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Ronnie O'Sullivan says he has 'broken the rules for snooker': 'Can I win a World Championship at 50? Let's experiment'

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Ronnie O'Sullivan says he has "broken the rules for snooker" as he targets a record eighth World Championship title at the age of 48 - and feels he could compete for the Crucible crown in his 50s.

O'Sullivan, speaking to the BBC after thrashing Jackson Page 10-1 in the first round in Sheffield on Thursday afternoon, is currently tied on seven world titles with Stephen Hendry.

The Rocket has won more ranking tournaments than any other player - his tally of 41 is five more than the 36 Hendry achieved.

Image: O'Sullivan will face Ryan Day in the second round of the World Snooker Championship at The Crucible, with that last-16 clash starting on Sunday

O'Sullivan said: "I know the ability is there, it is just finding the right formula sometimes. I have already broken the rules for snooker.

"I am still going at 48, 49 and I am seeing what is possible now. How long can you keep going for? Can I win a World Championship at 50?

"Who knows? I am probably the only player able to do that but let's see, let's have an experiment."

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'I have had the greatest career of any snooker player'

O'Sullivan has won five tournaments already this campaign, picking up his eighth career Masters and UK Championship titles, as well as triumphing at the World Grand Prix, Shanghai Masters and World Masters of Snooker.

He won his first ranking title in 1993, beating Hendry 10-6 in that year's UK Championship final, and currently sits top of the world rankings 32 years on from turning professional.

"To do what I have done in this season, what I have done over a whole career… I have been doing it for 30 years. I have had the greatest career of any snooker player," he added.

"How many people can say they have been the best or most successful in their job ever? I have to really give myself a pat on the back because I don't, I am hard on myself."

Image: O'Sullivan: 'The harder the test, the more I see it as a challenge. I have trained hard all my life and I am mentally tough and ready to play whenever'

O'Sullivan said he had "played terrible for two years" but was now feeling in good touch after linking up with coach Nic Barrow.

"Nobody has achieved what I have achieved on a table statistically. This would be [my best season statistically] but playing-wise, definitely not," he added.

"I played terribly for two years but I know how to win. That is something I am blessed with. I don't lie when I say I am not playing well. A lot of people think I am but I am not a liar. I say what I feel.

"I haven't really cued smoothly but I have started working with Nic Barrow, a coach who knows my game inside out, as I decided I can't coach myself anymore.

"I have felt as good on the practice tables in the last couple of weeks as I have in the last six to seven years.

"I just play. The harder the test the more I see it as a challenge. I have trained hard all my life and I am mentally tough and ready to play whenever."

Image: O'Sullivan says he is playing as well in practice as he has for six or seven years

World Championship a procession for bullish O'Sullivan?

Seven-time World Snooker champion Stephen Hendry, speaking to the BBC:

"This is probably as bullish as I've ever heard Ronnie in an interview about his own achievements and how he sees his standing in the game - and I like it.

"I don't like it when he plays it down about what he's achieved and how good he is. He's the greatest there's ever been. Why not tell everyone he's the greatest there's ever been?

"I think this World Championship could be a procession. It looks like Ronnie is on it and the draw is opening up.

"Two players in his half of the draw who have beaten him this season - Mark Williams and Zhang Anda - are both out. He has Judd Trump possibly in the semi-finals but he hasn't beaten Ronnie since 2020."

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O'Sullivan says if the World Snooker Championship was relocated to Saudi Arabia then he would find the tournament more convenient

O'Sullivan: I could walk away if I don't get what I want

Asked whether there was a chance he could leave the World Snooker Tour (WST) as rumours swirl that Far East backers are considering establishing a breakaway circuit, O'Sullivan added: "Every player has the right to do what they want to do.

"Each sportsman is a business, whether you like it or not and it's just like any other job - if you get a better offer, you're going to go.

"What is a better offer? For some people it might be a reduced schedule, it might be more money.

"Everyone has a different idea of what is right for them and everyone has the right to make that decision for themselves.

Image: O'Sullivan says he could walk away from the World Snooker Tour if he did not feel valued

"I'll go wherever I'm looked after and wherever I feel like I'm valued. For me, I just want to play snooker, I want to have fun, I want to be looked after and pampered. Anyone who wants to pamper me and look after me, I'm your man.

"The bottom line is, you've got to be prepared to walk away. If I didn't get what I want, am I prepared to walk away from the sport? The answer is yes.

"I'm happy with my life. I don't need the financial rewards that snooker has offered me. I'm playing because I want to play but I have a value.

"I'm away from home and my family need looking after. A lot of it is done for them really, so I have to value my time and that's what it's all about."

Second-round draw - Best of 25 frames (seeding number in brackets)

David Gilbert vs (16) Robert Milkins

Stephen Maguire vs (8) Shaun Murphy

Joe O'Connor vs (12) Kyren Wilson

(13) John Higgins vs (4) Mark Allen

(3) Judd Trump vs (14) Tom Ford

Jak Jones vs Si Jiahui

Jack Lisowski vs Stuart Bingham

Ryan Day vs (2) Ronnie O'Sullivan

World Snooker Championship 2024 - second round schedule

Friday April 26

10am

David Gilbert vs Robert Milkins

Jak Jones vs Si Jiahui

2.30pm

Stephen Maguire vs Shaun Murphy

Judd Trump vs Tom Ford

7pm

David Gilbert vs Robert Milkins

Jak Jones vs Si Jiahui

Saturday April 27

10am

Stephen Maguire vs Shaun Murphy

Judd Trump vs Tom Ford

2.30pm

John Higgins vs Mark Allen

Jak Jones vs Si Jiahui

7pm

Joe O'Connor vs Kyren Wilson

Jack Lisowski vs Stuart Bingham

Sunday April 28

10am

Stephen Maguire vs Shaun Murphy

Ryan Day vs Ronnie O'Sullivan

2.30pm

John Higgins vs Mark Allen

Jack Lisowski vs Stuart Bingham

7pm

Joe O'Connor vs Kyren Wilson

Ryan Day vs Ronnie O'Sullivan

Monday April 29

1pm

Joe O'Connor vs Kyren Wilson

Ryan Day v Ronnie O'Sullivan

7pm

John Higgins vs Mark Allen

Jack Lisowski vs Stuart Bingham

Quarter-finals - Tuesday April 30-Wednesday May 1

Semi-finals - Thursday May 2, Friday May 3, Saturday May 4

Final - Sunday May 5 and Monday May 6

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