Snooker World Championship
Discussion
Hobo said:
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.
I've often wondered what the amateur Snooker circuit is like for quality. You don't have to go down the world rankings to find that suddenly centuries become very rare in tournament play, and I always assumed the quality was fairly poor outside of who we regularly see on TV, but that's probably really unfair.I really, really wanted to be good at Snooker when I was 15-16 or so. I put hundreds of hours in at a local club that opened to youngsters in the school holidays, paid a 5'er pretty much for a table all day, cheese toasties at lunch - it was great. But I never, ever got better. I just plateaued out. Could maybe knock in the odd 30 if I was really, really fortunate but there was just no consistency to it.
My Dad regularly beats me now when we go down to the local social club, and I'd probably have a 50:50 chance at best against anyone has seen a pool table before. It really upset me back in the day, no amount of practise could improve me. I read the books, even had a bit of coaching - but it just didn't work. I am grateful though that I've at least got a good "snooker brain", I can call shots as good as anybody. I just can't pot the fkin things
Killing blow for me was being at the aforementioned club, and a lad 5 years my junior was on the table next to me. He knocked a 60 or a 70 in and it just floored me, dream break for me and he did it without really trying. Wonder whatever came of him...
It was great to see some emotion from Ronnie, fantastic achievement and it shows how much it meant to him. I just wish he'd be a bit more honest in his interviews instead of the weird negativity which always comes across as fairly disrespectful, but I think that's just his way of dealing with the pressure and expectation on his shoulders.
To still be playing at that level in his mid 40's is amazing and it'll be interesting to see what happens in the next few years. For all we know he might never reach a world final again, or he might win another 2 or 3. You just don't know when those age related unforced errors will creep in. It will happen at some point and I can't see Ronnie being happy slipping down the rankings and being beaten by mediocre young players (like Davis did for many years) . My guess would be an 8th win followed by an announcement of retirement, but who knows!
To still be playing at that level in his mid 40's is amazing and it'll be interesting to see what happens in the next few years. For all we know he might never reach a world final again, or he might win another 2 or 3. You just don't know when those age related unforced errors will creep in. It will happen at some point and I can't see Ronnie being happy slipping down the rankings and being beaten by mediocre young players (like Davis did for many years) . My guess would be an 8th win followed by an announcement of retirement, but who knows!
JackJarvis said:
It was great to see some emotion from Ronnie, fantastic achievement and it shows how much it meant to him. I just wish he'd be a bit more honest in his interviews instead of the weird negativity which always comes across as fairly disrespectful, but I think that's just his way of dealing with the pressure and expectation on his shoulders.
A lot of top sportspeople today are very different and far more emotionally expressive than the comparitively stifled sportsmen of yesteryear. Sign of the times, (without inflection or personal judgement)Great to see Ronnie looking so genuinely over the moon, I'll be honest and confess I've wondered if we'd see him back up where he is, as his playing is often too inconsistent, often infuriatingly so when he's obviously still the most talented man to hold a snooker bat.
Memories of that time he used a left handed shot against Alain robidoux to get out of what the Canadian thought would have been a difficult shot, then just cleaned the table left handed (because he could), and drove his opponent nuts
I've never liked Ronnie O'Sullivan.
I don't dislike the bloke, but just don't 'get' him nor his popularity. Same with Alex Higgins, though I quite liked Jimmy White in his day.
I guess having watched Pot Black as a youth in the 70's, and growing up in the period when Steve Davis dominated the game my expectations are different/dated.
It was all fields back then.
I don't dislike the bloke, but just don't 'get' him nor his popularity. Same with Alex Higgins, though I quite liked Jimmy White in his day.
I guess having watched Pot Black as a youth in the 70's, and growing up in the period when Steve Davis dominated the game my expectations are different/dated.
It was all fields back then.
JackJarvis said:
I just wish he'd be a bit more honest in his interviews instead of the weird negativity which always comes across as fairly disrespectful, but I think that's just his way of dealing with the pressure and expectation on his shoulders.
It absolutely is. All that talk about snooker being just a hobby and other dismissive comments - that's the only way he can cope. We saw a glimpse of how he really feels last night.Imagine living life in that kind of a fishbowl. You need coping mechanisms.
