Snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan has spoken frankly about his battle with substance abuse that plagued his early professional years.
In a revealing interview with TNT Sports before this weekend's UK Championship in York, the 49-year-old discussed how he became consumed by drink and drugs during the 1990s.
The seven-time world champion, who began his professional career at just 16, acknowledged that whilst he appreciates public support, he doesn't seek sympathy.
"It's life - life throws you whatever, and you have to deal with it," he said, admitting he hadn't always managed to cope effectively with life's challenges.
Ronnie O'Sullivan admitted he would go back and change things if he could
|TNTSPORTS
O'Sullivan expressed deep remorse about his choices during his late teens and early twenties.
"If I could turn the clock back, I'd do things so much differently," he revealed, specifically highlighting the period between 19 and 25 as years he would change.
The snooker star believes those six or seven years inflicted significant harm on his career.
"I think I caused a lot of damage in those years to my game, which in effect caused a lot of damage to my off-the-table sort of way of life," he explained.
He admitted the experience left him feeling "quite vulnerable, quite unconfident."
Ronnie O'Sullivan has toiled on and off the table
|REUTERS
O'Sullivan drew parallels between his experience and actor Charlie Sheen's struggles, having recently watched a documentary about the Hollywood star.
"I just watched the Charlie Sheen documentary, and he went for about 30 years," O'Sullivan noted, reflecting that his own escape from addiction came much sooner.
The snooker champion recognised his relative fortune in breaking free after three years.
"I got out early. I got out after three years. So I had a result," he said. He acknowledged the severity of Sheen's three-decade battle, observing: "Wow, man, he's lucky to be alive."
O'Sullivan admitted there were moments when he felt his own story could have mirrored Sheen's trajectory.
"I couldn't live sober"
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Ronnie O'Sullivan opens up about a "vulnerable" period of his life 🗣️
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O'Sullivan detailed the extent of his substance abuse, describing extended periods of excess.
"Binges, long binges. Days. Days, yeah, days," he revealed, painting a stark picture of his darkest moments.
Despite the eventual devastation, he acknowledged the initial appeal of his lifestyle. "Don't get me wrong, the first two or three years were great. We had a great time," he admitted.
However, the enjoyment proved temporary. O'Sullivan described how the situation deteriorated progressively: "But then it gets to a bit of a point where, like he says, it's like fun, and then it's fun with problems. Then it's just problems."