Ronnie O'Sullivan & Steve Davis vs Jim Rempe & Earl Strickland | 1997 Mosconi Cup

[@lukeporter6186]

Loving the commentary. Dude just increases the volume in his voice whenever he feels like it

[@MrWeeRhys]

Yeah he'll just be talking normal THEN START FUCKING SHOUTING out of nowhere

[@Ironsvillage]

Haha that's so accurate

[@OldestYoungenInGuidePost]

That's Sid waddle of the north east of England who was one of those rare people who had a natural ability for commentary 😋 I'm from around the same area and I have to tell you that the way he's talking & pronouncing words, that he is putting on a more proper accent so that you and the rest of the American/Canadian audience can understand ALL that he is saying, he had some of the greatest one liners ever when he was commenting on the darts 🎯🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂 Please please have a look for: Sid Waddle top 10 commentaries and you'll see what I mean 👍🏼👍🏼

[@Cell2Dee]

Sid was a legend in the darts world. The yank commentator is a nightmare, “snucker”.

[@hqlion]

He is the best. Something for other commentators to learn.

[@contactkelvinsim]

The best snooker players can give the best pool players a run for the money. But the best pool players won't come anywhere close to a snooker table. It's all in the pocket and size of the table. Snooker pockets are less forgiving... less margin for error.

[@gerhardvanderwalt3271]

Very true

[@THEBURNZINATOR]

Because snooker is dumb

[@claytonmeister]

@@THEBURNZINATOR 🤣🤣🤣 butt hurt

[@kayrelzin5606]

You wont see professional pool players change to snooker they find it boring compared to pool

[@alextv293]

Classic American. Pool is shite and requires no skill, snooker is the complete opposite

[@MrJonny2324]

5:44 Davis doing his best to keep a straight face, he lasted 8 seconds. :D

[@Train_Sounds]

5:46 Steve Davis looking totally serious. 5:51 He then bursts out into laughter 😅

[@KvnDWr]

5:35 the way he walked back like it was intentional and laughed with Ronnie 😂

[@Muzammil_Hussain0123]

He was like "straight face, straight face" sees Ronnie's laughing and breaks the face😂

[@turkeytwizzler1930]

No chance that's a massive fluke face 😂😂

[@DanceySteveYNWA]

Davis is a funny guy, in his own uniquely 'interesting' way.

[@frasertones8519]

The American's wore their 1987 hair to a 1997 tournament. Nice touch.

[@chrischamberlain836]

Yeah and brought a weird contraption called a Batman bridge

[@lemmingbcn]

Well Davies style was a hit in the 70's.

[@megamus3]

@@lemmingbcn aw jeez, I would have said nothing rather than that.

[@sampsonlll1825]

Gotta "do it for Dale!!"

[@KoldkilleR99]

Both of them sporting “Swedish porn star” look

[@breaknrun]

fair play to strickland for rocking an 80's mullet deep into the late 90s. that takes balls

[@leapbeforeyoulook201]

Pun intended?

[@breaknrun]

@@leapbeforeyoulook201 the balls bit?

[@guitarreilly]

hahah what a plonker

[@henrylewis3943]

Takes ‘9 balls’

[@David-ud9ju]

He also has the eye of a genius and the execution of a tiger apparently. Whatever that means.

[@paulboyle5659]

Im a snooker head and here in the UK we love pool too, but we don't play 9ball really much but this is really a great way to play.. Love it

[@hardy1989]

Thats how good Ronnie is, comes to play the best pool players at 9 ball with a snooker cue. 😂😂😂

[@benleysen]

That is because he is the uk snucker champ. xD

[@late8641]

It's like bringing a knife to a gunfight and still prevailing.

[@leonardhpls6]

Pool cues are like toys compared to a real handmade snooker cue.

[@breaknrun]

@@leonardhpls6 rolls Royce vs fiesta! However with that being said the pool cues tech has improved massively in last 20 years and even snooker players would use a pool cue now

[@hadesofshadows3622]

i always play american or english pool with a snooker cue. Just so much better control. Ronnie is only making a potentially fatal mistake by breaking the balls with a small tip as it can easily damage it. Other than that, snooker cue > pool cue. Always

[@tammyrogne4364]

Earl's shot at 29:37 is amazing and he kept perfect shape on the 2!

