Ronnie O’Sullivan on why he wants ‘lovely guy’ and ‘dangerous player’ Martin O’Donnell to succeed

Ronnie O’Sullivan has admitted it would be a positive outcome if “lovely guy” and “dangerous player” Martin O’Donnell tasted success.

One year ago, O’Donnell was without a tour card and playing under amateur status.

Victory over Slessor handed O’Donnell a huge boost in terms of ranking points and career earnings, but he has the chance to elevate his status with a win in a ranking event on Sunday.

“He is such a lovely guy,” O’Sullivan told Eurosport. “You can tell by his demeanour, he is not in your face, he is just a nice man.

“I want to see anyone nice do well.”

O’Sullivan feels O’Donnell is reaping the benefits of making changes to his game during his time off the tour.

“He has had his ups and downs, more downs than ups really, but he has come back a different player,” O’Sullivan said. “He is a much stronger player, so what he has worked on is working for him.

“Before he was rolling them in, now he is enjoying stunning and punching them.

“He looks a dangerous player.”

Jimmy White was impressed with how O’Donnell closed out the win over Slessor.

“He is focused on what he is doing,” White said in the Eurosport studio in Llandudno. “He has respect for the game, you have to play the right shots.

“He is one of those players who plays every shot…. he looks calm but, make no mistake, inside he is under pressure and it is how you deal with it. That was a fantastic win in those circumstances.