snooker-greats

[ziggy]

ive been having an ongoing debate with a pal as to who we consider the most naturally gifted snooker player since the modern game evolved,1973 park drive sponsored world championship being our starting point. i have no doubt whatsoever that alex higgins stands head and shoulders,figuritively speaking,aabove any who care to lay claim to this title. my pal insists jimmy white has no equal and im delussional(this is true in many areas) . any blondes care to share tier opinions

[TightEnd]

got to be the late great Bill Werbenuik, hugely talented but only after 16 pints of lager!



seriously though, I'd take Higgins over White but O'Sullivan as a natural talent over both. Interestingly all are hugely flawed people (possibly not White) who battle personal demons and thus are hugely watchable as a result

Best of best, boring but deadly....Hendry and in the early 80s Steve Davis

[Jedwick]

Alex Higgins has been my favourite snooker player ever, undoubtely the most gifted player ever, had more talent in his little finger than anyone else, such a shame that he didnt use it all, but what an entertainer aswel, Jimmy White was fantastic and probably in the same mould as Higgins, no one possesses the same cue power as White, you have to mention Ronnie as he is another class, again, doesnt fufil his potential, the best snooker player ever has to be hendry or davis, both true professionals who play and have played at the top standard for years, Steve Davis is probably playing better than he was in the 80s, but the competition is so much harder and scoring seems to be easier.

Basically though i agree with you that Higgins is the most naturally gifted, followed by Ronnie then Jimmy White

In reply to above post Jimmy is nearly as bad as Higgins was,
Jed

[NEVES]

Hi

 Your mate has a great claim jimmy white & ronnie o are so naturally gifted
but they both have a flawless technique, higgins didn't apart from keeping
his head still on the shot (helps a bit ) his body twitching cue action grip
there is no way the man is anywhere near text book.

Having the great pleasure of watching close up and even better still playing
all these cue kings (well picking balls out of pockets for em lol) alex gets my
vote as the most gifted and most unorthodox.

     Neves.

[AndrewT]

I think you could take any top 16 player from today, stick them in one of the 1970s world championships and they'd be favourite to win - players today are generally much better than in the old days (when century breaks were rarer than today). There is a similar progression in golf/tennis, but that has been helped by advances in the technology (better clubs/racquets and balls) and fitter players whereas snooker is pretty much the same now as it was back then - the greater number of hours they spend practicing has helped them become better.

Of course, when discussing naturally gifted players you really mean 'if they never practiced'. Even taking this into account, O'Sullivan now would have destroyed Higgins at the peak of his powers.

[BrumBilly]

For me the 'best' ever has to be Hendry. Despite not being a fan of Ronnie's he is IMO the most gifted player there's been. He makes the game look easier than anyone ever has.

One of the most entertaining and whacky (in the best sense) was Cliff Wilson who could 'shoot the lights out' and always tried to avoid making a century. Rather than striving to win, he seemed to be more interested in expressing himself on the table.

Best we never got to see? That title, in the opinion of Jimmy White, goes to Patsy Hoolihan from Deptford. Follow link to a good read from the Observer Sport Monthly.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,708304,00.html

[bobby1]

For me Hendry was different gravy, the flair players are always viewed as being better than they really are , in truth these players can only win a frame one way. Jimmy White would have won at least 5 world titles if he had a safety game....but he didnt have one, so how can he be the greatest ever player?

Hendry and Davis had it all.

[The Dundonian]

Steven Henry is clearly head and shoulders above everyone, his record speaks for itself, after him has got to be Steve Davies. Both fantastically talented and gifted and both with a fantastic temparement. (also very good poker players)

[roverthtaeh]

If the question is 'most naturally gifted', it has to be O'Sullivan - left handed or right handed says it all really.
'Best player' is a different question entirely.

[Jedwick]

If the question is 'most naturally gifted', it has to be O'Sullivan - left handed or right handed says it all really.
'Best player' is a different question entirely.

definately what i think people are getting mixed up with, Higgins hasnt won nowhere near as much as Hendry, but thats because he was such a loose cannon, winning 2 world titles 10 years apart is a pretty good record to have imo

[bobby1]

I do see what you mean, but how can someone be naturally gifted if he can only do 50% of the required skills to be the best?

The best naturally gifted snooker players are the ones that have all the skill sets and Hendry and DaviS had everything.

Why do fans always use potting skills as a sign of being naturally gifted and ignore other aspects? if you have a great snooker brain and can play tactical snooker that forces your opponents into mistakes it is called dour, if you pot balls but cant play good snooker it is called talent. Why?

[ziggy]

For me the 'best' ever has to be Hendry. Despite not being a fan of Ronnie's he is IMO the most gifted player there's been. He makes the game look easier than anyone ever has.

One of the most entertaining and whacky (in the best sense) was Cliff Wilson who could 'shoot the lights out' and always tried to avoid making a century. Rather than striving to win, he seemed to be more interested in expressing himself on the table.

Best we never got to see? That title, in the opinion of Jimmy White, goes to Patsy Hoolihan from Deptford. Follow link to a good read from the Observer Sport Monthly.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,708304,00.html

                                                             wow id forgotton cliff wilson,what atalent,such flair. thnx for the reminder

[bobby1]

Cliff Wilson, brilliant!!!

I have a friend who knew Cliff Wilson socially and went to see the great man play an exhibition match somewhere in the 80's(might have been Preston) my friend got good seats near the front and halfway through the 1st frame Wilson was on a break in the 30's and eyeing up a black or a pink into the middle. When looking at the potting angle of the pink he caught sight of my friend in the crowd and mid break stood up and said' Hello mate, when ive polished him off do you fancy a few pints in the bar'

My friend was a little taken a back but said 'yes, that would be great' to which Cliff replied' Great, If I remember its your round' He then caried on and made an 80 break which broke down when he tried to treble the brown into the middle bag.


We sometimes play Cliff Wilson 'every shot is a pot' rules in the pub.

[JungleCat03]

Terry griffiths for me. The only man who could address the ball, stop and chalk his cue before addressing the ball again 5 consecutive times.

On the break off too. A welsh legend.

Just behind him is ronny for raw talent and hendry as the best complete snooker player there's been.

[BrumBilly]

nice story bobby...cheers!