Rocket fuel to reach eight will only last so long
STEVE DAVIS reckons Ronnie O’Sullivan needs to win a record eighth World Championship before time catches up with him.
The six-time world champion knows exactly what it’s like to decline as age takes a toll on you.
Davis ruled the baize in the 80s but won his last Crucible crown aged 31 before Stephen Hendry took the mantle and dominated the sport for the next decade.
But even the Scottish legend, a seven-time winner, was 30 when he last scaled the Sheffield mountain.
The evergreen Rocket, 48, has stretched the barrier of what is possible in the sport with his longevity.
Mercurial O’Sullivan, whose quest for glory was ended with a shock quarter-final defeat to Stuart Bingham, is the oldest winner of all three of the game’s Triple Crown majors.
And Davis, now 66, said: “He’s got a great chance for the next couple of years.
“I don’t know how long he can stay fighting fit as he gets into his 50s. That would be astonishing. If anybody could,
it’s him because he’s so
fit. Somewhere down the line the wheels fall off.
“I don’t think it’s yet but it will happen sometime down the line or his enthusiasm runs out. He’s only got a certain amount of years to do it.
“It’s astonishing he could climb ever higher and higher.” O’Sullivan has played down his status as the greatest potter of all time despite his illustrious record-setting career.
Statistically he stands head and shoulders above his peers in terms of majors (23), ranking titles (41), maximum breaks (15) and is the only player to make over 1000 centuries. The world title record is the only scratch left to itch for the all-conquering Chigwell cueman. And Davis, now a BBC pundit, added: “Eight would be the absolute icing on the cake for him.
“Nobody disputes he’s the best player they’ve ever seen.
“I don’t think he’s that bothered about records but they are wonderful to have.
“He’s got the right attitude to achieving records, he doesn’t say he wants them but if it happens then he will be proud of it.” Welsh great Ray Reardon is the oldest-ever ranking-event winner after landing the World Open aged 50 and 14 days.
And unrivalled O’Sullivan, who has just seen his longest spell as world No.1 ended, wants to “experiment” to see if he can win a world titles in his 50s.
The new world No.4 said: “Can I win a World title at 50, who knows?
“I’m probably the only player able to do that but let’s see, let’s have an experiment.”