Ronnie O’Sullivan tells ‘unbelievable’ Ben Mertens to embrace pressure after Welsh Open match

Ronnie O’Sullivan believes that 18-year-old Ben Mertens has an “unbelievable” future in the game, but has told the Belgian to embrace the pressure on him.

On the other hand, Mertens – who had beaten Jackson Page and David Gilbert to make it this far – made several mistakes and allowed his nerves to get the better of him, as O’Sullivan wrapped up the match in less than an hour.

Speaking in the Eurosport studio afterwards, O’Sullivan praised his opponent but also offered him words of advice.

“He’s young, but he’s got so much talent,” said O’Sullivan, who won the UK Championship in 1993 at the age of just 17.

“You see some players on the tour and there’s a ceiling to everybody, really, but this kid…I don’t think there’s much of a ceiling, you know. He is, I think, by far the best in his age category so his future is unbelievable.

“But I don’t think he should be thinking future; he should be thinking present. The type of game he’s got, the quality he’s got. Just a bit of experience, maybe. But he’ll mould better as a player, and all really, really good players are quick learners.

“So, if he’s going to be a top player, I reckon you’ll see him do it in the next year or two. If you don’t, then he might be like the other players that are just journeymen, really. I hope not though because I think he’s got so much talent.”

Analysing his performance, Neal Foulds asked O’Sullivan if Mertens can learn more about himself by losing a match such as this, but the seven-time world champion responded: “I don’t know about that.

“I think it applies in all sports – if you’re going to be good, you get it young. Tiger Woods, Michael Schumacher, Mike Tyson…you know, all the great sportsmen. They do it early. Age is not important.

“Sometimes when you’re younger, it’s even better, you’re more fearless. Stephen Hendry.”

Asked by Eurosport’s Rachel Casey how he dealt with pressure and expectation as a young star coming through, O’Sullivan said: “You’ve got to learn to deal with it, haven’t you? I didn’t mind it, to be honest with you.

“I think pressure is a privilege, in a way. I like pressure.”

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