Ronnie O’Sullivan
In the land of the free and the home of the brave, billiards is king. However, on the other side of the pond, snooker is the table game of choice. And when it comes to that particular sport, one man reigns supreme. Ronnie O’Sullivan.
With a career that spans over three decades, this man has achieved feats that no other snooker player has been able to and is widely considered to be the greatest player to have ever picked up a cue. He is a seven-time champion of the world and at the age of 47, he shows no signs of slowing down. Over the years, he has set a new standard in the snooker world, leaving his mark that is sure to last for generations to come.
Early Years
Ronnie O’Sullivan was born on December 5th, 1975, in England’s West Midlands. He started playing snooker at a very young age and by the age of 10, he had already hit his first-century break.
A younger version of Rocket Ronnie underwent intensive training that immediately paid dividends as it wasn’t long until he started making a name for himself on the local circuit. He found himself playing professionally at the age of 16 and just one year later, he won his first major tournament, the UK Championship, his first of seven victories in the tournament.
This win marked the beginning of a winning spree that would see him break record after record. He holds the world record for making the fastest maximum break in snooker history, taking just 5 minutes and 20 seconds at the 1997 World Championship.
The Wordsley-born star has won both the World Championship and the Masters seven times each, claiming the latter three times in four years in the mid-2010s. Throughout his career, he has earned well over £11 million, not including a bucketload more through endorsements and sponsorship deals.
Quite the Character
The Rocket is renowned for his unorthodox conduct both on and off the snooker table in addition to his snooker prowess. He has been known to make amusing faces while playing, and he once played a whole match—quite literally—without any shoes on.
He has puzzled many opponents over the years with his ingenuity and unpredictability, earning him a crowd favorite. He also doesn’t hold back when discussing the stress and problems with mental health that come with competing on the professional snooker circuit.
Recognition
The Rocket has received various honors in recent years, and quite rightfully so. In 2020, he was admitted into the Snooker Hall of Fame and four years earlier, he was made an OBE by King Charles – Prince Charles at the time – for his services to snooker. He is the first player to have ever racked up over 1,000 century breaks and at present, his current haul stands at a whopping 1,218, including 15 maximums.
In recent years, Ronnie’s commitment has been questioned. He very rarely features in smaller events these days and as such, his world ranking has suffered, dropping all the way down to 39th as things stand. However, time and again he has proved his critics wrong time.
Back in 2022, he won the World Championship for a record-equalling seventh time in his career, and he did so by beating a murderer’s row of opponents en route to victory. He knocked off Scottish sensations Stephen Maguire and John Higgins in the quarters and semis to set up a final clash with Judd Trump, with the trophy and £500,000 on the line.
The Rocket would eventually triumph after almost two days of intense action, knocking off the Juggernaut by 18 frames to 13. The defense of his title didn’t go as planned last year, losing out to eventual champion Luca Brecel in the quarterfinals, however, reputable sports betting platforms are backing him to right that wrong next year. They have made him the +400 favorite in the Worlds, with Mark Selby, the aforementioned Trump, and Neil Robertson all shortly behind him in the betting market.
Controversies
The Rocket is somewhat of a maverick. He’s been known to walk out of matches mid-game, reject a 147 break in protest at the prize money, and – as we eluded to earlier – let fans (and even offer referees on occasion) the opportunity to take shots for him. From swearing on live television to almost getting into fights with fellow players, O’Sullivan has garnered a reputation for being a bit of a wild card both on and off the table. But love him or hate him, you can’t deny the excitement that comes with watching a player who is unpredictable both in his gameplay and behavior. Plus, who doesn’t love a good villain in sports?
