Ronnie O'Sullivan

[sniper]

I would definitely be looking for Ronnie to surprise some of the better players on the IPT, if he seriously applies himself he could even win an event or two. His natural playing ability is enough to make him a top contender, not to mention what he will do to promote the IPT in the UK.

 

[predator]

I have to agree with Mark (and boy is that rare). I mean, I'm not a pro, but he can get the 7 from me right now at nine ball.

If you can give him that kind of spot, you're upper world class player.
If you can handle his presence and beat him in front of what would be no doubt a big noisy crowd, you're world champion material.

 

[onepocketchump]

I have to agree with Mark (and boy is that rare). I mean, I'm not a pro, but he can get the 7 from me right now at nine ball.

If you think you can spot Ronnie the seven then tell me where you can arrange the game and I'll bet every single thing of value I can get my hands on.

This guy runs out the last six in snooker like it's nine ball. He controls his rock as good as anyone alive. He plays 24ft safeties where he grazes a ball and brings the cueball back downtable to nestle up behind a colored ball completely blocking all the reds.

9-Ball is a joke to him. He will not dominate in 9-ball because there are so many great 9-ball players who also never miss. The onle thing that will be true though is that anyone playing him will have to BEAT him because you aren't going to get a lot of mistakes out of him.

John

 

[bruin70]

it will be exciting.

he will pocket everything in sight. but we're not talking about a player playing other players on tougher tables. we're talking about a player playing other players on looser tables. ronnie may pocket everything, but i don't think efren, earl, rodney et al. do a bad job either.

i anticipate ronnie will do well because he is a great player, not a great snooker player playing pool.

 

[Andrew Manning]

I really don't understand why people hold the opinion that Ronnie O'Sullivan would struggle with 9 ball. Do you think there are pots in 9 ball tougher than the ones he makes incredible percentages on playing snooker? Do you think there are position routes in 9 ball that he hasn't navigated to perfection in snooker, all while putting his object ball on target with incredible accuracy? If so, watch more snooker.

Sure, it'll take him some time to adjust to the different balls, cue feel, rails, cloth, etc. It'll take him some time to learn the thought patterns and make the best decisions about position routes, safes, etc.

But his cue ball control? Absolutely out of this world. I totally second what onepocketchump said: "He controls his rock as good as anyone alive." I don't know if he'll ever be as good a 9 ball player as Reyes or Strickland in their prime, but I doubt anybody outside the top 20 in the world could give him the 7. Even now, before he's learned the game as well as he's going to.

You can't underestimate someone who can spin their cue ball and position it on a dime on a 7 or 8 foot shot into a tiny pocket, and do so 36 consecutive times in a frame!

-Andrew

 

[sniper]

I have to agree with Mark (and boy is that rare). I mean, I'm not a pro, but he can get the 7 from me right now at nine ball.

Have you seen him play nine ball? There isn't a player on the face of the earth that can give him the seven. He might need a little weight from an Archer or Reyes, but anybody giving him the seven would get absolutely robbed.

 

[gromulan]

If you think you can spot Ronnie the seven then tell me where you can arrange the game and I'll bet every single thing of value I can get my hands on.

This guy runs out the last six in snooker like it's nine ball. He controls his rock as good as anyone alive. He plays 24ft safeties where he grazes a ball and brings the cueball back downtable to nestle up behind a colored ball completely blocking all the reds.

9-Ball is a joke to him. He will not dominate in 9-ball because there are so many great 9-ball players who also never miss. The onle thing that will be true though is that anyone playing him will have to BEAT him because you aren't going to get a lot of mistakes out of him.

John

You had better check with some of the people that have played nine ball against him before you bet. I'm a fan of Ronnie's and I've seen him do some amazing things, but he's a fish out of water at nine ball, and will be for quite some time.

A far more scary prospect than Ronnie would be if Torbjorn Blomdahl got into the game. Now that guy can play!

 

[bruin70]

Y,,,
A far more scary prospect than Ronnie would be if Torbjorn Blomdahl got into the game. Now that guy can play!

BINGO, MY FRIEND !!!!!
this guy brings far far more to the table. and not only did he win a european 9ball championship, but he can also play snooker!!! safeties and kicks??,,,,,efren, stand back.

 

[Roy Steffensen]

Well, we will all know during the next months how he is doing in 9-ball.

Soon there is the World Pool Masters in Holland, and then he will play the Norwegian 9-ball Challenge in July, with players as Mika Immonen, Oliver Ortmann, Niels Feijen, Marcus Chamat, Raj Hundal, Tony Drago, Jasmin Ouschan and many many more.

I think he will do great in both tournaments... The most talented player in the world, no doubt!

www.norwegian9ballchallenge.com

 

[gromulan]

Do you think there are position routes in 9 ball that he hasn't navigated to perfection in snooker? If so, watch more snooker.

Yes, I absolutely think this, and I have watched more snooker than most living humans.

You can't underestimate someone who can spin their cue ball and position it on a dime on a 7 or 8 foot shot into a tiny pocket, and do so 36 consecutive times in a frame!

