Ronnie O'Sullivan spotted at bus stop with cigarette before winning UK championship

Ronnie O'Sullivan may have claimed £250,000 on Sunday but he remains a a man of the people.

'Rocket' made history by winning the UK championship in York, securing a 10-7 victory over Ding Junhui.

The win, his eighth overall, happened just days before his 48th birthday and sees the No.1 ranked player become the oldest ever champion.

Beforehand, O'Sullivan had said he would celebrate a potential triumph with a "bit of chocolate, a bag of crisps and a Diet Coke on the motorway on the way home".

And prior to the historic victory, he was spotted outside a bus stop, showing just how grounded he is.

O'Sullivan was wearing a blue hat and mind his own business smoking a cigarette when a fan came up to him.

Image: Getty

In a video which has since gone viral online, the fan said: "Look who I've got here! My Ronnie O'Sullivan, the star man. My blessed boy, the world legend of snooker champion. I've got him right here mate.

"Oh my god, I can't believe I met you, you know. I was looking out for you. Bless you!"

Although a little sheepish about having a camera in his face, O'Sullivan was polite and posed for the video.

His win came 30 years after he became the youngest ever winner aged 17, meaning he now holds the record at both ends of the age spectrum.

Image: Getty

However, O'Sullivan did admit that the buzz of winning is not the same days and he gets that feeling from other activities like going for a run or having breakfast with a mate.

"I’m not sitting here with a massive grin and super excited,” he said afterwards.

I just go through the motions a lot of the time. It’s great to win and I give my best when I’m out there and I want to win, but it’s not the same excitement as years ago when I was winning my first world and UK and Masters titles, and you’re buzzing.

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a nice feeling and a job well done, but I get more of a buzz from going for a run in the morning or having breakfast with my mate. I don’t actually feel like ever playing.

"Once you get down there you think you’re glad you’ve done it, but even in this match today I was thinking I didn’t feel like it, I’d rather sit on my bed and watch a bit of Netflix. I feel like that a lot of the time.”

Topics: Snooker, Ronnie OSullivan

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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