Ronnie O’Sullivan Opens Up About Mental Struggles in Snooker: “I’ve Driven Myself Insane”

Snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan has revealed that he has not enjoyed the last two years of his career, despite winning his record-extending eighth Masters and UK Championship titles during that time. The perfectionist player admitted that he had driven himself “insane” and decided to seek help from sports psychologist Steve Peters to change his mindset.

In a recent interview, O’Sullivan shared his struggles and the changes he has made to take the pressure off himself and go back to basics. He emphasized the importance of accepting imperfection and not trying to be perfect all the time, as it had taken a toll on his mental well-being.

The world No1’s new approach seemed to have paid off as he beat his rival Ali Carter 10-2 at the Tour Championship. The bitter feud between O’Sullivan and Carter came to a head earlier this year in the Masters final, where O’Sullivan controversially shoulder barged his opponent. The tension escalated as Carter accused O’Sullivan of inappropriate behavior, leading to a heated exchange of words between the two players.

Despite the past animosity, O’Sullivan has decided to implement a new policy of not engaging in public feuds with other players. He expressed his desire to focus on his game and avoid unnecessary distractions, stating that he has learned his lesson from previous controversies.

With a renewed mindset and a fresh perspective, Ronnie O’Sullivan seems to be on the right track to enjoying snooker once again and achieving even greater success in the future.