Topic: The Snooker thread

[west_london_red]

I agree in part. Hendry’s period of dominance in the 90s was absolute and he had a level of consistency that Ronnie did not. In fact until around 2012 Ronnie would lose to just about anybody if he was in self sabotage mode. Ebdon and Selby in particular knew how to slow him down and get him to play daft shots just to get out of there. It wasn’t till Ronnie found Steve Peters that he became consistent and he’s now one of the toughest players mentally on the tour.

I would have loved to see peak Ronnie play peak Hendry. I certainly don’t assume Ronnie would win and in some ways it’s unfair to compare across generations. Ronnie’s longevity wasn’t something you saw coming when he was walking out of games and I half wonder whether Hendry’s intensity and obsessiveness meant he burnt out earlier.

As a player I couldn’t stand Hendry as I was a big Jimmy White fan but he is hands down the best pundit out there. I’ve really grown to like the guy.

Yup, same for me, I can’t believe I am actually warming to Hendry since he retired much more then I ever thought I could, Jimmy was a huge reason I fell in love with the game as a kid.

[Redley]

Agree with all of that.
I always find it a bit amusing when a commentator (whilst sitting next to Hendry) will call Ronnie the undisputed GOAT. I'm not saying he's not but I think it's odd that people now don't even seem to think that Hendry is at least in the argument. I'd say that even Davis should still be part of the discussion. It's a relative thing obviously but Davis' domination felt as absolute as Hendry's did at the time.
They were the snooker equivalent of Maureen's first Chelsea side.
You felt you were lucky to even get a remote chance against them never mind beat them. That's what made the Luis Garcia/Dennis Taylor moments all the greater.

In terms of ability its not even a contest, so I think thats probably what they mean. But....he's won as many world titles, more UKs (holds the record), more Masters (holds the record), most centuries (holds the record) and most maximums (holds the record). And all that when its probably accepted that he should have won more.

[mattD]

Hendry is one of the best commentators around in any sport.

Succinct, to the point, and very perceptive and insightful. I wish he was commentating every game.

[tray fenny]

Hendry played to a formula, long red, angle on the blue to split the pack, it was similar to doing the rubics cube(yes), do thst bit, move to step 2 etc. Ronnie on the other hand is a gifted genius, no 2 frames the same.

[johnybarnes]

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/snooker/ronnie-osullivan-ali-carter-masters-31886980

[TipTopKop]

I've not watched that documentary yet, but fully intend to, so that might shed some more light on it.

Good shout. Forgot about that documentary, might give it a watch as well.

[Boaty McBoatface]

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/snooker/ronnie-osullivan-ali-carter-masters-31886980

Tell us how you really feel, Ronnie

[Johnny Aldridge]

Funny how a few have said what I’ve thought the last few years, but I far prefer Hendry now as a commentator than I did as a player. Ronnie for me will always be number one. He’s the most naturally gifted of all I’ve seen since the 80s, Hendry, Davis et al could all beat Ronnie on their day, but to play left & right handed with no seeming drop in standard is another level of talent.

As far as the man O Suillivan is I can only go by the small interaction I had with him 20 years ago or so. He played a charity function for children setup by the local snooker club in a hotel about 2hrs from Dublin. His flight was delayed and instead of arriving in the afternoon he basically got off the plane,got in a car, got to the hotel and walked straight into photos being taken and signing autographs and then he played a few frames against a local and Ken Doherty. He went out of his way that evening and did it for free. He couldn’t have been any more decent.


(Keith Duffy from boyzone was there also and when I went up to get a photo with Ronnie he said to me “I’ll step out yeah, ya don’t want me in the photos I’m guessing” )

[Funky_Gibbons]

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/snooker/ronnie-osullivan-ali-carter-masters-31886980

The more I hear and learn about Carter, the more I dislike him.

[kaesarsosei]

Hendry really is a great pundit/commentator. I was watching the game between Murphy and Lisowski (I think) and Lisowski put Murphy into what initially seemed a pretty innocuous snooker in a close frame with 2-3 reds left. I think Parrot was the other commentator and he didn't mention it but Hendry immediately said that he thought Lisowski would get 16 points from it, and he ended up getting 20. Very insightful.

