2024 Masters - Jan 7th to Jan 14th - BBC/Eurosport

Ali ready to take Ronnie into the UFC ring after that speech LOL

Well done Ronnie. This will keep the miserable arseholes quiet for another while.

Bit of a flat conclusion to this final, I thought it was going to be a bit closer than 10 - 7.

It's weird he is dying for someone to take the top spot permanently. Because he is so good he feels he has to keep going, because the fans demand it. It is obviously wearing him out, he sounded knackered and still won.

As my daughter said to me earlier 'you could play this sport until retirement age' and she is right. Quite unique when you think about it. Snooker needs a Luke Littler to inject a bit of life from the youth.

Ray Reardon made a century recently at 91.

Doing it day after day, over long sessions for hours and hours is another matter though.

Those interviews were some of the clearest and more honest you'd see from Ronnie. He was talking almost like he is doing punditry for Eurosport.

He says he will take two months off after the ITV event next week. I understand what he is saying about the intensity and this approach works best for him.

I'd wonder if Higgins in particular, and Willo too should cut back a bit more now, and see how that works out for them.

There are a lot of tournaments now

Interesting that Hendry in commentary said Ronnie likes getting people into the last few frames to see if they have what it takes and then Ronnie left a red for Carter. Which he missed.

Then Ronnie in the Eurosport studio after said the eact same thing and how he loves to see players collapse under the pressure. A killer.

I kind of thought the same that Ronnie was going to let Carter go a few frames up where he can see the finishing line and then reel him in during the evening session and he said as much on Eurosport. Cruel but no love lost between Ali and Ronnie

Ronnie also said he will take most of the next two months off to recharge after this week's tournament World Grand Prix which btw is on ITV4 tonight

Standard was very hit and miss. I think the front part of the season is so loaded these days - From late August theres basically a tournament every week - that players are tired by the new year.

Throw in Nepal or whatever in between and its not surprising Ronnie wants some time off. Carter is playing tonight!

Did he say he'd be back for the Welsh? He scheduled to play tomorrow.

W

Wonder with the two month thing if he wants to have a decent tournament before the worlds? Maybe the plan is to do the Grand Prix now to try ensure he has a top 8 spot on the one years without doing the Players, Welsh Open, etc and then he can do the Tour Championship in early April as a warm up. He is currently No. 2 on one year.

Have heard him say before it is a top competition and timed well to be a good warm up for Sheffield.

Attention all pockets from Ron so. Id say he cant wait to get out of there