Ronnie O'Sullivan
Template:Short description Template:Good article Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox snooker player
Ronald Antonio O'Sullivan (born 5 December 1975) is an English professional snooker player.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Widely recognised as one of the most talented and accomplished players in snooker history, he has won the World Snooker Championship seven times, a modern-era record he holds jointly with Stephen Hendry. He has also won a record eight Masters titles and a record eight UK Championship titles for a total of 23 Triple Crown titles, the most achieved by any player. He holds the record for the most ranking titles, with 41, and has held the top ranking position multiple times.
After winning amateur titles including the IBSF World Under-21 Snooker Championship, O'Sullivan turned professional in 1992, aged 16. At the age of Template:Age in years and days, he won his first ranking event at the 1993 UK Championship and remains the youngest player to win a ranking title. He is also the youngest player to win the Masters, having claimed his first title in 1995, aged Template:Age in years and days. Now also noted for his longevity in the sport, he is the oldest winner of all three Triple Crown events, having won his seventh world title in 2022, aged Template:Age in years and days; his eighth UK Championship title in 2023, aged Template:Age in years and days; and his eighth Masters title in 2024, aged Template:Age in years and days. As of 2025, he has made a record 33 appearances in the final stages of the World Snooker Championship at the Crucible.
O'Sullivan made his first competitive century break at age 10 and his first competitive maximum break at age 15. He was the first player to achieve 1,000 century breaks in professional competition, a milestone he reached in 2019 and which he has since extended to over 1,300 centuries. He has made the highest number of officially recognised maximum breaks in professional competition, with 17, and holds the Guinness World Record for the fastest competitive maximum break, compiled in a time of 5 minutes and 8 seconds at the 1997 World Championship. At the 2025 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, he became the second player (after Jackson Page) to make two maximums in the same match as well as the oldest player (aged 49 years and 253 days) to make a maximum in professional competition.
During his career, O'Sullivan has experienced depression, mood swings, and drug and alcohol abuse. Known as a controversial and outspoken figure on the professional tour, he has been disciplined on several occasions by the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association for his behaviour and comments. Outside his playing career, he has worked as a pundit for televised snooker coverage and has written crime novels, autobiographies, and a health and fitness book. He features in the 2017 miniseries Ronnie O'Sullivan's American Hustle and in the 2023 documentary film Ronnie O'Sullivan: The Edge of Everything. With Mark Williams and John Higgins, he is one of three players collectively known as the "Class of '92", who all turned professional during the [[1992–93 snooker season|1992Template:Nbnd93 season]]. A member of the World Snooker Tour Hall of Fame, he was appointed an OBE in 2016.
Career summary
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O'Sullivan began playing snooker at age 7 and soon became a noted amateur competitor, winning his first club tournament at age 9, making his first competitive century break at age 10,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and winning the British Under-16 Championship at age 13.<ref name="u16">Template:Cite news</ref> At the 1991 English Amateur Championship, aged Template:Age in years and days, he made his first competitive maximum break, then the youngest player ever to do so in a recognised tournament.<ref name="Ronnie Record Breaker">Template:Cite news</ref> In the same year, he won the IBSF World Under-21 Snooker Championship and Junior Pot Black.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
After turning professional in 1992, aged 16, he won 74 of his first 76 qualifying matches,<ref name="History of Snooker">Template:Cite web</ref> including a record 38 consecutive professional victories.<ref name="Ronnie Record Breaker" /> He qualified for the televised stages of the 1993 World Championship, losing 10–7 to Alan McManus on his Crucible debut. He claimed his first ranking title later that year, beating Hendry 10–6 in the final of the 1993 UK Championship seven days before his 18th birthday to become the youngest-ever winner of a ranking event, a record he still holds.<ref name="SLife2020">Template:Cite web</ref> In the following season, he won the 1995 Masters aged Template:Age in years and days to become the youngest Masters champion.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Between 1996 and 1999, O'Sullivan reached three World semi-finals in four years. At the 1997 World Championship, he achieved his first maximum break in professional competition. Compiled in a time of 5 minutes and 8 seconds, it remains the fastest competitive maximum break in snooker history, which is listed as a Guinness World Record.<ref name="Deadspin" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He won his second UK title later that year at the 1997 UK Championship.<ref name="BBC02Profile" /> Despite these successes, his career also became marred by controversy in the late 1990s. During the 1996 World Championship, he assaulted an assistant press officer, for which he received a suspended two-year ban and a £20,000 fine.<ref name="Independent07012010">Template:Cite news</ref> After winning the 1998 Irish Masters, he was stripped of his title and prize money when a post-match drug test found evidence of cannabis in his system.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> O'Sullivan subsequently acknowledged frequent abuse of drugs and alcohol in the early years of his career, which resulted in spells in the Priory Hospital for rehabilitation.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
