In
the link "Lady
Luck" I write about the part that luck plays
in the game of snooker.
Luck
for many years was not publicly associated with the game,
with television commentators confining their comments only
to those players that were playing well. They suggested
that if you were playing well then you usually get the lucky
breaks.
Clearly, this means that the good play came first and the
luck came second.
I
have always contended that luck in snooker is always something
to be taken into consideration and, although it may well
be that the luck can come second, clearly the reverse can
also be true.
The best example I can refer to, which older visitors to
the site will remember is the 147 break made by Canadian
Cliff Thorburn in the 1983 Embassy World Championship.
The
game was evenly poised at the time when Cliff went for a
long red, which he missed, but then fluked. No one can deny
that Cliff played brilliantly to clear the table after the
fluke, but clearly in this instance the luck came first,
enabling the break to begin.
At the time both John Virgo and John Spencer who were commentating,
remarked on how luck was influencing the run of the balls.
This assisted in educating non-playing viewers, of which
there were many in the early 80's, of the vagaries of the
game.
As people begin to realise how cruel the game can be, they
will also begin to realise how cruel the game is at the
very top level.
Increasingly nowadays, the luck aspect of the game is becoming
more and more of a factor in the outcome of a match because
of the dreaded 'kick'. Older players still cannot come to
terms with this phenomenon, which these days has crept more
and more in to the game. Not all that long ago the word
'kick' was never associated with snooker, but this all changed
during the 1990's.
Enhanced
television coverage, more in-depth knowledge and increased
awareness resulted in the number of recorded licks increasing
exponentially. Commentators were constantly remarking on
the number of kicks taking place, with millions of televised
viewers witnessing kicks at tournaments where frames were
affected and even resolved, because of the unwelcome intrusion.
Clearly, it must be shattering to a players confidence when,
having done all the hard work by getting into a winning
position, the frame is handed to the opponent because of
circumstances which are totally outside his control. There
is enough pressure on the players without this happening.
So what causes the problem? What can be done about it? Do
we accept the 'Kick' as part and parcel of the game?.
Up to now, all that seems to be offered as an explanation
for the possible cause of kicks are; 
1)
Static Electricity
2)
Chalk
3)
Humidity in the atmosphere
4) Dust or foreign particles on the balls and,
5)
Changes in room temperature
The
problem is not a new one. In the modern age however, with
so much at stake it is imperative that something is done
to address this issue. It is hard to believe that we can
build stations in space but cannot resolve the 'kick' issue
in snooker.
Have you lost a game because of a kick?.
Has your favourite player lost an important game due a to
a kick?.
If you have any thoughts / solutions relating to this issues
or feel that you can add anything to the general debate
then please email me with your views at;
frank@fcsnooker.co.uk
