Ronnie O'Sullivan insists he 'doesn't care' about the backlash he has received after Judd Trump claimed the Rocket should have done the 'normal thing' by acknowledging his 147 brilliance.
O'Sullivan, 46, defeated Trump 10-6 at the Champion of Champions final in Bolton to provide another reminder that he is still snooker 's greatest. But the world no.1 later found himself in the centre of a sportsmanship storm after failing to congratulate the Juddernaut on his 147 maximum break.
Trump produced his moment of inspiration in the eighth frame of the showdown whilst trailing 6-1, bringing the house down as he held his nerve to clear the colours after potting the requisite 15 reds and blacks.
It is commonplace for players to fist bump or shake the hand of their opponent after they achieve perfection on the green baize. But O'Sullivan instead remained in his seat after Trump potted the final black, prompting criticism from unimpressed TV pundits Stephen Hendry and Ken Doherty.
A teary O'Sullivan had embraced Trump as he slumped into his opponent's arms after beating him at the Crucible to seal a record-breaking seventh world title. And Trump expected a customary acknowledgement from the Rocket, especially after sharing such a poignant moment with the world champion after his defeat in May.
“You celebrate making the 147, turn around and put your cue down – and I kind of expected Ronnie to get up and say well done. That is just the normal thing to do," Trump said.
"He chose not to do that for whatever reason. It is a special feat for anyone and it would have been nice to get his seal of approval as well, but that didn’t happen. At that point in the final when he was still 6-2 up, he knows if he plays half decent he is going to win. He is too good not to.
“So you would have expected him to be relaxed enough to say good things, especially after what happened at the World Championships final. He was very emotional and I was polite and kind enough to stay with him while he was hugging me. But maybe he still just feels under so much pressure to win every event."
But undeterred O'Sullivan, who secured the £150,000 prize for his fourth Champion of Champions title, was adamant that he was not being disrespectful by remaining in his seat.
"I don’t know – what do they want me to do?" he said. "I may as well just go out there and knock a few balls around. It’s brilliant Judd made the 147, but we still had a match to play as far as I was concerned.
"People have got their opinions and I don’t care what anyone thinks of me or what I do or don’t do. I absolutely do not give a monkey’s. I am not being disrespectful - but I just don’t.”
