Topic: The Snooker thread

[Schmarn]

It was a brutally tough clearance for Ronnie. Did brilliantly to get to the yellow but it was one pot too many. The pattern of that session was the same, Ronnie doing the hard yards and leaving the table for Bingham.

Can’t say it’s the most exciting semi lineup. Going to be a new champion I think.

[Eeyore]

Bingham played well but just had the run of the balls in the end. The difference was how the balls spit for each player in the final few frames. Really high standard though.

[amir87]

That’s as poor as I’ve seen Ronnie for a while. Fair play to Bingham though who was pretty consistent.

[meady1981]

Bugger. Wanted a Ronnie 8th to take away a bit of the pain of my football team going tits up.

[amir87]

It was a brutally tough clearance for Ronnie. Did brilliantly to get to the yellow but it was one pot too many. The pattern of that session was the same, Ronnie doing the hard yards and leaving the table for Bingham.

Can’t say it’s the most exciting semi lineup. Going to be a new champion I think.

Bingham’s won it before.

[Eeyore]

It was a brutally tough clearance for Ronnie. Did brilliantly to get to the yellow but it was one pot too many. The pattern of that session was the same, Ronnie doing the hard yards and leaving the table for Bingham.

Can’t say it’s the most exciting semi lineup. Going to be a new champion I think.

Bingham won it in 2015.

[Statto Red]

That was a great match, thought Bingham blew that last frame, then O'Sullivan messes up the position from the final red to the pink, that made him miss the yellow.

 

[Eeyore]

That’s as poor as I’ve seen Ronnie for a while. Fair play to Bingham though who was pretty consistent.

Ronnie didn't do a lot wrong just didn't get the run when he went into the balls.

[Schmarn]

Bingham’s won it before.

Well aware of that. Don’t see him winning it again. Kyren or Jones.

[Hazell]

Well aware of that. Don’t see him winning it again. Kyren or Jones.

Hope Jones wins it against Gilbert in the final.

[Eeyore]

That was a great match, thought Bingham blew that last frame, then O'Sullivan messes up the position from the final red to the pink, that made him miss the yellow.

The last red was ridiculously difficult to get an ideal position on the pink though. Just ended up wrong side of the pink.

[voodoo ray]

bing being a 2-time world champion would be hilariously amazing.

[amir87]

Ronnie didn't do a lot wrong just didn't get the run when he went into the balls.

Peak Ronnie doesn’t make some of the mistakes he did today. Even in that last frame he nicked the pink when playing a positional shot that made his next few shots harder than they should have been. Where I do agree is that when he did miss Bingham was left with a pretty straightforward shot a lot of times which is pure luck.

[Boston Bosox]

Stuart Bingham says he had a little cry after beating Ronnie O'Sullivan.

More quotes to come from his interview with BBC Four.


Speaking on BBC Four, O'Sullivan reflected: "I'm actually really happy to be honest, it's just the way it goes sometimes.

"I feel like I'm actually getting through the ball, which is more important to me at this stage. It's been a worrying couple of years.

"Not the win I'd have liked to have had, but that's snooker. That's the way it goes. Good luck to Stuart."


Stuart Bingham speaking on BBC Four after his 13-10 win over Ronnie O'Sullivan: "I was just enjoying it out there.

"I had a little cry in my dressing room, I was fearing the worst."

"I don't know how I've held myself together."

[Knight]

C’mon both. You’re both good posters who add value to the site. If you’re going to have an argument, make it about something worthwhile, not a topic that the Tories have weaponised in their latest bout of culture wars (listening to Kemi Badenoch on R4 today, using this issue to score cheap media points, was depressing).

I didn’t raise it in this thread. Re it being weaponised. Have a read of the Cass report and then decide whether characterising it in this way is accurate. But this thread isn’t the place for this debate I imagine so point taken.

But gutted about Ronnie to be honest. Fair play to Bingham though.

[PaulF]

Stuart Bingham says he had a little cry after beating Ronnie O'Sullivan.

More quotes to come from his interview with BBC Four.


Speaking on BBC Four, O'Sullivan reflected: "I'm actually really happy to be honest, it's just the way it goes sometimes.

"I feel like I'm actually getting through the ball, which is more important to me at this stage. It's been a worrying couple of years.

"Not the win I'd have liked to have had, but that's snooker. That's the way it goes. Good luck to Stuart."


Stuart Bingham speaking on BBC Four after his 13-10 win over Ronnie O'Sullivan: "I was just enjoying it out there.

"I had a little cry in my dressing room, I was fearing the worst."

"I don't know how I've held myself together."

