Emotional res CUE
HOW ROLLING STONE FIRED UP THE ROCKET
But the Rocket admits it was high praise from Rolling Stones legend and wild man Keith Richards that provided one of his biggest career highlights.
O’sullivan heads into this year’s UK Championship having ended a sevenyear drought at the Crucible by claiming a sixth world title to leave him just one shy of Stephen Hendry’s record.
World No. 2 O’sullivan, 45 next week, has spent 28 years in the place where goldfish bowl meets pressure cooker as snooker’s box office No. 1.
And a true maverick in the Richards mould has never stopped – through controversial outbursts, personal challenges and clashes with authority – combining winning with great entertainment.
O’sullivan, who begins his UK bid tomorrow against Leo Fernandez, said:
“I love bringing joy to people, playing well, having a good day. Maybe there are people from other sports or industries who come to watch you.
“There might be an actor or an artist or a football player who are the best at what they do and they come and see what you do. And you can see it if they are like ‘ wow’ watching you perform, that is a huge buzz.
“Keith Richards came and saw me play one day and he said, ‘ It’s like watching Mozart.’ This is a musician in one of the greatest bands comparing me with a great composer. That felt like the biggest compliment.”
The crowds are on hold for now and the UK is being staged at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes where a hotel on site makes the many coronavirus protocols easier to follow.
O’sullivan admits he is “devastated” the tournament had to be moved from York and has compared the current Groundhog Day experience in a single venue to being in prison.
But he is sustained by the summer’s first World Championship win since 2013. He added: “I’d started to wonder if I would ever win another one. For the previous five or six years I hadn’t put my heart and soul into it.
“In mathematical terms, of course it looks closer to the seven now, but I am genuinely happy with what I have won. I am not a greedy person.
“For the majors, I have the records for the UK and Masters with seven and the overall record for all three with 20 – so three out of four isn’t bad!
“I have some great memories from the UK. Winning it two years ago to get past Stephen Hendry’s record of 18 majors was memorable – there are only three so that is a yardstick.
“And the first win there, my debut ranking title as a 17- year- old – that will always stand out as special.”
WATCH the UK Championship live on Eurosport and Eurosport app from today until December 6.