Stephen Hendry believes that Ronnie O’Sullivan has been influenced by Mark Williams’ approach, leading to a strong start to the current season for O’Sullivan. O’Sullivan faced challenges in the previous season, withdrawing from several tournaments abruptly after damaging his cue in frustration in January.
Having indicated his intention to scale back his playing schedule, the 49-year-old has shown a rejuvenated and focused performance in his recent appearances.
O’Sullivan notably achieved two maximum breaks in a single match on his way to the final of the Saudi Arabia Masters, where he narrowly lost to Neil Robertson in a final-frame decider. He also displayed good form at the Xi’an Grand Prix but was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Gary Wilson.
The Xi’an Grand Prix title was clinched by Williams, a member of the ‘Class of 92′, who defeated Shaun Murphy in the final to become the oldest-ever winner of a ranking event at 50 years and 206 days, surpassing Ray Reardon’s previous record set in 1982.
Williams’ relaxed demeanor and ability to bounce back from setbacks have been pivotal to his sustained success, a trait that has apparently influenced O’Sullivan according to snooker legend Hendry.
In a discussion on the WST’s Snooker Club podcast, Hendry praised Williams for maintaining a high level of play despite minimal practice outside of tournaments. Hendry expressed admiration for Williams’ carefree attitude towards winning or losing, highlighting the mental advantage it provides in competitive sports.
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