Seven-time winner Ronnie O’Sullivan, 48, tells Sky Sports activities forward of the beginning of the World Snooker Championship on Saturday: “I nonetheless assume I’ve received one other one or two world titles in me. So long as I really feel younger across the snooker desk, age is only a quantity”
Final Up to date: 18/04/24 6:53pm
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Ronnie O’Sullivan says if the World Snooker Championship was relocated to Saudi Arabia then he would discover the match extra handy as a participant
Ronnie O’Sullivan says if the World Snooker Championship was relocated to Saudi Arabia then he would discover the match extra handy as a participant
Ronnie O’Sullivan says a report eighth World Snooker Championship win would clinch his best-ever season within the sport forward of the match’s begin on Saturday.
O’Sullivan received each the UK Championship and The Masters for the eighth time in December and January, respectively, and is now seeking to repeat the feat on the Crucible to finish snooker’s ‘Triple Crown’.
The 48-year-old feels his recreation is in good order going into his opening clash with Welsh qualifier Jackson Page on Wednesday, however provides a first-round exit is simply as possible as him lifting the trophy for an eighth time to interrupt the report he at present shares with Stephen Hendry.
Jackson Web page made his one earlier look at The Crucible in 2022
“The previous couple of days, I’ve began to play alright and so I’ve began to fancy the job,” O’Sullivan informed Sky Sports activities.
“I would not be stunned if I win it however, equally, I would not be stunned if I misplaced first spherical. Snooker generally does not make sense.
“I nonetheless assume I’ve received one other one or two world titles in me. So long as I really feel younger across the snooker desk, age is only a quantity.
“I assumed I used to be completed at 35, however I am nonetheless going at 48. I’ve nonetheless received loads and I am nonetheless [world] No 1, which is a little bit of a miracle in itself.
“I have been going at it a very long time and I nonetheless really feel like I’ve received one other 5, six, seven good years in me. Who is aware of, so long as I am nonetheless having enjoyable and having fun with it.”
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Requested whether or not finishing the Triple Crown would characterize his greatest season in snooker, O’Sullivan replied: “Completely.
“I received the UK Championships, the Masters. The Triple Crown is what all snooker followers and gamers measure issues by, so to have all three in a single go could be nice.
“And I received in Shanghai as nicely, which is one in all my favorite occasions.
“I’ve received fairly a number of large occasions this 12 months. I’ve had an awesome season and Sheffield would simply cap all of it off.”
Could the Word Snooker Championship leave The Crucible?
O’Sullivan has been important of the Crucible previously and, after this week signing a three-year ambassadorial settlement to assist develop snooker in Saudi Arabia, there may be hypothesis the World Championship may at some point transfer to the Center East.
In March, Saudi Arabia hosted the inaugural, non-ranking World Masters of Snooker occasion, which is able to return for the 2024/25 season, whereas a primary rating match might be held there in August within the type of the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters which could have a £2m prize fund – the best of any match exterior the World Championship.
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Sky Sports activities Information chief reporter Kaveh Solhekol assesses whether or not the World Snooker Championship may transfer to Saudi Arabia
“The Crucible is a good venue, do not get me incorrect,” O’Sullivan clarified. “It is received nice historical past and I’ve received some nice reminiscences there however, as a snooker participant, you thrive in being in an surroundings the place every part is catered for.
“It is onerous to get out and in, it is onerous to get a correct allocation for observe instances, it is a busy place and the World Championship is an enormous occasion.
“I feel Saudi Arabia may pay money for this match, seize it by the scruff of the neck and switch it right into a Wimbledon or a French Open or US Open, and actually make it a brilliant occasion.”
The Crucible in Sheffield has been house to the World Snooker Championship since 1977
He added: “Hear, Sheffield has the historical past and that can by no means change.
“Lots of people say, what concerning the historical past there? Come on man, historical past is getting rewritten on daily basis actually.
“I feel if Eddie [Hearn] and Barry [Hearn] and World Snooker determine it’s proper to take it to Saudi, then why not?”
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