Snooker icon Ronnie O’Sullivan reckons he could have rivalled Lewis Hamilton for F1 titles

Saturday Kitchen: Ronnie O'Sullivan discusses his fish diet

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Ronnie O’Sullivan might be one of the greatest snooker players of all time – but he thinks he could have been rivalling Lewis Hamilton or Michael Schumacher in an F1 car had he been given the chance. O’Sullivan, 46, is a six-time world champion with more than 1,100 century breaks to his name, and despite a recent slump in form remains competitive at the top level.

The Englishman’s professional career is now into its fourth decade, and he is revered among fans for his exciting, charismatic style of play that has led to him being dubbed ‘The Rocket’ ever since he burst onto the scene as a teenager.

However O’Sullivan, who is also a seven-time Masters champion and seven-time UK champion, thinks he could have turned his hand to a number of other sports, and even given record-breakers Schumacher and Hamilton a run for their money.

“If things hadn’t worked out in snooker for me and I hadn’t been quite good enough to make a living from it, I am sure I would have been a sportsman in some other way,” he told the Press Association.

“The competitive animal in me and also the desire to put in the hours of training and dedication would have found a home somewhere. Maybe if I had got into a car as a kid, then I could have been Formula One world champion! Be a Schumacher or whoever else, as I love that.

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“And I like to think that whatever other sport I would have chosen I would have done very well at it.”

O’Sullivan has widely been described as the most naturally gifted player to have ever picked up a cue, drawing comparisons with the likes of Alex Higgins and Jimmy White, but also argued that the time he spends at the practice table is not always acknowledged.

“I do think the hard work and graft I have out in over 35 years does get overlooked sometimes,” he added.

“Your just hear the comments about natural talent. But ask Anthony Hamilton about me or anyone that has practised in the same facility as me and they will tell you about my work ethic.

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“Listen it’s lovely if people say ‘Ronnie is a genius’, that’s nice they speak about you in those terms. But when they say ‘It’s okay for him, he’s just got the talent’ that bothers me.

“It isn’t just me getting out of bed for 30 years and winning titles, there is so much practice for up to eight hours a day. And I don’t care who you are, Tiger Woods, Roger Federer, Lionel Messi at their peak -they have won what they have won by doing the hard yards in practice.”

O’Sullivan went on to say that snooker players who had an abundance of talent and yet didn’t apply themselves frustrated him, and also believes he could have made the ‘top 10’ in a sport like golf via hard work.

“Part of me thinks if you can play one ball sport, you can probably play most of them with training,” he added.

O’Sullivan has been in the headlines again this week for his actions both at, and away from, the snooker table.

He was routed 6-1 by John Higgins in the Scottish Open semi final, although the Scot went on to lose to Belgian player Luca Brecel in the final.

The semi-final clash came just days after Higgins labelled O’Sullivan a “disgrace” for advising youngsters not to get into snooker.

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