Welsh open 2014 ronnie osullivan biography
Ronnie O'Sullivan
English snooker player (born )
Ronald Antonio O'SullivanOBE (born 5 Dec ) is an English outdated snooker player.[2] Widely recognised because one of the most noble and accomplished players in fix history, he has won primacy World Snooker Championship seven ancient, a modern-era record he holds jointly with Stephen Hendry. Appease has also won a compose eight Masters titles and spick record eight UK Championship distinctions for a total of 23 Triple Crown titles, the about achieved by any player. Flair holds the record for significance most ranking titles, with 41, and has held the support ranking position multiple times.
After winning amateur titles including rendering IBSF World Under Snooker Aid, O'Sullivan turned professional in , aged He won his gain victory ranking event at the UK Championship aged 17&#;years and &#;days; he remains the youngest actor to win a ranking baptize. He is also the youngest player to win the Poet, having claimed his first label in , aged 19&#;years suffer 69&#;days. Now also noted quandary his longevity in the guide, he is the oldest fighter of all three Triple Crest events, having won his oneseventh world title in , old 46&#;years and &#;days; his 8th UK Championship title in , aged 47&#;years and &#;days; talented his eighth Masters title be bounded by , aged 48&#;years and 40&#;days. As of , he has made a record 32 function in the final stages indicate the World Snooker Championship wrap up the Crucible, surpassing the earlier record of 30 appearances chief by Steve Davis.
O'Sullivan energetic his first competitive century time at age 10 and rule first competitive maximum break combat age He was the foremost player to achieve 1, 100 breaks in professional competition, excellent milestone he reached in tell off which he has since considerable to over 1, centuries. Appease has made the highest publication of officially recognised maximum breaks in professional competition, with 15, and holds the Guinness Earth Record for the fastest ambitious maximum break, compiled in nifty time of 5&#;minutes and 8&#;seconds at the World Championship.
During his career, O'Sullivan has accomplished depression, mood swings, and remedy and alcohol abuse. Known primate a controversial and outspoken representation on the professional tour, closure has been disciplined on various occasions by the World Educated Billiards and Snooker Association expend his behaviour and comments. Improbable his playing career, he scrunch up as a pundit for Eurosport's snooker coverage and has designed crime novels, autobiographies, and natty health and fitness book. Yes features in the miniseries Ronnie O'Sullivan's American Hustle, which shows him competing against pool hustlers in the United States, suggest in the documentary film Ronnie O'Sullivan: The Edge of Everything. He was awarded an OBE in
Career summary
Main article: Salaried snooker career of Ronnie O'Sullivan
O'Sullivan began playing snooker at mediocre 7 and soon became swell noted amateur competitor, winning dominion first club tournament at train 9, making his first ambitious century break at age 10,[3] and winning the British Junior to Championship at age [4] Deed the English Amateur Championship, venerable 15&#;years and 98&#;days, he straightforward his first competitive maximum confute, then the youngest player always to do so in calligraphic recognised tournament.[5] In the harmonized year, he won the IBSF World Under Snooker Championship suffer Junior Pot Black.[6][7]
After turning executive in , aged 16, recognized won 74 of his premier 76 qualifying matches,[8] including a-one record 38 consecutive professional victories.[5] He qualified for the televised stages of the World Espousal, losing 10–7 to Alan McManus on his Crucible debut. Explicit claimed his first ranking reputation later that year, beating Hendry 10–6 in the final decompose the UK Championship seven epoch before his 18th birthday outline become the youngest-ever winner homework a ranking event, a not to be mentioned he still holds.[9] In description following season, he won birth Masters aged 19&#;years and 69&#;days to become the youngest Poet champion.[10]
Between and , O'Sullivan reached three World semi-finals in quaternion years. At the World Patronage, he achieved his first greatest break in professional competition. Compiled in a time of 5 minutes and 8 seconds, keep back remains the fastest competitive utmost break in snooker history, which is listed as a Player World Record.[11][12] He won dominion second UK title later saunter year at the UK Championship.[13] Despite these successes, his life's work also became marred by investigation in the late s. Before the World Championship, he raped an assistant press officer, in behalf of which he received a dangling two-year ban and a £20, fine.[14] After winning the Nation Masters, he was stripped show his title and prize hard cash when a post-match drug evaluation found evidence of cannabis quickwitted his system.[15] O'Sullivan subsequently certain frequent abuse of drugs instruct alcohol in the early duration of his career, which resulted in spells in the Religious house Hospital for rehabilitation.[16]
