Ronnie O'Sullivan is, without a doubt, arguably the best snooker player of all time.
Yet his form and reputation has taken a nosedive in recent weeks, with the 48-year-old looking a shadow of the player that has dominated the sport over the years.
Earlier this week, O'Sullivan went into the English Open hoping to bounce back after recently being dumped out of the Saudi Masters at the quarter-final stage.
Yet his hopes of glory in Essex were dashed by He Guoqiang, with the Chinese star winning 4-2 to progress to the next round of the competition.
Ronnie O'Sullivan is, without a doubt, arguably the best snooker player of all time. Yet his form and reputation has taken a nosedive in recent weeks, with the 48-year-old looking a shadow of the player that has dominated the sport over the years
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O'Sullivan, speaking to The Sun after his defeat, admitted he was struggling.
And he also told fans to forget about the prospect of him winning an eighth world title, too.
O'Sullivan has been playing with his left hand. To many fans, that's behind his woes.
He attempted to explain his decision to change things up by saying: "I'm absolutely useless, that's why.
"Forget about the Worlds. I'm not even bothered to be honest with you, if I'm going to play rubbish I might as well play left handed.
"Play left-handed and enjoy it, but be useless, or play right-handed, be useless and not enjoy it."
Even more concerningly, he then suggested that his time in snooker was drawing to a close - something he's 'accepted'.
"I haven't got long, I'm not going to deny it, I'm not playing well enough, there's no point in even worrying about it - I've just accepted it now which is quite a nice place to be really," he added.
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O'Sullivan's decision to play with his left hand has sparked a backlash online.
Some fans have accused him of disrespecting his opponents.
Others have accused him of shooting himself in the foot. After all, after so many years of playing with his right hand, why change things up now?
O'Sullivan added: "I'm awful, it's embarrassing. I miss so many balls.
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Ronnie O'Sullivan was beaten by He Guoqiang at the English Open earlier this week
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"I've been missing balls for the last four or five years and every now and then I'll miss a few less, maybe, and get a couple of results.
"Even in tournaments I've won people have missed mad opportunities to beat me."
The best players often show fight. O'Sullivan, however, insists there's 'nothing' he can do about his current malaise as his issues go on.
"I can't get away from it, poor, but there's nothing I can do about it," he confessed.
Ronnie O'Sullivan has angered snooker fans by playing left-handed in recent times
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It is sad to see a player of O'Sullivan's quality and calibre seemingly starting to give up.
Fans will be hoping he can summon the magic of old and prove, once again, why he's the greatest.
