Ronnie O Sullivan

Stevieluvsye

Rows Grower wrote: »

He seemed to have an extra level when he really needed it during the nitty gritty frames and then relaxed when he was in the home straight.

I think playing in the empty arena is really suiting him, did he make that ref change his mind about the free ball situation there in the last frame? I was only half paying attention. Jays, that ref is after aging a lot.

It was bizarre, he took one red out of the pocket and lined it up, then a second one, then said not a free ball, ronnie crouched and looked down the line of the shot, then jan said, eh let me check from other end of table, and then said, yes, free ball and ronnie seemed a bit p!ssed off with him

Rows Grower

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

It was bizarre, he took one red out of the pocket and lined it up, then a second one, then said not a free ball, ronnie crouched and looked down the line of the shot, then jan said, eh let me check from other end of table, and then said, yes, free ball and ronnie seemed a bit p!ssed off with him

That's what I thought I saw alright, can't be easy for a ref in that situation I suppose especially after the sportsmanship Williams displayed by calling a foul on himself shortly beforehand.

All things considered I'd say Ronnie was right though, nobody has ever had an eye for a ball like he has.

Deebles McBeebles

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

It was bizarre, he took one red out of the pocket and lined it up, then a second one, then said not a free ball, ronnie crouched and looked down the line of the shot, then jan said, eh let me check from other end of table, and then said, yes, free ball and ronnie seemed a bit p!ssed off with him

He looked like he was happy with the original call alright. Probably didn't want the free ball so soon after Williams show of sportsmanship by calling his own foul just before.

Stevieluvsye

Deebles McBeebles wrote: »

He looked like he was happy with the original call alright. Probably didn't want the free ball so soon after Williams show of sportsmanship by calling his own foul just before.

100%, i said the exact same thing at the time. He looked seriously annoyed at the ref. Mark is a proper gent also

chrissb8

Offended by the interview? I mean, there are so many examples of trashtalking in sports. It's an arena of competitiveness if anything a true sportsman would galvanise themselves and use Ronnie' speech as motivation.

In essence, it should be seen as him calling out the younger generation. Ronnie owes nothing as a competitor, all of a sudden people are saying he's a spokesperson for the sport? Ronnie O'Sullivan has been nothing but blunt throughout his career, soft touches would only take offence ovet the interview. It's up to the younger generation to lead themselves and more importantly, surpass the previous generation.

Do you think any top sportsman who's worth his salt cares what his competition thinks of him? No, they just use at as fuel as Ronnie's contemporaties should be. He's basically saying "I'm the bar, I know I am the best, I don't need to sugar coat and what are you gonna do about it?"

Never had a problem with s**t talking in any sport. It's a realm where performance only matters, not your f*****g feelings. If you don't have the mental fortitude for that, than tough, that's what it takes.

Rothko

chrissb8 wrote: »

Offended by the interview? I mean, there are so many examples of trashtalking in sports. It's an arena of competitiveness if anything a true sportsman would galvanise themselves and use Ronnie' speech as motivation.

In essence, it should be seen as him calling out the younger generation. Ronnie owes nothing as a competitor, all of a sudden people are saying he's a spokesperson for the sport? Ronnie O'Sullivan has been nothing but blunt throughout his career, soft touches would only take offence ovet the interview. It's up to the younger generation to lead themselves and more importantly, surpass the previous generation.

Do you think any top sportsman who's worth his salt cares what his competition thinks of him? No, they just use at as fuel as Ronnie's contemporaties should be. He's basically saying "I'm the bar, I know I am the best, I don't need to sugar coat and what are you gonna do about it?"

Never had a problem with s**t talking in any sport. It's a realm where performance only matters, not your f*****g feelings. If you don't have the mental fortitude for that, than tough, that's what it takes.

Nobody has been "offended" by it.

joeguevara

Rothko wrote: »

Nobody has been "offended" by it.

Nobody here is offended by it but there are plenty of people exclaiming mock offence on TV. Ken Doherty being front and centre of it.

Stevieluvsye

joeguevara wrote: »

Nobody here is offended by it but there are plenty of people exclaiming mock offence on TV. Ken Doherty being front and centre of it.

