Ronnie O’Sullivan, considered the greatest snooker player of all time, believes he would have been a world champion in motorsports and could challenge Lewis Hamilton if he had not pursued a career in snooker. At the age of 48, O’Sullivan is still ranked as the world No. 1 in snooker and has won five tournaments this year, including the UK Masters. He remains one of the most naturally talented players in the game, despite picking and choosing which events to participate in.
In a recent interview with Eurosport, O’Sullivan discussed how snooker has evolved from a hobby to a mixed blessing over the years. He mentioned a meeting with musician Ed Sheeran, who was looking for a new hobby outside of music, which led him to reflect on the pressures of playing against top quality opposition. O’Sullivan pointed out that as he gets older, maintaining a high level of performance in any sport becomes increasingly challenging.
When asked about the public’s fascination with him, O’Sullivan believes it is primarily due to his style of play rather than his personality. Despite being perceived as an introvert, he acknowledges the need for a strong character to succeed in a competitive sport like snooker. He compares himself to other top athletes like Lewis Hamilton, Tyson Fury, and Lionel Messi, who also possess strong characters to overcome the pressures of their respective sports.
O’Sullivan’s success on the snooker circuit draws attention every year, with fans eagerly following his performances in major tournaments like the World Snooker Championship. He expressed confidence in his abilities as a driver and suggested he would have been a world champion in motorsports if he had pursued that career path instead. O’Sullivan’s passion for snooker remains evident, but he acknowledges the challenges of maintaining a high level of performance against top-tier opponents.
Despite his success on the snooker circuit, O’Sullivan remains humble about his achievements and emphasizes the importance of having a strong character to navigate the competitive world of professional sports. He continues to push himself to excel in snooker while acknowledging the difficulties of staying at the top of his game as he gets older. Fans can watch O’Sullivan in action, including the World Snooker Championship, on platforms like discovery+, the Eurosport app, and eurosport.com.