I certainly can, because I've done that myself and I know that, when it comes to successful nine ball, this is in fact only a small part of what it takes to defeat top players. Your opinions are strong and you are entitled to them but, unless you play at that level, you simply have no idea about this issue.

 

[JohnPT]

the replies sure are interesting. i see a lot of opinions underestimating the nuances of 9ball,straight etc. snooker may have some things in common with 8ball or 14.1 but it still ain't the same. and the ronnie fans, they're kinda like the reyes fans they sure love their hero. I'm excited to see how he'll do good or bad.

 

[MyraCurfs]

Torbjorn allready play's in the Dutch competition. Pro Team League, together with Alex lely and some for you guys unknown players. They became second this year! With Nick van den Bergs team finishing first! Torbjorn wins about 1 out of 2 games he plays! Most valuable player without one loss during the whole season was mister lely himself.

more information on www.proteamleague.nl

Weert open 2006: Pic Ronnie http://img202.imageshack.us/my.php?image=kynthiamyramarcusshirleyronnie.jpg
http://img202.imageshack.us/my.php?image=myrashirleyronnie6py.jpg

 

[mark tadd]

I really don't understand why people hold the opinion that Ronnie O'Sullivan would struggle with 9 ball. Do you think there are pots in 9 ball tougher than the ones he makes incredible percentages on playing snooker? Do you think there are position routes in 9 ball that he hasn't navigated to perfection in snooker, all while putting his object ball on target with incredible accuracy? If so, watch more snooker.

Sure, it'll take him some time to adjust to the different balls, cue feel, rails, cloth, etc. It'll take him some time to learn the thought patterns and make the best decisions about position routes, safes, etc.

But his cue ball control? Absolutely out of this world. I totally second what onepocketchump said: "He controls his rock as good as anyone alive." I don't know if he'll ever be as good a 9 ball player as Reyes or Strickland in their prime, but I doubt anybody outside the top 20 in the world could give him the 7. Even now, before he's learned the game as well as he's going to.

You can't underestimate someone who can spin their cue ball and position it on a dime on a 7 or 8 foot shot into a tiny pocket, and do so 36 consecutive times in a frame!

-Andrew

im sure he will do ok but there is a big difference in equiptment . the balls are totally different . i dont think he is crazy enough to play with his snooker cue .the game different 9ball where we use all six pockets meaning i watched some snooker and i dont think i ever seen a red ball go in any other pocket other than two corner pockets and the side every now and then. plus from what i seen the pockets are not that small unlike hard times big bertha i think the slower cloth will help him cause it seems thats what they use .

also since he hardly plays 9ball unless im mistaken or 8ball he will somehow have to develope a very strong break or hes done. then there is pressure he may not have had like no one fears him and im sure he knows that now . but also because ive played a lot on 6-12s also when growing up and it doesnt help you see better on the nine foot table . or the bar table because once your eyes adjust even the bar table looks tough .
but if you get back on a 9foot after a bar table it looks big but only for a while then it looks normal .6foot table is huge till your eyes adjust then its normal. going down to 9foot it looks small till your eyes ajust then its big again . then also 9foot seems easyer but only for a while and then your arm and eyes and body adjust then back to normal .

but i think he will do ok but there is so many good players nowdays and with the short races and the reasons above i gave above and so many more other reasons that i would find it amazing if he even comes close to the top players. i not sure you guys give our players the credit the deserve.

i would probaly think he would fair the same as steve davis and mabye better given time or mabye we shall see

 

[Cornerman]

I really don't understand why people hold the opinion that Ronnie O'Sullivan would struggle with 9 ball. Do you think there are pots in 9 ball tougher than the ones he makes incredible percentages on playing snooker?

It's simply a matter of playing a game that has slightly different focus. The easiest thing to compare to (the transition to a seemingly easier game) in America is if you only play 9-ball on 9' tables, then try to switch to 8-ball on 7' tables. Sure, you can make all the pots and beat non-players, but when it comes to playing against the best bar table players in your local area, you're going to be at a disadvantage until you get used to the play of 8-ball on a bar table.

And again, since Ronnie O-Sullivan is a world champion cueist, then he's going to adapt more readily to a world caliber level (at American 8-ball)than a guy who isn't a champion.

Fred

 

[Cornerman]

but also because ive played a lot on 6-12s also when growing up and it doesnt help you see better on the nine foot table . or the bar table because once your eyes adjust even the bar table looks tough .
but if you get back on a 9foot after a bar table it looks big but only for a while then it looks normal .

I hope more posters read and understand these few sentences. They are the absolute core of my arguments over the years.

Fred

 

[jsp]

Sure, you can make all the pots and beat non-players, but when it comes to playing against the best bar table players in your local area, you're going to be at a disadvantage until you get used to the play of 8-ball on a bar table.

Tell that to Dennis Orcullo, who supposedly never played on a bar table before winning this year's US Bar Box and World Bar Tour 8-Ball Championships.

With that said, Ronnie, with his talent, won't have a very difficult time adjusting.

