Ronnie O’Sullivan recently shared his struggles with self-doubt following his defeat in the World Open final against Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in Yushan. The seven-time world champion initially took a commanding 4-0 lead but was overtaken by Un-Nooh’s remarkable performance, including a 147-break and three consecutive centuries.
Despite defeating world No.1 Judd Trump in the semi-final, O’Sullivan missed out on the £175,000 prize and opted out of the Tour Championship in Manchester. He is now focusing on preparing for the upcoming Snooker World Championship at the Crucible in Sheffield starting on April 18.
Expressing his feelings, O’Sullivan admitted to struggling with his game and feeling uncertain about his performance level. However, he acknowledged his opponent’s skill and recognized the technical challenges he faced in the final match. Despite not winning a ranking title since January 2024, O’Sullivan remains ranked 10th in the world.
Reflecting on the competition, O’Sullivan praised Thepchaiya’s exceptional play and accepted the defeat gracefully. He highlighted the limitations he faced in executing certain shots and acknowledged the need to improve to compete at a higher level. O’Sullivan emphasized the importance of staying focused and taking each day as it comes to maintain a positive mindset in the face of challenges.