Ronnie O’Sullivan progresses in the International Championship
Snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan has progressed to the next round of the International Championship in China following a surprise admission by the Essex man, reports BritPanorama.
The 49-year-old returned to the table with a dominant 6-2 win over Sanderson Lam in the second round. After a slow start, O’Sullivan came from behind to secure the victory against his fellow English player.
He will join the likes of World No 1 Judd Trump, who beat Matthew Stephens 6-3, and Shaun Murphy, who edged a victory over Wang Xinzhong. Reigning champion Ding Junhui continued his title defence by defeating Michael Holt 6-1.
O’Sullivan’s progression comes just hours after the world No 5 revealed he is enjoying snooker again. He admitted that he is having more fun now than he has had in several years. “It never feels like a grind when you’re cueing well,” he said.
He added, “I’m enjoying playing more than I have done for maybe over a decade. When I play alright, the crowd appreciate the shots and the break-building. When I click into gear, that raises the temperature in there a little bit.”
The comeback win, which included a burst of century breaks, seemed to resonate well with the Nanjing crowd. O’Sullivan, who had faced challenges with mental health affecting his career in recent years, withdrew from multiple events last season, but he now sets his sights on the International Championship for the first time in his professional history.
His previous best performance at this event came in 2023 when he reached the semi-finals before losing to eventual champion Zhang Anda. Following the International Championship, O’Sullivan will next compete in the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship later this month.
Amid a landscape continuously evolving, O’Sullivan’s resilience remains a captivating subplot in the sport, exemplifying how personal battles intertwine with professional triumphs. The Rocket’s journey is as layered and compelling as ever, inviting both admiration and reflection in equal measure.
