Screencaps from the last day of the Legends Cup, which was actually pretty enjoyable. Anyone who’s been to a Snooker Legends event knows they can put on a show.
Matt and Valerie Chat on Facebook About Jimmy White v. Robert Milkins
(Matt's still in Bristol. Match was at the break.)
Valerie: hey, i just saw jimmah's trailing at the end of the first sesh -6-3. also, i love you.
Matt: I love you too and Jimbo will come back. Maybe not win but will come back.
Valerie: i agree.
Matt: I think the Jimbo Match will end 10-7 or 10-8
Valerie: you're likely right. Milkins is pretty tough, and I've been reading that emotions have been high on both sides.
Matt: Rob does not have a great attitude inside. I know that from playing him and apparently he has not changed.
Valerie: jimmy's been bashing the cue as well i hear. both have gotten a word. i reckon he wants it really badly.
Matt: The pressure of getting to the Crucilble and the ranking points/money. Different kinds of pressure.
Valerie: true. looks like they've got a good turnout anyway. a fair crowd in the stands watching the cubicles with open ends. once they take down those walls, that's how it should be done in first rounds now.
Matt: Milkster has never proven himself and so is desperate to do that.
Valerie: he's not getting any younger either.
Matt: Jimbo has proven himself on every stage except the WC.
Valerie: and he's likely quite spurred on by his performance so far this past week. also i think he fit in a legends appearance as well. he's quite revved up. and he likely loves the idea of taking the stage now nugget hasn't made it in.
Matt: He will never be as good as the old Jimmy. If he was he would probably have as good a chance as anyone.
Valerie: Yes, but as always, no one is who they once were.
It’s been a week, so here are some dodgy photos from our Saturday at the World Seniors Championships in Portsmouth.
What a fast-moving 12-hour day it was. Granted, the matches were best-of-3, but they also kept things going match-after-match-after-match, in part due to the event being as much a tv show as a snooker tournament. Also fast was the table (Matt says quite a bit faster than the one he played on at Gloucester) which made the play of these guys all the more impressive - especially that of Tony Chappell, who beat Alain on Sunday and was the breakout star of the tournament.
But while Dene O’Kane also performed beyond expectations, it was clear that previous champ Darren Morgan and eventual champ Nigel Bond were the most in control of their situations. It was impressive to watch compared to the moments of flailing others had and could be understood.
And of course, Matt was like a kid at Christmas watching Nugget and Jimmy. Indeed, while their classic forms elude them sometimes now, their presence live at the table is powerful. I’m glad I had a chance to feel it.
So between the forgotten upstarts, the high-performers, the legends and our Canadian friends Cliff and Alain, it was pretty much everything we could have hoped for at a seniors tournament - and my first live pro tournament ever. A podcast about it should be coming around in a couple weeks.
- Valerie
Meanwhile, how’s The Rocket doing, what with his unsigned World Snooker contract and all? Glad you asked. Here he is a couple days ago at a Snooker Legends event versus Jimmy White with John Virgo at the mic.
Today is the big testimonial bash celebrating The Whirlwind, Jimmy White, with a massive auction and matches and concert with Ronnie Wood, Mick Hucknall, et al. Younger folks may not know what all the fuss is about these days, so here’s a video that shows you. All the best, Jimmy!
Alex Higgins would have been 63 today. When the day dawned in Shanghai, Jimmy White set an alarm to wake him to remember his best friend, and he tweeted these two photos.
If you were a fan of Higgins, or maybe just fascinated and perplexed by his behaviour, or if you’ve ever had a loved one who had demons and simply refused help (or if you’ve been that loved one), do yourself a favour and read Who Was Hurricane Higgins? by Tony Francis. You’ll learn a lot.
