Im not going to agree with you Dr GT for atleast another couple of years, Ronnie won the UK chamionships this season and got to a few other major finals. Which other payer who was "past it" has ever done that? (Ok Davis got to the UK finals when he was about 10-15 years past his best, but that was a freak and unaccountable return of his best form that he has never managed to repeat)
As soon as Ronnie beleives he is past it he will retire, just like Hendry. He simply wont play unless he believes he can win everything he enters, just like Hendry. He wont be like Jimmy White, deluding himself into thiniking he can still win the world championships in 25 years time, 25 years past his prime. I love Jimmy but someone should have a word with him about that. He makes a fool of himself every time he says it.
I think Bingham has surprised everyone how good he now is this fortnight, Davis admitted he was surprised. I wonder if thats what caught Ronnie out, the unexpected improvement of his opponent, and his huge growth in self belief and self confidence due to that. Confidence plays a huge part in snooker. Apparently he competes in every tournament going, and is now extremely battle hardened, experienced, hard working, and has a steady temperament. I agree that he falls into the 'boring players' camp, even though he plays a quick attacking style of snooker, i dunno what it is about him, but im sure hes not gonna worry about that, with the steady and incremantal huge improvement in his game over the last 5 years.