Ronnie O'Sullivan ready to 'climb the mountain' ahead of 2023 World Championship snooker opener against Pang Junxu
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Updated 13/04/2023 at 09:03 GMT
Ronnie O'Sullivan will begin his quest for a record eighth world title against Pang Junxu at 10am UK time on Saturday morning in Sheffield. In keeping with tradition, the defending champion is in action on the opening day of the sport's biggest event as O'Sullivan bids to add to title victories in 2001, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020 and 2022. O'Sullivan was the last seed out of the last-32 draw.
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Ronnie O'Sullivan admits he is relishing the chance to start at the bottom and "climb the mountain" in his quest for a record eighth world title at the Crucible Theatre.
In an exclusive interview with Eurosport on the cusp of the 47th World Championship in Sheffield, the defending world champion and world No. 1 said he was feeling "fresh and looking forward to it" ahead of his tournament opener against 23-year-old Chinese qualifier Pang Junxu.
O'Sullivan will make a record 31st straight appearance at the sport's biggest event when he begins his latest campaign at 10am UK time on Saturday morning chasing the £500,000 first prize.
He starts out as 4/1 tournament favourite and was the last seed out alongside recent WST Classic finalist Pang, who lost to 6-2 to four-time world champion Mark Selby in Leicester, when the last-32 draw was made on Thursday morning with the top 16 seeds paired with the 16 qualifiers from the English Institute of Sport.
O'Sullivan has only come across Pang on one occasion, but will be wary of an opponent who compiled breaks of 104 and 73 in a 3-1 win at the Championship League last year.
Pang turned professional three years ago and will make his Crucible debut after completing qualifying wins against Xu Si (10-5) and 1997 world champion Ken Doherty (10-6).
O'Sullivan equalled Stephen Hendry's 1990s haul of seven Crucible titles with an 18-13 victory over Judd Trump in last year's final.
“Sometimes you’ve got to start again," said O'Sullivan. "You climb the mountain then you’ve got to go down to the bottom, you climb the mountain then go back down to the bottom.
“You can’t just stay on top all the time. For me, it’s just about consolidating and not losing the plot trying to stay on top all the time. It’s just not possible.
“But I’m ready, I’m fresh and looking forward to it."
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The snooker GOAT first lifted the trophy in 2001 courtesy of an 18-14 success against old rival John Higgins with his other victories coming in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2020 and 2022.
His best performances this season have come in outstanding displays in elite invitational events at the Hong Kong Masters, where he defeated Marco Fu 6-4 in October, and the Champion of Champions courtesy of a 10-6 win against Trump in November.
"I feel alright. I feel like I’ve paced myself pretty well this year," he said. “I’ve had a few ups and downs, but feel like I’ve come out the other side of it."
O'Sullivan failed to qualify for the eight-man Tour Championship in Hull earlier this month via the sport's one-year money list. His best returns at ranking events so far have been quarter-final appearances at the UK Championship and Welsh Open.
He is not concerned about the recent form guide from ranking tournaments heading into the blue-chip event.
“I don’t buy into that philosophy," he said. "There are ebbs and flows. All you can do is work hard, do what you’ve got to do and try to stay fresh, try to stay ready for your time.
“My time was at the World Championship, in Hong Kong and at the Champion of Champions last year.
“I've not collapsed, or lost the plot, but stayed in a good place and at some point, I’ll just let the snooker gods take over.”
2023 World Championship first round draw
- Ronnie O'Sullivan (Eng) (1) v Pang Junxu (Chn) – world No. 35
- Ding Junhui (Chn) (16) v Hossein Vafaei (Irn) – world No. 23
- Luca Brecel (Bel) (9) v Ricky Walden (Eng) – world No. 24
- Mark Williams (Wal) (8) v Jimmy Robertson (Eng) – world No. 27
- Judd Trump (Eng) (5) v Anthony McGill (Sco) – world No. 21
- Jack Lisowski (Eng) (12) v Noppon Saengkham (Tha) – world No. 32
- Robert Milkins (Eng) (13) v Joe Perry (Eng) – world No. 31
- Shaun Murphy (Eng) (4) v Si Jiahui (Chn) – world No. 80
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- Mark Allen (NI) (3) v Fan Zhengyi (Chn) – world No. 36
- Stuart Bingham (Eng) (14) v David Gilbert (Eng) – world No. 22
- Ali Carter (Eng) (11) v Jak Jones (Wal) – world No. 52
- Neil Robertson (Aus) (6) v Wu Yize (Chn) – world No. 62
- Kyren Wilson (Eng) (7) v Ryan Day (Wal) – world No. 18
- John Higgins (Sco) (10) v David Grace (Eng) – world No. 66
- Gary Wilson (Eng) (15) v Elliot Slessor (Eng) – world No. 60
- Mark Selby (Eng) (2) v Matthew Selt (Eng) – world No. 29
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