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Ronnie O’Sullivan has no sympathy and tells rivals to stop complaining about tables


2024 UK Championship - Day 1

Ronnie O’Sullivan advises his rivals to embrace difficult conditions (Picture: Getty Images)

Ronnie O’Sullivan has little sympathy for his fellow players complaining about conditions at the UK Championship, encouraging them to stop worrying about the table.

Multiple players have struggled to find their best form in York so far in the Triple Crown event, with the likes of Judd Trump, Neil Robertson and Mark Williams all saying the conditions were extremely difficult.

The cushions are said to provide unpredictable bounces on the heavy tables and controlling the white ball has been tricky.

O’Sullivan lost in the opening round to Barry Hawkins, but he didn’t point the finger at conditions and has advised his rivals not to either.

‘Everyone is complaining about the tables, but if you hit the ball well, the ball will go exactly where you want it to go,’ said the Rocket.

‘If you’re not hitting the ball well, then you’re going to be chasing it around. You control the table. The table will never ever control you.

‘The conditions are the conditions for all the players. The tables will playreally good, they usually do when they are refitted.

O’Sullivan does not tend to hit out at about playing conditions (Picture: Getty Images)

‘I really think you’ve got to get out of this table (criticism). It’s the same for both players.

‘I actually think it’s better when the tables don’t play so good. Because you don’t get so many one visits. You still get some skilful stuff. So a 40 break becomes a real brilliant break in some ways. You know that if I break down, the opponent is probably not going to clear up. You have to play perfect shots.

‘When the table is playing so well, pretty much anyone can take the balls because there’s no skill involved. I like it when they’re a bit heavier, playing a bit harder. Then you have to use your snooker brain – and that’s when you really find out who can play snooker.’

He added on Eurosport: ‘I never really get that when people complain about the conditions, because you’re playing on the same table.

‘It’s not like your opponent has got a great table and you’re playing on a bad table. Or in golf when you go out in the morning and the weather is fantastic and then at 15:00 the weather can change and it’s hailstones. Okay, I get that.

But actually, the conditions are the conditions. It’s about who adapts. You never hear me complaining about tables because I know it’s the same for both of us.’

Judd Trump hit out at the table despite winning (Picture: Getty Images)

Trump beat Robertson 6-3 on Tuesday but felt the table did not help him out at all.

Asked if the conditions were the worst he has faced, Trump said: ‘I’ve played in some bad ones, but that’s close.

‘The cushions out there, you can’t ever get them to play that bad on a practice table! So I don’t know what it is. Hopefully they can change them. …read more

Source:: Metro

      

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