I like Ken, i nearly beat him in a flyer wit a +40 handicap start but he sounded like a <<snip>> with his comments

joeguevara

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

I like Ken, i nearly beat him in a flyer wit a +40 handicap start but he sounded like a <<snip>> with his comments

Jaysus thats some going. Would have been a great scalp. I think '<<snip>>' might be a bit too far, but definitely came across a bit sad.

Rows Grower

Hereah Ken is only trying his best to be an ambassador for the sport and portray a good image and he can't be blamed for that.

Some of the commentary in the other afternoon game yesterday was cringey in all fairness, the match itself sleep inducing and the commentators are walking on egg shells trying not only to not offend the skill levels of players after bad shots but trying to make the match sound a lot more exciting than it is.

I have great time for Ken, he's a proper gentleman in real life and never got carried away with himself at the height of his success.

Stevieluvsye

Rows Grower wrote: »

Hereah Ken is only trying his best to be an ambassador for the sport and portray a good image and he can't be blamed for that.

Some of the commentary in the other afternoon game yesterday was cringey in all fairness, the match itself sleep inducing and the commentators are walking on egg shells trying not only to not offend the skill levels of players after bad shots but trying to make the match sound a lot more exciting than it is.

I have great time for Ken, he's a proper gentleman in real life and never got carried away with himself at the height of his success.

Feargal is another lovely chap. He actually practises with Murphy who's wife is from Lucan i think

ThewhiteJesus

Anyone ever play Eamon Dunphy's son, he's a great player or at least was 10 or 15 years ago when i played him,
should of been a pro

Stevieluvsye

ThewhiteJesus wrote: »

Anyone ever play Eamon Dunphy's son, he's a great player or at least was 10 or 15 years ago when i played him,
should of been a pro

Did he play out of Jason's?

ThewhiteJesus

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

Did he play out of Jason's?

I'm not sure i came across him twice, once playing for my golf club snooker team, and the other time up in spawell when they used to do the weekly competitions years ago

Joe_ Public

ThewhiteJesus wrote: »

Anyone ever play Eamon Dunphy's son, he's a great player or at least was 10 or 15 years ago when i played him,
should of been a pro

I think you mean nephew, went to England with a truckload of other irish lads to try his luck in the pro game for a few years in the 90s. Decent player but there were a few around at the time.

ThewhiteJesus

Joe_ Public wrote: »

I think you mean nephew, went to England with a truckload of other irish lads to try his luck in the pro game for a few years in the 90s. Decent player but there were a few around at the time.

you could be right a peter ebdon type looks wise ?

Joe_ Public

ThewhiteJesus wrote: »

you could be right a peter ebdon type looks wise ?

No, i could well be wrong!! I had nephew in my head but it could actually be son. I did see Tim play a few times back in the day but no idea what he looks like nowadays. Those days anyone could literally turn pro, you just paid a fee and turned up in Blackpool and spent the summer playing qualifiers. Thats where ronnie himself started out.

ThewhiteJesus

yes different days sure i played three or four times a week back then,
we used to play in rathfarnham snooker hall alot, jesus the stories of that place !!

joeguevara

Rows Grower wrote: »

Hereah Ken is only trying his best to be an ambassador for the sport and portray a good image and he can't be blamed for that.

Some of the commentary in the other afternoon game yesterday was cringey in all fairness, the match itself sleep inducing and the commentators are walking on egg shells trying not only to not offend the skill levels of players after bad shots but trying to make the match sound a lot more exciting than it is.

I have great time for Ken, he's a proper gentleman in real life and never got carried away with himself at the height of his success.

Completely agree. Ken is a gentleman.

Joe_ Public

ThewhiteJesus wrote: »

yes different days sure i played three or four times a week back then,
we used to play in rathfarnham snooker hall alot, jesus the stories of that place !!

I was lucky, grew up near a club which was community based and which charged 50p per frame - no time limit but you'd get roasted for any ebdon style shenanigans - and loser paid. I ended up paying a lot but it was still cheap. Snooker as a commercial enterprise just doesnt seem viable anymore, sadly.

The Nal

ThewhiteJesus wrote: »

yes different days sure i played three or four times a week back then,
we used to play in rathfarnham snooker hall alot, jesus the stories of that place !!

