2022 Snooker World Championships

[Sir David Gray]

Anyone been watching?

Personally really enjoy watching the snooker and the World Championships is one of my favourite two weeks of the sporting year.

Three names into the Quarter Finals already and two of them have been performing at this level for around 30 years - Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Williams. The other member of the "class of 92" John Higgins is playing tomorrow. The other one through to the last eight is the unseeded Stephen Maguire who is no slouch himself.

Half of the Quarter Final line up will be decided tonight with the conclusion of the Mark Selby v Yan Bingtao match.

Selby is one of the favourites for the title and was 11-7 down a few frames ago and Yan only needing two more to win it but Selby is making a comeback and it's now 11-10.

[Sir David Gray]

Wow what an incredible frame of snooker!

The longest frame in Crucible history at over 1 hour and 20 minutes long won by Yan Bingtao and he goes 12-10 up and just one frame away from knocking out Mark Selby.

[Sir David Gray]

Selby is out!

Yan Bingtao wins 13-10.

[3pm]

Don't think he was a contender this year.

Neil Robertson has been the top boy this year but will go with Ronnie.

[Hiber-nation]

Couldn't believe how many easy pots Selby missed. Glad to see him out, dull as ditchwater.

[Sir David Gray]

Couldn't believe how many easy pots Selby missed. Glad to see him out, dull as ditchwater.

Yan has got a really big future, I can see him as a future world champion although probably not this year.

[Itsnoteasy]

Anyone been watching?

Personally really enjoy watching the snooker and the World Championships is one of my favourite two weeks of the sporting year.

Three names into the Quarter Finals already and two of them have been performing at this level for around 30 years - Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Williams. The other member of the "class of 92" John Higgins is playing tomorrow. The other one through to the last eight is the unseeded Stephen Maguire who is no slouch himself.

Half of the Quarter Final line up will be decided tonight with the conclusion of the Mark Selby v Yan Bingtao match.

Selby is one of the favourites for the title and was 11-7 down a few frames ago and Yan only needing two more to win it but Selby is making a comeback and it's now 11-10.


From playing in my youth against Hendry & co to watching every minute of it on telly in the 80s 90s 00s.
It just doesn't have the same appeal to me.
Sadly no characters left in the sport apart from Ronnie & Judd.
Also given that it has taken to the 1/4s before a post was started says to me its a spectator sport that has been on the decline for years..

[Stairway 2 7]

From playing in my youth against Hendry & co to watching every minute of it on telly in the 80s 90s 00s.
It just doesn't have the same appeal to me.
Sadly no characters left in the sport apart from Ronnie & Judd.
Also given that it has taken to the 1/4s before a post was started says to me its a spectator sport that has been on the decline for years..

In the uk...


Viewing figures were massive in the 80s, although there was only 4 channels so everything was huge that was on TV. Figures dipped to the lowest about 5 years ago but are rising again. But all that is just the uk, viewing figures worldwide now dwarf what they were in the 80s. 300 million in China watched last years tournament, 60 million for the final.

I think eventually the world's will move over there

[Itsnoteasy]

In the uk...


Viewing figures were massive in the 80s, although there was only 4 channels so everything was huge that was on TV. Figures dipped to the lowest about 5 years ago but are rising again. But all that is just the uk, viewing figures worldwide now dwarf what they were in the 80s. 300 million in China watched last years tournament, 60 million for the final.

I think eventually the world's will move over there

I'm sure a good few years ago Hendry & others were ambassadors for snooker & travelled to China ���� to promote snooker. Given that the Chinese now have players competing at the world's that will elevate the sport 100 fold.

It was a similar scenario when James Wattana was playing, most of Thailand came to a standstill when he was playing.

[Sir David Gray]

Neil Robertson in a bit of bother against Jack Lisowski as he's 9-7 down going into tomorrow's final session.

John Higgins looks to be in complete control v Noppon Saengkham, he's 8-4 up with 4 more frames to be played tonight.

[Scouse Hibee]

I'm sure a good few years ago Hendry & others were ambassadors for snooker & travelled to China ���� to promote snooker. Given that the Chinese now have players competing at the world's that will elevate the sport 100 fold.

It was a similar scenario when James Wattana was playing, most of Thailand came to a standstill when he was playing.

In the 80’s the company I worked for were manufacturing tables and exporting them to China, one of our table fitters went out there and was offered a job to stay which he did. It didn’t take them too long to stop buying from us and start to manufacture themselves.

[HibbyAndy]

Absolutely remarkable Higgins Ronnie and Williams all still at the top in Snooker 30 years later ! That's actually seriously incredible !!


Glad Selby is out , I just can't stand the guy i don't know why as he's always well spoken but just bores me to tears

Like you SDG my favourite 2 weeks of the year , Absolute love the Snooker

[Sir David Gray]

Neil Robertson just knocks in a 147!

Love to see them at the Crucible.

[G15 Hibs]

Neil Robertson just knocks in a 147!

