Ronnie O'Sullivan admits life 'could've gone wrong' due to testing past (2025)

Ronnie O'Sullivan is widely regarded to be one of the greatest-ever snooker players in history, but his life could have panned out in a different state of affairs

Ronnie O'Sullivan has opened up about how his life could have taken a very different turn due to his challenging formative years.

At 49, 'The Rocket' is celebrated as one of the all-time snooker greats, boasting an impressive 41 ranking titles and seven World Championships. Yet, his path to success was marred by personal difficulties.

In 1992, his father, Ronnie O'Sullivan Snr, received a life sentence for murder and spent 18 years in prison before being released in 2010. His mother, Maria, was also incarcerated for a year in 1996 for tax evasion, which led Ronnie to seek solace in alcohol and cannabis.

Speaking with The Times, O'Sullivan said: "I went wild for six years. Booze and spliffs, I loved a joint. The only problem with a joint is that one follows another, and another. I would have any old drink, it didn't matter.

"Then at 7am the sun would come up and I'd think, 'Oh Jesus, I've done it again'. I was smoking too much weed, I was bulk-buying too much Smirnoff. I'd always been capable of putting away a fair amount of food but now I found new gears."

Despite the tough times he faced, O'Sullivan managed to turn his life around, using snooker as a positive outlet to channel his energy and focus. Reflecting on his career, O'Sullivan believes he has fared reasonably well, all things considered, and in a recent conversation with Ally McCoist for TNT Sports, he said: "I think I've done alright, you know?

"I think it could have gone wrong. Badly. I could have ended up really..." McCoist then intervened, suggesting: "Not in a good place?" to which O'Sullivan added: "Yeah, could have done, but I think what carried me through was just trying to do my family proud.

"Obviously, my dad was put away, my mum went away for a thing, and I just felt like she was on her own, and I had to step up. From the age of 19 to 25, I went on a bit of a mission.

"I realised I got into a bad place, but I couldn't let the family down. I had to come good at some point, so I got on the straight and narrow and just started to focus on snooker. Stay away from the drink and the pubs and stuff like that.

"If I wouldn't have had that in my mind, I probably would have carried on and ended up a sorry state maybe. But I think that was what pulled me through, so yeah, I think in some ways I've done alright. I'm happy to be where I am."

Turning professional in 1992 at just 16, O'Sullivan swiftly made a name for himself in the world of snooker. He secured his first ranking event win at the 1993 UK Championship, followed by his first Masters title in 1995, and his maiden World Championship in 2001.

O'Sullivan currently sits alongside Stephen Hendry with seven World Championships to his name, and he's aiming to eclipse this record as the tournament makes its way back to the Crucible Theatre later this month. Despite opting out of several recent events to focus on his mental health and wellbeing, O'Sullivan is set for a comeback at the pinnacle event of the snooker season.

He's scheduled to compete against Ali Carter in his first match of the tournament on Tuesday, and in conversation with TNT Sports before the meeting, he noted pride in his return. He said: "I'm proud to continue my record of having never missed a World Championship.

"I have many fond memories at The Crucible and look forward to making more in 2025. I've enjoyed some good prep with my (new! ) cue over the last week so feel good ahead of Tuesday."

The snooker virtuoso reached the quarter-finals at the 2024 World Championships, where Stuart Bingham ended his run with a 13-10 victory. Not having secured a title at the tournament since 2022, O'Sullivan is eager to break a three-year dry spell when the event draws to a close on May 5.