Ronnie OSullivan is in confident mood as he heads into the Masters this month, looking to break his own record by lifting the title for an eighth time.
The Rocket first won the Masters in 1995, the second of his Triple Crown successes, of which he can boast a record 19 thanks to five World Championships and seven UK Championships.
Most agree that OSullivan is the greatest player to ever pick up a cue and he certainly agrees that no one he has ever faced can challenge him at the top of the sport.
I dont think theres any pro who has ever played in my era who can honestly say that they got the better of me, really, OSullivan told Sportsmail.
Ive had to play different eras and players. Some players will come along for five years and everyone will be saying, “Oh theyre going to be great”. And then Ill have to deal with them, the Rocket continued.
Advertisement Advertisement
And then it will be another batch and then Id have five years of them. And then another batch of players. Because they cant sustain it. They cant sustain it for 25 years.
I just know that they have to continue doing what theyre good at to a very high level for a very long time to have a chance to beat me. And they might beat me. But Ill be coming for you the next week.
OSullivans first Triple Crown win came at the 1993 UK Championship, when he became the youngest snooker player to ever win a ranking tournament at just 17-years-old.
Winning the 2018 UK Championship took his total to 19 Triple Crown titles, moving him clear at the top of the list ahead of Stephen Hendry.
The Scot still holds the record for most World Championship titles with seven, with OSullivan still two behind.
However, with OSullivan having rediscovered his love for the game, the 43-year-old believes he has plenty of time to catch Hendry on that front.
Unless some really good players come up through the ranks, I could maybe go on until 55. So who knows?
OSullivan begins his Masters campaign in the afternoon session on Monday 14 January.
MORE: Judd Trump, Neil Robertson and Jack Lisowski into Championship League Winners Group
MORE: The Masters snooker 2019 draw, schedule, tickets and odds
Advertisement Advertisement
Ronnie OSullivan is in confident mood as he heads into the Masters this month, looking to break his own record by lifting the title for an eighth time.
The Rocket first won the Masters in 1995, the second of his Triple Crown successes, of which he can boast a record 19 thanks to five World Championships and seven UK Championships.
Most agree that OSullivan is the greatest player to ever pick up a cue and he certainly agrees that no one he has ever faced can challenge him at the top of the sport.
I dont think theres any pro who has ever played in my era who can honestly say that they got the better of me, really, OSullivan told Sportsmail.
Ive had to play different eras and players. Some players will come along for five years and everyone will be saying, “Oh theyre going to be great”. And then Ill have to deal with them, the Rocket continued.
Advertisement Advertisement
And then it will be another batch and then Id have five years of them. And then another batch of players. Because they cant sustain it. They cant sustain it for 25 years.
I just know that they have to continue doing what theyre good at to a very high level for a very long time to have a chance to beat me. And they might beat me. But Ill be coming for you the next week.
OSullivans first Triple Crown win came at the 1993 UK Championship, when he became the youngest snooker player to ever win a ranking tournament at just 17-years-old.
Winning the 2018 UK Championship took his total to 19 Triple Crown titles, moving him clear at the top of the list ahead of Stephen Hendry.
The Scot still holds the record for most World Championship titles with seven, with OSullivan still two behind.
However, with OSullivan having rediscovered his love for the game, the 43-year-old believes he has plenty of time to catch Hendry on that front.
Unless some really good players come up through the ranks, I could maybe go on until 55. So who knows?
OSullivan begins his Masters campaign in the afternoon session on Monday 14 January.
MORE: Judd Trump, Neil Robertson and Jack Lisowski into Championship League Winners Group
MORE: The Masters snooker 2019 draw, schedule, tickets and odds
Advertisement Advertisement
