tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post8759334227896538210..comments2024-02-03T12:04:16.336+00:00Comments on SNOOKER SCENE BLOG: JUDD TRUMP: WORLD NO.1Dave Hhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08037719321756898982noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-57732055336999727072012-11-04T20:33:50.307+00:002012-11-04T20:33:50.307+00:00 jamie brannon said...
Graeme Dott has won two ma... jamie brannon said... <br />Graeme Dott has won two major tournaments. That is not what great players in any sport are meant to achieve. <br /><br />---<br /><br />i didnt know there was a rule book.<br />can i see it please?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-89883659682355838572012-11-04T20:02:41.644+00:002012-11-04T20:02:41.644+00:00Graeme Dott has won two major tournaments. That is...Graeme Dott has won two major tournaments. That is not what great players in any sport are meant to achieve. <br /><br />As for White, I happen to think he is a great player as he has won around thirty tournaments, several of them big ones. <br /><br />jamie brannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01668254365608375328noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-7112063888755759832012-11-04T15:35:42.852+00:002012-11-04T15:35:42.852+00:00I'd have the 3 giants of the 70's, Higgins...I'd have the 3 giants of the 70's, Higgins, Reardon and Spencer. Obviously Davis and Hendry, and the noughties trio of Williams, Higgins and O'Sullivan. You could throw Jimmy in for longevity, character and entertainment value.<br />Robbo might make it but Trump definitely will. He still misses an odd one under P but recently seems to move up a gear at the very end of a final - always an encouraging sign. Think Ding, Murphy and Selby have missed the boat but are still exceptionally good.kildare cuemannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-9016598528953332322012-11-04T01:16:45.257+00:002012-11-04T01:16:45.257+00:00I never said I count JJ as 'great' because...I never said I count JJ as 'great' because he won a world championship, I count him as world class because he won it once, and almost won it again and in both cases against the best player of the era. Any player on the tour can have a fluke run in a tournament, but it's harder to explain it away if it happens again. In those two tournaments he put away Davis, Hendry, Higgins, Griffiths and Tony Knowles, so some tough draws then.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-19681467847589643072012-11-03T23:43:36.618+00:002012-11-03T23:43:36.618+00:00the greats are those who won the most tournaments ...the greats are those who won the most tournaments in their career and jimmy white is one of the greats and a world champion to be that seniors..their are five or six above him but until judd wins more ranking titles howcan he be considered a great..he is a great in the making but robertson has become a great and if he pushes his titles to 10 plus ranking events well then thats a great..but in saying all this anyone who wins a ranking tournament today is a great player considering the amazing competition and talent on the circuit i mean the standard is awesome..ive watched snooker now for 27 years and the last 6 yrs ive watched every tournaments latter stages and snooker has never been better than now..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-52724902579306812292012-11-03T18:09:54.878+00:002012-11-03T18:09:54.878+00:00748, with all due respect i would never class joe ...748, with all due respect i would never class joe j as a great just because he won a WC<br /><br />ok, he was very good, but really only in my opinion for a year and a half.<br /><br />to put him up there with real greats like hendry, davis, higgins and higgins wouldnt be rightAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-14038162982292061882012-11-03T17:32:42.584+00:002012-11-03T17:32:42.584+00:00A good way to measure the 'greats' of the ...A good way to measure the 'greats' of the game is to ask if they've won the triple crown (World, UK, Masters). That places Hendry, Steve Davis, O'Sullivan, John Higgins,Williams, Griffiths and Alex Higgins in the elite. <br /><br />On a secondary level, you have the players who have won 2 of those titles and been runner-up in a third. Enter White, Parrott, Matthew Stevens, Shaun Murphy and Doug Mountjoy.<br /><br />You can add (in my opinion) Fred & Joe, Donaldson, Reardon, Spencer & Thorburn, who would have all won the triple crown had they been played in their day (or in Thorburns case, if he'd been British).<br /><br />So there's 18 players that would fit comfortably into "hall of fame" status. Sorry if I've missed any obvious ones out....Trump and Robertson are very close to joining, as are Ding Junhui and Selby.<br /><br />You could argue a case too for: Doherty (winner of 1, runner up in the other 2), Dennis Taylor (winner of 2, plus Grand Prix winner....a "major" in it's day, arguably), Dott (one of those players who genuinely raises his game for the Crucible only....Johnson did this too, but not over a sustained period)<br /><br />That would be my list anyway, it's all a matter of opinion.JIMO96noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-29772596057186340192012-11-03T15:56:50.385+00:002012-11-03T15:56:50.385+00:00The difference is these days the world number 1...The difference is these days the world number 1's aren't as good because they haven't been able to win the world championship! In the old days they had ALL won at least one world championship, now it seems they aren't good enough to even do that. Who cares who is world number one? It isn't any sporting achievement, snooker is about WINNING TOURNAMENTS and the best player is one that has won loads and AT LEAST one world title. If Trump thinks he can be the best player in the world without winning the world title then he's an idiot, the title of world number one is pure politics and NOT a sporting achievement!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-21140046794669229402012-11-03T13:16:03.768+00:002012-11-03T13:16:03.768+00:00Dott (and Ebdon along with Doherty), and I suppose...Dott (and Ebdon along with Doherty), and I suppose Murphy, Robertson and Ding at this stage are what you would consider "world class". There are a whole bunch of players that can go in this category actually, but while they are not "greats" they are (or have been) world title contenders, and have achieved in some of the most prestigious tournaments. I would put Jimmy and Paul Hunter in this bracket too. I suppose Joe Johnson was too for a brief period, beating Steve Davis at his peak in the world final and then almost doing it again can't be dismissed. Someone like Ali Carter I would discount despite his two world finals, because it has never looked remotely possible he could win one of the big titles (his two world finals were foregone conclusions). Trump is clearly playing at a world class level now, but probably needs to seriously challenge in a couple more major finals to be regarded as an authentic world class player; winning the International Championship and becoming number 1 would probably seal it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-40273699194560530972012-11-03T08:52:53.265+00:002012-11-03T08:52:53.265+00:00jamie brannon
