O'Sullivan still striving for perfection after third world title

RONNIE O'Sullivan sent a shiver down the spine of his opponents after winning his third World Championship final by insisting: "I can get even better".

The Rocket was in awesome form at The Crucible during the past fortnight, particularly in disposing of seven-times world champion Stephen Hendry 17-6 in the semi-finals. And the 32-year-old, the oldest winner of the title since Joe Johnson in 1986, still demolished Ali Carter 18-8 in the final despite failing to fire on all cylinders.

O'Sullivan has become the fourth player to win the UK Championship and world titles in the same season and the first to regain the No 1 spot in the rankings for a third time.

But he is still striving for snooker perfection and would hang up his cue if he felt there was no room for improvement.

"You've seen me hit form a few times this season, like against Stephen Maguire in the UK Championships," said O'Sullivan. "I've played a few good matches. I've been consistent.

"I wasn't totally happy with every performance I put in and you always have to work at your game. Tiger Woods and Roger Federer and people like that are always looking for that consistency to take the game to the next level.

"They can't get any better but you are just looking for that consistency so you can just grind your opponents down.

"It was fantastic to win this tournament, fantastic to be number one, fantastic to have won the UK. I've had a fantastic season. I've really enjoyed my snooker and ideally I'd love to keep playing.

"I want to be so perfect at this game. When I play like I did against Stephen Hendry, I think 'yes' – and then I have a struggle in the final and it seems like a bit of an anti-climax. The final seemed like the semi-final.

"But in each of these long-frame matches, I did the damage in one session of every match. I won 6-2, 7-1 or 8-0 in certain sessions of matches. It's a long way back for anyone after that.

"You don't have to be fantastic every session. You just do it in spells and that's how I did it. That was my game plan."

O'Sullivan admitted a couple of technical changes have helped him to maintain a level of consistency even if he is not playing to his maximum ability.

He said: "The secret of the success has been the consistency factor. I changed a couple of things technically and I am not flying as much and there is more of a balance there.

"My bad games are not as bad and nearer to my good games and that is how I won this championship.

"I just think I stumbled upon something in August-September before the season started. I looked at it and thought 'that applies to my game' and I started working on a couple of things.

"I started hitting the ball sweeter and felt the game was coming easy to me again. It's been like that for most of the season. The odd time it (things going wrong] has reared its ugly head and then I get a bit of a panic on. But I've been able to be a bit more optimistic.

"When things haven't been going right, I've been able to say 'I know things have been going right all season, it is always there, keep calm'."

O'Sullivan admits the age factor could come into his equations as he strives to add more world titles and admits keeping super fit via his love of running is a help.

He said: "It is nice to have got the third title. I would like to think I can win a few more but there are a lot of young quality players out there chomping at the bit and the game has changed.

"These players put pressure on you if you are not on your game. You let them get their hands on the table and they can pot balls from anywhere. For example, Ali Carter is a better long potter than me but I just managed to win the safety exchanges and score. I've always got that in my armoury and know there are improvements to be made in my long game as well.

"I wouldn't really like to put a number on the number of world titles I could win because that would be foolish of me.

"Stephen Hendry is a legend, he's won seven titles, Steve Davis has got six. I'm half-way to Davis – but I am not young although the fitness side with me does help."

Carter's reward for reaching the final is to climb to No 7 in next season's rankings. "I was disappointed I didn't perform at my best in the final," he said late on Sunday night. "It was very tiring. Ronnie made it very difficult. His safety (play] was brilliant so the better man won the day."

Three former world champions, meanwhile, in Davis, Ken Doherty and Mark Williams have all dropped out of the top 16 and will need to qualify for tournaments in the 2008-2009 season.

Davis on Ronnie dilemma

STEVE Davis believes the outcome of Ronnie O'Sullivan's summer disciplinary hearing could have some bearing on whether he takes a break from the game.

O'Sullivan will appear before the WPBSA after his lewd outburst during the recent China Open and a fine or, more unlikely, even a suspension could be handed out if they decide to get tough with the game's biggest box office draw.

He repeated his assertion he may possibly opt out of snooker for a spell after his 18-8 demolition of Ali Carter at the weekend, which gave him his third world crown.

Six-time champion Davis said: "I think there is the possibility of Ronnie winning more world titles. There is only one tournament a year that is the World Championship. Four titles is very realistic and so is five.

"It is down to Ronnie and how much he wants to play the game. I think he will be back next year but it does give our authorities a slight dilemma, the fact there is a disciplinary hearing coming up during the summer. He is the crowd favourite and they'd love him to come back."