The Hendry - O'Sullivan match!

[missneworleans]

That's not seem be the problem's with health...
Thought Ronnie has a difficult character...

But,anyway, Hendry was fantastic!

[chrisdebag]

i am sick of o sullivan if he doesnt want to play then quit

after the tragic demise of paul hunter a man who tried even in great pain all ronnie does his let down his fans and the game

just because hendry was ahead

he would never have quit if he was 4-1 ahead

i prefer to see real snooker heroes like hendry and davis anyday

[Holden]

i am sick of o sullivan if he doesnt want to play then quit

Isn't that what he did?

[Valderie]

I've only just watched the recording from this afternoon and like everyone else I'm stunned that Ronnie could walk out of the match! Hendry does seem to have been playing very well and I don't think he would want to win like this. He said that he and Ronnie didn't have any problems now and had been speaking and having a laugh during the week, I just hope it doesn't unnerve Stephen for his next match!
Anyway I'm thrilled that Stephen is now in the semis and that Paul will get to see him play.

[PaulTheSoave]

True. i doubted I would ever see him play as I am mostly there for the latter stages. Lets hope Steve gets through, not that i dislike Dott. A collission between the maestros of the 80's and 90's.

Come on, The Davis!

ps. my prediction on the start of this thread was not that bad! Big margins!

[Mal]

Really, a poor show.
Ronnie is a fantastic player, but clearly, his mind not right at this time. As people have mentioned, there is a paying audience to consider.

We all know when some players get frustrated they lose control - Quinten Hann and Michael Holt spring to mind, and others lose confidence rapidly such as David Gray, but to walk out is disrespectful to his opponent, the tournament organisors, referee, even anyone who had a wager on it, but most importantly the fans.

I am a fan of Ronnie O'Sullivan and on other messages have him in my top few, along with Stephen Hendry, Peter Ebdon and the Hurricane Higgins. And I still will enjoy watching him and I do admire his charisma so I'll still be a fan. But, personally IMO, there should be some sort of action. It will be interesting to see what comes of it, but in the past players have been criticised in the game for conceding when there are enough points on the table.

However, he has given a huge amount to the game and at a time when support has wavered for snooker, he has been the main attraction. This is a first for Ronnie and lets hope it is an isolated incident and that he gets himself sorted out again. It is only a couple of weeks ago since he was in sparkling form and he did look like he was enjoying his snooker in the grand prix also, so lets hope whatever happened that he doesn't dwell on it.

[andyukguy]

To be honest, I'm still in a bit of shock. I was watching this live and it was the way it seemed to come out of nowhere. The only thing that would've shocked me more is if he'd potted that red and still decided he'd had enough... I wouldn't even put that post Ronnie!

Andrew

[Hendry the 8th]

I can honestly say that I am dumbfounded by what has happenned.

I was following the score on the livescoring and the screen refreshed and it said Hendry 9-1 O'Sullivan, which seemed a bit odd.

Only Ronnie knows why he did what he did. I just hope that he is OK and he carries on playing. I'm not a fan of his but I can appreciate how good he is for snooker.

I hope Stephen goes on and wins the title now.

[anka]

i think it`s a bit late now to speak, but i was writing for the whole evening on Ronnie`s forum... emotions,emotions,emotions, but now i, thanks god have nothing to say about the rocket. hope just he won`t retire - snooker will lose of it a lot...
i`m just afraid that in future only man to suffer will be Stephen, coz some will say - you know ... that ronnie just gave him the match
Well, SAD that is

[DeadQueen]

He's released a statement, they've just read it out on TalkSport. To summarise :He apologised and said he's disappointed with what he did and wishes he could have carried on, he was having a 'bad day at the office'. He said he'll come back from this. Willie Thorne said he should get a fine and a ban.

[Hendry the 8th]

Ronnie speaks

O'SULLIVAN REGRET AFTER WALKOUT
By Jon Wilde, PA Sport

Ronnie O'Sullivan tonight expressed regret for his amazing Maplin UK Championship walkout, admitting frustration with his game had got the better of him.

'The Rocket' added the latest chapter to the story of a career loaded with controversy when he conceded his quarter-final in York against Stephen Hendry after only five frames, trailing 4-1.

The 31-year-old from Essex had just won his first frame and was on a break of 24 when he attempted to cut in a red but missed, and immediately went to shake hands with Hendry and referee Jan Verhaas.

Apart from briefly stopping off at Hendry's dressing room to wish his opponent well, O'Sullivan immediately left the Barbican Centre without offering any explanation for his actions.