Fonzey said:
I've often wondered what the amateur Snooker circuit is like for quality. You don't have to go down the world rankings to find that suddenly centuries become very rare in tournament play, and I always assumed the quality was fairly poor outside of who we regularly see on TV, but that's probably really unfair.
I really, really wanted to be good at Snooker when I was 15-16 or so. I put hundreds of hours in at a local club that opened to youngsters in the school holidays, paid a 5'er pretty much for a table all day, cheese toasties at lunch - it was great. But I never, ever got better. I just plateaued out. Could maybe knock in the odd 30 if I was really, really fortunate but there was just no consistency to it.
My Dad regularly beats me now when we go down to the local social club, and I'd probably have a 50:50 chance at best against anyone has seen a pool table before. It really upset me back in the day, no amount of practise could improve me. I read the books, even had a bit of coaching - but it just didn't work. I am grateful though that I've at least got a good "snooker brain", I can call shots as good as anybody. I just can't pot the fkin things
Killing blow for me was being at the aforementioned club, and a lad 5 years my junior was on the table next to me. He knocked a 60 or a 70 in and it just floored me, dream break for me and he did it without really trying. Wonder whatever came of him...
I think decent club players are putting in 50+ regularly, but to turn pro you probably need to be putting in centuries. Apparently RoS made his first one aged 10!I really, really wanted to be good at Snooker when I was 15-16 or so. I put hundreds of hours in at a local club that opened to youngsters in the school holidays, paid a 5'er pretty much for a table all day, cheese toasties at lunch - it was great. But I never, ever got better. I just plateaued out. Could maybe knock in the odd 30 if I was really, really fortunate but there was just no consistency to it.
My Dad regularly beats me now when we go down to the local social club, and I'd probably have a 50:50 chance at best against anyone has seen a pool table before. It really upset me back in the day, no amount of practise could improve me. I read the books, even had a bit of coaching - but it just didn't work. I am grateful though that I've at least got a good "snooker brain", I can call shots as good as anybody. I just can't pot the fkin things
Killing blow for me was being at the aforementioned club, and a lad 5 years my junior was on the table next to me. He knocked a 60 or a 70 in and it just floored me, dream break for me and he did it without really trying. Wonder whatever came of him...
I'm like you, put in a few hundred hours (mainly Uni) and topping out at 30. I can't even clear the colours - it looks so easy on TV, I play two shots and am 6 feet from the blue! I am good at doubles though!
hungry_hog said:
Fonzey said:
I've often wondered what the amateur Snooker circuit is like for quality. You don't have to go down the world rankings to find that suddenly centuries become very rare in tournament play, and I always assumed the quality was fairly poor outside of who we regularly see on TV, but that's probably really unfair.
I really, really wanted to be good at Snooker when I was 15-16 or so. I put hundreds of hours in at a local club that opened to youngsters in the school holidays, paid a 5'er pretty much for a table all day, cheese toasties at lunch - it was great. But I never, ever got better. I just plateaued out. Could maybe knock in the odd 30 if I was really, really fortunate but there was just no consistency to it.
My Dad regularly beats me now when we go down to the local social club, and I'd probably have a 50:50 chance at best against anyone has seen a pool table before. It really upset me back in the day, no amount of practise could improve me. I read the books, even had a bit of coaching - but it just didn't work. I am grateful though that I've at least got a good "snooker brain", I can call shots as good as anybody. I just can't pot the fkin things
Killing blow for me was being at the aforementioned club, and a lad 5 years my junior was on the table next to me. He knocked a 60 or a 70 in and it just floored me, dream break for me and he did it without really trying. Wonder whatever came of him...
I think decent club players are putting in 50+ regularly, but to turn pro you probably need to be putting in centuries. Apparently RoS made his first one aged 10!I really, really wanted to be good at Snooker when I was 15-16 or so. I put hundreds of hours in at a local club that opened to youngsters in the school holidays, paid a 5'er pretty much for a table all day, cheese toasties at lunch - it was great. But I never, ever got better. I just plateaued out. Could maybe knock in the odd 30 if I was really, really fortunate but there was just no consistency to it.
