2017 UK Championship

[Hey]

Yes his play is consistent, many of the games are the same waiting for his opponent to make an error or doing a high break

[DeanH]

I guess it depends on when you time it from though, surely? When he hits his first shot or when he comes to the table.

his turn is when all balls stop, the opponent leaves the table, etc.
the break starts when he hits the cue ball the first time.
The break stops when the cue ball comes to rest after the black has been potted. (this is the tricky bit as the camera follows ROS but it can be imagined - I personally have it as 5:09 but Snooker Scene posts 5:08
I have no idea where 5:20 comes from because ROS's turn is around 5:16, maybe an over-enthusiastic BBC timer?

[vjmehra]

Yes his play is consistent, many of the games are the same waiting for his opponent to make an error or doing a high break

Many yes. All no.

His fluency (and he is the first person to say this in basically every interview) is simply not there at the moment.

He has matches, even a few in a row where he can turn it on, but it rarely lasts for a whole tournament these days.

He has to grind out a lot more results now than previously.

There's nothing wrong with that at all and he's probably the man to beat this season and he has been fairly decent by most people's standards.

But by his standards I'd argue he hasn't really been consistently brilliant.

[VillaGuy]

The 147 time has been beaten by an amateur but not in a competitive setting, it's on YouTube, it hardly counts though

[DeanH]

The 147 time has been beaten by an amateur but not in a competitive setting, it's on YouTube, it hardly counts though

I am sure many have done max's quicker but, as you say, not in a official sanctioned event (pro or am)

[Hey]

Many yes. All no.

His fluency (and he is the first person to say this in basically every interview) is simply not there at the moment.

He has matches, even a few in a row where he can turn it on, but it rarely lasts for a whole tournament these days.

He has to grind out a lot more results now than previously.

There's nothing wrong with that at all and he's probably the man to beat this season and he has been fairly decent by most people's standards.

But by his standards I'd argue he hasn't really been consistently brilliant.

If he goes to another level it will be even worse than Selby at #1...

[VillaGuy]

I am sure many have done max's quicker but, as you say, not in a official sanctioned event (pro or am)

No where near in fact. Getting the balls set as you want them on a practice table is totally different to what he did. I'd put my life on it never being done again as long as we are alive in a competitive match

[fkhan]

Oh that’s news to me

[vjmehra]

If he goes to another level it will be even worse than Selby at #1...

I fully expect him to raise the bar for brief periods (such as the English Open final where he was untouchable) and I think its plausible he finishes the season as the World Number 1 too.

However I simply don't believe he has the capacity to play consistently at his highest level.

His A game is simply above everyone else's, but he doesn't win every tournament which goes to show he's not perfect.

He's the man to beat and I for one would love him to win the World Championships so that he can have a crack at equalling Hendry's record!

But because his A game is such a high standard it is far harder perhaps for him to be as consistent as other players.

[sealer]

If he can bang 500k for the worlds all the talk about Selby being light years in front just goes to pot.

[VillaGuy]

Oh that’s news to me

Yeah on YouTube there's a 4 minute maximum, but in practice

[VillaGuy]

If he can bang 500k for the worlds all the talk about Selby being light years in front just goes to pot.

Is th worlds 500k this year?

[two-cues]

I dread the day ronnie retires. I won't be watching with boring selby

You won't be alone, the lads at work who don't really follow snooker say they watch it only when Ronnie is playing - TV audiences will plummet when he's had enough.

[Hey]

You won't be alone, the lads at work who don't really follow snooker say they watch it only when Ronnie is playing - TV audiences will plummet when he's had enough.

Lots of people talk this nonsense, its starry-eyed fanboys

[VillaGuy]

You won't be alone, the lads at work who don't really follow snooker say they watch it only when Ronnie is playing - TV audiences will plummet when he's had enough.

Let's hope the Chinese audience make up for it, Barry Hearn say's that snooker is the only sport in the world with increased viewings, I doubt that is due to people discovering Ronnie