Americans React to Ronnie O'Sullivan | The best Snooker player ever? 

Only when you have played on a full-size Snooker table can you truly appreciate Ronnie O'Sullivan. A Pool table simply doesn't prepare you for it.

Love how Lindsey is picking this up quicker than Steve 😂

My late mum used to love watching Ronnie on the tv. I can hear her now..."come on Ronnie" ❤

"For this red" means that he's setting himself up for the next red. Snooker is like chess in that you have to be planning at least one shot ahead - it's no good potting a ball if you can't continue to pot afterwards, or even worse if you set your opponent up. So for each shot you have to be thinking: If I pot this, can I put the white somewhere that enables me to carry on potting, whilst also considering that if you miss, you need to be putting the white somewhere where your opponent can't easily pot. It's extremely difficult to play snooker properly.

i am so proud to say i work where the The World Snooker Championship is held, The Crucible Theatre in Sheffield, and where most of these clips were filmed

He's currently ranked at world number 4. He doesn't play as many tournaments as he used to so maintaining number 1 spot isn't so easy. He's widely accepted as being the greatest of all time by his fellow professionals and spectators alike.

There are loads of great players past and present, but for me Ronnie is the GOAT

Ronnie is still right up there, he was world #1 until recently

In Snooker, you have to sink any red before going for a colour ball , so sink a colour you need to be on or lined up for your next red.

I used to watch snooker with my granny R.I.P, this brought me back memories, I think she watched because granda watched it he had passed before her.

I would suggest that you have a look at a snooker player called John Virgo when he is playing his exhibition trick shots, usually as a time filler between the formal games if the players are still on a break from playing. In particular look out for his wicker bottle shots.

snooker is the ultimate asmr sport! its 100% dignity and sportsmanship

That "stick" on the table was a rest. If the white ball is so far away you use a rest instead of your hand on the table to support the cue

'For this red' meant the red ball was his next shot so after potting the ball he had to work the white ball around the table to get position on the red

Snooker rules - 15 reds on the table plus 6 coloured balls yellow,green,brown,blue, pink & black. First pot a red ball followed by a coloured ball followed by a red, once the 15 reds have been potted then pot the remaining coloured balls in sequence as mentioned above. Red = 1 point Yellow = 2 Green = 3 Brown = 4 Blue = 5 Pink = 6 Black = 7

Hi Steve & Lindsey, Ronnie O'Sullivan's nickname is 'The Rocket' after winning a best-of-nine frame (9 games) match in a record 43 minutes during his debut season as a professional.

When you see a snooker table in person for the first time it is shocking just how large those things are, I regularly played on a half size table at my grandparents home when I was a kid, I then saw a full size table in a club for the first time when I was about 12 years old, I don't think I knew the one I played on was a half size at the time, until I saw the full size one. I have seen Ronnie play in competition twice at the World Championships at the Crucible Theatre Sheffield, his technique is so natural, it is a privilege to watch him play. For this red, this means gaining position on the red after the colour ball is potted. Ronnie still plays snooker, however, he very carefully chooses which tournaments he competes in, most of the other player compete in nearly every one of the tournaments.

Alex Higgins was an interesting character from the 80s

Hi Guys , Ronnie's over come a lot in he's life , for him to achieve what he has is inspirational .😊

Ronnie can play with both hands he is just as good with both.

Ronnie is one of the greatest, and at his best he is the best. He has nearly every record it's possible to have in snooker. But he has had serious mental health issues for his entire career. He has had meltdowns during matches and just capitulated unable to keep playing at a high level, he walked out of one once just because he could stand carrying on, and he has spent months at a time away from the game sometimes as long as a year. He has had issues with drink and drugs. It's both amazing he achieved so much through it all, and also shows just how much more he could have done had he not been haunted by issues for so long.

