Ronnie O'Sullivan offers to help Paul Gascoigne beat demons

By PETER FERGUSON

Last updated at 21:59 08 May 2008

Ronnie O'Sullivan

was on top of his world

yesterday, a third Crucible

crown sitting on the head

of the most gifted snooker

player on the planet, but

his thoughts drifted

elsewhere.

To the places where he

would rather not go, to the

darker regions he keeps at

arm's length but still exist

for him as well as for Paul

Gascoigne, the most

talented yet troubled

English footballer of his

generation.

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While O'Sullivan

celebrated his 18-8 win

over Ali Carter in the

888.com World

Championship final, a

depressed, reportedly

suicidal Gascoigne was

back in the Priory Clinic.

O'Sullivan, 32, has danced

with similar demons,

spent time at the Priory,

and his compassion was

summed up in a down-to-earth

invitation to Gazza.

He said: 'I can't give

Gazza advice. But I can

say to him: “If you want

to, come round my house,

put your feet up and have

a cup of tea.” Since

getting healthy I've

wanted to help people

about these things.

'That's something I am

passionate about. I'm

always happy to share

whatever worked for me.

It's sad what's happened

to him. I don't feel stressed

now, but I have been as low

as I can go. I can always go

back to my running. That

is my life-support machine,

if you like.

'I wasn't shocked to read

about Gazza. He's a

genius. It must be so hard

for him. I wish someone

could have got hold of

him. If he'd had someone

like my dad in his corner,

he probably would have

been all right. He needed

someone around him who

wouldn't take advantage.'

O'Sullivan's reference to

his father followed his dedication of his title to

Ronnie Snr, serving life for

murder, in the emotional

aftermath of Sunday night

with mum Maria, partner

Jo and their two children.

He said that winning a

televised tournament felt

as if he was affording his

father extra visits in jail.

O'Sullivan said: 'Eight

years ago when I was low, I

had the wrong characters

around me. I put the

brakes on, sorted myself

out. You become a more

responsible, decent,

well-mannered person.

'I have become me again.

Other people come into

your life, you get a new

circle of friends. I had to

do that, otherwise I don't

know where I would be.

'It could have gone the

other way, but I've always

believed I am a survivor.'

O'Sullivan is yet to be

punished for lewd

behaviour at last month's

China Open and could be

banned.

He said: 'It's an

awkward situation but it

needs to be dealt with. I'd

like to keep playing but it

might be good to have a

break. I don't want to,

because I'm on a roll. But

I'd happily live in Brazil or

chill on a beach.'

O'Sullivan topped the

money list for a fifth year in

a row, his £328,500 Crucible

jackpot taking his earnings

to £638,350.

He said:

'There's more to life but, as

my mate said, “money

won't make you happy, but

you can choose where you

want to be miserable”.'