Much was made of the fact that Neil Robertson’s victory in the Grand Prix makes him ‘the most successful non-British or Irish player of all time.’
Using the strict criteria of ranking titles this is true, but it doesn’t come close to telling the whole story.
Yes, you’re right, all this is building up towards a list.
So who would make snooker’s all time international 11?
The players will be selected from the many non British or Irish players to have competed professionally and all will be revealed during this week...
12 comments:
Cliff Thorburn, Ken Doherty, Kirk Stevens, Silvino Francisco, Perrie Mans, Neil Robertson, Eddie Charlton, Tony Drago, Alain Robidoux, Patsy Fagan, Bob Chaperon.
Based on tournament success, this would be my guess at the 11 most successful. Not necessarily in that order.
It's non British and non Irish so Ken and Patsy Fagan will not be appearing
Ding Junhui, Cliff Thorburn, Neil Robertson, Marco Fu, James Wattana, Silvino Francisco, Eddie Charlton, Perrie Mans, Kirk Stevens, Tony Drago, Alain Robidoux
Cliff Thorburn, James Wattana, Neil Robertson, Ding Junhui, Walter Lindrum,Perrie Mans, Marco Fu, Eddie Charlton, Tony Drago, Silvino Francisco, Liang Wenbo in that order as well. I doubt Lindrum would make many a list, but he was World Champion so how can he not really. I can't also see any argument for Thorburn not to be number 1.
Walter Lindrum was never world snooker champion although he was the finest billiards player of his generation.
Horace Lindrum won the World Championship from a field of two when all the best players played in a different event after a dispute over money.
Horace Lindrum, Cliff Thorburn, Kirk Stevens, Alain Robidoux, Perrie Mans, Silvino Francisco, Eddie Charlton, Neil Robertson, James Wattana, Marco Fu, Ding Junhui.
Bill Werbeniuk,Quinten Hann, Bob Chaperon, Dene O'kane, Peter Francisco,Tony Drago, Warren King, John Campbell and Paul Mifsud just miss out on my top 11 but would form the rest of the top 20
Liang Wenbo and Robin Hull would take me to 22
Sorry, I got them mixed up. It was the 1952 final though wasn't it? Against the kiwi Clark McConachy. Well Horace perhaps deserves consideration as he was an Aussie and still won it. I wont argue the toss though if he doesn't make it as a field of two is no more worthy than a community shield in football really. I think Clive wrote a piece in Snooker Scene questioning the validity of the triumph? In that case I will bump everyone below Lindrum up a place and add Kirk Stevens.
See my post 'The Forgotten World Champion' from April for more on Horace Lindrum and the argument over his world title.
Hi Dave, great post (as ever) but I'm not sure why everyone (including World Snooker) are referring to "Non British or Irish players", this rather ties all the Irish players to Britain, almost as if Ireland were a Commonwealth Country, surely it'd be easier to say Non British?
Would appreciate your thoughts.
Graham
I understand your point. However, snooker has so long been associated with the 'British Isles' that for this particular topic I excluded Ireland from the reckoning.
I had a look at it, Joe Johnson thinks it counts, but I think will get your anwser if he makes the list as if you do think he is a valid champion it is hard to ignore him especially if he acheived other things in the game.
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