TheRocket wrote:The age factor is catching everyone at some point, even Ronnie O'Sullivan. He's probably more talented than anyone else, but even that stops not the age factor at some point. I just can't see that youre playing the same stuff in your 50's and the high standard you played in your 20's or 30's, not even Ronnie.
I mean, we are all surprised how good he's still playing at this age. Hendry, Williams and many other legends did already drop a little bit after passing the age of 30. Of course, they were still capable of winning tournaments here and there like Davis won the Masters at the age of 40 and Ebdon the China Open at the age of 42. But winning the World Championship is something different, especially defending it at that age.
Ronnie obviously is a fit man, running almost everyday and keeps himself in good form, so that's probably another reason next to his talent. I can see Ronnie winning big titles for the next 3-4 years, but after that it will be difficult. And I don't thing he has the motivation either to keep playing after the age of 45 or like that.
When he realizes, he can't win anymore and keeps losing in first rounds then he is gonna retire for sure. And it would definitely be the right choice if this was the case.
What Ronnie should do now is just winning as much as possible before retiring.
Couldn't have said it better myself
Although as much as I'd like your last part to be true, that isn't always the case with him atm because he skips many tournaments so his chances of sucess become less, this season he may only play in the Welsh Open before the Worlds. But, having said all this, I'd rather have a Ronnie who only plays a handful of tournaments and wins some of them than a Ronnie who plays in almost everything but doesn't win and seems desinterested and bored.
I think if his desire is there he can play to this kind of top level for the next 3 or 4 years beofre the inevitable happens and he starts putting up performances like Williams and Higgins in recent times. Plus I agree with you, if he went to lose many first round matches for instance he wouldn't be around for too long. His 2010/2011 season was his worst by a long way and I really thought then he would definately retire given the results he had that season, but fortunately Dr Steve Peters came around and since then he's probably been the best Ronnie ever, mostly mentally.