Ronnie O'Sullivan on his 'scary' battle to recapture glory days - 'It would be my biggest achievement in snooker'
Updated 16/03/2026 at 15:20 GMT
Ronnie O'Sullivan has revealed he has been forced to go back to basics in his bid to recapture his glory days. O'Sullivan last won a major title at the 2024 World Grand Prix, but aims to play his way out of a crisis of confidence by work done on the practice table. "I'm going to re-coach myself, and relearn again," said the snooker GOAT after a 5-1 win over Ross Muir in the World Open first round.
Watch: O'Sullivan walks out of arena after unexpected issue
Video credit: TNT Sports
Ronnie O'Sullivan is convinced finding the answer to his technical problems on the table will be the greatest achievement of his golden 34-year career in professional snooker.
The snooker GOAT admits he has been working hard to find consistency and confidence in his cue action after arriving in Yushan a week early to prepare for the World Open.
The work ethic certainly seemed to pay off in his 5-1 win over Ross Muir in the World Open first round on Monday as O'Sullivan produced classy breaks of 50, 89, 69, 113 and 114 to progress.
With his last-64 opponent Ishpreet Singh Chadha withdrawing ahead of the event, it means the world No. 12 will face Matthew Selt in the last 32 on Wednesday.
O'Sullivan, whose record 41st and last major ranking title came at the World Grand Prix in January 2024, turned 50 in December, but has given himself two years as he tries to rebuild a consistent delivery of the cue from scratch.
"I’m just trying to work on that, and just see if I can get back to delivering the cue freely," said O'Sullivan, speaking to World Snooker Tour in China.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/03/16/image-411b14d6-aede-42c1-bbf2-2683c862eec0-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
'Would have been nice to get one' - O'Sullivan refuses to dwell on missed 147 opportunity
Video credit: TNT Sports
"If I can’t, then I don’t know how long I can carry on playing like I have for the last three years.
"I’m hopeful one day, and then unhopeful the next day. I’ve a little breakthrough and then it goes. And it just so frustrating.
"Like I said, I’ll commit to two years, and try and work on it, so I can prolong my career basically.
"Cueing like I was cueing, there was just going to be no longevity in it.
"It's not like I've not been working on my game. I’ve been working as hard as I’ve ever done. It’s just not been on TV, it’s been behind closed doors.
"But I’m trying to really attack it now, rather than just hoping something changes. I’m really, like, breaking it down and trying to re-coach myself if you like.
"I started using a certain method a few years ago, and it really didn’t work for me. It has left me in probably the worst place I’ve ever been in snooker-wise really.
"I was saying to a friend the other day that if I could manage to get out of this, I would definitely say it would be my biggest achievement or accomplishment in snooker.
"If I could come out on the other end and feel like I did six or seven years ago, that would trump any tournaments I’ve won, seven World Championships or eight Masters whatever.
"This, for me, would rank higher than any of those achievements.
"I’m under no illusions about how difficult it will be, but I’m not going to retire or go out because something that I tried didn’t work for me.
"I’m going to try to get back to my natural instinct of playing and try to re-coach myself in some sort of way with the help of other people. I can’t do it on my own.
"I'm getting help from people to try and relearn again, and if that doesn't work then in two years I'd obviously have to really consider.
"I probably wouldn't be able to carry on if it doesn't get somewhere near where I want to be."
- Why red-hot World Championship qualifying is set to be toughest yet
- 'Maybe a little frustrated' - Hendry explains why 'brilliant' Higgins will look to improve
- Impossible fluke leaves Highfield feeling low in defeat to Higgins
O'Sullivan has competed in only six ranking events since reaching the final of the Saudi Arabia Masters in August, where he lost 10-9 to Neil Robertson in an epic joust.
There have also been two quarter-final appearances in Shanghai and Xi'an, with his return to China this week likely to be his final competitive appearance before next month's World Championship in Sheffield.
The Essex man could yet opt to compete at the 12-player Tour Championship (March 30-April 5) in Manchester, but has limited his appearances in UK competitions as he continues to pick and choose his moments.
Unlike fellow 'Class of '92' icons John Higgins and Mark Williams, who are both inside the world's top six having displayed a remarkable level of consistency, O'Sullivan has reverted to a part-time schedule.
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2026/03/16/image-d0d9c586-bd83-46c0-8dbf-e26fc2a97431-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
'He was going for it!' - O'Sullivan narrowly misses out on maximum against Muir
Video credit: TNT Sports
"That's why pool became an option," he said.
"It wasn't something I wanted to do. Snooker is my love, but if you can't get the cue through on big tables.
"It is a really accurate game compared to other cue sports. With the standard at what it is, I'd be wasting my time.
"To be scared of the game itself is not a way I really want to play my career. There's a lot of hard work to do, but I'm prepared to do it.
"But you have to put a time limit on it otherwise you'd be 75 or 80 trying to work it out.
"At that point, if I can still play with confidence, not win as much as I used to, but at least fancy the job, then great.
"Hopefully, I'll play for a lot longer, but if not, it will be very, very tough for me."
/origin-imgresizer.tntsports.io/2025/08/15/image-4801505a-b0de-45f1-8ed3-8aaeb8e4e8dc-85-2560-1440.jpeg)
O'Sullivan begins semi-final with incredible 147 at Saudi Arabia Masters
Video credit: TNT Sports
O'Sullivan battled problems with his cue last season, but concedes overcoming obstacles with his cue action is a "scary" prospect ahead of his latest quest for a record eighth Crucible crown.
"You know when you have to rebuild," he said. "To compete with the top guys, sometimes you have to take your game apart.
"This one, I'm not sure I can actually get the cue through. Which is quite scary. With this one, I'm not so sure.
"At least 30 or 40% percent of the time to feel all right, that would be a victory.
"I'm not expecting to cue well all the time, but I've got to have that at least.
"It is tough. It is not something you want to do, but sometimes you have to."
The World Open runs between March 16-22, live on TNT Sports and on-demand on discovery+.
Watch and stream the 2025/26 snooker season, including the World Open, live on TNT Sports and discovery+
Related Topics
Advertisement
Advertisement