OPINION: It’s totally clear what Ronnie O’Sullivan must do subsequent after his Crucible collapse towards John Higgins.
Ronnie O’Sullivan was dumped out within the second spherical on the Crucible (Picture: PA)
Ronnie O’Sullivan must play extra event snooker if he needs to win the World Championship once more. O’Sullivan confirmed sufficient throughout his two matches at this 12 months’s World Championship that he nonetheless has the sport – and the touches of genius – to go all the way in which within the sport’s largest occasion.
There are those that consider this was O’Sullivan’s final correct likelihood of Crucible glory. I do not see it that method in any respect. I feel O’Sullivan has not less than 4 or 5 extra good probabilities to win an eighth world title. However he wants extra matchplay snooker beneath his belt. O’Sullivan performed 10 matches in 2026 earlier than the World Championship. That simply does not minimize it.
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Everybody refers again to O’Sullivan taking virtually the entire of the 2012-13 season off and successful the World Championship, however he was in his 30s then. It is an entire completely different ball recreation now, with O’Sullivan into his 50s.
Even the best participant of all of them must be on the market within the warmth of battle. It is one thing that simply cannot be replicated in apply.
O’Sullivan performed some high-quality snooker towards John Higgins of their epic second-round encounter, however was discovered wanting when it actually mattered within the ultimate session as he fell to a 13-12 defeat.
It felt just like the Scot was acting from current reminiscence. On the Tour Championship in Manchester, Higgins beat Mark Williams 10-8 after which Mark Selby 10-8. Victories over fellow greats in multi-session matches. No marvel he is so battle-hardened.
Distinction that to O’Sullivan, who pulled out of the Tour Championship and performed solely two multi-session matches all season (apparently, he misplaced them each too) earlier than the Crucible marathon.
Ronnie O’Sullivan was overwhelmed 13-12 by John Higgins (Picture: Getty)
O’Sullivan has been enjoying down experiences over current days that he moved to Dubai final 12 months – and in addition spends lots of time in Eire – for tax functions. What cannot be denied is that he has solely not often been within the UK over the course of this season.
O’Sullivan’s drawback is that almost all of tournaments are nonetheless performed right here. So he is bought some choices to make.
His legacy on this sport is after all already safe. He’s extensively thought-about to be the best participant of all time. However the icons of sport all the time need extra, and O’Sullivan himself has mentioned that his one main remaining ambition is to win an eighth world crown.
That may put him above Stephen Hendry, who gained seven world titles within the Nineteen Nineties and was seen as the best earlier than O’Sullivan took his mantle.
I’ve little doubt that O’Sullivan will nonetheless choose and select his occasions within the 2026-27 season, and he’s completely entitled to try this.
However I do not consider these sporadic appearances serve him nicely on the subject of battling it out with so many excellent gamers in Sheffield.
So come on Ronnie. You simply must play extra event snooker, it is so simple as that. it is smart.
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