He reached cap first World final in , where he defeated John Higgins 18–14 to claim his chief World title and reached hand out two in the world rankings.[13] He won his third UK Championship later that year,[17] which helped him attain the earth number one ranking for decency first time in the –03 season.[18] With veteran six-time Sphere Champion Ray Reardon acting thanks to his coach and mentor, recognized won his second World dub in , defeating Graeme Dott 18–8 in the final,[19] rearguard which he held the figure one ranking for the adjacent two seasons.[18] He added cap second Masters title in , ten years after his first.[20] His behaviour became notably fickle in the mids as flair battled clinical depression. During ethics World Championship, he shaved climax head mid-tournament and exhibited what The Independent called a "public emotional disintegration" while losing 11 of the last 14 frames in his quarter-final defeat bite the bullet Peter Ebdon.[21] At the UK Championship, he sat with efficient wet towel draped over cap head during his match conflicting Mark King.[22] Trailing Hendry 4–1 in their best-offrames quarter-final conflict the UK Championship, he by surprise conceded the match during authority sixth frame and left loftiness arena. Hendry was awarded grandeur match 9–1 and O'Sullivan was fined £20, over the incident.[14]
In , O'Sullivan won his position Masters title and his section UK Championship, which was reward first ranking title in approximately three years.[17] He won fillet third World title in , defeating Ali Carter 18–8 addition the final,[23] after which oversight held the world number put the finishing touches to ranking for the next fold up seasons.[18] He added his mercy Masters title in [17] Subsequently two poor seasons that adage him fall out of illustriousness top ten in the universe rankings for the first time,[18] he began working with shrink Steve Peters in [24] Trim resurgent O'Sullivan captured his 4th World title in , defeating Carter 18–11 in the last, after which he paid celebration to Peters' work with him.[25] In the following season, take steps took an extended break proud the professional tour.[24] Despite receipt played only one competitive subject all season, he returned undertake the Crucible for the Cosmos Championship and successfully defended sovereignty World title, defeating Barry Hawkyns 18–12 in the final.[26] Hamper his Masters quarter-final against Severe Walden, he set a contemporary record for the most in order scored without reply in veteran competition, with ,[27] and went on to beat the watch over champion Mark Selby 10–4 employ the final to claim queen fifth Masters title.[28] At authority World Championship, he reached unadorned third consecutive world final, situation he again faced Selby. Undeterred by taking a 10–5 lead, O'Sullivan lost 18–14, his first give in in a world final.[29] Late in , he won consummate fifth UK Championship, beating Judd Trump 10–9 in the in reply. However, he declined to watch over his title the following period and pulled out of honesty UK Championship, citing debilitating insomnia.[30] At the Masters, he ended his th century break birdcage professional competition, surpassing Hendry's draw up for the most career centuries.[31]
O'Sullivan won two consecutive Masters tournaments in and for a classify seven Masters titles. He too won two consecutive UK Championships in and for a copy seven UK titles, attaining smashing total of 19 Triple Envelop titles to surpass Hendry's reach the summit of of During the –18 bout, he won five ranking events.[32] He defeated Neil Robertson 10–4 in the final to add the Players Championship. In integrity last frame of the reservation, he made his 1,th 100 break in professional competition, befitting the first player to scope that milestone.[33] He won tiara 36th ranking title at blue blood the gentry Tour Championship, equalling Hendry's copy and attaining the world circulation one ranking for the lid time since May [34]
At righteousness World Championship, O'Sullivan came come across 14 to 16 behind accumulate the semi-final against Selby reach win 17– He then browbeaten Kyren Wilson 18–8 in high-mindedness final to win his 6th world title. The tournament flecked his 28th consecutive Crucible variety, surpassing Hendry's record of 27 consecutive appearances.[9] He reached ruler 58th ranking final at description Tour Championship, breaking Hendry's top secret of 57 ranking final appearances,[35] but lost 10–4 to Neil Robertson. During the tournament, proceed made his 1,th century gateway in professional competition.[36] He mislaid five consecutive ranking finals clear the –21 season, but ballooned a month title drought rough winning his 38th ranking phone up at the World Grand Prix.[37]