Ronnie O'Sullivan is the GOAT 🐐

Ronnie O'Sullivan is amazing, and actually inspired me to play pool - and very occasionally snooker (more people like to play pool than snooker, as it's easier to remember ball sequence). In particular, it was his tricky shots that inspired me, and I must admit, yeah, I practiced a lot of those, and hustled a good amount of money out of folks on bets I could make the shot. For snooker videos to check out, look for John Virgo's trick shots. My goodness, what a stunning understanding of the physics of the game!

I played A LOT of snooker and pool (the latter on 9' American tables) when I was younger. I was absolutely unbeatable at pool, (I have some stories about that) and terrible at snooker. What you really need to appreciate about snooker is that the table is 12' x 6' (that''s huge compared to a pool table) and the pockets are much, much smaller. It's like pool on extreme difficulty. And I agree with many here, Ronnie is the GOAT. The most talented player we've ever seen. Didn't always have the temperament or the dedication, he'd have been world champion 10 times at least if he had, but certainly the most naturally gifted.

It`s massive as a sport played all over the world, been watching or following for 48 years. it`s addictive to watch. O`Sullivan is the GOAT, 7 world titles and he prob could have won 10+, countless other world tournaments more centuries (100 breaks) more 147`s , very fast player as his name denotes the `rocket` you also have, alex `hurricaine` higgins, Jimmy the `whirlwind` White. these 3 are to me the greatest and most entertaining players ever.

great vid,i should imagine the other players said it was a privilege to see that

it often puzzles me how americans pronounce "snooker" as "snukker" but yet they do not pronouce "pool" as "pull"

The pockets are also smaller narrower and tighter than a pool table. The black ball final 1985 is good if you can find a video that explains the situation

The guy is an absolute genius with a cue and the greatest to ever play the game by an absolute mile.

When Ronnie’s on form, he’s unbeatable.

Ronnie made 15 professional career 147 breaks. He 49 this year. He a 7 times world champion, 8 times uk champion and 8 times master champion. 23 triple crown titles and 41 ranking titles. The greatest player to pick up a cue. Great video 👍

He is lining up his next shot. Top players are usually thinking/planning 5 shots ahead. Like chess players. To do this. You have to pot. Whilst also putting spin etc...on the ball to take it where you want it

Ronnie is perhaps the most naturally gifted snooker player there has been. Not wanting to detract from his opponents abilities, but often when he loses a match, it's because he's battling himself. As someone who has mental health issues myself, it can be hard to watch him on a bad day.

You should check out Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins a Northern Irish iconic snooker player of the ‘80’s with his exciting, fast, attacking & kamikaze play & his volatility in & outside the crucible not to mention his addiction to booze. Couldn’t not watch him when I was younger!

The shots he plays with his other hand are even more special.Because its not just your hands that you are changing,Your eyes focus a certain way thats naturally to one side of your body.Guys a Genius.

The one and only 🐐 and what became my love of snooker as a child .. ronnie the 🚀 forever be #1

My parents used to love watching snooker. They are both no longer with us but I have so many memories of afternoons watching the game back in the times of Ray Reardon and Alex Higgins ❤️ x

In 2017 Ronnie O'Sullivan had a chance to visit America to play pool. The programme was called Ronnie O'Sullivan's American Hustle. He visited various pool halls but the end game for the programme was to watch Ronnie in the lion's den, which was a match against Queens legend Earl 'The Pearl' Strickland.

Great video wach in 2017 he started in Ronnie Osullivans American hustle he toured different cities in the United States Learning the Art of pool hustling it's mini series I 2017 it's Amazing hope you like it all the best

Knowing what angle to hit the cue ball is one thing, but knowing the speed to hit it at so that it lands in a place you can pot the next ball from, is another skill altogether!! That is not a cue left on the table, it is what you in USA call the 'bridge', and it was not blocking play. Ronnie had at first tried using it to pot the red but abandoned that idea, and then made the shot you watched. If I am not mistaken, Ronnie is currently world snooker champion at the age of 48. A young player named Mark Selby is the closest I have seen to the skill of O'Sullivan.

