World Snooker Championships Discussion

[vmax4steve]

Meanwhile Ricky Walden is playing some great stuff, has been since round one.

[sberry]

he's getting really boring now, hope he does lose and disappear and if he's short of money after all he's earned he's even more stupid than he acts

hopefully the winner will come from the bottom half of the draw now and would like to see Hawkins win, he won't be distracted and has had the hardest route to the S/Fs

[gem]

Wish he would just go away to be honest

I do think when on form he is a joy to watch but I too have been fed up with him and his antics for a good few years now and I don't think he has been missed this last year.
Wouldn't be sorry if he did retire.

Others play to a similar level at times but because he makes it look so easy when building breaks people think he is playing better than the rest.

[snookerfran]

There will inevitably be speculation that he'll come back for the 2014 world title, and everyone will know that the game is operating without, definitively, the best player in the world.

It's already been operating without the best player in the world for a year now -

Hendry retired last April.

(Sorry, couldn't help myself.)

[snookerfran]

Looks like that interview was legitimate: it's on BBC now here http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/22376834

[BarryH]

Others play to a similar level at times but because he makes it look so easy when building breaks people think he is playing better than the rest.

The reason it looks so easy is because he is better than the rest. At least 4 former world champions agree going by their commentary in the last few days.

Ronnie is obviously still struggling with his inner demons, but I'm just glad to have what promises to be a a semi final for the ages to look forward to.

[gavpowell]

In a way, it would be a perfect cap on his career to win this and then retire - aside from doing the same thing again next year, he'll never top this. I just wish he wouldn't say things like this in the middle of the world championship - I came home buzzing with excitement and now he's spoiled it.

Did anyone attend the Crucible tonight, and stay for the Steve Davis exhibition after the matches? If so, can anyone tell me who the two people in the VIP area were? Especially the gorgeous blonde in the black dress - she looked vaguely familiar, but whether she's famous or just my mind playing tricks I dunno.

[peterpackage]

i hope this retirement talk doesn't overshadow the showdown

[Potthereds]

i hope this retirement talk doesn't overshadow the showdown

This...............

[robertmac]

I will be watching the snooker and enjoying it.

Why would I let the 'talk' ruin some great matches.

[FOXMULDER]

i hope this retirement talk doesn't overshadow the showdown

On the contrary - it will add some spice.

You think Ronnie wants to retire with a loss to Trump?
You think Trump wants to get beat by a guy who's giving up?

This is going to be classic Crucible theatre.

[Ronnie's tip]

Trump will win - I've said it from the start. I actually can't believe how positive I am about this, unfortunately.

I really hope ROS doesn't retire though. Snooker just isn't the same and for me, won't be for a long, long time.

[laverda]

On the contrary - it will add some spice.

You think Ronnie wants to retire with a loss to Trump?
You think Trump wants to get beat by a guy who's giving up?

This is going to be classic Crucible theatre.

Now THAT is some commentary that makes sense... given ROS has been seeing a sports psycholgist I'd say its money well spent
Can't wait for tonight (Aussie time) to see how Trump responds to it...

[SnookerFan]

I'm actually looking forward to Walden and Hawkins as well. That could be a decent game.

[cueman]

Looks like that interview was legitimate: it's on BBC now here http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/22376834

And people still take him at his word!
There is no way he would have bothered to put in the serious hours of practice and got himself so up for this if he thought that it wasn't for him. Whether this is his demons at work or Ronnie just being his usual petulant self I don't know but either way he is talking out of his rear end. Of course he will come back, all this talk is his way of playing down this match and tournament in case he doesn't win it as though he was never interested.

Its pure and simple mind games in my eyes, trying to devalue the event because he feels that he is the only reason it holds any prestige. Last week he was saying how he would love to win more world titles and that he has underachieved and also mentioned that he doesn't play for the money. Now suddenly he's short of cash! Guy is a grade A idiot as a person who just happens to be blessed with talent to play the game.