Big decision: which channel to watch on? The analysis on TNT is, for my money, significantly more sophisticated than what we get on BBC – though Stephen Hendry is brilliant – but the BBC is the BBC. I think I’ll start trying both and see how we go.
On which point, a thought for Mark Allen. If he never wins this competition, the events last evening will haunt the nightmares of his unborn grandchildren, but make no mistake: he is a champion, and he’ll be back.
As for Wu, I’d be staggered if he ends his career without winning this event more than once. I’d be lying if I said he isn’t my favourite – the way he plays, it’s impossible to take your eyes off him. He attacks the game in the way we should all attack life, however trepidatious we feel, and if it doesn’t work out, he quickly gets over himself, heals, then has at it again. Mates: if ever you’re stuck, think Wu.
Shaun, of course, won this title unseeded, aged just 22, in 2005. Since then, he’s lost four finals, but he’ll fancy himself – ok, he almost always fancies himself – this time around. Already a triple crown champion, he knows that if he can add a second one of these, he’ll ascend another level in the annals of the game, not quite up there on tier two with your Selbzeseses, Williamseseseses and Hingginses of this world, but above pretty much everyone else.
