2 weeks ago
10
A FORMER snooker world champion has serious fears over Ronnie O’Sullivan.
O’Sullivan has had an incredibly underwhelming 2024/25 by his ‘Rocket’ high standards.
GETTY
GETTY
PA
BBCThe snooker icon has failed to progress past the last 16 in his last FOUR tournaments.
Judd Trump, on the other hand, has been firing on all cylinders and picking up gongs galore.
And Dennis Taylor reckons O’Sullivan could end up getting Trumped by Judd in years to come.
He told The Daily Express: “There’s a possibility that [Trump] could do that [set a new ranking title record].
“but there’s an awful lot of players standing in his way and the level is getting higher all of the time.
“With the way he plays the game and his break building, he can go on to maybe beat that record, it would be some record.”
Taylor, however, isn’t writing off O’Sullivan’s chances of rediscovering his form of old and adding to his already rock-solid legacy.
The 1975 world champion said: “But then again, Ronnie is not finished yet.
'Smoking too much weed and bulk-buying too much Smirnoff' - Inside Ronnie O'Sullivan's yo-yo health battle
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN’S snooker career almost went up in smoke after buying “too much weed and Smirnoff.”
Ronnie has long linked his performances on the baize with the ups and down in his diet and exercise regime.
The Rocket he has suffered a lifetime of yo-yoing weight, addiction and mental health struggles, and an often unhealthy relationship with food and fitness.
O’Sullivan ballooned to 16st on vodka and takeaways as a troubled teen, while “puffing like a maniac”.
Then, after turning his life around, he even saw his form decline after doing to TOO MUCH exercise.
Now right back to his best, the seven-time world champion has opened up on his struggles.
“He’s struggling quite a bit, Ronnie, maybe away from the table he’s not fully focused on the game.
“I’m not sure if he is putting the practice in, he’s always done that, Ronnie.
“And you don’t get the results he gets without putting the practice in, but there’s a little ingredient missing at the moment.”
Trump’s latest trophy haul came last weekend when he claimed his second UK Championship with a 10-8 win over Barry Hawkins.
And he was quick to shrug off comparisons to O’Sullivan, saying: “I’m not comparing myself to Ronnie.
“I already set the record winning six events in a season and that’s very special to me.
Getty“I think the only thing bigger than that would be to win all three triple crowns in a season.
“In terms of how hard it is to win six events, I’d put that up there as extremely difficult because no-one else has done it.
“It’s different for me. I’m in the hardest era of all time by a mile.
“I’m always going to be compared to Ronnie and others, but I think the time has changed.
“I think it’s even harder now to win a triple crown.”
Bengali (BD) · 
English (US) ·