Love to see them at the Crucible.

Wonderful stuff. Tuned in just in time. Surprising that Robertson's only won the World's once, and quite some time ago at that. Seemed at the time it would be the first of many. Not like he's ever really dropped down the rankings over that time either.

[Sir David Gray]

Wonderful stuff. Tuned in just in time. Surprising that Robertson's only won the World's once, and quite some time ago at that. Seemed at the time it would be the first of many. Not like he's ever really dropped down the rankings over that time either.

Yeah he's also only made it beyond the quarter finals once since then too which is really surprising.

Only the 12th ever maximum break at the Crucible which is some going.

[Sir David Gray]

Both matches tonight very tight - both 12-11.

Neil Robertson is ahead v Jack Lisowski and Judd Trump is leading Anthony McGill.

Hoping for a final frame decider in both.

[Sir David Gray]

Robertson - Lisowski goes to a final frame.

Trump - McGill still 12-11.

[Sir David Gray]

Trump beats McGill 13-11.

[Sir David Gray]

Lisowski beats Robertson 13-12.

[Stairway 2 7]

Finest margins in that last frame

[G15 Hibs]

Finest margins in that last frame

That's what we watch it for. So many ebbs and flows this evening. Great game.

[McD]

Wonderful stuff. Tuned in just in time. Surprising that Robertson's only won the World's once, and quite some time ago at that. Seemed at the time it would be the first of many. Not like he's ever really dropped down the rankings over that time either.


Yeah he's also only made it beyond the quarter finals once since then too which is really surprising.

Only the 12th ever maximum break at the Crucible which is some going.


Lisowski beats Robertson 13-12.


I think it shows just how tough the competition (the players rather than the literal tournament) is, and equally how talented and resilient the likes of Higgins, Williams and O’Sullivan (although I think he’s a dick) have been over their careers, even Hendry didn’t have quite the longevity that these guys have had.

when you consider how many players haven’t won at all, or once or twice max, compared to those 4 and Steve Davis winning it several times each, it’s a true testament to how great they all are. It’s a bit like the tennis with Federer, Nadal, Djokovic (another I can’t stand) and Murray all being at the top together for so long and winning so much.

[Sir David Gray]

So the quarter final line up is now complete.

Yan Bingtao v Mark Williams
Stuart Bingham v Judd Trump
Jack Lisowski v John Higgins
Stephen Maguire v Ronnie O'Sullivan

I think it will be Yan v Trump and Higgins v O'Sullivan in the semis.

[Stairway 2 7]

So the quarter final line up is now complete.

Yan Bingtao v Mark Williams
Stuart Bingham v Judd Trump
Jack Lisowski v John Higgins
Stephen Maguire v Ronnie O'Sullivan

I think it will be Yan v Trump and Higgins v O'Sullivan in the semis.

Higgins o'sullivan would be great

[G15 Hibs]

Intriguing line up for the quarters. All could feasibly go either way, although out of the four I'd probably expect O'Sullivan to beat Maguire by a few.

[Sir David Gray]

Looks like I'm getting one right and one wrong so far.

As expected O'Sullivan is running away with things v Maguire and is 6-2 up.

However Williams is also leading 6-2 v Yan which is a bit of a surprise.

Still plenty of time left right enough.

[Sir David Gray]

Now my predictions are looking promising.

O'Sullivan only needs two more frames tomorrow to reach the semi finals as he's 11-5 up v Stephen Maguire.

Mark Williams has completely lost his way tonight. After finishing this afternoon's session 6-2 up he is currently losing tonight's session 6-1 and is trailing 8-7 with one frame left tonight.

He was 7-4 up tonight and has just lost 4 frames in a row.

Higgins and Trump are both leading 5-3.

[Sir David Gray]

Williams takes the final frame of the night and it finishes all square at 8-8.

[G15 Hibs]

Quick work of it this morning from O'Sullivan, 13-5. Into his 13th Crucible semi final, which is a record apparently. A remarkable career.

[G15 Hibs]

Some start from Stuart "Bingo" Bingham this morning. From 5-3 down to 7-5 up at the mid-session. These remaining 3 quarters are too close to call, as they say. Wouldn't be a surprise at all to see Trump taking the lead back by the end of the session.

[Sir David Gray]

8-8 between Bingham and Trump going into tonight's final session.

Bingham will be disappointed with that after winning the first five frames this morning.

[nonshinyfinish]

Been impressed with Yan in the previous session and the start of this one. Yes, Williams made a lot of errors to let him back into the match, but he's played some great stuff to take advantage. Had loads of superb pots last night.

[Sir David Gray]

Great match between Williams and Yan and Williams wins it 13-11.

I would love to see him win the title again, great player.

[Sir David Gray]

Judd Trump dominates tonight's session and wins 13-8 over Stuart Bingham.

Trump will play Mark Williams in the semis.

Just one place left - either John Higgins or Jack Lisowski and Higgins currently leads 11-9.

