Your thoughts on Ronnie O'Sullivan: the player
[*] I think he's the second best player to ever pick up a cue, and the only man to hold a candle to Stephen Hendry. He's a better player than John Higgins and Steve Davis, great players though they may be.
[*] I think O'Sullivan has reached a higher level of play than anyone else could hope for. Including Stephen Hendry. O'Sullivan at his best is another class to anyone else at their best. I reckon if you put together the top ten performances of all time, it would not be altogether ridiculous to suggest that O'Sullivan could fill the entire list out. Seven or eight at the very least.
[*] His safety game is outstanding. Better than Hendry's. A lot better.
[*] He is the most naturally gifted player of all time.
[*] He is the greatest genius the game has ever had. We've only had two, Alex Higgins and O'Sullivan, and I'd rate O'Sullivan higher. White is the closest to a third.
[*] His long potting is very poor in comparison to other great players.
[*] He is extremely tough to beat playing well, but it is a myth to suggest he is unbeatable playing well. Read: Master final 2004, World Championship first round 2000, Masters final 2010 etc. He is however unbeatable at his very best.
[*] He is the most exciting player to watch of all time, with the possible exception of Alex Higgins.
[*] He is arguably the best break builder of all time. Very close between him and Hendry.
[*] He did not have the desire to dominate like a Hendry or Davis. This does not mean he wasn't as good, especially in the case of Davis. I don't actually think he was as good as Hendry.
[*] His 2004 World Championship run was probably the best tournament any player has put together.
[*] He was the best player of the noughties, comfortably ahead of Williams and Higgins.
[*] I don't think any player over the next ten years could hope to be as good as him. Ding, Murphy, Robertson, Selby are all fine players. But they're not as good as Ronnie O'Sullivan, and I'd be amazed to think they ever will be.
[*] He has underachieved greatly.
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Tubberlad - Posts: 5009
- Joined: 02 October 2009
- Location: Ireland
- Snooker Idol: Ronnie OSullivan
- Highest Break: 49