Then there were four...

Only four players are left bidding to become the 2011 world snooker champion - and this is where the Crucible comes into its own as one of sport's greatest venues.

With today's conclusion of the quarter-final matches, the home of snooker is transformed into a one-table venue - and now it's time for that special feeling.

The intensity of the whole place amplifies and the atmosphere multiples.

Only a small percentage of professional snooker players ever get the chance to sample this great snooker setting. This year it's left down to Mark Williams, Judd Trump, John Higgins and Ding Junhui to battle it out on the greatest snooker scene of all.

A word about O'Sullivan..

It's no surprise that on the night when Ronnie O'Sullivan was eliminated from this year's Betfred.com World Championship, this was what a lot of fans wanted to talk about.

His 13-10 quarter-final defeat to John Higgins has got everyone talking. So I gathered it probably warranted a blog of its own.

Some people will argue it's no bigger news for O'Sullivan to be knocked out over any of the other top players. But, like it or not, it's bigger news. His fans go wild. It causes days of debate.

But tonight, I think it's time to break the mould. Rather than focus on where it went wrong for O'Sullivan, I want to talk about where it went right.

World Championship predictions: Moss v Pegram (part 4)

We're down to the quarter-final phase of the competition now.

OnCue continues its prediction head-to-head between editor Gary Moss (GM) and former professional player Jason Pegram (JP) to guess every score at the Crucible.

With just seven matches remaining, there's no room for errors.


So far, Pegram leads 28-24.

The correct score prediction for Ronnie O'Sullivan's 13-10 win against Shaun Murphy helped Pegram's cause last night, but it's not over yet.

Here's a reminder of how it's scored:

1 point for a correct winner

2 points for a correct winner and within frame of the scoreline

3 points for a correct winner and the perfect scoreline

Here's what the lads think for the last eight matches...

Let's get down to business

It's difficult to complain about the standard of snooker over the opening ten days of this year's World Championship.

But tonight - as the eight quarter-finalists were confirmed - we were spoilt to one of the great sessions at the Crucible venue where both sides of the curtain was loaded with drama.

Fab four fly into quarters

Four names are confirmed for the quarter-final Crucible line-up and it's not been without a story.

Impressive Mark Williams was the first man through with a 13-4 demolition of Jamie Cope. I said just a couple of days ago that the Welshman is one of the two players to beat.

He's playing as well as he has been all season and easy wins so far means he'll have plenty of spare energy in the tank to mount a serious challenge as the week goes on.

People are beginning to talk about Judd Trump as a potential champion too. He was spectacular again when he beat Martin Gould 13-6. More long potting. More big breaks. More rave reviews. He looks to be really enjoying his snooker at Sheffield this year. And why shouldn't he? He's come so far and no everyone is watching him.

The best part of Trump's story is that it's not just hype.  I think he'll even believe he can win it now. And if confidence is what it takes, he's got it aplenty.

Also through is Crucible-specialist Graeme Dott. The Scot is bidding it to make it to his fourth Sheffield final in eight years. He's made it this far following a 13-11 win over Ali Carter. Can he go on? He'll be scrapping that's for sure.

Then there was the incredible story of Mark Allen. He won his second decider of the championship last night with a last gasp win against Barry Hawkins.

I said before the tournament how the Crucible has the potential to bring out the best in players struggling. Fighting against depression, Allen has shown bottle and character to come this far. Preparation to this tournament could hardly have been worse for him. It's a funny old game.

Elsewhere, Ronnie O'Sullivan wasn't at his very best yesterday but still managed to open up a 6-2 lead against Shaun Murphy. And Mark Selby showed much improvement from his first round performance to build a 7-1 advantage on Stephen Hendry.

Higgins and Williams still the men to beat

Nearly a week has passed at this year's Betfred.com World Championship - but in my eyes nothing much has changed.

John Higgins and Mark Williams are still the players to be beaten. They've both been the most impressive performers so far.

Due to face each other in the semi-finals, I can't help but see this a the potential trophy deicider.

Sure, Ding Junhui, Shaun Murphy and Ronnie O'Sullivan have also shown they have the raw quality of title-winning form but so far only against feeble first round opposition.

Higgins and Williams meanwhile have already faced must sterner tests and look in champion mode.

Their break building has been effortless. And safety imperious. Despite both being handed arguably the most difficult first round draws, they're still in the race and have yet to be troubled. They've not even been made to sweat.

Mark brushed aside his Welsh counterpart Ryan Day 10-5 in the opener and now leads Jamie Cope 12-4 in the second, while John Higgins took care of Stephen Lee 10-5.

This shows they're coming through difficult games without a hint of a problem. The beauty of this is that they'll be ready for the tricky matches later in the tournament but still have plenty left in the tank.

It's also worth mentioning they both look as if they have plenty of gears to drive through as well. I can only see them improving. Between them they have five world titles. They know how to play the Crucible game.

