Snooker icon Ronnie O'Sullivan has delivered a raw and honest assessment of his past struggles, admitting that his battle with alcohol inflicted significant harm on both his professional career and personal wellbeing. The 49-year-old, who is set to compete in this week's UK Championship, spoke openly about his vulnerabilities in a candid interview with TNT Sports.
The Years of Regret and Damage
O'Sullivan, a seven-time world champion, pinpointed a specific period that he would change if he could. He identified the years from 2019 to 2025 as particularly damaging, stating that his lifestyle during that time negatively impacted his snooker, which in turn caused problems away from the table. "I think I caused a lot of damage in those years to my game," O'Sullivan confessed. "I became quite vulnerable, unconfident."
Reflecting on his entire career, which began professionally when he was just 16, the Rocket expressed deep regret over decisions made in his late teens. He revealed that if he could turn back time, he would avoid the "drinking, partying sort of thing" that he ventured into at 18 and 19 years old.
A Sobering Realisation and the Path to Recovery
The snooker legend, who has previously spoken about losing himself to booze and drugs in the 1990s, shared the moment he decided to seek help. It was during a sober spell that he had a stark realisation about his dependency. "I felt a bit down, and the reason I was feeling down was because I was missing that excitement, what I thought was excitement," O'Sullivan explained. "I couldn't live sober in a way, I found living sober a problem."
This epiphany led him to reach out for support. O'Sullivan entered rehab and committed to a clean lifestyle, rediscovering that true happiness lay in sobriety. He stated firmly, "I can't keep thinking I can get away with the odd night out anymore."
Gratitude and a Warning from Hollywood
Despite winning seven ranking finals over a six-year span, O'Sullivan said his issues with alcohol left him feeling hollow. He also acknowledged his fortune in confronting his demons relatively quickly, drawing a chilling comparison. The avid runner mentioned watching a documentary about actor Charlie Sheen's decades-long struggle with addiction.
"He went on for about 30 years. I got out after three years, so I had a result," O'Sullivan reflected. He admitted the thought that "that could have been me" was a sobering one, underscoring how easily a different path could have been taken.
As he prepares to add to his record eight UK Championship titles, Ronnie O'Sullivan's reflections offer a powerful insight into the personal battles fought behind the scenes of a legendary sporting career. His story is one of triumph over adversity, but also a permanent acknowledgement of the damage done along the way.
