Ronnie O'Sullivan doesn't hold back after English Open defeat and responds to Stephen Hendry criticism
Ronnie O'Sullivan has branded himself 'absolutely useless' after crashing to defeat at the English Open
PA
Ronnie O'Sullivan has branded himself 'absolutely useless' after crashing to defeat at the English Open.
The Rocket was sent tumbling out of the competition by He Guoqiang in Essex, with his Chinese opponent winning 4-2.
O'Sullivan has struggled for form in recent months, with the snooker icon unable to summon the same magic that has seen him win seven World Championships over the years.
Now, speaking to The Sun, he's branded himself 'absolutely useless'.
Ronnie O'Sullivan has branded himself 'absolutely useless' after crashing to defeat at the English Open
PA
And he's also told fans to forget about him winning another World Championship later in the year.
"I'm absolutely useless, that's why," he said when asked why he's playing with his left hand.
"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.
"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."
Throughout his career, O'Sullivan has always been his biggest critic.
That's why he's the greatest of all time, with his relentless pursuit of perfection often fuelling him on.
O'Sullivan says his current performances are 'embarassing', however, and believes his recent dip has lasted for the past four or five years.
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"I'm awful, it's embarrassing. I miss so many balls," he added.
"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.
"I can't get away from it, poor, but there's nothing I can do about it."
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Stephen Hendry has been one man who has been critical of O'Sullivan.
The snooker great recently said the Rocket 'doesn't have the same competitive juices' that he's had in years gone by.
And O'Sullivan hasn't shut down that theory, insisting he's playing snooker to keep himself busy and that he's eager to 'rinse' it for as much as possible.
Ronnie O'Sullivan has responded to criticism from Stephen Hendry after crashing to defeat at the English Open
PA
"I don't even care, I'm just here to fulfil my commitments to my sponsors, get away from home, travel," he said.
"If I can get a couple of years out of it that will be great, if I can't, I can't.
"I just want to rinse as much out of it as I can, I'm not going to drive myself mad. If you're poor, you're poor."
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