The golden ball is a bit distracting, which is probably the point or they'd just put it on the table if anyone got a 147. How long before someone pretends to pot it after the first red?
What other innovations could they add? Players on roller skates? A few scorpions on the table? Some bar billiards style mushrooms?

Much as I love playing snooker, there is absolutely nothing they could do to liven up watching it, it’s about as enjoyable as a wet weekend in Worthing. But each to their own, if golden balls is your thing then who am I to judge?

If you love playing it's reasonable to expect that you might be pretty good. I used to enjoy playing, but my best break was a red, yellow then another red. End of.

Just to change the subject, who wants to claim a better break than mine? Shouldn't be too difficult.

There are a few players still worth watching for their skill or the unusual shots they take.

Brecel: mad, young, drinker Belgian who goes for shots no one else would but also gets them

O'Sullivan: what will you get? You never know - can be completely unbeatable, can be rubbish. Definitely the most talented of all time and pretty much has all the records. Would have done more if he was boring like Steve Davies, or Hendry.

Mark Williams: still good to watch for unusual shots in particular. Makes shots from nothing that no one else would see. Probably the only player you'll see and wonder 'what the hell is he going for?' before it's all revealed.

Hossein Vafai: aggressive Iranian who's pretty fun to watch. He's no Poomjang - he's miles better.

Jack Lisowski: snooker's candidate for next James Bond. Very smooth and silky to watch, wonderful technique. Never won anything so always an underdog contender.

Judd Trump: still slamming in the odd Judd Trump special but now has the all round game to be no.1 essentially.

Who I can't stand (just a personal dislike): Selby - boring. Jester - I've been more entertained on the toilet. However, I would say he's a nice guy. Just a slow, annoying c*** on the table who's going to put you in a snooker. I don't dislike him personally - more his snooker.

Mark Allen: who likes him? Fat, little, gobby twerp who always complains he doesn't get the coverage. No doubt because of the above. Nicknamed The Pistol - not problematic for a man from N.Ireland is it.

Zhang Anda: somebody put a rocket up him. No fun at all. Could he have not been banned like all the other Chinese? We've been left with the slow, steady, boring one.

Another personal one: John Higgins - accepted bribes to throw matches then cosied up to the authorities. Most likely a snitch. He's the weakest link of the class of 92 these days. I wish he'd retire. I liked him before he cheated.

Special shout out to God Squad Shaun Murphy: nicest guy in the world but please shut up. Not a bad player. Great 147 in the shootout (with a shot clock).

And the please give up now and go away award is split two ways: Jimmy White, the also ran. Exciting, very exciting in his day. Now like talking to a randy uncle who's had a stroke. Not a good pundit in general.

Stephen Hendry: always surprised that his game has been taken over. Definitely doesn't like it and you can see the contempt in his eyes. Got a wild card but was bloody awful - which makes Ronnie's, William's and Higgins' achievements all the more amazing.

Anyway - you don't have to take my word for it. Watch the first four for a while and you'll see the drama in snooker. Watch the later ones here and you'll get a free sedative, they'll even come round and tuck you in for a tenner, so it's all good.

Haha I’m crap, I don’t play as much as I did in my youth, I used to play at the regency in Catford back in the day. Not sure what my highest is, but if the balls fall right I could get breaks in the 20’s

Edited by monkey (04 Mar 2024 6.59pm)

34 is a very respectable break after a long lay off.

There might not be many in the crowd at the Saudi event but a few managed to walk into John Higgins eyeline as he was trying to get onto the yellow from the final black. Some players might not have shrugged it off like he did.