30 April 2024 , 10:36
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Ronnie O'Sullivan has revealed he has been taking medication to manage his anxiety - but admitted he is now finally feeling better after two years "in the doldrums".
O'Sullivan has progressed into the quarter-finals of the World Championship after beating Jackson Page and Ryan Day, and will face Stuart Bingham for a place in the last four. He is looking to end an already excellent season with his eighth world title, having last won the iconic tournament in 2022.
Despite winning five other big events this season, O'Sullivan has cut a frustrated figure this season. Earlier this month, he spoke about working with a psychiatrist to master the mental side of his game. And now, the 48-year-old has opened up on taking medication to help improve and manage his anxiety.
"I've had such a long time in the doldrums," O'Sullivan told the BBC. "For two years I've held it down, I've not really mentioned anything but it's been really challenging.
"I've had to take medication for the anxiety and all that sort of stuff, even in small tournaments, even when I'm not playing. That's how bad the game can make me feel at times.
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"I didn't want to do that anymore. I've just had a bit of excitement for the last couple of weeks, getting through the ball a little bit better. Then you come down crashing to earth. I was out there last night and it started to wander a bit. It was like, can we fix it? Can we get it back on track? There were some good bits there today.
"I'm just getting a bit more optimism a bit more belief that I can sustain it. It's no good being able to do it for one match or one tournament you've got to try and sustain it for a few months, even a year. I played great for three years once, never had a bad day, so it can happen, you just have to get everything right."
Ronnie O'Sullivan is eyeing his eighth snooker world title (Getty Images)Despite his ongoing fight with anxiety, O'Sullivan is sounding more positive at The Crucible and last week suggested he is going to play until into his 50s and is hoping to win as many titles as he can.
"I've already broke the rules for snooker," he said. "I'm still going at 48. I'm just seeing what's possible now. What is possible in this game? How long can you keep going for? Can I win a World Championship at 50? Who knows? I’m probably the only player that's able to do that so let's see, let’s have an experiment.
"To do what I’ve done in this season in your whole career, over a 30 year career, to win what I’ve won this season, you’d have had a great career. I’ve been doing that for 30 years."