That's pretty sporting words from a top player in defeat.
Always feel it must be hard to be honest and not seem like a dick post match.

[TheFinalBoss]

God that Semi final line up is brutal can see record low ratings looks like a conference league line up.  Snooker defo needs a Luke littler it's on life support without Ronnie.

[kop306]

bingham will win it now proper big time match player

the longer matches suit his game

shame that ronnie didnt win

[kaesarsosei]

If you had to pick a winner regardless of the names I think it would have to come from Wilson, Jones or Gilbert

Didn't actually think all of them would win as I assumed they would get nerves, but fair play. And Bingham was playing just as well - this is the most open the tournament has been at the semi-final stage in the Crucible era surely?

Ronnie thinking the refs have it in for him? Thats ridiculous, how can a ref even influence the game? He made the right noises in his post-match interview but that will be the most painful defeat of his Crucible career surely - he would have out-psyched any of the other 3 in the single-table setup over 4 sessions in both the semi and final for an easy 8th title. I 100% think he never wins it again now.

The door/audience situation in that final session was the most ridiculous thing I think I've seen at the Crucible since the days of streakers. Someone could be out of a job over that.

[kop306]

Didn't actually think all of them would win as I assumed they would get nerves, but fair play. And Bingham was playing just as well - this is the most open the tournament has been at the semi-final stage in the Crucible era surely?

Ronnie thinking the refs have it in for him? Thats ridiculous, how can a ref even influence the game? He made the right noises in his post-match interview but that will be the most painful defeat of his Crucible career surely - he would have out-psyched any of the other 3 in the single-table setup over 4 sessions in both the semi and final for an easy 8th title. I 100% think he never wins it again now.

The door/audience situation in that final session was the most ridiculous thing I think I've seen at the Crucible since the days of streakers. Someone could be out of a job over that.

i agree i found it strange that people were walking in when the play was going in

[Statto Red]

Didn't actually think all of them would win as I assumed they would get nerves, but fair play. And Bingham was playing just as well - this is the most open the tournament has been at the semi-final stage in the Crucible era surely?

Ronnie thinking the refs have it in for him? Thats ridiculous, how can a ref even influence the game? He made the right noises in his post-match interview but that will be the most painful defeat of his Crucible career surely - he would have out-psyched any of the other 3 in the single-table setup over 4 sessions in both the semi and final for an easy 8th title. I 100% think he never wins it again now.

The door/audience situation in that final session was the most ridiculous thing I think I've seen at the Crucible since the days of streakers. Someone could be out of a job over that.

That was farcical, O'Sullivan trying to play an important shot, & people were walking into the auditorium right in his eyeline, it was daft that they were letting people in that entrance when play was ongoing too.

[Booze And Glory]

That was farcical, O'Sullivan trying to play an important shot, & people were walking into the auditorium right in his eyeline, it was daft that they were letting people in that entrance when play was ongoing too.

They were just getting the players ready for when the World Champs leave the crucible and move to
Saudi Arabia 

[Keith Lard]

I really like Bingham. As someone said earlier, proper big time match player and seems a really cool and humble guy. Hope he goes onto win it.

[Gerry83]

Couldn’t see past Ronnie before the last session but feels like he imploded a bit after the door incident and Bingham was just playing well and taking his chances when he got in.

Hope he wins it now, seems like the sort of fella who’d be good to go out for a pint with.

[Wabaloolah]

God that Semi final line up is brutal can see record low ratings looks like a conference league line up.  Snooker defo needs a Luke littler it's on life support without Ronnie.

why boring as fuck him dominating tournaments. I'd rather someone else win it, pretty open last four, you would think Wilson and Bingham will be the favourites, hope JJ wins though

[Keith Lard]

why boring as fuck him dominating tournaments. I'd rather someone else win it, pretty open last four, you would think Wilson and Bingham will be the favourites, hope JJ wins though

The line up does feel a bit boring though ... Kyren Wilson, Jack Jones, Stuart Bingham, Dave Gilbert. Fuck me, I'm falling asleep just looking at that line up. You'd be pissed if you'd paid a small fortune for top tickets in advance.

[Roady]

God that Semi final line up is brutal can see record low ratings looks like a conference league line up.  Snooker defo needs a Luke littler it's on life support without Ronnie.

I'm delighted with the line. It's going to be a brilliant watch

[penfold102]

I'm delighted with the line. It's going to be a brilliant watch

Agree with you totally. These 4 have played the best snooker in the tournament and I see both matches going really close.

[paulrazor]

i agree i found it strange that people were walking in when the play was going in

they were quite strict on it on Friday when I was there, and you just watched outside on tv

It was poor from whoever was on the door.

