Ronnie O’Sullivan offers recommendation to Luke Littler and the place he went incorrect himself
Snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan has suggested darts sensation Luke Littler to maintain his “feet on the ground”.
The 16-year-old grew to become probably the most talked about sportsperson within the UK because of his meteoric rise on the Paddy Power World Darts Championship over the festive and new yr interval. Littler’s fairytale run noticed him turn out to be the youngest participant ever to succeed in the ultimate at Alexandra Palace earlier than shedding out to world No1 Luke Humphries 7-4 on the final hurdle.
His outstanding feat set him up for a life-changing quantity of consideration for the rest of his profession. Now O’Sullivan, 48, has seemed to offer some steerage for the Warrington-born teenager.
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The Rocket is aware of a factor or two in regards to the damaging affect of attracting fame at such a younger age, having turn out to be the UK Championship’s youngest ever winner aged 17 again in 1993. And he urged Littler to herald a “Sir Alex Ferguson-type figure” to keep away from going off the rails.
“I think if I had my time again, I’d probably take the [Stephen] Hendry route and just be always around an Alex Ferguson-type figure,” the seven-time world champion instructed SportBoom.com.
“I’d definitely choose to do things differently. So, just keep your feet on the ground if you can and just keep good people around.”
(Image: Getty Images)
(Image: ANL/REX/Shutterstock)
O’Sullivan has gone on to turn out to be the best snooker participant in historical past as he hunts an eighth Masters crown this month. But he has suffered alongside the way in which with a constructive drug check, alcohol habit and struggles with melancholy.
His warnings observe these of darts star Gary Anderson, who slammed reporters forward of Littler’s Round-of-16 conflict in opposition to Raymond van Barneveld.
(Image: ANDY RAIN/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)
(Image: Manchester United through Getty Images)
The two-time champion mentioned: “If it goes t**s up with Luke give yourselves a pat on the back. Let the boy play darts. I’ve been downstairs and he’s got cameras, zoom calls, meetings…
“He’s had a great tournament, he’s done well. What if it all goes Pete Tong now? You boys have ruined that. He’s 16 years old.
“Keep having that boy mic’d up, doing interviews when he should be on the practice board. You’ve seen it a thousand times. Every year there’s a boy come through.”