Dott is somewhere in between. 3 wor...jamie brannon<br /><br />Dott is somewhere in between. 3 world finals and 1 crown not something to be sniffed at. He needs maybe another world title or the UK and the Masters to be considered one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-71198396606672948802012-11-03T08:51:03.985+00:002012-11-03T08:51:03.985+00:00I like Judd's style of play but not the someti...I like Judd's style of play but not the sometimes farcical comments that comes out of his mouth. Not to mention his lack of class when beaten. Case in point? The Masters semi this year where he called Neil a "slow" player. Neil. Slow. Go figure.<br /><br />About the tag 'great' - Joe Johnson was a world champion but not many would call him a great. Neil and Shaun both need at least another world title or to complete the Triple Crown (Shaun needs the Masters; Neil the UK) to be considered on that level. <br /><br />They have the game so i wont be surprised to see that happen. Along with Ding Junhui, Mark Allen and Judd Trump, you would expect the next few world titles to be snatched up by these 5. The likes of Mark Selby and Stephen Maguire need to be considered too but both have been relative disappointments at the Crucible. I dont think frankly the old guard of Mark Williams, John Higgins and Ronnie O'Sullivan will capture beyond more than one world title among them from now on to be honest. Between John and Ronnie, it will be interesting to see who gets his 5th crown or will Mark stage one final hurrah himself. Always though Mark underachieved with only 2 world titles in my opinion. <br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-54829597064833213902012-11-03T08:49:39.192+00:002012-11-03T08:49:39.192+00:00Im glad Trump has replaced the tedious Selby at th...Im glad Trump has replaced the tedious Selby at the top. He's a great advertisement for snooker, and along with Robbo, is the only one playing near the level of Higgins and O'Sullivan.kildare cuemannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-13272607319133694322012-11-03T07:24:25.009+00:002012-11-03T07:24:25.009+00:00I think its mainly because Reardon was 49 (and his...I think its mainly because Reardon was 49 (and his eyes were going) - but fair point - people forget that the score in the 1982 final was 18-15. <br /><br />Dave, I see that pdf subscriptions to Snooker Scene are now available. Although these are marked as "for overseas subscribers" is / will it be possible for UK customers to buy a pdf only subscription? Also are back issues available as pdfs? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-62412884729397449092012-11-03T03:13:43.956+00:002012-11-03T03:13:43.956+00:00Forgot to add Williams to my list of greats...btw,...Forgot to add Williams to my list of greats...btw, mark not rex...lolCan147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-62250580527424572022012-11-03T02:46:44.153+00:002012-11-03T02:46:44.153+00:00Eat crow Captain Carter! He was busy trashing Judd...Eat crow Captain Carter! He was busy trashing Judd and his 'it's not all about potting balls from everywhere, is it' remark sounded foolish then and even more so now. Congrats young mam.Clausnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-11450574010257968072012-11-03T02:40:10.272+00:002012-11-03T02:40:10.272+00:00Jimmy White has 10 ranking titles to his name...do...Jimmy White has 10 ranking titles to his name...doesn't that count for anything despite the world championship not being one of the titles? He has to be regarded as one of greats. His immense impact on the game has to be a factor as well. Here are the greats from the modern game...Reardon, A.Higgins, Spencer, S.Davis, White, Hendry, J.Higgins, O'Sullivan. Ebbon as much as I hate to consider him is very close to being in that exclusive club. Thorburn is on the frindge too...<br />Does anyone know if there is a Hall of Fame in Snooker? Can147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-29704987191463317432012-11-02T22:59:13.103+00:002012-11-02T22:59:13.103+00:00I'm always slightly perplexed by the assumptio...I'm always slightly perplexed by the assumption that White would have beaten Reardon in the final. For one it assumes Jimmy wouldn't have bottled it despite the extra pressure; secondly the final wasn't all one-way traffic, and Reardon was only edged out by Higgins—if a couple of close frames had gone the other way the result might have been different; and three, Reardon and White came up against each other in the Professional Players Tournament later that year and Reardon won it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-88710169967233252092012-11-02T22:52:29.832+00:002012-11-02T22:52:29.832+00:00White's WC destiny can be distilled to one sho...White's WC destiny can be distilled to one shot.<br />'82 WC semi v Higgins<br />He missed a red with the rest in to the right hand black pocket whilst 59 ahead. Had it dropped, a pink would have followed and with it the match, 16-14. No doubt he would have gone on as Higgins did to beat Reardon in the final.<br />As it was, Higgins was given the opportunity to compile his historic 69 clearance. Shortly after, ran away with the decider.<br />Certain if White won in '82, many more would have followed.<br />Such are the winning / losing margins.Graemenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-20391235557451922642012-11-02T20:33:58.995+00:002012-11-02T20:33:58.995+00:00Hendry undoubtedly the greatest champion.
