posted Feb 10, 2008

wild,

No, I am not saying that at all about Murphy. But how seriously can you take a flawed tournament like the Malta Cup? What did the players that went out in the tournament lose exactly?

A big fat pay cheque?
Ranking points?
Tournament prestige?
Nothing?

Murphy is trying his best to be the dominant player for the future. Unfortunately for him, he is just not good enough.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Feb 10, 2008

yeh it was definitely doherty he beat in the final

and when you want expert predictions on snooker dont ask wild, ask me

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Feb 11, 2008

Good for Doherty to make the final again, he should remain safely in the world's top 16 for now.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Feb 11, 2008

so people wait for Murphy to thrash Doherty in the final of a tournament for them to launch their next anti-Murphy "he's not that good" tirade?!!! What more could he have done this week to persuade you otherwise? If Ding had won, it would have been "a significant victory, showing that he will be a dominant force". If Ronnie had won, it would have been "no more bets for the Welsh open next week". But it's Shaun Murphy, so you rubbish the tournament. All the players wanted it. Shaun was the best. Again. Like it.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Feb 11, 2008

tom

100% agree. it's as of people think that shaun murphy was the only person who wants to win the tournament. these players are professionals, they have reputations to fulfill, they don't want to lose matches no matter where, when, who or why. shaun murphy was better than anyone else last week, but that's not to say everyone else lost for the hell of it

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Feb 11, 2008

Tom & Chumba,

Yes, the players wanted to win it so much that Selby didn't even practice for it and Ronnie couldn't be bothered to turn up at all.

Some people on this board just haven't got a clue.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Feb 11, 2008

anglo

well if selby doesn't want to practice then he can't expect to win can he. he won't gain my respect if he keeps turning up to tournaments ill-prepared.

it's up to ronnie if he doesn't want to turn up, he's played in far inferior events than the malta cup in his career

my point is clearly that players nowadays either give it 100% every game trying to win every time, or amble up to every match as if they don't care and lose my respect and their reputation takes a battering.

fair play to murphy, he takes the former route

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Feb 11, 2008

I'm not trying to make out that Malta is the pinnacle of achievement, but that Murphy should still be applauded for such a solid win.

And regardless of the early attitudes of Selby and Ronnie, the four semi-finalists (including 3 world champs - Ken, Higgins, Murphy plus former UK champ Ding) tried everything to win the tournament from that point on. Any they didn't have enough.

Respect to Murphy the consummate professional whose ambition and attitude will make him a title contender for years to come without the mental walkabout and lack of desire that's caused Ronnie to lose out at so many tournaments.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Feb 11, 2008

I see what your saying tom, Murphy has a good attitude but he has to, to compete with the genius of O'Sullivan, Murphy is a pretty good player with a great attitude, O'Sullivan is a great player with at times a poor attitude. But you cannot say that if those semi-finalists (including Murphy) were competing in a tournament like The World Champ. for example they would have not played at a higher intensity than the Malta Cup.

add comment | complain about this comment

posted Feb 11, 2008

No offense but there might be a small prize and its malta, the best thing is to play, i know they do play for money, but everything is important, and its good gaining more games under your belt, like higgins said himself

add comment | complain about this comment