The winner will play Ronnie O'Sullivan in the last four.

[Sir David Gray]

Higgins - Lisowski going to a final frame decider.

[Sir David Gray]

Higgins wins 13-12 to set up a semi final with Ronnie O'Sullivan.

Semi finals;

Judd Trump v Mark Williams
Ronnie O'Sullivan v John Higgins

[3pm]

Played John.

Had to dig in but Lisowski carried a bit luck to get 12-11 up, Higgins had a couple of chances.

[G15 Hibs]

14 World Championships between the four semi-finalists. What an incredible line-up.

[Sir David Gray]

14 World Championships between the four semi-finalists. What an incredible line-up.

Despite trailing behind the others in World titles, Judd Trump has actually been very consistent at this tournament for over a decade.

He's reached at least the quarter finals 8 times in the previous 11 years.

Williams and Higgins have only done it 5 times each in that same period and O'Sullivan has done it 7 times.

They've all won it once during that period as well except O'Sullivan who has won it three times.

Exciting few days ahead and looking forward to the semi finals. If O'Sullivan is on the top of his game and feeling motivated then he should win the tournament quite easily as the natural ability he has is unbelievable but quite often his head isn't right and that's when he may come up short especially against Higgins.

The other semi final could be too close to call really but I think Trump will win.

O'Sullivan and Trump final.

[Pretty Boy]

It's been an enjoyable tournament.

Interesting semi final line up. Depending who I talk to I am either told there is a whole host of top youngsters in snooker or 'the game is being taken over by Chinese robots'. A semi finals with 3 guys who made their debuts in 1992 and a 4th who debuted in 2005 suggests the old guard still have plenty to give. The Masters was the same: Hawkins, Trump, Robertson and Williams. Tbf the UK Championship did break the pattern somewhat.

[Sir David Gray]

The first semi final appears to be over already.

Whilst I thought Trump would beat Williams I didn't quite expect 7-1 after the first session.

It's a first to 17 match so there is still time for Williams but he really needs to win the next session 6-2 to have any chance.

O'Sullivan - Higgins just starting.

[Sir David Gray]

Some start from Higgins 3-0 up!

[3pm]

Some start from Higgins 3-0 up!

Both made a few mistakes so good to see Higgins taking advantage.

Interesting start to the frame here.

[3pm]

Ronnie looking sharp now.

Virgo no longer talking about 'a run of the balls' now his mate is winning!

[Sir David Gray]

Back comes O'Sullivan!

3-3.

[Sir David Gray]

Nicely poised after session one - 4-4!

[Sir David Gray]

First four sessions this morning have been shared between Mark Williams and Judd Trump so Williams still trails by six frames - 9-3.

He probably needs to win the rest of the frames in this session to get to 9-7 down or at least 3 of the next 4 to be 10-6 down to stand any chance of getting through.

I don't see it though, you can't afford to give Judd Trump a six frame lead and expect to progress.

[Sir David Gray]

Last four frames of the session also shared so Trump maintains his six frame advantage going into tonight at 11-5.

No way back for Williams now I'd suggest.

[3pm]

Last four frames of the session also shared so Trump maintains his six frame advantage going into tonight at 11-5.

No way back for Williams now I'd suggest.

Needs a mi imum of 6-2 tonight I'd say?

[G15 Hibs]

Needs a mi imum of 6-2 tonight I'd say?

While not impossible, it seems highly unlikely. Trump looks pretty comfortable and could probably go up a notch or two if pressed.

[Sir David Gray]

Needs a mi imum of 6-2 tonight I'd say?

I would say so.

I can't see it though, I think if he loses the match by 5 or 6 frames and basically shares or even wins every session except the first one then he'll be doing well.

Losing the first session 7-1 gives you a mountain to climb.

[Sir David Gray]

Higgins - O'Sullivan still neck and neck and nicely poised at 6-6 going into the mid-session interval.

I can see this one ending up 17-16 - lovely stuff!

[Sir David Gray]

Incredible last frame of this session, O'Sullivan clears up to force a black ball finish.

Either 10-6 or 9-7 to O'Sullivan - huge difference!

[Sir David Gray]

10-6 O'Sullivan.

Can't see Higgins coming back from that.

[Sir David Gray]

Williams starting well winning 3 of the first 4 frames tonight and it's back to 12-8 Trump.

Another 3-1 Williams tonight will make things interesting.

[Stairway 2 7]

Looking at the stats there on TV, China will inevitably take over the top 10

[Sir David Gray]

12-9 now from Trump.

Williams couldn't could he...? 👀

[Sir David Gray]

12-10 this is sublime from Mark Williams.

What a player.

[Sir David Gray]

Unbelievable, Mark Williams wins the third session 6-2 and is now just 13-11 behind going into tomorrow's final session.

Great entertainment, what a match.

[G15 Hibs]

While not impossible, it seems highly unlikely. Trump looks pretty comfortable and could probably go up a notch or two if pressed.