I wonder, if Bingham goes out, when was the last time the final was between two players who never won it?

Murphy and Matthew Stevens in 2005?

[voodoo ray]

the whole thing with the door was fucking farcical. told not to let anyone else in and then about 8 more people walk through.

[kaesarsosei]

Agreed that the names in the semi are boring as fuck, but all 4 are definitely there on merit and I think the matches will be very good and close.

[paulrazor]

Yeah its different

that doesnt mean bad

[Schmarn]

I think the issue was that they were taking their seats for the other match which was about to resume but if you're sitting near the dividing wall it is obviously going to distract the other table. Normally Ronnie would ignore it but it was bang in his line of sight.

Those last 3 frames were all very tight and I don't think Ronnie imploded so much as he needed to make some tough pots along the cushion which wobbled out and stayed on for Bingham.  Bingham himself missed a few including an absolutely butchered black that sent the balls flying but either left nothing or a really tough shot.  That's snooker though as Ronnie observed and some days you get the run and others you don't. Ronnie would admit he was not at the top of his game whereas Bingham was.  To put things in context Ronnie has played the World Championships 32 times and won it 7 so it's not that much of a shock that he didn't win this one.  He still has the game though as he won the Masters and UK earlier this year.

[paulrazor]

when was the last time the final was between two players who never won it?

Murphy and Matthew Stevens in 2005?


Trying to think when the last final was between two first time finalists too? Possibly Steve Davis and Doug Mountjoy in 1981?

[voodoo ray]

I think the issue was that they were taking their seats for the other match which was about to resume but if you're sitting near the dividing wall it is obviously going to distract the other table. Normally Ronnie would ignore it but it was bang in his line of sight.

Those last 3 frames were all very tight and I don't think Ronnie imploded so much as he needed to make some tough pots along the cushion which wobbled out and stayed on for Bingham.  Bingham himself missed a few including an absolutely butchered black that sent the balls flying but either left nothing or a really tough shot.  That's snooker though as Ronnie observed and some days you get the run and others you don't. Ronnie would admit he was not at the top of his game whereas Bingham was.  To put things in context Ronnie has played the World Championships 32 times and won it 7 so it's not that much of a shock that he didn't win this one.  He still has the game though as he won the Masters and UK earlier this year.

he really wasn't. at his best bing is/was an extremely heavy scorer and would have won that game with ease if o'sullivan was in that sort of form.

[fridgepants]

I missed Robbo commentating yesterday, how was he? Hoping we get my favourite Dennis-Ken combo for the final.

[Schmarn]

I missed Robbo commentating yesterday, how was he? Hoping we get my favourite Dennis-Ken combo for the final.

Still learning the ropes a little and saying what he sees but I'm all for them trying their hand as we'll need a new generation of pundits soon.

[thaddeus]

It passed my by at the time that O'Sullivan has taken the Saudi money.  A shame but not exactly unpredictable.

It doesn't seem like he feels the need to have any loyalty to the UK tour although he always talks a lot of shit after he loses so who knows?

O'Sullivan casts doubt on UK appearances next season

Ronnie O’Sullivan has cast doubt on whether he will play in the United Kingdom next season after his hopes of record eighth world title in the modern era were dashed by Stuart Bingham.

O’Sullivan was beaten 13-10 in the quarter-finals of the World Championship.

‘The Rocket’ also saw his hopes of becoming only the fourth player to win all three Triple Crown events in a single season end on Wednesday at the Crucible Theatre.

“I am aware of my value, it is my time and what I bring to the sport,” said O’Sullivan.

“As long as those needs are met I will keep playing.”

The 48-year-old recently signed a three-year ambassadorial agreement with Saudi Arabia, requiring him to playing in all World Snooker Tour events in the nation.

As part of that deal he will also undertake coaching trips and set up an academy in the Middle East to help develop the game in the region.

“There are only so many days I allow myself to be away from home,” he added.

“World Snooker is a commercial business and I decided I had to be commercial to enjoy being on the Tour.

"I don’t just turn up to events, there is a tax to be paid and if people are prepared to pay it I will get my cue out of its case. If not I am content to never ever play again and do other stuff.”

[BER]

He makes Mbappe look low maintenance.

[fridgepants]

I've long wondered why he carries on playing when it clearly isn't doing anything for him personally at this stage - surely he's in a position where he could retire without financial worries unless his accountant has really dicked him about? But then a friend said that he thought that it was the worry of what to do instead that drives him. Kind of like how Gazza ended up addicted to exercise, Red Bull and god knows what else once he kicked the drinking - there's a void that needs filling with something.