How Ronnie O'Sullivan's career revival began at the German Masters in Berlin - 'The best venue we play in'
Published 27/01/2026 at 12:27 GMT
Ronne O'Sullivan produced one of the most important victories of his career at the German Masters in 2012 when he recovered from trailing Andrew Higginson 4-0 in the first round at Berlin's Tempodrom to win the competition. Now he is back at the tournament for the first time since 2017, with an opening round match against Long Zehuang on Tuesday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
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"This is the best venue we play in on the tour," said Ronnie O'Sullivan after claiming the German Masters title in Berlin's Tempodrom with a 9-7 win over Stephen Magurie in February 2012. "It used to be Wembley Conference Centre but it's brilliant to play here and get to the final."
O’Sullivan will make his first competitive appearance at the celebrated venue since 2017 when he faces Long Zehuang on Tuesday afternoon at 14:00, live on TNT Sports and discovery+, aiming to secure a meeting with two-time German Masters winner Ali Carter in the last 32 on Wednesday.
The Tempodrom has proved to be inspirational for O'Sullivan in the past and arguably provided the launchpad for his remarkable renaissance period beyond the age of 36.
Eighteen of his record 41 ranking event wins, four of his seven world titles and four of his eight Masters crowns have been captured in the past 14 years, but would any of this have happened without his success in Berlin?
Described as a "huge" moment in his autobiography Running, O’Sullivan had largely been in the doldrums since his 18-8 success against Ali Carter in the final of the World Championship four years earlier.
Still capable on his day – he was almost hoisted shoulder-high out of the old Wembley Conference Centre in 2009 after an epic 10-8 triumph against old foe Mark Selby – but lacking consistency or certainty of performance seemed to be the recurring theme as he careered towards the latter half of his thirties.
To put this into perspective, six-time winner Steve Davis never won a world title beyond the age of 31 while Stephen Hendry was finished with his seven Crucible trophy lifts at 30.
The scene of O'Sullivan's recovery came a year after he began working with Professor Steve Peters, the sports psychologist who provided him with the mental tools to confront his fears.
The opening round of the German Masters, then in only its second year as a ranking event in Berlin, proved to be a staging post in the Rocket's regeneration against a new generation.
He had gone three years without winning a ranking tournament, was 16th in the world and was in danger of being forced to qualify for the World Championship in Sheffield.
"I had been thinking about whether I would ever win another ranking title," said O'Sullivan.
He trailed 4-0 in the first round to 2007 Welsh Open finalist Andrew Higginson, who produced runs of 80 and 67 to move to the cusp of the last 16 and a resounding triumph.
O’Sullivan prevented the whitewash with a rapid break of 86 but was one ball from defeat after his opponent opened with a fine 63 in the sixth frame as the vast Tempodrom tormented his senses.
O'Sullivan went for broke, walloped in a blistering trademark long red and rallied by edging the second frame with a break of 67 enough to somehow deny his fellow Englishman on the black.
He won the next three frames with three plus 50 knocks to complete an unlikely great escape in the German capital.
In what remains their only professional match, the significance of the occasion remains a key strand of O'Sullivan's trophy-winning DNA.
"Andrew played well and I was lucky to win," said O'Sullivan afterwards. "At 4-0 down, I hadn't done a lot wrong. It was a great atmosphere and I enjoyed the comeback.
"I don't want to comment on the rankings, it would just be nice to win a tournament."
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That 5-4 win gained importance as further victories over Joe Perry (5-1), Matthew Stevens (5-3), Stephen Lee (6-4) and Maguire (9-7) saw him clasp his first ranking prize since the 2009 Shanghai Masters.
Four centuries were made in the opening four frames for the first time in a major final, three flying off the cue of a Maguire clearly in the mood, in an absorbing dust-up that provided O'Sullivan with a 23rd ranking victory.
He would recover from 6-3 behind to topple the former UK champion in proving a point to himself that he could still deliver under the intense demands of a 2,500 sell-out crowd.
When he restored parity at 6-6, there was even an uncharacteristic punch of the air to illustrate his sense of excitement with Maguire professing utter bewilderment in defeat.
"At the moment, I just want to jump off a bridge," said the Scot.
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Three months later, O'Sullivan would become world champion for a fourth time courtesy of an 18-8 success against Carter.
"I'm coming to the end of my career so every victory now is nice," said O'Sullivan in 2012. "If I can nick a tournament here and there now, that is what I want. It would be nice to go out at the top."
At the age of 50, and ranked world No. 8, he remains near the top but has gone two years since his last ranking triumph.
Perhaps Berlin will again help him revisit the all-conquering sensation of lifting a major trophy.
Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the German Masters, live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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