Even as fans rally around Ronnie O’Sullivan and dream of history being made at the Crucible, the snooker legend himself is far from convinced he’s got what it takes this time around.
Despite reaching the semi-finals of the World Snooker Championship, O’Sullivan says he’s struggling — not just with his game, but with his confidence too.
“I’m Playing Awful” – Ronnie’s Brutally Honest Take
After beating rising Chinese star Si Jiahui 13-9 in the quarter-finals on Wednesday, you might expect some celebration from the seven-time world champ.
Instead, Ronnie was refreshingly, if not alarmingly, honest.
“I’m playing awful,” he admitted bluntly. “The cue feels awful.
It’s probably the worst situation you can be in as a snooker player.”
He even hinted he might need to replace the tip and ferrule on his cue, which clearly wasn’t cooperating.
Still, he’s not throwing in the towel. “I’ll keep punching away, keep trying,” he said, acknowledging the tough road ahead with his usual dry wit.
“I don’t think I can get any worse, but we’ll have to see.”
A Tough Quarter-Final, But Not Because He Was at His Best
O’Sullivan didn’t sugarcoat it — he felt lucky to get through.
In his view, Si Jiahui didn’t capitalize on his mistakes, letting him off the hook time and again.
“He played poor in the whole match really,” Ronnie said.
“Let me off the hook loads of times, so I got lucky again.”
Despite his win, Ronnie’s self-critique hasn’t softened.
In fact, he worries that the level he’s playing at right now simply won’t hold up as the tournament enters the final stretch.
With big names like Judd Trump, Mark Williams, and Zhao Xintong in the mix, Ronnie knows the margin for error is shrinking fast.
The Cue Troubles and Mental Struggles Aren’t New
This isn’t the first time during the tournament that Ronnie has voiced frustration.
After his second-round win over Pang Junxu, he described the experience as being in “hell.”
He’s also been out of competitive action since January, which may be contributing to the lack of rhythm and confidence.
At 49, the Rocket knows his body, his mindset, and the way he connects with the table — and right now, none of it seems to be aligning.
The Price of History: Fans Scrambling for Final Tickets
While Ronnie’s not sure if he’s on track to make history, snooker fans clearly think otherwise.
Ticket prices for the World Championship final have gone through the roof, with some being listed for an eye-watering £3,500 on resale sites like StubHub and Viagogo.
That’s nearly five times the price of premium Century Club hospitality seats, which go for £710.
Even the most basic tickets are being listed for more than £1,200 — far above their £145 face value.
Organisers Crack Down on Ticket Resellers
With demand surging, the World Snooker Tour has issued a warning to fans: tickets bought through unauthorized resellers could be rendered invalid.
In short, buy from an unofficial site, and you risk being turned away at the door.
A spokesperson for the tour reminded fans that tickets are non-transferable and cannot be resold for profit without permission.
“Admission to the event may not be permitted” if tickets are found to have been bought on resale platforms.
What’s Next for Ronnie?
Next up for O’Sullivan is a semi-final clash with Zhao Xintong — and it won’t be an easy ride.
If Ronnie wants to keep his hopes of an eighth world title alive, he’ll need more than luck and grit.
He’ll need his game — and his cue — to show up with him.
Still, if there’s one thing we know about Ronnie, it’s that he thrives when least expected.
Even from his self-described “hell,” he’s just two wins away from rewriting the record books.