This will be highly subjective as I’m sure a majority would select between Alex Higgins’ 69 break, one of Stephen Hendry’s many counter attacks or most recently, Judd Trumps’ spectacular 70 at the Players semi-final. However, personally, I find that this counter clearance had the perfect balance of pressure, shots, atmosphere and a player in top form, which I find myself re-watching time and time again.
Firstly, allow me to tell you my definition of a counter clearance. For my consideration, it is when a player has made a substantial break to the frame and his opponent is required to pot the rest of the balls to steal (likely from an unfavourable position, but not necessarily). This counter clearance must be a one-visit contribution.
If you haven’t garnered from the thumbnail already, in my opinion the best counter clearance of all time was Ronnie O’Sullivan’s 73 break against Mark Selby in the 2016 Masters quarter-finals. O’Sullivan was 5-3 up and Selby had just made a 70 break consisting of pinks and blacks meaning there were still 6 reds on the table with a possible 75 remaining. This included an extremely impressive ‘get out of jail’ double to keep his break going. Very rarely can players actually clear a table with this many points left in one visit due to the amount of work involved. Enter O’Sullivan.
Though it wasn’t immediately after Selby’s misjudged cannon, after a good safety from O’Sullivan with a poor follow up by his opponent, the table was set. Now, it wasn’t the most adverse table; there weren’t any balls on the cushion however, the blue was up in baulk and the reds were relatively close to each other to cause concern.
Shot 1. Definitely one of the best of the whole break. When your opponent has just made a 70 break, it’s fair that a player would feel resigned in that frame and chances to win it are unlikely. Granted, not impossible, and there was clearly enough on the table. However, O’Sullivan was probably preparing himself for the patented Selby comeback, and taking on this first shot of the counter would be a shot-to-nothing. So, he put everything into that shot, including possible position. Because there was no reason not to. Miss it; he moves to the next frame with a 5-4 lead. Sink it; let’s see how far we can make it. And it couldn’t have worked out any better.
The reason his first shot was immaculate was because of the cannon he had to get from it. Miss the cannon on the red left of the pink, and he likely would have been left with a significantly harder colour and who knows what the break would have been. But he got the cannon, knocking the red closer to the cushion and was perfect on the pink. Also, the shot didn’t touch the jaws. Not even close. If the pockets were half the size, it still would have been the perfect pot. You know what, I’m changing my mind as I’m writing this. This was the best shot of the break.
And the rest of the break was masterfully manoeuvred. Like a grandmaster moving his pieces on a chessboard while backed into a corner. O’Sullivan demonstrating his cool skill and demeanour as if he wasn’t 70 behind and required every single ball with high value colour to win the frame and match. He was able to position the cue ball so he could access the reds he needed to pot and by doing so, he was making the other reds available.
A few other key shots that were a treat to watch included a steep black to right middle and a tricky red along the cushion down to bottom left. Two shots that I thought were even more thrilling was the brown he had to pot and go all around the table to get to the blue up in baulk; and then the blue itself. What I enjoyed about the blue was that O’Sullivan could pot it to either right centre or corner due to where he landed. I reckon the easier shot would have been to right corner but for the sake of landing on the pink, O’Sullivan took the blue to right centre perfectly as he cleared up pink and black to win with a 73 break. He continued on to win the Masters that year.
One of the most extraordinary feats of this counter clearance was that it only took O’Sullivan around 5 minutes to do this. Any other player would have taken at least double this time as they would undoubtedly spend more time thinking per shot. Even more impressively was the ease at which O’Sullivan accomplished this. It’s universally agreed that no one makes snooker look easier than O’Sullivan and this break was a prime example. There were so many tricky shots throughout the counter which most players would have broken down on but O’Sullivan potted as if they were hanging over the pockets.
All coupled with the fantastic crowd support as the break was being strung together as well as astonishment in the commentary box as O’Sullivan just kept potting. Dennis Taylor’s words will always echo in memory when thinking of this break: ‘surely Mark Selby can’t make a 70 break and lose the frame…’ And I’m sure many remember the camera pan to Selby’s face as O’Sullivan potted the yellow. I honestly don’t think a single other player past or present would have been able to complete that counter clearance in the way that O’Sullivan did.
If you haven’t watched this break, click here to be redirected to YouTube and watch what I consider the best counter clearance of all time.
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