World snooker champion Ronnie O’Sullivan claims he “lost six years of my life” to drink and drugs during a haunting period which saw both of his parents sent to jail.
The Rocket levelled Stephen Hendry’s long-standing record of seven Crucible crowns in spectacular fashion in Sheffield in May. But the world No 1 has revealed he would love to turn back the clock to better deal with a tough time in his life. His dad Ronnie Snr was sent to jail for murder and his mum Maria for tax evasion.
“It was horrendous, I wouldn’t want anyone to go through what I went through,” reveals O’Sullivan. “My dad was a good disciplinarian, but when he went to jail when I was 15 that was a big blow for me. And then when my mum went to jail when I was 19. Once she went to jail I just lost my way.
“I had six years where I kind of just let myself go. I wish I could turn back the clock and not do that. I’ve lost quite a few years through that sort of behaviour, but I had a great time. For the first three or four years I had an amazing time. But then it got to a point when I thought ‘ah, no, this ain’t fun no more’.
“I couldn’t say no and I lost the power to choose whether I wanted to do it or not. It got me, but in the beginning it was all exciting and fun. Then you realise you can’t keeping doing it.”
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O’Sullivan, 46, dazzled at last season’s World Championship in South Yorkshire, dispensing with potting star Judd Trump 18-13 in the final. Followed by a documentary film crew for the entirety of the 17-day tournament, the Rocket didn’t disappoint as he lived up to his star billing.
And with a record 39 ranking titles to his name, the crowd favourite continues to show the world why he is widely regarded as the best player of all time. But O’Sullivan believes talent can only get you so far, and he’s had to battle his addictive behaviour and mental demons to achieve greatness on the green baize.
"Some days you can try everything and it just doesn't happen for you,” he stressed. “I just look at it over a career and think 'have I been on top most of the time?' I like to think that when I get in that gear and that zone, I become quite strong. [My opponents] could not sustain it for longer periods of time so I was able to pull away.
"I play to quite a high level for a lot of the time, which is quite difficult. It is like playing Novak Djokovic at tennis. You might win the first set, nick it 6-4, and you have to give it everything, but then he starts to get into you and you just see them thinking 'I can't deal with this fella'. It is a bit like that: you know you have got them, but it is a matter of time and you have to just go through the process. You can't get too confident or cocky, you have just got to go through it.
"It can be tough. Snooker is a tough sport. You are sitting in your chair and a lot of it is out of your control. A lot of the time you are sitting in your chair and you have to process a lot of this dialogue in your head. There’s a lot of times where you need resilience and determination, but there’s times where I just want to quit. I don’t deal with pressure well, I don’t like the anxiety it brings.
“There’s some players who deal with it well, but I find it really, really hard. But I’m not hard on myself if I don’t do well because I believe in the snooker gods. I believe they’ll take care of me because they always have done for 30 years since I first started.
“When I was younger I was different, I was like an animal. I was like ‘I’m going to win everything and be the best player there is on this planet.' And I thought I’ll do whatever I have to do to get there. Honestly, I checked out in my head eight years ago to be honest – and now I play for fun.
“At this stage of my career I’ve got nothing to prove. There’s not much I can learn about the game now, so now it’s about holding myself back so that I enjoy playing it.”
O’Sullivan is yet to compete in a major event this season and is due to make his debut at the inaugural World Mixed Doubles later this month. But the Rocket has an arm injury and his doubles partner Reanne Evans believes it would be a crying shame if he is forced to pull out of the new competition.
Evans, the 12-time world champion, has been paired with O’Sullivan to compete on September 24 and 25 at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes. However, O’Sullivan has revealed the inaugural Hong Kong Masters, which is being staged early next month, could be his first tournament of the new season.
“I’d be gutted if he couldn’t play,” admits Evans, who has been a fine ambassador for women’s snooker throughout her decorated career. “It’s always great playing with him, it’s an honour and a privilege.
“I’ve always been in awe of him to be honest – and I still am. It’s frightening how good he is, it would be disappointing if I didn’t get to play with him and he didn’t compete in the event. But hopefully his arm improves and he does play, I’ve got my fingers crossed.”
Evans and O’Sullivan have played together on many occasions on the popular Legends tour, but this season’s new World Mixed Doubles event prevents the perfect opportunity to showcase the women’s game on the same level as the men’s game – and live on TV.
“It’s a great platform for myself and other top women’s players to showcase how good we are,” adds Evans, who is relishing performing on ITV. “It’s great there’s been a leap of faith to pair the women with the men. It’s great to get backing from a broadcaster and great all the top men’s players are competing.
“Hopefully it’s a regular tournament and it inspires lots of young girls and women to get involved in snooker.”
Evans, three-time women’s world champion Ng On Yee, current world champ Mink Nutcharut and Rebecca Kenna are the four women competing alongside O’Sullivan, Mark Selby, Judd Trump and Neil Robertson.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change
