Ronnie O'Sullivan was left fuming with his new cue as he returned to the table with a cue that had a brass ferrule as opposed to titanium - with the Rocket claiming it cost him £150 for the service
Ronnie O'Sullivan darted off for an urgent fix-up with a cue doctor in a frenzied effort to salvage his World Snooker Championship dreams.
The Rocket, aged 49, daringly switched to a spanking new cue sporting a titanium ferrule – a first in his storied career – as he aims to snag a record eighth Crucible title. Before his high-stakes semi-final, the fifth seed slammed his cue as "awful" and admitted he was desperate for a new tip and ferrule while going through "hell" at the table.
Then, after winding up the opening session of his intense 33-frame showdown with China's rising star Zhao Xintong at a dead heat of 4-4, the unstoppable seven-time champion made the call to swap back to his preferred brass ferrule at a nearby mender.
It’s a roll of the dice for snooker's GOAT, who splashed out £150 for the quick-fix during the nail-biting interval of a Crucible semi-final, , reports the Express.
‘The Rocket’, still hunting for that elusive flawless form throughout the tournament, has been soaking in the healing vibes of the Peak District and soaking up wisdom from sports shrink wizard Steve Peters – all part of his quest for snooker immortality.
Striving to conquer snooker's Everest by pocketing the 17-day slugfest for an unmatched eighth crown, the game’s marquee name is arming up for this morning’s session.
He said: "I'm lucky I've got Steve here just to try and keep my mind a little bit in shape, if you like. I mean I'm not sure I'd have come if it wasn't for Steve.
"Because he said, 'Look, I will help you through it', which he has done, so it's been great. It's been good. I probably need him with me all the time if I'm honest, but I can't afford him."
"So I get him here for this because it's a big tournament. I've really enjoyed this week because I've been staying near the Peak District.
"It's just been beautiful. I've only been coming here for my matches, so I've really had a nice time. It's been like a bit of a break."
O'Sullivan says this year's Crucible charge has been like "hell". Rolling into Sheffield signalled his return to the sport after a three-month break, during which he was plagued by stage fright and self-doubt about his game following an incident where he broke his cue in January.
The fact that the Rocket is now only 31 frames away from hoisting the coveted trophy once more speaks volumes about his mental toughness.
However, he made it clear: "I've probably played the worst snooker out of everybody this tournament and I am still in it.
"I'm trying to keep an open mind, but I'm not sure it will ever click again. That's probably being a bit negative, I suppose.
"But like I said, I'll give it two years. And if I don't see any improvement, then time to jack it in I suppose."
During their high-calibre first instalment of the four-frame session, O'Sullivan racked up breaks of 86, 62, and 60 while Zhao, who damaged the rail of a bottom corner pocket in the last frame, managed runs of 82, 73, 64, and 60.
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