O’Sullivan Eyes Greatest Career Achievement by Regaining Form
Ronnie O’Sullivan believes that restoring his snooker performance to its previous level would be the pinnacle of his career. The 50-year-old kicked off the World Open with a commanding 5-1 win over Adam Muir in Yushan.
O’Sullivan will advance to the third round after his next opponent, Ishpreet Singh Chadha, withdrew from the tournament. He built a 3-0 lead before Muir claimed a single frame, but O’Sullivan closed out the match with back-to-back century breaks.
Rebuilding Confidence After Challenging Years
“I arrived a week early to practise on my own,” O’Sullivan said. “I haven’t competed in many tournaments lately, but I’ve been working hard because my game was in a poor state. I decided to attack this now. The last three years have been tough for my confidence, and I want to regain my freedom with the cue.”
He plans to dedicate the next two years to improving his game and prolonging his career. “The way I was cueing before, I couldn’t expect longevity. Now I’m re-coaching myself to return to top form,” O’Sullivan added.
The world number 12 has not won a ranking event since January 2024, when he defeated Judd Trump 10-7 in the World Grand Prix final.
Return to Form Tops Career Goals
O’Sullivan emphasized the importance of regaining his previous level of play. “If I achieve this, it will be my biggest career achievement. Feeling how I did six or seven years ago would surpass all my other victories. Even more than seven World Championships or eight Masters,” he said.
He acknowledged the challenge ahead but remains determined. “I won’t retire just because something didn’t work. I’m committed to returning to my natural playing instinct.”
World Open Round One Highlights
Other notable results in the first round include:
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Defending champion John Higgins defeated Liam Highfield 5-3.
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Judd Trump progressed with a 5-1 win over Mark Lloyd.
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World champion Zhao Xintong hit two century breaks in a 5-0 victory against Han Fuyuan.
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Shaun Murphy edged David Lilley 5-4 in round two.
