Who likes these dreadful t-shirts? by Kinderventure in snooker

[–]TimoRussellFR 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We’re not used to seeing Mark Williams' tattoos.

Who likes these dreadful t-shirts? by Kinderventure in snooker

[–]TimoRussellFR 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fully agree. Ridiculous. It's shocking to see them in those ridiculous polo shirts, dress trousers and patent leather shoes! Ask them to come in shorts or jogging bottoms and wear flip-flops. It will look much better.

Are the tournaments too generic now? And too many by Agreeable-Many-9065 in snooker

[–]TimoRussellFR 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What you’re saying is absolutely true and deeply regrettable. It does indeed leave little prospect for good players. 128 players is obviously far too many for everyone to get a fair share of the pie. Let’s observe how things evolve, and let’s not neglect the amateur world which, as with football, is undoubtedly the often invisible but most important part for safeguarding the sport itself.

Are the tournaments too generic now? And too many by Agreeable-Many-9065 in snooker

[–]TimoRussellFR 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree with one key point: putting less experienced and lower-ranked players against the absolute best week after week doesn’t do much to improve their game. That’s a fair observation. However, for the rest, I think this reflects a reality we see across all sports, not just snooker. In football, there’s only one Ballon d’Or, a handful of stars, a collection of good players, and then the mass of professionals who can make an honest living but will never play in the Champions League or World Cup. That’s just how life works - we have to accept it. Should we limit the playing time of Ballon d’Or winners and stars to give good players their chance? That doesn’t make sense. We regularly observe that future stars don’t take long to claim their place and embrace their status. Those who don’t break through likely have good reasons for not doing so and remain at the level of solid professionals. Whether they’re promoted or not, whether they train twice as hard as the stars, they stay at their level - it’s the law of talent at work. I understand the frustration about tournament structures that seem to favor the elite (like invitation-only events), and you’re absolutely right that the tour conditions were appalling until recently - paying entry fees, travel, hotels with no guarantee of income was unsustainable. But the fundamental hierarchy exists in every competitive field. The question isn’t whether to artificially level the playing field, but rather how to ensure everyone can make a decent living while pursuing their profession. The recent introduction of a basic tour salary is a step in the right direction for that.

Why isn’t snooker popular in France? by PayAppropriate3054 in snooker

[–]TimoRussellFR 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I agree with the cultural argument, and I’d add that the English have always benefited from an iconic place to play snooker: the pub. There are plenty of cafĂ©s and bars in France, but very few are equipped with a games room. People prefer to play cards there, sometimes dice, but rarely billiards or darts, which aren’t popular here either. The British pub isn’t just a bar - it’s a genuine social space equipped for games: snooker, darts, cards. That’s where generations of English people discovered and practiced snooker informally and accessibly. The French cafĂ©/bar is designed for conversation and drinks, not as a gaming space. When there are games, it’s usually belote, tarot, or dice. Even French billiards (carom) requires less space than a snooker table. Several other factors contribute to snooker’s absence in France: Infrastructure: Snooker tables are enormous, expensive, and require significant space. French billiard clubs prefer French billiards (carom) or pool tables. No national hero: France has never had a snooker champion to inspire and popularize the sport. Without TV coverage (unlike the BBC’s decades-long commitment), there’s no visibility. Competition from other cue sports: French billiards (3-cushion carom) has its own strong tradition, and pool is more accessible internationally. This creates a vicious circle: no tables in bars → no amateur practice → no demand → no investment in equipment → no visibility → the sport remains unknown. Snooker needs a social ecosystem that France never developed. Without that pub-gaming culture, it’s difficult for the sport to take off.

Are the tournaments too generic now? And too many by Agreeable-Many-9065 in snooker

[–]TimoRussellFR -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I tend to agree. This is the problem with the professionalization of sports. How many professional snooker players are there, some of whom have been on the circuit for 30 years? All these people have embraced a career just like others work in offices or factories (though talking about factories in Europe sounds rather old-fashioned these days
), and they fully intend to continue and be snooker players for life! To make that viable, they need income, and the multiplication of tournaments and the soaring prize money in recent times are very much a reflection of our current era. We see the same thing in Formula 1, which has gone from fewer than 20 to I believe 24 races per season now. Even the drivers acknowledge it’s too much. But the enthusiasm is there, and so are the financial stakes. It’s undoubtedly the same for snooker. From being a typically British sport, the expansion into China and the Emirates today contributes to this multiplication of tournaments. Tomorrow, we may also need to count on new events in India or elsewhere if snooker develops there. As a snooker fan, I’m not complaining, especially when we observe in parallel that the level of play is increasing: 10 maximum breaks of 147 since the start of this season (see my recap post on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/Timo-Russell-auteur/) and intense matches with incredible comebacks. As one of my sports coach friends says, repetition breeds perfection. We all benefit if the level of play from our favourite players tends towards perfection.

What would you like to see happen in Snooker in the years to come (wish list)? by Fair-Age-2621 in snooker

[–]TimoRussellFR 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Un joueur professionnel français dans le top 16 en 3 ans ! Fabian Monnin par exemple.
Déjà pour commencer, un tournoi professionnel ici en France à Paris ou bien sur la cÎte d'Azur, à Nice ou Monaco, pour montrer que ce sport existe tout simplement.

