Why do you watch Snooker?

[samasnookerfan]

What do you personally find so fascinating about watching Snooker?
I mean what is so fascinating about watching a guy attempt to pot balls on a 12ft slate table?
Well theres obviously a lot more to it than that. I feel lots of people, even people who think they know the game, don't realise how much skill, concentration and patience that goe's into the sport.
And which kinds of matches do like watching the most? Do you prefer watching quick matches with players like O'Sullivan? Admire the masterful breakbuilding of Stephen Hendry? Get engrossed in tactical battles with the likes of Ken Doherty? Enjoy the exhibition shots that Mark Williams pulls off?
Anyway I like all these kinds of matches!
Anyway these are my questions, your comments please!

[nardiello]

i watch snooker because of ding junhui!the magic boy from china!

[dannyd0g]

Over the years for me its become a lot to do with becoming a supporter of the players. So i now watch the likes of Ronnie, Hendry, Jimmy, Drago,etc to kind of will them on to win simply because i like them.

Its definately not purely all about the snooker itself as I could never watch players like Gray and Perry simply because theres no enjoyment in them somehow.

At first as a kid i liked it because i could learn about how to play. Then i started buzzing off watching Alex and Jimmy White's brilliance and the way they could whip up the crowd. The same goes for Ronnie now and all the drama that goes with him.

So its a mixture of the characters and their skills, and the crowd reactions and atmosphere.

[Monique]

The game has a fascinating mathematical - geometrical - beauty, especially break building and especially when breaks are built fluently - almost effortlessly (it seems ) - like when ROS is in the groove.
I also like the "ritual" aspect of the game, the dress code, the formal referees, the contrast with the bright colours of table and balls. And the subtle or imaginative ways players break this formality with unexpected clothing details or crazy haircuts
But I can appreciate good tactical battles also ...

[Ekphantos]

I can't really tell why I am fascinated by snooker. I like the long matches where the thrill builds up slowly and you can see players trying to cope with the pressure while getting more and more excited in front of the TV .
I like tactical battles far more than quick frames and big breaks, so I don't really enjoy watching Ronnie O'Sullivan in full flow like other people here might do.

[Ekphantos]

Its definately not purely all about the snooker itself as I could never watch players like Gray and Perry simply because theres no enjoyment in them somehow.

For me watchin matches like that is some other kind of enjoyment, more of the relaxing type for lazy Sunday afternoons.

[dantuck_7]

I can't really tell why I am fascinated by snooker. I like the long matches where the thrill builds up slowly and you can see players trying to cope with the pressure while getting more and more excited in front of the TV .
I like tactical battles far more than quick frames and big breaks, so I don't really enjoy watching Ronnie O'Sullivan in full flow like other people here might do.

I would recommend everyone to try and get to the Crucible in Sheffield - its a very impressive atmosphere when the semi-finals and Finals are played over a couple of days. With the Maguire Higgins match this year - you get a real sense of the importance and magnitude of the event

As Monique was saying it is quite mesmerising to watch people such as Maguire Higgins and ROS break build. Its just so natural and captures your attention but then you also have the other side of the game where players have to battle it out. I remember John Higgins in one of the closing frames in his semi-final; it had been a really tough match and he had stayed with Maguire even though he was playing better than him for most of the match. There was one shot were he had the chance of to play position off the black and run around the table to get on the final red. Instead he made sure of the black, just rolled it in and played a decent safety. It just seemed to capture how important the frame was to him and how Higgins had found the correct balance between attack / defensive / staying in the match.

[Sam147]

for me it's:

- the craftsmanship & the skill of break building... keeping that white under control (some players such as Ron, Hendo & John seem to talk the white into position). sometimes, i'm amazed at the way Ronnie splits the pack open with more balls than one in pottable positions... other players are excellent at that too but for some reason, the way Ronnie does it is amazing!!!

- the safety battles between some of the top players & the infinite times they can go about placing that white ball underneath the baulk cushion time & time again!

- the quickfire centuries by Ronnie O'Sullivan, accomplished without a care in the world & looking easier than drinking a glass of water

- the attitude of players like Peter Ebdon, Ken Doherty & Graeme Dott towards the game... never giving up, not knowing when/if they lost...

- the way Mark Williams (on form) plays with the rest sometimes, underarm shots (his version of playing right handed ) & how he'd take endless long pots tucked underneath the back cushion & pot'em without even looking slightly under pressure!!!

i suppose it the variety of things one sees in Snooker that makes it so appealing & enjoyable

one last thing, i luv the game coz it somehow led me to TSF & ROS' website where i met & made some of the best & sweetest friends i have

[MrRottweiler]

I don't watch much Snooker when its players I don't follow but if its two big guns I'm glued to the screen. Watching Snooker is a good training aid. I also like the fact that its quiet which means I can read a book or the papers or just potter about while its on and its very relaxing. Ideally its bitter cold outside, its a Saturday afternoon and I'm wrapped up in my duvet toasty warm with an afternoon of Snooker ahead. Everything I need is close by so I don't need to move much

[missneworleans]

I like how they pot those balls, traectories, mathematically, I just like it!

[samasnookerfan]

I like how they pot those balls, traectories, mathematically, I just like it!

Very nicely put.
Even though I haven't the faintest idea what 'traectories' means, it seems very well worded!

[Sam147]

Very nicely put.
Even though I haven't the faintest idea what 'traectories' means, it seems very well worded!

i think missy meant "trajectory" or the path of the white ball after hitting the object ball in order to gain position on the next ball... it's a great thing to watch especially in a well crafted break coz it usually needs pin point accuracy to canon a ball or miss a canon to gain position on a single ball (hitting a certain point on the white with extreme accuracy, not one mm up nor one mm down can mean the difference between end of break or prolonging one)...

the path of the cueball is lovely to watch when escaping a snooker or laying one but the most amazing thing is the magic touch applied by the elite players while doing so

[matt01]

hi

For me the biggest thrill is watching the rocket at his best. He makes the game seem ridiculously easy at times.
I also enjoy Ding's breakbuilding.
I also like looking at the player's stance and grip.

[jdgsunclose]

I love to watch snooker because it's my favorite sport, the sport i participate in more than any other. I watch because it's a sport i understand, i can appreciate just how good the hendys and o'sullivans are. I love to see big breaks and watching shots that leave me awe-struck, shots i can't play. Personally, i believe o'sullivan in full flow is one of the most entertaining sights in sport.

[Wity]

I'll watch snooker as a fan of the game and in hope to learn from it. Couldn't give two monkeys who is playing who as long as they are decent players. Strange really as when football is on the box if it's not Wolves or England playing I rarely bother.

Spose that defines the difference between being a fan and a supporter.