The Hendry - O'Sullivan match!

[dannyd0g]

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.

Hendry said in his interview straight afterwards that Ronnie went to Hendry's dressing room and just said he'd had enough and wished him good luck for the rest of the tournament. That was it.

I would agreee that Hendry handled it all very gracefully and honestly.

Ronnie's recent statement is also very honest. With hindsight he wishes he'd carried on.

He's an impulsive character. He cant control his impulses. Dont know what else to think or say at the moment.

[edinmis]

i feel sorry for hendry to win the match in such way. After read Ronnie's statement tonight, i do feel sorry for Ronnie as well.

However, it is no good for every one, and no good for snooker at all.

[Semih_Sayginer]

at the end of the day nobody has "won" out of this.

ok hendry wins the match, which he looked favourite for based on the frames played, but anything could have happened.

ronnies now came out and said he spat the dummy cos he wasnt playing well.

so, ronnie misses out on continuing, and he could have came back if he upped the gears hes got in his locker, but he didnt.

hendry handled the situation very well, as he normally handles himself well, so well done for him on not having a pop at ronnie, but also well done ronnie on having the good grace to wish hendo all the best in his semi final

bad day at the office. big drama, but ronnie will be back and knocking in balls for fun again soon, im sure.

at present...mon the HENDO

[Riba]

...
bad day at the office. big drama, but ronnie will be back and knocking in balls for fun again soon, im sure.

at present...mon the HENDO

i think you are absolutely right.

wish Hendry will win UK

[gavpowell]

I would like to see World Snooker introduce a rule that forbids players forfeiting a match without consulting with the referee and the other player first. I'm a big Ronnie fan but this, like the Ebdon fiasco in the World Championship, is another one of those incidents where I feel someone needs to say 'I understand you've got a volatile personality, but you can't keep using that as a licence to behave like a pratt"

I wish Reardon would come back, or that Ronnie Sr is released soon - I can't imagine his old man will be very happy with Ronnie at all.

I feel sorry for ronnie to a degree but I can't help thinking maybe he should have a season or two away from the game to unwind- he's been playing constantly since he was a young boy, and the pressure on him must be enormous. Much as the game would miss him, I'm sure they'd rather he took some time away and came back refreshed than risk his continuing the Alex Higgins story.

[cueman]

So a bad day at the office and he walks out, in any other job or career you would get the sack and I'm sorry Ronnie but you have to be severely disciplined for this action today. Everyone has an off day and you can't just decide you've had enough, if every player felt they were struggling and could just give up a match half way through then hardly any matches would be finished.

As for his press statement, what a load of garbage that is. Its just something made up by Ronnie's management team to try and save face in the event of all the bad publicity he's going to get. I don't believe any of the statement was the words of O'Sullivan and if he's that quick to make a statement then why didn't he stick around and say it to the people's faces that matter, i.e. his opponent and the fans who travelled and paid good money to watch.

I have always admired O'Sullivan as a player but his attitude this time has made him a real turn off. At the end of the day he acts like a spoilt child who cries off the minute things aren't going his way. Its not pity Ronnie needs, its a kick up the backside.

Sorry if the comments seem a little harsh but I for one have seen enough of his antics in the past and today he went a step too far. Thing is, does anyone really think he that won't do something like this again in the future? Its just a matter of time!

[snookerfran]

So a bad day at the office and he walks out, in any other job or career you would get the sack

Yeah, but most other jobs don't benefit from all the media attention resulting from someone throwing a hissy fit

Not that I'm excusing what he did: he was a right idiot, and selfish, too. But I can't see him getting banned for it. The WPBSA likes him too much.

[anka]

Yeah, but most other jobs don't benefit from all the media attention resulting from someone throwing a hissy fit

Not that I'm excusing what he did: he was a right idiot, and selfish, too. But I can't see him getting banned for it. The WPBSA likes him too much.

well, may be it`s not a reason for ban (or not for Ronnie only) - but imo he needs rest as bad as anithing now - because of the pressure he can`t deal with

[anka]

I have always admired O'Sullivan as a player but his attitude this time has made him a real turn off. At the end of the day he acts like a spoilt child who cries off the minute things aren't going his way. Its not pity Ronnie needs, its a kick up the backside.

