Half Term Report Part 1

OK, so it's Half way through the Season. Well done to Shaun for winning the UK, even if it was on a fluke. But how have players got on so far?

1. Ronnie O'Sullivan - Ronnie has done OK. He won the Northern Ireland Trophy and looked on form but has had a lot of off days. Needs to calm down and not concede silly frames.

Best Moment: Winning the Premier League in stunning style against Mark Selby.

Worst Moment: Pulling out of Bahrain.

Grade: B

2. Stephen Maguire - A disappointing season with some poor showings. Saved himself with a Semi Final appearance in the UK.

Best Moment: Beating John Higgins 9-7 to reach the Semi-Final stage of the UK's.

Worst Moment: Getting thumped 5-1 in front of friends and family in the Grand Prix First Round.

Grade: C-

3. Shaun Murphy - Had a shocking season until the UK's which have really saved him with that win.

Best Moment: Duh? Winning the UK's, the only tournament he won a match in.

Worst Moment: Losing to Mike Dunn in Bahrain, it was his 4th defeat in a row.

Grade: B-

4. Mark Selby - Looks like the best player on the tour but keeps throwing away matches he should be winning.

Best Moment: Smashing Hendry 5-0 in the Premier League Semi. A stunning performance which included 3 centuries.

Worst Moment: Losing a day later to Ronnie O'Sullivan 7-2 in the Final. Selby just simply did not turn up. 

Grade: B

5. John Higgins - Looked consistent this season and won a title in the Grand Prix beating Ryan Day in a close final.

Best Moment: Beating Day to win another Ranking event, and possibly the first of many this season.

Worst Moment: Losing to Dave Harold in the Semi's of the Northern Ireland Trophy. A match he should of won.

Grade: B+

6. Stephen Hendry - One Word: DISASTER. Hendry is not creating the form he showed in the 90's and his career is looking in danger of flopping like Doherty's.

Best Moment: Showed his true class and experience to nick the final frame in a tough first round match against Dave Gilbert in the Grand Prix which he looked like losing.

Worst Moment: Losing 5-2 to Higgins in 'The Clash of the Scottish Titans'. The match didn't live up to what was expected as Hendry was brushed aside.

Grade: D+

7. Ali Carter - Reached a stunning 3 Semis but lost ALL of them. Maybe it's because I keep tipping him for glory in every tournament?

Best Moment: His crushing 5-0 victory against John Parrot shut John and Rob Walker up after Rob had put John into the next round. John didn't stand a chance.

Worst Moment: All his Semi-Finals are in contention but he was 5-2 up and should of made it 6-2 against Marco in the UK's. It was 3rd time unlucky for Ali.

Grade A-

8. Ryan Day - Consistency for Ryan but too many close defeats have stopped him winning titles. Can play incredible stuff but loses scrappy frames too often.

Best Moment: Beating Mark Selby 5-4 on the Black in the Grand Prix. Looked doomed when Selby had simple frame ball but cleared superbly to stun Selby and go onto the Final.

Worst Moment: The Final. After playing stunning stuff to beat Ali, Ryan looked favourite to beat Higgins and win his first ranking event in his 3rd final. He started awfully and despite a late surge Higgins hung on.

Grade: B

Part 2 will come, I promise!