I don't think there can be any doubt at all that Ronnie is the GOAT, but I think Hendry is further clear of whoever is third (probably Davis) than Ronnie is from Hendry. But every metric you can think of makes Ronnie the GOAT. Longevity, tournament wins, triple crown wins, WC wins, centuries. And then you get to the 5 min 147 and his ability to play left-handed and its beyond a joke.

[Red_Mist]

Glad that little angry fathead didn't win.

I’ve hardly ever seen him play before Sunday, but he does seem to have an attitude problem.

[Crosby Nick]

Funny how a few have said what I’ve thought the last few years, but I far prefer Hendry now as a commentator than I did as a player. Ronnie for me will always be number one. He’s the most naturally gifted of all I’ve seen since the 80s, Hendry, Davis et al could all beat Ronnie on their day, but to play left & right handed with no seeming drop in standard is another level of talent.

As far as the man O Suillivan is I can only go by the small interaction I had with him 20 years ago or so. He played a charity function for children setup by the local snooker club in a hotel about 2hrs from Dublin. His flight was delayed and instead of arriving in the afternoon he basically got off the plane,got in a car, got to the hotel and walked straight into photos being taken and signing autographs and then he played a few frames against a local and Ken Doherty. He went out of his way that evening and did it for free. He couldn’t have been any more decent.


(Keith Duffy from boyzone was there also and when I went up to get a photo with Ronnie he said to me “I’ll step out yeah, ya don’t want me in the photos I’m guessing” )

That last bit made me chuckle.

[nayia2002]

Hendry really is a great pundit/commentator. I was watching the game between Murphy and Lisowski (I think) and Lisowski put Murphy into what initially seemed a pretty innocuous snooker in a close frame with 2-3 reds left. I think Parrot was the other commentator and he didn't mention it but Hendry immediately said that he thought Lisowski would get 16 points from it, and he ended up getting 20. Very insightful.

I don't think there can be any doubt at all that Ronnie is the GOAT, but I think Hendry is further clear of whoever is third (probably Davis) than Ronnie is from Hendry. But every metric you can think of makes Ronnie the GOAT. Longevity, tournament wins, triple crown wins, WC wins, centuries. And then you get to the 5 min 147 and his ability to play left-handed and its beyond a joke.

Funny how a few have said what I’ve thought the last few years, but I far prefer Hendry now as a commentator than I did as a player. Ronnie for me will always be number one. He’s the most naturally gifted of all I’ve seen since the 80s, Hendry, Davis et al could all beat Ronnie on their day, but to play left & right handed with no seeming drop in standard is another level of talent.

As far as the man O Suillivan is I can only go by the small interaction I had with him 20 years ago or so. He played a charity function for children setup by the local snooker club in a hotel about 2hrs from Dublin. His flight was delayed and instead of arriving in the afternoon he basically got off the plane,got in a car, got to the hotel and walked straight into photos being taken and signing autographs and then he played a few frames against a local and Ken Doherty. He went out of his way that evening and did it for free. He couldn’t have been any more decent.


(Keith Duffy from boyzone was there also and when I went up to get a photo with Ronnie he said to me “I’ll step out yeah, ya don’t want me in the photos I’m guessing” )

No doubt the absolute GOAT. Incredible what he has achieved.

[meady1981]

Even though I’ve watched pretty much all of Ronnies major titles over the last 30 years, I had no idea about Carter off the table.  Spent a large part of today researching just how much of a bell end he is. Move over Shaun Murphy, I have a new least favourite player.

[BobPaisley3]

Anyone watched the O’Sullivan documentary on Amazon? Thought it was good, his run in with the official at the majors was amusing. You do get the impression that he’s bigger than the sport, people walking on egg shells around him knowing if he walks away, the sport is poorer for it.

[Red_Mist]

Even though I’ve watched pretty much all of Ronnies major titles over the last 30 years, I had no idea about Carter off the table.  Spent a large part of today researching just how much of a bell end he is. Move over Shaun Murphy, I have a new least favourite player.

His response today was quite unpleasant. If he actually does think Ronnie has mental health issues (he doesn’t, he was just being snide) he shouldn’t say this:-.

"I actually feel sorry for him, I don't think he's that well….mentally”.

[kaesarsosei]

You do get the impression that he’s bigger than the sport, people walking on egg shells around him knowing if he walks away, the sport is poorer for it.