Used to play there myself. Two stories stand out.

1. A proper fight involving two lads, running around and across tables, punching each other, wrestling on the floor, picking up balls off tables and chucking them across the hall. Both kicked out and arrested.

2. 5 oul fellas, regulars. One lad collapsed on the floor, semi conscious when the ambulance arrived. He was put in the ambulance and taken away and the remaining lads racked the balls up for another frame!

Mad_maxx

Joe_ Public wrote: »

I think you mean nephew, went to England with a truckload of other irish lads to try his luck in the pro game for a few years in the 90s. Decent player but there were a few around at the time.

Young guy from around kells in meath was a promising talent around the mid to late nineties

Name escapes me ?

Mad_maxx

joeguevara wrote: »

Completely agree. Ken is a gentleman.

he had perhaps the best all round game of any player for about five or six year's

Temperament of a Buddhist monk

Stevieluvsye

Mad_maxx wrote: »

he had perhaps the best all round game of any player for about five or six year's

Temperament of a Buddhist monk

John Higgins would have been the best in that time IMO

joeguevara

Mad_maxx wrote: »

he had perhaps the best all round game of any player for about five or six year's

Temperament of a Buddhist monk

Nearly threw the remote at the telly when he missed that black for the 147 break for the honda sports car (nearly sure it was the black but could have been pink).

Joe_ Public

Mad_maxx wrote: »

Young guy from around kells in meath was a promising talent around the mid to late nineties

Name escapes me ?

Possibly Colm Gilcreest? Think he was from around those parts, not certain.

joeguevara

One of the worst things i have seen in a snooker interview (and for the life of me i cant remember who said it but was one of the players at the time when asked about stephen hendry) and he replied 'don't mind him, his face comes with free garlic bread.' Terrible but as a young teen I thought it was hilarious.

Joe_ Public

Mad_maxx wrote: »

he had perhaps the best all round game of any player for about five or six year's

Temperament of a Buddhist monk

Forgotten how good ken was sometimes i think. For a decade he was just on the cusp of the very top bracket and that bracket was Ronnie, MJW, Higgins, Hendry at or close to their peak with Davis still a force and a host of other tough matchplayers kicking at their heels. From around 96/97 to 04/05 is probably the games golden age in terms of competitiveness imo and ken was there in the thick of it. 2003 would have been the most epic world title ever won but it just got away from him. Dont know if he ever truly recovered from it.

ThewhiteJesus

The Nal wrote: »

Used to play there myself. Two stories stand out.

1. A proper fight involving two lads, running around and across tables, punching each other, wrestling on the floor, picking up balls off tables and chucking them across the hall. Both kicked out and arrested.

2. 5 oul fellas, regulars. One lad collapsed on the floor, semi conscious when the ambulance arrived. He was put in the ambulance and taken away and the remaining lads racked the balls up for another frame!

haha and do you remember the clouds of hash and grass smoke in the place !!
the guy at the desk was nicknamed as mole on the arm locally !!!

ArnoldJRimmer

joeguevara wrote: »

Nobody here is offended by it but there are plenty of people exclaiming mock offence on TV. Ken Doherty being front and centre of it.

Why exactly do you think its 'mock offence?'

Ken clearly loves the game, gives an honest assessment of what he sees, and is an absolute gentleman. Is that inconceivable that he could have been genuinely p!ssed off at what were really ignorant comments by Ronnie?

joeguevara

ArnoldJRimmer wrote: »

Why exactly do you think its 'mock offence?'

Ken clearly loves the game, gives an honest assessment of what he sees, and is an absolute gentleman. Is that inconceivable that he could have been genuinely p!ssed off at what were really ignorant comments by Ronnie?

Maybe the appropriate word isn't mock offence. I just didn't think it should have been given the oxygen that it has. Plenty of other things to be offended about in snooker rather than Ronnie running his mouth off.

ArnoldJRimmer

joeguevara wrote: »

Maybe the appropriate word isn't mock offence. I just didn't think it should have been given the oxygen that it has. Plenty of other things to be offended about in snooker rather than Ronnie running his mouth off.

