Ursenbacher explains brilliant O’Sullivan record as he returns to Q School

Alexander Ursenbacher has shown a huge amount of promise in his snooker career so far, not least in beating Ronnie O’Sullivan three times, but must head to Q School this week in a bid to regain professional status.

The 27-year-old has reached a ranking semi-final, appeared at the Crucible and been as high as number 41 in the world, but has been through a bit of a nightmare couple of years and dropped off the professional tour as a result.

Even last year when he only won four matches outside of the Championship League and Shoot Out, Ursenbacher showed what he could do by beating O’Sullivan at the British Open.

That took his head-to-head with the Rocket to 3-1 in favour of the Swiss star, having also downed O’Sullivan at the 2020 UK Championship and 2019 Welsh Open.

It is a brilliant record for anyone against snooker’s GOAT and Ursenbacher feels taking on the biggest test in the sport brings the best out of him.

‘When I play top players that aren’t Ronnie, I struggle as I feel I have to prove something,’ Ursenbacher told WST. ‘When I play Ronnie, he just makes me focus. I refuse to not have the perfect attitude and mindset against him.

‘He was actually one of the only players I beat last season. I felt bad heading into the game, but five minutes beforehand on the practice table in Milton Keynes it was all gone.

‘I was so motivated, because my mum and friend were there, to do well. It was just all clear for me. I have nothing to lose against him and I know I can do it. I can’t really explain it, but he just gets the best out of me.’

Given his clear talent, and ability to perform against the best, it was a surprise to see Ursenbacher slide off tour last season, but he says he had serious problems with his game over the last couple of years.

He had an issue with over-thinking and analysing his game which badly hampered him as he struggled to play with his natural style and let his skills flow.

Ursenbacher feels he has got over that in time for Q School, though, crediting playing after a few drinks with helping him rediscover his natural game and remove the unwanted thoughts.

‘I’ve had a lot of mental problems with my game,’ he said. ‘I’ve just had to sort my head out. I went from winning a few matches at every tournament and being as high as 41st in the world, to not being able to win a single match.

‘I am always looking for a key to success and when I had this good form, I tried to find out how I did it. I wanted to be able to have something in my hands that I could use if things went badly. There is no such thing. Snooker is something you need to do naturally and automatically. You don’t think, you just act. The trouble is that there is a lot of time to think in snooker. I got myself into a hole that I couldn’t get out of. You could set up a line-up for me and I wouldn’t even make 20. It was just ridiculous. I was thinking about my aiming all the time.

‘Now I’ve dropped off the tour, the pressure has come off and I’m playing well again. That is because I’m not thinking about it. I’m just doing it. I realised there is nothing to think about. It’s funny because when I was at home, I got a bit drunk one day and just played. I actually played really well and I realised that it was because I wasn’t thinking about aiming or technique. I was just simply playing. I seem to be me my old self again. I just need to put the hours in and I think I will do well.;

Ursenbacher has come through Q School twice before and will begin his campaign in Event One on Monday 29 June, after the tournament gets underway on Friday 26 in Leicester.

Eight two-year tour cards are on the line over two events, with the final four players at each claiming them.

MORE : How to get through Q School: By players who have done it

MORE : Barry Hearn: Chris Eubank has thanked me and Ronnie O’Sullivan will one day

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