JAMIE BURNETT believes the Dafabet World Championship could be a one horse race, with Ronnie O’Sullivan winning a sixth title at a canter.
Scotland’s Burnett, who holds the record for the highest ever break in professional snooker with his 148 in the 2004 UK Championship, qualified for the Crucible for the fourth time this week.
The Hamilton cueist tackles Joe Perry in the first round, with the winner to face O’Sullivan in the last 16 if the defending champion gets past Robin Hull.
And Burnett is in no doubt that O’Sullivan is the man to beat in the game’s premier event. He said: “It’s getting beyond a joke. The last couple of times I’ve watched him play he’s looked unbeatable. I never thought I’d say it but it’s as if he’s getting better.
“He’s just ridiculous when he’s playing well. I think 90% of the players, the top 16 included, are beaten before they start. He’s on a different level. There’s only a couple of players I think can compete with him when he’s at the top of his game and those players are not playing well enough.
“I hate to say it but it looks like a one horse race at the minute. If O’Sullivan turns up and plays he’s on a different planet.”
Burnett and Perry start out on Sunday morning, with the match played to a conclusion on Monday.
Photographs by Monique Limbos.