Snooker legend and reigning world number one, Ronnie O’Sullivan, has said that he “lost himself” for more than seven years as a result of drugs and excessive alcohol intake earlier in his career.
O’Sullivan has long been considered one of if not the greatest to have ever graced the game and still holds the joint record for most world titles in the modern era — second only to Joe Davis, who won 15 back to back from 1927 to 1946 — but it’s never quite been plain sailing for the 47-year-old.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4 on Thursday, 11, the Wordsley-born snooker star admitted, “there are massive gaps [in his memory], adding, “I lost myself for six, seven years and then I had to kind of put myself back together”.
O’Sullivan, who turned pro all the way back in 1992 when he was just 16, had an incredible start to his career but confessed that he struggled to retain significant chunks of it and was “not in the best spirits” during his early to mid-20s, famously checking himself into rehab in 2000.
"I think going to rehab taught me that happiness is an inside job"
Snooker legend Ronnie O'Sullivan @ronnieo147 tells @AmolRajan about having to carve out a different life for himself after 'becoming clean' from his addiction to drink and drugs.
Ronnie O’Sullivan opens up about his struggles with drugs and alcohol.
As acknowledged by presenter Amol Rajan, his alcohol and drug addiction has been well-publicised over the years, but the record 21-time Triple Crown winner insists that going to rehab is the “best thing” he’s ever done.
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Noting some of his low points as his fluctuation in weight, dependence on “drinking and wacky baccy just to get through the day” and, obviously, being stripped of his Irish Masters title in 1998 after testing positive for cannabis, he said: “I lost my personality and confidence and needed to take substances just to feel like I could socialise”.
At his worst, Ronnie sadly experienced suicidal thoughts and recently said he never thought he’d make it to the age he is now; it was at that point in 2000 that he admitted himself into The Priory addiction and mental health facility. Thankfully, for the most part, he has remained sober and healthy ever since.
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However, as explained in his new book, Unbreakable (released on Thursday too), the challenge was not only overcoming his “addictive nature” but even just readjusting to social situations, admitting that he “had to learn to do all that stuff again” and now lives a quieter lifestyle.
“Anxiety started to affect me in certain ways, so it was like ‘how do I live clean?’, said O’Sullivan. “It took time but once I got there, I realised you have to carve out a different life for yourself. Maybe I’m not suited for X, Y and Z.
“My happy place is going running in the morning and I go out with my running friends, and I’m cool with that. Put me in an environment where there’s lots of people and I run for the corner.”
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He closed out the interview by stating that “rehab taught [him] happiness is an inside job” and he has truly believed in that ethos ever since and that he can now once again enjoy snooker as a form of “great escapism” where he can “feel relaxed and calm”.
Luxury Manchester gym Blok confirms permanent closure after weeks of uncertainty
Daisy Jackson
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure, weeks after the doors to the premium fitness facility mysteriously closed.
Around a fortnight ago, members began to arrive to their classes to find the gym on Ducie Street locked up and a forfeiture notice on the door – but at the time, Blok said that it was fighting to reopen.
Sadly, in an email sent to members today, its founder has confirmed that the studio is now permanently closed.
Blok – which has several very successful sites down in London – said that its relationship with its landlord has ‘broken down to a point where trust has been lost’.
The gym wrote that it’s been left with ‘no workable way forward’.
They said: “BLOK Manchester was a space built by our loyal and dedicated community. Whether you joined us for one class or one hundred, we are deeply grateful. You helped create something genuinely special in an incredible city.”
In the immediate future, they said they’ll be supporting the team of fantastic trainers who worked here, as well as looking after members.
Members will be contacted within a few hours with options and refunds owed.
Blok Manchester has announced its permanent closure. Credit: The Manc Group
CEO and founder Ed Stanbury said: “While this marks the end of a chapter, we don’t see it as the end of our story in Manchester. We’re already speaking with developers about potential future sites and remain committed to returning to the city when the time is right.
“Thank you for being part of our story so far. Let’s shape the future of wellness. The mission continues.”
Commenting on Blok’s Instagram post – its first in almost a fortnight – people have been sharing their sadness at the closure of its Manchester site.
One person wrote: “beautiful space, beautiful staff and beautiful community.”
Another said: “Sending love to all the instructors !! :(((( gutted”
Someone else commented: “THE BEST CLASSES. I’m gutted.”
Manchester City plotting spending spree ‘before’ Club World Cup
Danny Jones
Manchester City are set to embark on somewhat of a spending spree this summer transfer window as the club’s higher-ups are looking to get business done before the 2025 Club World Cup.
With FIFA’s intercontinental club competition set to get underway in mid-June, the Blues don’t have too long to welcome in new players, but Man City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has reiterated their urgency regarding recruitment.
Despite having brought in four new acquisitions in a very short space of time last season, the 50-year-old argued that he wasn’t completely happy with the extent and speed of their business.
Giving a lengthy interview this week, CFG‘s founding chairman has imposed an internal deadline ahead of the lucrative knockout competition.
Speaking with club media, Khaldoon recognised that while there were incomings in January of this year, he believes they “should have been more aggressive in some of the changes we needed to do, adding that he believes it “cost [them].”
“I can tell you today, we have clearly identified who exactly [the targets are], in what positions, and we have our clear number one option, our clear number two option”, he continues.
More importantly, he goes on to add: “We’ll go about our business, and it will be very clear, very swift. Our objective is to try to be ready with the new squad for the Club World Cup.”
He also suggested the flurry of activity this past January was not just atypical of the administration, but felt the squad fell into a crisis state with the number of injuries, insisting they “had to act.”
City have already been linked with a hugely talented and highly-rated European target in the wake of Kevin De Bruyne‘s departure and a lack of strength in depth in midfield.
An initial bid is said to have been received already and will likely be the first of many City summer signings.
He also insisted that the players who joined last season weren’t scattershot, emergency transfers (perhaps barring the resigning of İlkay Gündoğan) but were the start of the rebuild and “gives [fans] an idea of what’s coming this summer.”
Another player linked with a move to the Etihad Stadium is Lyon star Rayan Cherki, who scored in big moments during their Europa League run this year, registering 32 goal contributions across all competitions throughout the 24/25 campaign.
Who would you like to see added to Pep Guardiola’s side this summer, then, Man City fans?
You can watch Khaldoon Al Mubarak’s interview in full down below:
Danny Jones -
12th May 2023 
