Stephen Hendry has described Ronnie O'Sullivan's current snooker as going 'from the sublime to the ridiculous', a pattern he says has persisted for the past two seasons. The seven-time world champion's comments came after O'Sullivan's early exit at the Shanghai Masters, where he lost 6-4 to Kyren Wilson in the last 16 despite making three consecutive centuries, including a sublime 131.
O'Sullivan's Inconsistency Highlighted
Speaking on WST's Snooker Club podcast, Hendry said: 'That (match vs Kyren Wilson) has basically been the story of Ronnie's game over the last year or two. He goes from the sublime to the ridiculous. He can suddenly look absolutely flawless and then go back to really struggling. Ronnie's game now is flashes of brilliance coupled with inconsistent form.'
The 50-year-old O'Sullivan, who has not won a ranking event since the 2023 World Grand Prix, has shown stunning moments recently, including two 147s in a single match at the Saudi Arabia Masters and a world record break of 153 at the World Open. However, his failure to win a tournament in either of the last two seasons underscores the inconsistency Hendry describes.
O'Sullivan's World Title Ambitions
Despite his recent struggles, O'Sullivan remains optimistic about his chances of securing a record eighth World Championship title. Speaking before his Shanghai defeat, the world number 14 said: 'I'd love to win another World Championship. I've got two attempts at it. Three years previous, I wasn't cueing well enough, so I feel like if I can find a bit of cueing, find some form at Sheffield… if I don't do it this season or the next season, then it'll definitely never happen.'
He added: 'But I'm pleased with my career. I'm happy with how things have gone, and I just want to try and enjoy these next two years. I'll reassess it in 2028 and if things are really going well, and I've surprised myself, then maybe you can extend it but you have to be realistic. I'm definitely not going to be playing qualifiers, put it that way.'
Trump's Dominance and Hendry's Analysis
Meanwhile, Judd Trump claimed the Shanghai Masters title, defeating Kyren Wilson in Sunday's final. The world number one's victory was his first since February's German Masters, his only title last season. Hendry believes Trump has evolved into a more complete player, though perhaps less flashy than a decade ago.
'Arguably, he's not as exciting to watch. He doesn't take the risks or go for the shots that he might have done 10 years ago. But there's no doubt he's a far better all-round player than he used to be,' said Hendry. 'He doesn't intimidate players with all-out attack in the same way he used to. The intimidation now comes from the fact that he's world number one—and he plays like a world number one.'
Hendry also noted Trump's equipment struggles last season, saying: 'Judd used four different cues last season. If he's now got one that he's very happy with, it could spell trouble for the rest. Trump is a winning machine. When he gets on a roll, he loves winning. Even when he's not playing well, he has that habit of winning matches.'
Upcoming Tournaments
O'Sullivan will have opportunities to regain form at the China Open and Wuhan Open this month, with his China Open campaign beginning against Jackson Page on Sunday. Trump also starts his China Open campaign on Sunday, facing Noppon Saengkham.
