Snooker

[wiw]

How good was that positional shot on the last two reds

[EwarWoo]

It's funny, I grew up adoring Steve Davis but quickly fell in love with watching ronnie play when he started up, and couldn't get 2 much more different players.

Greatest talent to ever play no doubt. If he wasn't so temperamentasl would have dominated non stop since he started, but would have been a lot less interesting to watch

Highlight for me was the first time at a televised event he started switching hands between shots. Absolute nutter!

[kris90210]

This happened today. O'Sullivan 'talked into a 147'

Ronnie O'Sullivan fired a remarkable 147 break at the World Open in Glasgow after halting play when on nine points to check the prize for a maximum.

He was told there was no separate purse but cleared up to beat Mark King 3-0.

The 34-year-old appeared content to end on the pink in the final frame and had to be persuaded to pot the black.

Jimmy White now waits in the fourth round for O'Sullivan, whose break was a record 10th career maximum, one more than his rival Stephen Hendry.

It was a typically extraordinary performance from the mercurial O'Sullivan, who has surprisingly fallen to sixth in the world rankings, largely because he chose to miss the recent event in Shanghai.

O'Sullivan took the first frame in 10 minutes after breaks of 38 and 75.

The second frame was a comedy of errors, with gritty left-hander King running out of position having made only 15.

O'Sullivan fought his way back into the frame but only a couple of shots from securing a 2-0 lead he saw a break end on 25 when an attempt into the centre pocket bounced out of the jaws.

King reduced the deficit to 14 points with a run of 20 then left the yellow, but after O'Sullivan potted it he played a wild shot that let in the left-hander.

He could only knock in the green but another reckless shot from O'Sullivan gave him another chance, although in potting the brown over the pocket he snookered himself on the pink and after a few more shenanigans O'Sullivan took the frame.

Then came the brilliance, and after potting the first red and black in frame three O'Sullivan halted proceedings to ask what the prize for a 147 was, only to be eventually told there was no additional purse and only a £4,000 sum for the highest break.

He potted some outstanding balls in his maximum, achieved in barely 10 minutes - even with the delay when researching about the 147 prize - but shook hands with King after disposing of the pink.

Referee Jan Verhaas persuaded O'Sullivan to finish the break and he duly slammed in the black in nonchalant fashion.

"I wasn't going to pot the black to be honest with you because I asked the ref and was told there was no break prize for a 147," O'Sullivan admitted to the BBC.

"I wanted to make sure because if there was a decent prize then I would definitely have gone for it and I thought I might as well go for it anyway.

"Jan talked me into it [potting the black]. My whole thing was I was going to make 140 and leave the black What's the point of making a 147 if they're only going to give you four grand for it?

"I'm surprised. They're getting stingier. I thought Barry Hearn was supposed to be putting more money into the game, not taking it out.

"I've had loads of 147s so I don't really get excited by it and thought I needed to give myself something to go for. I just thought 'why not?'"

O'Sullivan has been a supporter of Hearn, who has promised to revitalise the sport as new supremo of World Snooker.

What a cock.

[Fredo]

O'Sullivan is an absolute genius.

[Chrono]

What a cock.

No

O'Sullivan is an absolute genius.

Yes

[Tee]

O'Sullivan is an absolute genius.

Greatest natural talent ever, infact the best snooker player in history. All genius' have their flaws though, but that actually makes him more exciting to watch IMO.

[Rich]

If he's purely playing the sport for money then what's to stop him from accepting a large bribe?

[Pablo]

Nothing I guess. It wouldn't surprise me all that much if it happened to be honest, although I'd still be devastated (a bit like Duncan was when John Higgins did it).

[dww]

No doubt about it, but it makes it more of a lottery I reckon, can't take it as seriously. Cheap and nasty, like T20.

I think people have to accept that both the games involved need some way to support themselves. The shortened forms are clearly inferior but that doesn't make them valueless (particularly T20 which most people seem to really enjoy as a day out and does offer a genuine way into what is quite an arcane game for neophytes).

Not sure the snooker equivalent has the same appeal though. I assume the idea is to try and get players personalities across a bit more and get people used to more of the players but as I can't see it bringing in any new fans I'm sceptical as to whether it will serve any purpose at all, especially if things like 147s or high breaks aren't prioritised.

[kris90210]

He's a great player, but he's still a cock. What's the point in making a 147 break if the bonus is only 4 grand? That is something only a total prick would say.

Face it, if anyone else said that, you'd be agreeing with me

[the rev leeroy brown]

He's a great player, but he's still a cock. What's the point in making a 147 break if the bonus is only 4 grand? That is something only a total prick would say.

Face it, if anyone else said that, you'd be agreeing with me

for us to say its a bit dickish, but when you consider every other tourny a 147 break gets you either 47 grand or 147 grand you can see his point.

[Shaggy]

But he must've made hundreds of 147s...like he said when asked "but it must've been exciting?!!!!?!"...."nah not really, I make 147s all the time"

[CJ]

absolute genious

however a cock when he opens his mouth too

all those people that pay to watch him play what do they get well if he cant be arsed then nothing.

how do we have a go at our players if we dont think they are trying.

maybe Torres needs more a goal bonus as he isnt scoring. Can you imagine if we were winning and he missed a sitter then when asked he came out and said well i dont get a goal bonus in the carling cup.

Ronnie is just thoughtless but when in form the best there has been however he doesnt hit that nearly often enough

[kris90210]

absolute genious

however a cock when he opens his mouth too

all those people that pay to watch him play what do they get well if he cant be arsed then nothing.

how do we have a go at our players if we dont think they are trying.

maybe Torres needs more a goal bonus as he isnt scoring. Can you imagine if we were winning and he missed a sitter then when asked he came out and said well i dont get a goal bonus in the carling cup.

Ronnie is just thoughtless but when in form the best there has been however he doesnt hit that nearly often enough

Well said

[Pablo]

absolute genious

however a cock when he opens his mouth too

all those people that pay to watch him play what do they get well if he cant be arsed then nothing.

how do we have a go at our players if we dont think they are trying.

maybe Torres needs more a goal bonus as he isnt scoring. Can you imagine if we were winning and he missed a sitter then when asked he came out and said well i dont get a goal bonus in the carling cup.

Ronnie is just thoughtless but when in form the best there has been however he doesnt hit that nearly often enough

Always one of my favourite typos/spelling mistakes!