Ronnie O’Sullivan on why World Championship is snooker’s major test as he eyes more glory – ‘Stands alone for intensity’

O’Sullivan has won a record seven UK and Masters trophies over the past 30 years, but feels the most arduous challenge above all else on the green baize comes every April when the World Championship is staged by the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield.

The snooker GOAT last year equalled Stephen Hendry’s 1990s modern era haul of seven title victories in 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013 and 2020, but admits the “intensity” of the tournament is not something he enjoys.

“When you are pitted against another really good player, top-class player in a venue, perhaps the World Championships because that is the one and only tournament which really stands alone for the atmosphere, for the intensity, for the nerves it brings out in you.

“Trying to play in that nervous state and the build-up can play tricks with your mind and make you go from good form to bad form if you overthink or you freeze.

“It just gets the better of you. It becomes really difficult and it’s something I don’t enjoy really.”

The 39-time ranking event winner says he was disappointed with his performance in losing to Brecel and has promised to redouble his efforts in the new campaign as he chases further glory on the sport’s biggest stage.

“I think, if I want it, I’ve got three really good years, but that depends on whether I’m fully devoted to it and say snooker’s all I’m going to do for three years, which I can do, but it’s hard if you want to do some days with Jimmy White as a pundit, a few exhibitions, because they’re fun,” said O’Sullivan, who won the elite Hong Kong Masters and Champion of Champions last season.

“I can still perform, still be a top eight player doing that. But to really give yourself the best opportunity, it’s about being totally on it and it’s whether I’m prepared to do that and I think I will this year.

“The last World Championship wasn’t a good tournament for me. I was really gutted with how I played. I wasn’t disappointed I lost, you lose you know, but the way I played, I wasn’t happy with that.

“I want to try and put that right.”

The world No. 1 feels he is at the peak of his powers at the age of 47 because he can win matches by adapting to whatever circumstances he faces.

“I’ve always been open to learn and becoming a better player. I think I’m a better player than I ever have been because I don’t rely on just one thing,” he said. “I’ve got three or four different options of surviving within a game and at any point I can switch, which just took time because I was never really the best at anything.

“I wasn’t the best long potter. I wasn’t the best safety player. I was always good at making breaks and scoring quickly, which is an amazing asset to have, but without the other stuff, it became a bit one dimensional.

“Over the years I’ve had to learn to improve in a lot of areas and now I can call upon them.

“But I will always know that in the back of my mind that to get the job done, I need to be firing on all cylinders, which is scoring breaks at a quick rapid speed.”

– – –