German Masters: 'Would I ever win another title? – How Berlin inspired Ronnie O'Sullivan's glorious rebirth a decade ago

There are greater tales of triumph and torment in Ronnie O’Sullivan's ongoing opus of snooker opulence, but nobody should underestimate the importance of his landmark victory at the German Masters in 2012. O’Sullivan had largely been in the doldrums since his 18-8 success against Ali Carter in the final of the World Championship four years earlier.

Ad/> Still capable on his day – he fairly revelled among the Londoners at the 2009 Masters with an epic 10-8 Wembley win against old foe Mark Selby – but under-performing seemed to be the recurring theme as he careered towards the latter half of his thirties. German MastersWalden stuns Robertson to set up Brecel clash in last-16 of German Masters18 HOURS AGO German Masters 2022 — Latest scores, results and draw O'Sullivan to miss Turkish Masters, but who does Trump face at inaugural ranking event? The opening round of the German Masters, then in only its second year as a modern ranking event in Berlin, was a staging post in the Rocket's regeneration against snooker's new generation a decade ago.

The scene of his renaissance period came a year after he began working with celebrated sports psychologist Steve Peters. Upon reflection, the mindfulness of such a stylish recovery was no coincidence.

O'Sullivan tends never to conform to the expected norms. At the age of 36, he had gone three years without winning a ranking tournament, was 16th in the world and was astonishingly in danger of being forced to qualify for the World Championship in Sheffield.

«I had been thinking about whether I would ever win another ranking title,» said O'Sullivan. His browbeaten mood was further famished when he trailed 4-0 in the first round to an inspired Andrew Higginson – the talented 2007 Welsh