Ronnie says he’d have to “lose an arm and a leg to fall out of the top 50”
Ronnie O’Sullivan is an absolute legend in the world have snooker – he has been a pro for 28 years, and still remains one of the best players in the world.
Last night, the 44-year-old beat Ding Junhui to reach the World Championship quarter-finals, where he’ll face Mark Williams, who turned professional in 1992 – the same year as O’Sullivan.
You might think by now that a new generation of players would have come through to replace Ronnie O’Sullivan, Mark Williams, and John Higgins – but the trio remain at the top of the sport.
In a post-match interview, O’Sullivan was asked about this, and he did not hold back.
Ronnie O'Sullivan – “The younger players that are coming through are not that good… I’d probably have to lose an arm & a leg to fall outside the top 50. 😂
Interviewer – “It’s not that bad”
Ronnie O'Sullivan – “It is!” 💥 #worldsnookerchampionship pic.twitter.com/HqdSdoiw40
— Haggis_UK 🇬🇧 🇪🇺 (@Haggis_UK) August 9, 2020
Ouch.
Ronnie was asked if when he started out, he still thought he’d be at the top nearly three decades later.
“Probably not if you asked me then,” O’Sullivan replied, “but when you look at the standard of play, I would say yes.
“People like me, John Higgins and Mark Williams, if you look at the younger players coming through, they are not that good really. Most of them would do well as half-decent amateurs, not even amateurs. They are so bad.
“A lot of them you see now, you look at them and think, ‘I would have to lose an arm and a leg to fall out of the top 50’. That is why we are still hovering around, because of how poor it is down that end.”
That is brutal, Ronnie. So, so brutal.
In his storied career, Ronnie O’Sullivan has won five World Championships, seven Masters titles, and seven UK Championships – that’s a record 19 titles in Triple Crown tournaments.
In March 2019, he became world number one for the first time since May 2010 – the longest gap between holding the title in the history of the sport.