I'm actually starting to think that Ronnie's longevity and dominance is starting to become bad for the sport. This 48 year old guy should not be winning the first 2 majors in the season (and he only won 2 majors in a single season once before in his career!), what the hell are the younger players doing?

Its a massive subject and I think its been touched on in this thread before, but as a near-50 year old myself I think it says a lot about the generation of under-30's mentality that they just don't have the concentration or dedication needed to compete with these old timers. Where I'm surprised is that I thought the Chinese players would have dominated more by now for similar reasons.

[BobPaisley3]

I'm actually starting to think that Ronnie's longevity and dominance is starting to become bad for the sport. This 48 year old guy should not be winning the first 2 majors in the season (and he only won 2 majors in a single season once before in his career!), what the hell are the younger players doing?

Its a massive subject and I think its been touched on in this thread before, but as a near-50 year old myself I think it says a lot about the generation of under-30's mentality that they just don't have the concentration or dedication needed to compete with these old timers. Where I'm surprised is that I thought the Chinese players would have dominated more by now for similar reasons.

Some very fair points in there mate.

[TipTopKop]

I could be mistaken, but I think players generally play a lot more tournaments than say the 80's? There's all this travel to the far east as well.

I'm trying to look for reasons to this inconsistency, and I think -like most sports today- it's too many matches (they literally finished the Masters and 2 days after I'm seeing scores from some other tournament).

I could be totally wrong, to me as an observation (based on no stats etc, just looking at it) that the pace seems quicker, the game itself seems quicker, less snookers, more about a shootout, players are burnt out.

I could be wrong, but the whole 'snooker loopy' world seemed a lot slower/simpler.

Now of course Ronnie is traveling and doing all those things AND excelling, but he's an outlier, a once in a lifetime, just gifted with an X factor. Whereas you can see the less super human players shine in a tournament and then disappear for a stretch.

[bradders1011]

https://www.wst.tv/news/2024/january/18/alalshikh-announces-agreement-with-world-snooker-to-host-first-ever-invitational-event/

Jesus wept... We all knew the sportswashers would come for snooker.

"Each game will be played under World Snooker rules and regulations but with the introduction of an innovative new concept, a 23rd ball known as the Riyadh Season ball. This gold ball will be worth 20 points and can only be potted once all other balls have been successfully cleared from the table if a player is on a maximum break to make it 167."

[Boaty McBoatface]

Pot the reds then, screw back
For the yellow green brown blue pink and black and gold
Snooker loopy nuts are we
We're all snooker loopy

[bradders1011]

Pot the reds then, screw back
For the yellow green brown blue pink and black and gold
Snooker loopy nuts are we
We're all snooker loopy

We'll show you what we can do
With a load of saws and suitcase too!

[AndyMuller]

A fucking gold ball.

[slaphead]

Is that a wind up?  It has to be surely. A gold ball?  Re-writing rules of games now and naming if after themselves. 147 is iconic, if they get rid of that they may aswell rip the whole thing up and call it a new sport. Shame on Snooker if they let that happen

[BarryCrocker]

https://www.wst.tv/news/2024/january/18/alalshikh-announces-agreement-with-world-snooker-to-host-first-ever-invitational-event/

Jesus wept... We all knew the sportswashers would come for snooker.

"Each game will be played under World Snooker rules and regulations but with the introduction of an innovative new concept, a 23rd ball known as the Riyadh Season ball. This gold ball will be worth 20 points and can only be potted once all other balls have been successfully cleared from the table if a player is on a maximum break to make it 167."

Well it's not World Snooker rules and regulations if you introduce a new concept.

Why not give darts players a 4th dart if they hit 180 for a Supermax of 240?

I get the feeling the Saudis are intentionally trying to ruin every sport.

[slaphead]

I get the feeling the Saudis are intentionally trying to ruin every sport.

I think they're trying to change every sport with the name Riyadh ingrained in them so that in generations to come people will believe that the games originated there, that they are the epicenter for all sport. They want Fifa HQ's there, Golf HQ's there, Boxing, all sports. With the greed and lack of humanity in Sport, it's all going that way.

[Barneylfc∗]

O'Sullivan will be all over that shit as I'm sure the money will be 'worth it' in his eyes.

What an absolutely ridiculous concept 

[Redley]

I'm actually starting to think that Ronnie's longevity and dominance is starting to become bad for the sport. This 48 year old guy should not be winning the first 2 majors in the season (and he only won 2 majors in a single season once before in his career!), what the hell are the younger players doing?

