Snooker World Championship

[Digger]

2 GKC said:

Stan the Bat said:

Thought that he wasn't going to let go of Trump.

That was uncomfortable viewing.

As has been said ROS is magic on the table but an epic prick off of it

What did he say?

[Magikarp]

2 GKC said:

That was uncomfortable viewing.

As has been said ROS is magic on the table but an epic prick off of it

There are some epic pricks on this thread, seemingly.

[jules_s]

2 GKC said:

Stan the Bat said:

Thought that he wasn't going to let go of Trump.

That was uncomfortable viewing.

As has been said ROS is magic on the table but an epic prick off of it

Seemed like a love in as they go back a long time

It did look like a pregnant pause though tbh

[Milkyway]

Well done Ronnie... I know that he is marmite but you can’t deny his talent.

to Judd as well...valiant effort but just outclassed.

[CoolHands]

Impressive that he can still perform at that level at this age too, when you consider even Stephen Henry can’t manage it. That’s something.

[paulw123]

Think judd always knew deep down this was Ronnies title hence seeming magnanimous in defeat. Yes he’s marmite but there’s no question that he’s the best ever.

[wpa1975]

The question has to be can he win an 8th.

Massive talent and really enjoyed the match.

[robsco]

I totally stand corrected on earlier comments on this thread. I thought Ronnie would be unravelled by the likes of Higgins or Trump, but not a bit of it. Absolutely sensational, so happy for him.

I thought 2020 might be the last time we saw him win the Worlds, perhaps tonight instead is the last. I am certainly treating it that way, but hopefully he can go on to win number 8. Amazing performance and an amazing night.

[hungry_hog]

wpa1975 said:

The question has to be can he win an 8th.

Massive talent and really enjoyed the match.

I think he can
He has an economical style - for him a 60/70 break is very easy and normally that is enough to win the frame
He doesn't play as fast (remember the 5 min 147!) or the crazy shots but that actually helps him
I think he'll end up with 9 or 10

Bar Trump the new players have not really come through post RoS, Higgins and Williams. I think one of the factors is the long format is so different to other tournaments.

It is so weird that when RoS was coming through I was doing my A levels, now 30 years later he is still there!

[marksx]

CoolHands said:

Impressive that he can still perform at that level at this age too, when you consider even Stephen Henry can’t manage it. That’s something.

I'm going to show my naivety here, but why would age be a factor in snooker performance? Mental fatigue?

[CoolHands]

Dunno but it happens to us all! Eyesight, concentration, more conservative (less risk taking), maybe overthinking it rather than intuition.

Just old age!

[Vickers_VC10]

Over the moon with the RoS win. He is 6 years older than me and I've watched his entire career, in that time I've seen enough of him to realise it was inevitable, the years he wins he is pretty much unstoppable. I would expect an eight at some point. He is truly the GOAT. The fact he is a truly flawed human being makes him all the more likeable (or dislikeable)

[paulw123]

Vickers_VC10 said:

Over the moon with the RoS win. He is 6 years older than me and I've watched his entire career, in that time I've seen enough of him to realise it was inevitable, the years he wins he is pretty much unstoppable. I would expect an eight at some point. He is truly the GOAT. The fact he is a truly flawed human being makes him all the more likeable (or dislikeable)

His upbringing must have been difficult, both parents did jail time. He’s been very open about his demons and struggle.
Probably the most naturally gifted player that will ever play the game though.

[mikeiow]

paulw123 said:

His upbringing must have been difficult, both parents did jail time. He’s been very open about his demons and struggle.
Probably the most naturally gifted player that will ever play the game though.

I’d say undoubtedly the GOAT!
That was a decent final….& Ronnie was clearly very emotional at the end: I thought they were married after the lengthy clinch at the end

I think he could do another…but the World Championship really is like no other tournament, it is an epic marathon.

