Stephen Hendry believes Ronnie O’Sullivan will win a event this season regardless of the seven-time world champion’s latest struggles.
Hendry made the prediction on the most recent episode of the Snooker Membership podcast after O’Sullivan suffered one other early exit on the China Open.
The 50-year-old was overwhelmed 6-4 by Noppon Saengkham within the second spherical in Taiyuan, extending his await a rating title to two-and-a-half years.
O’Sullivan’s most up-to-date rating success got here on the World Grand Prix in early-2024, whereas he has now slipped to 14th on the planet rankings.
The defeat was significantly disappointing for O’Sullivan himself, who was extremely vital of his personal efficiency afterwards.
“I’m simply very poor,” a dejected O’Sullivan stated within the post-match press convention. “Too many unhealthy photographs, unhealthy frames, and foolish errors.”
“I’ve been like this for 4 years so I’m used to it, nevertheless it’s irritating. I don’t wish to take something away from Noppon.
“He performed a very good match, he’s cueing robust. I’m only a very poor snooker participant in the mean time, it’s so simple as that.”
Nevertheless, Hendry believes O’Sullivan’s present issues don’t essentially imply that one other title is past him.
“We’ve talked about it quite a bit with Ronnie, John [Higgins}, and Mark [Williams],” Hendry stated on the Snooker Membership podcast.
“Hastily, they’ll miss one thing which you can’t imagine. It’s these little unforced errors and the simple photographs which are costing them.”
“[But] I’m going to make a prediction. I feel Ronnie will win a event this 12 months. I feel there will likely be every week the place he’ll simply hit kind.
“We all know that at his greatest he has produced unbelievable performances, and if he can string them collectively he’ll win a event.
“I don’t know which one, so it’s not the best of predictions. However I feel he’ll win one, as a result of he appears to be working his nuts off.
“He’s on the observe desk on a regular basis. He’s pounding the observe desk.”
Hendry’s feedback come regardless of O’Sullivan’s inconsistent kind persevering with for a while.
Certainly, the Scot provided a markedly totally different evaluation of the Rocket just a few weeks in the past on one other podcast episode.
“He goes from the chic to the ridiculous. He can abruptly look completely flawless after which return to essentially struggling.”
“Ronnie’s sport now’s flashes of brilliance coupled with inconsistent kind,” Hendry claimed.
The 2 views usually are not essentially incompatible, although, and there was evident all through the final couple of seasons to again up each of Hendry’s factors.
Whereas there have been loads of early exits, O’Sullivan did take pleasure in a promising run on the World Open in March earlier than dropping to Thepchaiya Un-Nooh in a high-quality ultimate.
He confirmed glimpses of his greatest kind in Yushan, whereas this time final 12 months he additionally got here inside a body of touchdown the profitable Saudi Arabia Masters crown.
The issue has been reproducing that degree on a extra common foundation.
His China Open defeat to Saengkham was one other instance, with O’Sullivan making the type of errors which have grow to be more and more acquainted throughout his latest struggles.
Saengkham went on to achieve the ultimate of the 2026/27 season’s second rating occasion, finally dropping 10-6 to Mark Selby within the title-deciding affair.
O’Sullivan will now have one other alternative to show Hendry proper on the upcoming Wuhan Open.
The occasion begins on Sunday, with O’Sullivan scheduled to face Ashley Carty in his opening match within the final 64.
Featured photograph credit score: WST