My Dad regularly beats me now when we go down to the local social club, and I'd probably have a 50:50 chance at best against anyone has seen a pool table before. It really upset me back in the day, no amount of practise could improve me. I read the books, even had a bit of coaching - but it just didn't work. I am grateful though that I've at least got a good "snooker brain", I can call shots as good as anybody. I just can't pot the fkin things
Killing blow for me was being at the aforementioned club, and a lad 5 years my junior was on the table next to me. He knocked a 60 or a 70 in and it just floored me, dream break for me and he did it without really trying. Wonder whatever came of him...
I'm like you, put in a few hundred hours (mainly Uni) and topping out at 30. I can't even clear the colours - it looks so easy on TV, I play two shots and am 6 feet from the blue! I am good at doubles though!
None of the guys that were beating me at the time have gone on to make it pro either. What I did learn, ultimately too late, is that you've got to learn how to handle the losses before you learn how to win. It sounds a cliche, but its so true. As a teenager I used to throw around cue, and was turned down by a scout for exactly this reason, ie how I handled myself when I lost in a qualifier.
I managed to play a few good players, Wattana (who regularly thrashed me), Bill Weiburnik (sic) who I beat, and was meant to play Alex Higgins, but he didn't turn up for the game.
The realisation at the age I was that I would never make it, despite to most people I knew thinking I was ridiculously good, was crushing. I found something I wanted to do for a living, and was clearly quite handy at it, but despite being able to clear a table (or near as) on a regular occasion at the local club, I was miles away from making a living at it, hence literally quiting and not playing since (the two frames I have played were on the night before my wedding and my best man knocked on my door around midnight in tatters about his speech, and the hotel had a table so we had a few beers and a couple of games).
To give you an idea on the quality of people on the amateur circuit, I once played at a working mens club in Bradford and the guy I was playing had the half his right arm in pot. I broke off, he cleared up......... I don't remember his name as he clearly never made it either.
Ronnie is the most talented person to ever hold a cue IMO, end of.
Edited by Hobo on Tuesday 3rd May 19:00
Hobo said:
Putting in centuries is nowhere near good enough unfortunately. I knocked in a 137 (missed the black) at 15 and was a world apart from (90% of) others I was competing against, and decided to give up at 17 (and have only played 2 frames since - I'm now late 40's). I was playing 2-3 hours during the week and probably 4-6 hours each day at the weekend. I played at a local club where they let me have the key to get in, and school let me have friday afternoons off, when others were doing PE, to go play snooker.
None of the guys that were beating me at the time have gone on to make it pro either. What I did learn, ultimately too late, is that you've got to learn how to handle the losses before you learn how to win. It sounds a cliche, but its so true. As a teenager I used to throw around cue, and was turned down by a scout for exactly this reason, ie how I handled myself when I lost in a qualifier.
I managed to play a few good players, Wattana (who regularly thrashed me), Bill Weiburnik (sic) who I beat, and was meant to play Alex Higgins, but he didn't turn up for the game.
The realisation at the age I was that I would never make it, despite to most people I knew thinking I was ridiculously good, was crushing. I found something I wanted to do for a living, and was clearly quite handy at it, but despite being able to clear a table (or near as) on a regular occasion at the local club, I was miles away from making a living at it, hence literally quiting and not playing since (the two frames I have played were on the night before my wedding and my best man knocked on my door around midnight in tatters about his speech, and the hotel had a table so we had a few beers and a couple of games).
To give you an idea on the quality of people on the amateur circuit, I once played at a working mens club in Bradford and the guy I was playing had the half his right arm in pot. I broke off, he cleared up......... I don't remember his name as he clearly never made it either.
Ronnie is the most talented person to ever hold a cue IMO, end of.
Wow! That feels like it was all about emotion, really. Not surprising at that age: very good sports youngsters often *hate* losing.None of the guys that were beating me at the time have gone on to make it pro either. What I did learn, ultimately too late, is that you've got to learn how to handle the losses before you learn how to win. It sounds a cliche, but its so true. As a teenager I used to throw around cue, and was turned down by a scout for exactly this reason, ie how I handled myself when I lost in a qualifier.
