4 Centuries in a Row - History in the making

[TheOne]

John Higgins just made 4 centuries in a row in the final against Ronnie O, the first time anyone has done this. It his splitting the etreemly tight pockets in half and playing like GOD. He's 8:2 up and just potted along red and has a chance for 5 in a row!

478 points without reply!

 

[Boro Nut]

This is the John Higgins of old. There were none better at putting a frame to bed when he was in his pomp.

Broke down eventually, but 494 points without reply is another record. This final is fabulous stuff.

Boro Nut

 

[TheOne]

This is the John Higgins of old. There were none better at putting a frame to bed when he was in his pomp.

Broke down eventually, but 494 points without reply is another record. This final is fabulous stuff.

Boro Nut

Indeed, I noticed in his last few matches that he got his game back. Astonishing stuff he's playing amazing! They actually commentated before the match how tight the pockets are playing which makes his acheivment even more amazing considering it has never been done!

 

[Bobby]

John Higgins just made 4 centuries in a row in the final against Ronnie O, the first time anyone has done this. It his splitting the etreemly tight pockets in half and playing like GOD. He's 8:2 up and just potted along red and has a chance for 5 in a row!

478 points without reply!

That's amazing! When he's on his game he's really
unbeatable. I have a tape of him playing Anthony
Hamilton a few years ago at the Crucible and he
starts off playing very badly and then out of
nowhere he hits Hamilton with almost 500 unanswered
points! What's the record for most points without
reply?
Of all the snooker players I think John Higgins
would be best adapted to straight pool, I just like
the way he picks apart the pack in snooker. And
he keeps his concentration up for long periods,
where as O'Sullivan, as great as he is, seems to
get bored and gets careless.

 

[raemondo]

When you say without reply, you really mean zero points right, not that the opponent doesn't get a crack at the table at all right?

 

[Buckster_uk]

Without reply means without the opponent getting a point, the opponent of course would come back to the table.

 

[Boro Nut]

Without reply means without the opponent getting a point, the opponent of course would come back to the table.

If only to break off. It's worth mentioning that the last two of his centuries were total clearances (every ball potted). No mean feat in itself.

It's also worth mentioning another first - Ronnie was booed by a few of the crowd as he appeared for the final session. You need to hear his comments about meeting and dealing with the public/fans to understand why.

Boro Nut

 

[TheOne]

Yes mainly due to the break shot which seperates snooker from pool, its highly unlikely for a player to make a red from the break so usually both players have an equal opportunity to win EVERY frame, more often that not each frame is usually won by the player that players the best safety. And then pots the most balls of course (obviously there are some flukes sometimes), apart from 1 pocket this is something pool continues to struggle to achieve.

 

[X Breaker]

The One,
Thank you for sharing that, is there a clip somewhere on line?
I think it was almost 6 or 7 years ago when I first watched him play and he was one of the best in the world.
He looked as if he was really rubbing his chin with his cue when he shot.
Take care,
Richard

 

[TheOne]

The One,
Thank you for sharing that, is there a clip somewhere on line?
I think it was almost 6 or 7 years ago when I first watched him play and he was one of the best in the world.
He looked as if he was really rubbing his chin with his cue when he shot.
Take care,
Richard

Hey Richard, how r u mate?! Sorry I missed you at Masters in Virginia, I hope your cue survived its makeover! BTW still planning on emailing you regarding the web thingy, just getting organised since I got home.

Don't think its online though, it was on the BBC, interesting though the talks about the states afterwards, I didn't know this but snooker gets bigger TV ratings than golf, in the UK anyway!

 

[X Breaker]

Hey Richard, how r u mate?! Sorry I missed you at Masters in Virginia, I hope your cue survived its makeover! BTW still planning on emailing you regarding the web thingy, just getting organised since I got home.

Don't think its online though, it was on the BBC, interesting though the talks about the states afterwards, I didn't know this but snooker gets bigger TV ratings than golf, in the UK anyway!

Well, the cue didn't make it. But it was only a $2600 cue so I guess it is okay. Glad to see that you have arrived wherever you were going safely.

Yes, do email me mate (this is the first time I address someone "mate" believe it or not )

I heard that the smoke companies have pulled their plugs and since then, snooker prize money in the UK has really droped. Is that true?

Anyway, it was fun meeting you and I have finally watched your straight pool run video, that is awesome! You ran those balls like a snooker player if you know what I mean. I really enjoy that. I used to play a lot of snooker myself.

Talk to you later mate (can't resist it. )

 

[TheOne]

maybe after trudeau saves pool he'll help out the snooker crowd

True, but by the sounds of it I wouldnt write off snooker yet, the guy running it now seems to have inherited a real failing business, one tourny actually lost 400k pounds and that was more the norm than the exception when he took over. Its now being run like a proper business and they where never going to get the tobacco sponsorship overnight, I actually think two things will saze snooker and actually make it bigger than before:

a) Gambling sponsors

b) China, and Asian growth

Both of these are happening, but I think dragging the game (kicking and screaming) away from the UK is what's really going to save it. I don't doubt the snooker calendar will look more like the Formula1 calendar in a year or two.

