Rory McLeod tells me he is looking forward to his match against Ronnie O’Sullivan in the Maplin UK Championship at Telford today.
It’s the biggest match of his career thus far as he tackles the world champion live on television in one of snooker’s oldest and most prestigious events.
Rory recognises he is not expected to win. I certainly expect O’Sullivan to progress but sport is capable of throwing up all manner of shocks so Ronnie cannot afford complacency.
(By the way, there's an excellent profile of Ronnie by my colleague Phil Yates in today's Times.)
McLeod has been a professional for 17 years, although has not been on the circuit all that time.
It took him until 2002 to make his television debut. Today’s match is only his fourth appearance in the last 32 of a ranking tournament and he is yet to go further.
But he has been consistent in recent years, not losing many opening round matches, and is currently 44th in the world – his highest ever ranking.
He is Wellingborough born and bred but spends a fair amount of time in Qatar as he coaches their national team.
He has three children, the youngest just five months, and these take up much of his time.
Rory is also the only player of Afro Caribbean descent – his parents are from Jamaica – competing on the professional circuit.
Snooker is not elitist sport. Anyone can join a club so this anomaly is hard to explain.
It’s not something Rory has ever made an issue of and he was embarrassed a few years ago when the BBC put him on the trailer for the UK Championship even though he hadn’t qualified while ignoring Stephen Hendry and Mark Williams.
Players spend many often lonely hours practising and honing their skills for matches like these.
Whatever happens against O’Sullivan, Rory should enjoy his big day.
- Coverage starts at 1pm on BBC1 and 1.45pm on British Eurosport2.
12 comments:
Can't Wait till it starts!
What games are on TV today?
It's Ronnie v McLeod and Day v Stevens followed by Hendry v Lee and Selby v Williams and then the first lot of matches to a finish
Will all the tables be televised?
Cos I wanna watch Holt Robertson on Sunday.
No, only two and unfortunately Holty's match with Neil isn't on the TV
Will it be o'sullivan or day-stevens tonight on eurosport? It's great to see Matthew on the televised stages again!
Going to be 9-0 at this rate!
Three centuries in a row from Rory. Happy for him!
Rory played a great match. I was not expecting him to finish the job but that was a beautiful comeback.
Good effort from Rory, shame he couldn't make it 6-6 at the mid-session interval but at least he made it respectable.
A bit late but congratulations to Rory for the fight he put! Three centuries and provisionally the highest break on the tournament. All praise. I'm sure he'll get a warm welcome home and in Doha!
did ronnie think he hit the red after he contacted the pink? *shock*
anybody got an honest opinion on my post above?
Post a Comment