[@Mr_Gray_Sky]

The two guys behind Davis and O'Sullivan are rocking the two main haircuts of the nineties: the gelled French crop and the bowl cut. Spectacular.

[@gerulfdosinger9869]

They are the only ones whose haircuts fit the time. The rest is all over the place.

[@thomaselliott573]

Obviously, you would like to chalk their buts

[@madeovstarstuff]

Yeah man the memories 😄

[@jedross2136]

"He's going around that table like Linford Christie on castors" We need somebody to fill Sid's shoes pronto

[@SDG1855]

2:25 Anybody else notice how Davis’ lag shot tails off to his left as it loses speed and comes to a stop? That table can’t possibly be level, can it? Reminds me of the miniature golf skills required to play on the average bar box these days...

[@bapu7516]

I was thinking the same, how on earth that ball diviate

[@waakid007]

He prolly has some side on the cue ball

[@polarbear4612]

Another shot at 38:20 in the same area has the ball moving the same way.

[@TheNuggzt3r]

@@polarbear4612 Yep I saw the pink aswell. That ball was making a big turn towards the cushion.

[@jeffb321]

One camera angle was in line with the long rail and you could see both long rails angled into the center pocket. It's looked to be over a 1/4" out of straight allingment

[@samueldanao4499]

This is probably just me but I can see the tension that Ronnie brings to Earl by clearing racks so fast. That's why I can sense that Earl is also trying to play fast.

[@flappospammo]

effren would've been more like it

[@envigraphy]

I think you got it a little backward. Earl has always liked playing fast and loose, as seen in his other matches. You can see this quite clearly in this very match, at 7:37 after Ronnie took what seemed like 2 hours with his shot, Earl just casually walked up and clear out the table with little hesitation, even with full table kick shots like at 9:15.

[@LostinYTblackhole]

No. Earl has always played like this. Ronnie and earl are two of the most identical players I’ve ever seen. Short tempered, fast and elegant play, and sharp shooting skills. If earl ever practiced a little snooker he would give Ronnie a good run for his money

[@truthsayerq7264]

@@LostinYTblackhole You obviously don't understand the various dynamics relating to stance, line of sight, touch points, cue delivery etc. If Strickland practiced snooker for the next 10 years he wouldn't have the skillset to take even a frame from O'Sullivan. The characteristics required to play the game successfully need to be formed at an early development stage. Jason Shaw was a half decent snooker player who decided to play pool because his game just wasn't good enough. And I can assure you, he would struggle to take a single frame from a top 50 ranked snooker player.

[@actionalex3611]

@@truthsayerq7264 couldnt agree more. Earl wouldnt stand a chance, especially with his cue motion lol

[@cornfake23]

Pool looks like the kids Version of Snooker 😅

[@search1159]

you literally shoot the main object ball (which is the black) from the same spot every time if you’re decent enough. how’s is that not a form of child’s play?

[@rhyswilliams9955]

Watching a snooker player play pool is like watching a professional golfer play mini golf

[@PostUp_Time]

Golf and mini golf is still golf. Snooker players here are not. Playing snooker at all😅😅😅

[@kevinv.m.94]

One major difference of Snooker players and Pool players is the where they put the chalk.

[@samerammari2240]

Amazing operation

[@idgfay3265]

The right sentence is without "the" 🙂

[@MrJdsenior]

Don't they both put it on the thin end? Anywhere else seems unproductive. :-/

[@christopheraustin1173]

@@MrJdsenior Snooker players keep it in their vests haha

[@mikeabba1990]

And the size of the tip, pool.

[@TweedSwiftie4eva]

I like 9 ball, but I'm extremely interested in this 'Snucker' the commentators keep talking about!! 😂

[@Whateverhappenshappens7]

Snooker* it's a different type of way to play billiards that requires a lot more focus and patience

[@TweedSwiftie4eva]

@@Whateverhappenshappens7 whooshhhhhh 🙄😆

[@part6133]

Smucker's JELLY. With crunchy peanut butter baby.

[@denisdaly1708]

Yes, that is what they keep talking about.

