Ronnie O'Sullivan secured his place in the last 16 of the Saudi Arabia Masters with a convincing 5-1 victory over Lei Peifan on Tuesday evening. However, despite the dominant scoreline, the seven-time world champion was critical of his own performance.
O'Sullivan raced to a 4-0 lead before the interval and sealed the win with a spectacular 131 clearance.
The match showcased O'Sullivan's ambidextrous skills, as he played shots with both his right and left hands.
However, the 48-year-old was far from satisfied with his display. When asked about using his left hand, O'Sullivan told Eurosport: "Not great, I'll put it on the back burner a bit."
Ronnie O'Sullivan secured his place in the last 16 of the Saudi Arabia Masters with a convincing 5-1 victory over Lei Peifan on Tuesday evening. However, despite the dominant scoreline, the seven-time world champion was critical of his own performance.
EUROSPORT
This self-criticism came despite the comfortable margin of victory and his impressive final frame clearance.
O'Sullivan revealed he has struggled to enjoy snooker for an extended period. He said: "I haven't had no feel for over two years now, it's been really difficult to sort of get any enjoyment from it."
The Rocket explained his left-handed play as a coping mechanism.
"I decided to start playing a bit left-handed because it just frees me up a bit. I enjoy playing and then I can actually practice," he continued.
"I've had no feel for over two years" 😬
— Eurosport (@eurosport) September 3, 2024
Ronnie O'Sullivan switching it up playing left handed ✋⚫#BattleOnTheBaize pic.twitter.com/GSqLyGEayY
Despite his efforts, O'Sullivan remained critical of his performance. He said: "It's not pretty, it's not good, I'm not flowing but what can you do. Just got to go with what you've got."
His candid remarks offer insight into the mental challenges faced by one of snooker's greatest players, even if he continues to pick up victories.
O'Sullivan's next challenge comes in the form of Zhang Anda, who he faces in the evening session on Wednesday for a place in the quarter-finals. The pair have met five times previously, with O'Sullivan winning three of those showdowns.
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However, their most recent match in November 2023 saw Zhang emerge victorious.
Zhang, nicknamed "Mighty Mouse", secured his spot in the last 16 with a dominant 5-0 victory over Scott Woollaston.
Ronnie O'Sullivan played using both hands during his win at the Saudi Arabia Masters
EUROSPORT
Both players will be eyeing a potential run to the final, with world number one Judd Trump positioned in the opposite half of the draw.
The tournament's unpredictable nature was highlighted by Trump's own dramatic comeback earlier in the day.
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The world number one found himself trailing 4-0 against Wu Yize in the afternoon session.
However, Trump showcased his brilliance to turn the clash around, winning five consecutive frames to clinch a 5-4 victory.