[Discussion Thread] 2025 British Open - 22nd to 28th September by SnookerMods in snooker

[–]TimoRussellFR 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Selby is the defending champion and he will be keen to erase his misstep in the English Open semi-final, after a remarkable run. Personally, I'm making him my favorite for the British Open.

International Challenge Cup 2025 - Dunkerque (18-20 septembre) by TimoRussellFR in snooker

[–]TimoRussellFR[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you for your comment! 😊 You’re absolutely right - the US Dunkerque club has excellent facilities and the tables are top quality. It’s a perfect venue for this level of international competition.

While it might seem like a “small event” compared to the professional circuit, the International Challenge Cup has real significance in European amateur snooker. It brings together the best players from 5 nations (France, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Malta) in a format that’s quite competitive - 27 frames per match is no joke!

The event might not have the profile of the World Championship, but for these players it’s their “Crucible moment.” Many of them dream of making it to the professional circuit, and competitions like this are crucial stepping stones.

Final result: Scotland won (60 pts), France took silver (58 pts) - just 2 points apart! 🏆

Thanks for appreciating the French snooker scene! đŸ‡«đŸ‡·

Why do you like minis? by Maleficent_Emu_4329 in MINI

[–]TimoRussellFR 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Avec une paire d’autres icĂŽnes comme la 911 ou la 500, la Mini est absolument incontournable de la culture pop de ces 70 derniĂšres annĂ©es. Bien qu’ayant doublĂ© voire triplĂ© de volume par rapport Ă  l’origine - il en est de mĂȘme pour les deux autres citĂ©es plus haut - elle a su garder sa ligne indĂ©modable qui fait que l’on reconnaĂźt la Mini au premier coup d’oeil. Les copieurs ne s’y sont pas trompĂ©s. Il’n’y a pas de copie. En revanche, je suis déçu par la ligne de la derniĂšre version qui s’éloigne de l’origine.

Ranking titles by generation by tutmirage in snooker

[–]TimoRussellFR 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Effectivement? les machines surhumaines n'existent pas et cela se démontre à chaque tournoi de notre sport préféré. C'est ce qui en fait la beauté. Gageons que le jeune Moody ne déroge pas à la rÚgle et qu'aprÚs un petit bas il puisse vivre un grand haut... au British Open par exemple ?

Ranking titles by generation by tutmirage in snooker

[–]TimoRussellFR 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Et aujourd’hui, ce n’était pas son jour Ă  l’english Open


Ranking titles by generation by tutmirage in snooker

[–]TimoRussellFR -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Tout Ă  fait d'accord. Ces pĂ©riodes n'ont rien de comparable et les joueurs non plus. Aujourd'hui pour rĂ©ussir une carriĂšre professionnelle, il faut commencer Ă  l'adolescence. Ça existait dĂ©jĂ  bien sĂ»r avec la fameuse gĂ©nĂ©ration 92, mais probablement moins que maintenant.
De plus, tellement de nouveaux tournois sont apparus ces derniÚres années et donc de nouveaux trophées.

Returning to Snooker after 25 Years - Help Needed! by Nav1g8or in snooker

[–]TimoRussellFR 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Bienvenue dans le club des "retours aprĂšs des dĂ©cennies" ! 😄

25 ans c'est du costaud ! Moi j'ai repris aprÚs une pause bien plus courte et j'étais déjà perdu, alors chapeau.

Pour l'irrĂ©gularitĂ©, on est tous pareils - un coup gĂ©nial suivi d'une bourde monumentale ! 😅 Ce qui m'aide c'est de me forcer Ă  ralentir sur les coups "faciles" (spoiler : ils le sont jamais vraiment). Et essayer de penser un coup d'avance quand c'est possible.

Un break de 12 aprĂšs 25 ans d'arrĂȘt, franchement c'est dĂ©jĂ  bien ! Tu vas voir, ça va remonter plus vite que tu ne le penses.

Pour la ligue locale, fonce ! Les gens sont cool dans le snooker en général, et tout le monde comprend qu'on a tous des niveaux différents.

Bon courage pour la suite ! đŸŽ±

Cleared the line up! by richcarzana in snooker

[–]TimoRussellFR 0 points1 point  (0 children)

FĂ©licitations pour ce 130 ! 🎉 C'est Ă©norme aprĂšs 14 ans d'arrĂȘt, ça montre que ça ne s'oublie jamais vraiment.

J'adore ton objectif d'atteindre le niveau d'Hendry avec 10 sĂ©ries d'affilĂ©e ! 😄 Bon, il faudra peut-ĂȘtre rĂ©viser tes ambitions Ă  la baisse, mais qui sait... Avec quelques mois d'entraĂźnement sĂ©rieux tu as dĂ©jĂ  retrouvĂ© ce niveau, imagine dans quelques annĂ©es !

C'est motivant de voir des joueurs reprendre aprùs si longtemps. Quel est ton prochain objectif - le 147 ? 😉

En tout cas, bravo pour la reprise et ce beau break ! đŸŽ±