Ronnie pulls out from Bahrain

[João]

Pathethic. Health issues? Yeah sure.

[Monique]

Pathethic. Health issues? Yeah sure.

Yes sure. 100%

I know this post is useless. I'll still write it. Ronnie O'Sullivan suffers bipolar disorder and depressions for years. This state has been diagnosed and is well known to WPBSA. He has been carrying a lot of promotional work and got under a lot of pressure recently. I'm not surprised he cracks. It was obvious it was coming the way he played and reacted in the Shanghai Final and the GP. He isn't mentally robust enough for the kind of life and expectations he has to face.
When he walked out in UK, he just couldn't cope and created a lot of problems for himself and others. He was unfit to play but he tried and it was disaster. Now, he pulls out well in advance with medical note and aplogies. Isn't that better? But whatever he does he will be wrong in the eyes of some.
It has nothing to do with PL: he doesn't play on that week. It has nothing to do with being "greater than the game" neither. It has all to do with the dilemna of being the biggest draw in the game and a mentally ill and fragile person. His health comes first and rightly so.

[darrus]

What makes you so sure it's not health issues?

Pathethic. Health issues? Yeah sure.

[João]

The fact he keeps pulling out of tournaments outside the UK? It's absolutely ridiculous and it's even more ridiculous that he gets away with it everytime.

B-U-L-L-S-H-*-T.

[darrus]

The fact he keeps pulling out of tournaments outside the UK? It's absolutely ridiculous and it's even more ridiculous that he gets away with it everytime.

Yes, he sometimes does.
But still, what makes you think it's not health issues?

[gby4]

I remember reading somewhere that it was in principle possible for Steve Davis to play the last 16 match and then go back. Can't remember where though...

Would someone clarify this once and for all: can he do this or not? Why would Barry Hearn sue him if he comes back From Bahrain to play his PL match. Davis should play in Bahrain, because he is a legend no matter how much some may dislike his way of playing. Bahrain Tournament is already a farce, Davis pulling out too would make it even a bigger farce.

[João]

Yes, he sometimes does.
But still, what makes you think it's not health issues?

What makes you think it's health issues? Did you read any document from his doctor? Or is the bipolar disorder an excuse for everything he does against the sport?

A lot of promotional work and a lot of pressure? I don't see the link, unless he's turning into the "Sharapova" of the snooker who's too busy with other stuff that even forgets he's a player.

[The Boss]

King among Favourites

If Ronnie has a doctor's note then there won't be any disciplinary action. Ronnie doesn't like going to foreign countries, he's frightened of terrorists so this is no surprise. He can afford the points. It's turning into a shambles - no Higgins, no Ding, no Ronnie, no Dott, no Selby, and Davis possibly to pull out if he reaches the quarters which he's probably going to do now. That's FIVE top 16 players who won't be present and a possible withdrawal on the cards.

This is Mark King's chance to bag a title at last

[Monique]

Joao... I'm not a nasty person. I'm really not. But I wish you to suffer the absolute darkness of the depressive phase of bipolarism one day in your life. Just one. Maybe then you will understand...
And yes certainly ... being away from his usual turf adds to the anxiety and he doesn't like it and copes badly with it. Being the world champion and number one more promotional work is expected from him by WPBSA also and it's only adding to the problem. And probably he will prefer to try to sort himself out and defend his UK title rather than "force" things and risk a even more deep breakdown.
And rightly so. You would do the same if you were in his shoes.

[Ekphantos]

Would someone clarify this once and for all: can he do this or not? Why would Barry Hearn sue him if he comes back From Bahrain to play his PL match. Davis should play in Bahrain, because he is a legend no matter how much some may dislike his way of playing. Bahrain Tournament is already a farce, Davis pulling out too would make it even a bigger farce.

Found the source I read (http://globalcuesportscentre.com/yab...057550/44#44):

should he win and play in the last 16, that match would be Wednesday at 8pm unless the organisers switched it to earlier in the day.

then win or lose, he'd have to hoof it off to the airport and either get the overnight flight back or the early morning flight back to Heathrow or Gatwick, hop in a car to Haywards Heath and on to the table for his prem league match

unfortunately as all fur quarter finals are played on the thursday in Bahrain, he can't do both!

So, it is a problem if he WINS the match, which is at least more likely than in a match against O'Sullivan (under normal circumstances).

[gby4]

What makes you think it's health issues? Did you read any document from his doctor? Or is the bipolar disorder an excuse for everything he does against the sport?

A lot of promotional work and a lot of pressure? I don't see the link, unless he's turning into the "Sharapova" of the snooker who's too busy with other stuff that even forgets he's a player.

Is Ronnie supposed to give the authorities medical certificate? Isn't that the normal prosedure with snooker players? After that this debate comes down to this: does one believe in mental disorders or not. I do , and I respect people who get help in their problems, wheter they are snooker stars or just ordinary people. If one does not believe in mental disorders, there is really no point in continuing this discussion.

[snooligan]

The fact he keeps pulling out of tournaments outside the UK? It's absolutely ridiculous and it's even more ridiculous that he gets away with it everytime.

If I remember correctly he reached the final and narrowly lost the last tournament that was held outside the UK. What's really pathetic is the amount of hatered you hold for the guy, and yes, he IS my favourite player but that is not why I defend him, I criticise him when he's wrong too.

Joao... I'm not a nasty person. I'm really not. But I wish you to suffer the absolute darkness of the depressive phase of bipolarism one day in your life. Just one. Maybe then you will understand...
And yes certainly ... being away from his usual turf adds to the anxiety and he doesn't like it and copes badly with it. Being the world champion and number one more promotional work is expected from him by WPBSA also and it's only adding to the problem. And probably he will prefer to try to sort himself out and defend his UK title rather than "force" things and risk a even more deep breakdown.
And rightly so. You would do the same if you were in his shoes.

I wouldn't go as far as wishing someone to suffer a depressive bout of bipolarism because I'm sure we all go through phases of sadness, depression & melancholy. I haven't seen any thing from Ronnie since he won the WC but pure professionalism and hard fought matches, even the ones he lost this year were narrow losses and we're all entitled to having bad days, his have been rare this season. It's very clear that even when he hasn't been too happy with his game he kept fighting it out & more often than not he's come out victorious. So far he's got my full respect... Cut the guy some slack

All the best Ronnie, may you get well soon enough to defend your UK title.

[gby4]

Found the source I read (http://globalcuesportscentre.com/yab...057550/44#44):

should he win and play in the last 16, that match would be Wednesday at 8pm unless the organisers switched it to earlier in the day.

then win or lose, he'd have to hoof it off to the airport and either get the overnight flight back or the early morning flight back to Heathrow or Gatwick, hop in a car to Haywards Heath and on to the table for his prem league match

unfortunately as all fur quarter finals are played on the thursday in Bahrain, he can't do both!

So, it is a problem if he WINS the match, which is at least more likely than in a match against O'Sullivan (under normal circumstances).

I am afraid I don't quite understand: why can't Davis withdraw after possible last 16 win ? It would not be fair to FU or Dale though, but that's life

[In-off]

It least his back is OK

[PaulTheSoave]

I cant wait to go to The UK!! Even being in Telford is better than reading all this crap!