Rocket Ronnie out to squeeze all he can from the game
Relaxed Ronnie O’Sullivan wants to squeeze every last drop out of snooker before he retires.
But while the Rocket is still dazzling at the top level, he has every intention to challenge for major titles.
O’Sullivan blew away world No. 68 Robbie Williams 6-2 to keep his quest for a record eighth UK Championship crown alive at York’s Barbican yesterday afternoon.
And after a comprehensive victory in front of his army of supporters, the 46-year-old stressed: “I’m never going to be as good at anything else as I am at snooker, so I’m going to try to rinse it for as long as I can.
“Once I’ve rinsed every bit of juice out of it, then I’ll be like: ‘adios amigos’.
“It’s just a game at the end of the day, which is why I’ve detached from it in so many ways.
“I enjoy all the other stuff I do so much more, but I’m so good at snooker, well why wouldn’t I do it?
“I know I’ve got talent and ability – and I can really get a buzz out of it sometimes.
“But it’s easier for me to motivate myself now because it doesn’t really matter.
“However, because it doesn’t really matter because you can sometimes slap balls about like you’re in an exhibition.
“I can still look good doing that, play some brilliant tournaments and make five finals, like I did last season, just having a laugh. But I don’t want to be too intense about my snooker, I’m too old for that.
“I’ve probably achieved double the success I’ve dreamt of, but I’m not a greedy person and I just put life ahead of snooker.”
Williams pocketed breaks of 114 and 68 to lead 2-1, but O’Sullivan raised his game and reeled off five frames on the spin with runs of 91, 74, 58, 66 and 55 to deservedly triumph.
When he’s not playing snooker, O’Sullivan works as a snooker pundit for Eurosport, enjoys running and has a string of business ventures away from the game.
And the 37-ranking event winner admits his other pleasures in life now take precedence.
“Snooker can’t be the be-all-and-end-all now,” stressed the sixtime world champion.
“I’m enjoying business. It’s just great and I love it.
“There’s so much more out there, but I didn’t realise that because snooker becomes your whole world and you realise how insignificant it is when you start to enter into other worlds.”
Meanwhile, former World Championship finalist Kyren Wilson hammered Welshman Jak Jones 6-0 to keep his hopes of a maiden UK title alive.
“I’m chuffed to be through,” reflected Wilson after his whitewash win. “He’s a tough player to beat because of he played, but I was determined not to get dragged down.”