Snooker Thread

[VillaZogmariner]

Just chatting to my Mom on Facebook and she was saying that she's been watching this new snooker tournament from Barry Hearn. Anyway, Ronnie O'Sullivan broke, and missed a shot then returned to the table (no balls potted by either player) and asked the ref 'how much prize money for a 147 break'.............then went ahead and got one!

He nearly walked away with just the black left as a fingers up to the organisers as there is no prize for a 147 - just a £4k prize for best break.

Anyone else see this? I've tried looking on YouTube but nothing there yet.

[VillaZogmariner]

Mother lied - he was on 9 points

Ronnie O'Sullivan fired a remarkable 147 break at the World Open in Glasgow after halting play when on nine points to check the prize for a maximum.
He was told there was no separate pot but cleared up to beat Mark King 3-0.
The 34-year-old appeared content to end on the pink in the final frame and had to be persuaded to pot the black.
Jimmy White now waits in the fourth round for O'Sullivan, whose break was a record tenth career maximum, one more than his rival Stephen Hendry.
It was a typically extraordinary performance from the mercurial O'Sullivan, who has surprisingly fallen to sixth in the world rankings, largely because he chose to miss the recent event in Shanghai...

...Then came the brilliance, and after potting the first red and black in frame three O'Sullivan halted proceedings to ask what the prize for a 147 was, only to be eventually told there was no additional purse and only a £4,000 sum for the highest break.
He potted some outstanding balls in his maximum, achieved in barely 10 minutes - even with the delay when researching about the 147 prize - but shook hands with King after disposing of the pink.
Referee Jan Verhaas persuaded O'Sullivan to finish the break and he duly slammed in the black in nonchalant fashion.
"I wasn't going to pot the black to be honest with you because I asked the ref and was told there was no break prize for a 147," O'Sullivan admitted to the BBC.
"I wanted to make sure because if there was a decent prize then I would definitely have gone for it and I thought I might as well go for it anyway.
"Jan talked me into it [potting the black]. My whole thing was I was going to make 140 and leave the black What's the point of making a 147 if they're only going to give you four grand for it?
"I'm surprised. They're getting stingier. I thought Barry Hearn was supposed to be putting more money into the game, not taking it out.
"I've had loads of 147s so I don't really get excited by it and thought I needed to give myself something to go for. I just thought 'why not?'"
O'Sullivan has been a supporter of Hearn, who has promised to revitalise the sport as new supremo of World Snooker.
The shorter-form World Open sees only three frames needed to win in the early rounds.


Although by my maths if he's only potted 1 red and a black that is 8 points.

[Villan For Life]

Just chatting to my Mom on Facebook and she was saying that she's been watching this new snooker tournament from Barry Hearn. Anyway, Ronnie O'Sullivan broke, and missed a shot then returned to the table (no balls potted by either player) and asked the ref 'how much prize money for a 147 break'.............then went ahead and got one!

He nearly walked away with just the black left as a fingers up to the organisers as there is no prize for a 147 - just a £4k prize for best break.

Anyone else see this? I've tried looking on YouTube but nothing there yet.

I read about it on the BBC Sport website, perhaps it'll be availble on I-Player, not sure if you can access it down under?

[Olneythelonely]

He's a genius, but also a bit of a twat.

[hilts_coolerking]

I like him.  He doesn't come across as an ordinary human being, let alone an ordinary snooker player.

I'd rather watch him play, or be interviewed, than any other snooker player.  Especially Higgins.

[Chico Hamilton III]

He's a Yam-Yam aint he, O'Sullivan?

They're all mental

[Reuben]

Is Jan a female referee?  I know the female ref at Sheffield is quite foxy but maybe it's the outfit and white gloves...

[Olneythelonely]

He's a Yam-Yam aint he, O'Sullivan?

They're all mental

I don't think he stayed there long.

[German James]

Jan's a big Dutch bloke. I watched it live- couldn't believe the cheeky bastard, when he asked what the prize money was for a 147. But what a clearance!

[darren woolley]

Only ronnie would have the cheek to do that.

[Dave Cooper please]

And the genius to follow it through by getting the 147 as well.

[UK Redsox]

He's a genius, but also a bit of a twat.

A bit ? He's a complete twat

[TopDeck113]

Speaking as someone who has never managed a snooker break in double figures, I can accept that a high level of skill and application is required to complete a maximum 147.

However, O'Sullivan's attitude here was outrageous.  It was an insult to his opponent, the paying customer and the TV broadcaster and their viewers.

The worst part of though is his assertion that £4000 wasn't worth his efforts, especially when he'd paid tax, but £25k would pay for a holiday.  Another example of a top sportsman (if a glorified pub game can be deemed a sport) who has lost touch with the reality of life for those whose hard-earned puts them in earnings league they enjoy.

A grade 'A' twat. 

[Dave Cooper please]

If the revamp of snooker is to succeed then snooker needs O'Sullivan a lot more than O'Sullivan needs snooker.

Barry Hearn will be rubbing his hands together with glee at Ronnie's antics, perfect publicity, snookers "bad boy" acts like a twat but still pots a maximum - he couldn't have asked for more, I wouldn't be surprised if Hearn has sent Ronnie a quiet "thanks, more of the same please".

[andyaston]

Like Alex Higgins and Jimmy White before him Ronnie makes watching Snooker worthwhile. I don't condone some of his antics but, theres always something interesting thats going to happen when hes about.