World Snooker Championships Discussion

[Holden Chinaski]

Barry's playing the best snooker I've ever seen him produce. Unfortunately. His best snooker is not going to be good enough.

Yes, Barry would have probably won against anyone but O'Sullivan.

[lennon11]

whats the record for most centuries in the whole comp by a single player....seem to remember higgins getting 16 or so one year.....? think ronnie has 13 this year.

[montoya10]

whats the record for most centuries in the whole comp by a single player....seem to remember higgings getting 16 or so one year.....?

It's 16, but I believe it belongs to Hendry.

He can go for most centuries in a match, though. If I recall correctly, it must be 7, again, belonging to Hendry.

[throtts]

Question is, is Ronnie going to follow this performance up and compete next season against the big boys, like facing the likes of Selby, Robinson in the first rounds. Somehow I doubt it and what will Hearn do about if he defends the WC next year ( if he wins it tonight ), he will be fresh again and confident. One thing is for sure, his cue has not been collecting dust for the last year.

[Ronnie's tip]

Question is, is Ronnie going to follow this performance up and compete next season against the big boys, like facing the likes of Selby, Robinson in the first rounds. Somehow I doubt it and what will Hearn do about if he defends the WC next year ( if he wins it tonight ), he will be fresh again and confident. One thing is for sure, his cue has not been collecting dust for the last year.

He's got to compete in 10 events for his sponsor. If he wins the WC, you'd expect him to compete in next seasons WC, UK, Masters, German Masters and Welsh Open. The next 5 events will be made up of PTC's and Legends events.

He'll probably play in the new event (Champion of Champions?) in November. It'd be a mockery of the event if the WC didn't turn up to that!

[cyberheater]

I know it's been said but if Ronnie does go on to win this. This will be the biggest sporting achievement I've ever witnessed in my lifetime. To take a whole year out of competitive competition and come back and play at this standard is simply mind boggling.

[daffie]

Question is, is Ronnie going to follow this performance up and compete next season against the big boys, like facing the likes of Selby, Robinson in the first rounds. Somehow I doubt it and what will Hearn do about if he defends the WC next year ( if he wins it tonight ), he will be fresh again and confident. One thing is for sure, his cue has not been collecting dust for the last year.

This is exactly the point I made earlier this week, albeit partly in gest. What indeed if ROS wins and automatically earns the right to enter the WC next year again...and decide not to play (m)any of the regular tournaments along the way. How can this be justified? How is this fair to other players who have to earn their way during the season to enter the WC. Somehow this does not add up for me. Hearn should take a long hard look at the rules regarding this. Of course not many players, maybe even none other than ROS could pull something like this off...but still isn't snooker about competing against other top players during the season...not just one tournament.

[Ronnie's tip]

This is exactly the point I made earlier this week, albeit partly in gest. What indeed if ROS wins and automatically earns the right to enter the WC next year again...and decide not to play (m)any of the regular tournaments along the way. How can this be justified? How is this fair to other players who have to earn their way during the season to enter the WC. Somehow this does not add up for me. Hearn should take a long hard look at the rules regarding this. Of course not many players, maybe even none other than ROS could pull something like this off...but still isn't snooker about competing against other top players during the season...not just one tournament.

It's not Ronnie's fault he's a cut above though. If he doesn't want to compete all year, then good for him. He's putting himself at a disadvantage because this time next year he'll have lost all his ranking points from last season where he won the German Masters, a PTC event or two, semi's of the Welsh ect. If he turns up next year and doesn't win he'll probably be ranked in the 50's or something ridiculous, assuming he doesn't turn up to next years UK/Welsh/German ect.

[throtts]

Question is, is Ronnie going to follow this performance up and compete next season against the big boys, like facing the likes of Selby, Robinson in the first rounds. Somehow I doubt it and what will Hearn do about if he defends the WC next year ( if he wins it tonight ), he will be fresh again and confident. One thing is for sure, his cue has not been collecting dust for the last year.

I know it's been said but if Ronnie does go on to win this. This will be the biggest sporting achievement I've ever witnessed in my lifetime. To take a whole year out of competitive competition and come back and play at this standard is simply mind boggling.

12 months is not too long at all. He had a nice rest and loads of time to prep up. Also, no bad form and results to take in to this years WC is helpful, think about it, the rest works both ways..

And yes, I agree, should he really be allowed back again next year for this sole tournament if he does not compete in between..

[usasnooker]

I disagree wholeheartedly with those that say Ronnie gets lucky with cannons and splits. He's been doing those shots for two decades, and they work out way more often than not. If it were down to lucky bounces, he would not have done as well in his career as he has.

Also, if Ronnie wants to make a mockery of the sport, I feel he should. He shouldn't have to pander to the rest of the tour just because they can't touch him.

[FerruleFox]

This is exactly the point I made earlier this week, albeit partly in gest. What indeed if ROS wins and automatically earns the right to enter the WC next year again...and decide not to play (m)any of the regular tournaments along the way. How can this be justified? How is this fair to other players who have to earn their way during the season to enter the WC. Somehow this does not add up for me. Hearn should take a long hard look at the rules regarding this. Of course not many players, maybe even none other than ROS could pull something like this off...but still isn't snooker about competing against other top players during the season...not just one tournament.

As long as he keeps winning it every year, why shouldn't he be allowed to play? There is no rule in place currently, is there?

I don't like how he abuses his popularity either but he has the right to defend. Besides, he can't win it forever. Or can he? :biggrin:

[P.Smith]

I don't think Ronnie would have won this year if a lot of the very top players had actually turned up form wise. Robertson fails in the first round, Selby in the second after playing horribly, Higgins out in first and even Trump who usually does well against Ronnie played badly against him in the semi final. I really hope it isn't the same case next year.

[throtts]

As long as he keeps winning it every year, why shouldn't he be allowed to play? There is no rule in place currently, is there?

I don't like how he abuses his popularity either but he has the right to defend. Besides, he can't win it forever. Or can he? :biggrin:

Yes, but his not taking no bad form in to the WC. We all know snooker a in the head game, he has nothing to loose, if he goes out in the first round Ronnie will just say it was great to be back banging some balls about. You bet, he could not believe his luck when he see the other semi finalist this year, no disrespect, but he knew it was really on then.

[FerruleFox]

Yes, but his not taking no bad form in to the WC. We all know snooker a in the head game, he has nothing to loose, if he goes out in the first round Ronnie will just say it was great to be back banging some balls about. You bet, he could not believe his luck when he see the other semi finalist this year, no disrespect, but he knew it was really on then.

I'm not sure I put too much faith in the idea that he was just fresher than everyone else. If it were that easy, he could just qualify for the WC each year and be done with the rest of the tour. I suppose he might do that anyway.

[Ronnie's tip]

Hope it has a cool intro tonight. 2011 was amazing. Last year felt rushed.