Ronnie O'Sullivan dismisses SPOTY chances despite being favourite to win
- Joe Hewlett
- 4 May 2022
The Rocket defeated Judd Trump 18-13 to claim his seventh world title and equal Stephen Hendry's record. He is now tipped to win BBC's Sports Personality of the Year.
Ronnie O'Sullivan has been installed as favourite to win the 2022 BBC Sports Personality of the Year (SPOTY) following his win at the Crucible.
At 46, O'Sullivan became the oldest snooker player to win the competition and he is now ahead of Tyson Fury to win the BBC prize.
The Rocket is on seven world titles - equal with Stephen Hendry, although O'Sullivan has won the most ranking titles (39) and is the only player to have scored over 1,000 centuries.
O'Sullivan was nominated for the award in 2020 alongside Jordan Henderson, Lewis Hamilton, Hollie Doyle, Stuart Broad and Fury. Hamilton was crowned winner after surpassing Michael Schumacher for Grand Prix victories and winning his seventh Formula One world title.
No snooker player has won SPOTY since Steve Davies in 1988 while Hendry is the last to have finished inside the top three, in 1990.
O'Sullivan is adamant though that the 34-year drought will continue, and admitted he isn't 'bothered' about the accolade.
O'Sullivan also claims he could play snooker for another 10 years after his impressive win over Trump - 14 years his junior.
"What he said blew me away." ❤️
— Eurosport (@eurosport) May 2, 2022
A tearful Ronnie O'Sullivan explains why his hug with Judd Trump was such an emotional moment.#ilovesnooker | @WeAreWST | @ronnieo147 | @judd147t pic.twitter.com/Dml2Kdu7MA
"I could probably play to my mid-fifties if I wanted to," he said. "I could probably pitch up and maybe win one or two matches in my mid-fifties but I'd have no chance of winning it.