If any ball had have hit the stick on the table it would have been a foul, but there was no way it would happen. When they were talking about the red, it's because you have to go back to the reds after the pot (until they're all down), so first he has to make the pot, but he has to do so whilst lining everything up so he can go back to the red). Essentially you need to pot your ball but make sure the white is where you want it at the end.

Other great snooker players to watch: Steve Davis, Stephen Hendry, Jimmy White. But yes, Ronnie is the GOAT. Never seen anyone else that it comes so naturally to.

Just for fun, check out John Virgo's trick shots. Great show called Big Break back in the day. ✌️❤🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇬🇧🏳️‍🌈 xxx

Players like O'Sullivan are at another level. They produce shots of this quality on a consistent basis. The general standard of professionals has increased. A 147 break used to be a major event during a tournament but these days it happens on a more frequent basis, often made by Ronnie O'Sullivan. Ronnie O'Sullivan is fun to watch due to his style of play; there are/were players who would take longer to play a shot. There's some maths and physics at play when you look at the angles and amount of force involved to propel the cue ball. Unfortunately when I was at school a trip to the snooker hall wasn't an option.

Ronnie O'Sullivan transcends snooker, he is a legendary player. Snooker can be fascinating to watch, it's all about calculations and setting up the next move, the red balls have to all be potted first so the angles have to be very precise and thinking/analysing ahead. The World Snooker Championship is held in Sheffield Yorkshire 🌼

I looked him up he is 48 yrs old

there was also a snooker game show on UK tv called Big Break that might be worth checking out

Glad you two are watching Ronnie. People don't realise how big the snooker table is and how small the balls and pockets. It's sooooo hard to play!

It goes red, colour, red, colour etc until all the reds are gone (different colours have different values) then the colours in order. A lot of the genius is about getting position on your next shot, whilst potting the ball you're currently going for, and if you can't pot, then playing safe so it's hard for your opponent to pot.

If you've never played on a full size snooker table, it's difficult to appreciate just how small the pockets are and how accurate every single shot has to be to pot every time. TO do that at speed, AND get position for the next shot, is phenomenal.

Always remember these are 12 ft tables...

A bunch opener is a shot that cannons off the colour you are currently pocketing into the bunch of reds, with the hope of opening up the bunch to make them pocketable. It's a highly risky shot because nobody really knows where the balls will end up. And if you miss the pocket, you leave your opponent in an excellent position to win the frame. This is why players always pick off any as many of the loose reds as possible before opening the bunch.

The Ball, Table, Cue technology has improved so much over the years so it's hard to compare eras objectively. Ronnie is definitely in the mix for Greatest, but there are others, Joe Davis for one. He is the player that Ronnie says is the greatest.

I would recommend Alex 'Hurricane' Higgins. He played fast and took on great shots at a time when snooker players generally played slowly and very carefully. He had a darker side to him in terms of drinking and moods, but the watching public loved him.

Yes its absolutely about lining up the next shot. SNOOKER 101: The ultimate Idea is to score more than half of the points on the table, If you got more than 50% of what's available, your opponent can't catch up... UNLESS they score a SNOOKER, A snooker is when you put the balls in a difficult position for the opponent, force them to foul.... you get awarded points. This way you can get bonus points above and beyond what's available on the table for potting. So lets say lets say you need 50 more points to win but there's only 48 points left on the table, you could concede, or play on and try to force a foul by snookering your opponent. The basic score for your opponents foul is 4 points to you, but if they foul on a ball of higher value (5,6 or 7) you get that many points, so snookering your opponent on the black, or forcing them to wrongly pot a black is best for points. A snooker can be hiding the white ball in a difficult position, and leaving it for your opponent, but equally if you know what ball your opponent needs next, for example at the end of the game colours MUST be hit in a specific order, you can try to hide the target ball and/or the que ball. As for how you pot the balls and build a score, there's a sequence. Initially you must pot Red balls alternating with any other colour, I.E Red, Blue, Red, Black, Red, Green etc, until no reds are left. At this point every time a colour ball (anything But red) is potted, the referee will replace the ball in its staring position (if it can, if it is blocked by other balls, the ball is place on the nearest starting point that's empty or as close as the ref can get it without touching other balls). Red balls are worth 1 point and then the colours are worth 1 more each in turn, 2 points for Yellow, 3 for Green, 4 Brown, 5 Blue, 6 Pink, 7 for Black. So when potting reds, your alternating colour should be the highest value ball you think you can get to, the best score possible is by going red, black, red, black all the way, remember colours are replaced until no reds are left, so each red can only be potted once, but colours can be potted multiple times. Once all reds are down, the colour balls then stay down when potted, they're no longer re-spotted by the ref, and must be sunk in order from yellow to black. Famously, the 'maximum break' (score from one visit to the table) is 147 (red black red etc, then all the colours), however if your opponent fouls before anyone pots anything (let's say he pots the white off the break), it is possible to have a total score above 147 if you then clear up. But remember, to win, you just need enough points to prevent your opponent catching up, so once a player has scored more than 80 or 90 points, clearing up is just a formality, and opponents often concede if more than one or two snookers is needed.

