Exclusive - 'He's a better player than me' - Ronnie O'Sullivan hails 'unbelievable talent' in snooker who is 'amazing'
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Updated 05/04/2022 at 09:55 GMT
Zhao Xintong is a potential snooker superstar who "is an amazing player", according to legend of the sport Ronnie O'Sullivan. Speaking to Eurosport ahead of the World Championship, the six-time world champion spoke in glowing terms about the Chinese player, who he has worked with and believes has everything required to take his talent to the next level.
Ronnie O'Sullivan
Image credit: Getty Images
Snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan has lauded the "unbelievable talent" of rising star Zhao Xintong, who he says "is amazing to watch".
The Rocket has been practising with the 25-year-old, although he has been clear to state that "I can't coach him". Perhaps surprisingly, he declared that "he is a better player than me; he is a better potter than me".
Zhao clinched his first ranking title at the UK Championship last year, and O'Sullivan believes the Chinese player has all the talent he needs to be a superstar in the sport going forward.
"Listen, I think the guy is an unbelievable talent, he really, really is," O'Sullivan told Eurosport in an interview ahead of the World Championship.
"It is just amazing to watch him play. He has the same problem I had years ago, and that is consistency. Finding that level that you need to never really drop below. I think that is going to be the thing he needs to work on over the years to develop as a player.
"I got so much joy out of spending time with him on the table. I cannot coach him. He is a better player than me; he is a better potter than me. The nature of the game is to pot balls, but we share ideas. I learn from him; he learns from me. I get a lot of pleasure from helping him.
"If he can take one thing from it, he will run with it and learn from it. But I've also said, there are so many people out there that you can learn from. Just keep developing as a player, keep learning.
"You have to take the best parts of the best players' games and try to incorporate them into yours. I think he is going to do well; I think he can do very, very well. He is an amazing player."
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‘Bigger and better things!’ - Zhao seals UK Championship with another flourish
The Rocket will arrive in Sheffield as the world No. 1 after he usurped reigning world champion Mark Selby following the Tour Championship in Llandudno, Wales.
O’Sullivan will be in the other half of the draw to Selby, as he will go into the World Championship as the No. 2 seed having suffered a poor run of form so far this year.
It is the fifth occasion in O’Sullivan’s illustrious career that he has occupied the world No. 1 ranking, and first time since 2019.
It will be the 46th consecutive year the World Championship has been held in Sheffield, and it will be the 16th and final ranking event of the 2021–22 snooker season.
The main event begins on April 16 with the final taking place on May 2.
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