RONNIE’S LIKE JAMES BLUNT
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN admits he feels like a rock star – but in his own words he is more James Blunt than The Rolling Stones these days.
The Rocket hit the right notes against Shaun Murphy yesterday with a 13-7 win that eased him into an 18th Quarter-Final at the Betfred World Championship.
A grudge clash with bitter rival Murphy triggered one of O’Sullivan’s best displays of the season.
O’Sullivan, 41 (right) has won five world titles and is chasing a sixth to equal boyhood idol Steve Davis – but has not lifted the trophy since 2013.
He said: “I look at myself as a band or a singer these days. If you want to write a great album every year, then you do well on the snooker circuit.
“But I am not confident enough to write a great album every year these days. So I come and play the tournaments, do my HECTOR NUNNS best, be competitive – but have other things outside snooker. I haven’t had the greatest of seasons, I haven’t had a great album but it hasn’t been a bad year.
“I don’t feel the need to write a great one any more – maybe I am just a supporting act these days and leave it to the others. They bring me out for half-an-hour to show I can still perform. “Not like The Rolling Stones – they are the big act, they don’t support anyone. Maybe I am more like James Blunt, he seems a cool dude. “I am trying very hard to keep it together, it is tough mentally at this event but I am very focused on my snooker while I am here.”
O’Sullivan will meet Ding Junhui in the third round after he beat Liang Wenbo in a close-run match.
The Chinese ace saw off his compatriot 13-12 – but only after Liang potted the white in the last frame.