Ronnie O’Sullivan’s snooker feuds – the ‘f***ing nightmare’ to on-felt fallouts

Ronnie O’Sullivan is as soon as once more in snooker‘s dangerous books after launching the most recent in a protracted line of tirades.

The newly-crowned eight-time Masters champion ripped into defeated opponent Ali Carter in an extraordinary F-bomb rant after profitable at Ally Pally on Sunday (January 14), for which he’s now being investigated by the WST.

“He needs to sort his f***ing life out,” a seething O’Sullivan started. “I’m not going to skirt round it anymore, tip-toeing on egg shells round somebody like that. He’s a f***ing nightmare.

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“Playing snooker against someone like that is a nightmare. He’s not a nice person. It’s not a nice vibe he leaves around the table. I’ve said my piece, I don’t give a s**t. I’ve said it now, done.

“You know what he’s like, everyone is aware of what he’s like. He’s received points. F***ing why has he received points with me? I’m not having it. I don’t care, develop some balls.”

O’Sullivan went on to insist he “does not give a f***” before dedicating a middle finger to Carter. It’s far from his first feud, with Daily Star Sport taking a look at who else ‘The Rocket’, 48, has clashed with during his legendary career.

What are your honest opinions about the outspoken O’Sullivan? Let us know in the feedback part.

Peter Ebdon

History may be very a lot repeating itself so far as O’Sullivan is anxious. He went on a stunning rant much like his tear down of Carter again in December 2001 after Ebdon had identified his “lucky run” to the UK Championship ultimate.

“I had a lot of run? He’s the luckiest player ever,” he hit again. “We all talk about it behind the scenes. He’s got eyes like a psycho. It’s like playing an amateur – some of the shots he plays just have no class.

“I am unable to perceive a number of the pictures he performs and the way he will get away with them. You do not know what he will do subsequent as a result of he is so unpredictable.”

Tell us what you actually assume eh Ronnie…

Mark Selby

O’Sullivan traded jibes with Selby after a tetchy assembly within the 2020 Scottish Open ultimate, which ‘The Jester from Leicester’ received 9-3. The pair each accused one another of gamesmanship.

That got here six years on from O’Sullivan dubbing Selby “the torturer” in his autobiography in a dig at his tempo of play. And they clashed verbally once more final 12 months.

Selby referred to as out O’Sullivan’s criticism of the World Snooker Tour, suggesting he truly flip as much as the gamers’ conferences to air his frustrations as an alternative of venting to the media. When they are not clashing, nevertheless, they’re good buddies away from the desk.

Judd Trump

When it involves his opponents on the felt, Trump is correct up there as considered one of O’Sullivan’s best. ‘The Ace within the Pack’ has 15 head-to-head wins, however has been beat by him on 16 events.

Their rivalry is essentially all the way down to how aggressive they have been. But it did get spicy when O’Sullivan snubbed Trump’s handshake after he’d hit a most 147 break within the 2022 Champion of Champions ultimate.

“A 147, I get why other people think it’s an amazing thing to do but for me – I don’t find it a difficult thing to do,” he savagely mentioned after the match. “So when I see someone else do it I just think that’s quite normal you know.”

Stephen Hendry

At the 2006 UK Championship, O’Sullivan infamously threw his toys out of the pram as he trailed Hendry 4-0 – packing up his cue, shaking arms with the Scot and strolling out of the Barbican Centre in York.

He revealed in 2010: “After I walked last time, Stephen – who is one of my heroes – fell out with me and didn’t talk to me for about three years.”

They did reconcile, with O’Sullivan including: “But I love the guy and he’s the greatest snooker player of all time. We’re talking again now and text each other a lot so there’s a mutual respect.”

Alain Robidoux

Ever the wind-up service provider, O’Sullivan received below the pores and skin of Canadian Robidoux on the 1996 World Championship. He was profitable 10-3 of their first-round conflict when he opted to vary to play left-handed.

In response, Robidoux refused to concede the eleventh body regardless of trailing by 43 factors with solely the pink and black on the desk. He additionally blanked him post-match and slammed his “disrespect” within the post-match press convention.

O’Sullivan insisted he wasn’t taking the mickey, and has proved he is simply as comfy enjoying with both hand within the years since. But he actually knew what he was doing.

Shaun Murphy

Perhaps O’Sullivan’s most well-known foe, he and Murphy have been exchanging digs for twenty years. “Unless you’ve been living under a rock for 20 years you will know that we’re not the best of friends,” mentioned ‘The Magician’ in November.

He particularly has taken situation with O’Sullivan’s unapologetic character. The Rocket admitted in 2016 they “don’t relate”, which may be very a lot an understatement.

Murphy insisted O’Sullivan, who he as soon as described as “pathetic, offensive and unprofessional”, is not larger than the game itself, however him affect on it’s laborious to argue towards.

Hossein Vafaei

Vafaei caught everybody off guard together with his astonishing rant after turning into the primary Iranian participant to qualify for the World Championship in 2022.

He referred to as on the “disrespectful” O’Sullivan to retire, arguing: “I don’t see any improvement, he’s been 20 years on top of this sport and what has he done for us? This is my biggest question: What has he done for us?”

Then the next 12 months on the Crucible, Vafaei mentioned he wished to “shut him up”. For as soon as O’Sullivan was enjoying peacemaker after profitable their conflict 13-2.

“I was baffled and I was a bit sad about it, to be honest with you, but there is not a lot you can do. He has his reasons. Hopefully, it is put to bed now and we can be friends and that is it,” he mentioned.

Everyone

Why annoy one individual when you may annoy all of them? O’Sullivan has usually criticised the generations of snooker gamers who’ve emerged after his.

And he as soon as once more did not mince his phrases after his semi-final victory over Murphy on the weekend, goading his youthful rivals for nonetheless struggling to beat him.

He informed Eurosport: “I don’t feel that old. I feel a lot younger around the table when I’m playing these younger players. They look old and their brains are quite slow.

“I really feel like my mind is fairly fast across the snooker desk, which is sufficient. I can’t pot in addition to these guys however I could make breaks among the many balls and that’s giving me an opportunity.”