GREATEST DAY OF MY LIFE
Rocket Ronnie’s tales from the Crucible
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN is hoping to recreate the greatest moment of his life.
The Rocket was part of last night’s gala 40th anniversary celebrations for the staging of the Betfred World Championship in Sheffield.
Five-time champion O’Sullivan, 41, can equal the tally of boyhood idol Steve Davis by claiming a sixth crown next month.
But with nostalgia in the air, O’Sullivan cast his mind back to 2012 – when he produced his very best snooker to silence the doubters with a fourth world title and launch a ‘second career.’
O’Sullivan, who plays former taxi driver Gary Wilson today, said: “The win in 2012 will always be my favourite Crucible moment. I had endured a bad couple of years and not won a ranking title for ages.
“A lot of people had started to write me off after some poor results. And, if I am honest, I didn’t think I would still be playing because I’d had enough in 2011.
“But, coming off the back of winning the German Masters in February and working with Steve Peters, I played the best ever snooker I have ever played.
“To be here in the arena with my little boy Ronnie Jr – I didn’t think he would get to see me pick up the trophy here.
“It was a special moment – it felt like just me and him. Emotions were high and it was a moment I will treasure until the day I die.
“It was the best moment, not only at the Crucible, but of my life.
“I am still a fiercely competitive animal, though – that will never change – and so I will be looking to do my best again this year.”
A possible final opponent is Judd Trump, this year’s title favourite after his best season.
But Trump, 27, reckons that O’Sullivan has lost his fear factor, even though he won this year’s Masters.
Trump, who opens up against Rory McLeod, said: “Ronnie has reached the age where his consistency is going to go. He will probably win the same number of titles if he plays in 10 or 20 events.
“He has been playing in more of the smaller events and the less prestigious ones. Maybe there he doesn’t take them as seriously, and he isn’t as feared.
“If he only played in the World, the UK, and the Masters he would have more of the aura of main man.
“But people are seeing more of him and he has lost that consistency. On his day he is as good as ever but overall he has lost maybe 10 or 15 per cent and that will make a difference.”