While the various seeding tiers for this year’s World Championship have now been decided, there are still a couple of issues to sort out as far as the placement in the draw of the top 16 seeded players is concerned. Click below for more…
For those confused by what I am referring to, each year the top 16 players in the seedings list for the World Championship are placed in the draw in a set way, so that in the last 16, seeds 1 & 16 will, meet, 2 & 15 will meet, 3 & 14 will meet and so on.
This means that on semi-final morning, the potential Crucible draw (excluding qualifiers), is looking like this:
Higgins (1) v Bingham (16)
Dott (9) v Ding (8)
Murphy (5) v Lee (12)
Carter (13) v Trump (4)
Williams (3) v O’Sullivan (14)
Gould (11) v N.Robertson (6)
Maguire (7) v Allen (10)
Stevens (15) v Selby (2)
What can change?
Currently seeded fifth, Shaun Murphy can move up a place to number four if he were to go all the way and win his first Welsh Open title this weekend. This would have the effect of seeing him swap positions with Judd Trump, although both would remain in the same quarter.
Another potential mover is Shaun’s semi-final opponent Ding Junhui, who again by winning the title could move up a place ahead of Stephen Maguire and switch places with the Scot in the draw. This would have a more significant impact as Ding would then move into the bottom quarter and a potential last 16 clash with Mark Allen, while Maguire would move up into what would become a largely Scottish top quarter with John Higgins and Graeme Dott already there.
The final potential climber is Ronnie O’Sullivan, who with a win against Mark Selby today would move up to 12th position, regardless of what would then happen in the final. This would see O’Sullivan move up into the top quarter and a potential quarter-final with Judd Trump, perhaps even a last 16 clash with Judd if Murphy were to defeat O’Sullivan in this week’s Newport final.
Success for Ronnie today would also have the effect of moving Ali Carter into the bottom half and a potential last 16 match with Mark Williams.
Does the potential draw affect your tips for the title in Sheffield, who do you think comes out of that best as it currently stands? Leave your comments below…
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zabaks
February 18, 2012 at 1:02 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
WOW… This means, that before Hearns reforms potential last 16 matches were known right after previous years Championship… 11 months ahead… And I cant recall any commentator ever mentioning it.
matt2745
February 18, 2012 at 2:37 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
I usually posted about it, but yeah never really on TV
Kayte
February 18, 2012 at 1:43 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Which was much better knowing an age in advance because if you wanted to buy tickets to follow a certain player you could. Now you’ll find loads on e-bay for silly money & when the seedings are confirmed you are left with slim pickings… #notabarryhearnfan
matt2745
February 18, 2012 at 2:38 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
I agree from that point of view, you have to just buy and hope for the best which is a shame.
Suspect more tickets will be put out next week though.
G
February 18, 2012 at 2:57 pm (UTC 0) Link to this comment
Final: Trump vs Robertson