I'm wondering if Ronnie has eyes more on the major titles. TBH, I think Barry H has made snooker more boring than watching paint dry. I'm sure many of us would feel the same. But hearing Mark William that he'd rather wished he was playing golf than snooker shows how much interest there is in this tournament.
I think Barry has done wonders recently, and the last 2 years have seen many guys like Mark Allen and Judd Trump step up to another level, with Neil Robertson there too.
Mark Williams is an old man who I suspect would prefer to pack the whole thing in, but for some reason is keeping going. Hendry showed the way, but it seems to be something that is hard to give up.
The names Bond.
Errrrr Nigel Bond
.
And I have just beaten Judd Trump 6-3
Yes, it's scant reward for your best result in years, to be subjected to 17th-rate puns from John Parrott and Kendo Herty. Once Trump started to fold, that was it.
Mark Allen pushed all the way by Kurt Maflin, who was 1 bad shot choice away from a victory.
Robertson's bullish line about steam-rollering to victory rebounded when Yan Bingtao beat him 6-1!
Bond got his sequel, turning a 5-2 situation against Gary Wilson into a 6-5 victory, for which Wilson was clearly furious (briefly playing on in the last frame, despite needing 9 x 4 point snookers).
Ding beat Ronnie too - maybe it's his turn to step it up at last?
Ding faces Yan Bingtao this afternoon, with Mark Allen against Stephen Maguire tonight, after Allen put an end to the Bond epic in a decider.
Ding comfortably stuffed Yan 6-2, but not as comfortably as Maguire whitewashed Mark Allen.
Two former UK champions who could desperately do with winning this again.
Ding wins the UK Championship for the 3rd time, beating Maguire 10-6.
Could he have a resurgence and get back on top form to make a run at the World Championship this season ?