Ronnie O’Sullivan’s time for a record eighth world title running out
Ronnie O’Sullivan believes he is nearing the end of his opportunity to secure a record-breaking eighth World Snooker Championship title, indicating he has “two attempts” left, reports BritPanorama.
The 50-year-old, nicknamed The Rocket, last clinched the title in 2022, which allowed him to equal Stephen Hendry’s record. Following a 6-1 victory over Liu Linhao at the Shanghai Masters, O’Sullivan maintained his aspirations for another World Championship, saying, “I have two attempts at it. If I can find a bit of cueing or some form at Sheffield, you never know.”
He emphasized the urgency, stating, “If I don’t do it this year or the next, it will definitely never happen,” during an interview with the World Snooker Tour. Despite his ambitions, O’Sullivan has seen his world ranking fall to 12th due to a reduced tournament schedule, with only the top 16 players qualifying for larger events.
O’Sullivan faces the possibility of needing to qualify to enter the World Championships, a scenario he has explicitly ruled out, declaring, “I’m not going to play qualifiers. You won’t be seeing me go down to Barnsley trying to win qualifying matches and all that sort of stuff.”
He acknowledged the challenges of competing at his age, noting, “I have to be realistic. I’m 50 now, and if I play for two hours, I then have to lie down for two or three hours. It is very hard for me.” O’Sullivan conveyed his desire to enjoy the remaining years of his career, adding, “I’ll reassess in 2028 and if things are really going well, you can maybe extend it.”
Despite his struggles, he demonstrated his skill in the recent match through effective breaks of 73, 71, 75, and 55 after initially being tied at 1-1. The next round will see other competitors like Zhou Yuelong, who defeated Mark Selby 6-5, continuing their pursuit in the tournament.
As O’Sullivan navigates this decisive phase of his career, the snooker world watches closely. His quest for the eighth title serves as a poignant reminder of the relentless march of time in professional sport, where even legends find their legacies intertwined with the weight of expectation.
