RONNIE’S JUST TWO GOOD
Davis tips the Rocket to finish no worse than second after his SIXTH world crown
SNOOKER legend Steve Davis reckons Ronnie O’Sullivan won’t finish outside the top two in the BBC Sports Personality voting this month.
The Rocket has made it onto a shortlist of six for the first time after winning a sixth world title to become the oldest world champion for 42 years. That equalled the tally of 63-year-old Davis, the only snooker player to win the SPOTY award (in 1988). In fact the Nugget finished in the top three five times in the 1980s.
Dav i s, hai l ing O’Sullivan’s career, said: “It is great news for snooker – and fully deserved recognition for Ronnie. “And I can’t think of a bigger sporting personality in the UK. He has all the credentials to be in this company. “Who has got a better CV in sport – his is the ultimate. The public now get to vote and for me he will finish at worst second.
“He was brilliant at the World Championship in August. There is nothing more he has to do in the game and he’s a genuine personality. Look what happened with Phil Taylor from darts 10 years ago when he made the list and the public got to vote. He came second.
“I really hope Ronnie can be there for the show and get to enjoy the night because it is a wonderful experience.”
And even though O’Sullivan, OBE, is still one away from Stephen
Hendry’s record of seven wins in Sheffield, most agree that he is the greatest player ever to lift a cue.
He has won the most ranking tournaments (37), and the most majors comprising the Worlds, UK Championship and Masters (20).
O’Sullivan has also made the most 147 maximum breaks (15), and the most century breaks (1,070).
But the bare statistics are just a small part of the story.
For his shot-making ability and speed around the table O’Sullivan inherited the ‘People’s Champion’
BIG NAME IN THE CUE O’Sullivan was backed to grab at least second spot this year
mantle previously carried by Alex Higgins and Jimmy White.
But his life and career have not been short of personal challenges and controversies.
The impact of seeing his father Ronnie Sr imprisoned for murder for 18 years as a teenager was severe and in the past there have been problems with drink, drugs and depression.
He is the first snooker player in the shake-up since Hendry finished in second place behind Paul Gascoigne in 1990.
World Snooker Tour chairman Barry Hearn said: “This is fully deserved for snooker’s greatest-ever player and one of the most talented British sportsmen of all time.
“His nomination is well overdue so I am delighted that he is finally on the shortlist. Ronnie’s popularity among fans has helped us to grow snooker around the world.
“I hope he wins the award and that anyone who loves sport will vote for him based on his incredible achievements over the years.”
John Higgins said: “It is almost unbelievable that he has never been in the mix before. But to go level with someone like Steve Davis on six world titles at the age of 44 was special.”