O’Sullivan’s ‘rolling the dice’ cue gamble pays off

Ronnie O’Sullivan, the seven-time world champion, secured his seventh title in 2026 after a commanding 10-2 win over Chinese debutant He Guoqiang. The victory marked one of the most significant performances at the World Championship so far, propelling him toward a potential record-breaking eighth Crucible triumph. His switch to a second cue during the tournament proved pivotal, as both sticks delivered identical dominance.

The Risky Strategy

O’Sullivan admitted his decision to use a different cue was a calculated gamble. “The tip is more important than the cue – that’s why I brought two cues,” he explained. The 50-year-old had been saving this tactic all year, anticipating potential issues with his primary cue. “If my main cue wasn’t good, I thought I’d be in trouble. So, I took a chance and it worked out.”

“I thought it was a bit of a roll of the dice, but it made complete sense to me,” O’Sullivan said. “I was a bit nervous because you can look silly if it goes wrong, but I did my best.”

A Key Moment in the Match

During the penultimate frame, O’Sullivan nearly achieved a maximum 147 break, potting nine reds and eight blacks before attempting a blue. The near-perfect display highlighted his form, which included century breaks of 62, 113, and 100 within an hour. The Crucible crowd, including former England midfielder Paul Scholes, watched in awe as the star player executed the shots with precision.

Backstory of the Cue Change

O’Sullivan’s choice to use two cues was influenced by his recent struggles. In the UK Championship, his tip was so poor that he felt “hopeless” during play. “I thought, ‘I don’t ever want to be in that situation again,’ so I decided to have a backup,” he revealed. The secondary cue had been stored under his bed in Ireland for most of the year, only being pulled out after he felt confident in his current form.

Looking Ahead

Next on the agenda for O’Sullivan is a clash with John Higgins, a four-time world title winner. “It’s a couple of oldies – he’s probably the favorite,” O’Sullivan acknowledged. “But the pressure is off me, and more on John. It should be a good game. I hope to give him a decent match.”

“John loves playing me – he really enjoys it. He plays better against me than I do against him,” he added.

Earlier this year, O’Sullivan made history at the World Open in China with a 153 break, the highest in professional snooker. Despite that feat, he humorously claimed during interviews that he should be known as “Rusty Ron,” a nod to his recent performance in the UK Championship, where he lost 6-4 to Zhou Yuelong in the opening round. This match marked the beginning of his 34th Crucible campaign, his first in Britain since that defeat.

Six-time world champion Steve Davis praised O’Sullivan’s consistency, stating, “Ronnie is a genius. He could play with a broomstick and still perform well. His positional brain is unmatched, and he’s still capable of winning at 50.”