See this man after the tournament? See this man before the tournament?
Is there much difference? No? That’s kind of the point.
the two ronnies strike again
Okay, so the Worlds are over, and frankly, I think the whole thing was fucking amazing. I talked on the phone with Matt after Ronnie won, and he was still a little shell-shocked. He knows what an achievement this was for his hero (and his top three ever with Alex Higgins and Steve Davis), but Ronnie himself was talking like it was just a very nice thing. Grownup Ronnie still had his head together in terms of the bigger picture - almost freakish when you consider how all athletes and teams react to winning a World Championship - and it’s something Matt especially is learning from, having also a history of being up and down like…well, Ronnie said it. ;-) We also agreed that the final would not have been the classic it was without Barry Hawkins, who represents the good that can come from the schedule changes the Big Barry (Hearn) has made, building himself up PTC-by-PTC, putting in the miles and the money, and working his ass off to earn his place and then end up challenging The Best. Hawk made Rocket work, Rocket made Hawk work, and that’s what a great snooker match should be. But the guys in the 20s and below in the rankings need to remember that this time a couple years ago, Hawk was one of them, and anyone who makes it onto The Tour has those opportunities. (No, this doesn’t mean we’ve drunk Bazza’s Kool-Aid, not entirely. You know us, right?)
Anyway, so who is this weird-looking guy in that video up there? As I was watching the liveworldsnooker feed, I wasn’t seeing the stuff the BBC was putting on between frames, but I saw on Twitter a lot of people slagging this comedian who was doing some sort of a bit on snooker. When I talked to Matt afterward, he was thrilled to tell me it was one of our faves, Andy Zaltzman, who with John Oliver runs the brilliant podcast The Bugle - which, though it’s international, makes a point to throw in snooker references every couple episodes, to our delight. So worlds collided for us! Now the bit is on YouTube, I got to see it and declare it Classic Andy, awash in puns and metaphors. We’re so glad he got to get his snooker on for more than a few seconds for once - and on the BBC in primetime! Hoorah Zaltor the Magnificent!
Now snooker is over and we can get some damn work done for the next couple months. Whew.
- Valerie
After his win over Ricky Walden in the Worlds semi-final, liveworldsnooker.tv followed Barry Hawkins back to his dressing room with coach Terry Griffiths and SWSA poobah (and great guy - we met him in October!) Paul Mount. Ricky soon came back to congratulate them. All class everywhere.
Here’s a rough grab of the BBC’s collection of some of the fun stuff Dechawat Poomjaeng got up to beating Stephen Maguire in the first round of The Worlds (since they saw fit to make the video UK-only).
My highlight, though, was when the powers that be stopped play with Poom leading 9-8. They were about an hour before the next session, but it was thought that was too close, so Poom and Mags were taken off. Keep in mind that Poom was on a roll in a very entertaining session of snooker, and he was facing having to win one more frame in the biggest match of his life on the biggest stage. Clearly a break favoured Mags, who was struggling mightily but could always snap back into place. Anyone in Poom’s position could have been justifiably livid being taken off the table, wondering if a spell would be broken. But while Mags stalked off to rest and compose himself, Poom stayed around, chatting with fans and posing for photos, even sharing a cheer with one of his countrymen. And then he came back to win in a decider.
A lesson for us all about living in the moment.
-Valerie
Matt and Valerie Chat on Facebook About Jimmy White v. Robert Milkins
(Matt's still in Bristol. Match was at the break.)
Valerie: hey, i just saw jimmah's trailing at the end of the first sesh -6-3. also, i love you.
Matt: I love you too and Jimbo will come back. Maybe not win but will come back.
Valerie: i agree.
Matt: I think the Jimbo Match will end 10-7 or 10-8
Valerie: you're likely right. Milkins is pretty tough, and I've been reading that emotions have been high on both sides.
Matt: Rob does not have a great attitude inside. I know that from playing him and apparently he has not changed.
Valerie: jimmy's been bashing the cue as well i hear. both have gotten a word. i reckon he wants it really badly.
