World Snooker Championship

[sbbefc]

You cannot just say as there are more centuries the standard is better. More generous tables are a factor there.

If you watched the Big 3 back then you would have to agree that they have lost some of their quality.

The fact young players are not coming through to displace them exposed the wider malaise in the sport. Participation has dropped off a cliff and Hearn has not done enough to promote the game against grass roots level.

There was a period where you had Ebdon and Dott doing well. Both players I'm not that fond of and I much prefer the Yans, Wilsons and Trumps of this generation. IMO I think the quality is better now but there's not that much in it.

 

[blue to the bone]

You cannot just say as there are more centuries the standard is better. More generous tables are a factor there.

If you watched the Big 3 back then you would have to agree that they have lost some of their quality.

The fact young players are not coming through to displace them exposed the wider malaise in the sport. Participation has dropped off a cliff and Hearn has not done enough to promote the game against grass roots level.

Steve Davis in commentary during the week said the pockets are more unforgiving than ever but what would he know

 

[summerisle]

Steve Davis in commentary during the week said the pockets are more unforgiving than ever but what would he know

I like Davis in commentary, doesn't waffle about a player 'losing concentration,' if it's a bad shot he says it is.

 

[4 Eyes Better Than 2]

You cannot just say as there are more centuries the standard is better. More generous tables are a factor there.

If you watched the Big 3 back then you would have to agree that they have lost some of their quality.

The fact young players are not coming through to displace them exposed the wider malaise in the sport. Participation has dropped off a cliff and Hearn has not done enough to promote the game against grass roots level.

Generous tables ?

It doesn’t matter how generous the tables are; finer cloth, lighter balls etc. it’s the same for everyone.

Building a decent sized break will win you the frame, so yes I’m pointing out more and more players are capable of doing just that these days at will and so the competition is tougher.

I think what you’re getting confused at is that it seems the next generation hasn’t come along and took over from past greats and dominated. Just because we are still seeing the likes of O’sullivan, Williams and Higgins comfortably getting in the latter stages most years 20+ years down the line, doesn’t mean the quality is lacking

 

[sbbefc]

I like Davis in commentary, doesn't waffle about a player 'losing concentration,' if it's a bad shot he says it is.

I wasn't alive in the 80s so never got to witness his domination of the game (my dad hated him). But from his punditry and commentary he seems a decent bloke and obviously knows his stuff.

 

[JobForTheMoyes]

That's an Anglo centric point of view. Look at players from countries who didn't feature at all in your 'golden age.' Iran, Belgium, Thailand, multitudinous Chinese, even Germans. The amount of tournaments (and prize money) has increased dramatically, the opportunities are there, it's whether you're good enough and willing to put in the hard yards.

James Wattana was one of the better players at that time. So far none of the young Chinese players have shown they are in the same class as Ding, who woefully underperformed compared to his talent.

I just think if you teleported peak John Higgins, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark Williams or Stephen Hendry into the current game they would be dominant.

 

[JobForTheMoyes]

Generous tables ?

It doesn’t matter how generous the tables are; finer cloth, lighter balls etc. it’s the same for everyone.

Building a decent sized break will win you the frame, so yes I’m pointing out more and more players are capable of doing just that these days at will and so the competition is tougher.

I think what you’re getting confused at is that it seems the next generation hasn’t come along and took over from past greats and dominated. Just because we are still seeing the likes of O’sullivan, Williams and Higgins comfortably getting in the latter stages most years 20+ years down the line, doesn’t mean the quality is lacking

My issue is I don't think the Ronnie, John or Mark would live with their older selves at their peak. The fact they keep winning despite their relative declines is disappointing.

Game needs the likes of Trump and Bingtao to become more dominant.

 

[Deleted member 48881]

Hahaha Trump??? you can't make this up, first time heard of this Trump

 

[JobForTheMoyes]

Just Trump really. Selby is up there and Robertson too. They would compete in any era. Also yan bingtao could be a superstar looks very good to me and should only get better.

I think Trump is the only one who could really take on the peak Big Three. Robertson always seems too fragile and Selby would be too limited. They would get some wins of course, but not many,.

 

[JobForTheMoyes]

Hahaha Trump??? you can't make this up, first time heard of this Trump

When Trump crushed Ronnie at the Masters in 2019 it was as good a performance as I have seen. That's what is disappointing about him - he is another who has not fully achieved his potential.

 

[4 Eyes Better Than 2]

Hahaha Trump??? you can't make this up, first time heard of this Trump

He was the world number 1 ten years ago and former world champion. Not sure how you’ve not heard of him.

 

[summerisle]

James Wattana was one of the better players at that time. So far none of the young Chinese players have shown they are in the same class as Ding, who woefully underperformed compared to his talent.

I just think if you teleported peak John Higgins, Ronnie O'Sullivan, Mark Williams or Stephen Hendry into the current game they would be dominant.

Well Zhao Xintong won the UK Championship this year, also the German masters 9-0, only the third player in snooker history to win a two session final without losing a frame. Yan Bingtao won the Masters last year. Not doing to badly.

 

[Deleted member 48881]

He was the world number 1 ten years ago and former world champion. Not sure how you’ve not heard of him.

I am noob when it comes to this sport mate. Just heard of him in the news

 

[sbbefc]

I think Trump is the only one who could really take on the peak Big Three. Robertson always seems too fragile and Selby would be too limited. They would get some wins of course, but not many,.

Selby (4 time champion) and Robertson have taken them on and won. Both won their first championships 12 and 8 years ago when the big three would have been in their thirties.

I would also argue that O'Sullivan (as great as he is at the game) has never been truly dominant. His wins have spanned three decades and he's never dominated a generation in the same way as Hendry, Davis and Reardon had.

 

[JobForTheMoyes]

Well Zhao Xintong won the UK Championship this year, also the German masters 9-0, only the third player in snooker history to win a two session final without losing a frame. Yan Bingtao won the Masters last year. Not doing to badly.

The only tournament that REALLY matters is the Worlds. It goes all the way back to Joe Davis. They try and hype the Triple Crown but the other events pale in comparison. Not to mention they have watered down the formats of the other major tournaments by reducing the number of frames.

The News Of The World used be to a very big tournament but nobody today would even know what it is.