So, you'd be silly not to back these two.

Just a thought anyway!

World Championship predictions: Moss v Pegram (part 3)

With more than half the matches already played at the Crucible, points are becoming more and more valuable in the OnCue head-to-head predictions.

Editor Gary Moss is testing himself against former professional Jason Pegram, and the standard has been fairly impressive.

Here's the second installment of last 16 matches...

Ali Carter v Graeme Dott

JP: I've backed Dott to get to the semi-finals and I'll stick by that. Carter has probably got more talent, but Dott has got more grit. I still question Ali's temperament and I think he's still a little bit too big for his boots. He needs that attitude to change to become a top four player. Dott 13-10

GM: Very little between these two players. They're both great fighters and capable of winning the title. They both played well in the first round. I can see this one going the full distance. Dott 13-12

John Higgins v Rory McLeod

JP: I think Higgins could give him a 28 lead and still win this match. He's just too good. Rory is a great player off the TV and I would never mock his ability but he plays such a dated game. He like it's the 1980s and it's boring. He plays a lot with Peter Ebdon so maybe that's had an affect. I'm not a fan of watching Rory. Higgins 13-5

GM: Higgins is still the man to beat at the Crucible this year in my opinion. No disrespect to Rory but this a is a fairly kind draw for the Scot. He's so good in every department. I can see him being a comfortable winner. Higgins 13-5

Mark Allen v Barry Hawkins

JP: Allen will be buzzing after beating Matthew Stevens. He shouldn't have won that one. I was gutted for Matthew. By the sounds of things, Allen is having a bit of a tough time. I think he'll win this match but I'm not convinced by him. He plays quite a messy game and doesn't keep control of the white. That means he has to pot a lot of crazy balls. Allen 13-9

GM: With Allen having already secured his top 16 status, he will be able to enjoy this match much more than his last. When he plays with freedom, he always looks more dangerous. Barry proved with his win against Stephen Maguire that he can upset the seeds, but I think Allen will just have too much. Allen 13-10

Stephen Hendry v Mark Selby

JP: I'd love to see Hendry win an eighth world title. I think he deserves it. He's the best winner and pressure player I've ever seen but I'll be backing Selby. He can win this tournament. Selby 13-7

GM: An important match for Stephen, who needs a result to stay in the top 16. I think he'll make a real fight of it, but after his first round slog and Selby coming through against Jimmy Robertson fairly unscathed, I think he'll be a lot fresher. Selby 13-8

Comeback on the baize

The Crucible always produces its fair share of comebacks.

Yesterday was no exception as we were spoilt with two classics.

Martin Gould and Mark Allen are two of the most exciting players to watch in the game - and they both overturned deficits to progress to the last 16.

The Pinner potter resumed against Marco Fu trailing 6-3. It was little surprise that he came out all guns blazing. The difference in his second session though was that his ambitious shots were all coming off.

Fu looked horribly switched off. Gould looked up for it big time. That was the difference.

Confidence isn't so easy to come by for poor Allen at the moment. Battling against depression, he admitted in the press conference after his match with Matthew Stevens that there were times he wanted to smash the balls up.

That makes his tale even more remarkable as he fought back from 9-6 down to win on a decider. The World Championship has a funny way of bringing out the best of players in adversity. Maybe this will be the turning point the Northern Ireland man needs. It was a special moment. One we'll probably remember for many years.

On a cracking day, a mention too for Graeme Dott and Rory McLeod who also booked their slots in the next round.

Dott beat Mark King 10-7, while Rory progressed to the last 16 of a ranking event for the first time, beating Ricky Walden 10-6.

The tournament really is in full swing now. As we go into the Easter weekend, what more will the boys have in store for us?

World Championship predictions: Moss v Pegram (part 2)

Last week, OnCue launched a prediction head-to-head between editor Gary Moss (GM) and former professional player Jason Pegram (JP) to guess every score at the Crucible.


There's been little to choose between them so far, with the current score sitting at 15-13 in favour of Moss

Correct score predictions of 10-9 in the Stephen Hendry against Joe Perry match and 10-8 to Stuart Bingham versus Peter Ebdon, have given Moss the slight edge so far.

But Pegram hit the nail on the head saying Mark Allen would beat Matthew Stevens in a decider. It's all still to play for.

With second round matches beginning today, here's the first half of the last 16 draw. What will the lads go for this time?

Here's a reminder of how it's scored:

1 point for a correct winner
2 points for a correct winner and within frame of the scoreline
3 points for a correct winner and the perfect scoreline

Let the battle continue...

Essex double march on

Not every day can produce fireworks at the Crucible.

Day four was one of those where the action simmered.

After the drama on day three, things settled down in Sheffield as eight players began their World Championship campaign and two matches played to a conclusion.

In the two that finished, Essex duo Ronnie O'Sullivan and Stuart Bingham advanced to the last 16.