Ken Doherty said that Ronnie O’Sullivan is the greatest of all-time and could come back and win his seventh the world title next year.
Doherty has been critical of O’Sullivan over the past week, following his savage attack on snooker's next-generation, insisting they are so bad that he would have to “lose an arm and a leg” to slip down the rankings.
However, speaking on Monday's OTB AM, Doherty praised the newly crowned world champion as one the greatest the sport has ever seen, though a champion that always loved controversy.
“On the table he is the best we’ve ever had. He’s a genius and a joy to watch.
“I don’t know why Ronnie says the things that he does because it can be cringe or car-crash material sometimes.
"He’s always gone against conformity and has been off the charts. Last night though he was different. He was a gentleman and did his interviews and that’s the sort of Ronnie we want to see.
“I thought slagging off the players and the game, crossed the line with me. Everything else though, I’m one of his biggest fans.”
After an emphatic 18-8 victory over Kyren Wilson in Sunday's final in Sheffield, only Stephen Hendry’s seven crowns now stand between the 44-year-old and the undisputed claim as the greatest ever.
However, the 1997 World Champion said that O’Sullivan will not be losing form anytime soon and that even Hendry would regard him as the greatest ever.
“Ronnie just took off in the final, but the gaps are so small. Even though Wilson will be dejected and deflated from losing the final by such a large margin, I think he’ll come back strong.
“Hendry is still ahead of him at the World Championship by one, but O’Sullivan will win another.
“O’Sullivan has won more majors and triple crowns, and I think Stephen Hendry would even regard him as the world’s greatest ever player.
“I think Ronnie could come back and win it again next year or the year after. He’s just that good.
“He draws so many people and brings a lot of debate about the good and the bad. I think the fact that he was there made the final.”
Speaking on O’Sullivan’s legacy, Doherty said from playing snooker at his house when he was a child, he always knew ‘the Rocket’ was going to be a great player with a long career.
“His father would send a taxi for me to go and practice with him in his garden when he was only 12. So, I always tell people now that I would beat O’Sullivan every day.
“He was making century breaks at ten. By 13 he was making 147. For me he was a great practice partner.
“There was a time when I thought he would go off the rails when his father and mother went to jail. That would’ve thrown anybody.
“He came back strong. He is one of the hardest workers on the tour. He is always trying to improve, and his longevity makes him so special.”
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