Is Ronnie O’Sullivan the best snooker player of all time? “Statistically I suppose I am, but I don’t consider myself the greatest” – Rocket begins his bid for a record eighth Crucible crown against Welsh qualifier Jackson Page on Wednesday afternoon.
Last updated: 04/23/24 9:42 p.m.
Ronnie O’Sullivan is a seven-time world champion, winning his most recent Crucible title in 2022.
Ronnie O’Sullivan doesn’t believe he is the greatest snooker player of all time as he looks to win a record eighth world championship title.
O’Sullivan is tied with Stephen Hendry on seven Crucible crowns after his most recent victory in 2022 – one ahead of Steve Davis and Ray Reardon – and has won the most ranking titles (41) of any player.
The 48-year-old won his eighth Masters and UK Championship title earlier this season.
O’Sullivan faces Jackson Page in the first round at the Crucible on Wednesday afternoon
If he wins the World Championship again this year, he will become only the fourth player to win all three Triple Crown events in the same campaign, following Hendry (twice), Davis and Mark Williams.
Ahead of his opening match against Jackson Page on Wednesday, O’Sullivan said: “I don’t consider myself the greatest of all time. Statistically I suppose I am, but I’m just happy to be playing.
“I guess as a kid I would have been desperate to be with those guys, but when you get there it’s a bit of an anti-climax – it’s not as great as you thought.
O’Sullivan has won five events this season, including the Masters and the UK Championship for the eighth time each.
“I took a wrong turn and had to come back.”
“I had a different career than them. They did it over a 10-year period whereas I kind of went off the rails for five or six years and then got back on my feet and then I disappeared for another three years, then got back on my feet.
“Actually, I was all over the store, things were happening that could affect your performance.
“Hendry and Davis had everything they needed to focus on snooker, but that’s how it worked for me, so I had to keep going for longer.
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O’Sullivan says if the World Snooker Championship were moved to Saudi Arabia, he would find the tournament more convenient as a player
“I love acting, I love it. I can travel wherever I want, take time off whenever I want, be my own boss.
“It’s those little things, and you want to win because competitiveness has always been in me.
“I’m pretty happy with what I did and I’d like to continue winning more.
“Whether that makes me the best or not, I don’t know. It really doesn’t matter.”
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