‘I drove myself insane’, says Ronnie O’Sullivan as snooker icon reveals trick behind brutal mauling of Snotgate rival
RONNIE O’SULLIVAN says he’s driven himself “insane” and “not enjoyed” the last two years.
During that time, The Rocket won his record-extending eighth Masters and UK Championship title.
But perfectionist O’Sullivan has tried to go back to basics and take the pressure off himself.
The world No1 opened up about visiting sports psychologist Steve Peters after beating his rival Ali Carter.
O’Sullivan said: “I’ve just decided I’m going to change my thinking and forget about trying to fathom my game out.
“If I change my thinking I can accept whatever is thrown at me and take whatever.
“It’s been a hard year, drove myself pretty much insane really. It’s just got to me.
“I decided to speak to Steve Peters and said I wasn’t happy. I had to go back to basics and get my head right. Deal with it because doing it the other way round isn’t working.
“I’ve got to accept that’s life. You can’t be perfect all the time and trying to be perfect all the time is not ideal. Just getting my head around it is the only option I have left.
“I’ve driven myself mad for the last two years and not enjoyed any of it.”
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Inside Ronnie O'Sullivan's 'Snotgate' rivalry
Ronnie Sullivan’s bitter feud with Ali Carter hit the headlines earlier this year in the Masters final, which the world No1 won 10-7.
As they walked past each other, the Rocket shoulder barged his rival in shocking scenes.
After the match, Carter added fuel to the fire as he alleged O’Sullivan violently cleared his nose and labelled him “disgusting”.
He added: It’s outrageous behaviour from a top professional. If it gets swept under the carpet then for me, it’s not good.
“Did we have any words of exchange? No. I’ve got no words for him at all.”
O’Sullivan responded, putting his middle finger up in a press conference while saying: “For him to come out and try to trash talk me like that, do you know what? He can have one of them.
“He can sit on it as far as I’m concerned. I don’t give a f***. You know what he’s like, everybody knows what he’s like. He’s got issues.
“F***ing why has he got issues with me? I’m not having it. I don’t care, grow some balls.
“I don’t give a f***. The more he brings it on, the more I f***ing punish him every time.”
O’Sullivan’s change has clearly worked as he demolished long-term rival Carter 10-2 at the Tour Championship.
The duo have had a bitter feud that came to a head in the Masters final earlier this year.
Carter accused him of “snotting all over the floor” before O’Sullivan hit back in an X-rated rant.
The snooker legend refused to speak about him prior to yesterday’s match, explaining he is implementing a new “policy” of not talking about othera.
O’Sullivan said: “I don’t comment on players now, I’ve learnt my lesson.
“There’s no value in it for me, if they say something about me and it becomes a headline.
“What am I actually gaining from this? I’m not actually gaining anything from this.
“I’m happy with my life, my job, what I do and I just want to delete that stuff.
“I just need to make that a policy. As far as I’m concerned it’s not something I want to get involved in ever again.”