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The Reanne/Allen match has left a real sour taste. I've never been a fan of Allen, I find his temperament, past comments about Chinese players cheating and his technique to be aesthetically horrible to watch, but last night I felt sorry for him.
I've met Reanne a number of times and she's a nice, down to earth woman but in terms of snooker I don't think last night did the women's game, men's game or World snooker as a whole any favours.
It was such a shame that the best women's player of all time (apart from Alison fisher in my opinion) and a masters winner couldn't let snooker be the main narrative. Instead we were hit with the narrative about an ex couple going through the courts. That coupled with yobbish 'fans' who're clearly not real snooker people or haven't a clue about etiquette of spectating a match, made it a horrible watch in my opinion. If it's being settled in court then that's where it will be settled, no need for a man doing his work to not be able to do his job properly.
Back to the Snooker.....
I was really pleased to see Allen hold it together in the final frame, he looked uncomfortable & awkward throughout the match and I don't think he deserved that. I think this is the latest in a string of matches where Reanne has missed an opportunity. The result may have been close BUT better players have a habit of getting over the line in matches, it isn't luck. It looked to me like a very good club player having a go against an off form pro. It also reminded me of matches where i've been convinced i've had the upper hand on the verge of winning against a player better than me only to end up disappointed. Sadly I think this will be a recurring theme for Reanne this year, but at 35 what can we expect? It'll still be an achievement if she plays OK and inspires more girls to take up the game and raise the level within women's snooker.
I've met Reanne a number of times and she's a nice, down to earth woman but in terms of snooker I don't think last night did the women's game, men's game or World snooker as a whole any favours.
It was such a shame that the best women's player of all time (apart from Alison fisher in my opinion) and a masters winner couldn't let snooker be the main narrative. Instead we were hit with the narrative about an ex couple going through the courts. That coupled with yobbish 'fans' who're clearly not real snooker people or haven't a clue about etiquette of spectating a match, made it a horrible watch in my opinion. If it's being settled in court then that's where it will be settled, no need for a man doing his work to not be able to do his job properly.
Back to the Snooker.....
I was really pleased to see Allen hold it together in the final frame, he looked uncomfortable & awkward throughout the match and I don't think he deserved that. I think this is the latest in a string of matches where Reanne has missed an opportunity. The result may have been close BUT better players have a habit of getting over the line in matches, it isn't luck. It looked to me like a very good club player having a go against an off form pro. It also reminded me of matches where i've been convinced i've had the upper hand on the verge of winning against a player better than me only to end up disappointed. Sadly I think this will be a recurring theme for Reanne this year, but at 35 what can we expect? It'll still be an achievement if she plays OK and inspires more girls to take up the game and raise the level within women's snooker.
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