Ronnie O’Sullivan says he became horrible person during drink and drugs battle

RONNIE O’SULLIVAN admits he turned into a horrible human as he struggled with his drugs and booze addiction.

And the seven-time world snooker champion confesses he “lost seven years to drinking and taking cannabis” — and another four in the aftermath.

2

2

O’Sullivan, 47, reveals that in the years before he entered rehab in 2000 he became “an unpleasant person”.

His troubles all started at 16 when his dad, Ronnie Sr, was jailed for life in 1992 for murder.

He served 18 years inside before being released in November 2010.

In his new autobiography, O’Sullivan said: “That’s when the mad seven years began. The benders, the blackouts.

“There wasn’t the self-awareness when I was in the thick of it all.

“I was in the moment. I was trying to fit in a lot of the time, doing the things I thought I should be doing, as a bloke of my age with a bit of cash.

“Clubs, girls, the sort of thing you do in clubs to impress girls. That’s what I thought you were supposed to do. I wanted to be liked.

“That’s when trouble starts. I tried to fit in and my personality began to change. Drink and drugs accelerated it.

CASINO SPECIAL – BEST ONLINE CASINOS FOR 2023

“I became an unpleasant person. A bit of attitude with strangers, like I fancied myself, and that was never me.

“The alarm bells would only sound in certain situations. I’d be in a club, surrounded by men I knew deep down were a***holes, doing things I instinctively understood weren’t right.

“Something about the way they spoke about women always cut through the mental fog. The way they treated women, the way these women seemed to love them despite it all.

“I’m a little old-fashioned. I hold a door open for a woman. If I was out drinking and it was late, I’d make sure a girl I was with got home safe.

“These men saw them like pieces of meat. I’d watch these geezers acting at being playboys and it baffled me.

“It made me feel physically ill. I’d have to get out of there.

“I’m so glad those days are behind me. I don’t recognise the person I was then, although I have some sympathy.

“I see how you can be influenced if you get in the wrong crowd.

“I don’t want to be around drunk people. I’d rather be in bed watching Netflix.”

Running has become O’Sullivan’s solace.

The world No 1 told BBC Radio: “I lost seven years to drinking and taking cannabis. Then another four where I was dealing with stuff away from the table, which I didn’t deal with very well.

“I lost my personality and confidence. I felt like I needed to take substances just to feel like I could socialise.

“My happy place is going running in the morning and I’m cool with that.”

 Unbreakable – Ronnie O’Sullivan, published by Seven Dials, £22, is out now.