Since turning professional in 1992, Ronnie O’Sullivan has not only established himself as the greatest snooker player of all time, but he has also been the most entertaining. The Rocket is the box office ticket that everybody wants to see play.

O’Sullivan won the second tournament of the season in the Champion of Champions. He defeated Judd Trump in the final 10-6 in an invitational event open to players who had won on the World Snooker Tour (WST) last season. The man from Essex will get the chance to add to his tally for the 2022/23 campaign at the UK Championship. He is the +400 favorite in the UK Championship snooker 2022 odds where he will be one of the leading contenders for the trophy.

Now at the age of 46, O’Sullivan is in the twilight stages of his career. Along with John Higgins and Mark Williams, the three players are known as the ‘class of 92’. All three are defying their age to remain at the top of the sport, something very few have been able to achieve in the past in their mid-40s.

Seventh Heaven at Crucible

O’Sullivan won his seventh world title earlier this at the Crucible in Sheffield when he got the better of Trump in the final. That success brought him level with Stephen Hendry for the most trophies in the biggest tournament in the sport.

The Rocket has vowed to return to Sheffield next April where he will be defending his title and looking to secure the record outright. The world number one has often brought his best game to the world championship, as he has handled the pressure of the event better than any of the players in the draw.

There have also been moments over the years that only O’Sullivan could produce. A great example of that is his 147-maximum break in a record time of five minutes and eight seconds in 1997. Some players have taken that long to take one shot, but O’Sullivan whizzed around the table, potting 15 reds with 15 blacks, before clearing the colors.

O’Sullivan Has Kept Himself in Good Physical Shape

Although snooker is not known for being a physical sport, O’Sullivan has ensured he has remained fit throughout his career. He is a regular runner, and he has credited his fitness as being a big reason for his success, as it has got him in great shape physically and mentally.

O’Sullivan was also one of the first snooker players to sign up for a mental coach. Since 2011, he has been working with Steve Peters, a psychiatrist. That has been a good partnership, as O’Sullivan believes it has been key to the success he has had over the last decade in snooker.

The 21-time Triple Crown winner is now more selective regarding which events he plays. That schedule management has also helped him keep his love for the sport. It remains to be seen how long O’Sullivan can continue playing, but as the highest-ranked player in the WST, the rest of the pack must raise their game to beat him.