He reached his first World final in 2001, where he defeated John Higgins 18–14 to claim his first World title and reached number two in the world rankings.<ref name="BBC02Profile">Template:Cite news</ref> He won his third UK Championship later that year,<ref name="WPBSABio" /> which helped him attain the world number one ranking for the first time in the 2002–03 season. With veteran six-time World Champion Ray Reardon acting as his coach and mentor, he won his second World title in 2004, defeating Graeme Dott 18–8 in the final,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> after which he held the number one ranking for the next two seasons. He added his second Masters title in 2005, ten years after his first.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His behaviour became notably erratic in the mid-2000s as he battled clinical depression. During the 2005 World Championship, he shaved his head mid-tournament and exhibited what The Independent called a "public emotional disintegration" while losing 11 of the last 14 frames in his quarter-final defeat against Peter Ebdon.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> At the 2005 UK Championship, he sat with a wet towel draped over his head during his match against Mark King.<ref name="TimesOSullivan">Template:Cite news</ref> Trailing Hendry 4–1 in their best-of-17-frames quarter-final at the 2006 UK Championship, he abruptly conceded the match during the sixth frame and left the arena. Hendry was awarded the match 9–1 and O'Sullivan was fined £20,800 over the incident.<ref name="Independent07012010" />
In 2007, O'Sullivan won his third Masters title and his fourth UK Championship, which was his first ranking title in almost three years.<ref name="WPBSABio" /> He won his third World title in 2008, defeating Ali Carter 18–8 in the final,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> after which he held the world number one ranking for the next two seasons. He added his fourth Masters title in 2009.<ref name="WPBSABio" /> After two poor seasons that saw him fall out of the top ten in the world rankings for the first time, he began working with psychiatrist Steve Peters in 2011.<ref name="ESPN2013">Template:Cite web</ref> A resurgent O'Sullivan captured his fourth World title in 2012, defeating Carter 18–11 in the final, after which he paid tribute to Peters' work with him.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the following season, he took an extended break from the professional tour.<ref name="ESPN2013" /> Despite having played only one competitive match all season, he returned to the Crucible for the 2013 World Championship and successfully defended his World title, defeating Barry Hawkins 18–12 in the final.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In his 2014 Masters quarter-final against Ricky Walden, he set a new record for the most points scored without reply in professional competition, with 556,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and went on to beat the defending champion Mark Selby 10–4 in the final to claim his fifth Masters title.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> At the 2014 World Championship, he reached a third consecutive world final, where he again faced Selby. Despite taking a 10–5 lead, O'Sullivan lost 18–14, his first defeat in a world final.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Later in 2014, he won his fifth UK Championship, beating Judd Trump 10–9 in the final. However, he declined to defend his title the following year and pulled out of the 2015 UK Championship, citing debilitating insomnia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At the 2015 Masters, he made his 776th century break in professional competition, surpassing Hendry's record for the most career centuries.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
O'Sullivan won two consecutive Masters tournaments in 2016 and 2017 for a record seven Masters titles. He also won two consecutive UK Championships in 2017 and 2018 for a record seven UK titles, attaining a total of 19 Triple Crown titles to surpass Hendry's total of 18. During the 2017–18 season, he won five ranking events.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He defeated Neil Robertson 10–4 in the final to win the 2019 Players Championship. In the last frame of the match, he made his 1,000th century break in professional competition, becoming the first player to reach that milestone.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He won his 36th ranking title at the 2019 Tour Championship, equalling Hendry's record and attaining the world number one ranking for the first time since May 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
At the 2020 World Championship, O'Sullivan came from 14 to 16 behind in the semi-final against Selby to win 17–16. He then defeated Kyren Wilson 18–8 in the final to win his sixth world title. The tournament marked his 28th consecutive Crucible appearance, surpassing Hendry's record of 27 consecutive appearances.<ref name="SLife2020" /> He reached his 58th ranking final at the 2021 Tour Championship, breaking Hendry's record of 57 ranking final appearances,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but lost 10–4 to Neil Robertson. During the tournament, he made his 1,100th century break in professional competition.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He lost five consecutive ranking finals in the 2020–21 season, but ended a 16-month title drought by winning his 38th ranking title at the 2021 World Grand Prix.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