Shows what I know

[Sir David Gray]

Shows what I know

Me too! 😂

Prime example as to why I rarely gamble.

[Stairway 2 7]

What a frame of snooker

https://mobile.twitter.com/WeAreWST/status/1520176104962674688

World Snooker Tour
@WeAreWST
Artistry in potting form 🎨
@ronnieo147

[Sir David Gray]

O'Sullivan - Higgins just started their third session.

Higgins has a slight advantage in this opening frame.

[Sir David Gray]

Unless O'Sullivan manages 4 snookers it will be 10-7.

[Stairway 2 7]

12-8 brilliant stuff

[Sir David Gray]

The first half of the session is shared so it's 12-8 to O'Sullivan.

Higgins really needs a minimum of 3 of the next 4 to have a chance tonight.

[Sir David Gray]

13-9.

Higgins must win the last two frames I think.

[3pm]

15-9.Ronnie won 15 of the last 21 frames.

All over and a 7 time champion incoming.

[Scouse Hibee]

Can’t see the rocket being denied another title.

[Sir David Gray]

O'Sullivan leads 15-9 going into tonight's final session.

It's all over now.

[Sir David Gray]

Very interesting with Trump and Williams.

Trump took the opening frame to go 14-11 ahead but Williams has just won 3 in a row.

14-14.

[DaveF]

Williams 16-15 up.

[Sir David Gray]

Trump equals things up again.

Final frame decider - what a match!

[Sir David Gray]

Trump wins 17-16.

Brilliant entertainment, well done to both players.

[DaveF]

Trump wins 17-16.

Brilliant entertainment, well done to both players.

Yep, that was an epic match. Great stuff.

[Sir David Gray]

Ronnie O'Sullivan easily sees off John Higgins tonight 17-11 and gets into his eighth World Championship final.

I have to go for O'Sullivan to win his seventh title and equal Stephen Hendry's record.

[007]

Ronnie O'Sullivan easily sees off John Higgins tonight 17-11 and gets into his eighth World Championship final.

I have to go for O'Sullivan to win his seventh title and equal Stephen Hendry's record.

I get annoyed at that guy continually announcing O' Sullivan as the greatest player in history. He's not even won the most world titles in the modern era. Stephen Hendry should be offended (as should the ghosts of Joe Davis, Fred Davis, John Pullman...) and He's only on the same number of world titles as Ray Reardon and Steve Davis. Maybe the announcers a Hibby. 🤔

[Stairway 2 7]

I get annoyed at that guy continually announcing O' Sullivan as the greatest player in history. He's not even won the most world titles in the modern era. Stephen Hendry should be offended (as should the ghosts of Joe Davis, Fred Davis, John Pullman...) and He's only on the same number of world titles as Ray Reardon and Steve Davis. Maybe the announcers a Hibby. 🤔

He's 2 more than Ray and if wins today is the same as Hendry. He's won the most ranking titles and has years to go. It's certainly debatable but not too controversial to say He's the best

[OldEast]

He's 2 more than Ray and if wins today is the same as Hendry. He's won the most ranking titles and has years to go. It's certainly debatable but not too controversial to say He's the best

Reardon won 6

[Stairway 2 7]

Reardon won 6

So he did.

If I could edit wiki I would

Ray Reardon wins 5 1974 1982
World Championship 4
World Open 1

Ronnie O'Sullivan wins 38 1993 2021
World Championship 6
UK Championship 7
World Open 1
Welsh Open 4
China Open 2
Shanghai Masters 2
Northern Ireland Trophy 1
British Open 1
Dubai Classic 1
German Masters 2
Irish Masters 2
World Grand Prix 2
European Masters 1
English Open 1
Scottish Open 2
Players Championship 2
Tour Championship 1

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_snooker_players_by_number_of_ranking_title s

[DaveF]

What was O'Sullivans problem with the referee today? I just heard a radio clip about it but they did not elaborate.

[JoeT]

What was O'Sullivans problem with the referee today? I just heard a radio clip about it but they did not elaborate.

Think he swore or made a hand gesture after a miss. Ref told him off while Trump was getting down for his shot which was unfair on him. I'm getting pissed off with the coughing.... If you have a cough don't go to the snooker you twat

[Sir David Gray]

6-4 O'Sullivan.

Seven more frames tonight.

[Northernhibee]

Trump falling apart.

[Pretty Boy]

Trump falling apart.

I think he knows Ronnie is in the mood now and every error is being punished so he's really nervy, maybe even intimidated.

The shot where the long pot was on and he went for a safety and made a mess of it seemed like the point his head went. Missing colours off the spot is going to be punished by almost anyone at this level.

[Sir David Gray]

8-4 O'Sullivan - looks ominous for Trump now.

There's 5 frames left tonight and I'd say he needs to win at least 3 of them to give himself any chance tomorrow.

[3pm]

This is going to turn into a battering for Judd.

[3pm]

8-4 O'Sullivan - looks ominous for Trump now.

