Ronnie O’Sullivan may one day go down as one of the most deserving BBC Sports Personality of the Year nominees to have never got his hands on the trophy. And snooker legend Steve Davis would certainly be inclined to think so, given his past comments on the baize icon.
‘The Rocket’ has been shortlisted for the prize on multiple occasions in the past, including after his World Championship wins in 2020 and 2022. And yet O’Sullivan has always come off second best against those involved in higher-profile sports. It wouldn’t have been the case had six-time world champion Davis got his way, however. Following O’Sullivan’s nomination in 2022, ‘Nugget’ took to social media to express support for the cue magician and put him on a pedestal of mammoth proportions.
Unlike in previous years, O’Sullivan is not one of the six names in contention for this year’s award, with the winner being announced on Thursday evening. However, fans are reminded of Davis’ defence while teeing up his peer’s most recent bid for the crown.
“The most talented sports personality the UK has ever produced,” read his caption describing O’Sullivan in a social media post three years ago. And plenty of punters seemed to agree.
As if his seven world titles and record 23 Triple Crown titles weren’t testament enough to O’Sullivan’s sporting prowess, no one can argue the 50-year-old is lacking in personality. Yet he may need to clinch a record-breaking eighth world title before the BBC recognises him with one of those gongs still missing from his collection.
The Rocket has hardly remained quiet on the matter over the years, during which he has repeatedly expressed how the SPOTY award feels insignificant. Still, that hasn’t prevented him from coming across somewhat frustrated that other sports always seem to get the limelight.
“You’re competing with Formula 1, tennis, golf and the Olympics,” said The Rocket in 2016. “They give it like 10 seconds on BBC Sports Personality – it’s a complete insult to the sport. But it’s what they think of it and what they believe it warrants, and that says it all, really.
“Snooker is becoming a nothing-type sport – it’s a bit like a garage sale, but with other sports it’s like shopping at Harrods. They’re playing so much of it, it’s cheap TV. I think snooker has lost that respect among other sports – the Olympics are such a massive thing now, as are sports like golf and tennis.”
The following year, he took a different tack by insisting he was “so happy” not to be nominated as he wouldn’t want to attend the ceremony in any case. Therefore, he must be delighted to have missed out on the 2025 shortlist.
In 2020, O’Sullivan conceded he “won’t ever” get the Sports Personality of the Year win while reiterating he wasn’t fussed. Again, however, he contradicted himself in 2022 when he commented, “it would be nice” to finally secure the crown, suggesting he might have won it “10 times” if he were a golfer or tennis player.
Only another World Championship win may be enough to get him back on the ballot unless he seriously picks up his activity in the other majors. But he’ll always have one backer in snooker star-turned-commentator Davis, who puts O’Sullivan above all comers.