Ronnie O'Sullivan shows true colours in brash interview after International Championship win
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Ronnie O'Sullivan has confidently claimed he remains the most popular snooker player in the world due to his style of play and achievements in the game.
The seven-time world champion is back playing this week after skipping three consecutive tournaments due to 'medical reasons'.
His last event came at the English Open in September when he suffered a shock exit in the first round to He Guoqjang.
O'Sullivan's return at the International Championship led to crowd disruption ahead of his hotly-anticipated qualifier with women's world No 1 Mink Nutcharut.
The match was delayed for nearly an hour as tournament organisers tried to disperse the crowd.
Ronnie O'Sullivan is confident he remains the most popular figure in snooker
GettyO'Sullivan eventually came through the match against Nutcharut and then got his revenge on He in the first round on Monday afternoon.
The 48-year-old appears much happier with his current game then he was two months ago and was full of confidence after the match.
He's never been afraid of speaking his mind previously and O'Sullivan was borderline egotistical when speaking about his own popularity around the world.
"I get very good support wherever I go all over the world," he said.
"I think that's just been playing the game for so long now. 32 years I've won a lot of big titles.
"I think that's what people like, to win the big tournaments and holding all the records.
"As well as my style of play, I've managed to entertain the fans.
"Anyone that thought I wasn't a winner, I've kind of got them in my camp and people who just want to see really good snooker, I've got them in my camp as well.
"If you ask 100 snooker fans who they'd wanna watch, probably the majority of them would say me because I kind of tick every box there is to tick as a sportsman."
O'Sullivan arrived in China prior to this week's tournament after being granted residency in Hong Kong and said most of his work is conducted out of south east Asia.
"I tick every box there is to tick as a sportsman"@ronnieo147 is well-supported wherever he goes in the world! 😎
— WST (@WeAreWST) November 4, 2024
Is he your favourite player? #InternationalChampionship #Snooker pic.twitter.com/hg6eirt3PL
He's been open about his adoration for China and the far east throughout his career and is enjoying his new experience in Nanjing this week.
"I'd just recommend to everybody to come to China," he added.
"It blows me away.
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Ronnie O'Sullivan is through to the second round
Getty"Every city I come to, I always go 'wow.
"It's like you're in another world so we're probably going to go to the river tomorrow night and that will be another experience.
"But the place I went to today was just unbelievable.
"For me it's the best place in the world."
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