That sai...Hendry undoubtedly the greatest champion.<br />That said, when it comes to being able to play the game with genuine flair and panache, then it's O'Sullivan by a mile.<br />The main difference being Hendry's ability to maintain the highest standard for sustained periods. O'Sullivan is able to exceed Hendry's best but for shorter periods. But A game v A game, then it's O'Sullivan.<br />Trump's confidence can't be faulted in my opinion. Nothing wrong with believing you'll beat whatever opponent you should meet in the final, or both of them as he said !<br />Hendry, after his first round exit to Thorne in '86 when he was 17, predicted (correctly) he would win the WC within 5 years.<br />Confidence is everything.<br />Trump is great for the game, that's for sure.<br />Graemenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-91497348349104922632012-11-02T20:03:20.195+00:002012-11-02T20:03:20.195+00:00Of course Jimmy is a great. It was mainly the fact...Of course Jimmy is a great. It was mainly the fact that he met the GREATEST at the Crucible on so many occasions that he didn't lift the big one. Before the statisticians jump on this post, I know Hendry wasn't his only WC final opponent! Winning the World IS a criteria but not the only one.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-60163034620788605432012-11-02T19:48:54.302+00:002012-11-02T19:48:54.302+00:00Anyone who has won the World Champs IS most defini...<i>Anyone who has won the World Champs IS most definitely a great.</i><br /><br />The fact is, it's just not true. I would agree that you have to be a very good player to win it, but ultimately anything can happen in a single tournament: you can hit a streak of form or come through a relatively weak field, but only the 'greats' can reproduce those types of achievements, so that's why you need to win it twice. That's not just my opinion, that is the view of John Higgins.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-90702163139288612882012-11-02T19:44:00.637+00:002012-11-02T19:44:00.637+00:00Jimmy White is not one of the greats. A great play...Jimmy White is not one of the greats. A great player, yes, but not one of "the greats". Some of us might not want to admit it to ourselves—and I understand why—but in our hearts we all know it. He had opportunities to win it at least twice where he effectively had his opponent beaten, but couldn't quite land it. That is ultimately what separates the all-time greats from the rest.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-8175404503821140232012-11-02T19:01:29.326+00:002012-11-02T19:01:29.326+00:00Anyone who has won the World Champs IS most defini...Anyone who has won the World Champs IS most definitely a great.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-40416753187888655982012-11-02T18:17:27.133+00:002012-11-02T18:17:27.133+00:00"cue" the jealous ronnie fans who slag t..."cue" the jealous ronnie fans who slag trump as hes "not ronnie"<br /><br />well guess what, ronnie isnt alex, the original and best!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29605452.post-9073057124435244372012-11-02T18:15:30.857+00:002012-11-02T18:15:30.857+00:00So is Jimmy White not a great then?
Graeme Dott i...So is Jimmy White not a great then?<br /><br />Graeme Dott is most definitely not. I think it boils down to your overall CV, but it is very unlikely you could be considered great without a world title.<br /><br />I think there's a good chunk who don't like excellence, but O'Sullivan still retains a big fanbase and is not taken for granted. The same can be said of Roger Federer, tennis' most popular current player. <br /><br />I'm sure Hendry once said he regarded being at the top of the rankings as being more important than being world champion, wonder if he'd say the same thing now looking back on his achievements?<br /><br />jamie brannonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01668254365608375328noreply@blogger.com