Does he have a point?

[chartpolski 24,232]

O'Sullivan far from his best, 3-1 down to Wilson, but then reels off four frames in a row to win and set up a semi final against Trump.

Hes going to have to raise his game to beat Trump.

Cheers.

[Greb147 6,809]

Didn't watch it Charts but that must have been a proper hiding by Trump yesterday, he's got Ronnie's number big time atm it appears. 

[chartpolski 24,232]

10 minutes ago, Greb147 said:

Didn't watch it Charts but that must have been a proper hiding by Trump yesterday, he's got Ronnie's number big time atm it appears. 

I wouldn't say a hiding, though the score line looks that way.

Trump was the better player, easily, but at this level, the world champ v the world number one, the first one to make a mistake is punished. 

Trump made one serious mistake and O'Sullivan punished him with a clearance.

O''Sullivan made more mistakes and Trump punished him almost every time.

Ive been interested in the comments about the break-off. At one time it was considered an advantage, now it's not when playing the top players. With their long potting skills, the break-off needs to be near perfect, and O'Sullivans unorthodox break allways leaves a long red to the right hand black pocket.

Trump is about the best long potter in the game and it showed.

If I was a betting man, I would have bet on Trump, as, to, me O'Sullivan is nowhere near his best and got this far on his reputation.

I enjoyed it, nonetheless, I'll probably give the other semi a miss today, but watch the final.

Cheers.

[jukel123 8,457]

For me modern snooker has become less exciting . The players are too damn good. One mistake and the other guy clears the table. I much preferred it in the early days of the televised game when players took more chances. Even complete unknowns could win , like Joe Johnstone for example. Alex Higgins was always so edge you never knew if he would throw caution to the wind and smash the balls, play a safety shot, or attack his opponent.lol.

The more professional the players become, the less of a spectacle it has become.I think it will continue to lose ratings unless they devise new ways of livening the game up.

 

[chartpolski 24,232]

 

1 hour ago, jukel123 said:

For me modern snooker has become less exciting . The players are too damn good. One mistake and the other guy clears the table. I much preferred it in the early days of the televised game when players took more chances. Even complete unknowns could win , like Joe Johnstone for example. Alex Higgins was always so edge you never knew if he would throw caution to the wind and smash the balls, play a safety shot, or attack his opponent.lol.

The more professional the players become, the less of a spectacle it has become.I think it will continue to lose ratings unless they devise new ways of livening the game up.

 

I agree with some of what you say about the first one "in" clearing up, but the first few frames last nigh was a great battle of safety play, what was once very unusual for O'Sullivan, but now his all round game has changed. He's less likely to take on an "iffy" pot, and more likely to play safe. Wether that has improved his game, I don't know. It's less exciting, but, to me, just as enjoyable.

Im not sure what you mean about ratings. Before the lock down every venue was way over booked, and the tv ratings, I believe

, are the highest since its heyday .

Cheers.

[jukel123 8,457]

In its heyday the 1985 final attracted 18.5 million. ( Taylor v, senior moment, the boring ginger fella lol). I don't think we'll ever get that level of interest again. I think that's partly down to the game having less 'characters' and partly due to the  chess like format that the game has developed into. Although I suppose, to be fair, snooker has so many other sports and  TV platforms to compete with. It used to be a working class, hustlers' game played by guys with similar backgrounds to me. Now its a career path for all sorts of people which makes it less interesting for me.

Edited December 19, 2020 by jukel123

[chartpolski 24,232]

Yeah, it will never get back to that level of viewers, but, much like darts, since Hearns got involved, the viewing figures are at a high since those halcyon day.

Again, much like darts, it's become far richer and more professional and moved on from a pub game.

Im from the land of the working men's clubs, and every club had at least one snooker table and a team in the snooker league, now you're lucky to see a snooker table in a club or pub.

I guess I'm in a minority on here, darts is my favourite sport, closely followed by snooker, with football a distant third.

I enjoy discussing snooker, but it's only my opinions, others may well see it very differently ! !

Cheers.

[jukel123 8,457]

55 minutes ago, chartpolski said:

Yeah, it will never get back to that level of viewers, but, much like darts, since Hearns got involved, the viewing figures are at a high since those halcyon day.

Again, much like darts, it's become far richer and more professional and moved on from a pub game.

Im from the land of the working men's clubs, and every club had at least one snooker table and a team in the snooker league, now you're lucky to see a snooker table in a club or pub.

I guess I'm in a minority on here, darts is my favourite sport, closely followed by snooker, with football a distant third.

I enjoy discussing snooker, but it's only my opinions, others may well see it very differently ! !

Cheers.

The snooker room had an almost religious aura in the working men's clubs. No lowly women allowed. Smoking over the table or resting a glass on the  table could lead to being banned from the club. You could also get a clip from one of the older men if you were a young lad for transgressing the rules. I know to my cost. 

[Greb147 6,809]

9 minutes ago, jukel123 said:

The snooker room had an almost religious aura in the working men's clubs. No lowly women allowed. Smoking over the table or resting a glass on the  table could lead to being banned from the club. You could also get a clip from one of the older men if you were a young lad for transgressing the rules. I know to my cost. 

Funny seeing the old men play, they would play safe if a red was over the pocket.

[chartpolski 24,232]

10 minutes ago, Greb147 said:

Funny seeing the old men play, they would play safe if a red was over the pocket.

Probably a hangover from the billiards days .

When I was on a pool team, the young 'uns could never understand why I would try for a snooker rather than smash balls all over the place !

Cheers.

[Greb147 6,809]

5 minutes ago, chartpolski said:

Probably a hangover from the billiards days .

When I was on a pool team, the young 'uns could never understand why I would try for a snooker rather than smash balls all over the place !

Cheers.

What's your highest break in snooker, mines only about 40.

[chartpolski 24,232]

Just now, Greb147 said:

What's your highest break in snooker, mines only about 40.

I haven't played for years but I've never made more than 50, and that was mainly on blues, against a mug, wouldn't have got near that playing a decent player !

Cheers.

[Greb147 6,809]

3 minutes ago, chartpolski said:

I haven't played for years but I've never made more than 50, and that was mainly on blues, against a mug, wouldn't have got near that playing a decent player !

Cheers.

I'm the opposite me, I play better when I'm against someone good. 

If I play someone terrible then I get dragged down to their level, saying that I'm not even at a decent level myself.

[shaaark 10,886]

4 hours ago, jukel123 said:

For me modern snooker has become less exciting . The players are too damn good. One mistake and the other guy clears the table. I much preferred it in the early days of the televised game when players took more chances. Even complete unknowns could win , like Joe Johnstone for example. Alex Higgins was always so edge you never knew if he would throw caution to the wind and smash the balls, play a safety shot, or attack his opponent.lol.

The more professional the players become, the less of a spectacle it has become.I think it will continue to lose ratings unless they devise new ways of livening the game up.

 

They tried to 'jazz the game' up about 10 years ago, by giving the players silly nicknames and getting them to walk/dance to some silly theme tune, when walking down the steps to the table. 

Will never forget the look of utter contempt on nigel bond's face everytime he was expected to 'waltz' down the steps to some james bond tune! .

That didn't last long lol.

Edited December 19, 2020 by shaaark

[chartpolski 24,232]

Some of the nick names are cringe worthy.

"The Jester From Leicester " has to be the most inappropriate name for Selby.

Maybe "Sour Faced Selby" would be more like it !

Cheers.