Ronnie O'Sullivan wasted no time getting back to work after his dominant World Snooker Championship victory over He Guoqiang, practising throughout the evening in full view of BBC cameras. The seven-time world champion defeated the Chinese qualifier 10-2 on Wednesday, setting up a last-16 clash with fellow 'Class of '92' member John Higgins.
The Rocket's dedication was impossible to miss during the BBC's evening coverage, as he spent hours honing his skills on the practice tables at the Crucible Theatre. Presenter Seema Jaswal acknowledged his presence, saying: 'It's quite strange that we're talking about him and he's right there.'
Fans also took note, with one supporter page posting on X: 'Nearly 10:30pm and the Rocket still grinding away on the practice table.' Another commented: 'Means business.'
O'Sullivan's commitment is particularly striking given his recent admission that he sometimes struggles with motivation to practise. He told TNT Sports: 'I don't play as much because I tend to get a little bit bored with just practising now. I do it in stages... I still want to enjoy the game.'
Ahead of his match against Higgins, O'Sullivan has attempted to play down his chances, labelling himself the underdog. 'John loves playing me... I'll probably be a bit of an underdog because I've hardly played for the last three years,' he said. 'But the pressure is off me and probably more on John.'