There's 5 frames left tonight and I'd say he needs to win at least 3 of them to give himself any chance tomorrow.

I think he needs 4 and I can't see it happening.

[Northernhibee]

This is going to turn into a battering for Judd.

He’s gone. You can see that he’s beaten.

Absolutely terrible snooker from Trump, it’s quite alarming. Can’t stand O’Sullivan but he’s looking formidable.

[Sir David Gray]

10-4 now, Trump needs the remaining three frames tonight or he can forget about it.

[Sir David Gray]

12-5 O'Sullivan going into tomorrow.

Trump will be doing well to force this into a fourth session tomorrow night.

[Scouse Hibee]

I get annoyed at that guy continually announcing O' Sullivan as the greatest player in history. He's not even won the most world titles in the modern era. Stephen Hendry should be offended (as should the ghosts of Joe Davis, Fred Davis, John Pullman...) and He's only on the same number of world titles as Ray Reardon and Steve Davis. Maybe the announcers a Hibby. 🤔

World title wins alone don’t define the greatest player, he’s up there in my opinion.

[Northernhibee]

Trump looking like a different player today.

[Scouse Hibee]

12-8 now as Trump wins first three frames

[Northernhibee]

12-8 now as Trump wins first three frames

Blowing O'Sullivan out of the water. Where was this yesterday?

[Scouse Hibee]

Blowing O'Sullivan out of the water. Where was this yesterday?

Bad miss from OSullivan there too.

[Sir David Gray]

Gutted I'm missing this with being at work!

On the plus side I'll hopefully see a good end tonight as I didn't think there would be a fourth session!

[Scouse Hibee]

What at a response from OSullivan in this frame. 13-8

[Northernhibee]

Judd Trump absolutely dominating here. Think O'Sullivan will welcome a break.

[Sir David Gray]

I can't wait to watch this tonight!

Wait and see it will end up 18-11 to O'Sullivan now! 😂

[3pm]

Didn't expect to see that when I came in for an update!

[Pretty Boy]

Not fussy who wins but would be good to see Trump take the 1st couple of frames tonight to make it really interesting.

[Sir David Gray]

15-11 O'Sullivan.

I feel Trump had to win that one to be honest.

[Sir David Gray]

16-11.

All over now.

[Sir David Gray]

16-12.

[Sir David Gray]

17-12.

[3pm]

Judd will rue his two pots in frame 29 after such a brilliant double.

[Sir David Gray]

17-13.

The match is over but hopefully Trump can win at least a couple more.

[Sir David Gray]

O'Sullivan wins 18-13 for his record equalling seventh world title.

[Pretty Boy]

Well deserved really. Trump at least made a game of it this afternoon.

Was hoping for a 1am epic but an early night is welcome.

[BroxburnHibee]

Ronnie really is the best ever.

Says records don't matter but think the tears told a different story there.

[Stairway 2 7]

Ronnie really is the best ever.

Says records don't matter but think the tears told a different story there.

Yeah it was obvious what it meant to him. I think he has to say it to himself, enjoy it to keep the demons away. People were saying he was the best ever years ago but the reply was, how can he be if Hendry has more. For me he is and he isn't finished yet

[Stairway 2 7]

https://www.spiked-online.com/2022/05/03/the-genius-of-ronnie-osullivan/

The genius of Ronnie O’Sullivan
The game of snooker will never be the same again

It was never really in doubt. Still, it’s nice to make it official. To most snooker fans, it has long been obvious that Ronald Antonio O’Sullivan is the greatest player of all time, but so long as Stephen Hendry had seven World Championships to Ronnie’s six, there would always have been an element of plausible deniability.

On every other measure, O’Sullivan had the better of the Scotsman. Thirty-nine ranking titles to Hendry’s 36. Seven Masters titles to his six. Seven UK Championships to his five. When they played head-to-head, O’Sullivan had 30 victories to Hendry’s 21. Hendry was the King of the Crucible. After O’Sullivan’s 18-13 victory over Judd Trump last night, that is an honour he must now share. As for the question of who is the GOAT, there can be no more argument.

Seven World Championships. Seven Masters. Seven UK Championships. Thirty-nine ranking titles. O’Sullivan has made more maximum breaks than anyone else (15). He made the fastest maximum break ever (five minutes and eight seconds, a record that will almost certainly never be beaten). He is the only player to have made a thousand career centuries (1,170 and counting). At the age of 17, he became the youngest player to win a ranking event and he is now the oldest person to have won the World Championship. In 2012, Hendry retired from snooker aged 43 having won nothing for seven years. O’Sullivan, aged 46, is the world No1 and has won the World Championship twice in the past three years.

