While few ever doubted his ability to outshine any opponent on a snooker table, Ronnie O'Sullivan's proclivity for self-sabotage is almost as well-known as his prowess with a cue.
An open, interesting and extremely talented sportsperson, 5 World Snooker Championships across 13 years scarcely measures the enjoyment so many snooker fans have taken in O'Sullivan's style of play.
Back up within the top 5 ranking players in the world, O'Sullivan is once more playing with regularity; recent wins at the English Open and Shanghai Masters demonstrating that the 'Rocket' is by no means going through the motions.
One thing that appears to be bothering O'Sullivan deeply however is the undesired attention of a snooker public that cherishes - and is excited by - O'Sullivan's mere presence.
Discussing the practicalities of playing tournaments that begin with well over one hundred initial participants, the inevitable exposure to 'numpties' has O'Sullivan hankering for change:
Now, since the games opened up and anybody can basically turn up on the tour, we have to go through the numpty phase.
128 players coming in for Round 1. Ronnie plays some fella, never seen him, didn't even know he existed as a snooker player. Turns up with a coachload of people outside because their grandson is playing Ronnie O'Sullivan.
A slight tongue in cheek look into 'Ronnie's Manifesto', rather than having an issue with playing the previously unheard of players before, O'Sullivan isn't happy with the demands that come with said player's eager entourage.
Unsure whether 'Roger Federer or Tiger Woods would get that' kind of attention when they turn up to play, the video is well worth watching for O'Sullivan's attempts at a North of England accent if nothing else.
He's just won in Shanghai but @RonnieO147 has a few words for the numpties at the Home Nations! ??? pic.twitter.com/73w47iX2i1
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) November 18, 2017
