Ronnie O'Sullivan reveals the sports stars he loves to watch, from athletes and tennis stars to darts 'phenomenon'
Updated 07/04/2025 at 16:56 GMT+1
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Ronnie O'Sullivan has lit up the world of snooker for the best part of four decades, building a deserved reputation as one of the most watchable sports stars around. Away from his own sport, 'The Rocket' has revealed who he enjoys watching the most. Among them is an "incredible phenomenon" from the world of darts, as well as athletes and tennis stars.
O’Sullivan names the three sports stars he loves to watch
Video credit: TNT Sports
Ronnie O’Sullivan has revealed the sports stars he loves to watch in action, including an "incredible phenomenon" and an Olympic middle-distance runner.
O’Sullivan's participation in the World Snooker Championship - live on TNT Sports and discovery+ from April 19 to May 5 - is still unclear.
'The Rocket' has only played sparingly this season and is yet to compete at a ranking event in 2025.
During his time away from the table, he has been enjoying watching other sports stars in action - and has picked out three who have impressed him over recent times.
"Luke Littler is an incredible phenomenon," O’Sullivan told TNT Sports.
"I love watching him play, he makes darts really exciting.
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"Usain Bolt, every time he got into action I’d switch on to watch, and Jakob Ingebrigtsen, obviously being a keen runner, I appreciate what he does in his sport.
"They are the guys doing the business."
Littler, 18, has enjoyed a stunning rise to become the No. 2-ranked darts player in the world. Earlier this year, he won his first world title.
Bolt is one of the greatest sprinters of all time and holds the world records in the 100m and 200m.
Ingebrigtsen is a two-time Olympic gold medallist who is the world-record holder 3000m.
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Luke Littler
Image credit: Getty Images
O’Sullivan, who has previously expressed his love for running, also revealed that he keeps his eye across several other sports.
"I think my favourite sport is motor racing, touring cars, Formula One, any car racing," he said.
"I enjoy watching boxing, tennis with [Novak] Djokovic - used to be [Roger] Federer and [Rafael] Nadal as well - and there’s some good young talent coming through like [Carlos] Alcaraz and [Jannik] Sinner, they are good to watch. I am quite keen on those sports."
'I don't have any expectations'
O'Sullivan, speaking last week, admitted he still has not decided whether he will play at the World Championship at the Crucible.
In his long professional career that goes back more than three decades, he has never been absent from the biggest event of them all in Sheffield.
O'Sullivan hardly played at all in the 2012/13 season but famously came back to win that year's world title.
Sitting down recently with TNT Sports, O'Sullivan revealed his thought processes around a potential comeback.
"I don't have any expectations of what I might do or might not do when I come back," he said.
"It's just one of them. Once you start, you just build momentum, and sometimes you have to be patient with it.
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Video credit: TNT Sports
"At some point it's just getting back in there, I suppose, that's the most important thing."
He added: "I've still played eight tournaments this year.
"I've just taken large chunks of time out for various reasons. I feel alright, I feel okay."
Watch and stream top snooker action, including the World Championship, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+
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