Pedants might point out that Joe Davis won the world title 15 times in a row between 1927 and 1946, but the World’s Professional Snooker Championship, as it was known from 1935, was a rinky-dink affair by modern standards, involving as few as two players battling it out while taking a break from the supposedly more serious game of billiards. Fred Davis – Joe’s brother – won a somewhat more coherent version of the competition on eight occasions after the war. John Pulman won something that was technically the world title eight times between 1957 and 1968, but the game was in the doldrums by then and these matches were little more than exhibitions, with a lone challenger allowed to take on Pulman. Three of his titles were won in a single year (1965).

You can only beat the people you’re drawn against and it is to take nothing away from these great players to note that the quality and quantity of their opposition was of a different order to that which has faced O’Sullivan since he won the UK Championship at a canter in 1993. Joe Davis made the first official 147 break in 1955 in an exhibition match and it was 10 years before anyone made another. Fred Davis and John Pulman never made a maximum in competitive play. In the 2021/22 season, by contrast, 10 players made a break of 147. O’Sullivan has made 15 in his career, including three at the Crucible.

To a casual observer, it might seem that winning seven World Championships in a 30-year career is a relatively modest accomplishment for the greatest player of all time, but the tournament is an extremely difficult one to win. Played over 17 days, it is the ultimate test not only of technical ability, but also of stamina, drive and concentration. O’Sullivan could have smashed Hendry’s record years ago had it not been for what commentators euphemistically call ‘problems off the table’. His father was jailed for life in the year he turned professional. At one point in the 1990s, both of his parents were in prison. Staying up all night with Jimmy White, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood is not the best preparation for the modern professional. By O’Sullivan’s own reckoning, he lost nine years of his career to partying.

When Ronnie O’Sullivan’s head is in the right place, there is no stopping him. His greatest psychological obstacle has always been what he calls ‘snooker depression’. Distinct from normal depression, snooker depression arises from the obsessive quest for perfection and is exacerbated by endless days in distant hotel rooms. Snooker, like chess, can send players crazy. Strictly speaking, there is no luck in the game. It is all physics. The pockets are always in the same place. The balls roll in a predictable way. In principle, everything can be controlled. In practice, however, the human brain – even one as fine as O’Sullivan’s – cannot predict or control the movement of every spinning ivory sphere. In the gap between what is possible and what is realistic lies turmoil.

Presenters are often left open-mouthed in post-match interviews when Ronnie berates his own game after thrashing an opponent with some of the best snooker anybody has ever seen. His standard response to a tournament victory is to say that he played terribly and can’t believe he won. A cynic might say that this is a ploy to demoralise the opposition. I think it is genuine. Every minute spent sat in his chair is a reminder that he could have played the last shot better. Yes, he got four centuries, but he could have got 10. To the viewing public, it looked like another supreme performance from a genius, but it could never live up to the game O’Sullivan sees in his head.

Even the greatest players lose more tournaments than they win. Rather than be tormented by this, O’Sullivan’s approach in recent years has been to embrace it. He portrays himself as an amateur playing for fun in the autumn of his career. He says he would rather be in the commentary box with Jimmy and the boys or out running. He has essentially retired from overseas tournaments. A few years ago, he conducted every post-match interview with an Australian accent just for the hell of it.

You don’t need to be a psychologist to see that downplaying your own talents is a way of taking the pressure off, but it is not wholly an act. After winning the World Championship in 2012, O’Sullivan dropped off the tour, stopped playing snooker and went to work on a pig farm before returning to the Crucible in 2013 to win the tournament again. Up to a point, he really can take or leave it.

But only up to a point. Taking the game less seriously seems to have made O’Sullivan happier. It has certainly extended his career. But you don’t beat the likes of Judd Trump with levity. Stephen Hendry dominated the 1990s just as Steve Davis dominated the 1980s, but neither man was able to keep up with the next generation of snooker players. Alex Higgins’ extraordinary natural ability wasn’t enough for him to win more than two World Championships. At the age of 46, Ronnie O’Sullivan is still the man to beat because he has worked at it, mentally and physically. He has improved and adapted his game through countless hours of practice. He does it because he loves snooker and he wants to win. Whatever he might say in public, the seventh world title was the itch that needed scratching. When he hugged Judd Trump for a full minute after winning last night, you could see what it meant to him.

[BroxburnHibee]

Hendry said it himself last night. Soon as he equalled Steve on 6 he had to have 7.

Ronnie will want 8. If he got it I'd expect him to retire then.

[Stairway 2 7]

Amazing break from Ronnie. But the thing is 9000 smart snooker fans turning up for each session. It's surely inevitable that snooker moves more and more east.

https://mobile.twitter.com/ChrisHammer180/status/1579255897599025152
@ChrisHammer180
This 114 total clearance from Ronnie O'Sullivan to win the Hong Kong Masters is absolutely genius.

It featured 12 blues and 0 blacks until he brilliantly brings it into position at the very end. The 9000-strong crowd loved it almost like a 147

[Sir David Gray]

Amazing break from Ronnie. But the thing is 9000 smart snooker fans turning up for each session. It's surely inevitable that snooker moves more and more east.

https://mobile.twitter.com/ChrisHammer180/status/1579255897599025152
@ChrisHammer180
This 114 total clearance from Ronnie O'Sullivan to win the Hong Kong Masters is absolutely genius.

