at another of this year's title front runners.
Only one player has picked up more ranking points this season than the current world number one Mark Williams and he's back performing to the levels which saw him lift the title in 2000 and 2003.
He's already being widely-tipped to capture his third championship this time round.
Monday, 4 April 2011
Crucible Countdown: 12 days to go
Starting to find a good bit of rhythm with this Crucible Countdown now.
Yesterday, OnCue dissected the chances of reigning champion Neil Robertson defeating the Crucible Curse.
Keeping in line with that theme, today it's time to look at the chances of the tournament's favourite John Higgins.
Yesterday, OnCue dissected the chances of reigning champion Neil Robertson defeating the Crucible Curse.
Keeping in line with that theme, today it's time to look at the chances of the tournament's favourite John Higgins.
Sunday, 3 April 2011
Trump triumphs at China Open
So there you have it, Judd Trump is the 2011 China Open champion.
The 21-year-old has hit a massive milestone in his career, winning his first ever major ranking event with a 10-8 win against Mark Selby in the final.
Judd has played some superb snooker this week, and thoroughly deserves to lift the trophy.
He cannot be accused of easy route either as he beat Marco Fu, Mark Davis, Peter Ebdon, Shaun Murphy and Selby along the way.
But this was the week Trump came of age. He's a bright young talent who has won this title playing his natural attacking style of play. That must be commended.
It's good news for him, and even better news for snooker.
All those years of hard work travelling to junior events have finally paid off, and now up to 11th in the provisional world rankings, he can almost certainly look forward to starting next season in the top 16.
As for the game, a new star has been born.
Winning matches against the top players is one thing, but winning finals is very much another. Today, he beat one of the game's best pressure players.
World number two Selby has a real knack for delivering when under the limelight, but Judd was having none of it. After building up a 5-3 lead in the first session, the Jester kept threatening to bully his way back into the match, but Judd played with maturity well above his years to see the job out.
He's been a pleasure to watch all-week long.
His victory now sets up for a cracker of a match at the Crucible, where he'll meet defending champion Neil Robertson on the first day in Sheffield.
The 21-year-old has hit a massive milestone in his career, winning his first ever major ranking event with a 10-8 win against Mark Selby in the final.
Judd has played some superb snooker this week, and thoroughly deserves to lift the trophy.
He cannot be accused of easy route either as he beat Marco Fu, Mark Davis, Peter Ebdon, Shaun Murphy and Selby along the way.
But this was the week Trump came of age. He's a bright young talent who has won this title playing his natural attacking style of play. That must be commended.
It's good news for him, and even better news for snooker.
All those years of hard work travelling to junior events have finally paid off, and now up to 11th in the provisional world rankings, he can almost certainly look forward to starting next season in the top 16.
As for the game, a new star has been born.
Winning matches against the top players is one thing, but winning finals is very much another. Today, he beat one of the game's best pressure players.
World number two Selby has a real knack for delivering when under the limelight, but Judd was having none of it. After building up a 5-3 lead in the first session, the Jester kept threatening to bully his way back into the match, but Judd played with maturity well above his years to see the job out.
He's been a pleasure to watch all-week long.
His victory now sets up for a cracker of a match at the Crucible, where he'll meet defending champion Neil Robertson on the first day in Sheffield.
Crucible Countdown: 13 days to go
There's a small matter of a ranking event final to be played today in Beijing.
Judd Trump is taking on Mark Selby for the chance to be crowned China Open champion. It promises to be a cracker, but that won't throw me off of my Crucible Countdown.
With 13 days to go, OnCue gets down to the nitty gritty.
Reigning champion Neil Robertson goes into this year's Betfred.com World Championship bidding to become the only first-time winner to retain his crown at the Crucible.
Can he finally crack the Crucible Curse?
Judd Trump is taking on Mark Selby for the chance to be crowned China Open champion. It promises to be a cracker, but that won't throw me off of my Crucible Countdown.
With 13 days to go, OnCue gets down to the nitty gritty.
Reigning champion Neil Robertson goes into this year's Betfred.com World Championship bidding to become the only first-time winner to retain his crown at the Crucible.
Can he finally crack the Crucible Curse?
Saturday, 2 April 2011
China Open - Day six - Trump reaches first ranking final
I could have stayed in the comfort of my own home and watched the two semi-final matches of the China Open today.
Instead, I stupidly decided to embark on a 400-mile round trip to see Spurs draw 0-0 away to Premier League bottom-side Wigan.
It's not the first time I've been disappointing on my travels following my football team - and it definitely won't be the last.
But while I was away from the snooker action, Judd Trump successfully reached his first ranking event final.
Instead, I stupidly decided to embark on a 400-mile round trip to see Spurs draw 0-0 away to Premier League bottom-side Wigan.
It's not the first time I've been disappointing on my travels following my football team - and it definitely won't be the last.
But while I was away from the snooker action, Judd Trump successfully reached his first ranking event final.
Crucible Countdown: 14 days to go
It's only a fortnight now until the curtains are raised for this year's Betfred.com World Championship.
The field is probably as open as it's ever been and people are predicting the most exciting tournament of all time.
That's quite a bold claim. But with the quality of ranking events we've already enjoyed this season, you wouldn't bet against it, and you certainly won't want to be missing too much of the action either.
In the second edition of OnCue's Crucible Countdown, I'm looking back at what happened just 12 months ago, when Neil Robertson became the first Australian to lift the world title.
The field is probably as open as it's ever been and people are predicting the most exciting tournament of all time.
That's quite a bold claim. But with the quality of ranking events we've already enjoyed this season, you wouldn't bet against it, and you certainly won't want to be missing too much of the action either.
In the second edition of OnCue's Crucible Countdown, I'm looking back at what happened just 12 months ago, when Neil Robertson became the first Australian to lift the world title.
Friday, 1 April 2011
China Open - Day five - Tremendous Trump advances to semis
Another day has passed at this year's exciting China Open, and again the standard of snooker was of the highest order.
Day five always threatened to be a thriller with five world finalists among the line-up.
But as eight title hopefuls became four in Beijing, it was 21-year-old Judd Trump who led the way.
Day five always threatened to be a thriller with five world finalists among the line-up.
But as eight title hopefuls became four in Beijing, it was 21-year-old Judd Trump who led the way.
Crucible Countdown: 15 days to go
Welcome to the OnCue countdown for the greatest snooker event on the planet.
Today marks the start of April, and there's only 15 days between now and the start of this year's Betfred.com World Championship.
This means 32 of the best snooker players in the world will soon be battling it out for the right to be crowned world champion.
It doesn't matter what has gone so far this season. This is the big one.
I'll be bringing you build-up every day until the start.
Starting today, I'm tackling the venue. Everyone talks about how special the Crucible is as a setting for this great tournament. To kick off the countdown, here's why the Crucible is special to me...
Today marks the start of April, and there's only 15 days between now and the start of this year's Betfred.com World Championship.
This means 32 of the best snooker players in the world will soon be battling it out for the right to be crowned world champion.
It doesn't matter what has gone so far this season. This is the big one.
I'll be bringing you build-up every day until the start.
Starting today, I'm tackling the venue. Everyone talks about how special the Crucible is as a setting for this great tournament. To kick off the countdown, here's why the Crucible is special to me...
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