Ronnie O'Sullivan 'not going anywhere' - Jimmy White backs Rocket to keep dominating ahead of Shaun Murphy Masters clash
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Published 12/01/2024 at 20:10 GMT
Ronnie O’Sullivan will take on Shaun Murphy in the semi-finals of the Masters at Alexandra Palace on Saturday afternoon. Jimmy White looked ahead to the clash for Eurosport and feels O'Sullivan has a huge chance in front of his adoring fans. White also expects The Rocket to keep dominating the sport for some time to come. Stream the 2024 Masters live on Eurosport and discovery+.
‘He is playing as good as ever’ - White impressed with O’Sullivan form
Jimmy White feels Ronnie O’Sullivan shows no signs of being on the wane, and expects him to keep performing at the top of the game.
O’Sullivan snapped a winless run in ranking events dating back to the 2022 World Championship when landing his eighth UK Championship in December.
The world No. 1 moved into the semi-finals of the Masters with victory over Barry Hawkins, in a performance that suggested more was in the tank.
He will go into his clash with Shaun Murphy on Saturday afternoon, live on Eurosport and discovery+, as the heavy favourite.
White feels O’Sullivan will have the edge and expects him to keep picking up titles.
“He is playing as good as ever,” White told Eurosport. “He is not going anywhere.
“He is the fittest guy on the tour, he practices as much as anyone. He is not a certainty to win this tournament, but he has a great chance.
“I would always back O'Sullivan.”
White reflected on when he first witnessed the talent the 48-year-old O'Sullivan possessed.
“I had heard bits and pieces and then I’ve seen him play,” White said. “They asked me what I thought and I said ‘he’s a breath of fresh air, just what the game needs’.
“He’s still doing it now at the age he is now.”
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O’Sullivan remains the big draw card in the sport, and White believes snooker benefits from him still being at the top of the tree.
“He is still doing it now,” White said. “Thankfully we still have Ronnie O'Sullivan as snooker needs him.
“No one is ever bigger than the game. You had Alex Higgins before and Ronnie O’Sullivan now.
“You look at Judd Trump now, he’s amazing to watch. All the top players are amazing to watch, they just do it in different styles.”
The Alexandra Palace plays host to the Masters and serves up one of the most vibrant atmospheres in snooker.
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White feels O’Sullivan receives the support he does due to a combination of factors.
"The Conference Centre was where the first Masters was, it is the only tournament in London and that’s why you get these huge crowds and they love it,” White said. “He [O’Sullivan] is from London and that’s why he gets the support, and the way he plays.”
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