Jimmy White believes Ronnie O’Sullivan’s 'game is in top shape' as he backs him for World Championship glory - 'He has every chance'
White builds up O'Sullivan's world title hopes - 'Game is in good shape'Video credit: TNT SportsO'Sullivan has not tasted victory in a ranking event since January 2024 and has only reached two finals in the last two seasons, slipping to 12th in the world rankings.Yet he has conquered the Crucible seven times and White believes that his good friend can rise to the occasion again.”He has gone and worked on his game all year round, sorted out his cue, and his game is in top shape so he has got every chance for me, Ronnie,” White told TNT Sports.O’Sullivan beat White 13-7 in the quarter-finals of the 1998 World Championship and The Whirlwind has never advanced beyond that point since, as he was beaten 10-9 by world No. 99 Gao Yang in the first round of qualifying this year.The 2025/26 season has seen O’Sullivan reach two finals - at the Saudi Arabia Snooker Masters where he lost to Neil Roberston and the World Open where he was bested 10-7 by Thepchaiya Un-Nooh, so he will be hoping for better in Sheffield, with every moment live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.White added: ”Ronnie O’Sullivan played fantastic in Saudi Arabia, then he lost to Neil Robertson 10-9, from 7-2 behind, went 9-8 in front, lost 10-9. Watch in FULL as Un-Nooh makes 'genius' 147 in World Open final against O'Sullivan
Video credit: TNT Sports"[He] did not go to China, I think he lost a bit of matchplay, I think that was a bad decision and then he pulled out of a few tournaments.”But the way he played his last tournament in China where Thepchiaya beat him, Ronnie’s game is in good shape. "I knew for a fact, I do not talk to him every day but make no mistake: the way he lost last year in the semi-finals we knew as soon as he came up against someone playing well, he was going to get beat.”McManus: He will not be intimidated against O'SullivanO’Sullivan kicks off his tournament against world No. 47 He Guoqiang, who has qualified for the World Championship for the first time.He has never won a major title and his best ranking result is reaching the quarter-finals of the 2023 British Open, but TNT Sports’ Alan McManus warned O’Sullivan not to underestimate the calm and collected Chinese 25-year-old.”He dusted Jack Lisowski in the last round of qualifying with the minimum of fuss,” McManus said. ”I have watched a lot of him like I have all the players, I do not quite know what his strengths and weaknesses are yet, the main thing is he does not appear to have too many weaknesses.”The main thing is a real cool customer, a difficult guy to play against, wraps himself up in his own game and does not give two hoots about reputation as you can see there with that win against Jack. "He is going to be a handful, Ronnie will not know much about him either. Not that Ronnie’s overly worried about opponents, but he will be a handful.”McManus sends O'Sullivan warning about first-round opponent He - 'He'll be a handful' Video credit: TNT SportsHow to watch the World Snooker ChampionshipYou can watch every day of the World Championship live on TNT Sports.It is available both live and on-demand on HBO Max.