[Mojooo]

It is interesting that Ronnie didn't dominate and win more times in his 'prime' - if I remember without looking at the history books, he was a main player as far back as 1996 - so you'd expect some titles say 1996 to 2006 - when in fact he only won one of his titles in that period - and 3 overall to 2008

2001 John Higgins 18-14
2004 Graeme Dott 18-8
2008 Ali Carter 18-8
2012 Ali Carter 18-11
2013 Barry Hawkins 18-12
2020 Kyren Wilson 18-8
2022 Judd Trump 18-13

[leef44]

Ronnie is an inspiration to the sport similar to Alex Higgins and Jimmy White. New players idolise them and become the new generation genius - that's where Ronnie started.

Winning an 8th? That will be determined by his mental stability and discipline. Will he still have that motivation to make the effort?

[originals]

hungry_hog said:

wpa1975 said:

The question has to be can he win an 8th.

Massive talent and really enjoyed the match.

I think he can
He has an economical style - for him a 60/70 break is very easy and normally that is enough to win the frame
He doesn't play as fast (remember the 5 min 147!) or the crazy shots but that actually helps him
I think he'll end up with 9 or 10

Bar Trump the new players have not really come through post RoS, Higgins and Williams. I think one of the factors is the long format is so different to other tournaments.

It is so weird that when RoS was coming through I was doing my A levels, now 30 years later he is still there!

I can see an 8th possibly if he wants to make history but can't see 9 or 10.

[cerb4.5lee]

CoolHands said:

Impressive that he can still perform at that level at this age too, when you consider even Stephen Henry can’t manage it. That’s something.

It seems to have took Ronnie absolutely years to get to 7 titles though, whereas Stephen did it in only a decade in comparison. Ronnie has shown excellent longevity though as you say, and I still think that he will be hungry for number 8 too.

[Hobo]

leef44 said:

Ronnie is an inspiration to the sport similar to Alex Higgins and Jimmy White. New players idolise them and become the new generation genius - that's where Ronnie started.

Winning an 8th? That will be determined by his mental stability and discipline. Will he still have that motivation to make the effort?

He'll win an 8th, and likely then retire.

Snooker has not seen a talent like Ronnie before, and will likely be some time before it does again. Alex Higgins/Jimmy White couldn't touch Ronnie, so whilst being 'crowd pleasers' they certainly aren't even in the same bracket as him. Ronnie has changed the game, with players now much more free to express their talent, as well as obviously many now being able to play both left and right handed (to varying levels) which is something rarely seen prior to Ronnie coming onto the scene.

Not really sure who will be the next 'Dominator'. There will likely be one, but with all the talent now flooding the space then its hard to see the next 'Davis', 'Hendry' or 'Ronnie'. I don't however think Trump will be anywhere near as fundamentally has a massively flawed action, and the older he gets the harder this will be to deal with, as has been demonstrated in the past with sportspersons with such.

The bizarre thing I always found with snooker, having played at a very good level myself, was that there were better 'amateurs' than many 'professionals'. I played with James Wattana before he turned pro, and was probably earning far more as an amateur. I also recall going to Sheffield myself as a relative youngster and watching Tony Meo 'v' Terry Griffith and genuinely thinking I could beat them both myself.

[plenty]

I've always found it odd how people fixate on the lives of celebrities, and can form such strong opinions of people they've never met based on media portrayals.

I suppose it's inevitable given how much personality plays a role in the marketing of sport, and for many people it's a source of enjoyment and interest that works both ways (love and hate).

Personally I pay zero attention to what a sports person says or does outside of sport. I don't see the point especially when one's impressions are so easily manipulated by the media one consumes. Furthermore a life lived constantly in the public gaze strikes me as a very difficult life indeed, when millions are watching and judging your every move. It's a circus that I opt out of.

I've got no idea what Ronnie O'Sullivan or Lewis Hamilton or X are like, and it doesn't matter. The only thing I care about is their wizardry on the baize and on track.