Ronnie O’Sullivan remains downbeat on his World Snooker Championship performances despite booking a place in the semi-finals.
The Rocket beat Si Jiahui 13-9 in the quarter-finals, not needing to find his best form, but doing enough to keep the 22-year-old at bay.
There have been flashes of brilliant stuff from the 49-year-old so far this tournament, but not the fireworks the seven-time world champion has become renowned for over the years.
Having not played competitively since January before this event, and playing with a new cue, it is no great surprise that O’Sullivan is not at his best, but he keeps on winning regardless.
Not that he appears to be getting much enjoyment out of it, bemoaning his performance in the win over Si.
Asked on the BBC if the decision to play in Sheffield was starting to pay off, he said: ‘Not really no, I’m just grinding it out. I had some work done on my cue today, probably have to get a new ferrule, a new tip, it just feels awful, the cue.
‘I’m playing awful and the cue feels awful. It’s the worst situation to be in as a snooker player. I’m still in so I’ll keep punching away, keep trying.
‘He had lots of chances. I was trying all sorts, trying to hold the cue in a different place to get a bit of feel, I’ll just try anything.
‘He played poor in the whole match really, let me off the hook loads of times, so I got lucky again.’
O’Sullivan has credited psychiatrist Dr Steve Peters for still being in the draw at the Crucible, helping him keep a level head while finding his own performances frurstrating.
‘Steve’s been amazing. I wouldn’t have got through the first round without Steve so Steve’s been incredible,’ he said. ‘It’s been a tough job for him this week. I’ve tried to give it my best and I have and just hanging in there.
‘If I could afford him I’d have him every day but obviously he’s a busy man and I couldn’t afford to have him full time, so I try to time when I can have him. Obviously Sheffield is a big tournament so it’s nice to have him around when this event’s on.’
O’Sullivan is not blaming his time away from the game for feeling under-par, but feels lost with his game, to an extent.
‘I don’t feel rusty at all. I’ve played eight tournaments this year, it’s not that I haven’t played,’ he said. ‘But I was struggling so much I couldn’t face playing so I had a bit of time out, give it a go, still not much better but I’m able to handle it a bit better.’
Next up for the Rocket is Zhao Xintong in the semi-finals, while Judd Trump takes on Mark Williams on the other side of the draw.
While the seven-time winner is very much in contention for an eighth title, he is still playing down his chances.
‘It gets harder because you look at the standard, Judd the way he’s playing, Mark Williams, Xintong,’ he said. ‘I won’t be able to get away with what I’ve got away with in the last three matches.
‘I don’t think I can get any worse but we’ll have to see.’