[@chocol8tsundae]

It's the real cue sport American players could never master because they have their heads up their arse.

[@arislabra3929]

Earl and Jim would blend in perfectly in a old West saloon setting! 😆😆😆

[@catweasle5737]

1997 must have been the year for porn moustache in America.

[@jimmymalone9139]

Ron Jeremy in drag. How can anybody miss. Pockets size of craters.that american ..what would ronnie do the clown on a snooker table😂😂😂😂😂

[@enriquep.c.7067]

U@@jimmymalone9139

[@quickstep2408]

EVERY year is porn stache year in.... 'MURICA! hell, it should be on the flag ffs

[@blurbadam5500]

That little swerve by Ronnie to go off the Cush, plant the pink green!!! 3 3

[@mikeabba1990]

Delicious wasn't it

[@billwilliams3141]

Thank you for share. Great Match!!! awesome!!

[@swarthyjake4433]

Steve Davis always ready for a laugh , a pint and a sing song round the piano , a grand lad.

[@joemac999]

Is he a good snooker player? Because overall he looks like he's horrible at any form of billiards.

[@Adambrownn]

@@joemac999 6 time world champion and one of the greatest to ever play the sport, pool can’t even compete with the level of snooker as well

[@yaboi2168]

Can we just appreciate the top class tunes in between frames

[@David-ud9ju]

No, we can't.

[@holdfast7657]

After playing pool for over ten years I was asked to join a snooker team. Just a bigger pool table with smaller pockets. How wrong I was. My first long shot missed the pocket by a foot. Took a while to get used to snooker and make more than a three ball break.

[@renias8965]

So,how can one differentiate pool and snooker in terms of difficulty and shot variety??

[@danielparry2937]

If they were playing snooker Davis and ronnie would win every frame. Snooker far harder to master.

[@blmagic2563]

@@renias8965 Pool hit and hope, on 1st break. Same variety with cue ball spin. Snooker lot more on skill, safety play, potting. You play snooker move to pool table like WTF, how can any one miss.

[@claus191272]

@@blmagic2563 And then you sit in front of your computer to witness one of the snooker greats potting two flukes in a single run missing those huge pockets by three inches...hit and hope!

[@leonardhpls6]

@@claus191272 exactly snooker fans talk shit.

[@ChrisHopkinsBass]

Rempe was a handy snooker player back in the day. He got to the last 64 stage of the World Championship and then lost to a young Stephen Hendry

[@330devans]

Very true. Proves that Americans can play snooker if it was readily accessible in the states, and put some dedication into it. It’s not some unattainable skill that pool players can’t achieve. Snooker players need to look at other disciplines other than 9ball and stop comparing the two. 14.1 straight has more similarities to snooker, is much harder than 9ball, and would challenge a snooker player that’s never played it.

[@pedropicapiedra3598]

5:48 Davis pretending to be serious... 5:53 Davis LOLing

[@cocis911]

I loved that bit too - the mask just totally fell off! 😂😂😂

[@everythingbobbywolfe]

I don't think anybody understands that this is the equivalent of a world championship cricket team almost beating the New York Yankees in the world series. It's unfathomable that Ronnie O'Sullivan and Steve Davis nearly beat Jim rempe and Earl Strickland. Jim ramby is a legend and Earl Strickland is quite possibly the greatest 9-ball player of all time and these two nearly beat them at their own game

[@jeffreyyoungblood7438]

Except that that is a terrible and over exaggerated analogy. Snooker is way harder than 9 ball but they both share all the sane fundamentals. Unlike baseball and cricket, which are so vastly different.

[@everythingbobbywolfe]

@@jeffreyyoungblood7438 not even close. Both used the same concept of throwing and hitting a ball, both have teams and fields, both have an extremely similar scoring system. Different equipment is used, different structure is employed, different countries, different mentality. Number and size balls, tables (height, length and width), pockets, rules, cues, crowds. Potting balls is about the only identical application. 2 snooker professionals (one out of prime, one with mental issues at the time) nearly beating the crap out of 2 of the best 9 ball professionals is very similar in the analogy. I could also use ping pong vs tennis, racquetball vs squash, rugby vs NFL football, etc

[@jeffreyyoungblood7438]

@everythingbobbywolfe yes, you could use those analogies, and you'd still be wrong. 😆 it's a dumb analogy. Get over it. If a cricket team went against a major league baseball team they would have absolutely zero chance of winning. The games are that different. Unlike snooker and 9 ball.