 

[X Breaker]

I was told most snooker players make millions per year on the tour in the UK, plus endorsement deals on the side.
A snooker star is a celebrity in the UK, it is nothing like the situation here in North America unfortunately.
Is that true?

 

[TheOne]

I was told most snooker players make millions per year on the tour in the UK, plus endorsement deals on the side.
A snooker star is a celebrity in the UK, it is nothing like the situation here in North America unfortunately.
Is that true?

Yeah pretty much, its a commonly known fact that one of the all time record TV veiwing records is held by I think the 1995 world final which came down to the final black in the final frame! Something like 17 million of the approx 60 million people in the UK watched this match. The most amazing thing was that it didn't finish until about 1am in the morning, but grandma's, house wives, children, and yes of course snooker players stayed up to watch it.

This is why you should ignore any comments like, a) snooker is boring, b) nobody wants to watch pool on TV, c) there is no money in pool. IMO all statements are disproven by these stat alone.

Yes snooker may be boring to some people but if a boring old game like snooker can attract such a huge audience in the early hours of the morning then why can't an exciting game like pool do the same? IMO it just comes down to money and the right people running the game. Hopefully the IPT can help.

Cheers Mate (he he)

 

[mjantti]

Yeah pretty much, its a commonly known fact that one of the all time record TV veiwing records is held by I think the 1995 world final which came down to the final black in the final frame! Something like 17 million of the approx 60 million people in the UK watched this match. The most amazing thing was that it didn't finish until about 1am in the morning, but grandma's, house wives, children, and yes of course snooker players stayed up to watch it.

1985. Davis vs. Taylor. Davis missed a relatively easy cut with the final black and gifted the title to Taylor. Though, Taylor had made some gutsy shots in the final colours including a looooong green near the rail etc.

And yes, Higgins' feat was unbelievable ! And against probably the best snooker player alive. And in a tournament final. And...

 

[onepocketchump]

Indeed, I noticed in his last few matches that he got his game back. Astonishing stuff he's playing amazing! They actually commentated before the match how tight the pockets are playing which makes his acheivment even more amazing considering it has never been done!

I would have thought that Snooker tables used in professional matches would have uniformly sized pockets.

Yes, people rarely mention John Higgins these days, but at one point he was thought to be the one who would take up after Hendry instead of Ronnie.

John

 

[Gerry]

Pardon my snooker ignorance here, but do you stop a frame if 1 player has dormied the other?, or do they play them out for averages and such?. I have played alot of snooker here in the U.S., but it was always gambling and calculated by the point spread so every frame was finished. My best break of 78 was on a canadien built 6'x12' table, that thing was HUGE!....Thanx, Gerry

 

[TheOne]

off topic craig but where does motogp rate in the uk pecking order?

No idea mate, but probably a lot lower, if I was to guess the most popular sports on TV as far as ratings I would say...

Football (the proper one
Rugby
Snooker
Golf
Tennis
Boxing (big fights probably much higher)
Cricket (although the recent test victory prob boosted it, err vcash MrTickets?)
Athletics
Fishing etc

Just a quick guess, sure its online somewhere?

EDIT, oops forgot motor sports like what u mention and F1, sure F1 is up there, but doubt either is above snooker. I once read something like a 1/3 of everyonebody in the uk has played snooker at some point - that shocked me!

 

[onepocketchump]

Yeah pretty much, its a commonly known fact that one of the all time record TV veiwing records is held by I think the 1995 world final which came down to the final black in the final frame! Something like 17 million of the approx 60 million people in the UK watched this match. The most amazing thing was that it didn't finish until about 1am in the morning, but grandma's, house wives, children, and yes of course snooker players stayed up to watch it.

This is why you should ignore any comments like, a) snooker is boring, b) nobody wants to watch pool on TV, c) there is no money in pool. IMO all statements are disproven by these stat alone.

Yes snooker may be boring to some people but if a boring old game like snooker can attract such a huge audience in the early hours of the morning then why can't an exciting game like pool do the same? IMO it just comes down to money and the right people running the game. Hopefully the IPT can help.

Cheers Mate (he he)

And don't forget that your culture appreciates a job well done. In other words they celebrate excellence and tradition. In the United States pool had a huge following at one point and sort of died when team sports came into their own. Pool, as a professional sport, just seemed to fade into the background.

But, ultimately it comes down to money. If Snooker pros were making a few thousand pounds for winning a tournament then the public would be less interested, I believe. I think that it really is interesting for "normal" people to see professionals contesting for more money than their homes are worth.

John

 

[TheOne]

Pardon my snooker ignorance here, but do you stop a frame if 1 player has dormied the other?, or do they play them out for averages and such?. I have played alot of snooker here in the U.S., but it was always gambling and calculated by the point spread so every frame was finished. My best break of 78 was on a canadien built 6'x12' table, that thing was HUGE!....Thanx, Gerry

Thats a great break on a 12ft Gerry, would have won u the top prize in the recent US Open SNooker Champs. Sorry, excuse my ignorance but what does "dormied" mean?