RONNIE O’SULLIVAN fears he has lost his bottle — and warned he may quit the World Snooker Championship if he has “a meltdown”.
The Rocket, 49, has finally found a cue to use in his blockbuster first-round clash with nemesis Ali Carter next week.
GettyRonnie O’Sullivan has revealed he may still withdraw from the World Snooker Championship[/caption]
GettyO’Sullivan is the star attraction at the Crucible[/caption]
But while he is committed to play at the Crucible for the 33rd successive time, he has told fans he “doesn’t have any expectations”.
And, having pulled out of five events on ‘medical grounds’, there is the prospect he might wake up after the Bank Holiday weekend and simply think: I don’t fancy this — I’m going home.
O’Sullivan, who has been unhappy with his technique, said: “I’m not playing until Tuesday. So if I have a meltdown, who knows? I might still bloody withdraw. I hope I don’t.
“I’m surprised I’m here but I’m here. I don’t have any expectations.
“I’d just like to not feel all at sea out there. If I can just play and at least feel semi-competitive, I’d be happy with that.
“Could I win the whole thing? I doubt it. I’d be very happy to just give Ali a game.
“I’m nearly 50 now and there’s a lot of young guys who are hungry and competing all the time. It’s a bit different to say 2012, 2013.”
Four of O’Sullivan’s seven world triumphs have occurred when long-time psychiatrist Steve Peters has been in his corner.
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And, in a warning to the rest of the field, that relationship is back on this time.
O’Sullivan snapped a cue in anger in January and, weeks ago, he told SunSport he was struggling to find a suitable replacement.
The former world No 1 does have one now but, while he hit two 147s in practice at his academy in Saudi Arabia, he has urged caution with regards to this latest piece of wood.
The potting GOAT said: “I’ve got a cue. I got given it.
“I’ve had this one for three or four months sitting in a rack. I tried it out and it was OK.
I’m not playing until Tuesday. So if I have a meltdown, who knows? I might still bloody withdraw. I hope I don’t.
Ronnie O’Sullivan
“Listen, it’s a lot of difference hitting a 147 in exhibitions to coming at the Crucible and playing the best players in the world.
“I practised with Barry Hawkins for a couple of days and on the second day, it was that bad I quit.
“Barry said, ‘It’s not as bad as you think’.
“I was like, ‘Really?’ And he said, ‘It’s just maybe concentration’. So I held on to that.”
Inside Ronnie O’Sullivan’s ‘Snotgate’ rivalry
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN bitter feud with Ali Carter hit the headlines earlier this year in the Masters final, which the world No1 won 10-7.
As they walked past each other, the Rocket shoulder barged his rival in shocking scenes.
After the match, Carter added fuel to the fire as he alleged O’Sullivan violently cleared his nose and labelled him “disgusting”.
He added: It’s outrageous behaviour from a top professional. If it gets swept under the carpet then for me, it’s not good.
“Did we have any words of exchange? No. I’ve got no words for him at all.”
O’Sullivan responded, putting his middle finger up in a press conference while saying: “For him to come out and try to trash talk me like that, do you know what? He can have one of them.
“He can sit on it as far as I’m concerned. I don’t give a f***. You know what he’s like, everybody knows what he’s like. He’s got issues.
“F***ing why has he got issues with me? I’m not having it. I don’t care, grow some balls.
“I don’t give a f***. The more he brings it on, the more I f***ing punish him every time.”
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