Ronnie O'Sullivan confirms change of brand of cue for World Snooker Championship at The Crucible after beating Ali Carter in first round
Published 23/04/2025 at 17:40 GMT+1
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Ronnie O'Sullivan returned to action at the World Championship at The Crucible after months out of action and beat Ali Carter in the first round. He arrived in Sheffield armed with a new piece of wood, and the seven-time world champion told TNT Sports he had switched brands. Watch and stream the World Championship live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Highlights as O'Sullivan beats Carter in first round
Video credit: TNT Sports
Ronnie O’Sullivan has confirmed he has changed his brand of cue for the 2025 World Snooker Championship.
Much has been made of O’Sullivan using a new cue after his previous piece of wood ended up in pieces in a bin in Leicester.
O’Sullivan smashed his old cue, which he had been using since the early 2010s, at the Championship League in January.
The seven-time world champion stepped away from the tour for over four months, but returned to The Crucible with a new cue in hand and beat Ali Carter 10-4 in the first round.
O'Sullivan has played with John Parris cues for the majority of his career, but has shifted to a Tom Praram model.
Cue and owner were not in total harmony in the first round at The Crucible; O’Sullivan said after the first session against Carter that "I've had four years of it to be honest, hitting the ball all over the place".
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O'Sullivan pounces on Carter error to extend lead
Video credit: TNT Sports
The second session was far more polished, as he won all five frames - three of which came courtesy of centuries - to wrap up a commanding success.
It appears another cue is coming down the line from Parris, but O’Sullivan is broadly happy with his new piece of equipment.
"I have tried a lot of cues," O’Sullivan told TNT Sports. "I have used John Parris all my life, he’s been great for me, but trying to find the right one has been tough.
"I think about 15 years ago I had to use another cue, Hunt and O’Byrne I think it was; John was not too pleased.
"I am having to use another brand at the moment, so I am sure John is not too pleased. He is getting some cues ready for me, but this cue has been nice.
"Ton Praram, thank you very much for giving me something I think I can play with."
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O’Sullivan has been resistant to change in certain areas of the game, he still uses the old style of chalk, but he confirmed he has moved into the modern era of cues - not necessarily for the better.
"It has all the bits and pieces, "O’Sullivan said. "It has a titanium ferrule. They say it does not throw off, but whenever I hit it it does, so that has gone out of the window."
Up next for O'Sullivan is a meeting with Pang Junxu in round two - which will be live on TNT Sports and discovery+ starting on Saturday.
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O'Sullivan makes century in 13th frame to sweep mini-session
Video credit: TNT Sports
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