O'Sullivan defeated Trump 18–13 in the 2022 World Championship final to win his seventh world title, equalling Hendry for the most world titles in the modern era.<ref name="SeventhWorldTitle">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Aged Template:Age in years and days, he became the oldest World Champion in snooker history, surpassing Reardon, who won his last title in 1978 aged Template:Age in years and days.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> O'Sullivan also surpassed Hendry's record of 70 Crucible wins, setting a new record of 74.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
O'Sullivan defeated Marco Fu 6–4 to win the 2022 Hong Kong Masters. The final was played before an estimated 9,000 spectators, the largest audience ever to attend a snooker match.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> At the 2023 World Snooker Championship, O'Sullivan made a record 31st Crucible appearance, surpassing the previous record of 30 by Steve Davis.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He made his 200th Crucible century break and his 1,200th century in professional competition during his second-round match against Hossein Vafaei.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His reached the quarter-final, becoming the first player to compete in 100 matches at the Crucible,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but lost 10–13 to eventual winner Luca Brecel.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
At the invitational 2023 Shanghai Masters, O'Sullivan defeated Brecel 11–9 in the final to claim his fourth consecutive, and fifth total, Shanghai Masters title, extending his winning streak at the tournament to 18 matches since 2017.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He won record-extending eighth titles at both the 2023 UK Championship and the 2024 Masters, respectively defeating Ding Junhui and Ali Carter 10–7 in the finals. This extended his record number of ranking titles to 40 and Triple Crown titles to 23. Aged Template:Age in years and days when he won the UK Championship, and Template:Age in years and days when he won the Masters, he became the oldest winner of all three Triple Crown events.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He also became simultaneously the youngest and oldest winner of both the UK Championship and the Masters.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He won his 41st ranking title at the 2024 World Grand Prix with a 10–7 victory over Trump in the final,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and went on to win the invitational 2024 World Masters of Snooker, the first professional snooker tournament held in Saudi Arabia, defeating Brecel 5–2 in the final.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He signed a three-year ambassadorial deal with Saudi Arabia, which requires him to play in all World Snooker Tour events staged in that country, to establish a snooker academy in the Middle East, and to contribute to the development of the sport in the region.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At the 2024 Shanghai Masters, O'Sullivan lost 3–10 to Trump in the semi-finals, his first defeat at the tournament since 2016, after 20 consecutive match wins.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
During the 2024–25 snooker season, O'Sullivan withdrew from nine tournaments, including the 2025 Masters, the 2025 German Masters, the 2025 Welsh Open, and the 2025 World Grand Prix.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He returned to competition at the 2025 World Snooker Championship after a three-month break.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At the 2025 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, he made his 16th and 17th official maximum breaks in his semi-final match against Chris Wakelin. He became the second player, after Jackson Page at the 2025 World Snooker Championship, to make two maximums in the same match, and the first to do so in a one-session match or on the same day. At the age of 49 years and 253 days, he became the oldest player to record an official maximum. He won a £147,000 bonus for making two maximums across that season's qualifying tournaments.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
O'Sullivan's other career highlights include three World Grand Prix titles, two Players Championship titles, four Welsh Open titles, two Scottish Open titles, two German Masters titles, four Irish Masters titles, two China Open titles, two Champions Cup titles, ten Premier League titles, four Champion of Champions titles, three Scottish Masters titles, and five Shanghai Masters titles.<ref name="WPBSABio">Template:Cite web</ref>
Playing style
Known for his fast and attacking style of play, O'Sullivan gained the nickname "The Rocket" after winning a best-of-nine frame match in a record 43 minutes during his debut season as a professional.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A prolific break builder and great tactical player, he has stated his disdain for long, drawn-out games, saying that they harm the game of snooker.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> O'Sullivan is ambidextrous, as he is right-handed but can play to a high standard with his left hand and routinely alternates when needed, enabling him to attempt shots with his left hand that would otherwise require a Template:Cuegloss or Template:Cuegloss.<ref name="troubled genius">Template:Cite web</ref> When he first displayed this left-handed ability in the 1996 World Championship against Alain Robidoux, the Canadian accused him of disrespect and refused to shake hands after the match.<ref name="Independent07012010" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Status
O'Sullivan is highly regarded in snooker, with several of his peers regarding him as the greatest player ever,<ref name="Reardon">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and some labelling him a "genius".<ref name="no ordinary">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> After losing 17–6 to O'Sullivan in the 2008 World Championship semi-final, Hendry described him as "the best player in the world by a country mile".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2024, Hendry agreed that there was no longer any question as to whether O'Sullivan was the greatest snooker player of all time, also calling him an "artist".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, O'Sullivan himself has dismissed the suggestion that he is the greatest player and has identified Hendry as the greatest due to his domination of snooker.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