I managed to play a few good players, Wattana (who regularly thrashed me), Bill Weiburnik (sic) who I beat, and was meant to play Alex Higgins, but he didn't turn up for the game.
The realisation at the age I was that I would never make it, despite to most people I knew thinking I was ridiculously good, was crushing. I found something I wanted to do for a living, and was clearly quite handy at it, but despite being able to clear a table (or near as) on a regular occasion at the local club, I was miles away from making a living at it, hence literally quiting and not playing since (the two frames I have played were on the night before my wedding and my best man knocked on my door around midnight in tatters about his speech, and the hotel had a table so we had a few beers and a couple of games).
To give you an idea on the quality of people on the amateur circuit, I once played at a working mens club in Bradford and the guy I was playing had the half his right arm in pot. I broke off, he cleared up......... I don't remember his name as he clearly never made it either.
Ronnie is the most talented person to ever hold a cue IMO, end of.
I was always pretty rubbish - played in a local league when I was mid teens...best break was about 27 & my teammates were at the bar getting drinks
I'm not totally surprised you walked away from it, but I am a little surprised you never decided to play for pleasure later in life. Never had the urge to have a game to see how you are now?
Not that there are as many clubs as there used to be. I was a lifetime member of Willie Thorne's for some time. Turned out it wasn't my lifetime....
Used to enjoy an evening there, or at Osbornes before then.
mikeiow said:
I'm not totally surprised you walked away from it, but I am a little surprised you never decided to play for pleasure later in life. Never had the urge to have a game to see how you are now?
Never. I played something to such a level I honestly thought I would do it for a living and when the realisation hit that I wouldn’t be then I didn’t want to play it again. I don’t see pleasure in playing it unfortunately as clearly loved the game.I continued to play pool for a few years for the local pub team and was quite handy at that, and will still play occasionally, but snooker never.
Oh to know then what I know now…… saying that, if you weren’t top 16 (maybe 32) in the world back then it was hardly a ‘living’ you earn’t, hence people remaining at amateur status and not turning pro. The money now is clearly very different.
On a separate note, and linked to discussions on Ronnie and the current breed of professionals, I just can’t see Judd Trump having many more years in him. What a talent he clearly is, but his action will surely be the end of him as he gets a bit older as obviously your hand/eye coordination goes (along with your eyes generally) and the ability to line things up a split second before he plays must become more of an issue which will lead to all sorts of issues in his head. Clearly he will have made his money, but he certainly isn’t in the queue to be the next Ronnie.
As for who the next Ronnie will be, who knows. Ronnie changed the game doing things no one was at the time, whereas these days all the youngsters are expressing themselves on the table, as is the case in other sports as coaching has massively changed direction, so hard to see anyone being such a ‘game changer’.
My best memory I think of Ronnie is him beating Alain Robideux playing mostly left handed. When you think about it it’s mental. We had someone who apparently is in the best 32 players in the world (I think at the time) and Ronnie destroyed him with his weaker hand. It’s mind boggling the talent the guy has and how he got to realise that talent at the age his was.
I’ll leave this thread after this post as only came on it to post my dismay at how poor certain commentators are, and have somewhat taken it off track.
It’s actually got me thinking about snooker again though which was good to do, and got me thinking about the pros and cons of being decent at it as a youth;
Pros
1. I spent massive amounts of time with my dad who introduced me to it. My first time I ever played was on a full size table and I got a break of 9 by potting the yellow, green and brown. Not a massive break but 3 balls in succession so clearly looking back there was something. My dad was my main practise partner for many a year and managed to get to a level himself where he was capable of knocking in 50 breaks (bizarrely he passed away 12 years today)
2. I had great neighbours (times were different then). I lived in a cul de sac and my parent looking back were clearly not wealthy but gave me pretty much everything I wanted which was mainly their time. That said I played so much snooker at the local club (not snooker club, just a club with a table) that all my neighbours used to save their 10 pences for me as I needed them for the lights
3. The game taught me loads about life. As s
t as it was at the time realising that I wouldn’t be doing it for a living it certainly set me up for life itself which hasn’t worked out too bad
4. I made some great friends, albeit generally massively older people, at the club I played at. You need them as people generally don’t want to play against people who can clear the table, and these people sacrificed their own enjoyment to help me improve
5. Getting off school to go play snooker whilst the other kids were doing whatever in PE
Cons
1. Getting beat up outside the snooker hall and my cue snapped. Wasn’t great
2. As said, finding people to play against could be hard. The club I played at for many years was one where you had to put your name down on the board. The board I think had 8 areas in which 4 names would go in each area. If I put my name down then on lots of occasions no one else would
Play with me which meant I had to not play
3. The realisation I wasn’t good enough
In summary, more pros than cons so that’s good.