Well like everything these days, there are some who are going to go over the top with their reactions to it, but I wouldn't put Ken in that bracket. I've seen it myself with friends who will take every opportunity to stick the boot into Ronnie. But as the most high profile player by a million miles in a sport short on lets say, characters, a controversial statement like that is gonna get a lot of responses.

Now lets just hope he goes out and wins the thing, its about time he added another World to his collection. Selby is a pain in the hole to play against though

joeguevara

ArnoldJRimmer wrote: »

Well like everything these days, there are some who are going to go over the top with their reactions to it, but I wouldn't put Ken in that bracket. I've seen it myself with friends who will take every opportunity to stick the boot into Ronnie. But as the most high profile player by a million miles in a sport short on lets say, characters, a controversial statement like that is gonna get a lot of responses.

Now lets just hope he goes out and wins the thing, its about time he added another World to his collection. Selby is a pain in the hole to play against though

I completely agree. Absolutely love Ken. Gentleman of the highest order. Also the episode of anonymous that he was in was hilarious.

Augme

Funnily enough the only people I get the impression who are offended and actually upset are the people who are offended and upset about people saying they felt Ronnie's comments were disrespectful. The Ronnie fan boys as it were.

I think Ronnie is great, however I also thought his comments were disrespectful. That's doesn't mean I was offended by them though.

joeguevara

Augme wrote: »

Funnily enough the only people I get the impression who are offended and actually upset are the people who are offended and upset about people saying they felt Ronnie's comments were disrespectful. The Ronnie fan boys as it were.

I think Ronnie is great, however I also thought his comments were disrespectful. That's doesn't mean I was offended by them though.

I think this sums it up very well.

Muahahaha

whats peoples highest breaks from when they were playing? Mine was 31 so there was no danger of me ever hitting the pro circuit.

Anyone here ever come near to a century break? Saw a guy do one in that snooker club near the bridge in Celbridge years back, cant remember the name of the club. I might be wrong here but I could have sworn there was a certificate on the walls of that club saying someone had done a 147. Was only ever in it a couple of times so not sure but it was definitely a certificate with some score above 100 anyway.

Stevieluvsye

Muahahaha wrote: »

whats peoples highest breaks from when they were playing? Mine was 31 so there was no danger of me ever hitting the pro circuit.

Anyone here ever come near to a century break? Saw a guy do one in that snooker club near the bridge in Celbridge years back, cant remember the name of the club. I might be wrong here but I could have sworn there was a certificate on the walls of that club saying someone had done a 147. Was only ever in it a couple of times so not sure but it was definitely a certificate with some score above 100 anyway.

One 80 odd and a few 70's and 60's. One of the lads on Belgards Div 1 team missed a black for a 147.

Celbridge had some fine players so you may be right on that

Rothko

Augme wrote: »

Funnily enough the only people I get the impression who are offended and actually upset are the people who are offended and upset about people saying they felt Ronnie's comments were disrespectful. The Ronnie fan boys as it were.

I think Ronnie is great, however I also thought his comments were disrespectful. That's doesn't mean I was offended by them though.

Exactly. Just because someone is unhappy or complains about something doesn't mean that they're "offended". A lot of people don't seem to be able to grasp that concept.

Mad_maxx

Joe_ Public wrote: »

Possibly Colm Gilcreest? Think he was from around those parts, not certain.

Presume he gave it up ?, haven't heard much about him in years

Mad_maxx

Stevieluvsye wrote: »

John Higgins would have been the best in that time IMO

Higgins was certainly a superior player but Doherty was good enough to win two World titles, he reached three finals, he was a tad lazy - too laid back, when he was up for it ,his all round game was superbly balanced

Joe_ Public

Mad_maxx wrote: »

Presume he gave it up ?, haven't heard much about him in years

Still knocking around on the amateur circuit as of fairly recently anyway. Not sure what club he is now though.

Joe_ Public

Mad_maxx wrote: »

Higgins was certainly a superior player but Doherty was good enough to win two World titles, he reached three finals, he was a tad lazy - too laid back, when he was up for it ,his all round game was superbly balanced

Agree but more laid back than lazy. Maybe not as ruthless as the likes of a higgins or a hendry, but definitely not lazy i would say. Guys back then mostly worked their asses off in practice, I'm not sure their peers today are so routinely diligent or battle hardened.

mickdw

Muahahaha wrote: »

whats peoples highest breaks from when they were playing? Mine was 31 so there was no danger of me ever hitting the pro circuit.