One of the most popular players on the circuit,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> he is noted for being a "showman",<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and is credited with helping improve the image of snooker with the general public.<ref name="no ordinary" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He has often been compared with Alex Higgins and Jimmy White for his natural talent and popularity.<ref name="troubled genius" /> In December 2020, O'Sullivan was nominated for the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year Award, becoming the first snooker player to receive a nomination since Hendry in 1990.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> He was nominated for a second time in December 2022.<ref name=":0" />
However, O'Sullivan sometimes lacks confidence or interest,<ref name="Dec06">Template:Cite news</ref> and has performed inconsistently throughout his career,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> with observers noting the "two Ronnies" aspect of his character.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
O'Sullivan has also received praise from athletes in other sports. Tennis player Novak Djokovic called him "one of the sport greats".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Criticisms of snooker
After Barry Hearn took charge of World Snooker in 2010, O'Sullivan became a vocal critic of how Hearn reconfigured the professional tour. He took issue with increased travel expectations, flat 128 draws that required top professionals to play more rounds against lower-ranked opponents, reduced prize money for maximum breaks, and tournament venues he saw as inadequate. He accused snooker's governing body WPBSA of bullying and intimidating him, said that Hearn was running a "dictatorship",<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> protested alleged mistreatment by snooker's authorities by giving robotic or monosyllabic responses in interviews,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and refused opportunities to make maximum breaks in apparent protest over inadequate prize money for the achievement.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2018, he threatened to form a breakaway snooker tour akin to the split in darts.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
During the 2020 World Championship, O'Sullivan publicly criticised the standard of new players coming into snooker, stating that he would have to "lose an arm and a leg to fall out of the top 50".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was also critical of the tournament organisers' decision to allow fans into the final during the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2021, O'Sullivan claimed on a podcast interview that most snooker players had wasted their lives. He called snooker a "bad sport" that can cause "a lot of damage", suggesting that the antisocial nature of solitary practice in a darkened environment can stunt players' personal development. He stated that he would not support his own children if they chose to become snooker players, and said that if he could live his sporting career over again, he would pursue golf or Formula One instead.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Other endeavours
Broadcasting
Eurosport signed an exclusive deal with O'Sullivan in March 2014 to make him its global ambassador for snooker, with the goal of driving its international appeal.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> As part of this deal, O'Sullivan created a special snooker series for the network called The Ronnie O'Sullivan Show, which included his insights into the game, interviews with other professional players, and playing tips. He also wrote for Yahoo! websites and mobile apps during the 2014 World Championship.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He frequently appears as a pundit on Eurosport's snooker coverage, alongside Jimmy White and Neal Foulds.Template:Citation needed
In 2015 and 2016, O'Sullivan co-hosted the Midweek Matchzone show with Chris Hood on Brentwood radio station Phoenix FM.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2017, he starred in miniseries Ronnie O'Sullivan's American Hustle with broadcasting friend Matt Smith, in which the pair toured different cities in the United States learning the art of pool hustling.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Author
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O'Sullivan has written three crime novels in collaboration with author Emlyn Rees:<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Framed (2016),<ref name="BBC20160707">Template:Cite news</ref> Double Kiss (2017),<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and The Break (2018). Although the novels are not autobiographical, they are loosely based on his early experiences and family life.<ref name="BBC20160707" /> He has also written two autobiographies. His first, Ronnie: The Autobiography of Ronnie O'Sullivan, was published in 2003; and his second, Running: The Autobiography, was published in 2013.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He has also co-authored a health and fitness book with nutritionist Rhiannon Lambert entitled Top of Your Game: Eating for Mind and Body. Published in 2019, it contains healthy recipes and advice for "living better, eating healthier and feeding your brain to enhance your performance".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Video games
