After his hard-fought 6-5 victory over Zhang Anda at the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters, Ronnie O’Sullivan shared his thoughts on the snooker facilities in Saudi Arabia, contrasting them sharply with some venues in the UK.
The seven-time world champion has not shied away from voicing his opinions about various venues before, famously labeling London’s Alexandra Palace as “disgusting” during an interview earlier this year. O’Sullivan appeared on screen wearing a thick coat due to the cold temperatures at the venue, which had recently hosted the World Darts Championship, leading him to remark that the conditions made him “feel ill.”
In a previous match in 2018 at the K2 Leisure Centre in Crawley, he described the venue as a “hellhole,” claiming it “smelled of urine.” In stark contrast, O’Sullivan expressed enthusiasm about the facilities in Saudi Arabia following two events held there this year.
His journey to the quarter-finals was exciting and challenging, as he overcame a slow start against Zhang Anda, falling behind 3-0 before rallying to win. O’Sullivan strategically capitalized on a missed red from his opponent, narrowly avoiding a 4-0 deficit before the mid-session break. He secured his victory by taking the final two frames, including a decisive finish in one visit.
In an exclusive interview with SPORTbible after the match, O’Sullivan praised the Saudi facilities, stating: “The venue is unbelievable. The practice facilities are fantastic. At home, you’ll just go to the venue to practice and get out because there are no amenities. Here, there’s food all day long, nice sofa areas, and changing rooms with showers. Everything’s fantastic.”
He continued, “There are plenty of practice rooms, so you can engage in serious practice rather than just sitting around. All the players are spending most of their time at the venue—they’re loving it here. This is how all events should be.”
While O’Sullivan acknowledged the high-quality facilities in Saudi Arabia, he also addressed criticisms surrounding the tournament, including concerns about the Gulf nation’s human rights record and attendance figures; his match notably garnered a better turnout than others. Other top players shared O’Sullivan’s sentiments, recognizing the superior standard of snooker facilities and the potential benefits they could bring to global events.
Despite praising the amenities, O’Sullivan was not as complimentary about his own play against Anda. He noted that even if he wins the tournament on Sunday, he wouldn’t feel confident about his game.
“I don’t gain confidence from winning tournaments,” he said. “If I did, I’d probably be the most confident man on the planet. Last year, I won five tournaments, but it didn’t boost my confidence because I wasn’t playing with any.”
O’Sullivan emphasized the importance of fluency, composure, and technical execution over simply accumulating trophies: “If I get all the other aspects right, the tour wins will come naturally. That approach is what matters most to me.”
Credit: Sport Bible
