Several prominent snooker players, such as Ronnie O’Sullivan, Shaun Murphy, Kyren Wilson, and Mark Selby, have shared their thoughts on a rule they believe should be revised in the sport. During an interview with TNT Sports, top professionals in the game were asked about the one change they would like to see in snooker rules, and a particular regulation was consistently highlighted.
Seven-time world champion O’Sullivan, alongside other players, has called for a reevaluation of the contentious ‘miss’ rule, which has been a point of contention among top-tier players. The current rule states that if a player fails to make contact with the designated ball during their shot and the attempt is deemed inadequate, the referee can declare a foul and a miss.
A miss is typically called when the referee perceives that the player chose a more difficult shot over an easier one to escape a snooker. It can also be invoked if a player underhits and fails to make contact with a ball, indicating a lack of effort.
When a ‘foul and a miss’ is called, the opponent of the offending player can choose to either reset the balls for a retake or leave them on the table as is. Continual calls of ‘foul and a miss’ could result in the player being stuck in a cycle of repeating the same shot while their opponent accumulates points without making a shot.
On the other hand, the ‘three-miss rule’ dictates that if a player fails to hit the correct ball three consecutive times, they automatically concede the frame to their opponent. This rule has been a subject of debate in the sport, with critics pointing out its potential for inconsistent enforcement, game slowdowns, and confusion for casual viewers.
When asked about potential changes to the game, O’Sullivan promptly pinpointed the miss rule, suggesting a limit of no more than three misses. Wilson echoed this sentiment, advocating for a similar restriction on missed shots.
Selby chimed in with his perspective, proposing a limitation where a player can only miss three times before conceding the frame, emphasizing the impact of multiple misses on the outcome of a frame.
Former world champion Murphy raised concerns about the potential manipulation of the miss rule, expressing his dislike for how it can enable players to strategically commit fouls.
Additionally, current world number three Neil Robertson put forth a reform idea, suggesting that a failure to make contact with a visible red ball should result in a free ball for the opponent to expedite gameplay.
Apart from discussions on the miss rule, snooker’s elite players also scrutinized the sport’s traditional dress code, advocating for a relaxation of the requirement for long-sleeved shirts, waistcoats, and formal footwear, which many believe should be more lenient.
When asked about his views on possible changes, Mark Allen emphasized the need to relax the dress code, highlighting the importance of modernizing the attire requirements for players. Luca Brecel added to the conversation by suggesting a relaxation of the dress code, implementation of a shot clock, and the enforcement of hitting a cushion consistently as the top priorities for reform.