O'Sullivan has been involved with several video games, including Virtual Snooker (1996), World Snooker Championship 2007 (2007), and Ronnie O'Sullivan's Snooker for PlayStation Portable (2012).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Documentary film
Template:Main A documentary film titled Ronnie O'Sullivan: The Edge of Everything was produced by David Beckham's production company Studio 99, directed by filmmaker Sam Blair, and distributed by MetFilms.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The film premiered in London on 21 November 2023, and was released on Amazon Prime Video on 23 November. It highlighted the hardships he faced as a professional at the highest level of snooker, as well as how his personal life had impacted his career.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Snooker course
In October 2023, O'Sullivan launched an online snooker course entitled The Rocket Method, where he provides in-depth lessons on the game for a subscription fee.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Assisted by Alan McManus, the course contains 12 episodes, each an hour in length, of which the final batch of episodes was released in March 2024.<ref name="snooker.online">Template:Cite web</ref> The course has a cinematic production and was directed by Oscar-nominated director Gregg Helvey, and episodes are available in English and Mandarin Chinese.<ref name="snooker.online"/>
Personal life
O'Sullivan was born on 5 December 1975 in Wordsley, West Midlands,<ref name="WorldSnooker Bio of O'Sullivan">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Dec06" /><ref name="History Bio of O'Sullivan">Template:Cite web</ref> the son of Ronald John and Maria (née Catalano) O'Sullivan, who ran a string of sex shops in the Soho area of London.<ref name="Financial Times Oct 2013">Template:Cite news</ref> His mother is originally from Sicily, and O'Sullivan spent childhood holidays in the village near Agrigento where she grew up.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was brought up in the Manor Road area of Chigwell, Essex, where he lived for some years<ref name="Financial Times Oct 2013" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and attended Wanstead High School.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> As of mid-2024, he lived in the adjoining area of Chingford and Woodford Green.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He is a first cousin of snooker player Maria Catalano, who has been ranked number one in the women's game.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1992 his father was sentenced to life in prison for murder and was released in 2010 after serving 18 years.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His mother was sentenced to a year in prison for tax evasion in 1996, leaving O'Sullivan to care for his eight-year-old sister Danielle.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 1995 he was banned from driving for a year and fined £1,200, as he returned from the International Open, in Bournemouth, after defeat in the last 16.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
O'Sullivan has three children: a daughter named Taylor-Ann (born 1997) from a two-year relationship with Sally Magnus,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> as well as a son and a daughter from a relationship with Jo Langley, whom he met at Narcotics Anonymous.<ref name="PC">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He became a grandfather in October 2018 after Taylor-Ann gave birth to a daughter.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He began dating actress Laila Rouass in 2012, and became engaged to her in 2013.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Rouass announced on social media in February 2022 that they had ended their ten-year relationship.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The couple later reconciled,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but in September 2024 were reported to have broken up again.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They reconciled again in January 2025 and, in June of that year, they married at St George's Town Hall in Shadwell, East London.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
O'Sullivan is known for his perfectionism and for being highly self-critical,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> even in victory.<ref name="WC2008">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Early in his career, he was treated for drug-related issues and bouts of depression.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Since 2011, psychiatrist and sports psychologist Steve Peters, a close friend,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> has helped him overcome his mood swings.<ref name="Financial Times Oct 2013" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He is also a close friend of artist Damien Hirst.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Noted for repeatedly declaring his intention to retire,<ref name="Telegraph 2012 May 4">Template:Cite news</ref> O'Sullivan took an extended break from the professional snooker tour during the 2012–13 season, during which he worked on a pig farm for several weeks.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He enjoys running,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and has achieved a personal best of 34 minutes and 54 seconds for 10 km races, which ranked him in the top 1,500 10 km runners in the UK in 2008.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He enjoys cooking,<ref>Template:Cite AV media</ref> and appeared on the BBC's Saturday Kitchen in December 2014 and February 2021.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He also enjoys motor racing, and has appeared on series 4 of Top Gear.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref> He is a supporter of Arsenal FC.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Despite a self-professed interest in Islam, O'Sullivan denied media reports that said he had converted to the religion in 2003.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He has also espoused an interest in Buddhism,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> having spent many lunchtimes at the London Buddhist Centre in Bethnal Green. He has said he does not have a firm commitment to any religion.<ref>Template:Cite episode</ref>