Matt: The pressure of getting to the Crucilble and the ranking points/money. Different kinds of pressure.
Valerie: true. looks like they've got a good turnout anyway. a fair crowd in the stands watching the cubicles with open ends. once they take down those walls, that's how it should be done in first rounds now.
Matt: Milkster has never proven himself and so is desperate to do that.
Valerie: he's not getting any younger either.
Matt: Jimbo has proven himself on every stage except the WC.
Valerie: and he's likely quite spurred on by his performance so far this past week. also i think he fit in a legends appearance as well. he's quite revved up. and he likely loves the idea of taking the stage now nugget hasn't made it in.
Matt: He will never be as good as the old Jimmy. If he was he would probably have as good a chance as anyone.
Valerie: Yes, but as always, no one is who they once were.
We enjoy referee Eirian Williams. He knows what he’s doing, he takes no crap from anyone and he’s Welsh (which helps explain the taking-no-crap part). But liveworldsnooker.tv has had his microphone up too high all the time during these World Qualifying livestreams. Consistently, that has meant hearing the old guy breathe all the time, which has been disturbing enough to get us to mute between frames. But then the inevitable happened yesterday. NSFW. (If YouTube doesn’t take you to the proper time, scroll to the end of the frame.)
We hope Eirian doesn’t get in any trouble with World Snooker, because honestly, if a ref isn’t allowed to swear in private conversation during a Tony Drago match, someone’s going to get killed.
It’s that time of year…
With The Worlds, media outlets who used to pay more consistent attention to snooker 20 years ago (or ones who remember their dad doing it) come up with some “Oh, yes! Snooker’s still around, you know!” article or tv segment. Dave Hendon on the Snooker Scene blog lays out all the Don’ts and Don’ts of doing that. Keep them in mind when looking for snooker coverage for the next month or so, and call them out on it if you find anything familiar.
Often we mention our main source of snooker livestreams here in Canada (where there’s been no snooker on tv since…er…whatever), which is liveworldsnooker.tv. We’ve actually been shelling out $5 or something a month for this thing for a while, and deal with the odd annoyances (seldom knowing which match will be on until the last second, lack of camera angles and choice of matches, poor Clive trying to talk over the Spanish football betting commentators yelling in the next badly-soundproofed room, missing Nugget and Hendry) to get its advantages (seeing stuff no one else wants to broadcast, no commercials, missing Joe Johnson and that Welsh guy no one likes).
Well, if you follow that link up there in the title, you can go to a World Snooker “article” crowing that from April 4-14, you can go on there for free and watch what they feel like giving you of the World Championship qualifiers, which is the most exciting and dramatic edition of matches which highlight maybe the worst atmosphere WS has to offer: matches which take place in a tiny cubicles with no spectators and all the energy of watching pensioners take their written driving test. We’ve had to deal with these things through much of the PTCs, and we may only be getting more of them since Bazza’s set up this flat structure business for more tournaments, in which the big boys must start at round one with the rabble. One of the many complaints said boys have had with the new system is having to soldier through these soul-sucking affairs, despite the inherent drama.
However, maybe this special offer to make the livestreams free is the shape of things to come as well. If hits are high for the World qualifiers (and so far, I’m not seeing an avalanche of promotion beyond this), it may encourage WS and Livesport to open up the new first rounds to at least online spectators. Granted, this helps the players not a whit with dealing with the sterile atmosphere - basically the Championship League with fewer wooden beams and less money - but maybe such experimentation will lead to actually seeing about getting bums in seats. Me and my crazy dreams. Anyway, give the liveworldsnooker.tv thing a shot, especially if you’re outside of the UK, Europe and China as they always have rights issues when the rubber meets the road….hey!…where are you all going…..? The service is perfect for countries like ours that WS couldn’t care less about. And again, no Joe Johnson. :-)
- Valerie
Matt & Valerie Chat On Skype About Ronnie
Matt (still in Bristol UK): Sorry hun, was just reading a couple of Rocket articles xxx
Valerie: so what do you think of ronnie coming back?
