KEN DOHERTY has revealed he used to beat a 12-year-old Ronnie O’Sullivan every day in practice.
The 1997 world champion played an important role in the Rocket’s snooker development.
Doherty, who is six years older than O’Sullivan, even claims his practice wins still count despite the pair’s ages at the time.
He told the Daily Star: “When he was about 10, his father used to send a taxi for me and I’d go round his house to practice with him and give him tips.
“I always tell everyone I used to beat Ronnie O’Sullivan every day, 10-1, 10-2 – but he was only 12 at the time! It counts in my book. It started becoming a bit more even when he was 15 or 16.
“He was an amazing talent, even back then. I knew when I saw him at 10 years of age that he was going to be something special. He was an amazing prodigy then and he went on to become a genius, the best of all time.”
O’Sullivan has gone on to win seven world titles during an illustrious career.
He could even move clear of Stephen Hendry with the most wins in the modern era by claiming an eighth title at the Crucible this year.
The 48-year-old came through his first round clash with Jackson Page to set up a meeting with Ryan Day.
Things almost got physical during the opening session, though, after O’Sullivan accidentally bumped into Day as he approached the table.
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Doherty’s campaign ended in qualifying, though, as the former world number two failed to earn a place in the main draw.
Instead, the Darlin’ of Dublin was beaten by Hong Kong’s Marco Fu in Sheffield.
RONNIE O'SULLIVAN has enjoyed an incredible career as snooker's biggest star.
But the Rocket’s turbulent past has led to struggles with mental health, addiction and yo-yo weight battles.
O’Sullivan’s parents ran a chain of sex shops in Essex and his father was jailed for 20 years for murder when he was just 16.
In the Amazon documentary The Edge of Everything, the snooker icon admitted his dad going to prison had a profound effect.
He said: “I didn’t want to blame everything on that situation with my dad, but I was thinking, ‘I’d rather not have the snooker. just a normal family’. Because… It was a dream, but looking back, it was a nightmare.”
Just a year later, Ronnie became the youngest ever UK Champion, seven days before his 18th birthday. Then at 19, in 1994, he became the youngest Masters champion.
But he has already begun to binge on drink and drugs and, when his mum was sent to prison for tax evasion, in 1996, he struggled to cope with looking after his eight–year-old sister alone.
Click here to read more about Ronnie’s incredible life…
