Ronnie O'Sullivan makes shock Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis point amid retirement talk

Snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan has made a candid admission about his approach to the game - compared to fellow icons Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis. The Rocket, who has had a testing start to the 2024/2025 season, including an early exit from the English Open, has been mulling over his future amid lingering retirement rumours.

After withdrawing from recent tournaments, O'Sullivan has opened up in an interview with The Irish Independent about his career mindset. He confessed: "I wish I was a bit more results-driven and win-driven like Stephen Hendry and Steve Davis," as relayed by reports from The Express.

O'Sullivan elaborated on that perspective, adding: "If you're more like that, then you can go; 'oh, I won - great or I lost - p****d off. I just need to win next time'.

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"I think for Hendry, especially, it was all about winning. They're different animals."

O'Sullivan also reflected on his own playing style. He went on: "But I'm not... I'm much more like; 'Did I play a good game? Did I hit the ball well? Am I enjoying it? Am I feeling the buzz from it [playing snooker]'?

"If I'm doing all that, then I don't need to win, you just can't wait to get your cue out of your case. It becomes a bit more feeling-based and emotion-based."

Concluding on his thoughts, he admitted: "That's probably not the best way to be. In hindsight, I would have much rather been the other way. But you feel how you feel in your heart."

O'Sullivan has won everything there is to win in snooker. He hold a joint-record (with Hendry) seven world titles in the sport's modern era, among countless other accolades.