As always, another great one. To answer a couple of questions. Math is a HUGE part of snooker. Speed of balls, angles, how much spin on a ball is used, LOADS of tiny details. But when you hear "for the red" or any other ball it simply means that they pot their current ball, & are in a great position to pot the ball that was mentioned. Eg. The red. You'll also hear them say a player is "set up for the (choose ball)". Hope that helps & much love from us all in the UK

He is to snooker what Maradona was to football - transcends their sport with unrivalled genius. And, like a lot of geniuses, they were both battling their own demons.

I have to admit I was never a huge fan of snooker but O'Sullivan is an immensely talented player and is probably the best I've ever seen.

Nice video thank you, Ronnies nickname is "The Rocket" mainly because when he was younger he used to play so fast, he has slowed up a bit now that he is older, but he is still quite fast, when he's on a roll .good break.

The Cue placed along the cushion was Ronnie's opponent conceding the frame, the Snooker equivalent of throwing in the towel in Boxing. Pool Tables were originally that size when the game was developed. Made smaller to more easily fit into Bars without requiring a dedicated room.

The cue as you called it the rest was sitting on the table because ronnie left it there, the referee is not allowed to take it off the table, ronnie has to do that, he can hand it to the ref to put away, but he has to take it from the table, there have been cases, where removing the rest they have hit another ball, giving a fowl sway

The rocket is pure entertainment, snooker is a difficult sport to really get excited by for a lot of people and his ability, cheekiness and the fact he can do it with both hands added to the immense difficulty (honestly, I'm a very pool player but i absolutely melt when confronted with how vast those tables are and how small the balls and pockets are) make him one of the finest sportsmen in any sport due to the level of skill involved, you should watch his documentary just for your own amusement, a very interesting individual. Funnily enough you mentioned your wife seems to get excited by snooker, My girlfriend struggles to watch a full game of football with me but will sit up for hours and watch the snooker, she finds it theraputic, she has no interest in playing it, she just sits there stroking her chin and then clapping wildly when something big happens (usually once every hour). It's adorable great video guys

The best sportsman to have missed out on Sports Personality of the Year. He's amazing.

Mrs Roots worked out all the terminology correctly, she's a natural. You have to appreciate the size of a snooker table compared to a pool table; how much narrower the pockets are and how tough long shots are on a table that big. I have a friend who went to Florida on holiday and played pool with some locals in the English snooker style... it didn't go down too well with them and almost caused a fight!

I love the way that players dress for these competitions. I know that makes me shallow but they all look great to me in their suits and ties which you don't see much of anywhere these days.

First time I watched snooker this guy was on, I thought 'Are they all like this?' He is quite clearly the best player ever.

It’s all about how the table is playing because each table has a different bonce on the cushions because every match playing table is built with slate base .

Not only is a snooker table much larger than a pool table (snooker table is 6feet x 12 feet), but the pockets are narrower.

