STEVE DAVIS would not bet against Ronnie O’Sullivan winning a record-extending ninth UK Championship, warning: “Write off the Rocket at your peril.”
Defending champion O’Sullivan, 48, tackles Barry Hawkins on Saturday afternoon in the opening session of the nine-day Triple Crown in York.
His last match was a 4-3 defeat to Xiao Guodong at the Champion of Champions in Bolton after being 3-0 up and cruising.
In seven tournament appearances this year – since losing in the Crucible quarter-finals to Stuart Bingham – the seven-time world champion has only made TWO semi-finals.
Some might wonder if O’Sullivan, with a flick of extra grey hair these days, is on the slide in his 33rd year as a professional.
But his form is deceptive because big-money events, like the £250,000 Gold Ball showdown in Saudi Arabia, get his juices flowing and he seems to perform better.
Six-time UK champion Davis, 67, told SunSport: “Ronnie is still very good at getting ready for the bigger events.
“Maybe it’s the bigger events that spur him on more than ever before now.
“He has been at the top of the game longer than me and Stephen Hendry were – together! If you added our years up, he has been there longer than us.
“I don’t think me or Stephen are qualified to talk about what it’s like to have played the game at the top of the tree as long as he has. And how that must play with your levels of enthusiasm.
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“I think it’s wonderful that he’s still playing top-class snooker. He could very easily be forgiven for jacking it in and saying I’m bored with it.
“The fact he keeps getting ready for events is incredible. It shows how much he loves the game and he enjoys the thrill – even though sometimes he might not say that.”
O’Sullivan – who beat Ding Junhui in the 2023 final – has won 41 ranking titles since 1992 and Davis said: “It doesn’t matter if he wins another major. His position in the game is right there at the top.
“I still think he has majors in him. I don’t think I’ve seen anybody more likely to be able to win events – not just compete in them – into their 50s.
“He keeps himself very fit and is pushing the tide back wonderfully. It will never be a surprise if he wins. Maybe when he’s 55 it will be.
“Anybody that decides to bet against Ronnie O’Sullivan can look very foolish at the end of the day when he absolutely flies and makes the game look like the genius he is.
“We are not at the stage where you can say he’s over-the-hill. Nowhere near that.
“He can still totally outplay somebody on the day. If the stars align, he’s easily capable of winning the UK.”
China’s Zhao Xintong – playing in his first major event since serving a 20-month corruption ban – plays former world champion Shaun Murphy in the other match tomorrow afternoon.
In the evening session, which starts at 7pm, Ding takes on Robert Milkins while qualifier David Gilbert is up against Guodong.
FROM his lightning breaks to blasts at officials, Ronnie O'Sullivan has fired snooker into the spotlight.
The seven-time world champion makes almost as big an impact away from the table as on it.
O’Sullivan has three children – two daughters and a son.
And the Rocket’s on-off relationship with British actress Laila Rouass has also hit the headlines.
He has opened up on battles with his weight and addiction.
While the controversial cueist reckons he wasted NINE YEARS of his career by partying too hard.
Despite being worth £14million, O’Sullivan is renowned for his love of canal boats and snubbing flashy cars.
His rivalry with fellow star Judd Trump has been branded ‘snooker’s greatest feud’.
And Ali Carter had his nose knocked out of joint by the Rocket in their infamous ‘Snotgate’ row.
Check out all our latest Ronnie O’Sullivan articles.
