Neil Robertson firmly believes Ronnie O’Sullivan can win this year’s World Championship despite not playing since January. The Rocket, 49, be will gunning for a record eighth Crucible crown on the sport’s grandest stage when the showpiece kicks off on Saturday.
Doubt remains in some quarter over the world No.5’s ability to rock up and take home the trophy due to a lack of match sharpness since his hiatus after snapping his cue in anger three months ago. But Robertson feels O’Sullivan will be confident he can conquer the Crucible once more with the memories of when he famously defended his treasured title in 2013 after not playing for a whole year.
Former champion Robertson, 43, told Express Sport: “He’s definitely good enough to win it after taking time off, of course he is. He proved that when he won it for a second year in a row in 2013 when he didn’t play for the entire season.
“He’ll have that question answered within himself knowing he can win it without playing for a season which is huge. I truly believe he just wasn’t happy with the state of his game and he didn’t look like he was enjoying playing. He’s probably been working on things in his game that we don’t know about.”
There are still concerns over the Rocket’s participation at the sport’s spiritual Sheffield home.
O’Sullivan has been suffering from “stage fright” and the prospect of the Crucible cauldron’s pressure cooker could prove too much for the game’s biggest star.
And Robertson, who could face the Rocket in a blockbuster semi-final clash, added: “I really hope Ronnie plays. I know he went out to his academy in Saudi Arabia so that leads me to believe he’ll play.
“If he does play it’s going to be Ronnie mania at the tournament. He’s going to have an awful amount of crowd support, probably more than he’s ever had there.”
It is 15 years since Aussie ace Robertson won his one and only world crown in 2010.
For a player of his calibre, who has pocketed 25 ranking titles and only one of 11 players in history to win all three Triple Crown majors, it is a poor return.
He failed to qualify for the event for the first time since 2006 last season, but is back among the leading contenders after winning two tournaments this term following a spell of soul-searching and regrouping last summer.
The Thunder from Down Under admitted: “I would be disappointed if I ended my career with just one world title. Last year really hurt. It’s like that saying…it was the final nail in the coffin for my season really.
“It just had that sense of inevitability about it. I remember going to the qualifiers and some players were in like absolute shock to see me there. As much as I tried to put a positive spin on it, it felt like I didn’t belong there at all.
“Getting a sports psychologist is the best thing I’ve ever done. I wish I did it ten years ago. I feel more in control about winning a second worlds now rather than hoping it falls into my lap which is where I’ve been the past few years. I’m taking action to make it happen.”