Ronnie O'Sullivan named the most painful defeat of his career: what match was it.

According to The Sun: Ronnie O'Sullivan spoke about the moments in his career he would like to change.

The seven-time world champion has won many trophies but also experienced several defeats, one of which left a bitter mark.

Defeat in the Masters final

The defeat occurred in the Masters final, and O'Sullivan, now 49 years old, regrets that he cannot go back in time. He believes he knows how he should have acted to win.

“There is one moment I would like to change in my career… People probably think it’s obvious when I competed against Stephen Hendry at the 2006 UK Championship. But that's not the moment because I wasn't playing well and wasn't in good shape then. The real moment I would like to correct is the match against (John) Higgins in the Masters final.”

“I thought I had a 60-point lead in the last frame, and I had a few chances. Now, I would probably play that shot differently or be a little calmer in a pressure situation. I think I was too nervous, and Higgins won.”

“I take most defeats quite well since it's part of a snooker player’s life. You can't win all the time. But this defeat hit me hard. I couldn't recover from it.”

This defeat in the 2006 Masters final allowed Higgins to move ahead. After the match, Ronnie joked that his opponent was a ‘lucky guy’ when O'Sullivan failed to pot a red ball while attempting to pot it in the yellow pocket.

Response to the defeat

O'Sullivan responded successfully to this defeat by winning the next Masters tournament and continued to win this award five more times in 2009, 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2024.

Despite his bitter defeats, Ronnie O'Sullivan continues to demonstrate an incredible level of play and stability on the international stage. His ability to adapt after setbacks speaks to a strong character and professionalism, for which he is valued by snooker fans around the world. Today, O'Sullivan remains a bright figure in the sport, continuing to earn respect and recognition for his achievements.