Alan McManus offers Si Jiahui key advice ahead of Northern Ireland Open snooker title bid – 'Way, way too risky'
By Desmond Kane
Updated 19/10/2024 at 01:48 GMT+1
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Si Jiahui will struggle to maintain consistency among the snooker elite if he fails to develop better game management skills during key matches, according to Eurosport analyst Alan McManus. McManus was renowned for his matchplay skills in a career that saw him win the Masters and reach three World Championship semi-finals, and feels that Si would improve with a more tactical approach.
'Absolutely spellbinding stuff! ' - Si makes maximum 147 break against Trump at Wuhan Open
Video credit: TNT Sports
Si Jiahui will need to develop an improved tactical game if he wants to become a consistent challenger at the summit of the game, according to former Masters champion Alan McManus.
Si faces compatriot Tian Pengfei in his opening match on Sunday at the Northern Ireland Open in Belfast live on Eurosport and discovery+ (20-27 October), buoyed by his run to the final of last week's Wuhan Open.
The 22-year-old prodigious potting talent produced an inspired performance in a 6-2 win over world No. 1 Judd Trump in the semi-finals, hitting a first career 147 as well as further breaks of 144, 108, 81, 71 and 61. But he could not maintain such levels in losing 10-7 to Xiao Guodong in the final.
Eurosport pundit McManus claimed that defeat sums up the lack of consistency in Si's game, with the Chinese player lacking a reliable Plan B to fall back on when the long pots are failing to land.
Si looked set to reach the final of the World Championship on his Crucible debut last year when he led Luca Brecel 15-4 in the last four, but managed to blow his huge advantage as Brecel completed the biggest recovery in the event's history to complete a 17-15 win.
"I think he has shown more than glimpses of the talent that he has got," said McManus on the World Snooker Tour podcast.
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‘Exactly what he was looking for’ – Si makes ‘beautiful’ century to reduce deficit to Xiao
Video credit: TNT Sports
"We obviously saw it last year at Sheffield, but he still isn't the finished article.
"He's actually nowhere near it when you think of the 15-4 lead he had against Luca, but didn't get it done.
"How many top players wouldn't get that done? I know it was over a year ago, but he still has a lot to work on.
"He made some basic mistakes in the first session of the [Wuhan Open] final where he lost two frames, maybe even three, that he definitely should have won.
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'Very few players do this to Judd Trump' - Si knocks out defending Wuhan champion in style
Video credit: TNT Sports
"He's got plenty of time on his side. Physically, striking the ball, he's got everything you need. The only thing he needs to work on is better ringcraft.
"A bit more street-wise, and he'll get better and better, but I suppose you don't want to take away that attacking intent that he obviously has.
"He's very raw in terms of some of the long balls that he goes for. It is way, way too risky.
"Once that changes, he'll become a harder player to play against."
World No. 13 Si is in contention to qualify for the Masters in January if he maintains his spot inside the top 16.
"When guys are so open, they are going to go through periods of three, four or five tournaments doing nothing," added McManus.
"That's the tightrope they're going to walk."
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