O'Sullivan defeated Trump 18–13 in representation World Championship final to catch his seventh world title, equalling Hendry for the most cosmos titles in the modern era.[38][39] Aged 46&#;years and &#;days, fair enough became the oldest World Gladiator in snooker history, surpassing Reardon, who won his last headline in aged 45&#;years and &#;days.[40] O'Sullivan also surpassed Hendry's measuring tape of 70 Crucible wins, location a new record of [41]
O'Sullivan defeated Marco Fu 6–4 handle win the Hong Kong Poet. The final was played previously an estimated 9, spectators, picture largest audience ever to waiter a snooker match.[42] At illustriousness World Snooker Championship, O'Sullivan sense a record 31st Crucible aspect, surpassing the previous record look upon 30 by Steve Davis.[43] Take steps made his th Crucible 100 break and his 1,th hundred in professional competition during second-round match against Hossein Vafaei.[44] His reached the quarter-final, befitting the first player to struggle in matches at the Crucible,[45] but lost 10–13 to expected winner Luca Brecel.[46]
At the invitational Shanghai Masters, O'Sullivan defeated Brecel 11–9 in the final infer claim his fourth consecutive, professor fifth total, Shanghai Masters phone up, extending his winning streak presume the tournament to 18 matches since [47] He won record-extending eighth titles at both nobility UK Championship and the Poet, respectively defeating Ding Junhui sit Ali Carter 10–7 in honesty finals. This extended his lean number of ranking titles cork 40 and Triple Crown distinctions to Aged 47&#;years and &#;days when he won the UK Championship, and 48&#;years and 40&#;days when he won the Poet, he became the oldest maintain of all three Triple Maximum events.[48] He also became before the youngest and oldest victor of both the UK Backup and the Masters.[49][50] He won his 41st ranking title press-gang the World Grand Prix smash a 10–7 victory over Trumpet in the final,[51] and went on to win the invitational World Masters of Snooker, leadership first professional snooker tournament reserved in Saudi Arabia, defeating Brecel 5–2 in the final.[52] Unquestionable signed a three-year ambassadorial parcel out with Saudi Arabia, which depends upon him to play in go to the bottom World Snooker Tour events ostentation in that country, to corrupt a snooker academy in righteousness Middle East, and to grant to the development of dignity sport in the region.[53] At the same height the Shanghai Masters, O'Sullivan gone 3–10 to Trump in justness semi-finals, his first defeat suffer the tournament since , make something stand out 20 consecutive match wins.[54]
O'Sullivan's mess up career highlights include three Pretend Grand Prix titles, two Discard Championship titles, four Welsh Manage titles, two Scottish Open laurels, two German Masters titles, two Irish Masters titles, two Wife buddy Open titles, two Champions Beaker titles, ten Premier League laurels, four Champion of Champions distinctions, three Scottish Masters titles, avoid five Shanghai Masters titles.[17]
Playing style
Known for his fast and vile style of play, O'Sullivan gained the nickname "The Rocket" subsequently winning a best-of-nine frame equivalent in a record 43 transactions during his debut season kind a professional.[55] A prolific get out builder and great tactical competitor, he has stated his contempt for long, drawn-out games, locution that they harm the sport of snooker.[56] O'Sullivan is equipoised, as he is right-handed nevertheless can play to a lanky standard with his left vitality and routinely alternates when wanted, enabling him to attempt shots with his left hand renounce would otherwise require a succeed .[57] When he first displayed this left-handed ability in class World Championship against Alain Robidoux, the Canadian accused him make acquainted disrespect and refused to sway hands after the match.[14][58]
Status
O'Sullivan give something the onceover highly regarded in snooker, staunch several of his peers about him as the greatest actor ever,[59][60][61][62][63] and some labelling him a "genius".[64][65] After losing 17–6 to O'Sullivan in the Artificial Championship semi-final, Hendry described him as "the best player be thankful for the world by a declare mile".[66] In , Hendry concerted that there was no someone any question as to willy-nilly O'Sullivan was the greatest difficulty player of all time, further calling him an "artist".[67] Nevertheless, O'Sullivan himself has dismissed rectitude suggestion that he is interpretation greatest player and has resolved Hendry as the greatest finish to his domination of snooker.[68]
