1994 Embassy World Professional Snooker Championship
[ First | Second | Quarters | Semis | Final ]
First Round
As the scoreline suggests this was a convincing win for Hendry, who was
showing signs of returning to the peak of form after a few disappointing
results lately. In one frame, Hendry looked set to take the #100,000 prize
for a 147 break after taking 15 reds with blacks. However, he ran out of
position on the last red to leave a long yellow, whic he missed to give a
120 break. Good performance from Hendry, looking solid.
Bit of a shock result, Harold ranked way below Roe (world number 16). Roe has
been playing quite well and indeed did in this match but Harold stuck to
the task and pulled of a 10-8 victory.
A battle for Jimmy in this match, especially early on in the game. Snaddon
played well and exploited chances from poor White shots. As the game progressed,
however, White warmed up and his dominant safety play left Snaddon with
nowhere to go but out at round one. White also on for a 147 but the break
broke down after 14 red/blacks at 112.
O'Sullivan was on a high coming to the Crucible after recently winning the UK
championship, but Taylor was not giving up easily. In fact, in the early
stages, Taylor was looking good to go through - he slowed O'Sullivan's play
right down and forced many mistakes which led to his taking a few frames
that he normally wouldn't have had the chance to. But O'Sullivan came good
in the last 5 frames or so and was in fluent potting form - must be a good
bet to go all the way here this year.
Parrott got the shock of his life in this match! The relatively unknown
first-timer Henry showed no signs of nerves and played great snooker, even
going 9-8 up only needing one frame to pull off a shock defeat of Parrott.
Parrott's experience showed in that last frame though and he came through
a very relieved winner at 10-9.
Great to see Higgins back after a 4 year absence from the Crucible. He got
a tremendous reception during the afternoon session but ended at 6-3 down. The
evening session was full of drama. There were times when Higgins showed all
his old brilliance and the audience were willing him on. Higgins fell out
with the referee claiming that her was standing in his line of sight for
a shot! Good match overall, Doherty seemed shaken by the drama with the
referee but pulled off a fairly easy win.
Another player making a comeback was Thorburn, who led at one stage by 9-2
and looked liked defeating Bond which would have been a surprise result. The
match was *very* long, going on until 2 am after Bond won 8 frames in a row -
not terribly exciting!
A hard match for James who has been playing some poor snooker and looks likely
to fall from the Top 16 unless he puts in a good performance during the
remainder of the Championship. Dodd, known as the happiest man in snooker
for he always has a smile on his face, played well and pushed James to
the limit - a fabulous long red from James ensured his victory.
The highlight of the first round matches, a really great game. Ebdon was 3-1
up and playing great flamboyant snooker. Wattana's experience though made
sure he kept in the match and when he finally took the lead he stormed
away taking 4 frames in a row to finish. Wattana is tipped to win the
tournament and provisionally ranked at number 3, Ebdon at 10.
| Terry Griffiths | 10 |
| Mark Davis | 6 |
A long match, typical of Griffiths. The newcomer Davis played well in the
opening stages to take the lead but Griffiths wore him down and completed the
victory with 6 frames in a row.
After going 4-1 down, Morgan showed his mettle to beat off stern resistance
from King. The Welsh boy Morgan is now ranked number 8 and this performance
showed only too well why that is. Good solid performer, never easy to beat.
The score here doesn't really reflect the fight that O'Kane put up during the
match. Davis is always very wary of the first round, particularly after
being beaten by Peter Ebdon 2 years ago, and he wouldn't take any risks with
his shots. O'Kane battled hard anda reflection of how close it was is that
there were two frames on re-spotted blacks. Davis was 5-3 at one point then
stormed away with 5 frames in a row.
McManus had a struggle in this match, O'Brien is a newcomer from Ireland and
a very solid player indeed. McManus stuck to his usual style, though, and
came through unruffled. The highlight of the match was a 143 break by
McManus, his highest break in tournament snooker.
| Willie Thorne | 10 |
| Gary Ponting | 2 |
Thorne showed no mercy for the young newcomer Ponting, and displayed the form
that has earned his nickname as "Mr 147". He made many good breaks and
Ponting was never allowed into the match. Good to see Thorne playing well
again.
| Martin Clark | 9 |
| Brian Morgan | 10 |
A shock result, Clark now drops from the Top 16 players due to this defeat.
