Topic: The Snooker thread

[AndyMuller]

That last frame was something else to someone who doesn't normally watch snooker.

My bird said the same. She was in awe.

[kaesarsosei]

So I remember when Davis won his last world title I believe at the age of 29 or 30, and Hendry was the same age for his, that people thought that maybe after 30 the players' eyesight and ability just started going downhill. I think we can say now that age was never really the barrier, Hendry and White stopped Davis and it was the likes of Ronnie, Higgins, Williams coming through that stopped Hendry.

The other mad thing about Ronnie is, at 48 he still looks a lot younger than Dennis Taylor did in 1985 (36 at the time!) 

[voodoo ray]

So I remember when Davis won his last world title I believe at the age of 29 or 30, and Hendry was the same age for his, that people thought that maybe after 30 the players' eyesight and ability just started going downhill. I think we can say now that age was never really the barrier, Hendry and White stopped Davis and it was the likes of Ronnie, Higgins, Williams coming through that stopped Hendry.

The other mad thing about Ronnie is, at 48 he still looks a lot younger than Dennis Taylor did in 1985 (36 at the time!) 

looking at that now it is quite odd in a way because, for example, reardon won his last world title at the age of about 45 and didn't actually retire until he was about 60 or so. there seemed to have always been "old men" playing snooker. davis, and then hendry, being so young when they started to dominate the game may have skewed views a little bit.

none of those players were as good as o'sullivan, so if they could play on, so can he. that's not to dampen his achievements though.

[thaddeus]

I think O'Sullivan's erratic temperament - whilst sometimes destructive - has helped with his longevity.  Staying at the top of any field for three decades requires so much dedication and, whilst I enjoy playing snooker, I can't imagine committing my life to it to that extent.

O'Sullivan becoming arguably a top 16 player with his weaker hand probably provided him with some extra motivation when it would otherwise have waned.  Constantly fighting with his inner demons seems to largely be his motivating force to play tournaments these days as he's horribly dismissive of the talent of pretty much every other player around at the moment.  For large parts of those three decades he's been Messi without Ronaldo (or vice-versa, depending on your viewpoint) and he's been largely chasing the records set by Stephen Hendry rather than facing him directly.

There's definitely something to be said though for O'Sullivan's generation pretty much maxing out the technical and match play skills.  As well as himself both Williams and Higgins are still in the top 10.  The following generations aren't blowing the older pros out the water with unheard of shots and positional play like first Hendry and then O'Sullivan did.

[meady1981]

Next to any Liverpool success, the only real thing left in sport I care about is him winning the 8th.
I think he deserves to be categorically be seen as the greatest ever and that will seal it. I'd get a massive buzz from it.

As a side, I think it's so bizarre that someone who is so honest and openly erratic about his temperament is still so consistently picked up on by media and detractors as being this confusing, sometimes arrogant riddle. He couldn't be anymore obvious to read. You ask him any question about his snooker enjoyment, or his goals in snooker (during a tournament) and you know what answer you're going to get. A pretty underwhelming response.

Any interview I've seen of him outside of a snooker venue he's a hundred times more enthusiastic and engaging.

[voodoo ray]

smurphy just hit a 147 in the shoot out. fair play that's an absolutely insane achievement.

[TheShanklyGates]

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/JHfZAXGMJE0" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="bbc_link bbc_flash_disabled new_win">https://www.youtube.com/v/JHfZAXGMJE0</a>

Some effort that with the shot clock and the nobheads in the Snooker Shoot Out crowd.

[bradders1011]

Just watched a bit of the shootout. God the crowd are irritating. The auditorium isn't big enough for it not to sound like a group of pissheads heckling.

[Only Me]

Just watched a bit of the shootout. God the crowd are irritating. The auditorium isn't big enough for it not to sound like a group of pissheads heckling.

Yeah can’t watch it for that reason. It’s just a load of attention seeking bantz bellends. Fucking dire.

[sinnermichael]

Brilliant 147 from Ding.

[Kashinoda]

Brilliant 147 from Ding.

Hope he gets a World Championship under his belt one day, he's a fantastic player.

[Statto Red]

Allen & Higgins played a frame straight out of my local social club then, easy pots missed, Allen completly missing the red for a simple safety.

[The G in Gerrard]

My bird said the same. She was in awe.

Parrot?

[The G in Gerrard]

Hawkins v Sullivan just saw 6th frame. Some shocking errors.

[gerrardisgod]

Parrot?

John?

No idea how Ronnie’s got 3-3 out of this.

[The G in Gerrard]

John?

No idea how Ronnie’s got 3-3 out of this.

If that's his kind of thing then sure

Same. This next frame is poor also.

[gerrardisgod]

I had my first game in months last Saturday and it was barely worse standard than this.

[Barneylfc∗]

That green from Trump was probably the luckiest shot I've ever seen 

[sinnermichael]

Carter puts Trump out. Good game that.

