A Face-palm for Sauron

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Boromir88

So, I wonder if the key for someone to "master" the Ring is in the Sammath Naur? Say, if Gandalf, or Saruman wanted to master the Ring, would they need to take it to the place where it was made, take it where the Ring's influence was at it's strongest, and not only 'mentally' overthrow the Ring, but physically then have to overthrow Sauron? Is this what Sauron feared as to why the Ring was in the Sammath Naur? Did he know a Hobbit possessed it, and if not did he fear whoever had it was going to try to master it and overthrow him?

If by 'mastering the Ring', you mean one has found strength and will enough to actively wield it, I'd think the location where one claimed it immaterial.
Of course, anyone who believes they have mastered the Ring is in fact mastered by it. The new Ring Lord would not actually have 'overthrown' anything, but rather the reverse.
As for Sauron physically confronting the Ring's claimant, I think that would naturally occur. There is a quote, from Letters I believe, which states if Sauron proved the loser in such a contest the effect would be the same as if it were destroyed: he could never regain it.