“Look who I’ve got here!”
Ronnie O’Sullivan remarked, during his triumphant UK Championships run, that he would be just as happy celebrating a potential victory with ‘a bag of crisps and a Diet Coke on the motorway, on the way home’.
On Sunday, O’Sullivan won the UK title for an eighth time and set a remarkable record in the process – becoming the oldest ever champion of the event, 30 years after he became the youngest ever champ. He defeated Ding Junhui 10-7 and was close to sealing that win with a 147 break, only for him to foul out after dispatching the pink to reach 140.
“Each tournament I win and play in,” O’Sullivan told the BBC, “I take great pleasure from. I had to come out and have a good head. There was a big crowd and I wanted to leave blood, sweat and tears on the table. I came out and gave it my all and I love competing.
“I always keep beating myself up because of the age thing. I keep thinking at some point you have to stop winning but I am doing all right and I will keep on going until the wheels fall off.”
Two days before he secured that eighth UK Championship title, ‘Rocket’ was pictured with an adoring fan as he waited for a bus, and as he puffed away on a cigarette.
Ronnie O’Sullivan opts for public transport, in York
As he was minding his own business, waiting for a bus, in York, Ronnie O’Sullivan was spotted by a big snooker fan – going by ‘King Kong Khokar’ on TikTok – and smiled as he began recording the moment on his phone.
“Look who I’ve got here,” the fan declared. “My Ronnie O’Sullivan, the star man. My blessed boy, the world legend of snooker champion. I’ve got him right here mate. Oh my god, I can’t believe I met you, you know. I was looking out for you. Bless you!”
@kingkongkhokar ♬ original sound – KKk
O’Sullivan usually shies away from some situations but, on this occasion, he seemed amused by the fan’s over-enthusiastic declarations.
Ronnie O’Sullivan picked up a cheque for £250,000 after his UK Championship win.
One suspects he will keep on doing it his way and nipping about town on public transport.
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