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Snooker: Ronnie O’Sullivan’s Chalk Usage Sparks Controversy
🇫🇮 Finland /Culture & Society

Snooker: Ronnie O’Sullivan’s Chalk Usage Sparks Controversy

From Helsingin Sanomat · (10m ago) Finnish Critical tone

Translated from Finnish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Snooker players Neil Robertson and John Higgins are calling for Ronnie O'Sullivan's preferred chalk to be banned, arguing it negatively impacts the game.
  • They claim O'Sullivan's use of the traditional Triangle chalk causes "kicks" (inaccurate cue ball contact) and makes the table messy, unlike the modern Taom chalk used by most professionals.
  • Higgins, who narrowly lost to O'Sullivan in a recent match, stated that 99% of tour players dislike the old chalk, and Robertson believes it gives O'Sullivan an unfair advantage.

A debate is brewing in the hallowed halls of snooker, with top players calling for a ban on the chalk used by none other than the legendary Ronnie O'Sullivan. Neil Robertson and John Higgins have voiced their strong opinions, arguing that O'Sullivan's continued use of traditional Triangle chalk is detrimental to the sport.

It ruins the game. You get kicks, you get bounces. And not only that, it also makes the table a complete mess.

— Neil RobertsonNeil Robertson explaining why he believes Ronnie O'Sullivan's preferred chalk should be banned.

At the heart of the controversy is the chalk itself. While the vast majority of professional players have adopted the modern Taom chalk, praised for its cleaner play and reduced "kicks" – instances of impure contact between the cue ball and object ball – O'Sullivan remains one of the few to stick with the older variety. Robertson and Higgins contend that this choice leads to a messier table and unpredictable ball behavior, effectively disrupting the flow of the game.

Everyone dislikes O'Sullivan's chalk.

— Neil RobertsonNeil Robertson expressing the general sentiment among snooker players regarding Ronnie O'Sullivan's chalk.

Higgins, who recently suffered a narrow defeat to O'Sullivan in a tense World Championship quarter-final, highlighted how an "impure contact" during a crucial shot potentially cost him the match. He lamented that the old chalk "just messes up the table" and feels like a step backward. The sentiment is echoed by Robertson, who claims that "everyone" dislikes O'Sullivan's chalk, even if they don't believe he uses it maliciously.

Good point Neil. It just messes up the table and it's like going back in time.

— John HigginsJohn Higgins agreeing with Neil Robertson's call to ban Ronnie O'Sullivan's chalk.

Robertson further elaborated that playing against O'Sullivan is already a formidable challenge, and the unique chalk adds another layer of difficulty. He expressed hope that the chalk will eventually be prohibited, suggesting it provides an unfair advantage. This call for a ban underscores a desire for a more standardized and predictable playing environment, where skill, rather than equipment quirks, dictates the outcome.

I think Ronnie uses it because he has better cue ball control than any other player in the sport. He feels he can control the white ball better even when there are bad rebounds and bounces.

— John HigginsJohn Higgins speculating on why Ronnie O'Sullivan continues to use traditional chalk.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Helsingin Sanomat in Finnish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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