Sorry if the comments seem a little harsh

sad to say it, but that is what he needs first before rest. But he has his mentor - I by the way don`t know who it is, any information, anyone? - along with his doctor and whoever else, and those are the men to deal with ronnie, that is quite a job - so best wishes for them

[rich45]

I was at the match on the front row about 1 metre from Ronnie (just seen some close ups of myself on that youtube link!) and I am still in a state of shock! When Ronnie walked out somebody shouted "pack it in Ronnie" but he just carried on walking, and the crowd were stunned into a state of silence for a good minute or so. We just couldn't understand it and expected him to come back out and say it was a mistake, but then Jan Verhaas (sp?) confirmed (quite abruptly really which was unnecessary as it's not the sort of thing that happens every day) it and everyone went over to watch the Dott v Davis match (which was mid-frame!). But everyone was muttering about Ronnie and no surprise, Dott and Davis left after the end of the frame presumably to find out what the hell had just happened! I watched the next frame after that but just needed to get out of there...as I heard someone behind me say, "I just feel sick."

Now I'm a massive Ronnie fan, but today he overstepped the mark by a long long way. Michael Holt got stuffed 9-0 in the opening round but at least he took his punishment...Ronnie couldn't take it and ran away, which initially angered me as I (and probably others) had booked the day off work AND paid for both sessions, but now I feel sorry for Ronnie and kind of pity him because he has made a massive error which I'll find difficult to forgive him for. Thankfully he's issued an apology which is all he can do I suppose as what's done is done, but some kind of refund should be offered by HIM as he is a millionaire and I and the rest of the crowd probably aren't. I cheekily tried to get a refund at the ticket office but of course it was refused as I could have watched the other match instead, but I opted to give my ticket away to some random person!

All in all a disappointing day, although very dramatic! I was most surprised because being so close to where Ronnie was sitting, I didn't sense any frustration at all and thought to myself that he looked remarkably composed even though he was 4-0 down...he was still taking his time on shots, tapping the table when Hendry played a good shot etc.

I'm looking forward to the semi tomorrow now as at least it's between 2 great professionals and hopefully the crowd will be treated to a close match.

Rich

[DeadQueen]

Thanks for the report Rich, good to hear what the people who were there thought of it all. I'd have been very disappointed and a tad confused too.

[Marge]

I was very shocked to see Ronnie leave the match in such a way. I do feel sorry for the fans who missed out and for Stephen Hendry to 'win' in such a way.

The thing is it must be noted that Ronnie does suffer from severe depression. This can effect someone to the extent that they do behave in such an unfathomable manner. I hope Ronnie gets the help he clearly needs.

[Black_cat]

Thank you for the report, Rich. Pack it in, Ronnie?
I have a question which is really bothering me. Please help me find the answer, it's important.
I've been reading the WSA rules and looking everywhere -ref websites included -and I couldn't find a single reference to penalties following match concession, only illegal frame concession. Sanctions as ranking points being docked or lengthy bans have been mentioned unofficially and, given that, I would like to ask the knowledgeable people here to enlighten me. Where can I find such a reference, if it exists? Will Ronnie's gesture create a precedent?
Thank you very much.

[The Statman]

Thank you for the report, Rich. Pack it in, Ronnie?
I have a question which is really bothering me. Please help me find the answer, it's important.
I've been reading the WSA rules and looking everywhere -ref websites included -and I couldn't find a single reference to penalties following match concession, only illegal frame concession. Sanctions as ranking points being docked or lengthy bans have been mentioned unofficially and, given that, I would like to ask the knowledgeable people here to enlighten me. Where can I find such a reference, if it exists? Will Ronnie's gesture create a precedent?
Thank you very much.

It is not, of course, in the actual rules of the game; rather, it is the Tournament rules or the rules of membership of the association.

I do not think these are necessarily in the public domain (like if you held a tournament you would have your own rules of dress code, conduct etc., but these would not be in the actual rules of the game.)

I would imagine the only way O'Sullivan would be penalised would be through a disciplinary procedure, which I guess would involve a hearing. Just have to wait and see.

[Black_cat]

Thanks, Statman.
It's only fair to assume it will take some time then.
Great.