Ronnie O'sullivan
Born: December 5, 1975, England
Nicknames: The Rocket, The Essex Exocet. The Magician
Highest Ranking: 1 (3 years) Current Ranking: 8
Early Years
By the age of ten, O'sullivan already scored his first century, completing a maximum break of 147 at the age of 15. O'sullivan turned professional at 16 and at 17 became the youngest player to ever win a ranked event by winning the 1993 UK Championship.
Style
Considered as maybe the most naturally-talented player in the history of the game, O'sullivan temperamental tendencies sometimes cause him to lose interest or confidence.
O'Sullivan is also the only top snooker professionals that he can play with the cue in either his right or left hand — frequently alternating between the two within the same frame. Whilst he lacks power in his left arm, the ambidextrous angle to his game has proved to be a boon, allowing him to more naturally take on shots which would otherwise require awkward cueing with rest or spider.
Professional Career
O'sullivan has already achieved 6 maximum breaks (147 points) and 447 centuries. O'sullivan's personal problems have had some influence on his career, after winning the 1998 Benson & Hedges Irish Masters, he was stripped of his title after a drugs test found marijuana in his system. Under the guidance of the 1970s master player and six times World Champion Ray Reardon O'Sullivan came into top form and claimed the 2004 World Snooker Championship, famously humiliating Stephen Hendry 17-4 in the semi-final with a virtuoso display.
In 2005, O'sullivan failed to defend his world title after loosing in the quarter final to Peter Ebdon 8-2. O'sullivan indicated his intention not to play in the following season and even considered retiring. However, in September 2005 he announced that he would play a truncated 2005/6 season, and spend some time playing eight ball pool in the USA after being chosen to compete on the elite International Pool Tour. It transpired, however, that the IPT pool tournament in which O'Sullivan was to make his debut clashed with the defence of his Premier League Snooker title. Plans were changed accordingly, with the Essex man going on to thrash old rival Stephen Hendry 6-0 with four century breaks. He went on to compete in the Grand Prix, losing 9-2 to an in-form John Higgins in the final, and all other ranking tournaments besides the Malta Open.
In 2006, O'sullivan competed in the 2006 Masters Tournament, advancing to the final where he lost 10-9 to John Higgins. He did compile the highest break of the tournament with 139. In the 2006 Snooker World Championship he lost in the semifinal to Graham Dott after less than convincing performance in the early stages.
Personal Life
O'sullivan's father, Ronnie Sr., is serving a life sentence for the murder of the black bodyguard of Charlie Kray, brother of Kray twins. O'sullivan himself has been said to have suffered from depression and addictions.
O'Sullivan's home club is the Grove Snooker Centre, situated in Romford, East London
Career Highlights
O'sullivan holds the record for the fastest maximum break – 5 Minutes and 20 Seconds made in April 21 1997 while playing against Mick Price in the Snooker World Championship.
Tournaments Won (Ranked)
World Championship: 2001, 2004
UK Championship: 1993, 1997, 2001
British Open: 1994
German Open: 1996
Scottish Open: 1998, 2000
China Open: 1996, 1999, 2000
European Open: 2003
Irish Masters: 2003, 2005
Welsh Open: 2004, 2005
ToteSport Grand Prix: 2004
Other Tournaments (non-ranked)
Benson & Hedges Masters: 1995, 2005
Scottish Masters: 1998, 2000, 2002
Irish Masters: 2001 |
