'Ronnie O’Sullivan can win 10 World Snooker Championships, easy' – Jimmy White on The Rocket

ByNigel Chiu

Updated 10/01/2023 at 08:25 GMT

Masters champion Jimmy White told Eurosport’s Nigel Chiu that Ronnie O’Sullivan “can win 10 World Championships, easy”. O’Sullivan won his seventh world title last year, equalling Stephen Hendry’s record. The Rocket recently stated he is enjoying the game more than ever. Stream the 2023 Masters and more top snooker action live and on-demand on discovery+ and eurosport.co.uk.

Jimmy White believes Ronnie O’Sullivan can win 10 World Championship titles “easily” before his career comes to an end.

O’Sullivan, who plays in the quarter-finals of The Masters on Thursday, won his seventh title at the Crucible last year and also has seven Masters and seven UK Championship crowns.

He is statistically the most successful snooker player in the modern era and regarded as the greatest player of all time.

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“Ronnie can win 10 World Championships, easy,” White told Eurosport.

“We never thought we would see anyone better than Steve Davis, then we never thought we would see anyone better than Stephen Hendry. If we will see someone better than Ronnie O’Sullivan, I don’t know, but he is the greatest ever for me.”

O’Sullivan is part of snooker’s Class of '92, named due to The Rocket, John Higgins and Mark Williams all turning professional in 1992.

Between them, they have won 14 World Championships and have been consistently at, or near, the top of the sport for three decades.

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White feels the improvement in the quality of snooker is down to the aforementioned trio.

“I think the standard has got slightly higher because the players are fitter,” said the 1984 Masters champion. “There's a lot more dedication.

“When I first came on the scene, the idea was to win tournaments and then the easy way to make a living was to travel the world doing exhibitions, demonstrations with no pressure.

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“But what that does is affect your game because you are not playing on proper tables, proper cloth. That scene has now finished.

“Nowadays, the players are more dedicated to play on proper tables, proper cloths, proper conditions. That makes a difference now so everyone is more professional.

“This probably changed in the late 1990s when the Class of '92 came in and were top players. It became much more competitive and about doing the right things to win.”

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Stream the 2023 Masters and more top snooker action live and on-demand on discovery+ and eurosport.co.uk.

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