[@search1159]

pool has a lot smaller of a skill gap than snooker does. but the best of the best will most likely always come out on top due to experience. and same with snooker. but at the end of the day pool is still just potting balls and that’s 80% of cue sports. where they lack is safety IQ and consistent banks/doubles.

[@oh8wingman]

I find it very amusing that the two Englishman are treating the whole thing like it is a bit of fun and the Americans are more like death before dishonour.

[@snookerworld2554]

That’s because the snooker players have little respect for the game, Ronnie explains it like this, snooker is like playing a championship golf course, pool is like playing crazy golf

[@wesfriesner2650]

@@snookerworld2554 this is just not true at all.

[@snookerworld2554]

@@wesfriesner2650 they don’t, and he did say that on tv

[@M2orNot]

@@snookerworld2554 Yeah, if we were to start saying every controversial thing that he's said in the past we'd be here for weeks. The man has basically said that anyone below the top 16 in snooker is garbage and that he would only dip below a certain spot if he lost one hand or something. Steve Davis has treated pool more respectfully.

[@nigefal]

@@snookerworld2554 I think Ronnie has changed his opinion since. He does have appreciation for the shot making. And he recently commented that playing some pool has helped his snooker game. He also encouraged other snooker players to play it. Like Trump.

[@capoman1]

23:00 No mention of it from announcers... Ronnie bent the cueball around the 8, and hit rail first on that long combo!

[@djchino7724]

Let's bring back these throw back uniforms

[@neuvocastezero1838]

Thanks for posting!

[@GwladYrHaf]

There's a reason why every pool v snooker contest takes place on a pool table, at least then we get a decent match. Would never happen the other way round.

[@williamdavis4542]

I suspect the missing audio pieces are where the editor mercifully decided to spare us even more shouting.

[@acidicpug3881]

i would’ve assumed copyrighted music to blame

[@basildraws]

I’m sure it’s the music, but I surely appreciate a break from the insane yelling

[@nuntana2]

Hey, that's Sid you're talking about. Music to our ears. 😛

[@a34rwl]

Like watching Best and Cruyff play table football

[@Spyro-]

That pockets look like buckets compared to the ones used today, like a whole inch bigger. 🤣

[@nyquil07na38]

This table had a lot of roll. Made for some unpredictable sequences. Cool match 😎

[@rpc717]

I noticed that, but the forgiving pockets made up for it.

[@jefferyharper5720]

Because pool tables are set up shortly before tourneys, and are not adjusted afterward. That's why there's not much slow rolling.

[@usgamechamp2323]

Best cue man probably ever. You don't see any of our guys going to take him on at his game! Automatically makes him better.

[@spitzkopflarry9196]

Pool is the children's version of Snooker...at least here in England 🤙🏻

[@samerammari2240]

All the countries that have snooker think exactly the same

[@LOREMIG]

The point in all this i think is we has see snooker player play pool but why not pool player in snooker tables ? That would be so interesting to see

[@samerammari2240]

@@LOREMIG I always thought that but it will be the longer game ever they will do really bad snooker is alooooot harder than pool they will not get a single ball

[@leonardhpls6]

You kids haven't got a clue. It's like apples and oranges. Anyone half decent at snooker respects pool players. I'm from England and love snooker before you start

[@samerammari2240]

@@leonardhpls6 yeah true, snooker and pool are different things....... Big boy

[@jackfrost2001]

Snooker is where the real talent shows !

[@quickstep2408]

lol why do snooker nerds depreciate the highest level skill of pool to that of a child or a drunken patron in a bar on a house table. pool takes stupid amount of skill. any cue game does. the only precision sport/game that doesn't is darts. didn't that come from the UK...

[@idlefritz]

@@quickstep2408 darts hot take

[@neiledwards4923]

@@quickstep2408 pool doesn't allow the snooker player to use his superior skills. The table size and the game itself makes it easy for the vastly inferior player to look good. On a full size table, the pool player gets beaten every single time.

