Ronnie O'Sullivan quotes as snooker GOAT – Death, retirement, politics, religion, stinky venues and 'numpties'
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ByEurosport
Updated 20/09/2023 at 07:15 GMT
Ronnie O'Sullivan rather grimly claimed he was "preparing for death" after lifting the Shanghai Masters trophy for a record fifth time on Sunday with an 11-9 win over world champion Luca Brecel. It is the latest subject the snooker GOAT has covered during an endless treasure trove of quotes that has seen him speak out on politics, religion and facing "numpties" during 31 golden years at the top.
Watch O'Sullivan lift the Shanghai Masters trophy
Life on a snooker bed before his death bed.
The sporting raconteur that is Ronnie O'Sullivan added another contentious subject to his ongoing ream of celebrated opinion spanning an astonishing four decades when he revealed he was "preparing for death" after winning the Shanghai Masters for a record fifth time on Sunday with a thrilling 11-9 win over world champion Luca Brecel.
"I'm not really bothered about trophies," he told reporters, with a timely sense of theatrical macabre. "I've sold quite a few of them – I don't want any memorabilia left by the time I'm 70 or 80. I'm preparing for death – part of that is I don't want no snooker stuff – waistcoats, cues. It's all going to go."
We pick out another 15 memorable quotes from the life and times of the snooker GOAT, seven-time world champion and world No. 1 since he began his gilded career in 1992.
Of course, we could have opted for plenty more, but had to call a halt at 15. Especially when Rocket Ronnie seems to wheel out a quote discussing impending retirement every few months. Apparently since time began.
We recall a few a more of our favourites from the past 31 years of O'Sullivan's incomparable USP of box-office soundbites.
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Ronnie O'Sullivan | Shanghai Masters
Image credit: Getty Images
1. On winning first of seven world titles (2001)
"I can't describe just how good the feeling is, but it makes all the tough days seem a million miles away. It is a special moment for me and the whole family. They know how much it means to me because snooker is in my blood."
2. On being snooker GOAT (2020)
“I think every guy deserves to know what it feels like to have a 10-inch ****. I’ve probably had that feeling for quite a long time now. I think I’ve been fortunate in that area to experience that. When I’m buzzing on the snooker table, the sensation feels amazing. By playing snooker, I feel like I’m the king of my castle."
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Watch the moment O'Sullivan wins Shanghai Masters
3. On retiring from the sport (2012)
"There's a lot of pressure involved in being a professional sportsman, and I'm not sure I want to be sitting here another 10 years deluding myself. Some of these players I've played, they're so aggressive and you need to be on your game. That's a lot of pressure. And managing your own expectations and the expectations of everybody else is difficult. I've done my best, that's all I can do. Sometimes, you've just got to live life a little bit. Maybe I'll do a bit of Strictly Come Dancing or something like that?"
4. On retiring from the sport (2013)
"I've realised I don't miss snooker, but I needed a bit of money. I'll be honest, I still owe the school money for my children's school fees, I haven't paid the last two or three terms. I didn't know what was going to happen here, but I've made a little bit of money now so I can go and pay the school fees now for the next two years. But really, I don't think snooker is for me. This could be my last proper major event."
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5. On working as a farm labourer (2013)
"The farm has got sheep, pigs, cows, goats, chickens, horses – and I've been getting the green wellies on. I've been cleaning out stables and pig sties, taking down fences, putting rubbish into barrels and clearing mud. It has been mainly manual work, also getting big bales of hay in to feed the animals. I was getting so bored I had to do something, and needed a goal to get out of bed in the morning. I didn't want stress, as that was what was made me pull out of snooker, so I decided to go and do something unpaid."
6. On political support for Labour (2017)
"Jeremy Corbyn is a man of his word. He is unwavering in his beliefs, whether he is criticised for them or not. I'd like to be his friend."
7. On defining sporting greatness (2022)
"Sometimes this word greatness gets bandied around so easily. So if they start calling certain golfers a great golfer, then they need to invent a new word for Tiger Woods. And if they start saying certain snooker players are great snooker players, then they need to invent a new word for Stephen Hendry, Steve Davis and probably myself."
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8. On new generation of snooker players (2020)
"If you look at the younger players coming through, they’re not that good really. Most of them they’d probably do well as half-decent amateurs, not even amateurs they’re so bad. A lot of them you see now, you think ‘I’d probably have to lose an arm and a leg to fall outside the top 50'. So that’s really why we’re still hovering around because of just how poor it is."
9. On lack of rewards for making a 147 (2016)
"I knew it was £10,000. I could have done it, but I didn't think the prize was worthy of a 147. and then go for it. It's like going into a Mercedes garage and when they say that you can have the car for £3,000, you reply, 'No way, that's too cheap. I'm not buying it for that'. Certain things have value, and a 147 is a special moment. I want it to feel special all round."
10. On playing English Open at K2 Leisure Centre in Crawley (2018)
"It's such a bad venue, it demotivates you to want to play. This is about as bad as I've ever seen. It's a bit of a hellhole. Nobody wants to be subject to smelling urine. Maybe about 30 seconds when you are in the toilet. That is what toilets are for. .”
11. On playing English Open at K2 Leisure Centre in Crawley (2019)
"I've just gone from a match table, to a squash court to a toilet, where the players' office is, from the toilet to walk around the outside of the building through the heavy rain to come here and talk to [the media]. I'll probably end up with a bit of pneumonia on top of the cold I've already got."
12. On playing Tour Championship at Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes (2021)
"I am delighted I am not back there for sure for the rest of this season. And I just don’t know about next season. Who does know? I suppose Barry Hearn might have an idea. Maybe he has done a job lot deal and will stage snooker, darts, pool, ping pong and fishing all there at once. You’d have to build a lake for the fishing, maybe they’ll stick a little lake out there in the car park. But let’s hope not."
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13. On winning Players Championship (2018)
"I'm absolutely delighted because it's a great tournament – top 16, no numpties, so it has a bit of quality. At some of the other tournaments, it's like being in the zoo, but this is pretty nice. It's like first-class."
14. On children following in his footsteps (2020)
"I wouldn't encourage my son to play snooker. I would say take football up, or play golf, or play tennis, or Formula 1. Get involved in an industry where there's a lot of glamour. I've already told both my children 'don't you dare go into snooker'. It's bad for your health. Become a lawyer or an accountant or whatever, try and produce the next Amazon company, a bit more exciting than potting balls in some leisure centre."
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15. On religious matters (2003)
"There has been some confusion recently. I am not a Muslim. However, I am privileged with the friendship of Muslims who have been there for me and I value as true friends. Yes, I'm interested in Islam, but I'm also interested in Buddhism and Christianity. Perhaps I've been naive and given people the wrong impression, and if I have I'm sorry."
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