Masters 2024: ‘I love seeing their bottle go’ – Ronnie O’Sullivan spurred on by watching rivals crack

Ronnie O’Sullivan opened up on how he likes to push his opponents to the limit to see whether they “have the bottle to get over the line” after becoming the oldest winner in Masters history.

Carter led the match 6-3 at one point and looked on course to claim his first Masters title, before O’Sullivan fired back with three straight frames to draw level at the interval.

Despite a record-breaking century from Carter upon the resumption – an unrivalled ninth of the tournament – O’Sullivan dominated the baize and won seven of the next nine frames to clinch his latest honour.

Speaking in the Eurosport studio after the match, the 23-time Triple Crown winner discussed pushing his opponents to the limits on the big occasions.

“I just had to keep Ali honest,” he said. “I thought, ‘Let’s see if he’s got the bottle to get over the line’. That was the only thing that turned me on tonight.

“I thought, ‘Let’s get him to the point… where I want to see if he twitches’. I love seeing it when their bottle goes. I love it.

“You can play terrible and still get them in that position and it’s like, ‘Let’s see if you can do it’. That was what was driving me on tonight, getting him to that point where I go, ‘Come on, let’s see if you’ve got it’.

“Not many people have, it’s a good place to find out when you’re out there.”

O’Sullivan added that asking the big questions of his opponents was his biggest strength.

“That’s my main asset really, I just try and get to that point where it’s about potting big balls,” he said.

“It’s holding yourself together. Don’t get me wrong, there are a few on the tour that can do it, but not many. I always like to get them in that situation and see if they produce.

“I’m not saying Ali did [bottle it], but he let me off the hook tonight and gave me some breathing space.”

The 48-year-old has won both Triple Crown events this season, with the Rocket now needing a record eighth World Championship to complete the set.

But despite being a seven-time world champion, eight-time UK champion and having just sealed an unprecedented eighth Masters title, O’Sullivan insisted he hasn’t mastered the sport.

“I’ve never been driven by titles or numbers or all that sort of stuff,” O’Sullivan said in the arena after his latest win.

“I’ve always just wanted to play well and compete and enjoy the game, that’s the bottom line for me.

“If I happen to pick up a few tournaments, that’s a bonus. It’s never been my drive, I’ve always come just to master this game and I’m yet to be able to master it, but I’ll keep trying.”

After a busy period, O’Sullivan confirmed that he would be taking some time off before the circuit reaches the Crucible.

“I’m going to take two months off now,” he revealed. “I’ll probably just play next week [at the World Grand Prix] because it’s 32 players.

“But I’ll swerve all the other tournaments now. I want a break.

“I’m quite looking forward to getting on the exhibition circuit, I enjoy them because they’re a bit of fun.

“Too much intense snooker for me is not good. I now need to back off and consolidate, and get some fun in the game.”