Many greats have graced the world of snooker over the years, and Ronnie O’Sullivan is certainly up there with the greatest sportspersons of all time. He will be the outright record winner of the World Snooker Championship of the modern era with just one more triumph.
Can O’Sullivan Win Another World Crown?
Before a ball was struck at the 2023 Snooker World Championship at the Crucible Theatre, O’Sullivan was the tournament favorite. Winning the title is the hardest thing to do in snooker, but the Rocket is a seven-time world champion. For those looking to bet on snooker, O’Sullivan is priced at around +300 to add a World Snooker Championship to his trophy cabinet this season.
Of course, it will not be plain sailing, as the likes of Mark Selby, Neil Robertson and Judd Trump have also been tipped to go far. O’Sullivan will have to be at his very best to come out on top at the Crucible Theatre in 2023.
O’Sullivan Among the Greatest British Sports Stars
Britain is blessed with a whole host of world-class athletes. Lewis Hamilton has been a dominant force in Formula One over the past decade or so, Andy Murray is a two-time Wimbledon winner in tennis, and George Best is regarded as one of the best soccer players to have ever lived.
Snooker may not be the most popular sport on the planet, but O’Sullivan has been the man to beat since turning professional in the game way back in 1992. He is like the Tiger Woods of snooker. O’Sullivan’s first ranking event win was the 1993 UK Championship, and the Rocket has never looked back.
He has won a total of 39 ranking tournaments throughout his illustrious career, with seven of those being world titles. The English ace has also won three minor-ranking events.
Rocket Equals Record in 2022
O’Sullivan moved level with Stephen Hendry on seven world championships with his stunning victory in Sheffield last year. As is so often the case these days, O’Sullivan was among the favorites from the very start, and he proved to be unstoppable at the Crucible.
He beat David Gilbert in the first round before easing past Mark Allen in round two. O’Sullivan then beat the experienced Scottish duo of Stephen Maguire and John Higgins to book his spot in yet another world final.
O’Sullivan went up against Trump in the 2022 final, and the pair put on a show for the watching public. Veteran O’Sullivan held his nerve, beating the Juggernaut 18-13 to get his hands on the trophy for a record-equalling seventh time.
It remains to be seen whether O’Sullivan can break the modern-era record or not. He is no doubt entering the latter stages of his career, as the current World No. 1 turns 48 this December.
Nevertheless, O’Sullivan is aging like a fine wine, and he surely has at least one more world title in him before packing away his cue for the final time. Can O’Sullivan break the record in 2023?