O'Sullivan was made an OBE in the New Year Honours list in 2016, for services to snooker.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
O'Sullivan was a supporter of the Labour Party during the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but in June 2024, he endorsed Faiza Shaheen, the independent candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green, in the 2024 General Election.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In June 2023 he was a guest for BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs. An extended version of the programme was broadcast in October 2024. His book choice was Running with the Kenyans by Adharanand Finn, his luxury item was a painting set and his favourite disc was "That's All" by Genesis.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On 31 October 2024, O'Sullivan obtained Hong Kong residency under the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Performance and rankings timeline
| Tournament | 1992/ 93 |
1993/ 94 |
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| Ranking | <ref group="nb">New players on the Main Tour do not have a ranking</ref> | 57 | 9 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 11 | 9 | 19 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ranking tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Championship League | Tournament Not Held | Non-Ranking Event | WD | WD | 2R | WD | RR | A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Saudi Arabia Masters | Tournament Not Held | QF | F | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wuhan Open | Tournament Not Held | QF | WD | WD | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| English Open | Tournament Not Held | 3R | W | SF | 4R | 3R | SF | 2R | 3R | 1R | A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| British Open | LQ | W | F | SF | 1R | QF | 3R | SF | QF | SF | 2R | F | SF | Tournament Not Held | A | LQ | WD | WD | WD | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Xi'an Grand Prix | Tournament Not Held | SF | QF | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northern Ireland Open | Tournament Not Held | 4R | 3R | F | F | F | 3R | 1R | WD | WD | A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International Championship | Tournament Not Held | WD | 2R | QF | A | 3R | 1R | A | A | Not Held | SF | 2R | 2R | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| UK Championship | 2R | W | QF | QF | 1R | W | A | QF | SF | W | QF | SF | 1R | 1R | QF | W | 2R | SF | 1R | 2R | A | QF | W | A | F | W | W | 4R | 2R | QF | QF | W | 1R | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shoot Out | Tournament Not Held | Non-Ranking Event | A | A | A | 2R | A | A | A | A | A | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scottish Open<ref group="nb">The event was called the International Open (1992/1993–1996/1997) and the Players Championship (2003/2004)</ref> | 2R | LQ | 3R | 1R | QF | W | 2R | W | 1R | 1R | 2R | QF | Tournament Not Held | MR | Not Held | QF | QF | WD | QF | F | SF | 2R | WD | WD | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| German Masters<ref group="nb">The event was called the German Open (1995/1996–1997/1998)</ref> | Not Held | 1R | W | SF | NR | Tournament Not Held | WD | W | A | LQ | QF | LQ | 1R | WD | A | A | A | LQ | WD | WD | WD | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Grand Prix | Tournament Not Held | NR | 1R | 2R | W | 1R | QF | SF | W | 2R | W | WD | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Players Championship<ref group="nb">The event was called the Players Tour Championship Grand Final (2010/2011–2015/2016)</ref> | Tournament Not Held | DNQ | WD | DNQ | 2R | DNQ | DNQ | QF | W | W | DNQ | F | QF | DNQ | QF | DNQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Welsh Open | 2R | 2R | QF | 2R | 2R | 3R | SF | 3R | 2R | 2R | QF | W | W | 1R | QF | F | 2R | SF | 1R | SF | A | W | 3R | W | 2R | QF | 3R | SF | F | 3R | QF | WD | WD | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Open<ref group="nb">The event was called the Grand Prix (1992/1993–2000/2001 and 2004/2005–2009/2010) and the LG Cup (2001/2002–2003/2004)</ref> | 1R | 1R | QF | 1R | 2R | 2R | 3R | QF | F | QF | QF | 2R | W | F | QF | F | QF | 2R | F | WD | A | A | Not Held | A | A | A | LQ | Not Held | 3R | WD | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tour Championship | Tournament Not Held | W | DNQ | F | SF | DNQ | F | DNQ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Championship | 1R | 2R | QF | SF | 2R | SF | SF | 1R | W | SF | 1R | W | QF | SF | QF | W | 2R | QF | QF | W | W | F | QF | 2R | QF | 2R | 1R | W | 2R | W | QF | QF | SF | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Non-ranking tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shanghai Masters | Tournament Not Held | Ranking Event | W | W | Not Held | W | SF | QF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Champion of Champions | Tournament Not Held | W | W | WD | F | F | W | SF | QF | QF | W | WD | 1R | A | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Template:Nowrap | Tournament Not Held | W | SF | 2R | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Masters | WDQ | WR | W | F | F | QF | QF | QF | 1R | QF | QF | F | W | F | W | 1R | W | F | 1R | QF | A | W | SF | W | W | QF | F | A | QF | QF | QF | W | WD | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Championship League | Tournament Not Held | A | A | RR | WD | A | A | A | WD | F | A | A | A | 2R | WD | RR | WD | WD | WD | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former ranking tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asian Classic<ref