Topic: The Snooker thread

[Boaty McBoatface]

I'm glad he's over his health issues, but I just can't warm to Carter.

[voodoo ray]

I'm glad he's over his health issues, but I just can't warm to Carter.

this. I've barely seen any of this final but the fact he's won as many as 7 frames irriates me.

[TheShanklyGates]

I'm glad he's over his health issues, but I just can't warm to Carter.

Might be because he's a a Covid denying, Trump supporting Brexiteer.

Or maybe it's the shoes.

[Peabee]

I'm glad he's over his health issues, but I just can't warm to Carter.

Mr Angry.

It's not just O'Sullivan who has described him as that. He's already had a few words with the crowd, but I quite like that ha. As for his shoes... so brexit.

[Funky_Gibbons]

That miss by Carter is possibly the worst I’ve ever seen at this level.

[Peabee]

That miss by Carter is possibly the worst I’ve ever seen at this level.

Does he support Arsenal?

[TheShanklyGates]

Well played Ronnie O'Sullivan! That's 2 out of 3 Triple Crown events for the season secured. It would be a career crowning achievement if he could add another World Championship to his tally in the spring.

[JRed]

Ronnie’s fans are annoying. Bet they sing the kolo toure song at the darts 500 times a night.

[Andy82lfc]

Carter with the spirit of spurs in those last frames. Amazing to see what pressure does to these players.

[Andy82lfc]

Here comes the usual condescending comments from the interviewer

[TheShanklyGates]

Carter's seething

[Andy82lfc]

Ronnie putting the boot in there for Carter 

Basically “you should have won - you bottled it”

[TheShanklyGates]

Ronnie putting the boot in there for Carter 

Basically “you should have won - you bottled it”

These two really don't like each other do they Ronnie is usually full of praise for his final opponents, got plenty of little digs in at Carter there though.

[BobPaisley3]

Mad to think that when he won his first world title in 2001, it was only his fourth major (big 3) title despite being pro for 9 years. In the 23 years since he’s won 19.

[Peabee]

Mad to think that when he won his first world title in 2001, it was only his fourth major (big 3) title despite being pro for 9 years. In the 23 years since he’s won 19.

2 in the last 6 weeks.

[BobPaisley3]

2 in the last 6 weeks.

Ha ha very true. Getting better with age.

[Andy82lfc]

These two really don't like each other do they Ronnie is usually full of praise for his final opponents, got plenty of little digs in at Carter there though.

Yeah for sure  can’t be best mates, Ronnie tore him out there in the most backhanded way.

[Peabee]

All the more impressive considering he played the first session like he was down the local club trying out shots.

[rawcusk8]

Special player but one boring bastard with his fake ass interviews.. He contradicts himself a hell of a lot, hates alot about the game but cant walk away.

[Peabee]

Special player but one boring bastard with his fake ass interviews.. He contradicts himself a hell of a lot, hates alot about the game but cant walk away.

I couldn't give a shit about the interviews to be honest. It's his snooker that counts.

[BobPaisley3]

His longevity is the most impressive thing.  The current crop just aren't up to it.  All the greats are in their 40s now.

Yeah, he’ll be favourite in April again and I doubt Higgins will be far behind.

[Funky_Gibbons]

His longevity is the most impressive thing.  The current crop just aren't up to it, though.  All the greats are in their 40s now.

It’s odd how there’s been so many players who look like they’re going to be the ‘next big thing’ in the game but after a little success they just lose that desire.

Robertson, Murphy, Trump, Selby etc.

[Andy82lfc]

He's right.  He had the chances to win.

He did. That miss in the last frame was incredible.

[Red_Mist]

Carter blew up badly there. 6-3 up and only won one more frame. Bit of a damp squib in the end.

Nice to get an early night though. If it was Higgins v Selby it’d only be 7-7 with about 3 hours of safety still to go.

[Peabee]

Yeah, he’ll be favourite in April again and I doubt Higgins will be far behind.

