Ronnie O’Sullivan has been hailed as a snooker artist for decades – and now the Rocket has started to paint between matches.
O’Sullivan will look to give China’s Zhou Yuelong the brush-off on Wednesday at the Cazoo UK Championship in York as he goes chasing an eighth success in the tournament.
The world No1 and reigning world champion has often been dubbed the ‘Potting Picasso’ for his genius on the baize.
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But it is close pal and former Turner Prize winner Damien Hirst that has inspired the 46-year-old O’Sullivan to try his hand at expressing himself on a different canvas.
Hirst, 57, is most famous for artworks featuring animals in formaldehyde but also paintings featuring coloured dots and cherry blossoms.
O’Sullivan is looking to add a 22nd major to his CV at the event where he broke through with success as a 17-year-old.
But he said: “I just look forward to going and buying some new paint brushes and going back to my room. I just do a little bit there, because I like it.
“I’m not into portraits, I’m into some things that Damien showed me. I like the dots and spots that Damien does, the blossoms and the veils. I like all his stuff, but that’s what I’ve been doing.
“You’ve got a lot of time when you’re away at tournaments and I enjoy it. I spend a lot of time with Damien and I enjoy being in the studio.
“He suggested ‘go and get your own paint brushes’ and I said ‘yeah, why not?’ I started doing it, it’s brilliant and I love it. I’d encourage anyone to do things they enjoy.”
O’Sullivan also stirred up more 147 maximum break controversy by claiming he now wouldn’t bother going for one unless the prize was at least £50,000.
At the recent Champion of Champions the Rocket failed to shake hands with Judd Trump as is traditional after the Juddernaut made one against him in the final.
O’Sullivan added: “What’s the prize for a max here? £15,000? Not enough. I’d probably go for it if it was £50,000 but for anything less than that then let somebody else have a go.
“I’m not that bothered for it. What’s the point? There’s no point taking the risk. I don’t need the money so if it’s going to be money then make it proper money and then I might go for it.”
Meanwhile, with the UK tournament brought forward a couple of weeks to avoid a full clash with the football World Cup, O’Sullivan will not get his December birthday in York even if he goes all the way to the final.
But the other constant at this time of the year is the ‘I’m A Celebrity, Just Get Me Out Of Here’ ITV programme for which the Rocket - a huge fan of the hit show – has been offered hundreds of thousands to appear on but has yet to take the plunge. Although as he has stated in the past – never say never when the snooker game is finally up.
O’Sullivan said of this year’s show, that has controversially featured former Health Secretary Matt Hancock: “I’m enjoying it, I think it’s good. I like them all. I think they’re all good, there are some good characters.
“Matt Hancock…we all make mistakes. We all deserve to be redeemed. He takes it on the chin and gets on with his tasks. I think he’s revelling in this new role. Boy George was on him a bit.
“I don’t want to be in a culture where you’re condemning people all the time. It can get quite toxic. Everyone makes mistakes, I’m not from this school of thought where you’re hard on people.”
*18+ | BeGambleAware
