Ronnie O'Sullivan has accused his former coach Derek 'Del Boy' Hill of playing
mind games with him before he stormed to his second Embassy World Championship
title at the expense of rank outsider Graeme Dott.
Hill is now coaching Dott, the 200-1 outsider at the start of the tournament,
and O'Sullivan was surprised when he entered his dressing room only minutes
before the final began on Sunday afternoon.
O'Sullivan was far from happy with the intrusion and admitted it "got into
his head" as he lost the first five frames.
But The Rocket stormed back to blow away the player who has been nicknamed the
Pocket Rocket 18-8 after only two frames of the final session.
O'Sullivan claimed: "There were some serious mind games going on before that
game. My former coach Derek Hill, now working with Graeme, came walking into the
room 15 minutes before the final started.
"That was a big surprise to me. That got into my head and it was a big
surprise to me. I went out there for the first four frames and I couldn't stay
focused.
"But I took the positive out of what happened. I saw it as a way of them
trying to get to me and I suppose that is part of sport. It goes on in sport.
"I was just a little bit surprised by it. But I was able to turn it around.
To me it was a great lesson. I don't look at it as something negative."
O'Sullivan dedicated his second world title to his jailed father Ronnie senior
- serving a life sentence for murder - after his one-sided win.
O'Sullivan said: "I went all emotional during the match as well and when it
went to 14-8 I was thinking of my dad watching the final on television in
prison.
"I am sure he will be sitting in his cell chuffed to bits. I can't wait to go
and visit him - and this title was for him.
"Now I just want to go and see my dad this week, chat to him and be in his
company. That's the most important thing."
O'Sullivan, who had demolished seven-times champion Stephen Hendry 17-4 in the
semi-final, will still strive to improve despite his dominance of the
tournament.
He said: "I know I can play better. I know there is room for improvement and
I will keep going to improve. I have got more consistent and that has come from
changing my technique."
O'Sullivan hugged Ray Reardon after clinching the title and the six-times
world champion has been acting as his mentor during the past fortnight.
O'Sullivan said: "I am more excited about working with Ray than winning the
world championship. This is a great tournament to win.
"Ever since from 8-8 with Andy Hicks in the second round Ray has had an
input. I phoned him up and we had a chat then.
"You can see by the scorelines in some of the matches what sort of effect it
has had on my game."
Dott can take consolation in defeat from a bumper £125,000 pay cheque - the
best by far of his career - and a place back in the top 16.
Life is looking so much sweeter for the 26-year-old who had been considering
quitting the game in January after smashing up his cue in frustration at his
poor form.
Now he is looking forward to moving into a new house on Friday with wife
Elaine, who is expecting their baby in October.
Dott said: "I have been through some low times but this is like a second
chance and the whole tournament has been a dream for me.
"Ronnie was unbelievable and there were no weaknesses in his game. Everything
he did was superb."
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