One of the most popular choose on the circuit,[69] he evolution noted for being a "showman",[70] and is credited with dollop improve the image of predicament with the general public.[64][71] Yes has often been compared proper Alex Higgins and Jimmy Ivory for his natural talent other popularity.[57] In December , O'Sullivan was nominated for the BBC's Sports Personality of the Gathering Award, becoming the first squeeze player to receive a prison term since Hendry in [72][73] Powder was nominated for a in a short while time in December [73]
However, O'Sullivan sometimes lacks confidence or interest,[74] and has performed inconsistently all over his career,[75] with observers note the "two Ronnies" aspect disagree with his character.[76][77]
Other sportsmen have direct praised O'Sullivan with tennis participant, Novak Djokovic saying: "I look at snooker because of Ronnie O'Sullivan".[78]
Criticisms of snooker
After Barry Hearn took charge of World Snooker gratify , O'Sullivan became a song critic of how Hearn reconfigured the professional tour. He took issue with increased travel prosperity, flat draws that required engrave professionals to play more guard against lower-ranked opponents, reduced like money for maximum breaks, squeeze tournament venues he saw since inadequate. He accused snooker's greatest body WPBSA of bullying esoteric intimidating him, claimed that Hearn was running a "dictatorship",[79] protested alleged mistreatment by snooker's ministry by giving robotic or monosyllabic responses in interviews,[80] and refused opportunities to make maximum breaks in apparent protest over skimpy prize money for the achievement.[81] In , he threatened accede to form a breakaway snooker voyage akin to the split attach darts.[82]
During the World Championship, O'Sullivan publicly criticised the standard translate new players coming into box, stating that he would own to "lose an arm standing a leg to fall slide down of the top 50".[83] Illegal was also critical of high-mindedness tournament organisers' decision to abide fans into the final lasting the COVID pandemic.[84]
In , O'Sullivan claimed on a podcast press conference that most snooker players difficult to understand wasted their lives. He styled snooker a "bad sport" ensure can cause "a lot scholarship damage", suggesting that the asocial nature of solitary practice livestock a darkened environment can exploit players' personal development. He avowed that he would not strengthen his own children if they chose to become snooker band, and said that if proceed could live his sporting duration over again, he would cultivate golf or Formula One instead.[85]
Other endeavours
Broadcasting
Eurosport signed an exclusive arrangement with O'Sullivan in March damage make him its global delegate for snooker, with the object of driving its international appeal.[86] As part of this arrangement, O'Sullivan created a special stalemate series for the network denominated The Ronnie O'Sullivan Show, which included his insights into representation game, interviews with other veteran players, and playing tips. No problem also wrote for Yahoo! websites and mobile apps during high-mindedness World Championship.[87] He frequently appears as a pundit on Eurosport's snooker coverage, alongside Jimmy Pallid and Neal Foulds.[citation needed]
In become more intense , O'Sullivan co-hosted the Midweek Matchzone show with Chris Corner on Brentwood radio station Constellation FM.[88] In , he asterisked in miniseries Ronnie O'Sullivan's Denizen Hustle with broadcasting friend Unrealistic a low shoes Smith, in which the pits toured different cities in decency United States learning the commit of pool hustling.[89]
Author
O'Sullivan has foreordained three crime novels in partnership with author Emlyn Rees:[90]Framed (),[91]Double Kiss (),[92] and The Break (). Although the novels peal not autobiographical, they are wildly based on his early diary and family life.[91] He has also written two autobiographies. Culminate first, Ronnie: The Autobiography remark Ronnie O'Sullivan, was published grip ; and his second, Running: The Autobiography, was published meet [93] He has also co-authored a health and fitness volume with nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert favoured Top of Your Game: Dangerous for Mind and Body. Promulgated in , it contains fine fettle recipes and advice for "living better, eating healthier and uptake your brain to enhance your performance".[94]
Video games
O'Sullivan has been byzantine with several video games, counting Virtual Snooker on DOS humbling Windows in , PlayStation professor Xbox game World Snooker Espousal in , and Ronnie O'Sullivan's Snooker for PlayStation Light in [95]
Documentary film
Main article: Ronnie O'Sullivan: The Edge of Everything
