Ronnie O'Sullivan makes worrying admission and wishes he could swap sports

 Ronnie O'Sullivan has opened up on his complicated relationship with snooker at the World Championship.

Ronnie O'Sullivan during his World Snooker Championship press conference

Ronnie O’Sullivan worryingly admitted that he felt anxious following his World Snooker Championship match with Ali Carter, having returned to the sport for the first time since January. The Rocket defeated nemesis Carter 10-4 after a stunning second session, in which he won every frame en route to victory.

O’Sullivan was playing his first professional match in over three months, since snapping his cue at the Championship League. He pulled out of several tournaments, including his defence of the Masters, with his Crucible participation not confirmed until a few days prior to facing Carter.

And the seven-time world champion bemoaned “evil” snooker and rued how the sport takes over his mental health. He frequently works with broadcasters to provide punditry on matches, which O’Sullivan believes helps take his mind off playing.

“I really enjoy being out there playing, and I love doing a bit of TV work with the lads,” O’Sullivan told TNT Sports. “It just breaks it up a bit. But during my last match, I felt a bit edgy. While I was playing it was fine.

“I went home and then I thought: ‘Oh, the anxiety is kicking off.’ The next day, I felt a lot better and calmer. It’s a killer of a sport. A horrible sport. It’s evil.”

Ronnie O'Sullivan during his first-round match

O’Sullivan wishes he could be a Premier League footballer as opposed to one of snooker’s top names, insisting that they appear more relaxed compared to himself.

“I can’t switch off, no,” O’Sullivan explained. “It’s with you all the time. Even when I’m at home practising. If I’ve had a dodgy day, I go home and I’m sitting there and I’m like quiet, moody.

“Sort of like in my own head and the missus is looking at me, thinking, ‘come on, liven up’. I say snooker’s like chess with balls. It’s one of them sports.

“You see chess players. There’s a lot going on in their heads. But with footballers, you just have a laugh and a joke. I envy it. I wish I could have been a footballer. They look like you’re having a great time.”

O’Sullivan admitted to nerves on his return to snooker at the Crucible. He claimed to have lost his “bottle” in the three months he spent away from the sport, but has been helped by psychologist Steve Peters in Sheffield.

He set up a second-round tie with Pang Junxu in the Steel City and will be aware that his side of the World Championship draw has opened up following Mark Selby’s exit.

If O’Sullivan were to make it to the final, however, he would likely have to play snooker every day due to how the schedule has been made - an undoubtedly taxing prospect.