[@polarbear4612]

Nah, humans don’t differ that much from one side of the pond to the other. Pool players are better at kick shots and banks because they happen more in pool than snooker. Same as jump shots. Snooker players have much more focus on long shots into tight pockets and cue ball speed control. They just practice different things. The fact that snooker is a more difficult game from the start doesn’t mean the people have more talent.

[@Woodworking-Pastor]

Ronnie tried going to pool full time and never won any major tournaments. He said pool looks a lot easier than it is and he eventually gave up on pool and went back to snooker. I take nothing away from his talent, but comparing snooker to pool is like comparing rugby to football. They're two totally different games with completely different skill sets. Back in the 90's when I played pretty good pool we played the pool game golf with pool balls on a 5X10 snooker table. That was tough and took tremendous skill to accomplish anything. The games took a long time to finish, but man did it hone our skillsets.

[@paleshelter4002]

Great stuff! Legendary!

[@CynicalMiracal]

Jim looks like Earls dad 🙈

[@robdetuinman2]

Lol I was thinking the same thing :)

[@marksmith1916]

I think there brothers

[@cslin3796]

He really is

[@seanbond9494]

Jan Verhass wae a Full Heed ae Hair🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@megamus3]

And vice versa.

[@ivanmilatovic4023]

A pleasure to listen to the legendary Sid Waddell - made his name in darts but could have made anything exciting and fun.

[@southsidejonny9997]

What a pleasure..to see the Best do whatever's impossible to the rest of us regular player's. Skills are here then they go but as long as there's tape we'll love the show. Thanks Gent's.

[@jimmybenyoucef4416]

Bro the hairstyles of the us team i can't 😁😆😅😂🤣😭

[@paulo586]

🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@sh3riff]

How bad were the tables back then 😂 every time they zoomed in to the white, you could see it veer off a little!!

[@bankorbust810]

38:20 table is way off

[@thetruthistheanswer9668]

Nah mate.its the camera footage, and the ball was spinning

[@kimb6793]

I just love the class with the snooker players always carrying their chalk in their vests

[@RajeshJustaguy]

I thnk ronnie was enjoying this a lot... the invironment and cheers was definitely a lot more different from snooker's

[@gregbrechelt2295]

Love Sid’s commentary RIP Sid he was never short on one liners.

[@streetcat1510]

“ He’s moving around that table like Lynford Christie on castors” ! Cracked me up.

[@gregbrechelt2295]

@@streetcat1510 hahaha the guy was pure genius and bloody funny, lynford Christie cracked me too.

[@shariyarsaleem179]

If current Ronnie O'Sullivan plays pool... he'll handle the players left-handed

[@leeedwards6615]

Efren Reyes and Ronnie together again on 8 ball would be interesting.

[@shariyarsaleem179]

@@leeedwards6615 Yep .. against each other would be interesting but, together they'd annihilate their opponents...

[@quickstep2408]

@@leeedwards6615 together again...? when have they ever been on the same table? would love to see them hang out and shoot. you'd think they would've had several matches between them by now.

[@firewizzard86]

A young Jan Verhass?

[@EddieMush]

Jan looked like James Bond

[@izziebon]

The ‘long black’ is only half distance for the snooker chaps!

[@jaynesfilm913]

What pool cue is Jim Rempe using?!?! I’m pretty sure I have that exact same stick but it doesn’t have a maker’s mark or name on it. It’s pretty old and used to be my late Papaw’s.

[@megamus3]

When I seen the two ringmasters appear I thought the circus was coming to town.

[@steve20664]

😂🤣😂

[@andystone6777]

6:17: Ron - 'you could have played it directly !' Steve - 'why ? Americans love a good show !'

[@k3g1397]

world's first 147 and world's fastest 147 in one video

[@neiledwards4923]

That's not true. Steve Davis had the first televised 147 in 1982. But the first official 147 was by Joe Davis in 1955. The first actual 147 was in the 1920s.

