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RON-BELIEVABLE
Watch emotional Ronnie O’Sullivan break down in tears after world championship win and is ‘too weak to carry’ trophy
THIS is the never-before-seen footage of Ronnie O’Sullivan uncontrollably sobbing as he becomes snooker’s greatest star.
Shortly after winning a record-equalling seventh world championship, the magnitude of his success suddenly hit him hard.
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It was during the end credits of Eurosport’s coverage, but not on their live TV coverage, when he slumped in his chair and his glazed eyes filled with tears.
After 17 gruelling, emotional days in Sheffield, ending in an 18-13 final win over Judd Trump, the Rocket was a broken man.
But with his family backstage and Crucible silverware in his grasp, he could no longer hold back the emotion he had bottled up.
The poignant images will be broadcast for the first time in a that airs on Saturday night.
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Jimmy White and Alan McManus tried their best to console the world No 1 and the production crew started to applaud.
But as he left the studio, he joked he was too weak to carry the world trophy because he was bereft of energy.
The charts his amazing career on the green baize, focusing on the seven times he reached the pinnacle of his sport.
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O’Sullivan said: “I have had a career way beyond what I thought I was capable of having.
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“I think my love for the sport and love for the game is what has got me through a lot of the time.
“Even though situations when life might not have been great, snooker has always been something I could go to.
“What changed for me was one day my mate sat down and put a Michael Jordan video on.
“I watched how hard he worked at his sport, how he devoted his life to it.
“I was like, ‘Maybe I should try doing a bit of that myself?’.”
One of the biggest figures in his life was Ray Reardon, the six-time world snooker champion, who was in his corner during his second success in 2004.
The Welshman, who turned 90 this month, delighted O’Sullivan by recording a special message for the one-off show.
Reardon said: “Working with Ronnie gave me another 10 years in my life. And I’m one of the best players that ever was.
“Ronnie was incredible. I had never seen anything like it. I loved it, it was the best thing that has ever happened to me.
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“He was born to be a snooker king – and he is in his rightful place. He is the greatest ever.”
Seventh Heaven premieres on Saturday October 15 at 8pm on Eurosport 1 and . Also available on all catch-up and VOD services.
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