Ronnie O'Sullivan sent 'dangerous' warning as snooker star adopts Rocket's useful habit

Ronnie O'Sullivan sent 'dangerous' warning as snooker star adopts Rocket's useful habit

WATCH NOW: Ronnie O'Sullivan lifts an eighth Masters title as Mark Allen sends warning

Lewis Winter

By Lewis Winter


Published: 26/02/2024

- 12:05

Updated: 05/03/2024

- 17:05

Mark Allen is hoping to be a threat in the closing stages of the snooker campaign

Ronnie O'Sullivan has been sent a warning by Mark Allen that he will be a 'dangerous' threat in the final few months of the snooker season.

Allen triumphed at the Players Championship on Sunday and the Northern Irishman revelled in winning when not playing well, a habit often adopted by the Rocket.


O'Sullivan has often been heavily critical of his own performances this season despite winning four tournaments.

He won a record-extending eighth Masters title in January, a month after winning the first Triple Crown event of the season at the UK Championship.

Ronnie O'Sullivan

Ronnie O'Sullivan has been warned that Mark Allen will be a tough competitor in the coming months

Getty

O'Sullivan said in January that he is 'playing absolute filth and still managing to win.'

He also stated: "The two tournaments I have won I have not played good. The three that I did not win I played alright. Sometimes it does not make sense, I can’t work it out."

Allen overcame Zhang Anda 10-8 in Sunday's mammoth final in Telford, having trailed by three frames early in the match.

He admitted, like O'Sullivan often has, that he did not play well all week despite walking away with the trophy.

Allen said: "I’m not quite sure how I won that this week. I started off really well against [Mark] Williams and just got progressively worse.

"I hung in there, played some good safety and potted some good balls when it mattered.

"I was fortunate that Zhang didn’t play as well as he has done, but I’m sitting here with the trophy and that’s all that matters.

"This is what I’ve always wanted to do. Picking up one tournament every two or three seasons wasn’t where I wanted to be.

"I’ve made some changes off the table and they have stood me in good stead. I always wanted to be a consistent winner."

Allen has guaranteed qualification for the Tour Championship in early April before the World Championship starts later that month.

O'Sullivan will head to the Crucible as the favourite to win a record-breaking eighth title.

But Allen has warned the 48-year-old and his fellow rivals that he will give him a tough challenge in the coming weeks.

LATEST SPORTS NEWS:

Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Allen

Mark Allen insists he can be 'dangerous' in the final months of the season

Getty

He added: "There are a big six or seven weeks to come. If I can just find a bit more comfort in my technique I can be dangerous in these last few tournaments.

"Everyone knows that I can win without playing well. It would be nice to find some form."

Allen finally beat Zhang on Sunday after more than seven hours of playing time.

He paid tribute to the Chinese star who had beaten O'Sullivan's conqueror Selby in Saturday's semi-final.

Mark Allen

Mark Allen won the Players Championship on Sunday

Getty

Allen said: "As the match went on he missed a few he hadn’t done and looked a little bit tired. That is understandable.

"It was a late finish against Mark Selby last night. It takes everything out of you playing him.

"The way Zhang is playing, he is going to be about for a long time to come. He is a dangerous opponent."

You may like