Greatest performance in a match ever?

[ADR147]

Mike Dunn v Mark Williams in ET 3 The Ruhr Open 2015
Made me laugh after Williams came out with some guff about blaming the tables.

I will have to ask Mike about that!

[Csmith]

Hmm, I can't comment on the technical stuff, but I'm not sure you got those years right... After a brilliant 2004/2005 season, O'Sullivan surprisingly went two seasons without winning a ranking event between 2005 and 2007. In 2005/2006 he lost the Grand Prix and the Masters final to Higgins, then lost to Dott in the semi-finals of the WC, where he was whitewashed 8-0 in the third session. The following season was a little more consistent for him. He was a finalist in the Northern Ireland Trophy in the summer, losing to Ding, then reached the quarter-finals of most major events. He lost to Robertson in two of those quarter-finals (Robertson went on to win both tournaments), he lost to Higgins in the WC, to Hendry in the UK Championship, and to Dott in the semi-finals of the China Open. His biggest success of the season was winning the Masters, where he played a brilliant final against Ding, but was awful against Maguire the previous day, in one of the worst matches I can remember between two top players. He may have won the Premier League in December, but the tournament that preceded the Masters that season was the UK Championship, and of course the infamous 9-1 defeat to Hendry, when O'Sullivan conceded the match in the first session.

So, not only was O'Sullivan not "unplayable" in that period (apart from shot-clock snooker, as usual), he was actually going through a bit of a drought, as far as titles were concerned. John Higgins was clearly the man to beat, and O'Sullivan probably wasn't even his biggest rival at the time. Or were you saying that O'Sullivan's change in technique in this period was what led to his return to form in 2007/2008?

It was the 2007-2008 season Ronnie was unplayable. I even remember talk at the start of the 2008/2009 season if it was possible for him to win every ranking event in the season.

Ronnie's had quite a few changes in his cue action over the years,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eri3U_4EYiM - Ronnie at 14 - Pretty smooth cue action
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgxWd0djt5I - Ronnie in 1996
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_z5ffPup2o - his quickfire 147
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3giZvqy6AvA - 2004
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnEQbv841KA - 2008 - his backswing is now a bit slower with a smoother acceleration. I love watching his matches from this time period, best looking stroke in the game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydVsiCqxCg8 - 2016- more head movement while feathering, and doesn't consistently pause.

Just something I've noticed over the years. His stroke and technique has been constantly evolving/changing.

[LucLex3119]

It was the 2007-2008 season Ronnie was unplayable. I even remember talk at the start of the 2008/2009 season if it was possible for him to win every ranking event in the season.

Ronnie's had quite a few changes in his cue action over the years,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eri3U_4EYiM - Ronnie at 14 - Pretty smooth cue action
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rgxWd0djt5I - Ronnie in 1996
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_z5ffPup2o - his quickfire 147
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3giZvqy6AvA - 2004
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnEQbv841KA - 2008 - his backswing is now a bit slower with a smoother acceleration. I love watching his matches from this time period, best looking stroke in the game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydVsiCqxCg8 - 2016- more head movement while feathering, and doesn't consistently pause.

Just something I've noticed over the years. His stroke and technique has been constantly evolving/changing.

That 128 in 1996 shows what a genius he is

[Csmith]

That 128 in 1996 shows what a genius he is

One of my all time favorite breaks. I always smile at that last blue.

[ADR147]

That 128 in 1996 shows what a genius he is

I actually think his positional play and break building is better now.

[strike101]

I actually think his positional play and break building is better now.

by far. he definitely matured

[mikeyd100]

That 128 in 1996 shows what a genius he is

Deary me he was in a hurry that night eh haha

[Masterdoctorgenius]

Yes that was Higgins in top form and deep down when trump missed than blue we all though he was in trouble!

higgins was shiittt the whole tournament. ronnie led 8-5 and couldnt take a lead into the 3rd session. MJW led 6-2 and 9-5 and lost so many frames on the black. think the UK loss that season was back in his mind. and trump choked immensely in the final. higgo was everything but in top form

[armstm]

higgins was shiittt the whole tournament. ronnie led 8-5 and couldnt take a lead into the 3rd session. MJW led 6-2 and 9-5 and lost so many frames on the black. think the UK loss that season was back in his mind. and trump choked immensely in the final. higgo was everything but in top form

I'd like to see his stats for that tournaments but I'd tentatively have to disagree with you on that point. I watched the Ronnie match and Higgins was awesome in that match and forced Ronnie to start making mistakes (especially in the last session). I watched the final and Judd played incredible and only missed 2-3 easy balls all match (e.g. the blue was not an easy blue. the pink in the last frame really was a sitter but Higgins did well to clear up to the final red). Higgins was a beast in that tournament would be my view but I'd like to see the stats one way or another.