Watching the Crucible Classics on BBC 1 on Sunday morning, the Steve Davis v Tony Knowles match I mentioned earlier actually started on the Friday and finished on the Saturday. The tournament started a day earlier, and ended on the Sunday instead of Monday. Anyway, all the matches were played in draw bracket order. So 1st and 16th seeds then 8th and 9th seeds and so on.

Does anyone know what the referee is called for the Walden vs R Williams match?

http://www.prosnookerblog.com/refere...greg-coniglio/

Drama in the Baird v White match as a black ball finish culminates with Michael unluckily going in off a thin safety. Keeps Sam in the match at 6-6, 5-7 would've been the beginning of the end you feel...

Is anyone watching Walden v Williams on BBC? Who's commentating with Hendry?

I've been watching White v Baird on Eurosport so I don't know.

George Riley from 5Live

Thanks

It's certainly different scheduling this year.

For example, both matches had a Saturday evening finish - normally it would only be Table 1 with the defending champion that would have finished on the first evening. And tonight we've got two matches to a finish as well on both tables. It's normally staggered so that there's always one match that plays its whole session. With both to a finish there's always a risk of an early finish (second round and quarters are unavoidable for this such as Monday evening next week)

I think though it was to revise things a bit and also so that there may not be as many late nights for some players for TV coverage...

Just seen this on the BBC Website. The top 5 matches from the Ronnie V Dave Gilbert match. I hadn't seen this 5 cushion snooker escape before. Wow, just wow. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/snooker/36073827

It's very good. 'Only' 4 cushions though!

John Virgo.
Do not like it when he is commentating as all I can see in my mind his mouth not moving.
I used to think that he was a ventriloquist at one time (unkind I know) but as a result he does tend to slur his words.

Virgo's my favourite of the three main BBC commentators.
Although that is rather like choosing my favourite Spurs player.

What a surprise.

Who would have guessed that a 40 year old bloke would still be acting like a petulant little toddler?

Walden will be lucky to win this match he has been bloody awful tonight.

Massively impressed with Sam Baird tonight.

Congratulations to Sam Baird, kept his calm composure at 7-6 down, rattled in a century and looked the part in defeating Michael White.

Another seed has gone - that's four already and we're only around half way through the first round!

Get in Sammy boy! Delighted for Bairdy, showed great composure in those final two frames.

I know he took Selby to a decider in the Welsh a few years back and very nearly beat him, but obviously over 25 frames it'd take a Herculean effort (assuming Mark finishes off the milkman).

Great win for Sam Baird. He's one of those players that you perhaps don't take a keen interest in when he's playing qualifying matches or on outside tables but once he's on the main table you get drawn in and cheer him on to win.

Very composed player and good to watch, I like his style.

No wonder Rachel Riley beat me to the Countdown gig


Me too. And for the record - has to be Dele Ali


He looks good doesn't he ?

Good comeback from Walden...

This years championship could be where a qualifier might win

I know it's been said a thousand times in here before but I just cannot imagine this event anywhere other than the Crucible. It really is the best snooker venue

I agree 100%.

Great win for Sam Baird tonight - I have a feeling that this years winner could be an outsider - but I am probably very wrong.

Will round 1 be completed before round 2 starts this year?

Seems odd that there are usually 2 rounds matches taking place at the same time on the Thursday afternoon and evening.

No, on Thursday the last 16 begins on one table with the last 2 round one matches on the other, in both the afternoon and evening sessions.

Without wishing to be pedantic, this is not strictly true - the Last 16 matches are played on both tables on Thursday: one session from the bottom half of the draw on Table 2 in the afternoon, and one session from the top half of the draw on Table 1 in the evening