2016 UK Championship

[the lone wolf]

Not a chance is O'Sullivan known by 1/3 of folk young old or in the middle. if you took a picture of him into a primary school and asked who is this, I doubt it would be one in ten who could tell you.

It was a guess at best. Point being, more people young and old would recognise ROS to Chris Small... :snooker:

[VillaGuy]

There was a match played in Monte Carlo back in the 80s and the Prince was in attendance but something went wrong and snooker never returned
I'll try to find the article.

What went wrong?

[DeanH]

You're bang on the money there jonny66. Snooker is glamorous as a lifestyle for most of the people on tour, more glamorous than 90% of footballers from the like of Wigan, Sheffield United etc who play in one country only. I like Sofia that has had tournaments a few times, it's a proper up and coming city with many smart developments taking place. Snooker needs to spread its wings and capitalise on other areas for the glamour and incentives to new players as much as anything.

I'm surprised Monte Carlo has never featured on the snooker calendar...
Steeped in history, the French love their billiards, cosmopolitan with many bored millionaires with nothing better to do than watch a high profile events.

There was a match played in Monte Carlo back in the 80s and the Prince was in attendance but something went wrong and snooker never returned
I'll try to find the article.

[VillaGuy]

Not a chance is O'Sullivan known by 1/3 of folk young old or in the middle. if you took a picture of him into a primary school and asked who is this, I doubt it would be one in ten who could tell you.

I'd have thought more than 50% of the general population know who he is, surely? Probably one of the most recognisable sports stars in the country

[itsnoteasy]

I agree. No disrespect to Chris Small, but he's not a household name and probably 99.99% of young people in this country wouldn't know who he is. Compared to ROS, who is probably a recognised sports person to at least 1/3 of young people in this country.

Not a chance is O'Sullivan known by 1/3 of folk young old or in the middle. if you took a picture of him into a primary school and asked who is this, I doubt it would be one in ten who could tell you.

[the lone wolf]

You're bang on the money there jonny66. Snooker is glamorous as a lifestyle for most of the people on tour, more glamorous than 90% of footballers from the like of Wigan, Sheffield United etc who play in one country only. I like Sofia that has had tournaments a few times, it's a proper up and coming city with many smart developments taking place. Snooker needs to spread its wings and capitalise on other areas for the glamour and incentives to new players as much as anything.

I'm surprised Monte Carlo has never featured on the snooker calendar...
Steeped in history, the French love their billiards, cosmopolitan with many bored millionaires with nothing better to do than watch a high profile events.

[VillaGuy]

Your joking tennis in the U.K. is booming on the back of him. You don't have to be a flash git with a big car to impress folk , he does it by his achievements, sure he's boring but what he does speaks volumes.

I don't like him personally, but got to agree with you. Perhaps the only british player I dislike, gutted when he beat Djokovic at the O2

[itsnoteasy]

Take it you haven't heard a Murray interview, it turns into a monotonous blur after 10 seconds in, proabably will mean there isn't another UK slam winner for another century when he retires...

Your joking tennis in the U.K. is booming on the back of him. You don't have to be a flash git with a big car to impress folk , he does it by his achievements, sure he's boring but what he does speaks volumes.

[the lone wolf]

I've seen the comment that Chris Small has failed the same attempt in Scotland, but I agree with you. If any pro can inspire more of the next generation to come through it's Ronnie, he can whine all he wants but that isn't productive action. Ronnie has the kind success that Chris Small hasn't got close to, if Ronnie went to a school in whatever car he now drives he's going to inspire much more enthusiam that the sport can be a career, it's a money orientated world we live in afterall.

I agree. No disrespect to Chris Small, but he's not a household name and probably 99.99% of young people in this country wouldn't know who he is. Compared to ROS, who is probably a recognised sports person to at least 1/3 of young people in this country.

[VillaGuy]

You're bang on the money there jonny66. Snooker is glamorous as a lifestyle for most of the people on tour, more glamorous than 90% of footballers from the like of Wigan, Sheffield United etc who play in one country only. I like Sofia that has had tournaments a few times, it's a proper up and coming city with many smart developments taking place. Snooker needs to spread its wings and capitalise on other areas for the glamour and incentives to new players as much as anything.

[jonny66]

I wish people would stop going on about Sheffield as if it's the most glamorous place you can go to playing snooker. There are snooker tournaments in some great cities, Berlin, Vienna, I've never been to China but it's hardly a boring idea is it? There's also loads of tournaments across Europe in some places most people wouldn't even think of going to, but would more than likely love if they did. A modern day snooker players lifestyle is a jet-set dream for loads of young kids.

[DeanH]

2016 UK Championship

true - the amateur organisation is not doing enough (funds? affiliations? willingness? ability?)
but when an event is held there does seem to be grass roots players that want to play

[Neil Taperell]

then why when I read about amateur comps having more numbers than for years?

But there is not enough of them Dean , and no structure to the amateur game .

I like what the guy at Litetask is doing at Leeds with his tournaments , and our club is doing the best to get youngsters involved . But too few and far between in my opinion .

[Neil Taperell]

That's really good , good on him.

He does coaching nights for the kids . They start on the pool tables then progress to the snooker tables .

I put my mates boy in because I want to see him progress , I'm not bothered about winning the league . Just a night out and he can play players better than him . Which can only be a good thing .......and he has our highest break so far ....37 ! Puts the rest of us to shame . I let him play all the home matches and I play the away matches , as he cant go to a majority of the clubs .

[DeanH]

2016 UK Championship

Ronnie is not wrong , there is no Amateur game anymore . You all seen some of the lads that are trying to break into the game say it on the Cuesports interviews that Curtis does .

then why when I read about amateur comps having more numbers than for years?