Anyway, Dennis Taylor is still a crap commentator.
It’s actually got me thinking about snooker again though which was good to do, and got me thinking about the pros and cons of being decent at it as a youth;
Pros
1. I spent massive amounts of time with my dad who introduced me to it. My first time I ever played was on a full size table and I got a break of 9 by potting the yellow, green and brown. Not a massive break but 3 balls in succession so clearly looking back there was something. My dad was my main practise partner for many a year and managed to get to a level himself where he was capable of knocking in 50 breaks (bizarrely he passed away 12 years today)
2. I had great neighbours (times were different then). I lived in a cul de sac and my parent looking back were clearly not wealthy but gave me pretty much everything I wanted which was mainly their time. That said I played so much snooker at the local club (not snooker club, just a club with a table) that all my neighbours used to save their 10 pences for me as I needed them for the lights
3. The game taught me loads about life. As s
t as it was at the time realising that I wouldn’t be doing it for a living it certainly set me up for life itself which hasn’t worked out too bad4. I made some great friends, albeit generally massively older people, at the club I played at. You need them as people generally don’t want to play against people who can clear the table, and these people sacrificed their own enjoyment to help me improve
5. Getting off school to go play snooker whilst the other kids were doing whatever in PE
Cons
1. Getting beat up outside the snooker hall and my cue snapped. Wasn’t great
2. As said, finding people to play against could be hard. The club I played at for many years was one where you had to put your name down on the board. The board I think had 8 areas in which 4 names would go in each area. If I put my name down then on lots of occasions no one else would
Play with me which meant I had to not play
3. The realisation I wasn’t good enough
In summary, more pros than cons so that’s good.
Anyway, Dennis Taylor is still a crap commentator.
paua said:
Hobo said:
said lots.
I'm glad you've posted so much. It's good to hear from someone who knows what he's talking about.Too many other folk on the net just opine & claim as fact.
You're refreshing, cheers.
& I agree about Denis Taylor's commentating.
Actually I find most of them mildly irritating: I've usually said (out loud at home or in the arena) pretty well what they say before they say it.....no magic insights from them.
We decided to not bother with the earpiece at the Crucible - the only minor challenge was knowing when the frame was won (snookers needed), & that is easily worked out....& if you want the commentary, watch from home, the view of the table will be better for you too!
Edited by mikeiow on Wednesday 4th May 20:15
Fantastic posts, even if a little sad!
Thanks very much for that insight. I know it's not all about money either, but when you consider this tale of what it takes to get close to the pro circuit, you then have to consider that earning a living as a Snooker pro is very difficult unless you're regularly in the top what, 16?
Would love a frame or two with you, if you ever fancy it again
Thanks very much for that insight. I know it's not all about money either, but when you consider this tale of what it takes to get close to the pro circuit, you then have to consider that earning a living as a Snooker pro is very difficult unless you're regularly in the top what, 16?
Would love a frame or two with you, if you ever fancy it again
Hobo said:
Putting in centuries is nowhere near good enough unfortunately. I knocked in a 137 (missed the black) at 15 and was a world apart from (90% of) others I was competing against, and decided to give up at 17 (and have only played 2 frames since - I'm now late 40's). I was playing 2-3 hours during the week and probably 4-6 hours each day at the weekend. I played at a local club where they let me have the key to get in, and school let me have friday afternoons off, when others were doing PE, to go play snooker.
