Ronnie O’Sullivan shuns practice for Only Fools and Horses before big snooker games

Ronnie O’Sullivan has revealed he refuses to practice before his biggest snooker matches – and instead prepares by watching Only Fools and Horses.

The seven time World Champion insists warming up with another 10 minutes on the table wouldn’t make the ‘slightest bit of difference’ so he would rather relax with Del Boy.

O’Sullivan, who is widely considered the most talented player to pick up a cue, said his pre-match ritual at the Crucible also includes scones with cream and jam. And during a good run in a tournament he admits he will easily get through 25 scones.

Speaking on the Happy Place podcast about World Snooker Championship preparation in Sheffield, the 47 year old revealed he has two rules.

“I don’t practice before any of my games because all I’m going for is pain or relief so I take that out of the game,” he said.

“I’ve done my work, another 10 minutes on that practice table isn’t going to make the slightest bit of difference.

“So, I put my iPhone on, I stick my Only Fools and Horses on, put my feet up, put the kettle on and me and my mate, we have a great 45 minutes just chatting – there’s no stress.”

The snooker ace says his pre-match habits also involve a very British treat with his favourite sitcom.

The father of three continued: “Another thing that I like to do is have my scones, clotted cream and jam. It’s my little treat to myself. I get through probably 25 scones in 17 days at Sheffield – sometimes it’s two a day.

“Sometimes I’ve got some left over and I go back to my room and I’m having two of them and my mate’s looking at me and I’m like ‘I don’t give a fuck how this makes me feel – I’m running in the morning’.”