Ronnie O’Sullivan sets out plans for new snooker season – ‘It’s about reinventing yourself’

Ronnie O’Sullivan insists he will continue to evolve in the new snooker campaign as he bids to stay at the top of the sport.

He famously lifted his first with a 10-6 win over Stephen Hendry in the 1993 UK Championship final as the sport’s youngest ranking tournament winner at the age of 17.

“I think I’ve learned ways to try and enjoy it,” the seven-time world champion told Dermot O’Leary on BBC Radio 2 to promote his new book Unbreakable.

“It can’t all be fun when you are doing it for a job, for a living, playing top quality players week in, week out.

“It’s tough. Sometimes you’ve got to play tricks on your own mind to get through it.

“I think it’s about reinventing yourself sometimes, learning from the new players coming through.

“And then obviously a change of perspective. When you’re in your prime, you don’t realise how easy it is.

“When you get older, you have to be a bit more on it. The margins are a lot less.

“Before I could maybe play six out of 10 and still win a tournament. Six out of 10 now and I’d be lucky to win one or two matches.

“To win tournaments, I’ve got to be at my best now whereas before I could be okay and still win.

“You change your perspective. I start to look at competing with people around my age and look at the rankings. I’m doing alright.”

“I’m not saying I don’t want to win as badly as I do, but if I don’t win I’m much more okay with it,” he said.

“At least I’m out enjoying my life and not just sitting at home watching TV and becoming stale.

“Snooker gives me a structure and a purpose in my life.”

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