What is the essence of snooker? In the hearts of many snooker fans, Selby's grinding style of play is the essence of snooker.
But is that really the case?
Snooker is a type of billiards game, which means "obstacle, obstacle", so snooker is sometimes called obstacle billiards, which means tactical defense. Prior to this, the general strategy for playing snooker was to do a snooker defense after the obviously capable ball was bagged.
It wasn't until the 1930s, when snooker legend Joe Davis first realized the importance of controlling the movement of the mother ball, that the sport took a turn for the better.
So what is the essence of snooker?
In fact, this problem is quite confusing, and everyone has their own opinions and opinions. Personally, the essence of snooker lies in the control of the mother ball, the gentlemanly spirit under the delicate mother ball, and not Selby's grinding control!
From the perspective of the game, as long as the rules allow, there is no problem with Selby's playing style. But for the long-term development of the snooker movement, Selby is definitely a "sinner" who needs to bear a lot of responsibility, and the drawbacks of grinding and controlling play are obvious.
Snooker is clearly a highly ornamental competitive event, but Selby has turned snooker into a sport that competes for endurance and consumption.
In many cases, competitive morality seems to become a dispensable thing, because no matter how good you are, Selby can also beat your state beyond recognition through his own grinding control style.
In this slow-paced grinding style of play, Selby can be said to be very rewarding.
Snooker is also constantly changing, adapting to the development of the times. Under the influence of players such as Hendry and O'Sullivan, snooker's ornamentality has been continuously improved.
However, Selby's boring game and anti-trend play have plunged Snooker into the dead atmosphere of yesteryear again.
Most damningly, many young players are now scrambling to imitate the grinding style of play.
Returning to the spirit of gentlemanhood and the essence of competitive sports, I think it is Higgins, O'Sullivan and Hendry, Davis four players.
On the one hand, they are excellent at their ability to interpret the nature of snooker; on the other hand, they do not deliberately delay time without a bottom line in order to win.
Defeating your opponent in attack and defense is always better than winning by any means and deliberately taking time. Because while not losing the ornamentality, the opponent is really impressed by your strength. Instead of being tortured and defeated by "grinding".