Ronnie won comfortably in the end but his interview in the aftermath was odd, a few digs at Ali, seemed out of place still on the the triple crown in the same Season too
He's a prick, always has been. Most talented player in the history of the game, but can't help himself.
Carter and O Sullivan have been at each other for years so the comments last night are nothing unexpected. Its the main reason I switch channels once the final ball is sunk, I like to watch the game but have zero time for their opinions. Having said that the masters was a very good tournament. Hard to argue with two 147's and several last frame deciders and Carters overall performance until those final 3-4 frames
Last time I watched snooker was around the time of Williams, Ebdon, Higgins and even Hendry was competing for titles. Is there still the same level of competition in the game as back then? With the decline in the sports popularity, has that seen a decline in the amount of elite players or their ability? I know Ronnie is the best to ever play the game but are how do the players around him compare to the top 5 players 20 or 25 years ago?
20 years ago, O Sullivan was World number 1, with Hendry, Higgins, Mark Williams and Paul Hunter (RIP) making up the top 5, so you still have 3 of the top players from 2004 at the top of the game in 2024 If you put the top 16's of each year against each other I'd fancy todays players to win the majority. There were some great break builders in the past but not the number of players today who turn any sort of chance into a frame on their side. Hendry's best total of centuries in a a season was 53, 4 or 5 current players have made more with Trump and Robertson making 100+ centuries in a season. I think the biggest difference between the eras is that in the 80's and 90's you were either a "potter" (White, Alex Higgins,) or a "grinder" (Parrott, Thorburn, Davis) and then players like Hendry appeared who were equally good at both sides and within a few years, the "specialist" types found themselves out potted and out safety'd as Williams, John Higgins and O Sullivan appeared and the game changed. The level of excellence (for lack of a better term) needed to suceed in todays game is almost impossibly high and the players now have agents, managers and support staff to make sure all they have to worry about is the table- Judd Trump was in a slump a few seasons ago and couldnt get out of it until he got his brother to quit his job and travel the world with him as company and a sense of normality
I actually don't think he's been a prick . Them two have traded words for a while now. Ronnie is the best ever but I always feel sorry for him cause his state of mind has always been all over the place. He could do or say anything. Pull out of a tournament or come out with something random. He's suffered from depression all his life. He's always said he wishes he was a long distance jogger.
Heading over to the crucible next week for one of the afternoon sessions, only a first round game but might get lucky with one of the top players playing. Always wanted to go, looking forward to it.
I've always wondered what it's like to be in the crowd at a snooker game, admittedly I'd have little appreciation of the sport on a technical level which might be the main reason people are there but is it like sitting in a library for a few hours with no chat or does it just looks like that on TV.