“Hope the former world champion can pull some frames back…..”
Gabi’s Gossip, day 11

Day 12…..And then some!! Never mind Murphy’s law – Murphy rules!

My request was honoured yesterday in record-breaking, history-making style. Nice one Shaun. It was an awesome display of nerve and drive, one that left both players as stunned as each other. No-one has ever won from 12-7 behind in a 25-framer. He couldn’t believe it – nobody could in fact, the press room was hopping!

Best moment of the tournament so far. And it’s extra delightful because the baby-faced local lad is just so nice.

Commiserations to Matthew Stevens, another lovely chap - who it seems may be in danger of joining Jimmy on the nearly-nearly bench. Still, he didn’t seem too down-beat grooving away to ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ by Queen later on in the evening.

There was a bit of come-back karma in our midst yesterday – what a match for Ali Carter and Mark Selby. Looked like Mark had it in the bag early on but determined Captain Carter put up an impressive fight, taking the 23-year-old Leicester lad to a very tight wire. Felt sorry for Ali, the midnight finish saw him looking crushed, rather like a spent gambler with nothing left. Its character building though, hopefully he’ll come back next year all the better for such a testing encounter.

Bye-bye Ronnie. Indeed, as Gabi’s Gossip has repeatedly said, without his complete play the Rocket was always in danger of a crash landing. Lady Luck wasn’t with him throughout and despite an evening surge, Higgins remained the superior player. Well done John. Though the Crucible crowd will be sad to see Ronnie head home. 

X-Factor Opera sensations, G4 were sad to see him go too. They were in Sheffield to promote their farewell Tour (Not to Ronnie) and popped by to catch a few frames. They bought cues and asked the players to sign them for charity – now make sure you really pass them on fellas…

Watching play today, I found myself wondering about various things. Do the snooker players ever buff their own shoes? They are always so shiny – and indeed, is there a rule stating that players and refs must have really shiny shoes? Also, do the players have their own towels or do they dip into a communal stash every time they trip off into the arena?

And, why do people come to snooker’s most famous and exciting venue – to fall a-bloody-sleep? What’s the point? It really annoys me to look out on a front row of eye-lids. The game’s brilliant! What are you doing? It must put the players off and it’s not on. I am going to start an anti-falling asleep action with World Snooker - instant ejection for all snooker’s snoozers.
Right, I’m off for a kip.

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