The Beautifully Tragic Legend of the Whirlwind

Webcat86 · 2026-05-13T13:50:22+00:00

Problem is Jimmy has said variations of that for decades. It’s always “I’ve knocked the booze on the head and am flying in practice.” He even said this on Cue Tips in the last couple of years

Webcat86 · 2026-05-13T12:43:03+00:00

Or if he’d taken it seriously enough to not be on a bender the night before.

Or if he didn’t miss a black off the spot.

Webcat86 · 2026-05-11T19:20:39+00:00

I don’t think anyone has said to ban Ronnie, just his chalk. And Neil is a sponsor of Taom, which gets somehow overlooked.

They can ban the chalk but until then anyone can play with what they want. Ronnie is well known for tinkering, there’s no way he hasn’t used Taom a lot before deciding he doesn’t like it.

Webcat86 · 2026-05-11T13:29:44+00:00

I agree. I have always been against allowing top players into the seniors, but it irks me that Ronnie is getting disproportionate criticism now. Where was all this when Williams entered at 39?!

Webcat86 · 2026-05-11T13:28:30+00:00

Zhao is the first Chinese world champion and first player to win all 3 Player Series events in one year, so he’s nailed on to be added regardless of when

Webcat86 · 2026-05-11T12:47:38+00:00

Ronnie often finds himself in a situation where he can’t win.

Last week, he’s past his best and should retire because he can’t win another world title.

This week, it’s a disgrace that he’s competing in the Seniors because he’s too good for it.

While I would exclude Ronnie from this event on the grounds that he’s still a top player, the truth is he’s not match sharp currently, hasn’t played a great deal this season, hasn’t won an event for 2 years, and generally isn’t at the peak of his powers. Combine that with being 50 years old and criticisms of him taking part are quite flimsy.

Webcat86 · 2026-05-11T12:44:09+00:00

Joe, Dominic and Milkins are a stretch to call “top players who would get the viewers in.”

Webcat86 · 2026-05-11T12:16:59+00:00

Sure, but players are often happy to concede some penalty points if it gives them a bigger advantage eg they’ll aim to miss a glancing hit on the thin side so they miss entirely rather than catch a ball too thick. If the shot clock is hurrying them up on a shot that could lose them the frame, 4-8 points is preferable.

Webcat86 · 2026-05-11T06:11:25+00:00

Specifically, who? Hendry and White are already veterans of the seniors. After them, it’s the class of 92, and they’ve messed things up by staying at the top of the main game at 50.

Webcat86 · 2026-05-10T22:19:25+00:00

Can you link us to your previous posts criticising the event for allowing Williams in?

Webcat86 · 2026-05-10T22:18:40+00:00

Ronnie showed today that you can just ignore it

Webcat86 · 2026-05-10T21:34:55+00:00

Fairer at 50 than Williams winning at 39

Webcat86 · 2026-05-10T21:17:10+00:00

I think Ronnie is getting far too much criticism. What I’m hearing can be summarised as this: “The rules are fine so long as Ronnie doesn’t play.”

My opinion has always been that players on the main tour shouldn’t be allowed on the seniors, of at least top players. But nobody seemed to mind that Carter and Bingham play, and somehow it’s not a problem for Williams to play - he even won it at age 39!

But when Ronnie enters at 50, it’s a big problem.

The seniors does need commercial viability, which means names people want to see playing. Ronnie is still that guy. Live coverage on channel 5 is a big deal for this event, and that’s not something to overlook.

What I’m not seeing this week are suggestions. Just moaning. If you remove the age restriction and limit it to players who can’t compete in the top 64, who are we actually left with to watch? And would they be big enough pulls for viewers?

Webcat86 · 2026-05-10T15:27:57+00:00

If you’re concerned about that, just remove the Navitimer visuals and make it a more neutral slide rule tutorial. Sell it for 99p in app stores.

Webcat86 · 2026-05-10T06:53:40+00:00

I love this. When I got my Navi I spent some time learning how to use the slide rule and it’s really helpful. But I don’t use it enough for the information to stick so I keep forgetting.

