ROCKET’S DIET OF WRITING FICTION, GENGHIS KHAN AND BINGING ON NETFLIX
RONNIE O’Sullivan is his own harshest critic. But the tortured king of snooker seems less tormented nowadays, with the pursuit of perfection not so painful as it was.
It is refreshing to hear O’Sullivan, 43, who is normally quicker to praise his contemporaries, speak about those rare moments when he is at the top of his game.
‘I don’t think there’s any pro who has ever played in my era who can honestly say that they got the better of me, really,’ he says.
O’Sullivan had a close eye on Mark Williams last year. Aged 43, the Welshman won his third World Championship in May, 15 years after his last Crucible victory.
Williams credited Steve Feeney’s Sight-Right stable with advances in his game and this was not lost on O’Sullivan, who joined the programme in July.
‘It was like learning a new language. He gave me solidness. I’m not a better player. I don’t believe you can improve as a player.
‘I think once you get to 21, 22 you’re as good as you’re ever going to be.
‘I’m just a different type of player. More consistent, if you like. Probably won’t have as many moments of brilliance.’
O’Sullivan credits Ray Reardon with improving his safety game, and his union with psychiatrist Steve Peters helped challenge his mental demons.
Away from the table, nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert changed his attitude to food, and artist Damien Hirst is a regular in his dressing room.
The wild nights out are long gone in favour of quiet nights in. O’Sullivan, who has written three fiction books and has his own cookery book published in May, is reading about Genghis Khan and is a Netflix aficionado.
He still runs but is looking for new pastimes.
‘I’m going to go into karting,’ he says. ‘I’ve got my first testing after the Masters.
‘I want to start Nordic skiing as well. Cross-country skiing. I’ve always fancied that because it’s like running. I’ve got that running background.
‘It doesn’t look like there’s much skill involved. I’m always looking for something to do.’