O’sullivan wins 7th world snooker title to emulate Hendry
Agencies
LONDON: Ronnie “Rocket” O’sullivan equalled Stephen Hendry’s record of seven world snooker titles in Sheffield on Monday but he has more in common with another complex and outspoken world champion, Tyson Fury, than the unflashy Scotsman. Like heavyweight boxing champion Fury, O’sullivan has battled his demons—namely depression.
The 46-year-old, who produced some outstanding snooker to beat Judd Trump 18-13 in the final at the Crucible, found solace in drink and drugs before having a Eureka moment. Running eventually proved to be the cure.
O’sullivan’s strength of character was reflected by the masterful way he played while his father Ronnie senior was serving an 18-year prison sentence for murder. The then teenager and his sister Danielle, who was just eight, were soon left to fend for themselves as their mother Maria was also given a prison term for tax evasion—sex bookshops had been the source of the family’s money.
Danielle was looked after by family friends while O’sullivan forged on with his career. His father, who was released in 2009, was found guilty of the 1992 murder of Bruce Bryan— once a driver for Charlie Kray, the elder brother of the notorious London gangsters Ronnie and Reggie Kray.
Despite his father’s conviction he has remained O’sullivan’s mentor. In fact, he has said his father’s sentence spurred him on when he took to the table. O’sullivan has won four of his world titles since his father was released.
However, despite saying in the past he wanted to play until he was 50, he has threatened to walk away on several occasions—in another echo of Fury. Indeed O’sullivan did take a break in 2013 and in typically offbeat style used the time to work three days a week on a pig farm, without pay.
For such a star of his sport, O’sullivan has few airs and graces and displayed his softer side when he won the Shanghai Masters four years ago and handed the trophy to a young girl in the audience. It was a typical gesture from a man whose mantra is to “live for the moment”.