Ronnie O'Sullivan vs Tian Pengfei
by SnookerFan » 28 Jul 2010 Read
Sorry if this is turning a bit into the Ronnie O'Sullivan fan club on here, but when we were talking about who he has lost to in events on another thread, something struck me.
The Premier League aside, Ronnie has only lost to three people this season. (Unless there's somebody I'm forgetting, but I don't think there is.) Those three people were; John Higgins, Mark Selby and Tian Pengfei. He does seem a bit out of place there, doesn't he? No disrespect to the Chinese lad, but this must rank as one of the biggest upsets in the history of the sport, right? Yet, it seems people forgot it happened a few months later.
When Buster Douglas became the first man to knock out Mike Tyson, the impact was huge. It happened in 1990, right at the start of the 90s, but was still voted upset of the decade at the end. Okay, boxing is a different sport, where each fighters win/loss is kept and announced regularly for continual analysis, and the guy was the first man to beat Tyson, and the only one to do it to the guy in his prime.
But it seems to me that a young Chinese wildcard beating one of the best players ever, and the player that some consider the best ever, is probably one of the biggest shocks in the sport's history, if not sporting history ever. And yet it didn't have the same impact on the fans that others have.
Was this just a case of people believing Ronnie is past is peak, or not trying any more as we've discussed in other threads? Or am I just not giving enough credit to the Chinese lad. Bear in mind I was at work when this match was televised. I didn't see it. It didn't even occur to me that it might be worth watching, as the kid had no chance of winning, but this may mean I didn't give him enough credit. People were probably as shocked when Ding Junhui won the China Open, but he went on to be Ding Juhui. And there is so much talent in the game these days, it's very rare anything is considered and upset.
What were people's feeling on this match, and upset? Am I overselling it, or was it a moment for which we may not see the like again in a long, long time?
The Premier League aside, Ronnie has only lost to three people this season. (Unless there's somebody I'm forgetting, but I don't think there is.) Those three people were; John Higgins, Mark Selby and Tian Pengfei. He does seem a bit out of place there, doesn't he? No disrespect to the Chinese lad, but this must rank as one of the biggest upsets in the history of the sport, right? Yet, it seems people forgot it happened a few months later.
When Buster Douglas became the first man to knock out Mike Tyson, the impact was huge. It happened in 1990, right at the start of the 90s, but was still voted upset of the decade at the end. Okay, boxing is a different sport, where each fighters win/loss is kept and announced regularly for continual analysis, and the guy was the first man to beat Tyson, and the only one to do it to the guy in his prime.
But it seems to me that a young Chinese wildcard beating one of the best players ever, and the player that some consider the best ever, is probably one of the biggest shocks in the sport's history, if not sporting history ever. And yet it didn't have the same impact on the fans that others have.
Was this just a case of people believing Ronnie is past is peak, or not trying any more as we've discussed in other threads? Or am I just not giving enough credit to the Chinese lad. Bear in mind I was at work when this match was televised. I didn't see it. It didn't even occur to me that it might be worth watching, as the kid had no chance of winning, but this may mean I didn't give him enough credit. People were probably as shocked when Ding Junhui won the China Open, but he went on to be Ding Juhui. And there is so much talent in the game these days, it's very rare anything is considered and upset.
What were people's feeling on this match, and upset? Am I overselling it, or was it a moment for which we may not see the like again in a long, long time?
-
SnookerFan - Posts: 154841
- Joined: 13 December 2009
- Snooker Idol: Michaela Tabb
- Walk-On: Entry Of The Gladiators
(hover the mouse)