Mark Allen has explained the key to beating Ronnie O'Sullivan after the Rocket extended his winning run to 14.
O'Sullivan won his third tournament since December with a victory over Judd Trump in the final of the World Grand Prix on Sunday.
The 48-year-old hasn't lost a match on tour since November 11 last year.
He has won the first two Triple Crown events of the season, including a record-extending eighth Masters title.
Mark Allen has explained the key to beating Ronnie O'Sullivan
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O'Sullivan produced a comeback in the Masters final and again came from behind to beat Trump at the weekend.
Allen, who has won four of his 11 meetings with O'Sullivan, says the secret to beating him is to treat him as 'just another player'.
The Northern Irishman says playing the seven-time world champion focuses the mind and actually makes it easier to compete.
Asked how players should approach playing O'Sullivan, Allen told the Snooker Club podcast: "I think you need to forget that you're playing Ronnie.
"I know he's a very, very good snooker player, that's a bit of an understatement.
"But he's just another player. So you can't control what he does, you have to just play well.
"I find matches against Ronnie and the likes of him are easier because the game becomes much more simpler because you're not overthinking.
"You're just thinking of 'pot the ball, get on the next ball', you have to keep it as simple as possible.
"Obviously Ronnie, he makes less mistakes than some others but he still makes mistakes. It's up to you whether you're ready to take them.
"I didn't see the [Masters] final, I don't really watch a lot of snooker when I've got beaten, but from what I've read, as the match went on, Ali [Carter] sort of went into his shell a little bit.
"That's the complete opposite approach of what you need to do against Ronnie, you need to be more aggressive because you're going to get less chances.
"You need to show him that you're there for the long run and you're going to take these chances as the match goes on."
O'Sullivan hasn't played Allen on tour since the World Championship in 2022, where he beat him 13-4.
But Allen believes he is one of just a small number of players who O'Sullivan knows can trouble him.
He added: "There's certain players I think that Ronnie knows they can beat him and I believe I'm one of them. I think Ronnie knows that."
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Mark Allen has won four of his 11 meetings with Ronnie O'Sullivan
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Meanwhile, snooker great Stephen Hendry called out O'Sullivan's rivals after the World Grand Prix final.
The Scot questioned why he has not had more of a challenge in recent tournaments.
Hendry said on ITV: "He's getting the job done at the minute and I just think who's gonna beat him?
"Where are all these great players that are going to beat him? Where are they?
Ronnie O'Sullivan has won his last 14 matches
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"I mean you've got Judd Trump who's won three titles.
"Where's the likes of [Mark] Selby, [Neil] Robertson, John Higgins, [Shaun] Murphy, Luca Brecel world champion?
"Where are they? He's 48 and still dominating the game. It's incredible."
