Ronnie O'Sullivan reveals 'under promise, over deliver' approach to snooker - 'It is better to underplay it'

ByAlex Livie

Published 16/02/2024 at 20:00 GMT

Ronnie O’Sullivan is arguably the greatest snooker player of all time, but you would not know it from the way he speaks about his own game. The seven-time world champion revealed in the Eurosport studio that it is a deliberate approach to avoid any sort of embarrassment. Stream top snooker action, including the Welsh Open, live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at Eurosport.com.

Ronnie O’Sullivan has given an insight into his tournament preparations by suggesting it is best to downplay expectation to avoid any embarrassment.

O’Sullivan is the most decorated player in the sport from the modern era, with seven World Championships, eight UK Championships and eight Masters to his name.

The world No. 1 is widely viewed as the greatest to have played the game, but O’Sullivan has rarely championed his own talent.

World Championship

'That was the title' – Robertson on why O'Sullivan was so close to record Crucible triumph

4 hours ago

He often talks up the quality of his peers such as John Higgins, Neil Robertson and Judd Trump - and suggested that was an approach aimed at reining in expectation.

“It is better to underplay it,” O’Sullivan told Eurosport of his approach to the game. “We all know what we are capable of, but you don’t want to be putting yourself up there saying you are great and then don’t perform.

“It is better to undercook it, under promise and over deliver is always a nice way to be I think.”

O'Sullivan on Welsh Open absence - 'I don't want to be on treadmill every week'

• Higgins close to 'exploding' and producing 'unstoppable snooker' - White
• O'Sullivan says Higgins 'like a train with no brakes' when in peak form

Anthony McGill has had a return to form this week, but gave a downbeat interview about his game following victory over Mark Williams at the Welsh Open.

McGill’s performance drew praise from O’Sullivan and Alan McManus in the Eurosport studio, and ‘The Rocket’ said it was sometimes better to seek counsel from a trusted source.

"You can play a great match and feel really awful out there,” O’Sullivan said. “But if you go back and watch it back it can be different.

"It is difficult, and you should really try and not judge your own performances.

“Just try and speak to someone who has watched it whose opinion you trust. I do that a lot; I come off thinking I’ve played terrible but my mate is saying I played amazing. I am ‘oh’. Then I just think it’s probably he does not know much about snooker.

“Try and not judge your own performance is the big thing.”

- - -

Stream top snooker action, including the Welsh Open, live on discovery+, the Eurosport app and at Eurosport.com.

Snooker

When does snooker GOAT O'Sullivan return to action?

09/05/2024 at 08:52

World Championship

World Championship leaving Crucible would deny future greats the impossible dream

08/05/2024 at 20:45

Snooker

Doherty and Wattana make winning start at World Seniors Championship

09/05/2024 at 07:31