Ronnie O’Sullivan calls for reform of snooker’s miss rule
Ronnie O’Sullivan has joined several of snooker’s biggest names in calling for reform of the sport’s long-debated “miss” rule, with a group of leading professionals all highlighting it as the one regulation they would most like to see changed, reports BritPanorama.
When asked which single amendment he would make to the rulebook, the seven-time world champion voiced his agreement with fellow players Neil Robertson, Kyren Wilson, Mark Selby, and Shaun Murphy, each of whom proposed variations to improve or limit the miss rule.
While O’Sullivan did not specify the exact adjustment he favoured, his position aligns with the majority among senior figures in the sport. The current regulation allows referees to call a foul and a miss if a player fails to strike the designated ball and is deemed not to have made a sufficient attempt to do so.
The three-miss rule imposes even stricter consequences: should a player fail to hit the correct ball three consecutive times in the same position, the frame is automatically conceded. Critics have argued that this rule can lead to inconsistent applications and affect the competitive balance of frames significantly.
Robertson advocated for a straightforward change aimed at accelerating the pace of play, suggesting, “If you can see a red directly but you don’t make contact with it, then your opponent gets a free ball. This would speed up the game massively.”
Wilson supported a clear limit on penalties, stating, “Let’s go with the miss rule. No more than three misses.” Selby echoed this sentiment, adding, “Where you can only miss three times and then that’s it, because sometimes you can be 20 or 30 points in front and have somebody in a tough snooker.”
Murphy took a different perspective, noting the tactical exploitation of the rule. “Just one rule change I’d make would be the foul and a miss rule. It gives players chances to play deliberate fouls and I don’t like that,” he asserted.
While the miss rule garnered broad consensus, other professionals seized the opportunity to voice alternative frustrations. Mark Allen expressed a desire to see the traditional dress code modernised, stating it “needs to be relaxed” to align better with contemporary sports broadcasting. Luca Brecel advocated for further relaxation of the dress standards while suggesting technical amendments, including a shot clock modification and a rule to require players to contact at least one cushion with each shot to discourage overly defensive play.
The ongoing discourse among players underscores the evolving landscape of snooker. As the sport navigates these proposed changes, it reveals the tension between tradition and modernity, highlighting the ongoing dialogue regarding what the future of the game should look like.