Even by O'Sullivan's standards it was a dramatic turn of events and officials of World Snooker, the sport's governing body, must now decide whether to punish the player for the embarrassment he has heaped on their second most prestigious ranking tournament.

But in a statement released by his PR representatives, the world number three apologised for letting down his large contingent of supporters and admitted he had done the wrong thing.

"I wish I could have played a better game today but I had a bad day in the office," said O'Sullivan.

"Anyone who knows me knows I'm a perfectionist when it comes to my game and today I got so annoyed with myself that I lost my patience and walked away from a game that, with hindsight, I should have continued.

"I wish I could have given Steven a better game and I'm sorry I didn't stick around to sharpen him up for his semi-final.

"I'm also really sorry to let down the fans who came to see me play - it wasn't my intention to disappoint them and for that I am truly apologetic.

"At this moment I am feeling disappointed with myself and I am hurt and numb, but I am a fighter and I will be back on my feet fighting stronger and harder than ever very soon."

Hendry insisted he had taken no satisfaction from O'Sullivan's exit, which meant the Scot was awarded a 9-1 victory that sent him through to a semi-final against Graeme Dott or Steve Davis.

The world number one refused to condemn O'Sullivan, with whom he has clashed in the past, and maintained he would have preferred to continue a match that had promised to be the best of this event so far.

"It's just bizarre," said Hendry. "But I'm not going to criticise Ronnie because I don't know his reasons, his thoughts or if anything is wrong.

"He came into my dressing room and said 'good luck for the rest of the tournament'. I asked if there was anything wrong and he said 'no, I'm just fed up, I've had enough'.

"I would rather have played the match and played really well. I'm not saying I would rather have lost because that would be stupid - I'm in the semi-finals.

"But in a strange way I would rather have played out the match whatever would have happened because I was enjoying it and I was playing well. It was still going to be a very tough match to win.

"Ronnie is the best player I've ever played against and at 4-1 I didn't think the match was won. I didn't sense from Ronnie that he had given up. There was still a huge match to play and it's a hollow victory."

A large audience was expected for the conclusion of the match and World Snooker were forced to offer compensation to those who had bought tickets.

"Probably the only downside of what has happened is that there would have been a massive crowd for the match tonight, especially if it had been close," added Hendry. "It would have been an amazing atmosphere.

"But I'm not going to lie, it's a good feeling to be in the next round. I would much rather have won properly though."

Experienced referee Verhaas, who has presided over two World Championship finals, believed O'Sullivan's exit was unprecedented.

"I was stunned," said the Dutchman."I thought Ronnie was in a good mood and there was no indication whatsoever that there was anything wrong with him.

"It's every player's right to concede a match but I've never come across anyone doing it in such a dramatic fashion."

A statement from World Snooker revealed spectators who had paid to watch the two sessions of the Hendry-O'Sullivan match would be offered tickets for tomorrow's semi-final between John Higgins and Peter Ebdon.

"It is made clear in literature relating to tickets that players appear circumstances permitting," read the statement.

"Spectators who bought tickets today will be able to watch the match between Graeme Dott and Steve Davis this afternoon and evening. They will also be offered tickets for tomorrow's snooker."

[hegeland]

i think it`s a bit late now to speak, but i was writing for the whole evening on Ronnie`s forum... emotions,emotions,emotions, but now i, thanks god have nothing to say about the rocket. hope just he won`t retire - snooker will lose of it a lot...
i`m just afraid that in future only man to suffer will be Stephen, coz some will say - you know ... that ronnie just gave him the match
Well, SAD that is

I doubt that last part. Alright, Ronnie wasn't in the best shape before he walked out either, but Stephen played very well and totally deserved the lead IMO.

[hegeland]

OK so it wasn't really his mental sickness after all, it was more like he lost his temper and acted very childish.

[The Statman]

I understand that he went into Hendry's dressing room and said something – was it an apology or an explanation? Anyone know?

And I would like to say how Hendry has my applause for his comments after the match.

[PaulTheSoave]

O yes, a true sports. Even the dutch ref was summoned to the studio. When it happened they lifted the divider while Steve was still playing. All spectators stumbled to go to the other side to take seats there. Davis had no clue what was happening and was quite off the rails after it all happened. He went from 2-2 to 5-3 down! I have not heard anyone on this issue. They should have waited to raise the divider when their frame was over!

I understand that he went into Hendry's dressing room and said something – was it an apology or an explanation? Anyone know?

And I would like to say how Hendry has my applause for his comments after the match.