7 7 5... Brilliant Ronnie... Needs that 6th world title now... 👍34 ranking titles, 3 tournament wins already...

JustTrue, yes Ronnie is due a big crack at the worlds again, last final was 2014, before that back to back world titles in 12, 13.

Yes, agreed wether that he is due another big World championship run. I also understand it will be very difficult to win another one, but if he gets to the latter stages and gets some momentum, think he will be hard to stop. Problem is, he needs to get to the business end first.

I think he wants it now, he's always said he doesn't, but I think he does now.. If he's not broken away of course 😂😂

What a bloke Ronnie is - the GOAT without a doubt and the 19 titles now confirms it. Hendry's 7 world titles may be a step too far though.

Was a very professional performance last night and I really like Mark Allen who played alright but Ronnie is just different gravy tbh. Looking forward to the Masters now and some great draws in there.

What really shocks me about Ronnie is how he's still going - I know the oldies are still going and Mark Williams is a world champion but they don't produce on a consistent basis like he does. What is that now, 3/5 tournaments won this season with a runners up in the other? Remarkable player and we probably won't ever see a genius like him again.

Still not sure about GOAT to be honest, I mean he’s obviously my favourite and has had the most unique career ever, possibly in any sport.

But in a sport like snooker, the World Championship is the definitive number 1 trophy, 5 and 7 is quite a big difference. I never saw Joe Davis who won 15 but it seems like they were only 8 players then.

Hendry’s 7 world titles (with all the other achievements) still edges it for me. If Ronnie wins a 6th World title, then I think that’s a proper debate and if Ronnie wins a 7th World Title, then from my side the debate will be over.

I don’t want to talk too much about weak eras because both Hendry and Ronnie have had weak eras, Hendry in the early 90s and Ronnie in the last few years.

The standard of snooker these days is as strong as it has ever been, just look at the number of different tournament winners over the last few years and the number of 147`s being potted.

It`s harder than ever to win tournaments, lots of tournaments means lots of players improving their match game.

Hendry was phenomenal, but won most of his trophies in a weaker era than what it is today, so for me Ronnie is the GOAT without any doubt.

If O`Sullivan had Hendry or Davis` temperament over the years, he would have broken all records years ago.

The last few years O`Sullivan appears to have sorted out his temperament and now looks as focused as he ever was, but with Ronnie you never really know when that might change.

I can’t believe I’m saying this but I agree with Billy.

More players of a higher quality nowadays rather than when you had Hendry, Davis, White, Parrot etc.

If players are of such a high standard, why were Higgins and Williams contesting the World Final, both great players but nowhere near their glory years.

Don’t get me wrong, Ronnie’s generation was far, far stronger than Hendry’s generation.

However, in recent years other than Selby, no one has really dominated snooker and Selby hasn’t dominated Ronnie, got some decent victories against but by no means dominated him. So, I personally feel that he should’ve added to his 5 Worlds, also there was a period in the mid 2000s when Ronnie was world number 1 and Murphy and Dott won the titles. Ronnie could’ve easily filled his boots then.

There is of course a very valid argument for Ronnie being the GOAT, but I still think he’s got a bit more to do. The way he’s playing, there no reason why he shouldn’t.

The standard in general is much higher. More money in the game, more sponsorship spread round and even the likes of Maquire, Trump, Allen, Robertson, Ding, Murphy etc whilst not being top level true quality are better than what made the pack up in the late 80’s early 90’s.

In terms of breakbuilding, the standard is definitely better. In matchplay and the ability to perform under pressure, not so sure.

Did anyone see Jimmy White's performance against Judd Trump at the Scottish Masters, I have never seen a professional play poorer, he lost 4-0 had chances in every frame, I think highest break was 23, Neal Foulds, or Ronnie, please take him to one side and tell him that he's finished, I was embarrassed to watch a former great player, who now is totally washed up

I would say the general level is better. But I think the likes of Ronnie, Hendry and Higgins at their prime will still be a level above what the current crop will ever achieve.

For me Hendry is probably the 'greatest', Ronnie the 'best' and 'most gifted'.

But Higgins will always be my favourite player, near perfect in all departments when at his best, just doesn't have the titles to back it up.

I think Jimmy should’ve retired at least 10 years ago, if not more. When he was in full flow, he was a treat to watch.

comment by _Viva_Vida (U6044)
posted 3 hours, 32 minutes ago
I would say the general level is better. But I think the likes of Ronnie, Hendry and Higgins at their prime will still be a level above what the current crop will ever achieve.

For me Hendry is probably the 'greatest', Ronnie the 'best' and 'most gifted'.

But Higgins will always be my favourite player, near perfect in all departments when at his best, just doesn't have the titles to back it up.
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alex higgins you're talking about ?

I agree with Hendry the greatest and Ronnie most gifted.

John Higgins, like Junhui is a good checklist player obviously Higgins has more bottle, but I think Ronnie and Hendry has something special about them. Steve Davis was also up there in terms of being ruthless and professional.

Alex Higgins peak was a bit before my time, but I think he had much more to do with the 80s rather than the Barry Earn, 85 Final and Chas n Dave stuff that the BBC always bang on about. Alex was amazing, true showman.

Problem i have with hendry as the best is he was pretty much done and finished at 30 and was in a poor era, soon as higgins, williams, ronnie came on the scene he was done and nobody has Ronnie's longevity he's 43 and still the best by a mile when on it

hendry developed the yips didnt he ?

said it hindered his game from the late 90s onwards

I agree that Hendry struggles after the generation below him matured and he did make the most of the era he was in, unfortunately Ronnie didn’t do that when he self-destructed against Ebdon and Dott in the mid 2000s.

After 2005, the very tough generation (of Ronnie, Higgins, Williams with Stevens, Hunter, Lee, Fu as back up as well as Hendry, White, Doherty, Ebdon, Dott Parrott etc.) was over and Ronnie was number 1. He really should’ve cleaned up between late 2005-late 07 (terrible years for Ronnie’s high standards) and had he done that, I think the debate would be over and Ronnie would be out of sight.

He is making up for that now and it will be interesting to see where he ends up.

At the age he is though to still be performing at this level to that standard is just unreal and unparalleled, arguably playing the best snooker he's ever played as well the last few years maybe because he has the mental aspect
and experience now combined with the natural ability.

As i said though previously i just don't think he can be bothered anymore with the world championship slog, when snooker isn't really your main priority / 100% dedication and to do a 3 week tournament with very long games it just doesn't suit him he can't be bothered with it, so if he wins 1 more i'd be happy + surprised, just can't see him winning 2 to match hendry especially not 3

Yes, he is amazing for his age and 10 years ago I never even imagined he would get near 19 majors.

Mentally I agree, he is at his best now, but in my opinion the 2004-05 Ronnie that first started working with Ray Reardon was unreal, the meltdowns in that period hampered him, but I do think it’s part of his charm. The towel on the head I found hilarious. I much prefer the way he’s had his career rather than just be a winning machine.

I deffo think he's still got one more world title in him. It's a real slog but I think he'll end up level with Davis and Reardon. For me he's still the GOAT even if he decided to end his career. No one can do what he does around a snooker table. Hendry was far more robotic in his play but Ronnie is simply a genius.

Anyone been watching the Scottish Open? Mark Allen 4-0 down to a relatively unknown Daniel Wells and has turned it around to win 6-5! Daniel Wells was actually scheduled to play Ronnie in the first round but Ronnie decided not to participate in this tournament, I'm sure he would have taken a semi final if someone offered that him at start of tournament. Judd Trump plays Shaun Murphy tonight, shame this couldn't have been the final instead!

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