By Elliott West
Introduction
It is always interesting to compare snooker players from different eras and for the purpose of this piece I would like to look at two of the greats of the game, Walter Lindrum and Ronnie O’Sullivan. Lindrum is in my opinion the greatest cueman of all time while O’Sullivan is the greatest player to have ever picked up a cue. Each can be described as an authentic genius in their own era. Although it is impossible to bring them together for a match to find out who was the better, their worth is recorded on the numerous scoresheets and umpteen books have been written about these two greats.
Through the eyes of a Genius
Walter Lindrum
Walter Lindrum overshadowed his billiards contemporaries to such an extent from 1927 to 1934 that he had to give Joe Davis, Tom Newman and Clark McConachy a 7000 start over a fortnight’s match (24 sessions) to make a competitive game of it. Such was the strength of this Australian player that the cricketer Don Bradman described Lindrum as a better player at snooker than he was at cricket.
Lindrum was so good that during these early days of snooker, Walter matched his skill in the more popular game of the day, billiards. When the Australian came over to the UK during 1931-1932, he compiled 65 breaks of over 1000 and in the final of the Gold Cup in 1932, made two 2000 plus breaks in just four visits. This compares to his four rivals who only ever made four such breaks in their entire career. Statistics that just prove how good this man was at his craft.
Ronnie O’Sullivan
Described as the greatest ever player in snooker, this player has won practically every title that snooker has challenged him to. Despite going off the boil in recent months, Ronnie still has it and I don’t think will ever fully lose it. He may not play to the standard of his heyday but who can in their mid-forties? However, O’Sullivan plays his best snooker when he comes under pressure from his toughest opponents such as Mark Selby and Judd Trump. Ronnie is able to take the game to a new level and has that hunger for success that matches his sports heroes Roger Federer and Tiger Woods, names that are names that constantly mentioned in numerous interviews with this mercurial character.
Similarities
Both Lindrum and O’Sullivan were child prodigies with Lindrum making his first 500 billiards break at the age of 14 and the age of 15, Ronnie made his first 147 in the 1991 English Amateur Championship. They could also play with either hand. Walter was naturally a right-handed player but as a child had an accident, losing the top of his right index finger in a clothes mangle. His father who is often the driving force behind any player in snooker persuaded his son to start playing left-handed as he thought this injury would be a massive hindrance to his game. Similarly, Ronnie used to use his left hand when he used a knife for eating, so it was easier for him to chop and change between hands on the more troublesome shot.
Both players can also be seen as perfectionists with O’Sullivan often being too hard on himself, nitpicking on minor errors even when he has convincingly won a match. A perfection that is sealed by their utter desire for speed and touch that puts them both in a separate league to other players. O’Sullivan’s fastest 147 break in five minutes and twenty seconds against Mick Price in their second-round match at the 1997 World Championship can be compared to Lindrum’s record break of 4137 against Joe Davis in just over three hours in 1932 which will hard to beat in time or speed. In fact, Lindrum produced 1000 breaks in billiards probably faster than anyone could shell peas.
However, O’Sullivan is probably the best at standing still on the shot, delivering the cue in perfect textbook fashion. Lindrum’s action came from the wrist and played very much like Joe Swail, that’s not a criticism of Joe as he is a fine player in his own right. Despite this difference, Walter was still able to execute a perfect shot and his mark was firmly etched on the baize of every billiard and snooker table he played on.
Summary
Although they played in different eras, I still think it is very had to pick a greatest between them. Both are so good at what they do and I think it would be unfair to pick an ultimate winner because both have played in different times and different playing conditions. Perhaps Ronnie could be good at billiards but I frankly don’t think he would have the patience to play over the numerous hours and days required and Walter may have struggled with the superfine cloth that is used today and the completely different material and weight that modern snooker balls are specified to. The result is a tie but both players are geniuses in their own right.