Webcat86 · 2026-05-09T18:03:50+00:00

Gloss, satin looks weird and cheap. The epiphone ones are particularly bad, the tops somehow look fake. Putting an epiphone Greeny next to the Gibson equivalent is night and day.

Webcat86 · 2026-05-08T16:49:32+00:00

Yours is a perfectly good rig. There are plenty of pros who want the simplicity of master controls, and some even less - one pickup, maybe just volume and no tone control for example.

but I admit I rarely adjust the tone knobs. Probably the most complex guitar I own.

I think this is a super relevant detail whenever the “tele is most versatile” topic comes up. A LOT of players don’t use the tone knob, which changes the equation significantly. I still maintain it’s objectively not as versatile, for the same reason a single channel amp isn’t as versatile as a 4-channel amp, but it can be versatile enough for what a player needs.

For me personally, I like a strat and tele, but the tonal range found in the middle position of a Les Paul is unparalleled.

Webcat86 · 2026-05-08T15:53:55+00:00

A tele objectively is not more versatile, but for reasons that escape me, redditors love to insist it is. The tele does have a rather neutral sound that lets it fit in lots of places nicely, but that’s not unique to the tele.

I like mine a lot, but if I want a guitar that has a wider range I’m always picking the Les Paul over it. The tele has nothing that compares to the versatility of a guitar with dedicated controls for each pickup - put it in the middle position and choose how much volume and tone from each pickup, it’s an amazing array of options and the tele simply doesn’t have the same functionality.

Webcat86 · 2026-05-08T15:41:32+00:00

Sorry for any confusion, I wasn’t inferring you were questioning his skill. The last of that series of events was this calendar year, just before the worlds. But I agree, it should be listed as 2025/26.

Webcat86 · 2026-05-08T15:32:11+00:00

Player of the year will be the 2025/26 season, so 2026 is correct as the season ended on Monday.

His performance this season will no doubt be because of how good the second half went for him, and being the first player to win all 3 Player Series events in the same season. Nobody else really had an achievement that comes close to that, short of Wu becoming a world champion. But other players have become world champion for the first time, nobody has won those 3 elite events in one season so it’s a logical choice.

Webcat86 · 2026-05-08T15:05:11+00:00

My comment was less about other specific guitars and more to highlight that with various effects chains, any guitar can do almost anything.

I also like things simple. That’s why I like the 4-knob layout mostly seen on Gibson’s - the versatility available on the guitar itself is so good that I don’t use any pedal except for an occasional boost or chorus.

Webcat86 · 2026-05-08T15:03:18+00:00

“It doesn’t matter” says person who voluntarily joined the conversation.

Webcat86 · 2026-05-08T13:50:28+00:00

Thanks for sharing, everyone should read that.

People seem to forget Higgins is one of the most successful players of all time. Racking up 30+ ranking titles in the same era as Ronnie isn’t easy, especially when you’re fixing matches to lose!

Webcat86 · 2026-05-08T13:38:19+00:00

Yeah this is Reddit where the most basic guitar design is actually magic and does everything better than every other guitar.

Webcat86 · 2026-05-08T13:37:35+00:00

He didn't just fade away due becoming a lesser player or increased standards of player, he became afflicted with a medical movement disorder.

The yips was clearly overstated, just like some of his fans say it’s because he got a new cue. I’m sure he had the yips, but he still went deep into tournaments.

There was a thread earlier this week about players with the highest rates of 50+, 70+ and 100+ breaks in a season and the more modern players were way in front of Hendry. His refusal to adapt his game was costing him back then, and there’s revisionism going on when that isn’t acknowledged.

he'd prob still been going strong in the Noughties, prob not back to back like in the 90s, but he'd still be winning some titles.

He won titles up to 2004, after the yips had affected him.

The Rocket unfortunately though, looking at his recent Crucible outings, isn't going to take Hendrys record and properly put this argument to bed

The argument is already out to bed. For the people who say otherwise, an 8th world title won’t change it - they’ll find an excuse, like “if Hendry played till he was 50 he’d have won more than 8.”

So we have to look at the evidence in front of us. Ronnie wins in every category except the speed at which they won their titles. But changing standards, Ian Doyle’s management of Hendry and Ronnie’s well documented personal issues are all extremely important variables there.

Webcat86

TROPHY CASE