Lee to quit snooker?

[Kathrin]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/othe...er/7357853.stm

What do you think? Just a first reaction after the disappointment and really thinking about it later?

[imy147]

I think it's just a bit of a knee jerk reaction in the heat of the moment. We heard Mark Williams say saomething similar a few months ago. What are they supposed to do with all their time if they retire so early? He will be back. Maybe needs a Mcdonalds meal to cheer him up

[ferret]

Its just his last chance to get some publicity before the seasons end, say your gonna quit and the spotlight is on you for another 5 minutes.

[spike]

Mark King was another who said the same thing a few years back also!

[dannyd0g]

Mark King was another who said the same thing a few years back also!

I believe Dott also was on the verge of quitting at one point. I think the story goes that he leant his cue up against his car and smashed it by stamping on it.

Maybe Swail has summed it up best -

"Swail, also a former Crucible semi-finalist, added: "I think he'll change his mind, and I hope he does, but I can understand how he feels.

"I dropped from 10th to 50th in the world once and we've all felt like Stephen does. Once he goes away and wins a few qualifying matches he will come back."

[Monique]

Murphy also admitted in recent interviews he had been nursing quit thoughts before he won the WC. I suppose they all go through that at some times in their carreer. Although Lee isn't so young anymore - in snookery terms - he's got a very deep dip of form for two years already and his health isn't that good. So maybe he's more serious about it than others ...

[Signal Fire]

To be fair, who would miss Lee? The Masters was possibly the worst standard for an event we have seen for over a decade, Lee's run to the final was against Dott (a broken man), Ebdon (woefully out of form on the day) & Fu (ditto).

It was a fluke final and he got hammered. He's a spent force, he'll never be a contender again.

[cueman]

I think players need to play with more freedom, at the moment though with ranking points and prize money at a premium you can understand the pressures these players are under. I can understand Lee's frustration, he is a class player on his day and is struggling because of the lack of tournaments, as are a lot of the players.

[Semih_Sayginer]

firstly, good post danny...

regarding Lee i agree with Ferret. its a reaction to the dissapointment of losing and its an over-reaction, basically spotlighting that he considers himself good enough to have won that if he was playing well. he will be back. hes a great player. id miss watching him, especially in top flight

[PaulTheSoave]

Spur of the moment reaction and he really played bad, and can imagine how he feels. Those of us having been in one competition or another and going through the motions, know it all! I did!

[The Statman]

Yes I think it is a spur-of-the-moment statement, following a match in which he played poorly and had a really disastrous run of the balls. Not difficult to imagine how easy it must be to feel like that, after being so many years at the top – the thought of the qualifiers must be daunting to say the least.

Anyway, looks like he may be in familiar company down in Prestatyn, judging by some other players' provisional rankings!

[Semih_Sayginer]

Yes I think it is a spur-of-the-moment statement, following a match in which he played poorly and had a really disastrous run of the balls. Not difficult to imagine how easy it must be to feel like that, after being so many years at the top – the thought of the qualifiers must be daunting to say the least.

Anyway, looks like he may be in familiar company down in Prestatyn, judging by some other players' provisional rankings!

it does look like that...a nostalgia tour for the qualifying. make them televised, or at least available on the net

[GOMH71]

Stephen will not be quitting Snooker. He is back on his practice Table today and positive about next season.

Whilst his form has been patchy for nigh on 2 years now, he is still only 33. And you don't win 4 Ranking Tournaments without being a class act.

Hard work is the only answer for him now and he knows it...

[scoo24]

Stephen will not be quitting Snooker. He is back on his practice Table today and positive about next season.

Hard work is the only answer for him now and he knows it...

That's great news GOMH71, I can't wait to see him play his best :snooker: again. Good luck both.

[missneworleans]

I think Stephen will get back with good form!