group="nb">The event was called the Dubai Classic (1992/1993-1994/1995) and the Thailand Classic (1995/1996)</ref> | LQ | SF | SF | 1R | W | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Malta Grand Prix | Not Held | Non-Ranking Event | QF | NR | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thailand Masters<ref group="nb">The event was called the Asian Open (1992/1993) and the Thailand Open (1993/1994–1996/1997)</ref> | 2R | 1R | F | 2R | SF | 2R | 1R | 2R | 2R | SF | NR | Not Held | NR | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Irish Masters | Non-Ranking Event | W | QF | W | NH | NR | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northern Ireland Trophy | Tournament Not Held | NR | F | QF | W | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shanghai Masters | Tournament Not Held | WD | F | W | WD | 2R | A | A | 1R | A | 2R | W | Non-Ranking | Not Held | Non-Ranking | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| China Open<ref group="nb" name="CHN">The event was called the China International (1997/1998–1998/1999)</ref> | Tournament Not Held | NR | 2R | W | W | QF | Not Held | WD | 1R | SF | 1R | QF | 1R | 1R | QF | A | A | WD | A | 2R | 1R | A | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| China Championship | Tournament Not Held | NR | QF | A | A | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| WST Pro Series | Tournament Not Held | RR | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gibraltar Open | Tournament Not Held | A | A | A | A | A | WD | 1R | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| WST Classic | Tournament Not Held | WD | Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| European Masters<ref group="nb">The event was called the European Open (1992/1993–1996/1997 and 2001/2002–2003/2004), the Irish Open (1998/1999) and the Malta Cup (2004/2005–2007/2008)</ref> | QF | F | SF | 1R | 1R | NH | 1R | Not Held | QF | W | QF | 2R | A | 1R | NR | Tournament Not Held | F | A | WD | A | 2R | F | WD | WD | Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Former non-ranking tournaments | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nescafe Extra Challenge | W | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Belgian Masters | SF | Not Held | A | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Superstar International | Tournament Not Held | W | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| China International<ref group="nb" name="CHN"/> | Tournament Not Held | SF | Ranking Event | Not Held | Ranking Event | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Millennium Cup | Tournament Not Held | F | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pontins Professional | A | A | QF | A | A | A | A | A | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Champions Cup<ref group="nb">The event was called the Charity Challenge (1994/1995–1998/1999)</ref> | Not Held | QF | W | F | F | F | SF | W | RR | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scottish Masters | A | A | SF | SF | QF | QF | W | QF | W | F | W | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Northern Ireland Trophy | Tournament Not Held | 1R | Ranking Event | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Irish Masters | A | QF | 1R | QF | SF | DQ | QF | SF | W | QF | Ranking Event | NH | W | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Euro-Asia Masters Challenge | Tournament Not Held | A | Not Held | RR | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pot Black | QF | A | Tournament Not Held | QF | A | A | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Benson & Hedges Championship | MR | W | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | NH | A | A | A | A | Tournament Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Power Snooker | Tournament Not Held | W | F | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Premier League<ref group="nb" name="PLS">The event was called the European League (1992/1993–1996/1997)</ref> | RR | RR | RR | RR | W | RR | SF | SF | W | W | SF | A | W | W | W | W | W | F | W | W | A | Tournament Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Grand Prix | Tournament Not Held | F | Ranking Event | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shoot Out | Tournament Not Held | SF | A | A | A | 2R | A | Ranking Event | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hong Kong Masters | Tournament Not Held | F | Tournament Not Held | W | Not Held | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Six-red World Championship<ref group="nb">The event was called the Six-red Snooker International (2008/2009) and the Six-red World Grand Prix (2009/2010)</ref> | Tournament Not Held | A | A | NH | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | Not Held | 2R | Not Held | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Performance Table Legend | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| W | won the tournament | F | lost in the final | SF | lost in the semi–finals | |||
| QF | lost in the quarter-finals | #R | lost in the early rounds of the tournament (WR = Wildcard round, RR = Round robin) |
LQ | lost in the qualifying draw | |||
| DNQ | did not qualify for the tournament | WD | withdrew from the tournament | WDQ | withdrew from the qualifying tournament | |||
| A | did not participate in the tournament | DQ | disqualified from the tournament | |||||
| NH | Not Held | event was not held | ||||||
| NR | Non-Ranking Event | event is/was no longer a ranking event | R | Ranking Event | event is/was a ranking event | |||
| MR | Minor-Ranking Event | event is/was a minor-ranking event | PA | Pro–am Event | event is/was a pro–am event | |||
Career finals
Ranking finals: 65 (41 titles)
| Legend |
|---|
| World Championship (7–1) |
| UK Championship (8–1) |
| Other (26–22) |
Minor-ranking finals: 6 (3 titles)
