Snooker professional Daniel Wells is using harsh criticism from legend Ronnie O'Sullivan as powerful motivation to prove his worth on the world stage.
The Damning Verdict That Sparked a Mission
During the 2023 Welsh Open, where Wells competed as an amateur, Ronnie O'Sullivan delivered a brutal assessment while working as a pundit for Eurosport. The seven-time world champion suggested Wells should abandon hopes of a professional career and remain a part-time player.
O'Sullivan didn't mince his words, stating: "I think for him he should just stay as a part-time player, irrelevant of how well he does. He's tried [being pro] and he ain't at that level, never will be. At best, he'll maybe make a few semi-finals now and again. He's never going to be a tournament winner. He's just not good enough."
Turning Criticism into Championship Fuel
Rather than being crushed by the comments, Wells used them as inspiration. In a remarkable response at that very same tournament, he defeated current world number one Judd Trump and advanced to the last 16. He has since successfully returned to the World Snooker Tour.
Currently ranked 41st globally, Wells has demonstrated significant progress this season. His achievements include reaching the semi-finals of the Xi'an Grand Prix, where he was eventually beaten by champion Mark Williams.
Speaking on the Talking Snooker podcast, Wells revealed the depth of his motivation: "That's a perfect motivation for me. People speak to me about how Ronnie said that, and yeah, it wasn't very nice, to be honest."
The Quote Pinned to His Wall
Wells has taken the extraordinary step of pinning O'Sullivan's exact words to his snooker room wall. The specific quote he displays reads: "you're never going to be good enough to win a tournament."
He explained his mindset: "But now I've got an extra bit of a point to prove, because somebody else thinks I can't do it. It's a perfect scenario for me. If I can't do it, he's right and so what? But if I can do it, it's brilliant for me."
Wells also put O'Sullivan's criticism in perspective, noting that being recognised by the snooker great is itself an achievement. He contrasted his current career with his previous work, stating: "I've earned a better living playing snooker than what I did cleaning toilets!"
As Wells prepares for UK Championship qualifying, he carries this powerful motivation with him. Meanwhile, O'Sullivan recently suffered a 4-0 defeat to Shaun Murphy in the first round of the Riyadh Season Snooker Championship, a match that lasted just over an hour.
The upcoming UK Championship begins on November 29, where both players will be looking to make their mark on the tournament.
