### Ronnie O’Sullivan Earns Semi-Final Spot but Offers Blunt Critique of Rival and Himself
Ronnie O’Sullivan, one of snooker’s most celebrated figures, booked his place in the semi-finals of the World Snooker Championship after a 13-9 victory over China’s Si Jiahui. Yet, the post-match headlines have been dominated as much by ‘The Rocket’s’ frank criticism—both of his young opponent and his own game—as his pursuit of an eighth world title.
The contest in Sheffield saw O’Sullivan take a commanding 10-6 lead after the afternoon session. However, the tension mounted in the evening as 22-year-old Si Jiahui clawed his way back, taking three of the next four frames and narrowing the deficit to 11-9. Despite Si’s valiant effort, critical missed opportunities in the final frames allowed O’Sullivan to snatch the remaining two frames and close out the match.
Speaking candidly in a post-match interview with the BBC, O’Sullivan did not mince his words regarding Si’s performance. “He played poor,” O’Sullivan said, expressing disappointment in his opponent’s consistency over the tie. “He played poor the whole match and let me off the hook loads of times.” Such remarks underline O’Sullivan’s reputation for speaking his mind—an approach often as sharp as his break-building at the table.
Not only did O’Sullivan point to Si’s lapses, but he was equally withering about his own displays at the famous Crucible Theatre. The Rocket, who recently returned from a three-month sabbatical from competitive snooker, admitted he was fighting more than just his usual nerves. “I got lucky again. He had lots of chances; I was trying everything and he let me off the hook,” he remarked, suggesting he is acutely aware of weaknesses in his current form.
In a move that may surprise many fans, O’Sullivan also disclosed that he made late changes to his playing equipment—specifically, having emergency work done on his cue prior to the quarter-final. “I’m just grinding it out,” he confessed. “I had some work done on my cue today, I am playing awful and my cue feels awful but I am still here. I miss the buzz of playing well.”
It’s not typical to hear a player of O’Sullivan’s stature so open about on-table struggles, especially as he eyes another world crown. “I have given it my best but I am hanging in there. I would like to be playing better but I have to try and find some form at some point,” he said, adding, “I don’t feel rusty, I have only been playing for a month but I just couldn’t face playing.”
As O’Sullivan prepares for his semi-final clash with Zhao Xintong, thoughts are inevitably turning to a prospective final against world number one Judd Trump or the ever-resilient Mark Williams. Both players prevailed in their respective quarter-final thrillers, further raising the standard O’Sullivan will need to match—and he knows it. “It gets harder. Look at the way Judd is playing,” he admitted. “I won’t be able to get away with what I have done so far. I can’t get any worse, put it that way.”
Such self-effacing honesty is rare in top-flight sport, yet O’Sullivan’s brutal candour is likely part of what has brought him repeated success on snooker’s biggest stage. As he chases yet another landmark achievement, fans, pundits and rivals alike will be watching closely to see if The Rocket can rediscover his best, or if his string of close escapes will finally come to an end.
Regardless of whether he lifts the trophy this time, O’Sullivan’s willingness to shine a spotlight not just on his opponents’ weaknesses, but on his own struggles, is a reminder of the intense self-analysis that underpins sporting greatness.