Stuart Hodge
O’Sullivan was beaten 4-2 in Brentwood, the second time he has lost to He this season; the snooker legend, considered by many to be the greatest player of all time, described his performance as “awful” and “embarrassing” and is considering his future in the sport
Last Updated: 18/09/24 8:37am
Ronnie O’Sullivan has cast his future in snooker into doubt
Ronnie O’Sullivan has warned fans he doesn’t think he’ll be playing snooker much longer after a shock defeat to He Guoqiang at the BetVictor English Open.
The seven-time world champion lost 4-2 in the fourth round at Brentwood, and believes the end of his snooker career may be getting close.
The 48-year-old, who has won titles at the World Grand Prix, UK Championship, Shanghai Masters, The Masters, and the World Masters of Snooker within the past year, was hugely critical of his own performance after the loss.
“I’m awful, it’s embarrassing. I miss so many balls. I can’t get away from it, poor, but there’s nothing I can do about it,” he added.
“I’ve been missing balls for the last four or five years and every now and then I’ll miss a few less, maybe, and get a couple of results.
“I don’t even care, I’m just here to fulfil my commitments to my sponsors, get away from home, travel.”
O’Sullivan found himself trailing 3-0 after his opponent edged a tight first frame and then took the next two with breaks of 78 and 77 respectively.
The Englishman’s response was concerted as he took the next two, in large part due to visits of 56 and 59, to edge his way back into the match, but 24-year-old He held his nerve with a break of 50 in the fifth frame to go through.
O’Sullivan, famed for being able to play elite snooker ambidextrously, was asked why he elected to play left-handed afterwards.
“I’m absolutely useless, that’s why,” he responded. “Forget about the Worlds. I’m not even bothered to be honest with you, if I’m going to play rubbish I might as well play left-handed.
“Play left-handed and enjoy it, but be useless, or play right-handed, be useless and not enjoy it.
“I haven’t got long, I’m not going to deny it, I’m not playing well enough, there’s no point in even worrying about it – I’ve just accepted it now which is quite a nice place to be really.”
As for He, the Chinese star said he used the crowd’s vocal backing of O’Sullivan to his advantage to claim a second win of the season against The Rocket.
He told the World Snooker Tour’s official website: “It feels brilliant to beat him again. It is an unreal feeling and like I am dreaming. I didn’t expect at all to win again.
“I think the key is to perform my best and to play my own game. I just needed to get rid of the fear attached to playing a top player like Ronnie. There were so many spectators here, all supporting him. It didn’t allow me to think of anything other than my own performance.
“The best thing I have learned over the past few months is how to play against top players and get rid of the fear and emotion of facing them. That is the most improved part of my game.”
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