‘Greatest sportsmanship I’ve EVER seen’ – BBC snooker commentator praises Ronnie O’Sullivan after ‘horrible situation’
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN produced an amazing bit of sportsmanship in his World Snooker Championship clash against Stuart Bingham.
With the 12th frame of the quarter-final tie in the balance, O’Sullivan decided against extending his break of 28.
That is because the world number one felt the black ball was not put back on its spot accurately.
Referee Desislava Bozhilova ruled that the ball was in its proper position, but O’Sullivan was unsure and even called on his opponent to inspect.
O’Sullivan, 48, appeared concerned with how the black was rocking forward despite assurances from the referee that it had stayed in position, with commentator John Parrott describing it as a “horrible situation”.
After a consultation Bingham gave the Rocket the go-ahead too, but O’Sullivan still felt uneasy about the situation so decided to play a safety shot when a pot was on.
Co-commentator Neil Robertson reacted saying: “It’s unbelievable. If he plays safe here this will be probably the greatest bit of sportsmanship I’ve ever seen in any sport.
“Unbelievable. Incredible. He could have potted that red. I’ve never seen anything like that before.”
Parrott echoed Robertson’s sentiment as the pair compared O’Sullivan’s act to Paulo Di Canio catching the ball instead of scoring because the opposing goalkeeper was down injured in a game between West Ham and Everton.
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Pundits Steve Davis and Ken Doherty provided a different take on the incident, with Davis saying: “If he could then pot it if Desislava actually physically moved it away from the spot then it was nice of Ronnie to play it.
“But he wouldn’t have gone through that scenario if he didn’t fancy that it was a potable ball.”
10 greatest acts of sportsmanship
- West Ham’s Paolo Di Canio once CAUGHT a cross rather than scoring into an open goal when Everton keeper Paul Gerrard was laid out injured on the floor
- At the 1991 British Grand Prix, F1 legend Nigel Mansell gave rival Ayrton Senna a lift back to the pits on the top of his car after the Brazilian ran out of fuel on the final lap
- Andrew ‘Freddie’ Flintoff decided against celebrating England’s victory in the Second Ashes Test in 2005, instead opting to console Brett Lee who had been left on 43 not out
- After Jesse Owens fouled on his first two long jump attempts at the 1936 Olympic Games, rival Lutz Long gave him some advice on how to successfully reach the final. This worked, before Owens went on to claim gold and Long won silver
- In February 2003, Mike Tyson secured his 50th and final knockout in professional boxing with a 49-second stoppage of Clifford Etienne. He then proceeded to help Etienne back to his seat after the KO
- Brother Alistair Brownlee helped brother Jonny over the line at the 2016 Triathlon World Series finale in Mexico after he appeared to be collapsing with exhaustion
- In 1997, Liverpool’s Robbie Fowler was awarded a penalty after going down under a challenge from Arsenal keeper David Seaman, before the striker owned up and admitted it was not a foul. Seaman then saved the penalty from Fowler
- British fencer Judy Guinness notified judges that her opponent, Austria’s Ellen Preis, had not been awarded two points for successful touches at the 1932 Olympic Games. Preis went on to claim gold, with Guinness having to settle for silver
- American Abbey D’Agostino and New Zealand’s Nikki Hamblin both fell over during the 5000 metres at the 2016 Olympic Games, before they helped one another to the finish
- In 2019, Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa allowed Aston Villa to equalise after his side had taken the lead when Jonathan Kodjia was down injured
Doherty added: “I think he was also self-concious that if he did pot it it would be a controversial situation. He probably didn’t want that in his own head and that’s why he decided to play safe.
“It was a very difficult situation for both player and referee.”
Fans also praised O’Sullivan with one saying: “Just seen Ronnie O’Sullivan with some of the greatest piece of sportsmanship I have ever seen in world sports 
”
Another added: “Ronnie O’Sullivan is a class act above absolutely everything else. Say what you will about him but he absolutely a true competitor in the purest sense of the word.”
And a third said: “Ronnie O’Sullivan playing safe when he was clearly on the red to not gain an advantage? Ronnie has been a nightmare to refs in the past but he was exemplary there.”
Bingham went on to clear up and win the frame which tied the match at 6-6.
O’Sullivan and Bingham have played each other 21 times previously and have practised together on occasion, and their mutual respect for one another was on full display at The Crucible.
Their first to 13 match will conclude tonight.