“Probably the greatest bit of sportsmanship I have ever seen in any sport”
said the BBC commentator and former World champion Neil Robertson. So watch this.
Refused To Take An Unfair Advantage
World number one snooker player, Ronnie ‘The Rocket’ O’Sullivan, showed incredible sportsmanship at the world snooker championships. Competing against Stuart Bingham in the quarter-finals on the 28th April 2024 in England, Ronnie showed his class when he refused to take the easy shot to pot the red ball, after, he felt, he had gained an unfair advantage from the referee’s respotting the black ball (placing the black ball back on the table). There was a tiny divot on the table (which is common after a few days of intense playing), and the black ball wobbled ever so slightly from its spot, leaving O’Sullivan a much easier shot on the red.
“A nation desperate for integrity in public life has found it in Ronnie O’Sullivan and Snooker.”
“An act of decency is being hailed as the greatest sporting gesture ever. Politicians, business folk, celebrities – please take note” said the Guardian’s Simon Hattenstone . The incident occurred with Ronnie up 6-5 in games/frames and about to take the lead in the 12th frame, he potted the black but then, while the referee was attempting to put the black back in its position, which is a very delicate task with the white ball being so close to it, the black ball kept rocking off its position, giving O’Sullivan an easy shot at the next red ball. ‘O’Sullivan did the unthinkable’ said Hattenstone, he refused to pot the simple red. ‘Instead’ Hattestone continued: ‘he played a difficult defensive shot to the end of the table. The shot cost him the frame and, arguably, the match.’ See O’Sullivan asking the referee and then refusing to take the easy shot.
Played A Safety Shot Instead Of Potting The Easy Red
Ronnie wasn’t happy that he could now benefit from its position and easily pot the red. After some discussion, the referee, Desislava Bozhilova was eventually happy with the ball’s position but Ronnie was unconvinced. So instead, Ronnie played a safety shot and went on to lose that frame and, eventually the match. Despite losing he really did show us a great sportsmanship moment that will go down in history. Reminicent of famous golfer, Darren Clark’s refusal to shoot at the green, and instead hit the ball a few yards sidewise in 2006.
World’s Greatest Snooker Player
It is interesting to note that Ronnie O’Sullivan was also playing for an even bigger prize – that of becoming the world’s greatest snooker player, ever. Both he and Steven Hendry have won the World Title 7 times each. If Ronnie went on to win this title he would be crowned the greatest ever. And with Steven retired it’s likely Ronnie would be the world’s greatest snooker player for a long time.
O’Sullivan Has Form
Like us all, Ronnie O’Sullivan has had great challenges in life including mental health issues, which he openly talks about and which, in turn, helps countless others. He even had to call the Samaritans for help once in the middle of a tournament (more on Ronnie’s anxiety attacks). But despite all of this, Ronnie is a man of honour and kindness and humility as demonstrated when he hugged and chatted intimately with the defeated and distraught Ding Junhui whom O’Sullivan had beaten 10-3 in the 2007 final of the Masters, Ding wept.
“The Best Of Humanity – Morality, Bravery, Sacrifice and Sheer Bloody Goodness”
“This was a shot that both defined and transcended sport. It was everything we’d learned about sportsmanship at school (if we had decent teachers). But it was also about the best of humanity – morality, bravery, sacrifice and sheer bloody goodness.” Hattenstone
“O’Sullivan proved himself a contender for the world’s most sporting sports star.”
We’ll finish this post with these final words from this excellent article by the Guardian’s Simon Hattenstone:
“He may have lost,
but in doing so he showed
there are still standards in public life,
and some people do care about doing the right thing.
Not something we see often these days.”
….which begs this verse from a poem that was framed on my parent’s bedroom wall
and has now generated a 16-year-long conversation
as the discussion continues about
who wrote these magical words
…..about Ronnie O’Sullivan?
If you liked this, you might also like
Enemies on the Baize. Best of Friends Off It – Ronnie O’Sullivan and Ding Junhui
Thailand’s New Snooker Star, Sunny Akani, Thanks Ronnie O’Sullivan
Top 10 Sportsmanship Moments 2022 (O’Sullivan’s Hug with Judd Trump) – 8th best moment
Top 10 Sportsmanship Moments 2017 (Sunny Akani, says ‘Thank You For The Game’ to his victor and heroe, Ronnie O’Sullivan) No.1 moment
Smiling Helps You Win In Sport and in Life – that Sunny Akino and Ronnie O’Sullivan warmth again
Not that You Won or Lost but How You Played The Game a 16 year old ongoing conversation
Leprechauns Challenged Darren Clarke
Thanks to Cian Smith who co-authored this post.
Ronnie should have taken the easy red as the referree had deemed the position of the white ball to be in the correct position. It wasn’t the first time he complained about the respotting of the black ball in this tournament yet I don’t recall other players having a problem with it.
Perhaps yes, Pat, but he felt he had an unfair advantage. Just like Darren Clarke felt he had an unfair advantage when he resumed play after leaving his ball in thick thick rough because of thunder and rain with (unplayable other than chipping out sideways onto the fairway and costing him a shot) – but the next day he found all the rough was neatly flattened and the ball 100% playable. Either the fairies or fans trampling down the rough – gave him an unfair advantage – so he chipped out sideways!.
Ronnie is running out of time if he wants to eclipse Hendry’s record of seven world titles. In future he should let the referee decide whether a ball has been reported on the correct place or not.
What a lovely bit of sportsmanship there from Ronnie!
Bill Stroube sent this comment:
Great stuff! Very similar to Bobby Jones calling a penalty on himself for the ball moving at the 11th hole of the 1921 US Open although no one else saw it. It cost him the tournament but made him what he was to golf and made The Masters, in my opinion, the unique institution in sport that it is.