Ronnie is the most naturally gifted player of any sport known to man just saying, amazing to see live the commentator is talking about the next shot, always thinking ahead in this game some shots are even to set up the next not to pot the ball like an actual snooker shot

Usually as players get above 45ish, their game goes down a good bit. Ronnie on the other is still smashing it. He is incredible

Ronnie was playing "for this red" to be potted with his next shot It's all about control of the cue ball. Potting the target ball is one thing, most people can do that with a little practice but potting the target ball AND getting the cue ball to finish up in the ideal position for taking your next shot is quite another thing entirely!

When you consider the table is twice the size of a pool table and the pockets are that small, it's incredible. I once managed a 67 break. Then I watch these guys and they do it just like that, all the time. It makes you realise what talents they really are. It's not just the angles and the maths involved, it's all to do with the arm action too. But Rocket Ronnie only needs one arm, when using two arms he can play left or right handed. They do some serious practice to be this good though, hours a day on the tables.

Some terminologies: Plant: knocking one or more balls intentionally into the ball you intend to pot Deep screw: aiming extremely low of centre on the cueball to create intense backspin Kiss: basic term for a ball contacting another ball Double kiss: usually something players don’t want. Where the ball you’re aiming for is close to the cushion (rail). After making contact, or ‘kissing’ the ball, it hits the rail and immediately comes back and hits the cueball away

Maths is a small part of it, but the beauty of it being a game played in the real world with real physics is that we don't actually have the mathematics to fully describe everything that can happen on a snooker table. So it really is a game dominated by skill and experience, strategic thinking and nerves. Some of the same long range thinking you find in chess applies to Snooker, constantly judging what to sacrifice, what to pursue, whether to press an advantage, whether to aim to disadvantage your opponent. Ronnie just happens to be the player who is currently best in all departments. All cue sports share the same sort of elements, snooker just makes all of it harder!

Ronnie still plays but isn't too worried if he doesn't make it to the final, because when he drops out of a competition he simply moves to comentating on TV (Eurosport), which pays the same sort of money as playing to the end. He's just so good he's got it made whatever happens!

Steve and Lindsey , it's worth watching a video explaining the rules of snooker and learn a bit about the techniques, spin etc to really appreciate and enjoy the game.

At one point when ronnie was world #1 they said if he only played with his non dominant hand he would still have been within the top 5 in the world. He can even play golf, both left and right handed in equal greatness. A very talented individual

The thing with Ronnie is that he is so temperamental when he is on it he is untouchable but every now and then he just looses his head and is very beatable

Mrs Roots was asking about "what does it mean "for this red"", in snooker, balls are potted red, then colour, then red, O`sullivan needed to pot that final red. i suggest you watch a full game to get to understand the game more.

It’s all about the type of Spin he puts on the white cue.ball so it will spin off in a direction he wants. Either left spin, right spin and either forward or reverse left or right spin, etc etc will let him place the cue ball exactly for his next shot

It’s also about technique which relies apon the weight and the angle with which you strike the white ball with a means to an end and the angles that are needed to be used just to achieve the route to the next necessary ball. The position of the cue ball is queue.

Ronnie is the G,O,A,T,!!... a natural freak, can play to a high standard with both hands!!!.... the Tiger woods, of Snooker.

Its been said many times but looking at the table on a screen is one thing but the sheer size it irl is something else

I like how they're both extremely baked lmao

Steve, this is the match to watch and learn about the scoring etc. #1 Vs #2!

I will watch your reaction when I get back from work hope this is the one I'm hoping it is

The goat

Greatest of all time and probably will never be anyone as good ever again.

3:50 because he wanted to use the rest, but then changed his mind and played it like that, and the rest stood on the table because it wouldn't affect the game in any scenario, because it's a delicate shot

He recently had a Netflix fly on the wall doc released, probably a year ago I'd guess. Very colourful let's say...but excellent.

