Higgins, O Sullivan and Murphy: still going strong
Tennis has Roger Federer and Serena Williams, football Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and American football Tom Brady. But for ageing talent defying their years, there is no rival to snooker.
Attempting to predict the winner of the World Championship, which began in Sheffield on Saturday, is not only an almost identical task to a decade ago but, remarkably, not too dissimilar from the turn of the century.
Ronnie O’Sullivan, who won the sport’s showpiece tournament in 2001, is No 1 seed for the event, with John Higgins, the man he beat 20 years ago, ranked No 5. Former world champions Neil Robertson, Mark Williams, Shaun Murphy and Mark Selby, as well as Stephen Maguire and Barry Hawkins, were also present in 2001 and are still among the game’s top 12 players. Right now, snooker truly is no sport for young men.
China s Ding ahead as he aims to join Yan in World Championship advance france24.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from france24.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Last modified on Mon 19 Apr 2021 01.41 EDT
Top story: ‘Walk away before irreparable damage is done’
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Football has been thrown into turmoil after plans were confirmed last night for the European Super League, with six English clubs – Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham – joining the breakaway competition alongside three each from Italy and Spain. Boris Johnson and the French president, Emmanuel Macron, condemned proposals that were met with widespread criticism from around the continent. Organisers have announced they want to begin the competition in August.
The plan threatens not only the future of the Champions League but could have a seismic impact on the entire structure of the club game. In England the Premier League urged clubs “to walk away immediately before irreparable damage is done”. The former Manchester United and England defender Gary Neville reacted furi
Masters champion Yan reaches last 16 at Snooker World Championship theuknews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theuknews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Ronnie O’Sullivan unnerved at Crucible after encounter with ‘boozed up geezer’
Nevertheless, world champion O’Sullivan hailed the return of fans to the famous venue as the World Championships got underway. By Press Association Saturday 17 Apr 2021, 10:42 PM 3 hours ago 5,139 Views 2 Comments
Ronnie O Sullivan on the opening day of the World Championships.
Image: PA
Image: PA
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN GAVE the returning Crucible fans a treat by firing three consecutive centuries to wrap up a first round win over Mark Joyce – but fears their over-enthusiasm could wreck his bid for a seventh world crown.
O’Sullivan revealed he was accosted on Saturday in a “nightmare” incident in a city centre restaurant, and will now cut back his appearances in public in order to minimise the risk of being forced to withdraw du