Ronnie O'Sullivan says 'no more exhibitions or distractions off the table' as he reveals two-year plan to return to the top of snooker
Published 23/04/2025 at 18:54 GMT+1
An eighth world title remains a target for Ronnie O'Sullivan and he opened this year's quest with a 10-4 win over Ali Carter. Irrespective of whether he secures glory at The Crucible in Sheffield this term, O'Sullivan has a two-year plan to return to the top of the sport. Watch and stream top snooker action, including the World Championship, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Highlights as O'Sullivan beats Carter in first round
Video credit: TNT Sports
Ronnie O’Sullivan has revealed a two-year plan to rebuild his game and get back to the top, saying there will be no "distractions" off the table.
The seven-time world champion kicked off his World Snooker Championship campaign with a convincing 10-4 win over Ali Carter, in what was his first outing in a ranking event since the UK Championship in November.
The first session on Tuesday was patchy, but O'Sullivan looked more in tune with his new cue on Wednesday as he won all five frames on the back of three tons to set up a meeting with Pang Junxu in round two, with the match live on TNT Sports and discovery+ over three sessions, beginning on Saturday.
O’Sullivan told TNT Sports earlier in April he was looking to rediscover his love for the game, and that he intended to play on into his 50s - with his milestone birthday looming in December.
The desire to compete remains strong, and O’Sullivan has said he will ditch the exhibition circuit in a bid to get back to the top of the sport.
"I am trying to get away from what I know is the problem," O’Sullivan said. "It got to the point where I couldn't watch myself play because I could see what was wrong, but I didn't know how to correct it.
"I am working on that and at the moment it feels really strange.
"When I first rebuilt my game in 2000 with [coach] Frank Adamson it took a year before it felt great. That's what I have to do again. I need to create space so I can get the cue through."
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O'Sullivan makes century in 13th frame to sweep mini-session
Video credit: TNT Sports
O'Sullivan suggested he had to combat snooker's version of the yips.
"There was a time where I wasn't able to pull the cue back and forwards, which was scary," he said.
"I had that before years ago and managed to play my way out of it. This time, where I have changed my alignment and certain things, years of that have mounted up and I have lost all connection with the cue - my timing, touch and feeling have gone."
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The 2024/25 campaign has been a lean one for O'Sullivan, in part due to him missing a host of tournaments, but the previous season he won two of the three Triple Crown events.
It is that sort of form that he is aiming to rediscover over the next couple of years.
"I am going to give myself two years," he said. "There will be no more exhibitions or distractions off the table.
"I will help out at the academy in Saudi Arabia, I enjoy the work I am doing there and hopefully we can do something similar in the UK because my true love is to help people and give back.
"That helps me to learn from other people. Otherwise it will just be tournaments and getting fit."
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