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Re: Gods of Snooker

Postby Muller

badtemperedcyril wrote:
Muller wrote:I have always thought that Tony Knowles' number 2 ranking was a little misleading as - aside from that 1982 freak result - I never counted him as amongst Davis' primary challengers and rated him behind Griffiths, Higgins, Thorburn, White and Taylor. He was a decent player though, with a nice fluent style when performing well.

He did win 2 ranking titles at a time when there were only 2 of 3 ranking events in a season. Also 3 times World Championship semi-finalist. I think Tony was a serious challenger to Davis but only very briefly, like 82/83. The big Sun story was a big distraction to his career from which he never really recovered.


Yes but I do think never making a WC final counts against him.

Agree his prime was quite brief.

Re: Gods of Snooker

Postby Dragonfly

Getting to 3 Crucible semi finals is a decent enough record. Only thing is that apart from the Thorburn match in 83, he lost very heavily in the others.

I wonder if there was a lack of self belief that he could go all the way, or he wasn't great at handling the pressure. He kinda fell apart in 2 of the 3 semis. And missed an opportunity to finish the other one.

Re: Gods of Snooker

Postby Iranu

Dragonfly wrote:Getting to 3 Crucible semi finals is a decent enough record. Only thing is that apart from the Thorburn match in 83, he lost very heavily in the others.

I wonder if there was a lack of self belief that he could go all the way, or he wasn't great at handling the pressure. He kinda fell apart in 2 of the 3 semis. And missed an opportunity to finish the other one.

How many players have reached three World Semis without winning a World Championship or even reaching a final?

Re: Gods of Snooker

Postby SnookerEd25

Probably only TK, but I will investigate and see if there is anybody else.

Joe Swail played in two (2000 & 2001) without winning, that’s the closest I can think of off the top of my head…

Re: Gods of Snooker

Postby Juddernaut88

Iranu wrote:
Dragonfly wrote:Getting to 3 Crucible semi finals is a decent enough record. Only thing is that apart from the Thorburn match in 83, he lost very heavily in the others.

I wonder if there was a lack of self belief that he could go all the way, or he wasn't great at handling the pressure. He kinda fell apart in 2 of the 3 semis. And missed an opportunity to finish the other one.

How many players have reached three World Semis without winning a World Championship or even reaching a final?


Alan McManus is one of them.

Re: Gods of Snooker

Postby SnookerEd25

Oh hang on , Angles maybe?

Didn’t he reach 2 SF’s in the 90s and, remarkably, one more in 2016? :chin:

Re: Gods of Snooker

Postby SnookerEd25

Good work Judds; great minds and all that :ok:

1992,93 & 2016 being Angles’ years

Any more?

Re: Gods of Snooker

Postby Andre147

Didn't Kirk Stevens reach 2 World Semis?

But it doesn't fit the 3 criteria I suppose.

Maybe only Angles and Knowles reached 3 without ever making the Final.

Re: Gods of Snooker

Postby lhpirnie

Andre147 wrote:Didn't Kirk Stevens reach 2 World Semis?

But it doesn't fit the 3 criteria I suppose.

Maybe only Angles and Knowles reached 3 without ever making the Final.

In the Open era, Rex Williams. But of course he played in pre-1969 challenge matches against John Pulman.

Re: Gods of Snooker

Postby SnookerFan

How come they didn't do one about Anthony McGill? After all, he is a Crucible Specialist.

Re: Gods of Snooker

Postby Juddernaut88

SnookerFan wrote:How come they didn't do one about Anthony McGill? After all, he is a Crucible Specialist.


Barry Hawkins is as well.

Re: Gods of Snooker

Postby Wildey

Muller wrote:I have always thought that Tony Knowles' number 2 ranking was a little misleading as - aside from that 1982 freak result - I never counted him as amongst Davis' primary challengers and rated him behind Griffiths, Higgins, Thorburn, White and Taylor. He was a decent player though, with a nice fluent style when performing well.

In Taylor's Case Tony Knowles peak was short lived and was before Dennis Taylor hit the heights.

But yea for me Terry Griffiths, Cliff Thorburn and Jimmy White and in that order was the biggest threat to Steve Davis in the 80s until Stephen Hendry came along and Terry highest ranking was 3 back in 1981.

Re: Gods of Snooker

Postby SnookerFan

Juddernaut88 wrote:
SnookerFan wrote:How come they didn't do one about Anthony McGill? After all, he is a Crucible Specialist.


Barry Hawkins is as well.


McGill is the most special of specialists.

Re: Gods of Snooker

Postby mick745

Wildey wrote:
Muller wrote:I have always thought that Tony Knowles' number 2 ranking was a little misleading as - aside from that 1982 freak result - I never counted him as amongst Davis' primary challengers and rated him behind Griffiths, Higgins, Thorburn, White and Taylor. He was a decent player though, with a nice fluent style when performing well.

In Taylor's Case Tony Knowles peak was short lived and was before Dennis Taylor hit the heights.

But yea for me Terry Griffiths, Cliff Thorburn and Jimmy White and in that order was the biggest threat to Steve Davis in the 80s until Stephen Hendry came along and Terry highest ranking was 3 back in 1981.


Griffiths record against Davis was pretty terrible, at the crucible he lost 7 out of 7 against him. It was like he didnt believe he could win. He collapsed on the second day of their world final in 1988 after playing very well on the first day.


   

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