Ronnie O’Sullivan took his time to learn how to get the most out of his immense talent (Picture: PA)
Ronnie O’Sullivan believes ‘messing up’ some of his early years as a professional have helped lead him to the immense longevity he has enjoyed in snooker.
The Rocket is embarking on yet another UK Championship campaign this week, 30 years after he won the event as a 17-year-old and 31 years he made his debut in the event, losing in the last 32 to Cliff Wilson.
It was something of a surprise that O’Sullivan took eight years to win the World Championship after beating Stephen Hendry to win his first UK title, but he says those years have helped him last as long as he has.
During those years he struggled with addiction problems and his focus was not always firmly on snooker, but after stints in rehab and a re-dedication to the sport, O’Sullivan has had a hugely successful time since the turn of the millennium
On how he felt at the time of that first UK Championship title in 1993, O’Sullivan said: ‘I’d have been happy to win a tournament, be in the top 16, play professional snooker. That was my dream. It was to get on TV at one stage.
‘I’ve squeezed a lot out of my career, I think I’ve been able to do that because I didn’t really perform to my optimum early in my career, so I feel like I’ve had points to prove to myself.
‘From 19-26 I really messed up them years, I started my career at 25-26, so I’ve really had 20 years as a professional. I know I’ve been a pro for 30, but I probably would only say only 20 of them I’ve acted like a professional.’
O’Sullivan says he took lessons from other sportsmen in how to act as a professional and achieve what you set out to. He credits two legendary names in particular, one from his own sport and one from a very different game.
‘I learned from Stephen Hendry and Michael Jordan how to become a professional,’ he said.
‘I think that’s what Judd [Trump] has learned from me. We all start off a bit raw but at some point we have to take it seriously.’
O’Sullivan has played just one tournament in the UK so far this season, but is keen to return to York, a city which he loves, and attempt to win a record-extending eighth UK Championship title.
Asked earlier this month if he intended to play the prestigious tournament he was clear: ‘Oh yeah, for sure. 100 per cent I’ll be in York.’
The Rocket takes on Anthony McGill in his opening match on Tuesday afternoon at The Barbican.
MORE : Stephen Hendry hails Judd Trump as ‘the most exciting player in the world’
MORE : John Higgins believes ‘the greatest’ Ronnie O’Sullivan is ‘bigger than the sport’
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‘I was just a crazy kid from a snooker club.’
