'It wasn't because I wanted to win it'– Ronnie O'Sullivan reveals why he was inspired to lift world snooker title

ByEurosport

Updated 14/06/2022 at 09:47 GMT

Ronnie O’Sullivan has claimed he did not win a record-equalling seventh world title for himself. The world No. 1 defeated Judd Trump 18-13 to equal Stephen Hendry's Crucible haul from the 1990s, but has insisted he only managed the feat because he felt "bad" for a TV camera crew monitoring his movements during the event. Stream top snooker action live and on-demand on discovery+

'Magnificent seven' - O'Sullivan lifts Crucible trophy

Ronnie O’Sullivan has claimed he only won a seventh world snooker title last month because he felt "bad" for the TV camera crew tailing him during the tournament.

Speaking to media during the opening of his first academy in Singapore, the world No. 1 revealed he was not fired up to lift the trophy for personal reasons in Sheffield.

O'Sullivan was wearing a mic during the 17-day event with a TV crew allowed access behind the scenes as he successfully equalled Stephen Hendry's 1990s Crucible haul with an 18-13 win over Judd Trump in the final.

World Championship

World Championship LIVE - O'Sullivan resumes with commanding lead

a minute ago

He hopes a fly-on-the-wall documentary can be made from the footage assembled to chronicle his performance on and off the table at the sport's biggest event.

"I decided a long time ago that if something got too much pressure, or I thought you know what, I'm not really enjoying this, then it's probably better that I lose and let somebody else have that place," said O'Sullivan.

“And I felt that during this world championships. I didn't really enjoy it. But I had this film crew following me so I thought, I better try hard because they're following me.

So that was why I won it. It wasn't because I wanted to win it. It was just that I felt bad for the TV crew.

'Cocked hat double!' - O'Sullivan hits remarkable shot to win frame

O'Sullivan is due to return to competitive action at the Championship League in Leicester next month, the first ranking event of the new season.

He is due to begin his 2022/23 campaign at 11:00 BST on Monday 4 July in Group 1 in a section that also contains Alexander Ursenbacher, Alfie Burden and Farakh Ajaib.

Despite having plans to open more academies in China and Thailand to boost the development of the sport in Asia, the Essex icon is adamant the game is not his main priority.

"I don't really have an interest that much in snooker," he said.

"I like to play it, but other than that, I just don't get involved in it...I don't really know what goes on in the snooker world."

World Championship