Ronnie O'Sullivan reveals why he almost abandoned his snooker dream as a teenager before going on to become the sport's GOAT

React to this story

Ronnie O'Sullivan is set to compete in his first competition on home soil since the World Championship in May when he chases a record-extending ninth title triumph at the 49th UK Championship at the age of 49 in York, live on TNT Sports and discovery+. The snooker GOAT remains the youngest ranking event winner after he stunned Stephen Hendry 10-6 at the age of 17 in Preston's Guild Hall in 1993.

'I've never been driven by records' - O'Sullivan on surpassing Hendry's world titles tally

Video credit: TNT Sports

Ronnie O'Sullivan has revealed he would probably have never become the snooker GOAT if he had listened to his mum.

While his father, Ronnie Snr, was always pushing for him to ditch school for a school of hard knocks on the old green baize, his mum Maria felt he should focus his formative years on getting a proper education.

Excellence in snooker is often viewed as the sign of a misspent youth, but it is difficult to argue the Essex man did not make the right career choice in picking up a cue.

UK Championship

'Looked up to him for years' - UK champion Selby salutes fellow icon and Triple Crown originator

08/12/2025 at 11:19

He memorably first rose to prominence by becoming the youngest player to win a ranking event when he defeated Stephen Hendry 10-6 in the 1993 UK final in Preston and the rest, as they say, is history.

His eighth final victory, a 10-7 win over Ding Junhui in York, saw him become the tournament's oldest winner, two days before he turned 48 in 2023.

At the age of 49, the seven-time world champion will chase a record-extending ninth title triumph live on TNT Sports and discovery+ when he returns to the Barbican in York for the Triple Crown event that runs from November 29 to December 7.

"She [my mum] didn't even want me to play professional snooker or amateur snooker," said O'Sullivan, in an exclusive interview with TNT Sports, which airs on November 25, ahead of the 49th edition of the competition.

"My dad was like, forget school, he's just going to be a snooker player. She was like, hey, you know, he needs an education.

"But my dad was focused, you know, we're going to try and get him to become a pro snooker player."

‘Hendry knew a force had arrived’ – White recalls O’Sullivan’s 1993 UK Championship triumph

Video credit: TNT Sports

O'Sullivan has made a habit out of schooling his opponents at the UK Championship, with another seven glorious victories at the coveted event in 1997, 2001, 2007, 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2023.

But the record 41-time ranking event admits he was still in awe of iconic figures such as Steve Davis and Jimmy White despite his stunning maiden title win over Hendry at Preston's Guild Hall.

"I still had a lot of doubt. I still had a lot of doubt. Even though I'd won that tournament, I still thought, 'Oh, it's a fluke'," he said.

"You know, I think I had a bit of impostor syndrome for quite a while, because I think you just look at Davis and Hendry, your heroes, and Jimmy White and players like that, and you think, 'I've beaten them once, but I could never do it again and again'.

"I just thought it was just a one-off at that time. I thought I'd won that because Stephen played badly.

"You know, in the match before, he made five or six centuries.

"In that match, he didn't really score much. I thought, well, the only reason why I won was because Stephen didn't play like he did in the previous match."

O'Sullivan last competed in the UK when he lost 17-7 to Crucible winner Zhao Xintong in the semi-finals of the World Championship in Sheffield in May amid some struggles with a new cue.

But the Dubai-based world No. 5 is feeling good about returning to York to chase the £250,000 first prize.

Watch O'Sullivan stride out wearing trainers for UK Championship match

Video credit: TNT Sports

"I think the UK Championship is definitely one of my favourite tournaments," he added.

"Obviously, it was the first one that I won. And I've always liked where they've played it, York, great city. I just find it a great tournament, you know?

"It's got that special feeling about it, the history. Steve Davis and Hendry... it was always an important tournament just behind the World Championship.

"So, in many ways, it's got the prestige of the World Championship, but without the intensity of 17 days, you know, it's just a week of playing, but it's still a special, special tournament."