World Snooker Championship: Ronnie O’Sullivan compares himself to a rock star
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN admits he feels like a rock star who may never have another hit album.
Ronnie O'Sullivan progressed to his 18th quarter-final
“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.
He 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.
O'Sullivan has won five world titles
“So I come and play the tournaments, do my best, be competitive – but have other things outside snooker.”
O’Sullivan added after his victory over Murphy: “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.
“If I was to win this year it would be great but I have had that feeling five times already. I hardly practised for a year – but I’ve put six or seven hard weeks in for this.
“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.
“In some ways I feel younger than I did when I first came, I am a lot fitter, not bloated like I was then.”