Ronnie O’Sullivan gives prediction for World Snooker Championship and reveals struggle they all face
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN made his predictions ahead of the World Snooker Championship semi-finals.
The Rocket, 48, was beaten 13-10 by Stuart Bingham in the quarter-finals earlier this week.
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Despite being knocked out, the seven-time world champion stuck around to give his opinions to Eurosport’s Jenny Drummond.
On the semi-final between Kyren Wilson and David Gilbert, O’Sullivan said: “I think Kyren looks in good form. I think he’s got the experience, been here before.
“Maybe it’s his time, so I fancy him in that semi-final.”
In the other semi, O’Sullivan suggested that Jak Jones may overcome his conqueror Bingham.
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He continued: “In the next one obviously the experience goes with Stuart Bingham but you have to make a case for the younger guy, 31, maybe a little more energised.
“It’s all new to him. That enthusiasm can carry him through.”
The semi-finals will be mammoth best of 35 frames encounters played over three days.
Asked about how fatigue could play a factor, O’Sullivan pointed to three of the semi-finalists being qualifiers.
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He continued: “Three of the players have played extra matches, two more than Kyren has played.
“At this point if you can start to play half decent and starting enjoying the game, the breaks come easy and everything happens much smoother, then I think you create much more energy inside yourself.
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“So I don’t think tiredness will become a factor. It’s the semi-finals of the World Championship, potential to get in the final, potential to win the World Championship… the time when you really feel it is Tuesday or Wednesday or Thursday.
“Once you’ve had the come down that’s when it hits you, but during the tournament I think the guy that wins this will be the guy that finds that the game is coming a little bit easier to him than maybe it did to the others.”
Following his defeat to Bingham, O’Sullivan revealed that he will play in four countries in five months – and that it may be a while before he graces a UK table again.
Upon his exit, he said: “I’m looking forward to going to China in 10 days and playing Ding [Junhui] in some challenge matches.
“I’ll be away for two-and-a-half to three weeks doing my work stuff out there.
“Then off to Finland for three nights. And off to Bulgaria. A busy three or four weeks playing, which is great.
“I’m going to be busy but the most important thing is to feel like you want to play and get your cue out of the case.
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“For the first time in two years I don’t mind getting my cue out and I like the sound of the balls.
“I’ve been enjoying it a bit more and that’s the most important thing to me.”
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