Rocket defeats the mind games

Family affair: O'Sullivan with mother Maria and sister Danielle

14 April 2012

Ronnie O'Sullivan has accused his former coach Derek Hill of playing mind games with him before he stormed to his second Embassy world snooker championship title at the expense of rank outsider Graeme Dott.

Hill now coaches Dott, the 200-1 outsider at the start of the tournament, and O'Sullivan was surprised when he entered his dressing room only minutes before the final began on Sunday.

O'Sullivan was far from happy with the intrusion and admitted it "got into his head" as he lost the first five frames.

But 'The Rocket' stormed back to blow Dott away 18-8, only two frames into the final session.

O'Sullivan claimed: "There were some serious mind games going on before that game. My former coach Derek Hill, now working with Graeme, came walking into the room 15 minutes before the final started.

"That was a big surprise to me. That got into my head. I went out there for the first four frames and I couldn't stay focused.

"But I took the positive out of what happened. I saw it as a way of them trying to get to me and I suppose that is part of sport.

"But I was able to turn it around. To me it was a great lesson. I don't look at it as something negative."

O'Sullivan dedicated his second world title to his jailed father Ronnie senior - serving life for murder.

O'Sullivan said: "I went all emotional-during the match and when it went to 14-8 I was thinking of my dad watching the final on television in prison. I am sure he will be sitting in his cell chuffed to bits. I can't wait to go and visit him - and this title was for him.

"Now I just want to go and see my dad this week, chat to him and be in his company. That's the most important thing." O'Sullivan, who demolished seven-times champion Stephen Hendry 17-4 in the semi-final, will still strive to improve despite his dominance in the tournament.

He said: "I know I can play better. I know there is room for improvement. I have got more consistent and that has come from changing my technique."

O'Sullivan hugged Ray Reardon after clinching the title. The sixtimes world champion has been acting as his mentor during the past fortnight.

O'Sullivan said: "I am more excited about working with Ray than winning the world championship. Ever since the second round Ray has had an input. I phoned him up and we had a chat then.

"You can see by the scorelines in some of the matches what sort of effect Ray has had on my game." Dott can take some consolation in defeat from a bumper £125,000 cheque and a place back in the top

16.

The 26-year-old said: "I have been through some low times but this is like a second chance. The tournament has been a dream for me.

"Ronnie was unbelievable and there were no weaknesses in his game. Everything he did was superb."

However, the days of world championships being staged at the Crucible Theatre could be numbered after more than a quarter of a century. Former world snooker board member Jim Chambers has revealed that discussions have taken place about the possibility of eventually moving the tournament overseas.

It has been taken abroad on three previous occasions - South Africa in 1966 and then twice to Australia in the 1970s. Sheffield has been the home for snooker's premier event since 1977 when Embassy began their sponsorship deal.

But the contract to hold the tournament at the sport's most famous venue runs out in 2005 at the same time as the Embassy deal has to end because of government legislation regarding tobacco advertising.

Chambers said: "All the players will probably scream at the thought of leaving the Crucible. They no doubt will want to stay there.

"But if a worldwide sponsor comes in, I don't believe they would be quite so upset at having to go.

"The championship will be back in Sheffield next year but, with Embassy forced to withdraw in 2005, the guarantee of a worldwide market place could well be a major attraction for potential sponsors with worldwide outlets."

Rocket defeats the mind games

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