Ronnie O’Sullivan faces Joe Perry within the World Seniors Championship remaining on Sunday afternoon.
Stephen Hendry has spoken about Ronnie O’Sullivan (Picture: Tai Chengzhe, VCG by way of Getty Pictures)
Ronnie O’Sullivan has stormed into the ultimate of the World Seniors Championship on his debut look on the match, having taken the competitors by storm on the Crucible. ‘The Rocket’, who was knocked out of the 2026 World Championship on the similar venue by John Higgins final month, has loved significantly better fortune within the over-40s sport.
The 50-year-old cruised to a 4-1 victory over Ken Doherty in his opening match, earlier than seeing off Peter Traces 4-2 to safe his place within the semi-finals. There, he posted a 7-5 win over Robert Milkins to e-book his spot within the remaining, the place he’ll face Joe Perry on Sunday afternoon in a best-of-19 frames contest. Perry has equally earned his place in Sunday’s showdown courtesy of victories over Aaron Canavan, Matthew Stevens and Craig Steadman. But it isn’t simply the motion on the desk that has grabbed the headlines this week, as Categorical Sport explains under…
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Seven-time world champion Hendry has lent his voice to Neil Robertson’s calls to ban the Triangle Chalk that was utilized by O’Sullivan on the Crucible this yr. The Rocket was within the minority utilizing the standard chalk, which critics have argued causes kicks and damages the desk.
Throughout an episode of his Stephen Hendry’s Cue Suggestions YouTube present, the Scot supplied his view on the matter, stating: “That was one other large speaking level, the chalk – chalk-gate.”
Holding up his personal chalk for comparability, he continued: “Ronnie utilizing Triangle Chalk when everybody else is utilizing these things. Stops kicks, stops bounces, there is no marks on the material. Neil Robertson really referred to as for World Snooker to ban it, which I do not disagree with if I am trustworthy. I believe it spoils the sport as a spectacle.
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Ronnie O’Sullivan’s alternative of chalk has been a speaking level (Picture: VCG by way of Getty Pictures)
“I do know John Higgins, when he was taking part in Ronnie, he was smiling rather a lot – form of wry smiles. [He was] always getting the cue ball cleaned, always wiping the desk. I do assume there is a slight name, probably, for it to be banned. However whether or not they might go down that route, I do not know.”
Milkins makes ‘disrespect’ admission
Milkins confessed that he had “disrespected” snooker for much too lengthy following his elimination from the World Seniors Championship. O’Sullivan was pressured to dig deep in opposition to the ‘Milkman,’ who held leads of 3-2, 4-3 and 5-4 at varied phases within the best-of-13 frames encounter.
Reflecting on his informal angle in direction of the game afterwards, Milkins mentioned: “I’ve disrespected the sport for too lengthy. I used to be struggling to get again into it. There are indicators of taking part in properly however I simply missed too many straightforward balls. It would come however I’ve bought to place a few weeks in now earlier than Q Faculty.”
Robert Milkins has opened up in regards to the sport (Picture: PA)
He added: “Ronnie scares the hell out of me all the time. I respect Ron. No different participant does that to me. It’s unhealthy sufficient taking part in him when you find yourself taking part in properly. However when you find yourself struggling, you have bought no likelihood.”
Defending champion ‘ought to have refused to play’
Alfie Burden has admitted he should have declined to compete when his opening match on the World Seniors Championship was relocated to the observe room. The reigning champion was left “heartbroken” by a difficulty with one of many match tables which resulted in his fixture in opposition to Igor Figueredo on Thursday going down behind the scenes.
Burden finally misplaced the encounter 4-0, denying him the chance to defend his crown in entrance of spectators on the Crucible. His family and friends had been, nonetheless, permitted to attend.
Alfie Burden has spoken about his match troubles (Picture: 2017 VCG)
Writing on social media following his defeat, Burden mentioned: “To say I am disenchanted can be an enormous understatement, do not keep in mind feeling this low after a snooker occasion…I wasn’t within the psychological way of thinking to play that match in a observe room to be trustworthy. I used to be in a state of shock at what was unfolding. Actually heartbroken.”
He additionally revealed on Saturday that his attraction to delay the match till Friday so it might happen in the principle enviornment was rejected. He added: “Can I make it completely clear I wasn’t given an choice to play my match within the morning.
“I requested [if] might I play the subsequent morning [and] was flatly refused. Was informed I needed to play within the cabinet. [Dominic] Dale [and] Stevens was given a alternative, I wasn’t and I ought to have refused to play.”
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