[voodoo ray]

Fuck off carter

[Hazell]

Mark Allen on for 147, one red remaining.

He did it! Some wonky positional play but the break was all the better for it.

[Boaty McBoatface]

Nicely done.

[TheShanklyGates]

Well played Mark Allen!

[voodoo ray]

he's been quite shit in the other 2 frames as well

[Robinred]

Ronnie on song is still without peer - his white ball control and ‘creativity’ are the best ever in the game, and his audacity and bottle under pressure just terrific to watch; 6-2 against Murphy, and into a record number of Masters finals.

[sinnermichael]

It's his ability to just go up a gear that sets him apart. As soon as he senses danger he just ups it and pulls away.

[TipTopKop]

How Masters has he Ronnie won, and who's the record holder if it isn't him?

[Schmarn]

Going to the first session of the final tomorrow. Thrilled that iRonnie will be there. You’d expect Allen to go through but I wonder if the late finish last night will affect him.

[Schmarn]

How Masters has he Ronnie won, and who's the record holder if it isn't him?

He is the record holder with 7 wins.

[TipTopKop]

He is the record holder with 7 wins.

Cheers mate, so he's got that and he's also the record holder for the World Championship?

[Red-Soldier]

Cheers mate, so he's got that and he's also the record holder for the World Championship?

He's going on 8 wins in each.

Obviously, he's great, but his opponements have been crap, this week.

Ding, Hawkins and Murphy - a very nice run there.

[TipTopKop]

He's going on 8 wins in each.

Ta mate, yeah I'm guessing he has no real (consistent) rival? I say this because his name is always mentioned (rightly so for his remarkable achievements), but it doesn't look like there's a main rival who consistently pushes him like Roger/Rafa used to in Tennis.

[PatriotScouser]

Ta mate, yeah I'm guessing he has no real (consistent) rival? I say this because his name is always mentioned (rightly so for his remarkable achievements), but it doesn't look like there's a main rival who consistently pushes him like Roger/Rafa used to in Tennis.

He has kryptonite and his name is Mark Selby.  Though it also depends on the mood Ronnie is in. When he's not feeling it, then lots can beat him. But when he's on, no one can.

His long term rivals were Hendry, William and Higgins. Hendry has retired and the other two like Ronnie are getting older and not has great as they once were.

But it's the consistency that Ronnie has that sets him apart (apart from his natural talent)

[Eeyore]

He's going on 8 wins in each.

Obviously, he's great, but his opponements have been crap, this week.

Ding, Hawkins and Murphy - a very nice run there.

Ding and Hawkins are 5 and 6 on the 1 year World rankings that is a pretty tough start. Plus Murphy looked in good nick as well.

[Red-Soldier]

Ding and Hawkins are 5 and 6 on the 1 year World rankings that is a pretty tough start. Plus Murphy looked in good nick as well.

Yes, but they are flakey mentally.

Selby, Higgins and Williams, have good recordss against Ronnie, and are tough to play.

[Red-Soldier]

He has kryptonite and his name is Mark Selby.  Though it also depends on the mood Ronnie is in. When he's not feeling it, then lots can beat him. But when he's on, no one can.

His long term rivals were Hendry, William and Higgins. Hendry has retired and the other two like Ronnie are getting older and not has great as they once were.

But it's the consistency that Ronnie has that sets him apart (apart from his natural talent)

Hendry wasn't really a rival so much, as he was coming to the end of his era.  Hendry had been around for a while, then there was Higgins, O'sullivan, and Williams.  If my memory serves me correctly. Selby came a long a bit later - he knocked on the door for a bit, until he won he's first major.

It's O'Sulivan's longevity, that's the most impressive, for me.  Winning he first major at 17, and still winning them now.  Of course, it helps that all the other greats are on the wane too, and the younger guys just aren't as good.

Davis - Hendry - O'Sulivan, Williams, Higgins - Selby (the last great player to come a long).

[The G in Gerrard]

As someone who doesn't pay interest to snooker regularly if it wasn't for Sullivan I wouldn't watch it at all.

[TheShanklyGates]

As someone who doesn't pay interest to snooker regularly if it wasn't for Sullivan I wouldn't watch it at all.

Think you're far from alone in that. Snooker will have a huge void to fill when he finally calls it a day.

[The G in Gerrard]

Think you're far from alone in that. Snooker will have a huge void to fill when he finally calls it a day.

Agreed. Can't see anyone in the level below Sullivan that can attract a neutral to the sport like he does.

[Hazell]

Agreed. Can't see anyone in the level below Sullivan that can attract a neutral to the sport like he does.

I think people are harsh on some of the current crop of players. I know O'Sullivan's been less than complementary about them and there's no one in the class of say Hendry, O'Sullivan and Higgins but the standard is still really high, it's just that those particular players are amazing and that kind of thing just doesn't happen all the time.