Ronnie O’Sullivan was on the centre of a serious speaking level on the World Snooker Championship.
Ronnie O’Sullivan reached solely the second spherical on the World Snooker Championship (Picture: VCG by way of Getty)
Seven-time world snooker champion Stephen Hendry has backed calls from Neil Robertson to ban the Triangle Chalk utilized by Ronnie O’Sullivan on the Crucible this 12 months. O’Sullivan stays amongst a minority utilizing the normal chalk, which critics worry causes kicks and damages the desk floor. The 50-year-old’s choice didn’t sit effectively with 2010 champ Robertson, who voiced his reduction at avoiding the Rocket throughout this 12 months’s competitors in Sheffield.
The difficulty got here into sharp focus when O’Sullivan confronted John Higgins within the second spherical, with Higgins ultimately profitable 13-12 to safe a quarter-final conflict in opposition to Robertson. Throughout an episode of Stephen Hendry’s Cue Ideas, the Scot addressed a query concerning the variety of miscues at this 12 months’s worlds. “That was one other huge speaking level, the chalk – chalk-gate,” he replied. Selecting up his personal chalk from the desk to attract a comparability, he continued: “Ronnie utilizing Triangle Chalk when everybody else is utilizing these things. Stops kicks, stops bounces, there is no marks on the fabric. Neil Robertson really known as for World Snooker to ban it, which I do not disagree with if I am trustworthy. I feel it spoils the sport as a spectacle.”
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He continued: “I do know John Higgins, when he was taking part in Ronnie, he was smiling rather a lot – form of wry smiles. [He was] continually getting the cue ball cleaned, continually wiping the desk.
“I do suppose there is a slight name, probably, for it (the Triangle Chalk) to be banned. However whether or not they might go down that route, I do not know.”
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A World Snooker Tour spokesperson reaffirmed the place that gamers are free to decide on whichever chalk they want. Nevertheless, Robertson – who suffered a 13-10 defeat to Higgins – wasn’t afraid to say how he actually felt concerning the state of affairs.
Stephen Hendry has addressed the chalk-gate controversy (Picture: Getty)
“I would favor to play John so I haven’t got to take care of the chalk that Ronnie makes use of, which needs to be banned from the sport,” he informed BBC 4. I do not understand how you’re allowed to even use it.”
Talking after a spherical of 16 victory over Chris Wakelin, the Australian went into extra element. “All of the gamers hate it, it simply destroys it. You get kicks, bounces and it makes an absolute mess of the desk,” he added.
“I do know he (O’Sullivan) is mates with [artist] Damien Hirst, but it surely’s like he’s making paintings with the chalk all around the fabric. I do not suppose he does it to place anybody off, he isn’t that manner inclined in any respect. He’s about the one participant left on tour that makes use of that chalk – hopefully they bring about in a ban.”
The Rocket has since returned to motion on the Crucible, making his bow within the World Seniors Championship. The principles – which beforehand barred gamers ranked inside the highest 64 on the earth from participating – have been revised, opening the door for his participation.
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