In the past I have usually viewed snooker as an aesthetic experience. The constantly shifting pattern of colours as the balls are propelled over the green baize can be very pleasurable. I have been known to become so fascinated by the balletic positions adopted by the players that I have used the freeze-frame facility on the TV to enable me to draw them. Today, however, watching the Masters’ Tournament, I saw the game in a new light.
Stuart Bingham seemed to be well on the way to scoring the maximum of 147 in one break. This brings with it (at least in this particular tournament) a very large cash prize. He found himself in a predicament, having to choose between two shots. To pot the black ball involved a very difficult shot with a high probability of failure, but the possibility of continuing his run to a maximum score and a big prize. The pink ball, on the other hand, required a relatively easy shot, and virtually ensured that he would take the fame, but meant the end of his hopes for a maximum and the big prize.
He went for the difficult black, missed, and lost the frame. Avarice brought with it his downfall! Actually he won the match in the end, but after a period of anxiety, and the risk of humiliating defeat, which he could have avoided had he taken the easier shot. I thought it made a nice little morality play.
You might have guessed already that this week the pursuit of art has (shall we say) moved somewhat down my hierarchy of priorities.