I like Murphy, one of my favourite players.
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Shaun is a top bloke. I thought he was a bit of a twat back in 2005 and I was gutted that he beat that other great nearly man player that I also really liked, Matthew Stevens in that final. Heâs really grown on me over the years though.
I was very torn in that final. I really didnât mind who won it. Normally youâd be siding fairly strongly with one player in a final.
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He was given a horrendous time by bullies when he was younger. Mental and physical. Just for being slightly different. Its almost like he feels he has to go out of his way to be nice to people or come across as sound. Its very evident in his character as an adult. You could tell that it might have been the case even if you didnt know the facts of what he came through in his formative years. I feel sorry for him here. Hes convinced himself only the greats win multiple titles but I hope it doesnt detract from what hes achieved. Its a good thing he won in 2005 as heâd be approaching Jimmy White territory now.
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I never liked Stephens. Only cos he was Welsh. As someone said on the whatsapp Murphy was literally done by a Chinese snooker in the last frame.
Would it be fair to say that snooker players are some of the most recognisable sporting figures of all, in all sport?
Like, are there any sportspeople more recognised in a general sense on the islands either side of the Irish Sea than Ronnie OâSullivan or John Higgins?
Iâd say theyâre more recognisable to the average punter than any England footballer in the last 30 years.
Steve Davis is surely more universally recognised in Britain than David Beckham.
It must be a lovely level of well knownness to have as you donât get mobbed as a snooker player, you just get liked and respected and nodded at and smiled at.
Would be interesting to see the viewing figures of the Everton Man City game vs the finishing stages of the snooker. Fierce drama in both simultaneously.
Itâs risky to form your opinions based on social media but Iâve seen a lot of people posting messages over the last few days along the lines of âsnooker is one of those sports you donât see all the time and then you see it and you realise youâve forgotten just how good it is.â
The response to this tournament as far as I can see has been universally gushing.
Iâve literally only two minutes ago found out the result from Goodison Park.
In terms of association football power rankings today it was
1 Heart Of Midlothian v Rangers
2 League Of Ireland fixtures
Ends
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Pot Black brought snooker into the mainstream. Made it sexy, funny, edgy. Had millions of viewers every week. The UK didnt have a late late show but this was the next best thing for them. It finished in 1986 apparently so I was too young to remember but even I used watch reruns on BBC which they used to wheel out like E4 wheels out the friends sitcom. A lot of that generation would have snooker as their number 1 sport. I think a lot of snookers success and recognition to your point stems from that. Barry Hearn has changed a few things. Few bells and whistles here and there. Theres almost too much snooker now but Pot black was what lit the touchpaper.
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I wouldnât remember Pot Black meself either. The first snooker players I knew of were Jimmy and Steve Davis around about 1987. I canât recall what tournament it was but it wasnât the World Championship. I knew instantly I was a Jimmy man and that Steve Davis was the baddie. Now of course Steve Davis is universally loved.
Davis won BBC Sports Personality Of The Year in 1988, in an Olympic year. Thatâs how big snooker was. 1988 was the first World Championship i watched and I devoured it. The theme music, just sublime, it was such an integral part of it all.
Back when I was a lad there were four major BBC tournaments, the current three plus the Rothmans Grand Prix in October. That fell by the wayside. ITV used to have a good few tournaments too. We had our own here in Goffs. Itâs hard to believe there isnât room for a tournament at Goffs now. One of the best venues snooker was ever in, very similar to the Wembley Conference Centre where the Masters used to be.
Big Break was a big thing for snooker too although I never liked Jim Davidson. John Virgo was great for snnoker though and Iâm going to look for the BBC tribute to him now.
Iâd honestly say snooker players must be up with nurses in terms of universal popularity. I canât think of an unpopular player that people genuinely dislike. Even the players you wouldnât root for, you appreciate.
Darts has something a bit similar going on but there are genuinely unpopular darts players because its slightly more of a confrontational sport.
Snooker is the ultimate gentlemanâs game. Cheating is basically impossible. What you see is what is really going on. You see everything.
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Big break was massive in the 90s too. Had a prime Saturday evening spot
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For anyone suffering from snooker withdrawal today.
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The Seniors starts Wednesday
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Shaun Shaun Shaun
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The Tea Leaves Principle works yet again.
2002 was also the last year the US Masters was retained while 1966 which was the first time it was retained was also a victorious St. Maryâs year.
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I like Murphy but that break of his where he pushes the black safe is really negative