Ronnie O’Sullivan Advances to World Championship Quarter-Finals Despite Admitting He’s ‘Nowhere Near’ His Best
Seven-time world champion Ronnie O’Sullivan secured a spot in the World Championship quarter-finals with a convincing 13-4 victory over China’s Pang Junxu, but admitted that he is still far from his best level. The 49-year-old Englishman dominated the match, needing just 17 minutes to secure the one frame he required to progress.
According to a report by the BBC, O’Sullivan’s performance was far from impressive, with the veteran player himself admitting that he would give his current level of performance a mark of just two out of 10. "I’m nowhere near my best level," O’Sullivan said, as quoted by the BBC. "I need game time and I’m trying to get my game back. I don’t mind who I play as long as I play my game. It’s irrelevant who is sitting in the chair, I always back myself if I can play somewhere near my best level."
O’Sullivan’s victory over Pang follows his 10-4 win over Ali Carter in his previous match, marking his first two competitive victories since snapping his cue and throwing it into a bin at the Championship League event in January. The Englishman has not played competitively for three months and has been working to "rebuild" his game. As the BBC reports, O’Sullivan’s form has been inconsistent, and he remains unhappy with his current level of performance.
Despite his struggles, O’Sullivan remains on course for a record-breaking eighth Crucible world title. However, he is aware that he will need to significantly improve his game if he is to lift the trophy. "I have to start playing a lot better if I’m going to win this tournament," O’Sullivan said, as reported by the BBC. "I’m not sure I’m close to [my best level] but it can click at any time. Pot one ball at a time. That feels hard for me to approach the game like that, but that’s where I’m at and have to just keep going."
The BBC reports that O’Sullivan’s victory over Pang was marked by a break of 95 in the decisive frame, which came after Pang scored the first 17 points. O’Sullivan’s dominance was evident throughout the match, with the Englishman holding a 12-4 advantage after Sunday’s second session.
As the World Championship continues, O’Sullivan will look to fine-tune his game and build momentum ahead of the quarter-finals. Despite his current struggles, the seven-time world champion remains a formidable opponent, and his comments suggest that he is taking a pragmatic approach to his game. As the BBC notes, O’Sullivan’s ability to adapt and rebuild his game has been a key factor in his success throughout his career.
The BBC’s coverage of the World Championship provides in-depth analysis and commentary on all the latest developments from the Crucible. For more on Ronnie O’Sullivan’s victory and the World Championship, visit the BBC Sport website.
Original source: BBC Sport