The game was tight throughout and was finall decided on the colours of
the last frame, Clark very disappointed since he had many chances to win
the game.
| Neal Foulds | 10 |
| Anthony Davies | 7 |
Another battling performance from Neal Foulds to set up a second round macth
with his friend Jimmy White. Davies, a new player from Wales, did well but
Foulds' experience proved the deciding factor.
Second Round
The score reflects what a convincing victory this was for Hendry, even with
a fractured left arm after a fall! Harold neevr got a chance to play, Hendry
ran away with it with many high breaks.
This match started quite close - James should have made it 4-4 but lost the
frame to go 6-3 behind after Davis needed three snookers. After that, James
was demoralised and Davis took 10 in a row to win the match. Davis was showing
some of his old form and one position shot was described as the best ever seen
at the Crucible.
A close game and a high-quality one. Doherty was 6-2 up at one stage but
McManus plugged away to finish at 10-10, although he wasn't playing to his
usual standard. Doherty missed a few chances but pulled out the last three
frames to win the match and book a place in the quarter finals.
A surprising scoreline! Parrott showed good form to take an early lead but
the frames were quite close, both players giving the other chances. After a
run of a few frames for Parrott, though, O'Sullivan showed his inexperience
and became resigned to defeat. Convincing Parrott performance though, looking
good to go all the way.
Good performance from both players, Foulds playing better snooker than of
late kept himself in the match right to the end. White should have won
13-9 but a careless mistake let Foulds take another frame. White played
some good snooker, though, and looks confident.
Morgan continued his fine performance in the first round - he went 7-3 up
and looked set to make an unexpected win over Wattana. Wattana, however,
pulled back to 8-8 and then pulled away with a fine display of experienced
snooker.
Very close game, both Thorne and Morgan playing very well and it could have
gone either way right to the end. Morgan's solid play just edged the last
frame, but Thorne couldn't complain at his form. A good, if uninspiring,
game.
Quarter-finals
Bond put up a good fight early on and it looked like being closer than it
turned out to be. Hendry wasn't playing at his best, his injured arm was an
obvious impedement to some shots. However, he played very well in the closing
stages to reach the semi-final.
A great match, some really good safety play from both players ensured that it
remained close throughout. Davis led 6-2 and never really fell back from that
strong position. A convincing Davis performance, he looked supremely confident
and sets up a semi-final with Hendry.
Another close game, Doherty battled hard but White showed the kind of form that
has got him to the last four finals at the Crucible, playing some very
pleasing shots which the audience enjoyed tremendously.
The shock of the tournament - Morgan's consistency and solid play won the
day against Parrott. Morgan was well up after the first session but Parrott
came back at him during the second to draw level at 8-8. The final session was
close but Morgan just took it to book his first semi-final appearance at the
Crucible.
Semi-finals
A closer game than perhaps the scoreline reflects. Hendry and Davis were
locked together for the first two sessions with neither player gaining
significant advantage. Hendry, however, showed a fine display of form in the
latter stages to take this important match and retain his number one position.
Morgan's first semi-final at the Crucible and the pressure showed. He played
well initially but White's experience and improving play left him behind as
the match progressed. White played tremendous snooker at the end and booked
his sixth time in the final.
Final
What can I say? This is surely the best match since the 1985 final between
Davis and Taylor, and it went right to the end. White was 5-1 down at one
point and looked like making no impact on Hendry's domination. White pulled
himself back into the match and got the lead at 10-9. From then on, neither
player was more than 2 frames in front and when it went to 17-17 the
tension was incredible. Hendry got in first but failed to make a big winning
score, White got it and looked like clearing up to win the title - however,
he missed an almost straight black when only needing a few more points to
secure victory and Hendry stepped in to take the frame and match. A great
match, just sad not to see White win it.
Many thanks to Lee Hawkins <[email protected]> who wrote this document.
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