Ronnie is the goat in snooker history

Ronny is called the 'Rocket' because he is so fast. The farthest red etc just means it is a long distance shot, a long way between the cue ball & the target ball. A plant is where you hit one ball for that to hit another ball & plant it in the pocket. The first shot each time has to be at a red, but if all the reds are gone then the next colour in order. The order is yellow, green, brown, blue , pink & black. While there are still reds on the table you can choose to try for any of the colours but must pot reds each time while there are still some on the table. Ronny is still playing, & reached the semi finals of the world championship earlier this year. He has won it 7 times, but so did Steven Hendry. He is certainly beatable, as he has been quite moody over the years, got bad tempered etc with his game going wrong. The Snooker table is 12 foot long by 6 foot wide, with narrow pockets. Unlike pool you must hit/pot the balls in a specific order. If you miss the ball you are aiming for your opponent is awarded 4 penalty points, or more according to the colour of the struck ball, & may have to play the same shot again. There is a bonus prize in big tournaments for scoring hundred, & for highest breaks, especially for 147 scores.

"For this red" means that although he was trying to pot a coloured ball he was also trying to position the white que ball for the next red.

Not only is the table bigger, the pockets are much tighter (particularly at this level) and the baize is super fast. I played quite reasonable standard on a club table but when they brought in a competition table (from the Crucible) it took me ages to even pot one ball.

He worked with another snooker legend from the 70s/80s Ray Reardon (6 times world champion) to perfect his game and credits Ray with helping him achieve his GOAT status. Reardon died very recently at 91. If you want to know how to perfect positional play in snooker then play billiards (only uses 3 balls).

The terminology used on-screen 'for this red' is just an explanation for people not too familiar with the game. It's showing the viewer which ball he is aiming to be in position for, for the next shot.

Not only does Ronnie have the Fastest 147... he *_ALSO_* has: the Most 147s... by a lot about 8 out of the 10 Fastest 147s Asked about the 147 prize money after 2nd shot, and made the 147 Also asked about the 147 prize money early, was disappointed, and therefore made a *_146_* on purpose to make a point... And he did that *_TWICE_* meaning in reality he *SHOULD* have 2 *_MORE_* 147s on his record but *_intentionally_* didn't as a protest against the sport's ruling body. As well as a bunch of records for winning a specific Championship the most times, and maybe even the most championships of all time, in *_ADDITION, YET AGAIN_* to the fact that he was *_ALSO_* the YOUNGEST player to ever win a championship *AND* now the *OLDEST* to win a Championship, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc... The Man's insane with snooker skill. Each year, we know he isn't "prime" ronnie anymore, but... even rusty, old, half paying attention Ronnie is *_STILL_* better than 90% of players. And above that, each game there's a chance, he'll just decide to "Fire up that Rocket", and you'd better have a comfy chair cause you are *NOT* touching the table the rest of the day... no matter who you are, or how good you are, if Ronnie doesn't *_LET YOU_* get to take a shot... *YOU WON'T* and then Can't win. Which was basically his strategy overall. He can do insane snooker/safety shots when he *HAS* to, but he'd rather try to keep the break going with an even *HARDER* shot that sinks a ball and *DOESN'T(* let you play, than an easy to land great snooker/safety play but gives the other player *ANY* chance. When playing ronnie he can and will let you know that it's *HIS* game, and you will play when *HE **_ALLOWS_* you too, or if the gods are mad that he hasn't let anyone win in a while and that's when the balls will break funny or do rare unfortunate things that make Ronnie seem *_somewhat_* Human.

Mick Price who was Ronnie's opponent when he recorded the fastest 147 used to be in my quiz team x

When they talk about lining up "for this red". Snooker is played like this (the basics): Pot a red. Pot a colour (any colour). Pot a red. Pot a colour (any colour).......etc. When there are no reds left, you pot the colours in order of their point value (yellow, green, brown, blue, pink and black). The highest number of points can be achieved by Red, Black, Red, Black, Red, Black... (clear the reds).... Yellow, Green, Brown, Blue, Pink, Black. So in that shot, he potted the black for 7 points, hit 5 cushions (carefully missing that blue ball), to line himself up to take that last red down... which would also easily line him up for another black..... Phenomenal play, or very very lucky.

Ronnie has won so many world championships now its probably right to call him the greatest