2016 UK Championship

[VillaGuy]

Your joking tennis in the U.K. is booming on the back of him. You don't have to be a flash git with a big car to impress folk , he does it by his achievements, sure he's boring but what he does speaks volumes.

I don't like him personally, but got to agree with you. Perhaps the only british player I dislike, gutted when he beat Djokovic at the O2

[the lone wolf]

You're bang on the money there jonny66. Snooker is glamorous as a lifestyle for most of the people on tour, more glamorous than 90% of footballers from the like of Wigan, Sheffield United etc who play in one country only. I like Sofia that has had tournaments a few times, it's a proper up and coming city with many smart developments taking place. Snooker needs to spread its wings and capitalise on other areas for the glamour and incentives to new players as much as anything.

I'm surprised Monte Carlo has never featured on the snooker calendar...
Steeped in history, the French love their billiards, cosmopolitan with many bored millionaires with nothing better to do than watch a high profile events.

[itsnoteasy]

I agree. No disrespect to Chris Small, but he's not a household name and probably 99.99% of young people in this country wouldn't know who he is. Compared to ROS, who is probably a recognised sports person to at least 1/3 of young people in this country.

Not a chance is O'Sullivan known by 1/3 of folk young old or in the middle. if you took a picture of him into a primary school and asked who is this, I doubt it would be one in ten who could tell you.

[VillaGuy]

Not a chance is O'Sullivan known by 1/3 of folk young old or in the middle. if you took a picture of him into a primary school and asked who is this, I doubt it would be one in ten who could tell you.

I'd have thought more than 50% of the general population know who he is, surely? Probably one of the most recognisable sports stars in the country

[DeanH]

You're bang on the money there jonny66. Snooker is glamorous as a lifestyle for most of the people on tour, more glamorous than 90% of footballers from the like of Wigan, Sheffield United etc who play in one country only. I like Sofia that has had tournaments a few times, it's a proper up and coming city with many smart developments taking place. Snooker needs to spread its wings and capitalise on other areas for the glamour and incentives to new players as much as anything.

I'm surprised Monte Carlo has never featured on the snooker calendar...
Steeped in history, the French love their billiards, cosmopolitan with many bored millionaires with nothing better to do than watch a high profile events.

There was a match played in Monte Carlo back in the 80s and the Prince was in attendance but something went wrong and snooker never returned
I'll try to find the article.

[VillaGuy]

There was a match played in Monte Carlo back in the 80s and the Prince was in attendance but something went wrong and snooker never returned
I'll try to find the article.

What went wrong?

[the lone wolf]

Not a chance is O'Sullivan known by 1/3 of folk young old or in the middle. if you took a picture of him into a primary school and asked who is this, I doubt it would be one in ten who could tell you.

It was a guess at best. Point being, more people young and old would recognise ROS to Chris Small... :snooker:

[itsnoteasy]

It was a guess at best. Point being, more people young and old would recognise ROS to Chris Small... :snooker:

Oh yes ,of that there is no doubt, I think it can be a generational thing, unless you are outstanding in your sport, you can soon be forgotten by the casual watcher, those into it will always remember, but the general public , maybe just a few years, then the next generation it will plummet.

[the lone wolf]

There was a match played in Monte Carlo back in the 80s and the Prince was in attendance but something went wrong and snooker never returned
I'll try to find the article.

Thanks Dean

[VillaGuy]

Are the quarters best of 11, getting info from the world snooker website is like getting blood from a stone, horrible navigation.

[Ronnington]

Great to see Matthew Stevens on the main stage again. Where has he been for the last 10 years?

When I was growing up he was reaching Semis and Finals on a regular basis. What happened?

[jonny66]

I think he was a good pal of Paul Hunter's, he kind of went off the boil after he died.

[VillaGuy]

The death of his father prematurely didn't help either

[Ronnington]

Aw okay, I read he was very close to Paul Hunter and was one of the people carrying his coffin at the funeral very sad.

Quality, quality player with a lot of talent. only one ranking title win?! Blimey. I remember that 2000 World final with him and Mark Williams like it was yesterday. Hope Matthew can get back into the top 16 again one day

[Ramon]

Aw okay, I read he was very close to Paul Hunter and was one of the people carrying his coffin at the funeral very sad.

Quality, quality player with a lot of talent. only one ranking title win?! Blimey. I remember that 2000 World final with him and Mark Williams like it was yesterday. Hope Matthew can get back into the top 16 again one day

One of the players who I thought he's gonna win the world title atleast once. top match player.