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The snooker legend previews the upcoming World Championship at the Crucible and discusses the possibility of O’Sullivan playing and triumphing once again.
Former snooker world champion Ken Doherty believes Ronnie O’Sullivan is in with a chance of winning an eighth world title if he decides to take part at the Crucible.
Sullivan is yet to confirm whether he will play but is currently among the favourites in the snooker betting to win the championship, which begins on 19 April.
In our exclusive interview, Doherty, who won the tournament in 1997, discussed the chances of O’Sullivan playing, the future of the Crucible at Sheffield and whether Kyren Wilson can break the ‘Crucible Curse’ by defending his world title.
What do you make of Ronnie O’Sullivan saying that he’ll make his decision on playing in the Worlds at the last minute? Is that fair on other players and fans?
I think Ronnie knows already now about whether he will play or not. From a spectator point of view who buy the tickets, if he doesn’t play and he pulls out then whoever would be playing him will get a bye into the next round, because you can’t substitute players once the draw is done. If Ronnie decided not to play and somebody qualified to play him, they would get a bye into the last 16 of the World Championship, which wouldn’t be great. I think Ronnie will play, though. I have a hunch that he will play.
How do you rate Ronnie’s chances?
I know mentally, he has been struggling and he has had problems, but I think the World Championship is just too big to miss and to not to play at. If Ronnie does play, then yes, he has a chance to win an eighth world title because anything can happen. He had one year off before and came back to win the World Championship. He’s the greatest snooker player of all time and is a genius. I think he can come back, challenge and be a major contender this year.
Do you think that O’Sullivan and Judd Trump being based abroad will affect their preparation for the World Championship?
I think it might actually suit them because the season is so long and there’s a lot of travelling for tournaments. The fact that the likes of Judd can go to Dubai and relax, they have a good base out there and it’s pretty much halfway between the UK and China, it’s not such a long journey. I think having a base in Dubai like Judd is suited to guys like that, and I don’t think it’ll affect them. As I said, there are so many tournaments that being in Dubai is a good base point.
Is it the most competitive Crucible in years?
It really is. You have Kyren Wilson and Judd Trump who have had great seasons, then you have Mark Selby, John Higgins, Neil Robertson who has come into great form, Shaun Murphy who has won the Masters, and then you throw in Mark Allen who hasn’t had a great season but is still one of the top players. He’ll think he has a chance as well. Then you have some of the Chinese players like Si Jiahui, Jak Jones who got into last year’s final and of course, Ronnie O’Sullivan, who hasn’t played. He is a complete unknown, but I wouldn’t put it past him if Ronnie comes back and finds a bit of form. That could be one of greatest stories in snooker and he has a habit of doing it.
What do you make of the Crucible Curse and how no first-time winner has been able to defend their title? You came as close as anyone after winning it in 1997 and making the final in 1998.
I think Kyren Williams has a superb chance. The only thing I would say is, because he and Judd Trump have played each other so much, I hope they’re not burnt out going into the Crucible. Kyren looked really tired last week; he’s had a long season. He’s won four tournaments this season and he looked tired and a little burnt out at the Tour Championship, so maybe a couple of weeks’ rest before might be good for him. It’s a big gig, the Crucible curse, it’s been going on since 1977 and he’s going to be asked about it many times, but I don’t think he will mind. Kyren, the way he has been playing, has to be one of the favourites as he is playing full of confidence, he has won tournaments and believes in himself. That’s the big thing, he is full of confidence and that’s a good thing. Kyren has to be like that if you want to defend the Crucible title and maintain that consistency.
Do you believe that the Worlds belongs at the Crucible going forward, or do you think it’s time for a change of scenery?
No, if it went around the world then if wouldn’t have the same effect. It’s a wonderful venue and has great history. You can only fit 950 people in, but if you get 950 in for every session, where else can you do that? We’ve been to Manchester, great crowds there but it wasn’t packed in every session. It’s built up over that great history and people follow the Worlds and come to the Crucible just because it’s the Crucible. I think that should sell snooker around the world. Let other countries build up that history. Let the Saudis build up their own tournaments and build up their history. Let China build up their tournaments and maybe in Europe too.
But the Crucible should remain where it is because the atmosphere here, the intensity, and the quietness and eeriness of it at times, it does certain things to certain players over the years. We’ve seen the comebacks from the likes of Dennis Taylor, Lucas Brecel, and there’s lot of great comebacks from the Crucible. Jimmy White’s 147, Ronnie O’Sullivan’s maximum and all of those great moments that the Crucible has created. I think that’s what keeps people coming back and it should stay there. Sheffield has been good to snooker when they needed it, so snooker should be good to Sheffield by keeping it.