Ronnie O'Sullivan
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| Ronnie O'Sullivan | |
|---|---|
| Missing image Ronny_OSullivan_snookerplayer.jpg | |
| Personal Information | |
| Date of birth | December 5, 1975 |
| Nicknames | The Rocket, The Essex Exocet |
| Nationality | English |
| Career | |
| Professional | 1992–current |
| 2005/6 World Ranking | 1 |
| Best World Ranking | 1 (3 years) |
| World Championship Best | Winner (2 times) |
| Highest Break | 147 (6 times) |
| Ranking Tournament Wins: 18 | |
| World Championship | 2001, 2004 |
| UK Championship | 1993, 1997, 2001 |
| British Open | 1994 |
| German Open | 1996 |
| Players Championships | 1998, 2000 |
| China Open | 1996, 1999, 2000 |
| European Open | 2003 |
| Irish Masters | 2003, 2005 |
| Welsh Open | 2004, 2005 |
| totesport Grand Prix | 2004 |
| Other Tournaments Wins | |
| Benson & Hedges Masters | 1995, 2005 |
| Irish Masters | 2001 |
Ronnie O'Sullivan (born 5 December, 1975) is a professional snooker player. His fast play has earned him the nickname "The Rocket".
O'Sullivan started his career young. He first achieved a century at the age of 10, scored a 147 when aged just 15, and turned professional aged 16. He recorded the youngest ever victory in a ranking tournament when he won the 1993 UK Championship aged 17.
A naturally talented but temperamental player, O'Sullivan comes from the same mould as Alex Higgins and Jimmy White.
O'Sullivan's life has been very well documented. His father has been and currently still is serving a life-sentence for murder. O'Sullivan still suffers from depression and often struggles with himself.
His career has thus not been without difficulties. After winning the 1998 Benson & Hedges Irish Masters, he was stripped of his title after failing a drugs test. He also has an uneasy relationship with the press, with some of his comments considered ungracious. In 2004, O'Sullivan's father called 1970s master player and six times World Champion Ray Reardon and asked that he give O'Sullivan some advice. With his backing, O'Sullivan came into top form and claimed the 2004 World championships.
O'Sullivan is unique amongst the current ranks of top snooker professionals in that he can play with the cue in either his right or left hand - sometimes alternating between the two within the same frame. When he first did this in the World Championships against Alain Robidoux, the Canadian accused him of disrespect. O'Sullivan responded that he played better with his left hand than Robidoux with his right.
He was also responsible for the fastest World Championship maximum (147) clearance whilst playing against Mick Price in the World Snooker Championship on 21 April, 1997; he completed the clearance in 5 minutes and 20 seconds - an average of one shot every 9 seconds. In fact, his six maximum breaks include the five fastest on record.
O'Sullivan's home club is the Grove Snooker Centre, situated in Romford, East London.
After failing to defend his 2004 World Championships title, losing in his quarter-final to an exceptionally determined and dogged performance by Peter Ebdon (with many observers accusing Ebdon of deliberate slow play), he indicated to the press that he was probably not going to compete in the following season, but is yet to definitely make his mind up.
External Links
- A webpage with facts and statistics about Ronnie (http://www.laboremus.no/snooker/Plr/Bio/rosullivan.shtml)
- Unofficial site (http://www.ronnieosullivan.prv.pl/)
- Profile at WorldSnooker.com (http://www.worldsnooker.com/players_search-8820.htm)
- Watch Ronnie's 1997 World Championship Record video (http://www.engr.colostate.edu/~dga/pool/normal_videos/new/NVA-19.htm)de:Ronnie O'Sullivan