 

[onepocketchump]

You had better check with some of the people that have played nine ball against him before you bet. I'm a fan of Ronnie's and I've seen him do some amazing things, but he's a fish out of water at nine ball, and will be for quite some time.

A far more scary prospect than Ronnie would be if Torbjorn Blomdahl got into the game. Now that guy can play!

I don't need to check. Would you be willing to give Ronnie the 7 in a race to 21 for $100,000?

By the way I have seen Torbjorn Blomdahl ply 9-ball. He used to play down the road from me when I lived in Germany.

I don't know who you are but I would be willing to bet millions that you won't put up your own money trying to give Ronnie the 7 ball.

I guarantee you that Darren Appleton, Raj Hundal, Daryl Peach and NONE of the UK 9-Ballers want to give Ronnie the 7 or ANY WEIGHT if they are going to have to play on their own money.

Any fool can throw away a backer's money. Let's see what you or any other player will do with your own money and THEN we can see how confident you are in your statements.

I play with Kelly Fisher and she is one of the greatest players alive. She echoes most everyone's sentiments here that Ronnie O'Sullivan is inhuman when it comes to pocket billiards. Kelly's opinion of a player's speed is something you can take to the bank.

John

 

[onepocketchump]

im sure he will do ok but there is a big difference in equiptment . the balls are totally different . i dont think he is crazy enough to play with his snooker cue .the game different 9ball where we use all six pockets meaning i watched some snooker and i dont think i ever seen a red ball go in any other pocket other than two corner pockets and the side every now and then. plus from what i seen the pockets are not that small unlike hard times big bertha i think the slower cloth will help him cause it seems thats what they use .

also since he hardly plays 9ball unless im mistaken or 8ball he will somehow have to develope a very strong break or hes done. then there is pressure he may not have had like no one fears him and im sure he knows that now . but also because ive played a lot on 6-12s also when growing up and it doesnt help you see better on the nine foot table . or the bar table because once your eyes adjust even the bar table looks tough .
but if you get back on a 9foot after a bar table it looks big but only for a while then it looks normal .6foot table is huge till your eyes adjust then its normal. going down to 9foot it looks small till your eyes ajust then its big again . then also 9foot seems easyer but only for a while and then your arm and eyes and body adjust then back to normal .

but i think he will do ok but there is so many good players nowdays and with the short races and the reasons above i gave above and so many more other reasons that i would find it amazing if he even comes close to the top players. i not sure you guys give our players the credit the deserve.

i would probaly think he would fair the same as steve davis and mabye better given time or mabye we shall see

A lot of what you say is true Mark. Let me ask you this since you are probably the greatest player, and I mean that in the absolute world class speed sense, who posts here in the main forum regularly (and Keither of course). Do you think that there is any American player who could go to England and seriously challenge the Snooker circuit? If so, what would it take for them to do so? Is it easier for the Snooker pros to come here and win than it is for the pool pros to go there and win?

Also, you are right that the balls and cloth are different. What isn't different however is the physics. Ronnie plays snooker like he's playing nine ball. He doesn't shoot all his shots with no spin. He spins his rock for position just like nine-ball players do it. It's amazing to watch. And if he shoots all the balls in the corner pockets just remember that most of those shots are four feet or better into tough pockets that reject anything that touches the cushion on the way in.

John

 

[gromulan]

I don't need to check. Would you be willing to give Ronnie the 7 in a race to 21 for $100,000?
John

Sounds interesting, but 100K is just a little bit more than I actually have. What are you going to do, call Ronnie on his cell and get him to fly over? (Tell him when you talk to him that I saw him cough off that match to JH and that he's a wank.)

I guarantee you that Darren Appleton, Raj Hundal, Daryl Peach and NONE of the UK 9-Ballers want to give Ronnie the 7 or ANY WEIGHT if they are going to have to play on their own money.

Who?

I play with Kelly Fisher and she is one of the greatest players alive. She echoes most everyone's sentiments here that Ronnie O'Sullivan is inhuman when it comes to pocket billiards. Kelly's opinion of a player's speed is something you can take to the bank.

What Kelly Fisher knows about nine ball you could write on the head of a pin and still leave room for the Lord's prayer. Efren could give Ronnie the six and the last four and not even break a sweat.

 

[gromulan]

Is it easier for the Snooker pros to come here and win than it is for the pool pros to go there and win?

It's impossibly difficult for both sides. There are simply too many good players who know each game inside out for any newcomer to have much of a chance. It's possible in the ladies' game because the fields are so thin and the standard is quite a bit lower. In the men's game it's far different animal, though, with such talent bases on both sides of the Atlantic who knows, it may happen one day.

If Ronnie or any top snooker player like Hendry or Higgins had grown up playing games like nine ball or one pocket in the US, against the top competition, then I have no doubt that they would be top players here as well. They simply have too much talent. The same goes in the reverse, if Archer or Strickland or Buddy Hall had grown up in the UK they would be top snooker players.

For either transition, it would take several years of development. I actually feel like the pool players would have a better chance because their overall billiard knowledge is much greater than the average snooker player's and because they would not have the handicap of having to develop a huge break.