Marco Fu’s 5-3 victory over Ronnie O’Sullivan in the Welsh Open today means he now leads the world champion 8-7 in career meetings. They have played 17 times in total with two Premier League draws.
This is a record to be proud of for the Hong Kong potter. It’s interesting how some top players end up with bogey opponents they struggle against.
Stephen Hendry lost all three of his meetings with Mark Johnston-Allen, who was a good player but never a member of the top 16.
On the other hand Terry Griffiths, a former world champion and leading player for the best part of two decades, failed to beat Hendry once in 17 meetings.
Of course, Fu’s self belief was all the stronger having got the better of O’Sullivan so many times before, including in a major final (2007 Grand Prix).
O’Sullivan’s missed pink in the sixth frame was the clear turning point. Fu, who had struggled with the positional side of his game early on, grew stronger and credit to him for completing the victory with a century.
6 comments:
"Of course, Fu’s self belief was all the stronger having got the better of O’Sullivan so many times before, including in a major final (2006 Grand Prix)."
That would be the 2007 Grand Prix, right?
although its clear why you have chosen the pink as a turning point it was all too clear to see that Ronnie, in the process of Marco compiling the break to seal frame five and trail 2-3 had lost all focus and his demeanor changed from then on in, compacted with the missed pink in the next frame he never looked like a winner from there on in
as missed shots go it was the turning point, but the match turned half way through frame 5 IMO when Ron lost his head
It's hardly a major surprise that Griffiths never beat Hendry considering Griffiths' career was entering it's twilight when Hendry started making a name for himself. Even at the peak of his game, Griffiths was nowhere near as good a player as Hendry was, though you could substitue almost any name for Griffiths and that statement would still ring true.
Thanks Mig - now corrected
Donal: Terry was still very much a top player in the late 80s/early 90s, indeed he reached the world semi-finals in 1992 where he lost to...Stephen Hendry
Dave is entirely correct
Hendry was on the scene for about 5 years or so when TG was at his best (excluding his big win) which IMO was latter 80's
Wasn't there a similar unusual trend with Kirk Stevens being unable to beat Fred Davis?
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