Its a massive subject and I think its been touched on in this thread before, but as a near-50 year old myself I think it says a lot about the generation of under-30's mentality that they just don't have the concentration or dedication needed to compete with these old timers. Where I'm surprised is that I thought the Chinese players would have dominated more by now for similar reasons.

He's only really made a dent on the worlds twice in the last decade. If anyones dominated in recent times you'd say it was Selby, and that definitely wasn't good for the sport

[Ray K]

As someone said on Twitter, it'll change the sport completely, especially when Mark Shelby knocks the gold ball safe onto the side cushion. 

[zamagiure]

Is there any other sports for these arseholes to destroy with money.

[slaphead]

As someone said on Twitter, it'll change the sport completely, especially when Mark Shelby knocks the gold ball safe onto the side cushion. 

It's not popular, but I love watching Selby play Snooker. I think it's because I used to play a bit, and I was excellent at the safety side of the game. I'm a positive person, but a negative bastard when it comes to some sports. My favourite players are defenders, I love watching a team when they have their back to the wall, I'd take a frame of snooker with a brilliant safety battle over a century break frame. 

[rawcusk8]

It's not popular, but I love watching Selby play Snooker. I think it's because I used to play a bit, and I was excellent at the safety side of the game. I'm a positive person, but a negative bastard when it comes to some sports. My favourite players are defenders, I love watching a team when they have their back to the wall, I'd take a frame of snooker with a brilliant safety battle over a century break frame.

Hi Big Sam how are you mate? Got a new job yet? 

[Ma Vie en Rouge]

Well it's not World Snooker rules and regulations if you introduce a new concept.

Why not give darts players a 4th dart if they hit 180 for a Supermax of 240?

I get the feeling the Saudis are intentionally trying to ruin every sport.

No, they are just utterly tasteless. Gold cars, gold toilets, gold balls. It's classy, innit. Let's make the table gold too. And the cues. And Ronnie! Let's make Ronnie gold.

[meady1981]

I think Ronnie would make the 147 and refuse the gold

[slaphead]

Hi Big Sam how are you mate? Got a new job yet? 

 
Working on it, me and Tony Pulis are thinking of teaming up

[kaesarsosei]

It's not popular, but I love watching Selby play Snooker. I think it's because I used to play a bit, and I was excellent at the safety side of the game. I'm a positive person, but a negative bastard when it comes to some sports. My favourite players are defenders, I love watching a team when they have their back to the wall, I'd take a frame of snooker with a brilliant safety battle over a century break frame.

I'll be honest, I used to despise Selby but when I learned more about his off-the-table struggles and how he seems to be such a decent guy, you know what? I don't mind watching him grind away now. Snooker would be boring if it was all Jimmy White, Tony Drago and Ronnie types all just smashing the balls around. (I know Ronnie is much more than that, but only because he has to. If he could get away with smashing them around he would).

[Crosby Nick]

I think Ronnie would make the 147 and refuse the gold

Ronnie O’Bullion.

[Peabee]

Well it's not World Snooker rules and regulations if you introduce a new concept.

Why not give darts players a 4th dart if they hit 180 for a Supermax of 240?

I get the feeling the Saudis are intentionally trying to ruin every sport.

It's pretty obvious now. They've been prioritising the "big" sports and now they're moving into everything else.

I'm sure they'll go after Darts at some point in the future.

[meady1981]

I'll be honest, I used to despise Selby but when I learned more about his off-the-table struggles and how he seems to be such a decent guy, you know what? I don't mind watching him grind away now. Snooker would be boring if it was all Jimmy White, Tony Drago and Ronnie types all just smashing the balls around. (I know Ronnie is much more than that, but only because he has to. If he could get away with smashing them around he would).

I used to detest Selby. But much the same, hearing about his mental health struggles has softened me to him. One thing the Ronnie doc did really well was show how tough a game Snooker is for anyone with mental health issues. It's a really lonely, repetitive sport played in pretty depressing venues compared to most high-end sport.

[Roady]

I'm in the selby crew.him and Robertson are my two favourite to watch. Ronnie just does my head in exceptionally talented yes.But an absolute idiot in my eyes.cant stand the fella at all.