November 25th 2025.
Ronnie O'Sullivan is undoubtedly one of the greatest snooker players of all time, with a long list of achievements to his name. When looking back on his illustrious career, he has a lot of highlights to choose from, but there are two wins that stand out as his personal favorites.
The 49-year-old has an impressive record of eight UK Championship and Masters titles each, along with seven World Championship wins. In fact, his 23 Triple Crown titles and 41 ranking title wins are both records in the sport.
While many would expect his 2013 World Championship win to be at the top of his list, O'Sullivan surprises us by picking another Sheffield success as well as a triumph in Newport.
When asked about his favorite wins, O'Sullivan told TNT Sports, "There's a couple that stand out. I think the one that really stood out for me is 2012 when I won the World Championship. I was playing great and having my son there to watch and some very close friends."
He continued, "I never expected my game to get to that point where I felt comfortable in my mind. It was unbelievable. I think that stands out for me."
O'Sullivan then went on to mention his 2014 Welsh Open win, where he beat Ding Junhui in the final with a maximum break. He also included his Masters title from a month earlier, noting that the two wins were like a package deal for him, representing how he felt before those triumphs came.
But what makes these two wins so special to O'Sullivan? Well, it turns out that they both came after moments of intense anxiety and pressure.
In 2014, just before the Masters, O'Sullivan's anxiety got so bad that he was physically in pain. He even considered pulling out of the tournament, but ultimately decided to play and ended up winning the title in dominant fashion.
He recalled, "I went there and played unbelievable snooker. That's probably the best I ever played. I beat [Mark] Selby in the final 10-4. I destroyed the field and played unbelievable. How have I gone from that on Sunday morning to a week later playing the best snooker I've ever played?"
Similarly, in 2012, O'Sullivan's practice session before the World Championship was so bad that he lost 9-0 to his opponent. Feeling frustrated and uncertain about his chances, he decided to take a break from snooker and not touch his cue for eight or nine days.
To his surprise, when he arrived in Sheffield for the tournament, he felt rejuvenated and full of energy. He ended up playing some of his best snooker and won the championship, crediting his decision to "taper off" and take a break before the tournament.
Reflecting on his performance, O'Sullivan shared, "2012 was by far the best performance I put in as a professional snooker player."
In the end, it's clear that O'Sullivan's favorite wins are not just about the trophies, but also the personal struggles he overcame to achieve them. These two victories represent moments of resilience and determination, making them even more special to the Rocket.
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