Stephen Hendry believes that Ronnie O’Sullivan has drawn inspiration from Mark Williams, leading to a positive start to the season for the renowned snooker player. O’Sullivan faced challenges in the previous season, withdrawing from several events abruptly after a cue-smashing incident early in the year.
Sticking to his plan of a reduced tournament schedule for this season, the 49-year-old has displayed a rejuvenated and focused approach whenever he has competed. Notably, O’Sullivan achieved the remarkable feat of two maximum breaks in one match on his way to the final of the Saudi Arabia Masters, where he narrowly lost to Neil Robertson in a thrilling final frame. Additionally, O’Sullivan showcased strong form at the Xi’an Grand Prix before exiting in the quarter-finals against Gary Wilson.
Meanwhile, Mark Williams, a member of the esteemed ‘Class of 92,’ triumphed in the same tournament, defeating Shaun Murphy convincingly in the final to become the oldest-ever winner of a ranking event at 50 years and 206 days. Williams’ relaxed demeanor and resilient mindset have been key to his prolonged success, a quality that Hendry believes has influenced O’Sullivan positively.
Hendry, speaking on the WST’s Snooker Club podcast, commended Williams for maintaining a high level of performance despite minimal practice outside of competitions. He expressed admiration for Williams’ carefree attitude towards wins and losses, emphasizing the psychological advantage such mindset provides in sports.
Both Hendry and O’Sullivan are acknowledging the significance of Williams’ approach, highlighting the potential benefits of adopting a similar mentality in pursuit of success in professional snooker.
