German Masters - 1st round and wildcard round discussion

[montoya10]

Ronnie's lost his head. He has been very unlucky in this frame - potted the white after a flick off the brown and Higginson fluked a red, tucked Ronnie up who went for a hit and hope, leaving an easy red for Higginson to pot. Looks like being 3-0.

I called it

Don't think I've ever seen Higginson play so well though.

That Welsh Open comeback against Robertson years ago is a sole sample.
Ronnie hasn't played much and played not-so-good safeties. Not good so far.

[LittleMissAlexa]

Ron

If he is going back to qualifying events lets hope he doesnt go to pontins by mistake after all he hasnt been to the qualifiers since ninety four

[daffie]

Alarming start for Ronnie. He missed a simple blue to the bottom and then made a poor safety to let Higginson back in.

You know what...I really don't care too much anymore for Ronnie doing well in tournaments. Don't get me wrong, I still like Ronnie and watching him play and everything. But his attitude towards the game has been somewhat dissapointing, passing up on most PTC's and only plays when he feels like he absolutely needs to. And this time around he really needed to enter the German Masters, as he otherwise would have to quality for the World. I respect his choices, couldn't have the arrogance not to. But I have my own opinions on his decisions as a top professional snooker-player. I really feel that he needs to enter tournaments, put in the work and effort, and will then get rewarded accordingly with good form and therefore ultimately success. Hey, of course if Ronnie decides that playing (many) tournaments isn't on the top of his list at the moment, and maybe he feels that his family and other stuff should come first at the moment, then that's a choice that I can only respect. But I'm getting the feeling from Ronnie that he has been dead-set against the PTC's from the start, and can't bring himself to put in the work.

[Ronnie's tip]

Things go from bad to worse for O'Sullivan. Bit unlucky but his head has clearly gone. It's not he's not even trying with his safety shots.

Should be 4-0 soon.

[Ronnie's tip]

What the hell is Ronnie playing at? Bloody idiot.

Doesn't deserve to win the frame after that - or the following shot on the blue.

[cueman]

and now the scoreboard has played up when he's got a chance to win a frame. I think people need to get some perspective here, Ronnie has had an awful run right from the kick on the blue in the first frame which led to Higginson getting a chance to clear. Then Higginson followed it up in the 2nd with a good break but the 3rd was all down to luck, Higginson fluked a red, snookered Ronnie frame over. Then 4th frame Ronnie in with a chance and the scoreboard is wrong! Its no wonder he's frustrated!

[LittleMissAlexa]

Ptcs

Its actually ding who has played in the least ptcs of the top players not Ron

[beechy1212]

A mate just said Ronnie is ''missing on purpose''. Have to say, i can't see that but you can see why people think it. His shot choices are awful.

[Ronnie's tip]

Terrible shot by Ronnie on the pink. Higginson pots both pink/black to make it 4-0.

[Ronnie's tip]

and now the scoreboard has played up when he's got a chance to win a frame. I think people need to get some perspective here, Ronnie has had an awful run right from the kick on the blue in the first frame which led to Higginson getting a chance to clear. Then Higginson followed it up in the 2nd with a good break but the 3rd was all down to luck, Higginson fluked a red, snookered Ronnie frame over. Then 4th frame Ronnie in with a chance and the scoreboard is wrong! Its no wonder he's frustrated!

I agree - the last 3 major tournaments (UK, Masters + today) he's definately had some bad luck, or rather his opponents have had the run of the ball, but it's still extremely annoying to watch.

Higginson deserves to be 4-0 up.

[cueman]

He's had a season to write off to be fair. Ran into Trump who played out of his skin on no less than 3 occassions, PTC, Masters and UK championships and that is all the major TV competitions we've had. It seems like he just cannot get a win under his belt at the moment, he looked very good against Ding in the Masters but unfortunately Trump wasn't the ideal man to play against. He just needs to get a couple of wins and get his confidence up and he'll probably be flying again. Say what you like about the PTC's though, they are a lottery, best of 7's aren't really ideal for any of the players, that's why we keep seeing different winners, you hit form in one match and you'll win. I think Ronnie and a few of the other top players find the motivation to play these events tough. He's been on the circuit 20 years now so you have to look at it from his perspective.

[LittleMissAlexa]

O'Sullivan missing PTC

It really annoys of this myth about Ronnie being the worst offender for missing PTCs and Ding never gets picked both this season and last Ding has played the fewest PTCs disregarding Higgins last season who was suspended for most of them of the top 64 so its about time people got on Dings back Ronnies ranking issues have more to do with missing world ranking events

[Ronnie's tip]

Bad luck for Ronnie there....

He's had a season to write off to be fair. Ran into Trump who played out of his skin on no less than 3 occassions, PTC, Masters and UK championships and that is all the major TV competitions we've had. It seems like he just cannot get a win under his belt at the moment, he looked very good against Ding in the Masters but unfortunately Trump wasn't the ideal man to play against. He just needs to get a couple of wins and get his confidence up and he'll probably be flying again. Say what you like about the PTC's though, they are a lottery, best of 7's aren't really ideal for any of the players, that's why we keep seeing different winners, you hit form in one match and you'll win. I think Ronnie and a few of the other top players find the motivation to play these events tough. He's been on the circuit 20 years now so you have to look at it from his perspective.

I thought he was poor against Ding tbh. Had maybe 3 good frames (including last two) but his positional play was terrible and he let Ding get right back into the match.

The frustrating thing for Ronnie fans is that this is the first time in a while that he's had an 'easy' draw. In the WC he faced Dale, Murphy then Higgins, UK it was Davis/Trump and at the Masters it was Ding/Trump.

As arrogant as this sounds, he actually has a free pass to the 1/4 finals here if he plays well because there's no one that can come close to matching him when he's above 80%. With Ding out he now only has Roberton and Williams to worry about before the final and we know Williams is Ronnie's whipping boy these days so this is a HUGE chance for O'Sullivan. He couldn't have asked for an easier draw in all honesty.

Just saw the draw for the Welsh Open and he faces Mark Williams in the 2nd round should he win the 1st, but more importantly he's got Trump AGAIN waiting for him after that so he simply has to do well today. He's got a lot of ranking points to protect in the WO aswell - in 2010 he made it to the semi final.

[LittleMissAlexa]

Dale

Bit harsh on Dale after all he is the most successful player to of never made the top sixteen

[montoya10]

Bad luck for Ronnie there....


I thought he was poor against Ding tbh. Had maybe 3 good frames (including last two) but his positional play was terrible and he let Ding get right back into the match.

The frustrating thing for Ronnie fans is that this is the first time in a while that he's had an 'easy' draw. In the WC he faced Dale, Murphy then Higgins, UK it was Davis/Trump and at the Masters it was Ding/Trump.

As arrogant as this sounds, he actually has a free pass to the 1/4 finals here if he plays well because there's no one that can come close to matching him when he's above 80%. With Ding out he now only has Roberton and Williams to worry about before the final and we know Williams is Ronnie's whipping boy these days so this is a HUGE chance for O'Sullivan. He couldn't have asked for an easier draw in all honesty.

Just saw the draw for the Welsh Open and he faces Mark Williams in the 2nd round should he win the 1st, but more importantly he's got Trump AGAIN waiting for him after that so he simply has to do well today. He's got a lot of ranking points to protect in the WO aswell - in 2010 he made it to the semi final.

If he's above 80%, he won't need an easy draw, though.