[@Ironsvillage]

Joe and Fred Davis were something else, they basically invented the professional snooker game you could say

[@imperatorcaesaraugustus9554]

Imagine Earl Strickland in his prime taking on Steve Davis at snooker right now. Still wouldn't be competitive 😂😂

[@iseeolly9959]

2:55 audience haircut alert..........6:06 look at the quality of the pockets, did that table come from Argos ?

[@TheMak445]

Even the commentator is stopped by laughing at the haircut :-)

[@Mistyfire]

Why is the sound cut out

[@yankorusev]

Can’t wait to see Earl play again. Not the same without him

[@nickycotton6137]

Aye, proper genius for a long time...🔥 edit: Blimey! That Blue @36:37from Rempe 👏 (he weren't half bad either tbf)

[@thebreak4081]

Can anyone please tell me the name of the other commentator besides Jim Wych?

[@sayeedafridi9747]

It's surprising how at 36:03 the black 8 ball fell in the pocket even though the 2 ball hit it so full. The pockets were buckets !

[@rickbackous1041]

I can find all kinds of USA vs EU in 8-9 ball but none in snooker. Is it out there?

[@austinseven4720]

Not from any tv coverage. It just doesn't happen. Typically, a snooker player can be somewhat competitive in pool (though there are different skill sets involved across all cue sports, so pool players play certain styles snooker players don't) but pool players would struggle to even qualify for a major snooker tournament, much less compete at the business end of it.

[@mm9773]

The best bits are the ones in which the sound cuts out.

[@Mark64W]

Great entertainment that I didn't take it as seriously as the USA players did . Ronnie and Steve were out of their normal game and were just playing for a bit of fun ( with some money thrown in as well ) ! I didn't really understand the rules but the late legend Sid Waddell could have made snail racing exciting with his commentary . Thanks for the upload in 2021 .

[@LostinYTblackhole]

Stop trying to downplay their performance. They were taking this very seriously. It’s just a different dynamic for them because they never have partners and snooker is much more high class they “frown upon” having fun

[@alex123case]

Why is the table so bent?

[@simonzelf]

It says, made in USA

[@Ezz4672]

Why is the entrance music turned off?

[@markb4101]

Why was the announcer yelling so much? And after watching Ronnie for so long 9 ball seems like a kids game.

[@benjamin5937]

American pool in general is a kids game, the pockets are huge, the balls and cues are larger allowing for more spin and accuracy, compared to english pool it isnt that impressive nevermind snooker

[@wdiddy1]

@@benjamin5937 both take years to get good at, don't make it sound like pool is so easy anyone can win. Snooker is definitely a more skilled game but not by as much as you make it sound, it's not a kid's game.

[@exegont1163]

Ronnie must suck if he can't even win at a kids game 😂

[@ShubhamSingh-wx7jh]

Thank you

[@Markel.Arruabarrena]

I would like to see Ronnie competing in a Mosconi today, I think it would be impressive.

[@mhoppy6639]

“Look at Strickland-you could fry an egg on his forehead” 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@gino2033]

What do you think of Earl on that run out?

[@poolbeasttv9664]

Hi Harold, What a fantastic run out from Earl to secure the first set. He really was so entertaining to watch. He still is entertaining, but people are more concerned about him acting up than his pool abilities nowadays He’s always been one of my favourite players. A living legend of the sport

[@gino2033]

@@poolbeasttv9664 I'm 1 year older then Earl he has always been my favorite player if had to bet my life on a 1 shot I live or die Earl would be shooting it no doubt in my mind. It's obvious Earl if was examined is more the not likely has a imbalance of some sort or other I'm not a doctor but if he was diagnosed and put in some drug like Prozac we would have lost Earl and his edge would be gone. Earl is and always will be top 2 to 5 players ever I'd say 2 but there are are arguments for 5 I can't fight those. To watch Earl through his entire career then listen to people talk down at him(players as well as fans)makes me sick to listen to that but it's them not me always similar great players in all sports but not alot per capita of populations few and far between love watching the old matches I love to see when he beat bustamante in Vegas and jumped on the pool table and the management told him get off the table or they would throw him out. Earl told him he would bet him 1,000,000 that he could run 10 racks (9ball) without a miss the dude called him on it and Earl did it the casino 2 wouldnt pay because he made 2 9 balls on the break Earl had to sue and took years and he got a settlement for 300,000 I believe.

