As of today The Rocket (or Ronnie O'Sullivan as you might know him) is the reigning Embassy World Snooker champion. He is also the reigning German Masters champion 2012. But despite this, he has shockingly dropped out of the elite top sixteen and stands at 17th in the world - based on ranking points. Thankfully, by virtue of being the reigning world champion, he is automatically seeded 2nd in any tournament he chooses to play in, this season. But come end of season when the 2013 World Championships approach, he will have to be inside the top sixteen by a certain cutoff date if he doesn't want to go back to the qualifying school.
It's preposterous to even imagine that something like that could happen. It is the tennis equivalent of the reigning Wimbledon and ATP Master champion being forced to qualify for the next Wimbledon! The ranking points system is completely flawed - rewarding too many points for participation and not enough for winning. On top of that, the season is packed with so many tournaments that a player who participates in more events and wins nothing will stand at an advantage over a player who plays just a few but does very well and wins a couple. Barry Hearn is making the game more global and lucrative but the message he is sending out is this,
"I am going to reward you for being regular, not for being competitive!". It's simply quite ridiculous.
Last season, people were questioning Ronnie's motivation and ability. Andrew Higginson was literally ONE POT AWAY from knocking Ronnie out of the top sixteen. Ronnie was 4-1 down in a best of 9. Higginson made a 62 break in the sixth frame. He had a smug look on his face as he played a safety shot, knowing full well that he had beaten Ronnie. But The Rocket smashed in a long red, cleared up the table, went on to win that match and subsequently the tournament! This ensured his top sixteen ranking. And in the world championships he launched a blitzkrieg against his opponents, winning sessions 6-2 and 7-1 against former world champions. He won the tournament, announced a six month sabbatical and when he finally returned a few weeks back, he lost his first round match match against a world no73.
Now he is out of the top sixteen. Everyone is once again questioning his ability. And that my friends - is his Rocket fuel.
It's preposterous to even imagine that something like that could happen. It is the tennis equivalent of the reigning Wimbledon and ATP Master champion being forced to qualify for the next Wimbledon! The ranking points system is completely flawed - rewarding too many points for participation and not enough for winning. On top of that, the season is packed with so many tournaments that a player who participates in more events and wins nothing will stand at an advantage over a player who plays just a few but does very well and wins a couple. Barry Hearn is making the game more global and lucrative but the message he is sending out is this,
"I am going to reward you for being regular, not for being competitive!". It's simply quite ridiculous.
Last season, people were questioning Ronnie's motivation and ability. Andrew Higginson was literally ONE POT AWAY from knocking Ronnie out of the top sixteen. Ronnie was 4-1 down in a best of 9. Higginson made a 62 break in the sixth frame. He had a smug look on his face as he played a safety shot, knowing full well that he had beaten Ronnie. But The Rocket smashed in a long red, cleared up the table, went on to win that match and subsequently the tournament! This ensured his top sixteen ranking. And in the world championships he launched a blitzkrieg against his opponents, winning sessions 6-2 and 7-1 against former world champions. He won the tournament, announced a six month sabbatical and when he finally returned a few weeks back, he lost his first round match match against a world no73.
Now he is out of the top sixteen. Everyone is once again questioning his ability. And that my friends - is his Rocket fuel.
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