Ronnie O’Sullivan walks away from shot and places snooker cue on table mid-match in bizarre moment

Ronnie O’Sullivan walks away from shot and places snooker cue on table mid-match in bizarre moment

 

 

 

Ronnie O’Sullivan, the seven-time world snooker champion often known simply as “The Rocket”, provided snooker fans with one of the most-talked-about moments of the season during his opening match at the German Masters in Berlin. What should have been a routine 5–1 victory over China’s Long Zehuang instead featured a mini-repair session in the middle of the fourth frame that left commentators, spectators and casual viewers alike scratching their heads.

O’Sullivan, ranked world number eight and competing in his first professional event since early December, was comfortably placed against Long when things took an unexpected turn. While building a break, he noticed something was wrong with his cue: the tip and ferrule area — the critical contact point with the cue ball — had become damaged or loose. Rather than signaling for a replacement cue or requesting a break, he stopped mid-frame, walked away from the shot, and placed his cue flat on the table before reaching into his case to retrieve sandpaper.

With the crowd falling silent and the referee allowing the moment to play out, O’Sullivan set about his own on-the-spot maintenance. The seemingly casual act — sanding down and trimming the tip until he was satisfied it was playable — took almost four minutes, a significant delay in tournament snooker where pace of play is tightly regulated. But it wasn’t just a quick touch-up; he was carefully adjusting the cue tip he uses to strike the cue ball, ensuring the conditions were right before continuing his break.

Once satisfied, he returned to the table, promptly potted a red to leave himself a shot at the black, and then went on to compile a break of 55, helping secure the frame and maintain momentum toward his match victory.

Unusual, but Not Entirely Out of Character

For followers of snooker, O’Sullivan’s behavior might seem strange — but it isn’t entirely out of character. The 50-year-old has a long history of doing things his way, both on the table and off it. Whether it’s potting balls in an unconventional fashion, engaging in on-table outbursts, or showing quirky moments of disregard for tradition, O’Sullivan has always marched to the beat of his own drum.

For example, footage from years past shows him exhibiting a similarly relaxed attitude toward the conventions of professional snooker — from letting a fan take a shot after a pitch invasion to moments where his body language and conduct have drawn as much attention as his skill. In other episodes, O’Sullivan has been known to react strongly in frustration — once snapping a cue in half after consecutive losses — underscoring how emotionally invested he often is in his game.

This latest incident, however, was less about protest or frustration and more about practical necessity. A cue with a compromised tip can significantly affect spin, control, and consistency — all essential underpinnings of elite snooker — so it appears O’Sullivan prioritized making the tool right before proceeding. Still, doing so in full view and in the middle of a match is virtually unheard of at the professional level.

Context: Return, Next Opponent and Outlook

The German Masters marks O’Sullivan’s first appearance in the event since 2017, with past successes including two titles. This season, he returned after withdrawing from the Masters earlier this month on medical grounds.

Having navigated past Long, he’s now set to face Ali Carter in the last 32, reigniting interest in a rivalry that has seen its share of notable moments in recent years. A victory there would set up a match against either Mark Selby or Xu Si for a quarter-final spot and a chance to challenge for the £100,000 winner’s prize.

Why It Matters

In snooker — a sport that often prizes calm, precision, and the avoidance of distraction — O’Sullivan’s impromptu cue repair was an anomaly. It offered a glimpse into the human side of a discipline where players rarely break rhythm, even for equipment malfunctions. Whether fans see it as quirky genius or eccentricity, it’s a reminder that even the most practiced professionals occasionally need to improvise in unexpected ways.

For many, it’s just another chapter in the storied, unpredictable career of one of snooker’s most compelling figures.