Ronnie O’Sullivan is finally content with his life’s work – and hopes he is acknowledged as a true master of his craft.
The Rocket has dealt with plenty of “curve-balls” over a 31-year snooker career including the imprisonment of his father, and coming through battles with drink, drugs and anxiety.
But despite that world No1 O’Sullivan, 46, has racked up a joint-record seven world titles among another record tally of 21 major tournament successes.
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And alongside the silverware he has built up a worldwide following of millions for his flair, attacking approach to the sport, and ability to make the game look absurdly simple.
O’Sullivan begins his campaign for a fourth Champion of Champions title on Thursday against Rob Milkins at the University of Bolton Stadium.
And he said: “I look back at my career and I always think when we all disappear off this planet, I hope there is a room on the very top floor for the greatest or the best at what they chose to do in their lives.
“And I’d like to think if there were 20 of the leading experts in their field in there, that they wouldn’t turn me away.
“I judge my career on that basis. How many people can say they were the greatest at what they chose to do in life?
“For me I am very comfortable with what I have achieved. In some ways I feel I have underachieved in hindsight - but I won’t be too hard on myself, and take what I have got.
“Life throws you a lot of curve-balls along the way and I have had to navigate my way around them, which I think I have done very well…so I am pleased.
“I would always call myself more of a purist sportsperson than a lot of them around today. Some of them get headlines but lack pedigree or haven’t been tested against the very best.
“And I’d like to think I was one of the few sportspeople like Phil Taylor and Stephen Hendry that you can say did it on a level playing field over a period of time.
“That might have been 10, 20, 30 years over a lot of players that have come and gone. And I feel comfortable with what I have achieved.”
O’Sullivan is also convinced that he and the other members of the famous ‘Class of 1992’ – John Higgins and Mark Williams – have brought the very best out of each other.
He added: “I also have no doubt that I, John and Mark have all pushed each other to greater heights since we turned pro and the result is more success and a better level for all of us.
“We have had this secret little competition going where we were all wanting to challenge each other, and right now it is a bit like who will be the last man standing.
“It feels like that. There is a different type of respect from each of us for the others that maybe there was in earlier years.
“And we appreciate that if we hadn’t come along together, then none of us might have had the careers that we have had. We have all benefited.”
If O’Sullivan can win Thursday’s group then he will get a chance for revenge over China’s Fan Zhengyi in Saturday night’s semi-final.
Fan showed nerves of steel by winning two matches on Tuesday in final-frame deciders to reach the last four of the Champion of Champions.
The 21-year-old from China stunned world No2 Neil Robertson 4-3 in the afternoon match that took him into the evening group final – making nerveless breaks of 94 and 98 to get over the line.
And then last season’s European Masters champion backed that up with another even better performance against recent British Open winner Ryan Day to win 6-5.
Fan’s debut ranking title success in Milton Keynes in February was also achieved in the most dramatic fashion possible with a 10-9 win over O’Sullivan.
Fan is proving one of the most erratic and inconsistent performers on tour. He went almost six months without a win after winning his first title.
And before Tuesday he had won just two matches and £3,000 all season – but to that can be added at least another £30,000 after yesterday.
*18+ | BeGambleAware
