By Elliott West
Introduction
It only seems right that we now know the semi-finalists for this year’s World Championship, to assess their chances of becoming World Champion on Monday night. With Stuart Bingham, Shaun Murphy, Mark Selby and Kyren Wilson left in the fray, the bookmakers will be hoping that Selby pulls off the challenge. However this is snooker and we know how unpredictable this sport can be, especially at the time of the World Championship. Realistically, all have a good chance of winning the title but its whether they can feed off their previous glories to become victorious again and this will especially apply to Kyren Wilson who has only reached last year’s final, was bad beaten 8-18 by Ronnie O’Sullivan and has never raised this prized trophy aloft.
The Upward Climb
With draws between Stuart Bingham versus Mark Selby and Shaun Murphy versus Kyren Wilson, we caught a glimpse today of what might happen when Stuart Bingham and Mark Selby finished their session-level at 4-4 and Wilson took an early lead over Murphy, taking an overnight lead of 6-2. Wilson has nothing to lose but everything to gain from reaching his second final if he can overthrow the potential thorn in his side, Shaun Murphy. Shaun is unpredictable and can have many off days but perhaps one spell of genius. This is what you have to watch out for and Kyren will hope that he can get a commanding enough to prevent Murphy from turning on his steamroller play.
Wilson will want to put the ghosts of last year’s final to bed and at least he knows if he can get to this year’s final, he won’t face Ronnie O’Sullivan. However with former World Champions swirling around his plan, this will a mammoth task and his thirst for victory will ha r to be at its optimum level. Murphy certainly won’t roll over and will want a chance to gain a second World Championship title.
The stumbling block for whichever of these two reach the final, is if Stuart Bingham doesn’t defeat Mark Selby. If Selby gets through, his opponent will have to play out of his skin to beat him. Bingham would be the preferred candidate for Murphy or Wilson but both Bingham and Selby can play extremely well and then go flat when that ‘A’ game is required most.
The Overall Winner
Personally, I think either Mark Selby or a very fired-up Kyren Wilson will win this prestigious title this year. Stuart Bingham or Stuart Bingham may surprise this year’s final four but they will have to play at the top of their game to have any chance of becoming a Crucible victor. Something tells me that Kyren has that belief this year and can overcome the massive obstacles that lie ahead for him. He is the youngest candidate and thrives on a challenge. That is what needed to become a World Champion and all other candidates have first-hand knowledge of this. Only time will tell but Mark Selby is definitely the bogeyman that could end all their dreams and leave their plans ripped up in small pieces.
