Masters 2024: Ronnie O’Sullivan’s 'sixth sense' for safety play is a huge asset - Alan McManus

ByAlex Livie

Updated 13/01/2024 at 19:02 GMT

Ronnie O'Sullivan moved to within one win of an eighth Masters title following his victory over Shaun Murphy in the semi-finals at the Alexandra Palace on Saturday afternoon. The world No. 1 was not at his best from a scoring standpoint - his highest break was 90- but Alan McManus was impressed with his safety prowess. Stream the 2024 Masters live on Eurosport and discovery+

Alan McManus lauded Ronnie O’Sullivan’s “sixth sense” with regard to his supreme safety play.

O’Sullivan edged out Shaun Murphy to reach the final of the Masters, after which the world No. 1 said his play from a technical standpoint was “one or two out of 10.”

There were aspects of the seven-time Masters winner’s play that were scruffy, but his safety kept putting Murphy in trouble.

Shanghai Masters

Who does O'Sullivan face in quest for record fifth straight Shanghai Masters title?

17/06/2024 at 14:39

While his scoring was not heavy, the weight of pressure told as O’Sullivan ran out a 6-2 winner.

O’Sullivan will take on either Ali Carter or Mark Allen in the final on Sunday, and Eurosport expert McManus feels whoever progresses from the second semi-final will be given a stern examination of all aspects of their game.

“He has an inner sense, a sort of sixth sense if you like, that he is able to play that shot that the other guy does not want to face,” McManus said in the Eurosport studio. “He does it time after time.

“It does not work all the time, but it will work probably the majority of the time and you only need to win the majority of frames to win the match.”

• 'I cringe when he talks now and again' - Murphy on O'Sullivan
• 'He is not going anywhere' - White backs O'Sullivan to keep dominating

Expanding on the art of good safety play, McManus said: “It might not pay off, but the likelihood of safety is the key to it. Put the cue ball in a position where you have two or three good things that can happen. You play it in a position where you might get cover one way, you might get it in another way, you might get this, you might get that. It is a percentage all the time.

“You can teach it, but when you are out there you have to know the moves to make and Ronnie just always seems to know the correct move to make.

“It is a hidden asset that he has had in his game for decades. We look at the tons, that is the easy part. The other part is he just puts his opponents in positions where their shoulders are tight, their arms are tight and they are fearful of letting him in and that puts pressure on your long game and every other aspect of the game as well.”

‘I am just squeezing as much lemon juice out of this lemon as I can’ - O’Sullivan on form

McManus feels O’Sullivan thrives on the big stage, whereas others wilt in the spotlight.

“When he comes into that arena, a big occasion for normal people, he is able to turn it on when he wants to,” McManus said. “It is not that easy, but he is a different guy in the arena to the one who walked in the building.

“When he gets out, he is able to turn it on when he needs to.”

- - -

Stream the 2024 Masters live on Eurosport and discovery+

Snooker

Robertson impresses on opening day of season at Championship League

10/06/2024 at 21:09

Snooker

O'Sullivan and Higgins share spoils in Bulgaria ahead of new season

09/06/2024 at 14:24

Snooker

'That is the advice I give' – Wilson reveals key career lesson after edging O'Sullivan

09/06/2024 at 12:23