Ronnie O'Sullivan on being snooker's Lionel Messi, Roger Federer and Tiger Woods after Xi'an Grand Prix masterclass - 'Happy to be that guy'
Published 08/10/2025 at 18:07 GMT+1
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Ronnie O'Sullivan's appearances on the snooker tour are fewer and further between than when he established himself as a dominant force in the sport, but on the evidence of his performances so far this season, they are worth waiting for. He beat Yao Pengcheng to make the last 32 of the Xi'an Grand Prix, and later noted the similarities between himself, Lionel Messi, Tiger Woods and Roger Federer.
O’Sullivan: If I can bring people enjoyment like Tiger, Federer, or Messi, I’m happy
Video credit: TNT Sports
Ronnie O'Sullivan says he is happy to still be giving enjoyment to snooker fans in the same way superstars Lionel Messi, Roger Federer and Tiger Woods did in their sports.
O'Sullivan has struggled with a turbulent few years on the snooker tour, openly stating his lack of unhappiness in playing tournaments, and missed the bulk of the 2024/25 season with 'medical reasons' typically cited for his absences.
The seven-time world champion returned to action for the first time since mid-August at this week's Xi'an Grand Prix and has not disappointed his devout following with some impressive cueing -whitewashing Iulian Boiko in his first match and then defeating Yao Pengcheng 5-1 on Tuesday.
O'Sullivan lauded the great support he has garnered from across the globe.
"I’ve been playing for 33 years now on the main tour. For any snooker fan around the world I’m always going to have a good support because of how I’ve played over the years," O'Sullivan said.
"I’m really grateful for that. I feel like that’s probably been the best thing about my career. I obviously play the game the way people like to watch it; they want to be entertained and want to go away watching something feeling, 'I got something from that.'
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"If it makes them feel good about themselves, then I feel good. Maybe it’s a bit like when Tiger Woods used to play golf, when Federer played tennis, Messi plays football, people seem to get great enjoyment from it. I’m happy to be that guy."
O'Sullivan's struggles in the 2024/25 season were well documented. Widely-regarded as the snooker GOAT, he seemed out of sorts at the baize and delivered some uncompromising interviews after early tournament exits.
But his performances so far this season have been wholly more positive. At the Saudi Arabia Masters two months ago, he sunk two maximum breaks in a single match, and, working within a revised, more concise schedule this campaign, seems to be bringing out the best in his game.
That has been evident so far in Xi'an, with a whitewash win against Boiko before dispatching Yao.
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O'Sullivan feels his ball-striking has not been this strong for over a decade.
"I feel like I’m cueing as well as I have done since probably 2012," he said. "The last time I hit the ball this well was probably that long ago.
"I played well in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 but the last three years was pretty awful. I know I had some wins but [I was] really struggling with ball-striking. At the moment, I feel like I’m hitting the ball so pure, so clean.
"In practice I feel like I’m hitting it so well I kind of get a bit bored because I think what’s the point of playing? I’m just hitting it so good. It’s a nice feeling to have total control over what I’m doing and feel like I have a lot of confidence inside me.
"I’ve just got to try and convert it into a few victories but I’ll take this cueing well and maybe quarters, semi-final, if I get a win, great.
"I’d much rather feel how I’m feeling now and be competing, maybe not win tournaments than feeling awful and winning tournaments."
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On when he began to feel the improvements, O'Sullivan added: "I was in Dubai, May, June, tried a couple different things and I just found I was getting where I needed to be on the ball.
"It started to feel quite easy again. I’ve had to tweak a couple things along the way, but all my shots feel like they’re coming back. I feel like I’m capable of playing any shot I need to play."
The Rocket, however, has noted difficulties in Xi'an thus far, with the conditions among the toughest he has ever played in.
"The conditions were so hard," he said. "Probably the hardest conditions I’ve ever had to play. The balls won’t open up, you can’t screw back.
"The white runs on forever, cushions are bouncing. That’s tough. If they [organisers] want to see some good snooker this week, I’d suggest they change the cloth everyday, because it’s so damp and virtually impossible to move the white around and open the balls up."
O'Sullivan faces Stephen Maguire in the second round on Wednesday.
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Watch and stream top snooker action, including the Xi’an Grand Prix, live and on demand on TNT Sports and discovery+
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