Ronnie O’Sullivan insists he has nothing to prove to anyone
Some people love him, some people hate him, but when Ronnie O’Sullivan picks up a cue everyone knows he has an extraordinary talent on the snooker table.
The three-time champion of the world says he has nothing to prove and is focusing on the future of the game. “I don't feel like I've got anything to prove to anybody, other than the obviously high standards I set myself - which I don't believe to be high, they're just standards I believe to be achievable,” he said speaking to Sky Sports.
O’Sullivan had dropped to world No.3 in the official rankings, but after a series of wins in the recent Players Tour Championships, he has now climbed up to second. However, the Rocket says he would rather help the development of youngsters in the sport than concentrate on reclaiming the world No.1 spot from John Higgins.
“Getting to No.1...it would be nice but I'm not going to break my neck. Winning another world title...it would be nice but I'm not going to break my neck. I just enjoy giving back to the sport. I hope there are moments of joy that I can bring to people that watch the game. I hope there are moments I can help other young players achieve their dreams coming into snooker - I hope there’s something I can give back to the sport in that way.
“Not because I want to be seen as a goody two-shoes that wants to be seen as the ambassador of snooker, because it's not like that at all. But working with young players coming through who want to be the best and who want to win tournaments.
“I would like to, in some way, set up a facility where they can come and practice and play with me and I can show them what worked for me and try and add on a bit of advice,” said O’Sullivan.
He has made nine 147-maximum breaks in his career and is a winner of 22 ranking tournaments. Also, he lies second in the all-time century break list with over 600, behind Stephen Hendry, who has nearly 750. When given the chance, he takes it, and there is no one better than O’Sullivan when he break-builds.
The 34-year old has always contemplated the possibility of walking away from snooker, but since the arrival of new World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association chairman Barry Hearn, the ambidextrous entertainer has found a new lease of life, thanks to Hearn’s transformation of the sport.
“As far I'm concerned, I just want to be involved in snooker as long as I can. If it ain't competing then it's going to be from the sidelines and still being involved in trying to give back to the sport that I love - but it sometimes doesn't come across like that,” O’Sullivan added.
He is a genius when he plays, but that genius comes with many flaws. He famously walked out on a match against Stephen Hendry in the UK Championship in 2006, and en route to winning his second world crown in 2004 gave a two-finger gesture to the crowd. He comes across as a player who loses interest very easily, but according to O’Sullivan it is far from that.
“Sometimes people think 'well why is he doing it if he hates it that much?' I love it that much I get frustrated with it. But you know what, people are going to have to put up with that and just get used to me because I probably won't be going away soon,” said O’Sullivan.
So, fans of O’Sullivan, you can be reassured from the man himself that he will not be putting his cue away for good just yet.
Snooker without the Rocket wouldn’t be the same would it?
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