None of the guys that were beating me at the time have gone on to make it pro either. What I did learn, ultimately too late, is that you've got to learn how to handle the losses before you learn how to win. It sounds a cliche, but its so true. As a teenager I used to throw around cue, and was turned down by a scout for exactly this reason, ie how I handled myself when I lost in a qualifier.
I managed to play a few good players, Wattana (who regularly thrashed me), Bill Weiburnik (sic) who I beat, and was meant to play Alex Higgins, but he didn't turn up for the game.
The realisation at the age I was that I would never make it, despite to most people I knew thinking I was ridiculously good, was crushing. I found something I wanted to do for a living, and was clearly quite handy at it, but despite being able to clear a table (or near as) on a regular occasion at the local club, I was miles away from making a living at it, hence literally quiting and not playing since (the two frames I have played were on the night before my wedding and my best man knocked on my door around midnight in tatters about his speech, and the hotel had a table so we had a few beers and a couple of games).
To give you an idea on the quality of people on the amateur circuit, I once played at a working mens club in Bradford and the guy I was playing had the half his right arm in pot. I broke off, he cleared up......... I don't remember his name as he clearly never made it either.
Ronnie is the most talented person to ever hold a cue IMO, end of.
None of the guys that were beating me at the time have gone on to make it pro either. What I did learn, ultimately too late, is that you've got to learn how to handle the losses before you learn how to win. It sounds a cliche, but its so true. As a teenager I used to throw around cue, and was turned down by a scout for exactly this reason, ie how I handled myself when I lost in a qualifier.
I managed to play a few good players, Wattana (who regularly thrashed me), Bill Weiburnik (sic) who I beat, and was meant to play Alex Higgins, but he didn't turn up for the game.
The realisation at the age I was that I would never make it, despite to most people I knew thinking I was ridiculously good, was crushing. I found something I wanted to do for a living, and was clearly quite handy at it, but despite being able to clear a table (or near as) on a regular occasion at the local club, I was miles away from making a living at it, hence literally quiting and not playing since (the two frames I have played were on the night before my wedding and my best man knocked on my door around midnight in tatters about his speech, and the hotel had a table so we had a few beers and a couple of games).
To give you an idea on the quality of people on the amateur circuit, I once played at a working mens club in Bradford and the guy I was playing had the half his right arm in pot. I broke off, he cleared up......... I don't remember his name as he clearly never made it either.
Ronnie is the most talented person to ever hold a cue IMO, end of.
Edited by Hobo on Tuesday 3rd May 19:00[/footnote]
[footnote]Edited by Fonzey on Wednesday 4th May 12:03Fonzey said:
Fantastic post, even if a little sad!
Thanks very much for that insight. I know it's not all about money either, but when you consider this tale of what it takes to get close to the pro circuit, you then have to consider that earning a living as a Snooker pro is very difficult unless you're regularly in the top what, 16?
Would love a frame or two with you, if you ever fancy it again
Many amateurs stayed amateurs as they were earning more betting on themselves whilst playing which isn't obviously allowed as a professional. Thanks very much for that insight. I know it's not all about money either, but when you consider this tale of what it takes to get close to the pro circuit, you then have to consider that earning a living as a Snooker pro is very difficult unless you're regularly in the top what, 16?
Would love a frame or two with you, if you ever fancy it again
Hobo said:
Putting in centuries is nowhere near good enough unfortunately. I knocked in a 137 (missed the black) at 15 and was a world apart from (90% of) others I was competing against, and decided to give up at 17 (and have only played 2 frames since - I'm now late 40's). I was playing 2-3 hours during the week and probably 4-6 hours each day at the weekend. I played at a local club where they let me have the key to get in, and school let me have friday afternoons off, when others were doing PE, to go play snooker.
None of the guys that were beating me at the time have gone on to make it pro either. What I did learn, ultimately too late, is that you've got to learn how to handle the losses before you learn how to win. It sounds a cliche, but its so true. As a teenager I used to throw around cue, and was turned down by a scout for exactly this reason, ie how I handled myself when I lost in a qualifier.