Matt: Feelings are very mixed! I am of course delighted!
Valerie: yeah, thought so.
Matt: However, it's going to be very tough for him and I hope he can do himself justice! We know what he is like when that doesn't happen! Best player ever but no competitive match play for basically a year.......
Valerie: You'll have mixed feelings that he's reminding me of you before The Canadians. :)
Matt: I guess so yes. I will be VERY nervous for him. Especially in the first match.
Valerie: no match practice, thinks he can pull it off. time slips away...familiar.
Matt: very familiar!
Valerie: yes, could be simon bedford all over again. (ROS lost to Bedford in the first round of a PTC last September - his only pro match between The Worlds and now.)
Matt: On his side though, the matches are longer....he will be seeded number 1 though so that is a good start.
Valerie: still, ronnie's been able to pull off some major psychological stuff in the past year. will be quite a test. what does that mean to be seeded like that? he faces lesser players at the start?
Matt: yes. means he will face no. 32 in the first round. number 2 seed will be at the opposite side of the draw.
Valerie: So you say with the format and the length of frames, he'll have proper chance to get on his feet. though...this is THE WORLDS.
Matt: I think so. I believe it's all about that first round. Also, only the top sixteen (plus Ronnie - bg defending champ) will be guaranteed at the Crucible. There are still qualifiers who may beat 17-32 before that.
Valerie: he's lucky to be out of that mess.
Matt: Maybe that is part of the reason why he is playing. Aside from the fact that if he didn't, he would be the ONLY PLAYER EVER not to defend his title.
Valerie: Any other ideas about his reasons to get back into it?
Matt: I truly feel that his love for the game will never die and he has taken the time he needed.
Valerie: i hope you're right.
Matt: His feet are itching. I think deep down it irritates him watching on telly when he knows it should be him entertaining the crowds. .......instead of boring them lol
Valerie: Selby and Robbo! *shakes fist*
Matt: exactly!!! Especially with Judd not exactly winning at the mo.
Valerie: Even if he pulls this off, do you see him bothering in tournaments with the new 128 flat structure?
Matt: Not sure, I think he may try it. Remember, he came through a qualifying school of 800 when he started so 128 won't bother him. What may bother him is playing in cubicles again. Ha.
Valerie: That was long ago. many think they've earned not to go back there. what do you think of the whole thing? worth it?
Matt: I think Hearn is right, the cream will rise to the top and at the same time, the cream of the future has a chance too.
Valerie: if they can afford it...but fair point.
Matt: I think from 128 to 32 will not be at the venues x
Valerie: Does that even do any good for anyone? i think if they do it, they need to promote opening rounds, make them into something, let people see it.
Matt: Yes hun, thath is what they need to do. The players that gain are the lower ranked players. Only time will tell on what the impact of the new event format will have on the "business end" of the tournaments in terms of the players, the crowds and ultimately the sponsors and the immediate future of the game. I just watched this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/snooker/21595661 (Video of ROS talking about his decision after the announcement.)
Valerie: watching... Ronnie's attitude sounds as good and healthy as it can be under the circumstances. Really, it's the attitude of the guy who won the Worlds when many could have written him off. If he could pull that off...who knows? It doesn't sound like he's setting himself up for failure. He has to keep up that mindset through some stormy seas. If he does, you've got another reason to be inspired by him.
Matt: Ronnie has a great attitude of late, we know that babe. Not sure about this talk of 7 more years or so though......x
Valerie: agreed.
Matt: Will be interesting to see what the odds are on him winning the title this year lol x
Valerie: so hard on the bookies. think there may be odds on his crashing out each round. and still odds on him turning up!
Matt: yes there will. One thing is for sure in my mind though, if he does win, he will have the thoughts of equalling Hendry's 7 World titles somewhere in the back of his mind.
Valerie: ronnie's likely thinking of records and his legacy, though honestly, that's been assured long ago. When it really comes down to it, though, i think ronnie's just coming up with the best ways to get through a day. Another thing you can relate to.
Matt: very true x