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent | Score | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Nowrap | 1. | 2010 | Template:Nowrap | Template:Nowrap | 3–4 | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Winner | 1. | 2011 | Template:Nowrap | Template:Flagicon Template:Sortname | 4–0 | <ref name="PTC 1 2011/2012">Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Winner | 2. | 2011 | Kay Suzanne Memorial Trophy | Template:Nowrap | 4–2 | <ref name="Kay Suzanne Memorial Trophy">Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Runner-up | 2. | 2011 | Antwerp Open | Template:Flagicon Template:Sortname | 3–4 | <ref name="2011 Antwerp Open">Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Winner | 3. | 2013 | Paul Hunter Classic | Template:Flagicon Template:Sortname | 4–0 | <ref name="2013 Paul Hunter Classic">Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Runner-up | 3. | 2013 | Antwerp Open (2) | Template:Flagicon Template:Sortname | 3–4 | <ref name="2013 Antwerp Open">Template:Cite web</ref> |
Non-ranking finals: 57 (39 titles)
| Legend |
|---|
| The Masters (8–6) |
| Champion of Champions (4–2) |
| Premier League (10–1) |
| Other (17–9) |
| Disqualified (1) |
Pro–am finals: 1 (1 title)
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent | Score | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 1. | 2015 | Pink Ribbon | Template:Flagicon Darryn Walker | 4–2 | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
Team finals: 3 (3 titles)
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Team | Template:Nowrap | Score | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | 1. | 2000 | Nations Cup | Template:Flagcountry | Template:Flagcountry | 6–4 | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Winner | 2. | 2007 | Template:Nowrap | Template:Flagcountry | Team Asia | 5–3 | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Winner | 3. | 2017 | Template:Nowrap | Template:Flagcountry | Template:Flagcountry | 26–9 | <ref name="CVB Snooker Challenge">Template:Cite web</ref> |
Amateur finals: 7 (4 titles)
| Outcome | No. | Year | Championship | Opponent | Score | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runner-up | 1. | 1987 | Pontins Junior Championship | Template:Flagicon Rod Lawler | 0–3 | <ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Runner-up | 2. | 1988 | UK Under-16 Championship | Template:Flagicon Mark King | 2–3 | <ref>Template:Cite news</ref> |
| Winner | 1. | 1989 | British Under-16 Championship | Template:Flagicon Andy Hicks | 3–1 | <ref name="u16" /> |
| Runner-up | 3. | 1991 | English Amateur Championship | Template:Flagicon Steve Judd | 10–13 | <ref name="Turner Amateur">Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Winner | 2. | 1991 | Template:Nowrap | Template:Flagicon Patrick Delsemme | Template:Sort | <ref name="Turner Amateur" /> |
| Winner | 3. | 1991 | Junior Pot Black | Template:Flagicon Declan Murphy | 2–0 | <ref name="Junior Pot Black 1991">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> |
| Winner | 4. | 1991 | Pontins Autumn Championship | Template:Flagicon Matthew Stevens | 5–0 | <ref>Template:Cite news</ref> |
Maximum and century breaks
Template:Main O'Sullivan has completed 17 maximum breaks in professional competition, from his first in the 1997 World Snooker Championship against Mick Price<ref name="O'Sullivan 1997 WC Championship max">Template:Cite web</ref> to his second of two 2025 Saudi Arabia Masters maximums against Chris Wakelin.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
His first official maximum in 1997, completed in 5 minutes and 8 seconds, holds the record for the fastest maximum break achieved in competitive play. Initially, Guinness World Records recorded the time at 5 minutes and 20 seconds,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but subsequent evidence has suggested that the BBC started the timer too early on the break.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Depending on the timing methodology used, the break took between 5 minutes 8 seconds and 5 minutes 15 seconds;<ref name="Deadspin">Template:Cite news</ref> both World Snooker and Guinness World Records now officially acknowledge the shorter time.<ref name="WorldSnooker Bio of O'Sullivan" />
O'Sullivan also holds the record for the total number of century breaks, compiling more than 1,200 in professional competition. He scored his 1,200th century in a second-round match against Hossein Vafaei at the 2023 World Snooker Championship.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> At the 2022 Scottish Open, O'Sullivan scored a century in 3 minutes and 34 seconds—just 3 seconds slower than the fastest televised century break, made by Tony Drago in 1996.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He scored his 1,300th century in the 2025 Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters final again Neil Roberston, making him the first ever professional snooker player to do so.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
See also
- Professional snooker career of Ronnie O'Sullivan
- Maximum and century breaks made by Ronnie O'Sullivan
- Ronnie O'Sullivan: The Edge of Everything
Footnotes
References
Further reading
External links
Template:Ronnie O'Sullivan Template:World snooker champions Template:UK Championship winners Template:Masters winners Template:Snooker world number ones Template:Snooker player of the year Template:1996 European Mosconi Cup team Template:1997 European Mosconi Cup team Template:Authority control
- Pages with broken file links
- Ronnie O'Sullivan
- 1975 births
- Living people
- Sportspeople from Wordsley
- English snooker players
- Masters (snooker) champions
- UK champions (snooker)
- English pool players
- English people of Irish descent
- English people of Italian descent
- British people of Sicilian descent
- Winners of the professional snooker world championship
- World number one snooker players
- People from Chigwell
- Sportspeople from Essex
- People educated at Wanstead High School
- Labour Party (UK) people
- Officers of the Order of the British Empire
- English expatriate sportspeople in Hong Kong