Ryan Day has got the taste for trophies now and will probably remember this week as the finest in his career.
His latest capture of the Romanian Masters makes it back-to-back Sundays he’s lifted silverware and continues what is far and away his best ever spell as a professional. He can enjoy his position of snooker’s man of the moment right now.
His 10-8 win against Stuart Bingham marks his third title of the campaign. That’s good going for any top player but is an even more impressive return when you consider he went his first 19 years on the tour without one.
Aged 37, Day has suddenly found the magic formula for success and as he rides the crest of a wave, he just can’t stop winning; and there’s no better feeling.
The Welshman has always had the ability to win things but for many years there’s been something missing. I’m sure even Ryan will struggle to put his finger on exactly what it is but as an outsider looking in, there are two things noticeably difference about Day’s game this season. Not only does he look more robust during matches, but he seems to be playing with more freedom than ever before; as if the pressure of winning matches has been lifted from his shoulders. He just looks more comfortable and at ease on the table than ever before.
To put his new-found robustness into some kind of context, Day trailed Bingham 4-0 in this final before winning 10 of the next 14 frames to seal the title.
He wasn’t always playing his best as he clawed his way back into the match. His comeback was built on hard-fought snooker. In years gone past, Day may have lost this kind of match if he wasn’t on song, but this season in particular he’s found a way not only to produce good snooker more consistently but also to win matches playing a different kind of game if it’s not all plain-sailing.
Day’s current form is incredible right now and it’s exactly what he plays the game for. Let’s see if he can take it on into final three events of the season.
