O’sullivan has World of doubt
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN has played down his chances of winning this year’s World Championship despite his stunning form this season.
Many pundits have already handed the Rocket, 48, a record eighth Crucible crown after recent exploits.
The world No.1 will head to Sheffield bidding to complete the Triple Crown in the same season for the first time in his illustrious career.
O’sullivan has won the four biggest events he has entered during the campaign – Shanghai Masters, UK Championship, Masters and Sunday night’s World Grand Prix.
He has banked a bumper £810,000 from those four trophies alone but admitted: “Sheffield is a different animal. It’s three sessions. When you’re
CHAMPION Legend of the game with Masters trophy playing different opponents you can get geed up for it. You can put one match behind you and reset.
“But when you’re playing the same opponent over three or four sessions, you don’t get that reset feeling. You just plod along.
“At the moment, there’s not a lot of plodding for me. It’s either really awful or really good.
“To win Sheffield usually – apart from 2020 – steady gets the job done. If I can find a bit of steadiness then I’ve got a chance.”
O’sullivan has already cemented his status as the greatest player to ever pick up a cue.
But he added: “I’m really not enjoying playing. I’m just not playing to the level or consistency.
“It’s quite sad really because you’re winning all these tournaments. It’s a sense of achievement but I haven’t flowed like I know I can and I don’t know why.”