Ronnie O’Sullivan will use a walking stick instead of a snooker cue at this year’s World Championships, which get underway in Sheffield on Saturday.
The seven-time world champ and current world number one, is understood to have told close friends that he could “Beat any of his opponents with his eyes closed” and that he was looking for a “new challenge” ahead of his Crucible opener against Jackson Page.
The Rocket, who is bidding to become the first player in the modern era to win eight world crowns, is confident he can do it despite his strange choice of cue.
“He’s ready for the challenge and is convinced he can win title number eight” a member of his management team told Paddy Power News, “He’s been practising over the past couple of weeks and has already knocked in six 147’s.
“He was messing around at home and picked up his grandfather’s walking stick and started potting balls for fun. Despite the big rubber stopper on the base, Ronnie still has incredible control over the cue ball.
“Wearing shoes all day also takes it out on his feet, so it will come in useful for the walk back to his hotel.”
However, some of O’Sullivan’s biggest rivals were not so impressed.
Four-time world champion Mark Selby, who once took longer to play one shot than O’Sullivan did to make a total clearance, declared that:
“If I meet Ronnie in Sheffield and he plays with a walking stick, I’ll slow my game down to such an extent that he’ll get woodworm before the match is over.”
Ali Carter meanwhile, who had a shoulder barging incident with the “Rocket” at the 2018 tournament, told us that he was concerned about what O’Sullivan would do with the curved handle should their paths cross once again.
Paddy Power News was keen to gauge reaction from Snooker’s governing body, a spokesperson telling us:
“There is nothing in the rules that states you must play with a conventional cue and although the purists may not be happy, Mr O’Sullivan is within his rights to use whatever he wants, and the situation is not without precedent.
“Back in the mid-70’s, Alex “Hurricane” Higgins played a frame against Ray Reardon using an umbrella he borrowed from one of the spectators after smashing up his cue when he missed an easy yellow.”
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