It featured 12 blues and 0 blacks until he brilliantly brings it into position at the very end. The 9000-strong crowd loved it almost like a 147

Some of these shots were absolute genius.

What an incredible talent.

[The Modfather]

Amazing break from Ronnie. But the thing is 9000 smart snooker fans turning up for each session. It's surely inevitable that snooker moves more and more east.

https://mobile.twitter.com/ChrisHammer180/status/1579255897599025152
@ChrisHammer180
This 114 total clearance from Ronnie O'Sullivan to win the Hong Kong Masters is absolutely genius.

It featured 12 blues and 0 blacks until he brilliantly brings it into position at the very end. The 9000-strong crowd loved it almost like a 147

A good break, but getting top side of the blue every second shot is a big target. Not sure the break would have got the same adulation if it had been a lesser player.

As an aside I watched a couple of frames from a mixed doubles tournament the other week. Think it was Trump v Selby plus partners and a bit of Ronnie’s match. It didn’t work. There was such a gulf between the very top of the mens elite like Trump & Selby and their female partners. It was like watching different games happening in the same frame. If they want to go down that route they should make it more like the snooker shootout, which is more like the darts. Shot clocks, audience shouting out and singing etc rather than a normal snooker match with drastically different levels every second shot.

[Jones28]

Shaun Murphy must have lost a good few pounds. He’s looking very well.

[Hiber-nation]

Shaun Murphy must have lost a good few pounds. He’s looking very well.

Mark Allen as well, lost nearly 5 stone in the last few months and now playing well in a major final. Think Ding will win it though.

[HibbyAndy]

Mark Allen as well, lost nearly 5 stone in the last few months and now playing well in a major final. Think Ding will win it though.

Wow Mark Allen looks in amazing shape ! He's lost so much weight

[Sir David Gray]

Allen wins 10-7, after being 6-2 down going into this evening.

Brilliant comeback.

[.Sean.]

Allen wins 10-7, after being 6-2 down going into this evening.

Brilliant comeback.
Shattered this morning at work after staying up for that, that’s late for me on a Sunday! 😂

Have tickets for the Scottish Open at Meadowbank on the Thursday, really looking forward to it.

[Sir David Gray]

Shattered this morning at work after staying up for that, that’s late for me on a Sunday! 😂

Have tickets for the Scottish Open at Meadowbank on the Thursday, really looking forward to it.

I've never been to the snooker before but got a couple of days at the World Championships next year and can't wait.

Hope you enjoy it.

[Speedy]

Shaun Murphy must have lost a good few pounds. He’s looking very well.

He got a gastric sleeve operation

[Stairway 2 7]

Now confirmed the fastest century and in Edinburgh to boot

https://mobile.twitter.com/eurosport/status/1597316105856393216

[Sir David Gray]

Now confirmed the fastest century and in Edinburgh to boot

https://mobile.twitter.com/eurosport/status/1597316105856393216

World Snooker have confirmed it missed the record by three seconds.

[Stairway 2 7]

World Snooker have confirmed it missed the record by three seconds.

Brilliant break but nice that Tony gets to keep it, ronny has enough records

[TAHibby]

If anyone's interested there's still tickets available for every day I think at meadowbank. Semi and final were previously showing as sold out but must have released more seats

[Scouse Hibee]

I've never been to the snooker before but got a couple of days at the World Championships next year and can't wait.

Hope you enjoy it.

You’ll love it, I’ve been to the crucible a couple of times and been at lots of snooker as a table fitter waiting to brush and iron in the intervals though not at the Crucible. I much prefer watching snooker at the venue rather than on TV.

[Sir David Gray]

You’ll love it, I’ve been to the crucible a couple of times and been at lots of snooker as a table fitter waiting to brush and iron in the intervals though not at the Crucible. I much prefer watching snooker at the venue rather than on TV.

Cheers can't wait. Got two days, one for a session at one of the semi finals and one session of the final.

Really looking forward to it, love the World Championships and can't wait to go to such an iconic sporting venue. I've been wanting to go for years.

[The Modfather]

https://twitter.com/CuePowerBlog/status/1648029262622932992?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcam p%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

What a cretin!

[007]

https://twitter.com/CuePowerBlog/status/1648029262622932992?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcam p%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

What a cretin!

That's criminal damage so he should be charged and have to pay compensation. If I was one of the spectators I'd be looking to collaborate with the others to sue him for compensation for the snooker missed.

[J-C]

Just seen the news and pics, WTF, how can climate protesters go after snooker, what damage does snooker do to the climate, I give up on these crackpots, through the book at them.

[ErinGoBraghHFC]

Just seen the news and pics, WTF, how can climate protesters go after snooker, what damage does snooker do to the climate, I give up on these crackpots, through the book at them.