Higgins looks like he's dropping off and he's talked about retiring. It must be hard to motivate yourself after 30 years unless you're still winning the majors.

[BobPaisley3]

Higgins looks like he's dropping off and he's talked about retiring. It must be hard to motivate yourself after 30 years unless you're still winning the majors.

Always turns up in Sheffield though. An absolute master at grinding opponents down in the longer game.

[TipTopKop]

I dunno, the way he thinks is different; from him admitting how he gets bored with things, to his hyper cleanliness.

He's just able to focus in a way others can't (when he wants).

I say it with respect, he might be on the spectrum or has elements of it, because I've seen people that are like that and just when you'd think they can't cope being in public or are a little quirky, they then reveal other worldly talents that would take others years to master.

[voodoo ray]

I dunno, the way he thinks is different; from him admitting how he gets bored with things, to his hyper cleanliness.

He's just able to focus in a way others can't (when he wants).

I say it with respect, he might be on the spectrum or has elements of it, because I've seen people that are like that and just when you'd think they can't cope being in public or are a little quirky, they then reveal other worldly talents that would take others years to master.

I've thought that for years.

[Peabee]

I dunno, the way he thinks is different; from him admitting how he gets bored with things, to his hyper cleanliness.

He's just able to focus in a way others can't (when he wants).

I say it with respect, he might be on the spectrum or has elements of it, because I've seen people that are like that and just when you'd think they can't cope being in public or are a little quirky, they then reveal other worldly talents that would take others years to master.

Yeah, it's hyperfocus. I'm adhd/spectrum (not diagnosed for the latter) and I can focus intently on my interests, but I can lose all focus frying an egg.

[Schmarn]

Ronnie was right about Carter though. Carter was aggressive this afternoon and he had Ronnie in trouble but started to pass on shots and play it safe this evening, Ronnie sensed blood in the water and went for the kill.

Whatever  he says about not caring about records he’d love to get the triple crown and win an 8th world title this year.

[Boaty McBoatface]

That's what will annoy Carter the most about what Ronnie said, it was the truth. He didn't carry on playing like he was doing in the afternoon. And he couldn't mentally get over the line.

[Peabee]

I wasn't aware that Carter is a Donald Trump supporting, Brexit backing, covid denier. I should have known by those shoes. Makes the result even sweeter.

[west_london_red]

Mad to think that when he won his first world title in 2001, it was only his fourth major (big 3) title despite being pro for 9 years. In the 23 years since he’s won 19.

Without looking up all of the dates and who won what and when, I suspect one of the reasons his first few years were relatively dry in terms of winning Triple Crown events (other then age and attitude obviously) was that Stephen Hendry was still at the peak of his game and as controversial as it may be I still think peak Hendry beats peak O’Sullivan.

[voodoo ray]

all the clues are there for him really. they always have been with his seemingly awkward ways of dealing with people, sometimes being very thoughtful and considered and other times coming out with really odd stuff. his outpouring of emotion a couple of years ago and him saying that he lives a 'solitary' life a lot of the time was another sign of it.

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

[AndyMuller]

Glad that little angry fathead didn't win.

[voodoo ray]

and because that only finished last night and is one of the biggest events in the sport............another one starts today.

[Schmarn]

Without looking up all of the dates and who won what and when, I suspect one of the reasons his first few years were relatively dry in terms of winning Triple Crown events (other then age and attitude obviously) was that Stephen Hendry was still at the peak of his game and as controversial as it may be I still think peak Hendry beats peak O’Sullivan.

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.

[yes]

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.

[Nitramdorf]

I sometimes think Hendry would have prevailed through sheer force of will. As silly as that sounds.

A mate of mine was at the Crucible final when Jimmy was 14-8 up and Hendry won ten in a row. He said you could almost feel it in the air and pretty much everyone knew he would win. He made it so, somehow. Maybe he really, really hated losing, compared to some.

I much prefer Hendry now to when he was playing, could listen to him all day.

[voodoo ray]

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.

it's probably because hendry says similar things himself.