I managed to play a few good players, Wattana (who regularly thrashed me), Bill Weiburnik (sic) who I beat, and was meant to play Alex Higgins, but he didn't turn up for the game.
The realisation at the age I was that I would never make it, despite to most people I knew thinking I was ridiculously good, was crushing. I found something I wanted to do for a living, and was clearly quite handy at it, but despite being able to clear a table (or near as) on a regular occasion at the local club, I was miles away from making a living at it, hence literally quiting and not playing since (the two frames I have played were on the night before my wedding and my best man knocked on my door around midnight in tatters about his speech, and the hotel had a table so we had a few beers and a couple of games).
To give you an idea on the quality of people on the amateur circuit, I once played at a working mens club in Bradford and the guy I was playing had the half his right arm in pot. I broke off, he cleared up......... I don't remember his name as he clearly never made it either.
Ronnie is the most talented person to ever hold a cue IMO, end of.
None of the guys that were beating me at the time have gone on to make it pro either. What I did learn, ultimately too late, is that you've got to learn how to handle the losses before you learn how to win. It sounds a cliche, but its so true. As a teenager I used to throw around cue, and was turned down by a scout for exactly this reason, ie how I handled myself when I lost in a qualifier.
I managed to play a few good players, Wattana (who regularly thrashed me), Bill Weiburnik (sic) who I beat, and was meant to play Alex Higgins, but he didn't turn up for the game.
The realisation at the age I was that I would never make it, despite to most people I knew thinking I was ridiculously good, was crushing. I found something I wanted to do for a living, and was clearly quite handy at it, but despite being able to clear a table (or near as) on a regular occasion at the local club, I was miles away from making a living at it, hence literally quiting and not playing since (the two frames I have played were on the night before my wedding and my best man knocked on my door around midnight in tatters about his speech, and the hotel had a table so we had a few beers and a couple of games).
To give you an idea on the quality of people on the amateur circuit, I once played at a working mens club in Bradford and the guy I was playing had the half his right arm in pot. I broke off, he cleared up......... I don't remember his name as he clearly never made it either.
Ronnie is the most talented person to ever hold a cue IMO, end of.
Edited by Hobo on Tuesday 3rd May 19:00
A quick online search of year 1988 earning for players would indicate Steve Davis earnt just over 600k in prize money that season as world number 1. World number 8 (Dennis Taylor) earnt 129k, world number 16 (Wayne Jones) earnt 55k, world number 24 (Steve James) earnt 33k & world number 32 (Dene O'Kane) earnt 24k. 50th in the world earnt 14k that season and anyone below 59th in the world earnt less than 10k.
Even last year you had to be in the top 45 in the world to earn 50k. Top 16 is where the money is as obviously you are getting automatic entry into the later rounds of all decent competitions so you earnings reflect that. 16th last year earnt 120k, 8th earnt 314k, and then the top 2 earn significantly more, ie near 1m.
Obviously the above is just tournament earnings, so the players have sponsorship deals these days, but again, this is generally the top few who make any decent money from this, certainly not the top 50.
Edited by Hobo on Wednesday 4th May 12:20
Hobo said:
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My best memory I think of Ronnie is him beating Alain Robideux playing mostly left handed. When you think about it it’s mental. We had someone who apparently is in the best 32 players in the world (I think at the time) and Ronnie destroyed him with his weaker hand. It’s mind boggling the talent the guy has and how he got to realise that talent at the age his was.
Wow, that’s going back a bit. Didn’t Robideux refuse to shake Ronnie’s hand and accuse him of unsportsmanlike conduct for playing left handed? Alain got a proper sulk on from memory lol..My best memory I think of Ronnie is him beating Alain Robideux playing mostly left handed. When you think about it it’s mental. We had someone who apparently is in the best 32 players in the world (I think at the time) and Ronnie destroyed him with his weaker hand. It’s mind boggling the talent the guy has and how he got to realise that talent at the age his was.
Say what you want about him off the table, and many do, but I doubt we’ll see anyone as talented as Ronnie in the game again, certainly not in my lifetime anyway.
I hope he gets his 8th and retires a happy and contented man knowing he’s set some tough records for those who follow.
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