13 May 2023 , 11:50
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Snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan claims he was arrested and strip-searched as a teenager after being falsely accused of kidnapping.
O'Sullivan, 47, has established himself as one of the greatest snooker players of all time. The Essex resident has won seven World Championship titles and currently sits at the top of the rankings. He has also won a record 39 ranking titles since 1993.
O'Sullivan's longevity and entertaining brand of snooker, as well as his outspoken nature, has made him one of the most popular and intriguing figures in the sport. The Rocket has been described as an unpredictable character... and that's proven by his latest revelation.
In an interview with The Guardian, O'Sullivan was asked to reveal his closest brush with the law. He replied: "I got falsely accused of a kidnapping when I was 17 or 18.
"It was scary: they took me and my mate in separately, strip-searched me, took my car away for forensics, put me in a white paper suit. I was like, 'What’s going on here?'"
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Thankfully, O'Sullivan put the episode behind him and went on to dominate the world of snooker. He won his first world title in 2001 and followed that up with another six victories. He was knocked out of this year's tournament by eventual winner Luca Brecel.
The seven-time world champion is one of the greatest Snooker players of all time (Getty Images)What do you make of Ronnie O'Sullivan's story? Let us know in the comments below!
In the modern era, only the great Stephen Hendry has won as many world titles as O'Sullivan (Joe Davis is the current record holder with 15 titles between 1927 and 1946).
The Rocket has also won the UK Championship a record seven times and the Masters a record seven times. The World Championship, the Masters and the UK Championship are the three most prestigious events in Snooker, referred to as the Triple Crown.
O'Sullivan has battled his mental health and addictive personality throughout his life. When asked what his greatest achievement is, the snooker legend replied: "Staying on the straight and narrow. I know I am an addict - I’ve got an addictive personality - but as long as it’s not affecting my life or people around me then I think it’s OK."
O'Sullivan also revealed his snooker cue is his most treasured possession and thinks he's not made the most of his talent. When asked what he would change about his past, he replied: "I would go back to when I was 14 and keep to my own style of playing snooker.
"I was perfect, but I didn’t think I was, so I started playing like everybody else and created bad habits. With a little more time, I could have been the ultimate player. I look at my career and I probably got 75 per cent out of it instead of 100 per cent."
O'Sullivan was speaking to The Guardian to promote his new memoir 'Unbreakable'. He'll be hoping to add more chapters to his biography, with an eighth world title at the top of his wish list. The new snooker season starts in June.