Snooker legend Stephen Hendry admits his opinion on Ronnie O'Sullivan's performances this season can be regarded as 'derogatory'.
The Scot described the Rocket as a 'percentage player' during this week's Tour Championship in Manchester which he says can be construed as a negative.
O'Sullivan entered the tournament at the quarter-final stage on Wednesday and dispatched fierce rival Ali Carter 10-2 in convincing fashion.
The 48-year-old will now play Gary Wilson in the semi-final on Friday, with the winner facing either Mark Williams or Mark Allen in the final.
Stephen Hendry says he made a 'derogatory term' to describe Ronnie O'Sullivan
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O'Sullivan has won five tournaments this season, including the first two Triple Crown events at the UK Championship and Masters.
However, he has often been downbeat about his performances and insists he has not enjoyed playing despite winning.
Hendry says O'Sullivan has been more pragmatic in his approach to playing and not trying as many risks as maybe he once would.
The pundit admits his description can be taken as a negative towards O'Sullivan.
Hendry said on ITV: "He dismantled Ali. He wasn't at his best for the first four or five frames, but he got the job done and as always, is the man to beat.
"His safety was his most potent weapon today because his long game wasn't really there. But he always scores.
"Sometimes saying somebody is a percentage player is a derogatory term, but he doesn't take any risks.
"He plays a great safety, gets in and scores what's there. That's a powerful weapon."
O'Sullivan was not at his best against Carter but still sped into a 4-0 lead, and was 7-1 up heading into the evening session.
Hendry has hit out at his rivals for letting him off the hook when he has been under par.
He said: "I think it says a lot about the opposition. You take a look at all these rivalries he's had the last few years - [Mark] Selby, [Mark] Williams, [Judd] Trump - they seem to have fallen back.
"But Ronnie keeps on producing and producing. You look at the match today, he starts off a lot of these matches - and all these tournaments he's won - not playing that well.
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Ronnie O'Sullivan is competing at the Tour Championship this week
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"But players are not taking advantage of that.
"Then when he sort of senses the opponent is weakened, he's broken them, then all of a sudden he motors on and he wins the tournament."
Meanwhile, O'Sullivan has opened up on his mental struggles, admitting he has gone back to see psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters.
He said: "It's been a hard year. Drove myself pretty much insane really just trying to find some form.
Ronnie O'Sullivan is through to the semi-final of the Tour Championship
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"It's got to me to be honest so I've decided to speak to Steve Peters and said 'Iook, I can't. I'm just not happy at the minute'.
"So I've just had to go back to basics and I'm just gonna try and get my head right and whatever my game is, hopefully I can just deal with it.
"Doing it the other way round isn't working at the moment."
