Former Scottish professional Alan McManus has cast doubt on Ronnie O’Sullivan’s hunger to keep winning major snooker titles as the seven-time world champion prepares for the UK Championship. O’Sullivan, who turns 50 on December 5, has not lifted a trophy since defeating Luca Brecel at the Riyadh Season World Masters in March 2024. Although he reached a record 14th World Championship semi-final this year, he was beaten heavily 17–7 by Zhao Xintong.
O’Sullivan has reduced his tournament schedule to focus on a potential eighth world title at the Crucible, a move that some see as smart management. But McManus is not convinced the Rocket still has the same drive as earlier in his career, saying the sport requires a full-time commitment that O’Sullivan no longer seems to maintain. With his milestone birthday approaching, McManus feels it is possible that O’Sullivan’s competitive fire has faded.
Jimmy White, the 1992 UK champion, disagrees. He argues that O’Sullivan’s struggles are due not to motivation but to limited match sharpness. White noted that during the World Championship, O’Sullivan’s opponents underperformed until Zhao finally applied pressure. He believes O’Sullivan may have adjusted his cue over the summer, pointing to his narrow 10–9 loss to Neil Robertson in Saudi Arabia after recovering from 7–2 down.
White insists that although O’Sullivan remains capable of winning a ninth UK Championship, his first since 2023, a lack of recent competitive play could hold him back. He skipped tournaments in China and simply hasn’t had enough table time to be fully sharp.
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