Snooker was engulfed in an enormous debate round this time final 12 months, however one of many sport’s largest names refused to be drawn into the argument after the World Championship
The World Snooker Championship was embroiled in controversy a 12 months in the past over pocket sizes, however Ronnie O’Sullivan steered away from the controversy. The snooker legend made it to the semi-finals this 12 months however dismissed any suggestion that smaller pockets contributed to his quarter-final defeat in 2024.
Final 12 months’s champ Kyren Wilson, after clinching the title with an 18-14 victory over Jak Jones on the Crucible, sparked debate by claiming the pockets had been modified. Snooker greats Shaun Murphy and Stephen Hendry chimed in, however O’Sullivan shrugged off the suggestion along with his normal nonchalance.
Following his triumph, Wilson shared his pocket sizes concept. “I do assume so. I have to admit, when it is gone to one-table I do not assume it was as tight as the 2 tables,” he informed the Snooker Membership podcast. “Perhaps it was due to the brand new material for the semis, so it should slide in additional. Then for the ultimate they modify the cushion material so it slides in additional as properly.
“I keep in mind taking part in John [Higgins] final 12 months, and he performed a black down the cushion, and he was strolling [to his next shot]. There is no approach that might go on this 12 months so that they’re positively tighter than final 12 months, 100 per cent. And clearly I’ve gained it, so that they’re mega tight!”
Nevertheless, seven-time champion O’Sullivan dismissed claims that the pockets had shrunk, insisting it shouldn’t have affected the game’s finest gamers. “They appear all proper to me,” a sometimes nonchalant O’Sullivan stated.
“When you hit them candy, they go in; in case you do not, they do not go in. Easy as. That is all the time been my motto. The tighter the higher, actually. It makes you extra correct.”
Snooker legend Stephen Hendry echoed O’Sullivan’s sentiments, downplaying the pocket dimension debate. “There’s been plenty of discuss in regards to the tight pockets. I am not on the market taking part in, the gamers are taking part in – so you have to belief their opinions,” he admitted.
“However what occurred to all of the so-called finest gamers within the world [who were knocked out early]? Ronnie [O’Sullivan], Judd [Trump], Mark Williams, Mark Selby, Shaun Murphy, Mark Allen – the brand new world No. 1. I am positive I will get a backlash from the gamers saying the tables have been tight, however I say what I see.”
However, reigning Masters champ Shaun Murphy supported Wilson’s view, stating: “The pockets are a lot smaller. These new batch of Star tables we have been utilizing all season, they’re tougher. I do not know who made the choice to make the pockets smaller however they most likely ought to have consulted with the gamers first.”
This 12 months, defending champion Wilson was knocked out within the first spherical, with Zhao Xintong happening to take his crown. Zhao notably triumphed over O’Sullivan with a 17-7 win of their semi-final conflict final week.
After his defeat to Zhao, O’Sullivan was surprisingly unfazed. “I wasn’t that bothered to be honest to you. I wasn’t stunned, I have been taking part in like that lots in apply,” he informed SportsBoom. “It is simply exhausting to get my head round it. I can not even repair it, that is the issue. I do know I stated I would like to provide it two years, but when I am gonna play prefer it, it is fairly pointless. It isn’t good.”
Whereas the snooker legend expressed doubts about his personal future within the recreation, he solely had reward for his victorious opponent, forward of Zhao’s last win towards Mark Williams. “I believe it might be superb. I believe if he did win he can be a megastar,” O’Sullivan defined. “He is nonetheless very huge in China as it’s. But when he turns into world champion it might simply be superb for snooker and for his life as properly.
“He can positively recover from the road. I believe he’ll have extra of a take a look at [in the final]. That can be a correct take a look at for him. He performed nice. You need to give credit score the place it is due. We have got a very nice relationship. I am all the time attempting to assist him if I can.”
