Ronnie O'Sullivan 'stunk it out' as snooker icon gives worrying opinion at UK Championship
Ronnie O'Sullivan made his feelings clear after edging out Robert Milkins at the UK Championship.
Ronnie O'Sullivan admitted he "can't be bothered" with snooker anymore after a dramatic encounter with Robert Milkins at the UK Championship on Thursday. The Rocket defeated Milkins 6-5 in a nip-and-tuck affair that frustrated the seven-time world champion.
During the match, O'Sullivan threw down his cue in anger after misplacing a shot in the final frame but the 47-year-old recovered well and is now set to face Zhou Yuelong in the quarter-finals. However, the Brit was far from pleased with his performance.
"I had to grind out another win for my sins. It's a crazy game, it still torments me after 30 years," O'Sullivan told BBC Sport. "I thought he deserved to win. I couldn't feel anything, I was just all over the show. I haven't got a clue any more, I don't understand how this game works.
"I gave up a long time ago, I just keep turning up and stinking out gaffs. I stunk it out today and I'll probably stink it out tomorrow."
"Mentally it's hard for me. I'm not going to kill myself out there, but I still want to play," added O'Sullivan, who has never lost to Milkins in a ranking tournament.
"I just can't be bothered any more. I just don't want it bad enough, that's the problem. I'm having to dig deep, whereas when I was younger I didn't have to did deep and I was so hungry.
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"Now I don't really care any more. Competitive sport is really hard, it's not always about how good you are, it's about how much you want it."
Zhou came out as a deserved 6-3 victor over three-time UK winner John Higgins in their round-of-16 clash and is brimming with confidence heading into Friday's match against O'Sullivan. "Ronnie's my idol, but I believe I can beat him," said Zhou.