Steve Davis believes Ronnie O’Sullivan is ‘nowhere near’ to retirement as the seven-time world champion prepares to defend his UK Championship title.
O’Sullivan was in top form 12 months ago as he romped to victory at the York Triple Crown event.
He followed that up with wins at the Masters, World Grand Prix and World Masters of Snooker to cap one of his most successful seasons on the World Snooker Tour.
But O’Sullivan has struggled to find his groove this season and took some time off due to medical reasons after an early exit at the English Open in September.
He made his return at the International Championship, but suffered another surprise defeat to Junxu Pang which was followed by a first-round exit at the Champion of Champions last week.
Ronnie O’Sullivan has not been in great form this year
PA
The worrying form for O’Sullivan has raised questions on his commitment to the sport having previously suggested he could walk away from the sport.
However, Davis still feels O’Sullivan has all the tools to make a deep run and win a competition like the UK Championship once again.
“It doesn’t matter if he wins another major. His position in the game is right there at the top,” he told The Sun.
“I still think he has majors in him. I don’t think I’ve seen anybody more likely to be able to win events – not just compete in them – into their 50s.
“He keeps himself very fit and is pushing the tide back wonderfully. It will never be a surprise if he wins. Maybe when he’s 55 it will be.
“Anybody that decides to bet against Ronnie O’Sullivan can look very foolish at the end of the day when he absolutely flies and makes the game look like the genius he is.
“We are not at the stage where you can say he’s over-the-hill. Nowhere near that.
“He can still totally outplay somebody on the day. If the stars align, he’s easily capable of winning the UK.”
Davis and Stephen Hendry are the only players other than O’Sullivan to win more than 10 Triple Crown events in their career.
But O’Sullivan stands out on his own with a record 23 Triple Crown titles to his name after winning two last season.
Ronnie O’Sullivan feels Ronnie O’Sullivan can keep competing for several more years
GETTY
And Davis wouldn’t put it past O’Sullivan to add one more this week in York. “Ronnie is still very good at getting ready for the bigger events,” he said.
“Maybe it’s the bigger events that spur him on more than ever before now.
“He has been at the top of the game longer than me and Stephen Hendry were – together! If you added our years up, he has been there longer than us.
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Ronnie O’Sullivan has won 23 Triple Crown events
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“I don’t think me or Stephen are qualified to talk about what it’s like to have played the game at the top of the tree as long as he has. And how that must play with your levels of enthusiasm.
“I think it’s wonderful that he’s still playing top-class snooker. He could very easily be forgiven for jacking it in and saying I’m bored with it.
“The fact he keeps getting ready for events is incredible. It shows how much he loves the game and he enjoys the thrill – even though sometimes he might not say that.”