Stan Moody continues to climb snooker’s world rankings, pick up impressive results and has managed to catch the eye of the sport’s greatest player.
The 19-year-old is already into his third season as a professional and is enjoying an excellent campaign so far, reaching his first two ranking quarter-finals at the Wuhan Open and British Open.
The teenager has picked up notable victories over the likes of Ding Junhui, Kyren Wilson, Barry Hawkins, Ryan Day, Zhou Yuelong (twice) and now Ali Carter twice this season.
O’Sullivan was a fan of the Yorkshireman before this campaign, but feels his results so far this season show that he is ready to make the breakthrough into the game’s elite.
‘I’m excited for Stan Moody,’ O’Sullivan told Metro. ‘I think he’s an amazing talent. I watched him play and I thought, “yeah, this kid can play.”
‘I always thought he could play but he’s shown now that the breakthrough’s not far away.’
Moody’s second win of the season over Carter came on Wednesday at the Xi’an Grand Prix, downing the six-time ranking event winner 5-3 after beating the Captain 4-3 at last month’s British Open.
It was put to Moody that he has been described in some circles as ‘The Luke Littler of snooker’ which he has played down, but is pleased with his own progress.
‘I’ve got a long way to go to be a Luke Littler of snooker, but I’m on my way,’ Moody told World Snooker Tour.
‘I want to be top 32 by the end of the season, go deeper in tournaments. I’m doing alright.’
Asked what his aim is for the week in Xi’an, he said: ‘To win it.’
O’Sullivan is keen to not just praise the rising British talent, but is interested in mentoring a young star to rival the string of emerging prospects from elsewhere in the world, largely China.
‘I’d love to help out and try and get some of the grassroots in the UK going and take some players under my wing,’ said the Rocket. ‘Try and re-establish ourselves as a top snooker nation.’
Has any player approached the seven-time world champion looking for some guidance?
‘No, no one, really,’ said O’Sullivan. ‘Yeah…no one, really.’
The Rocket did do a bit of work on the practice table with world champion Zhao Xintong a few years ago, but feels he would need longer to really impart his wisdom.
‘Victoria [Shi, of Victoria’s Academy] reached out to me, she always does to help a player,’ said O’Sullivan. ‘You need to spend time on a table with someone to really be able to help them properly.
‘So no one’s come, but I always offer advice to some of the players, not mentioning any names, but because I like them and I want to see them do well.
‘And I just think it’s always handy to have someone that’s been there done it and can pass on a bit of good advice, you know?’
Moody is back in action in Xi’an against former world champion Stuart Bingham on Thursday morning, while O’Sullivan plays Yao Pengchang in the second round on Wednesday afternoon.