The Masters 2014

[scottley]

Well Done Ronnie O' Sullivan on winning his 5th Masters Title by beating Mark Selby by 10 frames 4, also Ronnie O' Sullliavan set a Masters record today what was it does anybody know

Record number of masters final appearances?

[Byrom]

Well Done Ronnie O' Sullivan on winning his 5th Masters Title by beating Mark Selby by 10 frames 4, also Ronnie O' Sullivan set a Masters record today what was it does anybody know

It was his tenth final which is a record

[gavpowell]

First man to reach 10 finals.

[cyberheater]

Well done Ronnie.

[gavpowell]

Conversion rate's a bit rubbish isn't it? 50%? Pfft. Compare that to his world championship finals record of 100% and I think it's obvious he ought to stick to the longer events

[arbitrage]

Nobody came close to Ronnie. He beat Selby without breaking a sweat. He's just too good. Not bad for a 38 year old. And the Selby fans didnt even see it coming

what he proved today is that when he wants to win a tournament, he has a very high % chance of doing so. the writing was on the wall for everyone when damien hirst, jimmy white and ronnie wood showed up for every match - that's a sign he wants to win. any wins mark selby got off of him in the past e.g. 2010 masters was because he was trolling, not because selby can match him in any way, shape or form

particularly enjoyable when watching with stephen hendry and ken doherty's commentary - and the segment when hazel irvine grilled selby about being labeled 'the torturer' was great

[gavpowell]

any wins mark selby got off of him in the past e.g. 2010 masters was because he was trolling, not because selby can match him in any way, shape or form

That's just nonsense - in 2010 Ronnie threw the tournament away with a stupid shot on the green, but before that, Selby had done the same thing John Higgins did to him so many times - play hard-as-nails match snooker and claw your way back into it, at which point Ronnie wasn't mentally equipped to deal with it and either lost the plot altogether or let doubt creep into his game.

Nobody would claim Selby is a better player than O'Sullivan in terms of ability, such a player probably doesn't exist, but that doesn't mean every match Ronnie loses is because he threw it away - he's just had a very unstable temperament and it's cost him against guys with the iron wills.

[Holden Chinaski]

Ronnie's the favorite for the next world championships for me. He looks up for it!

[gavpowell]

If he is going to beat Hendry's record, he surely has to do it in the next four years or else even he will surely be struggling with the new kids on the block?

I notice no complaints about gamesmanship on Selby's part today - is it only cheating when he wins?

[arbitrage]

That's just nonsense - in 2010 Ronnie threw the tournament away with a stupid shot on the green, but before that, Selby had done the same thing John Higgins did to him so many times - play hard-as-nails match snooker and claw your way back into it, at which point Ronnie wasn't mentally equipped to deal with it and either lost the plot altogether or let doubt creep into his game.

Nobody would claim Selby is a better player than O'Sullivan in terms of ability, such a player probably doesn't exist, but that doesn't mean every match Ronnie loses is because he threw it away - he's just had a very unstable temperament and it's cost him against guys with the iron wills.

he was trolling at the 2010 masters which is what he's been doing for at least half if not more of his career. in this match, he wouldn't have played that green - simple as that. i didn't say every match, john higgins has beaten him fair and square many times and that is because they are on a similar level. not the case with mark selby

[itsnoteasy]

I can't remember him ever being described as in the 'best form of his life' only in very impressive form, and that he was. For the record I'd say O'Sullivan is a better player today than he was in his younger years, his safety is possibly the best in the game, his break building is as good as ever, tactically superb and most importantly he's been 100x better mentally the last 2/3 years than he's ever been before. His long game is a weakness, but when now and again it's still very good, which it was this week.

I heard it said a few times this week, "he's playing the best snooker of his career " to be exact,it may be rose coloured glasses but I think he won this in what looked like second gear, I don't think he won against Hendry, Higgins, Williams in second gear, would he have ever missed that brown in his twenties?, I thought he wasted a few chances for better breaks which he wouldn't have, then again I don't believe he believes the other players can beat him if he's in form so he could get a bit lazy, that's human nature.

[arbitrage]

If he is going to beat Hendry's record, he surely has to do it in the next four years or else even he will surely be struggling with the new kids on the block?

I notice no complaints about gamesmanship on Selby's part today - is it only cheating when he wins?

there was little opportunity for him to do his usual routine today as he basically got blown off the table. and why would anyone complain about it if it didn't happen? having said that he should be commended for taking it on the chin like a man today

[gavpowell]

he was trolling at the 2010 masters which is what he's been doing for at least half if not more of his career. in this match, he wouldn't have played that green - simple as that. i didn't say every match, john higgins has beaten him fair and square many times and that is because they are on a similar level. not the case with mark selby

I don't believe for a moment O'Sullivan deliberately lost those matches, which is essentially what you're saying. Hunter did the same thing to him, and frankly I never thought Hunter was all that good, let alone on a par with Ronnie. But sometimes in sport, a player/participant just comes up against someone whose style causes them real problems: for O'Sullivan it's the hard matchplayers who have the mentality of refusing to let go - he's just a lot better at dealing with it now than he used to be.

Ali and Norton were never in the same class and yet Norton gave Ali nightmares on three occasions, arguably winning them all. Ray Robinson was boxing's equivalent of Ronnie - nobody's ever looked as good as him before or since, yet he struggled like hell with Gene Fullmer and took two fights to work out Jake LaMotta. It happens.

Why is it so difficult for you to show a bit of class and give Selby credit for playing well enough on the day to beat Ronnie? It doesn't lessen O'Sullivan's ability or achievements - if anything I think it shows an impressive adaptability to his game that he's learnt to deal with guys who frustrate him.

[arbitrage]

I don't believe for a moment O'Sullivan deliberately lost those matches, which is essentially what you're saying. Hunter did the same thing to him, and frankly I never thought Hunter was all that good, let alone on a par with Ronnie. But sometimes in sport, a player/participant just comes up against someone whose style causes them real problems: for O'Sullivan it's the hard matchplayers who have the mentality of refusing to let go - he's just a lot better at dealing with it now than he used to be.

Ali and Norton were never in the same class and yet Norton gave Ali nightmares on three occasions, arguably winning them all. Ray Robinson was boxing's equivalent of Ronnie - nobody's ever looked as good as him before or since, yet he struggled like hell with Gene Fullmer and took two fights to work out Jake LaMotta. It happens.

Why is it so difficult for you to show a bit of class and give Selby credit for playing well enough on the day to beat Ronnie? It doesn't lessen O'Sullivan's ability or achievements - if anything I think it shows an impressive adaptability to his game that he's learnt to deal with guys who frustrate him.

i did not say deliberately. i said he was trolling. learn how to read and comprehend simple sentences please. why is it difficult for you to comprehend simple concepts? end of discussion

[sealer]

arb is our little troll
wouldnt worry to much