Ronnie O’Sullivan says he is going through ‘hell’ as he bids to win a record eighth World Snooker Championship.
The Rocket booked his place in the quarter-final with a comprehensive 13-4 victory over Pang Junxu on Monday.
Ronnie O’Sullivan explained the challenges he is facing at the World Championships
Despite missing out on a century break, O’Sullivan went on to sweep aside his opponent with ease, however, the 49-year-old was far from happy with his performance.
He admits to suffering from a lack of self-belief in his game, not helped by his struggles in finding the right cue to play with.
“I feel so unconfident,” O’Sullivan said after booking his place in the last eight. “It’s horrible, even when I’m playing alright. In the balls, I was alright tonight, but there are so many different parts of the game you’ve got to get right. It’s hell.
“It’s not even about winning, it’s about going there and being confident enough to just do yourself justice. It’s nice to win but you just want to be part of a good game.
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“I’ve always felt better if I’ve played well in a game and lost than played terrible and won. I know I’m probably not normal so I’ve accepted that.
“I love grafting but I just can’t handle not knowing where the ball is going. I couldn’t even tell you if it was a good cue because I’m hitting the ball that badly.
“I’ve gone through about 30 cues and I’ve got to the point where I can’t really judge. The way I’m hitting the ball, they all sound terrible so I can’t even tell if it’s a good cue or not.”
He continued: “I’ve given up even trying to work out what’s wrong,” he said after sealing his latest victory at the Crucible. “Feeling wise it’s probably the worst I’ve ever felt.
