O’Sullivan calls his form ‘very poor’ but still beats Maguire 5-2 at Wuhan Open

The Wuhan Open is witnessing a paradox named Ronnie O’Sullivan. The 50-year-old English legend keeps saying he is playing “very, very poor” snooker and relying on “hit-and-hope” shots, but the actual table tells a completely different story. In a knockout match in Wuhan, O’Sullivan defeated Stephen Maguire 5-2, producing two century breaks of 106 and 110, along with runs of 75 and 54. The win booked the seven-time world champion a place in the quarter-finals, where he will face Mark Selby. O’Sullivan started like a machine. In the first 40 minutes he stormed into a 3-0 lead over Stephen Maguire with fluent break-building. The 106 break in the third frame was a masterclass in positional play, cue control and shot selection. Spectators felt O’Sullivan was playing exhibition snooker, not a pressure-filled competitive match. Yet O’Sullivan himself saw his performance in a completely different light. “My game is just very, very poor. It’s hit-and-hope snooker, but I’m happy to win the match,” O’Sullivan said after the match. The cueist born in 2026 also said he was “over the moon” after two matches at the Chinese tournament. When asked about his title chances, O’Sullivan shook his head: “No, absolutely no chance.” These humble, even self-deprecating comments starkly contrast with what he delivered on the table. The truth is O’Sullivan still retains impressive scoring rhythm at age 50. At an age when many contemporaries have retired or declined, O’Sullivan is still making deep runs in ranking events. This is the 151st time in his career that he has reached the quarter-finals of a ranking event. The milestone is even more meaningful given the quality of his previous opponent: Stephen Maguire, a cueist known for raising his game in longer matches. The match was not as easy as the final score suggests. After O’Sullivan led 3-0, Maguire won two frames in a row to cut the gap to 2-3. At that moment, many fans remembered O’Sullivan’s occasional inconsistency. But the “Rocket” responded immediately with a 110 break, surging to 4-2 before closing out the match at 5-2. His ability to switch from being under pressure to full control after a burst of scoring is still one of the biggest differences between him and the rest of the snooker world. What stands out is not just the victory, but the way O’Sullivan talks about himself. Throughout his career he has often downplayed his form despite good results. Some say it is a way to relieve pressure, while others believe it reflects the extremely high standards he sets for himself. At 50, O’Sullivan no longer moves as quickly as before, but his ability to read shots and manage ball paths is better than almost anyone. His safety play, touch selection and table tempo control remain a valuable tactical lesson for younger players. The contrast between O’Sullivan’s words and his performance has created a strange atmosphere at the Wuhan Open. While he calls himself a “lucky scrambler”, data analysts note that four breaks over 54 points in one match is a sign of immense concentration. Breaks of 106 and 110 often come from inspired red-ball potting, but reaching those milestones requires a clear plan for the next five to seven reds. That is not luck. However, O’Sullivan has reasons to be cautious. His next opponent, Mark Selby, is one of the most stubborn defensive players in snooker history. Selby excels at dragging matches into gritty battles and frustrating rivals. If O’Sullivan maintains his scoring form from the Maguire match, the quarter-final promises to be fascinating. But if what O’Sullivan says about his game is true, he could face serious trouble against a Selby who never makes things easy. On the other side of the draw, Judd Trump is showing equally impressive form. Trump beat Chinese player Si Jiahui 5-1, losing only one frame in the whole match. This is a strong signal from one of the leading title contenders. Trump has shown efficiency in both attack and defence, a sharp contrast to O’Sullivan’s erratic display in the previous round. Trump’s next opponent is Chang Bingyu, a young Chinese player making a name for himself at his home event. The presence of Chinese players in the later rounds is a bright spot of this year’s Wuhan Open. Si Jiahui and Chang Bingyu have both navigated several rounds to get closer to the last four. China’s wave of young talent is growing every year, and playing alongside legends like O’Sullivan, Selby and Trump on home soil is a valuable opportunity for development. As world snooker witnesses a generational shift, the emergence of young Chinese players will make the competition more unpredictable. As for O’Sullivan, he continues his philosophy of never being satisfied. Even after winning with high breaks, he insists he has no chance of winning the title. But there is a telling detail: O’Sullivan rarely exits early after reaching a quarter-final. At 50, he seems to know how to save energy for the crucial moments. His quick, sometimes seemingly careless shots are actually a way to preserve stamina for longer matches. Vietnamese snooker fans can watch the O’Sullivan-Selby quarter-final as a duel between two opposing schools. O’Sullivan represents speed, inspiration and flashy scoring. Selby represents patience, tactical time-wasting and smothering an opponent’s rhythm. The biggest question now: can O’Sullivan deliver his “poor” snooker once more, and should we believe his words or the 106 and 110 breaks he just produced? The Wuhan Open is heading into its decisive rounds, and O’Sullivan stands on the brink of adding another ranking title to his career. He may say he has no chance, but those who have followed him for years know that is never true. Skills may erode over time, but the class of a seven-time world champion does not disappear easily. For now, all fans can do is wait for the quarter-final, where O’Sullivan will have the chance to prove that a 110 break matters more than complaints about form.