Welsh Open 2016 - Discussion

[itsnoteasy]

I have a rules question about that situation. If Ronnie had been allowed to play for a baulk colour for the third time and missed ,while clearly being able to see the black but the ref had issued no warning,then after playing it and missing Ronnie realises the situation, should he call a foul on himself (Is it like touching a ball where the ref hadn't noticed but the player has, so calls the foul) therefore losing the game?

[SnookerFan]

I suspected that's what was meant, but the "everyone talks about it" bit threw me off, since I don't remember anyone ever mentioning that incident as an example of good or bad sportsmanship. :smile:

Of course sportsmanship doesn't even come into it, Robertson was perfectly entitled to point it out.

If anything, we should be criticising the referee, not the players.

[narl]

What frame was the 3 miss thing in? 8th frame, just seen it.

[gavpowell]

I have a rules question about that situation. If Ronnie had been allowed to play for a baulk colour for the third time and missed ,while clearly being able to see the black but the ref had issued no warning,then after playing it and missing Ronnie realises the situation, should he call a foul on himself (Is it like touching a ball where the ref hadn't noticed but the player has, so calls the foul) therefore losing the game?

We had this rule questioned in a recent thread, and those who know said if no warning is given before the third attempt, the concession doesn't apply.

[itsnoteasy]

We had this rule questioned in a recent thread, and those who know said if no warning is given before the third attempt, the concession doesn't apply.

Thanks Gav, I must have missed that. A bit of a strange one then ,that you can call a foul shot on yourself in any other situation if the ref hasn't noticed ,but not in this one.

[cueman]

Isn't this a bit embarrassing for the rest of the field. A guy that hasn't played for much of the season has managed to win the last two big tournaments, today using his B- game. Its a bit like the mens tennis field. You have Murray, Joker, Fed and Nedal, there are no up and coming players from the new generation that seem to be able to complete with those four (ok Nedal is a bit **** nowadays). Players from Ronnie's generation can't compete with him (Higgins, Ebdon, Williams), players from the generation after that cant complete with him either (Robertson, Selby, Maguire, Murphy) and the new generation appear no better (Judd, Ding, Allen).

I don't know about embarrassing as Ronnie is without doubt the best player of all time and probably ever will be. As others have mentioned he has the right mentality in the way he approaches these events now.

He said during the event and it was noticeable apart from the final, he was playing matches as though it was a practice session. That puts zero pressure on you to perform because it doesn't matter if you win or lose. Its a unique situation, almost exclusive only to Ronnie to be able to do this. He knows he is earning great money doing exhibitions and also enjoying that side of it, its like he has decided that the exhibitions are where he earns his money and the professional game is practice for the exhibitions.

The question is, will he be able to approach the World Championships with the same mindset? Personally, I think he has realised something this week and will try and replicate the same approach at Sheffield. However the longer matches and the fact that everyone raises their game for that, I think he will find more players looking to frustrate him and maybe it won't work.

Maybe its time the other players took a leaf out of Ronnie's book. More and more sports psychologists are involved with the top sports people and teams, maybe a few of the other players need to get a mental coach onside to help them to maximise their potential. The only real difference between Ronnie and Robertson yesterday was Ronnie wasn't too bothered about winning, Robertson was and it was the pressure he put on himself that made him fail to perform. That can only be addressed by a sports psychologist because that scar will remain with Robertson and he needs someone to help get rid of it.

[gavpowell]

Thanks Gav, I must have missed that. A bit of a strange one then ,that you can call a foul shot on yourself in any other situation if the ref hasn't noticed ,but not in this one.

Well there's a difference between calling a foul that may not have been spotted and enforcing a particular rule, I suppose.

[Bigmeek]

We had this rule questioned in a recent thread, and those who know said if no warning is given before the third attempt, the concession doesn't apply.

I think that's right. There's a rule which says that the player is not to blame for any fault of the refs. In this situation the ref was supposed to warn Ronnie of the 3 miss rule and it looked like he wasn't going to till Robbo intervened. It was an interesting situation.
One other question from me would be in a normal game in the club. If you see your opponent about to commit a foul, say by nominating blue and clearly aiming for black, what do you do? Keep quiet or question it? I tend to say nothing and let them carry on then claim a foul. Is that being unsporting? Got me thinking I'm not a nice person lol.

[jono*]

Thought about not being under pressure to cross the winning line, in both the latest welsh open finals which Ronnie won were with 140+ breaks

[tomwalker147]

I think that's right. There's a rule which says the the player is not to blame for any fault of the refs

This miss rule needs settling once and for all, it keeps cropping up doesn't it. As far as the above goes do you mean with respect to the miss rule only? I'm sure that if the ref forgets to respot a ball and a player takes his next shot the player will still be penalised despite the referee's error.

[gavpowell]

Regarding O'Sullivan and Higgins continuing to win titles into their 40s, it's not like they're falling over the lines is it? They're knocking in the same breaks they always have, playing the same safety they always have and in O'Sullivan's case added a mental strength and an improved long game.

No cause for red faces, just an appreciation of someone at the very top of their sport.

After all, if you're a mile in front of everyone else and you lose a step, that still leaves you the best part of a mile in front

[Bigmeek]

This miss rule needs settling once and for all, it keeps cropping up doesn't it. As far as the above goes do you mean with respect to the miss rule only? I'm sure that if the ref forgets to respot a ball and a player takes his next shot the player will still be penalised despite the referee's error.

Don't think that's correct Tom. I think the rule was changed a while ago. Probably need Dean to comment on this. Pretty sure that if the ref incorrectly spots a ball, ie, yellow on green, it's not a foul. Not sure about not spotting the ball at all tho.

[tomwalker147]

Don't think that's correct Tom. I think the rule was changed a while ago. Probably need Dean to comment on this. Pretty sure that if the ref incorrectly spots a ball, ie, yellow on green, it's not a foul. Not sure about not spotting the ball at all tho.

Ok mate, i'm not big into the rules but the above cropped up last week. My boss called me to ask what should be done as his mate didn't re-spot the pink at all and my boss continued his break. I believed it to technically be a foul but advised him i'd never call that on a mate in practice.

[Bigmeek]

Ok mate, i'm not big into the rules but the above cropped up last week. My boss called me to ask what should be done as his mate didn't re-spot the pink at all and my boss continued his break. I believed it to technically be a foul but advised him i'd never call that on a mate in practice.

I like to think I'm not bad on rules but get caught out from time to time. Need Dean on this one!
Another favourite of mine is:-
Player A pots the last red followed by the yellow. Ref (or player B) forgets to re-spot the yellow and player A carries on and pots the green. Foul? What happens?

[zombieman]

Section 3, Rule 7

Spotting Colours

(a) A player shall not be held responsible for any mistake by the referee in
failing to spot correctly any ball.
(c) If a stroke is made with a ball or balls not correctly spotted, they will be
considered to be correctly spotted for subsequent strokes. Any colour
incorrectly missing from the table will be spotted:
(i) without penalty when discovered if missing due to previous
oversight;
(ii) subject to penalty if the striker played before the referee was able to
effect the spotting