[@alanrobinson7891]

@@gino2033 I really rate earl but I don't think I'd have him in my top 2, I'd probably put him at number 3, if not he'd definitely be top 5

[@masterdurick5667]

@@gino2033 wow these are some nice anecdotes about Earl!

[@quickstep2408]

@@alanrobinson7891 his playing is still fairly sharp to this day as well. look at efren. he's my fave player but his ability has taken a noticeable turn over the years. obviously doesn't play competitively anymore and he doesn't have anything left to prove, it's just that earl imo held up better in the end. earl has the highest pool IQ in the competitive game today.

[@RByrne]

Damn, the Americans really take the spirit of the Team Uniform to another level!

[@NEVERKOPOUT]

Didn't realise Graeme Souness was a decent pool player, back in the day!! 🙃

[@BackSeatHump]

I've been thinking it for many years but I'm going to say it out loud now for the very first time: Steve Davis reminds me SO MUCH of Stan Laurel !!!

[@ianmastrangelo2427]

I don't think I've ever seen anyone laser in a long rail kick shot like Jim did at 36:35, holy smokes!!! What a shot lol

[@TheMrBennito]

Steve having the time of his life with cocky Ronnie at his side, in TOPform

[@TheJohnCooperShow]

is it fair to say Strickland was at his prime when his mullet was at its most glorious?

[@MrJdsenior]

:-) Probably you are correct. Did you see the World Cup of Pool match just played where Skyler and Billy do a hair shake at the end, with their mullets? It was hilarious. Strickland also appeared more focused and somewhat less grouchy than he is now. I don't know how he ever hits a ball in with all the drama, histrionics, and ridiculous accoutrements he employs now...but he DOES.

[@quickstep2408]

@@MrJdsenior i liked bustamante's pompadour more lol

[@tonynaccarato4751]

Sid and Jim what a pairing, good and better than Oliver and Hardy.

[@theupsndowns8161]

You can take the Earl out of the 70s but you can’t take the 70s out of Earl

[@gaz0463]

Why does the sound keep cutting out?

[@davidbehrens4760]

They play music in the arena between frames and they can't risk playing that music in the video for copyright reasons

[@darthgorthaur258]

Haha it's cool to see Yan doing the refing lol.

[@klaasvanstrien989]

Does anyone know what's with the sound sometimes?

[@bankorbust810]

Probably to avoid copyright

[@klaasvanstrien989]

@@bankorbust810 yes, maybe..

[@JamesWilson-zy2cf]

Why did ronnie o'sullivan not play more singles games in this mosconi cup

[@kimb6793]

It was to unfair for the other players so he was only allowed to play doubles

[@highjim7778]

lol @ ronnie being so amused at both those flukes, he knew strickland was FUMING

[@astvaldureinarjonsson1375]

Just love that the top snooker players play the top pool players in pool only. Doing it fun but the top pool players never dare to play them in snooker cause they know they wouldnt make a ball haha

[@e.e121]

Agreed. They would struggle to make a 20 break over 35 frames

[@astvaldureinarjonsson1375]

@@e.e121 haha sad truth buddy :D

[@seancyco9446]

Agree with you there. Would love to see the top pool player's on a snooker table, that'll be good for a laugh. 😂

[@astvaldureinarjonsson1375]

@@seancyco9446 man for real!!! Lots of vids of Ronnie playing Earl but only in pool haha i would love to see that big mouth Earl getting smacked by Ronnie in snooker but he doesnt want to embarass himself i guess :P

[@FirstLast-hj1rh]

You are correct. Pool players wouldnt stand a chance Vs Snooker. This is something I would love to see though

[@Gnarlyshredder]

Every current pro player should watch this. People used to get on with it and not waste the viewers time.

[@wlan246]

Tiny tables and huge pockets! The main reason Snooker players don't dominate 8/9-Ball, is that they rarely hold their turn upon breaking. Have pro Pool players ever returned the favor by competing in Snooker? I can't find any, and I suspect there's a reason for that.

