Sean O’Sullivan wins mental and physical battles in perfect storm for World Snooker Tour comeback

Sean O’Sullivan is back on tour after a three-year absence and feels ready to take on the world again after overcoming the mental and physical problems that have been holding him back on the baize.

The 27-year-old had six years on the professional circuit but fell off in 2019 and has been scrapping to return since, making his comeback through the Q Tour at the weekend.

He will be competing at the World Championship qualifiers next month and then be back on tour full-time next season, which puts an end to three years of uncertainty as he questioned whether he had a future on the table.

There was never much doubt in O’Sullivan’s mind about his talent, but there was more going on in his head that was hampering him, which he has worked hard to conquer.

‘I’m still buzzing,’ O’Sullivan told Metro.co.uk after returning to the tour. ‘It’s relief more than anything else. It’s been a long road back to be able to say I’m a pro snooker player again.

‘I did think about getting a job, but I wanted to give snooker 100 per cent and see, because I knew I still had the potential, but I needed to sort a few things out to help get results.

‘My head wasn’t right after I lost in Q School in 2019, I did wonder whether I was doing the right thing carrying on, but I decided I would give it another go.

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‘I played all the amateur events, but my head wasn’t right. I finally managed to get some help and spoke to a therapist. World Snooker got me in contact with Sporting Chance and that was a massive point in my life, to get some