Anyone here ever come near to a century break? Saw a guy do one in that snooker club near the bridge in Celbridge years back, cant remember the name of the club. I might be wrong here but I could have sworn there was a certificate on the walls of that club saying someone had done a 147. Was only ever in it a couple of times so not sure but it was definitely a certificate with some score above 100 anyway.

68 is mine. Dont play so much now. Would like to install a home table at some stage and see what i could get.
Problem is I start to take the wrong shot as i near my existing highest all out of fear of missing and then quickly get into trouble.

The Nal

ThewhiteJesus wrote: »

haha and do you remember the clouds of hash and grass smoke in the place !!
the guy at the desk was nicknamed as mole on the arm locally !!!

Ha yeah I do. I actually bought my cue from him in the early 00s. Still have it. Left my old cue behind (really really stupidly), went back 20 mins later and it was gone. :mad:

joeguevara

Muahahaha wrote: »

whats peoples highest breaks from when they were playing? Mine was 31 so there was no danger of me ever hitting the pro circuit.

Anyone here ever come near to a century break? Saw a guy do one in that snooker club near the bridge in Celbridge years back, cant remember the name of the club. I might be wrong here but I could have sworn there was a certificate on the walls of that club saying someone had done a 147. Was only ever in it a couple of times so not sure but it was definitely a certificate with some score above 100 anyway.

Mine would be somewhat similar. My cousin was from Leixlip and used to take me to Celbridge when I was a kid. Growing up in Tipp, I used to play as a kid to young teenager in Alfie Clarkes snooker hall. Also, my dad was a member of the golf club and he used to leave me play on the snooker table there while he played 18. Our neighbour also had a full sized table.

But I really grew up on playing pool. In our pub at one stage we had anywhere from 5-10 tables and were one of the first pubs ever to have all black clothes and one table was UV (regularly had the balls stolen). I refused to allow red/yellows on the table, had to be spots and stripes.

DelBoy Trotter

Muahahaha wrote: »

whats peoples highest breaks from when they were playing? Mine was 31 so there was no danger of me ever hitting the pro circuit.

Anyone here ever come near to a century break? Saw a guy do one in that snooker club near the bridge in Celbridge years back, cant remember the name of the club. I might be wrong here but I could have sworn there was a certificate on the walls of that club saying someone had done a 147. Was only ever in it a couple of times so not sure but it was definitely a certificate with some score above 100 anyway.

My highest break was 60 odd, but that was a once off, back when I played a good bit of snooker. I could fairly consistently get breaks of 25-35 though, which was good enough to beat most of the lads I used to play

joeguevara

Loved Ronnies analogy 'it was like going into the US open with only a 3 iron in my bag'. Although winning the 1/4s it was error strewn albeit with some hefty breaks. Selby on the other hand has been grinding it out but hasn't had a century break all tournament as far as Im aware. What do people think of how it will go?

Rothko

joeguevara wrote: »

Mine would be somewhat similar. My cousin was from Leixlip and used to take me to Celbridge when I was a kid. Growing up in Tipp, I used to play as a kid to young teenager in Alfie Clarkes snooker hall. Also, my dad was a member of the golf club and he used to leave me play on the snooker table there while he played 18. Our neighbour also had a full sized table.

But I really grew up on playing pool. In our pub at one stage we had anywhere from 5-10 tables and were one of the first pubs ever to have all black clothes and one table was UV (regularly had the balls stolen). I refused to allow red/yellows on the table, had to be spots and stripes.

Why don't you like reds and yellows?

joeguevara

Rothko wrote: »

Why don't you like reds and yellows?

I really dont know. I always loved spots and stripes and probably what I saw on TV as a young lad watching pool films. We had a pool table in the house when i was young and it was reds and yellows and I always wanted spots and stripes.

Rothko

joeguevara wrote: »

I really dont know. I always loved spots and stripes and probably what I saw on TV as a young lad watching pool films. We had a pool table in the house when i was young and it was reds and yellows and I always wanted spots and stripes.

Ah, ok. I have to say I've always felt the opposite :P