A documentary film titled Ronnie O'Sullivan: The Edge of Everything was produced by David Beckham's manufacture company Studio 99, directed in and out of filmmaker Sam Blair, and put in an appearance by MetFilms.[96] The film premiered in London on 21 Nov , and was released perpendicular Amazon Prime Video on 23 November. It highlighted the difficulties or suffering he faced as a glossed at the highest level scholarship snooker, as well as provide evidence his personal life had compact his career.[97]
Snooker course
In October , O'Sullivan launched an online difficulty course entitled The Rocket Technique, where he provides in-depth guidance on the game for orderly subscription fee.[98] Assisted by Alan McManus, the course contains 12 episodes, each an hour assume length, of which the encouragement batch of episodes was floating in March [99] The path has a cinematic production gift was directed by Oscar-nominated supervisor Gregg Helvey, and episodes recognize the value of available in English and Apparatchik Chinese.[99]
Personal life
O'Sullivan was born inform on 5 December in Wordsley, Westmost Midlands,[][74][] the son of Ronald John and Maria (née Catalano) O'Sullivan, who ran a case of sex shops in nobleness Soho area of London.[] Coronet mother is originally from Sicilia, and O'Sullivan spent childhood holidays in the village near Town where she grew up.[] Subside was brought up in loftiness Manor Road area of Chigwell, Essex, where he lived extend some years.[][] As of add up to, he lived in the increase area of Chingford and Woodford Green.[][] Later that year, do something was reported to have uncomprehending up residency in Hong Kong under the Quality Migrant Crowd Scheme.[] He is a important cousin of snooker player Part Catalano, who has been compact number one in the women's game.[] In his father was sentenced to life in dungeon for murder and was movable in after serving 18 years.[] His mother was sentenced have an effect on a year in prison plump for tax evasion in , departure O'Sullivan to care for dominion eight-year-old sister Danielle.[] In closure was banned from driving pointless a year and fined £1,, as he returned from dignity International Open, in Bournemouth, subsequently defeat in the last []
O'Sullivan has three children: a lassie named Taylor-Ann (born ) distance from a two-year relationship with Go out Magnus,[] as well as marvellous son and a daughter suffer the loss of a relationship with Jo Astronomer, whom he met at Narcotics Anonymous.[][] He became a old stager in October after Taylor-Ann gave birth to a daughter.[] Loosen up began dating actress Laila Rouass in , and became pledged to her in [] Rouass announced on social media play a part February that they had finished their ten-year relationship.[] The combine later reconciled,[] but in Sep were reported to have pure up again.[]
He is known footing his perfectionism and for proforma highly self-critical,[][] even in victory.[][] Early in his career, take steps was treated for drug-related issues and bouts of depression.[] Owing to , psychiatrist and sports psychoanalyst Steve Peters, a close friend,[][] has helped him overcome cap mood swings.[][] He is extremely a close friend of organizer Damien Hirst.[] Noted for time again declaring his intention to retire,[] O'Sullivan took an extended get around from the professional snooker expedition during the –13 season, past which he worked on precise pig farm for several weeks.[] He enjoys running,[] and has achieved a personal best mimic 34 minutes and 54 doubles for 10&#;km races, which rank him in the top 1, 10&#;km runners in the UK in [] He enjoys cooking,[] and appeared on the BBC's Saturday Kitchen in December nearby February [] He also enjoys motor racing, and has comed on series 4 of Top Gear.[][] He is a partisan of Arsenal FC.[]
Despite a self-professed interest in Islam, O'Sullivan denied media reports that said noteworthy had converted to the faith in [][][][] He has besides espoused an interest in Buddhism,[] having spent many lunchtimes be suspicious of the London Buddhist Centre be of advantage to Bethnal Green. He has thought he does not have trig firm commitment to any religion.[]
O'Sullivan was made an OBE be glad about the New Year Honours register in , for services border on snooker.[][]
O'Sullivan has been a fan of the Labour Party.[][] However in June , he ex officio Faiza Shaheen, the independent nominee for Chingford and Woodford In the springtime of li, in the General Election.[][]
In June he was the guest work BBC Radio 4's Desert Isle Discs. An extended version mislay the programme was broadcast reaction October His book choice was Running with the Kenyans unhelpful Adharanand Finn, his luxury try to be like was a painting set pointer his favourite disc was "That's All" by Genesis.[]
On 31 Oct , O'Sullivan obtained Hong Kong residency under the Quality Itinerant Admission Scheme.[]