Ronnie O'Sullivan's Prolonged Slump Raises Questions About Snooker Greatness
Ronnie O'Sullivan's rare appearance at the German Masters this week ended in familiar disappointment as the snooker legend's prolonged form slump continues to deepen. The Rocket travelled to Berlin hoping to rediscover his magic touch, but departed with more questions than answers after another early tournament exit.
Historic Hoodoos Begin to Crumble
O'Sullivan's 6-4 defeat to Ali Carter on Wednesday marked a significant psychological shift in their long-standing rivalry. This was only Carter's second victory over O'Sullivan in 22 attempts, yet the manner of the win suggested something fundamental has changed. The Captain didn't need to produce flawless snooker to overcome his long-time nemesis, comfortably outplaying a player who has dominated their head-to-head record for years.
This pattern has become alarmingly familiar in recent months. At the International Championship in November, Jack Lisowski overturned a 0-4 record against O'Sullivan to claim a 6-5 victory. Shaun Murphy followed suit in Riyadh, defeating the Rocket 4-0 despite trailing 4-15 in their previous encounters. Most recently at the UK Championship, Zhou Yuelong ended his seven-match losing streak against O'Sullivan with a 6-4 triumph.
These are all world-class players, but crucially they're opponents who have historically struggled to beat the seven-time world champion. For multiple players to overcome such significant psychological barriers within months suggests a worrying trend for O'Sullivan and his legion of fans.
The Diminishing Aura of Greatness
One of O'Sullivan's most potent weapons throughout his career has been his intimidating table presence. Opponents have frequently wilted under the pressure of facing snooker's greatest star, often failing to produce their best game even when O'Sullivan himself wasn't at his peak. The psychological advantage has been as important as his technical brilliance.
As Lisowski, Murphy, Zhou and Carter have successively removed their "Rocket-shaped monkeys" from their backs, questions inevitably arise about whether that aura is beginning to fade. Fellow Class of '92 legend John Higgins once likened O'Sullivan to having a "glow of magic stardust" about him, while current world number one Judd Trump insists "he's always going to be an amazing player until he's 90 years old."
Yet the concerning reality for O'Sullivan is that while respect for his achievements remains undiminished, the fear factor appears to be diminishing. Like a once-unbeaten boxer who starts accumulating losses, opponents are beginning to believe they can win even when not at their absolute best.
Beyond the Schedule Explanation
Many commentators have attributed O'Sullivan's struggles to his reduced tournament schedule, suggesting the modern tour's depth makes it impossible to turn up sporadically and expect success. While there's truth in this assessment, it represents an oversimplification of a more complex situation.
This is, after all, the same player who won the 2013 World Championship after playing just one competitive match all season. Carter's victory this week came despite his own limited recent match practice - since October's Northern Ireland Open, he had played only three matches, winning just one, and hadn't previously competed at the Berlin venue.
O'Sullivan himself acknowledges the challenges, telling reporters in Berlin that he remains focused on achieving his "one remaining goal" - an unprecedented eighth World Championship title. He'll continue his search for form and enjoyment at next week's World Grand Prix in Hong Kong.
A Champion's Vulnerability
Carter's post-match comments revealed the peculiar nature of beating a struggling legend. "It's great for the fans to see him, but it wasn't enjoyable in the end to see him not really enjoy it," he said. "The heat of the battle is what we all play for but I suppose he's in a different stage of his career right now."
This stage of O'Sullivan's career presents unfamiliar challenges. His B and C games, which previously won tournaments, are now struggling to win matches. The wand that once produced magical snooker with astonishing regularity is misfiring more frequently, leaving the 50-year-old looking more vulnerable than at any point in his professional career.
Yet writing off O'Sullivan remains premature. As recently as August, he produced two 147 maximum breaks in the Saudi Arabia Masters semi-final before narrowly losing the final to Neil Robertson. The magic undoubtedly remains within his game, waiting to be rediscovered.
As O'Sullivan himself reminded doubters earlier this season: "I've always said I'd be the first to let you know when I'm done, finished or gone or whatever it is. I was getting written off in 2012 and I played probably my best snooker when I won the World Championship. I did say then: 'Don't ever question me. I'll let you know when I'm done.'"
The snooker world continues to watch with fascination as one of sport's greatest talents navigates this challenging phase of his extraordinary career.
