Ronnie O’Sullivan has proved he will still be one to avoid at the World Snooker Championship later this month, despite taking a long break from competitive action. The Rocket was back to doing what he does best during a recent trip to Saudi Arabia, and he wowed a small group of onlookers by pulling off an incredible feat.
O’Sullivan has a growing presence in the Middle East, having repeatedly talked up Saudi tournaments and even set up a snooker academy in Riyadh. It was during a recent visit to RO’s Academy that he put together a stunning 147 break in just six minutes and 24 seconds.
The 49-year-old got a loud round of applause upon sinking the final black in a time not far off his competitive 147 record, which was set against Mick Price in the 1997 World Snooker Championship, and took him five minutes and eight seconds.
O’Sullivan’s superb display of skill showed that he is still razor sharp ahead of his possible trip to the Crucible, which is now a matter of days away. As always, the Rocket would be the main attraction if he opts to compete, and an extra layer of intrigue has been added to his upcoming Sheffield campaign by the fact he has not played competitively since pulling out midway through the Championship League in early January.
He subsequently withdrew from numerous tournaments on medical grounds, and he has admitted that he won’t make a decision on whether or not he plays at the worlds until a day or two before the event.
O’Sullivan is chasing what would be a record-breaking eighth world title. But he is putting himself under absolutely no pressure ahead of his return to the table.
“I don’t have any expectations of what I might do or might not do when I come back,” he told TNT Sports. “It’s just one of them. Once you start, you just build momentum, and sometimes you have to be patient with it.
“At some point it’s just getting back in there, I suppose, that’s the most important thing. I’ve still played eight tournaments this year. I’ve just taken large chunks of time out for various reasons. I feel alright, I feel okay.”
Fellow snooker hero Jimmy White believes his good friend O’Sullivan should not have too much trouble slipping back into the rhythm of competitive play.
He told The Metro: “He’ll be there for sure. It’s in his bones. It’s going to be a bit more difficult for him in the first round because he’s had no match practice, and the players have improved. But I still think he’ll be fine.”
