Ronnie O'Sullivan does 'not understand' Mark Allen and Jordan Brown behaviour at UK Championship

Published 13/11/2022 at 16:08 GMT

It is fair to say that Ronnie O'Sullivan and Jimmy White have a very clear perspective on hanging out with friends prior to important snooker matches, as the legendary snooker duo made abundantly clear when giving their opinions on Mark Allen and Jordan Brown laughing around a practice table before they faced off against each other at the UK Championship.

'I don't get it!' - O'Sullivan 'doesn't understand' Brown and Allen practising together before match

Ronnie O'Sullivan has told Eurosport that he does "not understand" why Mark Allen and Jordan Brown were chatting and practising together before their match at the UK Championship.

The Rocket was not impressed with the pair, who are very good friends, being so jovial and laughing around the practice table just minutes before locking horns in their first-round encounter.

Allen ended up winning the match 6-4 with two impressive century breaks to secure his progression through to the second round, a few weeks after the Pistol triumphed on home soil at the Northern Ireland Open.

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Snooker legends Jimmy White and O'Sullivan both agreed that "it is your business" and responsibility to focus on the task at hand during a serious tournament, rather than joking with friends before a key match.

"I don't get it, I just don't get it!" O'Sullivan said in the Eurosport studio while watching footage of the pair joking around at the table.

"I mean, listen, maybe I am just different, but I do not want to talk to anyone, I have got no interest.

"This is what it is all about, competition, this is the most important part.

"I do not understand it, I really don't. But listen: everyone is different, you know."

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White added: "When I first turned professional, a close pal of mine still now, Tony Meo, we were really good pals, you know. We would share hotel rooms, we travelled together and we came from the same area.

"Occasionally we played each other, and it is awkward, you know. You are supporting him when he is playing other matches, but not when you are playing each other.

"As Ron says, at the end of the day, it is your business. Whoever is in front of you, you have got to try and annihilate them.

"So I am a bit with Ron there, chatting before the game... me and Tony Meo would sort of avoid each other nicely. We would nod but we would not have a normal conversation.

"You do not want to be giving any pleasantries before a match you want to win.

"Steve Davis, you know, you did not even see him before he played. He would just turn up and play. He was very serious."

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