[@raymondphillips7107]

yawn! Don’t be that be guy! Don’t be the typical snooker fan boy who disses pool, meanwhile is watching a pool video. 🙄

[@wlan246]

@@raymondphillips7107 I grew up in the USA playing pool, and discovered Snooker just a couple years ago. Meanwhile I'm watching Ronnie & Steve give two lifelong pool players a run for their money at their own game. It's the "Strickland is God" crowd who are the fanboys.

[@raymondphillips7107]

@@wlan246 two legends and one arguably the best of all time! Playing a game that requires making balls in pockets and getting position. I guess they would be competitive. But I bet neither one could have beat Strickland in his prime in a long race.

[@wlan246]

@@raymondphillips7107 Maybe not on a pool table, but that's his game. Both are cue sports, but they require different skills. Snooker skills translate well to Pool, but Pool skills don't translate well to Snooker. A scalpel isn't ideal for cutting wood, but surgery with a hatchet is a non-starter. This is why we see Snooker players holding their own at Pool, and not vice-versa.

[@raymondphillips7107]

@@wlan246 I’m sure you know who Efren Reyes is. He has competed with and actually beat Ronnie O’Sullivan.

[@johndenver752]

Back in 1997 Earl Strickland used to use the same cue that SVB stil uses today, minus the Carbon Fiber shaft...i wonder what The pearl used for a tip back then.

[@austinmoore1689]

Probably a hard tip like a lot of the older guys or a medium

[@asso1801]

36:28 amazing

[@MrJdsenior]

No kidding, and how about 22:52. Even harder I think, considering the bend needed...a blocked masse kick combo, full table, is a pretty amazing shot, even if the object balls are lined up nicely (straight and near rail), but not remotely easily (combo spacing) for it. A bit of 'luck' or more appropriately just hitting the low side of the potting statistic, is necessary in both cases (it would be interesting to set up each shot and have them go at them ten times, just to see, but I imagine both are in the 30% or so range, for THEM, near zero for ME). Killer shots, both of them, the error budget on that long way kick IS practically nil. I was sitting in the hall once watching a certain top pro, one of the Justin's, finishing one pocket tables off with shot after shot of the difficulty I wouldn't EVER take, cross corner off lined kicked combos and similar, and making them time after time. When the pressure is nil (low double digit bucks) they can REALLY shoot. One fine out he completed nobody even blinked and I said 'tough crowd, I thought it was an excellent out, they just expect it". He smiled. I was just blown away. I've NEVER seen pool played like that. Initially I was thinking "you gotta be kidding" at his shot attempts. When he kept completing them those thoughts disappeared and I just tried to learn something, not that I could ever execute it. It was FUN, and a bit intimidating. :-/

[@miselkovac]

22:54 23:04 (replay) Ronnie genius,always was

[@iweoldtimer]

The first televised maximum break man & the rocket...combined together... Seriously?

[@ericgamful]

Excellent stuff!

[@stevenorourke9012]

Tables rolling extremely to the right

[@healthy2202]

I'm looking at some of the near images of the rubber part of the corner pockets and what a hack job. Looks like it was cut with a dull pair of scissors and not secured on those edges. They stick out of some of the pockets.

[@wdiddy1]

Pool players are lucky there wasn't enough money in pool or Ronnie would come over and take it, damn he plays 9 ball very well.

[@Stellarffxi]

He did... there's a TV show all about it. Though he wasn't always successful.

[@quickstep2408]

he gets alot better later on. but he doesn't have the nuances that the americans have for the game. also, no offense, but UK snooker players are boring to watch for 9 ball... pool players are way more exciting imho

[@vincentfugio1758]

Ronnie is nowhere than reyes

[@nikkip3385]

I'd love to see him give it a good go when he retires from snooker.

[@denespapp4958]

@@vincentfugio1758 Thats true but Ronnie never ever take pool so serious. In many cases not even snooker...

[@winterreise694]

What cue stick was Ronnie using ?

[@MK-rk4no]

A snooker cue

[@ericcimic]

I'm convinced he purposely hit those "flukes" at the beginning lol

[@jamesh1208]

That's what i came here to see lol

[@wael5191]

Why do they sometimes skip the 7? Does anyone else notice that?