Prominent figures in the world of snooker, such as Ronnie O’Sullivan, Shaun Murphy, Kyren Wilson, and Mark Selby, have expressed their thoughts on a rule amendment they advocate for in the sport. During an interview with TNT Sports, leading players in the game shared their perspectives on a rule change they feel is necessary in snooker, with a particular regulation being highlighted consistently.
Renowned seven-time world champion O’Sullivan, along with several peers, has advocated for a review of the contentious ‘miss’ rule, which has been a contentious issue for top players in the sport. The current rule penalizes a player if they fail to make a valid attempt at striking the designated ball, leading to a foul and a miss being called by the referee.
A ‘miss’ is typically called when the referee believes that a player opted for a more challenging shot instead of a simpler escape from a snooker. It can also be enforced if a player’s shot falls short and misses the ball, indicating a lack of effort.
Upon the announcement of a ‘foul and a miss,’ the opponent of the offending player has the choice to either reset the balls for a retry or leave them in their current position on the table. Persistently calling a ‘foul and a miss’ could result in the player being trapped in a cycle of repeating the same shot while their opponent accumulates points without having to play.
Moreover, the ‘three-miss rule’ dictates that a player who fails to hit the correct ball three consecutive times automatically forfeits the frame to their opponent. This rule has been a subject of debate within the sport, with critics pointing out its potential for inconsistent application, game slowdowns, and confusion for casual viewers.
When questioned about potential changes to the game, O’Sullivan promptly targeted the ‘miss rule,’ stating, “The miss rule.” Wilson echoed this sentiment, emphasizing, “Let’s address the miss rule. Limit it to three misses.”
Selby also shared his viewpoint, proposing, “Restrict misses to three attempts only. At times, a significant lead can be maintained, and a frame won due to the opponent missing repeatedly. I would likely modify that.”
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