I recently came across this old video of O'Sullivan vs Ding in the finals of the Snooker Masters, when Ding was 19 years old. It is from 2007, so may well have been discussed here before, but I had not seen it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcas2TZXLH4&t=3203s
The video has excellent examples of Ronnie playing phenomenal snooker, but that's not why I am posting it. If you watch the video, you will see that Ding is clearly rattled by Ronnie's dominating performance and the loud and unruly crowd. By about 40:00 in, you see Ding play a very loose opening break, and later a non-safe safety, seeming to have lost heart. At around 48:00, you will see Ronnie winning the frame to go up 9-3. Ding goes to shake Ronnie's hand - either conceding or perhaps mistaken as to the length of the race.
What happens next is remarkable. Ronnie refuses to accept the concession and then walks back to the dressing room with him (and, according to the announcers) and speaks to him privately in his dressing room. Ding does come back, losing the final frame and at 1:07 comforts Ding - and continues to praise him in the post-match interview.
Ronnie is no stranger to melt-downs, having conceded himself, but it is great to watch one professional help out another in distress.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcas2TZXLH4&t=3203s
The video has excellent examples of Ronnie playing phenomenal snooker, but that's not why I am posting it. If you watch the video, you will see that Ding is clearly rattled by Ronnie's dominating performance and the loud and unruly crowd. By about 40:00 in, you see Ding play a very loose opening break, and later a non-safe safety, seeming to have lost heart. At around 48:00, you will see Ronnie winning the frame to go up 9-3. Ding goes to shake Ronnie's hand - either conceding or perhaps mistaken as to the length of the race.
What happens next is remarkable. Ronnie refuses to accept the concession and then walks back to the dressing room with him (and, according to the announcers) and speaks to him privately in his dressing room. Ding does come back, losing the final frame and at 1:07 comforts Ding - and continues to praise him in the post-match interview.
Ronnie is no stranger to melt-downs, having conceded himself, but it is great to watch one professional help out another in distress.