It’s not that snooker affects the climate, it’s that it’s a high profile event and televised. What better place to exercise civil disobedience in the name of your cause?

However… what a ****.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[He's here!]

Just seen the news and pics, WTF, how can climate protesters go after snooker, what damage does snooker do to the climate, I give up on these crackpots, through the book at them.

Same reason they deface famous works of art. High profile targets.

[blackpoolhibs]

Watching the protesters getting quite roughly manhandled out the way on Saturday at the grand National, got me thinking why dont the police do it the same way when these clowns sit on the M25, or main roads in London? :confused:

[ErinGoBraghHFC]

Watching the protesters getting quite roughly manhandled out the way on Saturday at the grand National, got me thinking why dont the police do it the same way when these clowns sit on the M25, or main roads in London? :confused:

The police are accountable to the public, security at these events are only accountable to the firm they work for


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[blackpoolhibs]

The police are accountable to the public, security at these events are only accountable to the firm they work for


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

It was the police i was talking about at aintree.

[ErinGoBraghHFC]

It was the police i was talking about at aintree.

Ahhh okay apologies, caught the wrong end of the stick

[Tambo]

Vafaei's break off in the second frame 😆

[The Modfather]

Higgins dismantling Kyren Wilson, currently 7-0 up. Still think he has one more world title in him. He does seem to peak too early and runs out of steam by the final these days. He just can’t get over the line in finals like he used to. Lost so many finals the last few years, some criminally.

[HibbyAndy]

Higgins dismantling Kyren Wilson, currently 7-0 up. Still think he has one more world title in him. He does seem to peak too early and runs out of steam by the final these days. He just can’t get over the line in finals like he used to. Lost so many finals the last few years, some criminally.

11-1 up and kicked off with 3 ton plus breaks , The ultimate match snooker player

5 times world champion , He knows how to win this

[NORTHERNHIBBY]

11-1 up and kicked off with 3 ton plus breaks , The ultimate match snooker player

5 times world champion , He knows how to win this

A 13-2 scoreline is very impressive.

[The Modfather]

Higgins 10-5 down to Selby. Can’t see him coming back. Not playing all that badly but Selby is out Higgins-ing Higgins.

There was a frame where they spent 30 minutes on the last red, it was outstanding. Top safety and tactical play from the best two there’s been at that side of the game. Those are my favourite frames. My wife would divorce me if she had to sit through one of them when I drag her each year to the crucible.

[McD]

Higgins 10-5 down to Selby. Can’t see him coming back. Not playing all that badly but Selby is out Higgins-ing Higgins.

There was a frame where they spent 30 minutes on the last red, it was outstanding. Top safety and tactical play from the best two there’s been at that side of the game. Those are my favourite frames. My wife would divorce me if she had to sit through one of them when I drag her each year to the crucible.


:thumbsup: watching great safety exchanges is really enjoyable

[Itsnoteasy]

Higgins 10-5 down to Selby. Can’t see him coming back. A playing all that badly but Selby is out Higgins-ing Higgins.

There was a frame where they spent 30 minutes on the last red, it was outstanding. Top safety and tactical play from the best two there’s been at that side of the game. Those are my favourite frames. My wife would divorce me if she had to sit through one of them when I drag her each year to the crucible.

Higgins deserves to get rammed every time. After the match fixing sting on him. Cheating Celtic ****.

[Hiber-nation]

Christ the "Jester" is a hard watch 😖

Stephen Hendry definitely not impressed!

[Itsnoteasy]

Christ the "Jester" is a hard watch 😖

Stephen Hendry definitely not impressed!

Most tickets for crucible are sold out b4 event begins. You would have been gutted if you were at this semi & not the other one. It's meant to be entertaining.

[Hiber-nation]

Most tickets for crucible are sold out b4 event begins. You would have been gutted if you were at this semi & not the other one. It's meant to be entertaining.

Aye, some folk might say Selby's play is what snooker is all about but it's beyond Cliff Thorburn-negative. Brutal stuff.

Hope Brecel can do it.

[Stairway 2 7]

Aye, some folk might say Selby's play is what snooker is all about but it's beyond Cliff Thorburn-negative. Brutal stuff.

Hope Brecel can do it.

I'm not watching today as I can think of a dozen better things to do than watching Selby and some of them are tedious.

[JoeT]

Wow 147

[Hiber-nation]

Bit of entertainment from the jester at last.... brilliant!

[ronaldo7]

Bracel is absolutely on fire here.

[Allant1981]

Bracel is absolutely on fire here.

Not so much tonight so far

[Trinity Hibee]

Does this have to finish tonight? If Selby gets to 18 could be another couple of hours

[ronaldo7]

Not so much tonight so far

He seemed to have a brain fart in the evening session with his safety shots or lack of them, but finally got it together.

[Stairway 2 7]

Pretty cool. Every 147 at the crucible in a montage and timed.

https://twitter.com/ChrisHammer180/status/1658560419710095370