Cyclone can take the world by storm... just give McManus £50k for it
Legend Ronnie’s advice for new UK king Zhao
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN has tipped new UK champion Zhao Xintong to become the best player in the world – if he gets wily old fox Alan McManus in his corner.
The Rocket labelled the Chinese potter the Roger Federer of snooker with the way he “floats around the table”.
Zhao, nicknamed the Cyclone, blew away Belgian Luca Brecel 10-5 in Sunday’s final.
The 24-year-old is snooker’s newest star and a breath of fresh air for the sport with his electric potting in York.
But O’Sullivan, 46, said: “He should get Alan on board to coach him.
“He should ring Alan up and offer him £50,000 to be his coach for a season – he’d be unstoppable. I did it with Ray Reardon for a few years to improve the tactical side of the game. Potentially within two years he will be the best player in the world.
“There is no player on the circuit who has the complete game like him.
“He’s like Steve Davis but with Jimmy White’s talent. It’s very, very scary.”
O’Sullivan burst on to the scene in 1993 when he landed his first ranking title at the UK Championship.
Zhao followed in the record seven-time winner’s footsteps with his first major trophy, which saw him scoop the £200,000 top prize.
And the victory has opened up playing earnings of at least £82,500 due to the events the youngster will qualify for as well as massive sponsorship opportunities in China.
The country currently possess two of the three biggest prizes in the sport, with 21-year-old Yan Bingtao having won the Masters in January with victory over John Higgins.
And Zhao has backed himself to become
China’s first Crucible king and said: “I’ll try next to win the world title. I’m very lucky. I need to try as I have won the UK Championship – anything can happen. They will be having a party back home. It’s very important for Chinese snooker. There are many young players who will be in the tournament in the future. “It can make Chinese players think they can win titles in the future. This is a big moment for me.”